Escapism (The Escapism Series) (18 page)

  It was the perfect opportunity to sneak him in. We went straight to my room for safekeeping—my parents could return at any point.  Another reason why Marla, Calliope and I were planning to get a place of our own—privacy.

  “Here we are,” I announced.

  Orion explored my room before sitting on the edge of my bed.

  “Cozy,” he purred.

  “Please, make yourself at home,” I said, rolling my eyes. “The bathroom is through there,” I pointed to the far end of my room.

  I left briefly to gather some antiseptic, gauze and tape. When I returned, Orion was shirtless, washing his face over the sink.

  “I can put your shirt in the wash,” I offered.

  He nodded, appreciatively.

  I placed his shirt aside, and examined his wounds.

  “He really let you have it,” I said, amazed by the gashes. “I don’t understand.”

  “What?”

  “You’re older than Nicholas. You could’ve fought back and you didn’t.”

  Orion nodded in agreement. “I’d take a beating over whatever torture Nyxta had in store for me,” he groaned, holding onto the marble counter as I cleaned his wounds.

  “I think you need stitches. You must’ve hit the ground pretty hard.” 

  “No need for stitches,” he replied, calmly. His obnoxious self resurfaced, concussion and all. “Anyone else joining our slumber party?”

  “Nope, just the two of us—and it’s not a slumber party. It’s a stop-bleeding-and-stay-conscious kind of thing,” I clarified.

  “Just my kind of fun,” he said, blinking once before fading into a trance. His eye color darkened—nearing black—before returning to a light green.

  “Orion. Can you hear me? Say something!” I shouted, worriedly.

   “I’m fine,” he whispered, continuing, “Well that took longer than usual.” While I applied iodine, his wounds began to heal right before my eyes.  He gasped in pain, gripping the counter.

  Only then it dawned on me—he was immortal and in no really harm. He’d heal and be back to his old ways in no time. I assisted someone in need—it was a human thing to do, although unnecessary in his case. Regardless, I was amazed by his quick recovery.

  “All done,” I said, touching his healed skin, fascinated. I cleaned up nervously, and handed him a clean shirt.

  “You have a very nice room.”

  “Thanks,” I replied, occupying myself with the first aid supplies.

  “Siblings?” he asked, feigning interest.

  “Nope. What about you?”

  “I had a brother. Edric—he died,” he inhaled, unevenly.

  “He wasn’t a Diplozoe?”

  “He was.”

  “I-I don’t understand,” I said, analyzing his sullen face.

  He struggled to compose himself.

  “I…
killed
him,” he gritted his teeth and his knuckles turned white while gripping the marble counter.

  Part of my mind suggested immediate flight, but the part that controlled motor function was momentarily paralyzed. “It’s getting late. My parents will be home any minute now.” I backed away nervously, grabbing the first aid kit—there were scissors inside.  That’s when I noticed the cracks in the marble where his hands, just before, had rested.

  “Xenia, are you okay?” he asked, confused.

  “Yeah.
Sure
,” I said, laughing tensely. In that moment, I lunged toward the doorway, headed for the stairwell.

  Orion was much faster. His hand quickly anchored against the wall as a barricade.  I could feel his warm arm against my neck.

  “Why are you running?”

  “You just admitted to murdering your own brother. Who wouldn’t run?” I pressed my back up against the wall, distancing myself.

  “My actions
led
to his death. It was a very long time ago. I mourn for him every day.
Look
.” He took his shirt off, revealing one of the many tattoos on his chest. Edric Nordstrom 1816-1840.

  “My brother was wrongfully convicted for my actions. I was even more reckless back then and the stakes were higher—I couldn’t stop her.” His eyes were bloodshot and his arm trembled against the wall as he struggled to breathe.

  “I’m sorry,” I wrapped my arms around his waist and placed my cheek against his chest. He hesitated before relaxing around my body. Interestingly, the intertwined vines of tattoos I had seen once before, sprouted before quickly recoiling.

  I wondered how someone could easily fall apart even after two centuries of mourning. In the hallway where we stood, I heard the front door open and I dragged Orion back into my room.

  “She could have ended you in a heartbeat, but she didn’t,” he said, mesmerized.

  “Guess I was lucky,” I whispered.  It wasn’t luck.  I was a bargaining chip of some sort.

  Orion nodded, while strolling through my room, examining anything and everything in his path.

