Escapism (The Escapism Series) (17 page)

  “You see, when a part of us dies, the living part of us continues onward in the other world, as if nothing happened, yet that part of us that died—our lost fragment—will wander alone, seeking restoration.”

  “Tracing for energy that can help,” I added.

  “Exactly. And when a Diplozoe comes in contact with someone, their energy rubs off on them like a tracking device. I knew Kiran was with you when I met you on campus, although I’d never seen you two together.”

  “Wow. That’s insane.”

  “That’s just the icing on the cake, Xenia.” He grinned mischievously. “Here’s another interesting tidbit for you. You won’t live up to your full potential as a Diplozoe if you’re lacking a component of your soul.”

  “Like in Nicholas’ case,” I said, uncomfortably.

  Orion nodded, agreeably. “Once you’re restored, your energy capabilities are intensified and you can travel between worlds more comfortably.”

  In the background, the song changed over into another and I was in dire need of fresh air.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” I asked.

  “Sure,” he responded. His eyes slowly redefined into a light green.

  As we walked outside, the heat boiling under my skin escaped with the passing cool breeze.

  Orion stared at me considerably longer than I felt comfortable with. I blushed self-consciously, and tucked a few stray hairs back with a loose bobby pin.

  “It’s cold,” he said, placing his jacket over my shoulders.

  “Thanks,” I whispered.

  He stood behind me with his hands on my shoulders. “I haven’t asked a girl in a long while, but here goes. May I take you to dinner…or something?” He lingered by my ear, waiting for a response.

  “It’s too late for dinner,” I replied, buying time. I had mixed feelings about Orion.

  “Or something?” he asked, playfully kissing my cheek.

  “It all depends on what that
something
is.”

  “Anything you want is fine by me,” he said, unexpectedly. “I enjoy whatever it is we’re doing here.”

  Before I could even begin to explain how much I wished Nicholas was saying those words, there was crackling of gravel and I turned to look behind Orion.

  Nicholas solemnly stood before us, unimpressed. “Orion, it didn’t take you long to weasel your way in.”

  “Nicholas!” I shouted, running into his embrace.

  His warm skin against my cheek soothed me beyond words. “Where have you been? How could you just leave like that?” I exclaimed. Slowly the excitement turned into anger—I was officially mad.

  Nicholas softly kissed my forehead, while he glanced up at Orion and the present situation. How it must have looked—poor Nicholas.

  I wished he had known how much I missed him over the months he was gone. But with every day that passed, my animosity toward him grew—and I hated it. These obsessions subsided the moment I was in his arms. I followed Nicholas’ fiery gaze toward Orion.

  He stood with his hands in his pockets, casually. “Don’t let me get in the way of this happy reunion,” he said, turning away.

  Nicholas confronted him. “I won’t allow you to get in our way,
traitor
,” he sneered, infuriated. “Why don’t you tell her who you really are?”

  The growing intensity seared the air between them—it was too much to handle. Orion stood tall and still, merely observing Nicholas.

  “He was sent by the ESOM to spy on you,” Nicholas revealed, sickened.

  Orion was one of those rogue Diplozoes, spying for the ESOM—my spy, nonetheless. I wondered how long he had tracked me and how much he had disclosed to the ESOM. As I deliberated the news, my heart beat faster and harder against my chest. I walked up to Orion and slapped him across the face as hard as I could. “How could you lie to me this whole time? You told me Nicholas vanished for good,” I exclaimed. “I should have known better.”

  Orion casually wiped the blood from his lip—I hadn’t meant to strike him so hard.

  “Shame on me,” he whispered, apathetically.

  I squirmed out of Nicholas’ protective hold, following Orion. When I caught up with him, I pulled his upper arm instigating a halt.

  “That’s all you have to say for yourself? You don’t even deny the allegations?”

  “You can’t deny what is true. Besides, he’s back and you are with him.”

  “But why? Was everything a lie?”

  “Not everything. I had no other choice but to lie. Would you have come out with me tonight if otherwise?”

  “That’s beside the point,” I replied subtly. “You’re really a
spy
?”