  “I take it you aren’t allowed to have guys over.”

  “Of course I’m allowed, I’m an adult. But it’s late and you’re spending the night. My parents aren’t that cool.”

  “Ah, I see. I don’t want to get you into any trouble. I should leave.”

  “
Wait
. You can’t leave now.  My parents could see you…unless you left through the window.”

  “I don’t know about that. You sure act like a kid, you know that?” He glossed over me, continuing, “But in a young woman’s body of course.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, awkwardly. “I do not act childishly…
jerk
,” I snapped, throwing a pillow at him.

  He threw it back, chuckling. “See? It’s a slumber party after all.”

  “More like camping. I have a comforter you can sleep on and an extra pillow. Will that be okay?”

  “More than okay. Which side of the bed do you like?”

  “The right side. But you, my friend, are sleeping on the floor.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he chuckled.

  Once he finished assembling his spot on the floor, he leaned in hesitantly for a hug. “Goodnight, Xenia.”

  “Goodnight,” I whispered, sheepishly. He was inherently bad, yet he made me nervous in ways that were unfamiliar to me. I lingered beside him and he kissed my cheek, gradually moving toward my neck. His hands edged to my hips, pulling me closer to his. His lips reached my jaw, and I pulled back.

  “I despise you,” I said, breathing heavily.

  “You do not,” he snickered, kissing my neck softly. It annoyed me that it felt so good.

  “Do too,” I said, defensively. “Well, I should despise you, traitor.” 

  “If you despise me, then why’d you invite me back to your place? You know I’m immortal,” he said, candidly.

  I still hadn’t come to grips with being a Diplozoe and a Charon—immortality was on the back burner.

  “I
cannot
die,” he emphasized, with slow precision.

  “Unless Nyxta has a say,” I pointed out, blatantly.

  Orion rolled his eyes. “With the exception of Nyxta, who has the authority to end us altogether. Yes. Aside from her, I cannot die.”

  I thought of Nicholas and his arranged deal—Nyxta was kind to him.

  “I see. Well, I entrust you’ll be on your best behavior,” I said, firmly.

  “Of course. And why don’t you check and see if you really despise me?”

  “How do you suppose I do that?”

  “Kiss me. We kissed before, but you seem to have forgotten. Kiss me and tell me there is nothing between us,” Orion proposed, eagerly.

  “Now this is why Nicholas was jealous. He thinks there’s something between us.”

  “There isn’t?” he asked, amused.

  “
No
,” I replied, snappily.

  “I may be a traitor, but you’re a liar,” he said, vindictively.

  “What? That doesn’t even make sense.”

  “If you’d only kiss me, we could put this argument and ourselves to rest.”

  “
Fine
,” I leaned in, quickly kissing him. It was anything but quick. His hands edged around the small of my back, pulling me closer. His warm, inviting lips pressed softly against my own. Just when I thought I could pull away, he pressed his lips harder, enticingly.

  Orion recoiled and I followed with every inch of his body.

  “Do you still despise me?” he asked, enthralled.

  The brief physical gap away from him allowed reason to resurface. “Yes,” I gasped, withdrawing from his embrace. 

  I hopped in bed, instructing an unsettled Orion, “Get the lights.”

  He stood with his arms out, expectantly. “I feel so used and dirty,” he said, playfully.

  “Good,” I giggled softly, pulling the covers over me securely.

  “Sleep well, Xenia,” he said, retreating to the floor.

  After five minutes had passed, he placed his arms on my side of the bed, sighing restlessly.

  “What?” I mumbled, partly asleep.

  “Do you snore?” he asked, feigning interest.

  “I hope so.”

  “Très drôle,” he said, snidely. “Rest assured, I’m a sound sleeper.”

  “I bet.
You’re dead
. Nothing must come easier than that.” I was eager to fall into a deep slumber and forget the day altogether. “Night.”

  “You’re really not a night person.”

  “Not tonight.”

  “Party pooper. This is the last sleepover I’ll be attending,” Orion heaved a sigh, sarcastically.

  I smiled, falling back asleep.

Unsure

I stretched under the covers slowly opening my eyes. Orion sat by the edge of my bed.

  “Ah! Creepy much?” I screamed, caught off guard.

  “
Sorry
. I heard you mutter something. It sounded like you were getting up. Did you sleep well?”

  “Why? Did I snore?” I asked, placing a pillow over my face.

  “No, but you sure talk a lot in your sleep,” he chuckled.

  “
Really
? What did I say?” I asked, timidly.

  “Something about your mother and Styx—and then you mentioned Nicholas a few times,” he said, dryly.

  “Oh,” I felt my cheeks burn hot. “Anything else?” I latched onto my down pillow for support.

  “Don’t worry. You didn’t mention
me
.”

  “Good. I’m kind of seeing Nicholas or I was seeing him—it’s confusing.”

  “I understand. And besides, I’m too old for you anyhow.”

  “Age isn’t the problem,” I said, dryly.

  “I should go. Don’t want to get you into any trouble with the ’rents,” he snickered.

  “It’s no trouble at all, really. But let’s check if anyone is home—just in case.” I peered out the bay window and my parents’ cars were long gone.

  It was going to be a good day. I could feel it from the moment I awoke with the sun shining through the windows—and Orion taking off in a hurry.

  “Thanks for everything—I won’t forget what you’ve done for me,” he said.

  “Bye, Orion.”  I shut the door before he could utter another syllable. 

  It was Marla’s official turn to drive, though we lacked a proper schedule—even if we had one, it would be markedly skewed in Calliope’s favor, no big surprise there.

  Calliope voluntarily graced us with her presence, unexpectedly.

   The morning whisked by, mostly because I shifted to Styx in need of relaxation. What I had done, while Online, was unclear to me—my memory felt hazy and I was perfectly fine with that. While in Styx, I relaxed by a stream of running water, on a bed of grass and flowers. I was immersed by the sweet floral scent and birds chirping, soothingly at a distance. When I shifted back Online, I found myself hungry and sleepy in mid-lecture. Slowly, the events of the morning seeped into my memory in a succession of increasingly tolerable flashes.

  I decided upon a coffee and snack run—there was a cafeteria not far and the girls were diligently working away, taking notes. The halls were busy as usual with students chatting and hurrying to class. I browsed the delectable baked goods aisle, while pouring coffee into a paper cup.

  “Xenia,” Nicholas called, standing by the check out. “Can I speak to you for a moment?”

  “Of course,” I said, gloomily.

  “I need to explain myself,” he said, remorsefully. We moved aside discretely. “Once Kiran told me, I had to help in any way that I could. Nyxta made me invincible, again—to help you.”

  “Only this time, indefinitely. But why were you gone for so long?”

  “It was a time-consuming and torturous process. The trials and tribulations were grave ones to become immortalized, even more so the second time. I wished I was here with you.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” I felt sick to my stomach. “I feel awful having doubted you, but you have to understand that I didn’t know,” I leaned in, wrapping my arms around his waist. He followed suit.

  “That was nice,” he whispered, releasing me from his warm embrace. He helped carry the trays of goodies back to class.

  “Are we good?” he asked, unsure.

  “I think so,” I replied, content. We approached the lecture hall doors and I balanced the trays. “I hate saying good-bye.”

  “Then don’t,” he whispered, enticingly.

  “I have to get back—they’re waiting ravenously.” I motioned to the tray of goods.

  “They aren’t the only ones,” he smiled, holding the door.

  I blushed, backing away from his piercing stare.

  Back in class, the girls were in dire need of sugary and caffeinated goodness.

  “Can you please gouge my eyes out?” Calliope whined. “This dude is super boring, man.”

  Marla and I laughed, while we sipped our hot coffees.

  By the time lecture had ended, my body yearned for a good workout. Collectively, we decided to visit the Track and Field Centre for a run. Only ten other students were using the enormous facility, either running around the track or lifting weights by the far end.

  After a few laps with the girls, I decided to take my workout outdoors. I ran around the track building and looped toward the tennis courts. Landon was playing tennis on the southeast side of Tait McKenzie Centre.

  “Xenia!” he shouted, missing the ball. His opponent looked displeased. He ran to the gate, meeting me as I passed. “It’s been a while.”

  “It has. I’ve been really busy, but I’ve been meaning to call you,” I explained.

  “I’m kind of disappointed—not going to lie. It’s been months since we hung out and you never showed for tryouts.”

  “
Oh crap
. Sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

  “No worries. There’s always next year,” he flashed an animated grin. “I’m glad we ran into each other.”

  “Me too. Do you want to chill later? Maybe play a little b-ball?” I asked, hopeful.