  “Not a very good one,” he uttered. “I haven’t been in contact with the ESOM for quite some time. Don’t worry, I haven’t disclosed your whereabouts.” He brushed a loose strand of hair back from my face and ran his hand down the side of my cheek. “Goodnight, Xenia.” He left immediately thereafter.

  Nicholas stood in the shadows, observing Orion and I. His face grew long and his complexion grew paler. His eyes were solidly anchored in the moment, ignited.

  “Explain,” I demanded, while the unrelenting hostility brewed inside me.

  “I left because of
you
,” he explained, troubled.

  “Well, if that’s not a confidence-booster,” I winced, confused.

  Nicholas grimaced. “I traveled to Styx and I pleaded with Nyxta to grant me immortality once more.”

  “Why would you do that?” I asked, beyond stunned. “And who’s Queen Nyxta?

  “When I was eight years old, Nyxta—the Queen of Styx—was consumed with rage against the ESOM for murdering me. She granted me immortality, a gift only given to her Charon’s. I felt honored, but I was not restored and would never be as strong as another Theodiplozoe. On top of that, Nyxta discovered through
the Fates
that I would meet my Charon or my demise by twenty five. Essentially, I was a ticking time bomb. After you restored me, I lost my immortality, and I had to get it back,” he sighed, continuing, “Now we can travel together free from harm’s way. That’s the least I could do for you after restoring me.”

  “It was my duty though—I’m your Charon. You sacrificed your last living fragment for me—that’s crazy!” I exclaimed.

  “I want to help in any way possible. Let me help you,” he pulled me into his embrace, resting his forehead against mine.

  “You’re officially dead because of me.” I felt overwhelmed.

  “I am still
here
—I live. That’s all that matters.”

  “I feel so guilty.”

  “Don’t. I’m forever indebted to you—even if you chose to be with Orion,” his face twisted in disgust.

  “That would never happen. Please don’t ever mention his name again,” I said, hugging him tightly.

  We walked hand in hand and before I knew it, it felt as though I had walked into an invisible wall. “Do you feel that? The energy around us is impenetrable,” I asked, bemused.

  Nicholas felt the air around him as though we were encased in a bubble of gel. “We’re being summoned to Styx,” he said, warily.

  “Is this the kind of thing where I should be psyched or totally bummed?” I asked, unfamiliar with Diplozoe affairs.

  “The latter,” he replied, grimly. “Do not disclose anything to Nyxta.”

  “Queen Nyxta? Oh, this can’t be good,” I sighed in despair.

  In the blink of an eye, we traveled to a mystical place surrounded by a golden Grecian room, the glittering of candles and sheer fabric. In the center of the room, sat Queen Nyxta of Styx—the middle world.

  She examined us from head to toe and basked in our fear. “Καλώς ορίσατε,” she sung.

  Nicholas nodded respectfully, while her gaze centered on me.

  “She said
welcome
,” he whispered in translation.

  “I know,” I whispered back. I had learned Greek from an early age.  I had also taken Latin in high school, but both were on the rusty side. I smiled at the woman and continued in a low voice. “It sure doesn’t feel like we’re welcome.”

  “Alas, Xenia. We finally meet,” she said, examining me. “Let’s have a look,” she motioned with her finger, expectantly.

  I stood in horror, absolutely speechless. I forced my paved feet from the ground, and slowly turned.

  “Hmm, someone’s awfully quiet,” she said, standing up from her throne. “Let’s get to the interrogation then, shall we? Xenia, do you affiliate with Orion?” she gracefully floated toward us, circling around me like a shark tasting blood in water.

  “Yes,” I responded, avoiding eye contact.

  “And were you aware that he’s a rogue Diplozoe—a spy?” she hissed, enraged.

  “No, I was not,” I stuttered. For the most part.

  “Hmm, I see. Nicholas?” she addressed him without taking her eyes off me.

  “I too was unaware, my Queen,” he responded, kneeling in worship.  

  Nyxta laughed, sinisterly. “Someone here is lying. Now which one of you is the little fibber? You know I’ll find out one way or another,” she threatened with a menacing grin. “Xenia, your essence is…
captivating
. I like that about you. And why haven’t I seen you before? Where have you been hiding, my little Χάρων?” she was oddly engrossed by my presence.

  “I don’t get out much…uh…my Queen,” I said, awkwardly.

  Her boisterous laugh sent sparks down my spine. Nicholas appeared equally uncomfortable.

  “Now a traitor has surfaced and we have to be diligent in eradicating threats to our kind. Orion must be held responsible for what he has done,” She explained, returning to her throne. With the snap of her fingers, she summoned none other than my spy. “Orion, you must be brave to show your face.” She floated past me to Orion. She licked his cheek, lingering in a deathly way drawing his head back with a fist full of hair. “This time, there’s no one to protect you,” she hissed.

  “I’m here at your command, Nyxta. You may do as you please with me but let the others go. They’ve done no harm,” Orion pleaded, kneeling before the Queen.

  “They knew of you and never turned you in—that’s a punishable offense.” She leaned in closer, critiquing his intentions.

  “My Queen, I can assure you that Nicholas and Xenia did not know.”

  “Very well. Xenia, Nicholas, you are free to leave. I’ll be watching you closely.”

  “Thank you, my Queen.” Nicholas bowed and I curtsied.

  Nicholas snickered under his breath. “Did you just curtsy?”

  I turned a deep shade of red. “You didn’t prep me for this. Shut up.”

  We slowly distanced ourselves from Nyxta, while her attention veered toward Orion. The air was too sweet—it was tormenting my body. I made every attempt to abstain from fainting.

  “Oh, and Xenia,” Nyxta called. “Grace us with your presence sometime soon.”  The corners of her lips formed into a sharp smile.

  “Orion, Orion. What shall we do with you?” she asked, before taking to her throne. “Your punishment will be grave, and this time, you’ll be the one who pays retribution.”

  Orion’s eyelids pressed together succumbing to defeat.  

  Nyxta’s eyes swirled black—her arm extended toward him, slowly making a fist. He winced in pain, gasping once she released her fist.

  He bowed in anticipation for the end.

  “I’ve arrived at my decision,” Nyxta moaned at ease. “I’d like nothing more than to end you but that’d be too easy. You shall be condemned to Styx,
indefinitely.
You’ll commit to your duties as a Charon to mortal souls. Aside from that, you’ll have no contact with the other worlds.”

  I whispered to Nicholas, “Can she really do that?”

  “She can and she will,” he replied, continuing, “The whole point of being immortal is to have the ability to travel between worlds, free from harm, indefinitely—things that are granted by the Queen.”

  My stomach twisted in knots—I would rather die than live an eternity confined to one world after knowing, I could just as easily travel to two others.

  “No!” I opposed, interrupting the beginning of a ritualistic ceremony. She swiftly appeared before me—her eyes were furiously lit, and her hand wrapped around my throat.

  “Have you gone mad? Who dare protest to the Queen of Styx and her verdict?”

  “Pardon me,” I choked out the words as her grasp tightened around my neck. “May I propose something?”

  Orion looked up, stunned.

  “Speak now, but do not test my patience again as I am certain it will be your last breath—living or dead.” Her eyes beamed with electricity as she released her death grip.

  I shivered and looked toward Nicholas—he shook his head in disbelief.

  “We counterattack the ESOM. We can use Orion to acquire information that’s otherwise classified,” I proposed.

  “Silly little girl. If I release Orion, there’d be no guarantee. He could choose to hide like the little rat he is,” she snarled at him, digging her fingers through his hair—she grabbed a hold of his scalp, pulling his face up in line with hers.

  Orion gasped.

  “Now, we can’t let him go unpunished, can we?” Nyxta asked, rhetorically.

  “If you’d like, I can make you an offer,” I said. The reality of my initiative sunk in and I wished it cut through me just to end it all.

  Queen Nyxta laughed a boisterous laugh, seemingly intrigued. “A promise, you say?”

  “If Orion continues to spy, I’ll travel back and receive his punishment on his behalf.”

  “Xenia,
no
!” Nicholas shouted.

  “I know what I’m doing,” I hissed.

  “And what a pity it shall be to lose you—
when
things go wrong,” she said, cocking her head sideways.

  Nicholas grabbed a hold of my arm, pulling me closer. “This is
insane
. You put your life on the line, and for who? A traitor to our kind,” he whispered in my ear, “specifically,
your
spy.”

  “Silence!” Nyxta growled. After a moment’s deliberation, the queen spoke, “I’ve come to a decision. I’ll grant your request, Xenia. But do not forget your promise. Go now—all of you,” she waved, dismissively.

  Within seconds, we were back on campus.

  “You bastard! You’ve jeopardized us all,” Nicholas shouted, infuriated. He charged Orion with a swing to the jaw and another to his nose. Orion did not fight back. He stood for a moment before the second blow knocked him to the ground.

  “Stand up and fight me!” Nicholas fumed. His hands were clenched into fists of blood.

  “I will do no such thing.” Orion wiped blood from his nose.

  Nicholas continued pummeling Orion with a succession of kicks to the torso.

  “Stop it, Nicholas!” I growled, shielding Orion from yet another blow. “Orion!” I shouted, while he fell in and out of consciousness. I placed his head on my lap. He cringed as I carefully dabbed at the blood streaming down his face. “Leave,” I demanded, speaking to Nicholas.

  “
Fine
. I see you’ve made your decision.”

  “No,
you
made it for me.”

  Nicholas paced for a moment, infuriated, before storming off.

  Orion and I moved to a bench a few feet away. He moved unsteadily and his face was covered in blood. He grabbed his jacket from the ground, wiping his face.

  “Don’t. It’s dirty,” I said, handing him my shawl instead. “Here, use this.”

  “I couldn’t—it’d be ruined,” he mumbled through a busted lip. “Your dress…it’s ruined.”

  “It’s just a dress,” I said, indifferent.

  “I’ll replace it—I promise,” he insisted, while I compressed the gash on his temple. He reached for the shawl, grazing my hand. “I underestimated you,” he said, offering a hand. “I’ve got it from here.”

  “I couldn’t let you be condemned to Styx for an eternity, especially after everything you’ve done to help me, aside from the recent espionage development.”

  He stood, unevenly. “I should be fine,” he said, before falling to the ground.

  “Come home with me,” I offered, concerned. I extended my arm for a base of support.

  He responded in a way that was the least bit gratifying. He expressed gratitude in the way he knew best—smugly with a sense of entitlement evident by his body language and tone. “Well, if you insist.”

  “Don’t get any ideas. Someone should be with you in case you have a concussion.”

  “Only if you promise to keep your hands to yourself,” he teased.

  “I doubt that’ll be a problem,” I snarled. “Where are your car keys?”

  Orion stumbled, and I held on to him with all my strength.

  He rested against his car, and I reached into his jacket pocket for the keys. “Uh-uh, hands to yourself. Remember?”

  “You wish!” I rolled my eyes, continuing, “I’m driving.”

  “No one drives my car. She was a special gift for one of my many special talents—she’s a
Boxster Spyder
,” he raved.

  “Don’t be so difficult, Orion. You cracked your skull open,” I said, candidly.

  He handed me the keys, grudgingly. “Can you drive stick?” he asked, as if my life depended upon it.

  “That depends,” I smirked, unlocking the doors with the automatic controller. “How good of a teacher are you?”

  Orion looked displeased.

  “Just get in and shut up already.”

  “First you frisk me, and then boss me around. I’ve got to say, this is kind of turning me on,” he grinned ear to ear.

  “You’re really making it hard for me,” I sighed, displeased.

  “Likewise,” he winked, suggestively.

  I rolled my eyes and opened the car door. “Why must you be so crass?” I regretted my offer to help with every second that passed.

  It was a rough start, but I eventually got the hang of it. Orion cursed under his breath each time I switched gears.

  “How am I doing?”

  “You need to change gears quicker. Here, I’ll show you. Step on the clutch,” he demanded, placing his hand over mine.

  “Oh, okay. Now I get it,” I said, trying for myself.

  He nodded in approval before the car made a grinding noise upon shifting back.

  “Better, I suppose,” he grimaced, slightly annoyed. “Remind me to get my car serviced.”

  “Duly noted,” I replied, giggling.

  We arrived at my place shortly thereafter—luckily my parents’ cars were gone. I didn’t want to stir up concern and bringing a battered, strange man home was surely enough to solicit needless speculation.