Escapism (The Escapism Series) (16 page)

  “Here, put these on,” she ordered. She handed me a janitorial uniform, an ID card, and a bag. I changed as fast as I could, while she looked out for guards and the other nurse.

  Betsy handed me an envelope and a set of keys. “You must abandon this car at some point before taking a cab to this inn. You’ll be safe there.”

  “Why are you helping me?” I whimpered, confused.

  “It isn’t right—what they’ve done to you, and the rest. You were only children,” she smiled genuinely. “Xenia, darling,
go
now while you still can—go do great things,” she said, patting my back.

  I hugged her tightly before fleeing.

  In disguise, I left through an employee exit after thirteen years of imprisonment. My body tingled with excitement, officially freed in the Offline world. Betsy was well prepared for this day—a human being with a good soul.

  An alarming amount of guards poured out of a van and rushed into the Dome as I approached the vehicle, quickly getting in.

  I followed her instructions to the letter, reaching my final destination after six hours of commuting. The instructions were quite clear. I was to abandon the car in the next town three hours away, and then take a cab to an inn where I was to recuperate before traveling to Styx for safekeeping.

  I continued to read her instructions, unsure whether the next steps were absolutely necessary.

Spring Formal

Online.

  It was hard to explain—even to myself. Thinking back, I was puzzled as to how the majestic light from within me appeared, restoring Nicholas’ lost fragment. The few weeks after he was restored, he was at his most vulnerable. Kiran had shared our mission with him, and it was then, when he disappeared. First, for only a few weeks, then it turned into many months. Before I knew it, Spring semester began and I was miserable once I realized I would never see him again. I tried tracking him Online, in Styx, and Offline, but it was as if he had vanished for good.

  I wished Kiran had kept his mouth shut.

  Nicholas was missing and it was my fault.  I prayed the ESOM was not involved, although it was highly likely.

  My phone rang and I searched for it amongst the clutter in my room, hoping it was Nicholas. Disappointed, I sobbed upon answering his call.

  “Xenia? Stop crying…
please
,” he begged, uneasily.

  My sobs were interlaced with giggles, amused by the discomfort in Orion’s tone.

  “Are you laughing now?” he asked, mystified.

  “I’m not exactly feeling like myself, lately.”

  “What if I take you to Spring formal? Would that make you feel more like your old self again?”

  I hadn’t even considered going because the only person I’d have liked to go with, disappeared.

  “I don’t know,” I muttered, rolling onto my side. I was in bed with no intent on leaving.

  “I can answer any questions you have about Nicholas,” he said, enticingly. Orion shrewdly resorted to using Nicholas as bait.

  It was working. I had many unanswered questions, not just about Nicholas. For one, Daisy was not visiting as often as she once did when Lucas was around. When I did see her, I could not connect with her long enough to travel to Styx.

  The idea of going to Spring formal filled me with mixed feelings— namely guilt. While Marla and Calliope had formal fever, I spent most of my time aimlessly searching for lost fragments. I patrolled in the late hours through back roads, even the abandoned mansion where Nicholas and I had our first date, eerily enough.

  After restoring three dozen souls, my energy level rocketed sky high, temporarily masking the empty feeling in my stomach. No food, no drink and apparently no less than two souls restored per day could come close to filling that void.

  This year, Winters College was hosting the formal; there were many events to choose from within the college system at York U, with Spring formal being the climactic event of the year. I felt guilty about going to formal without the one person with whom I had envisioned going with.

  “I don’t have anything to wear,” I responded, indifferently.

  “We could have our own formal, if you’d like. Clothing, of course, would be optional—I bet you are a treat,” he whispered, slyly.

  “Don’t be a creep, Orion. Please,” I snarled, uncomfortably.

  “Relax. It was only a compliment and the image is mostly gone,” he chuckled, continuing, “Why not check with one of your girlfriends? I’m sure they have something you can borrow.”

  “I doubt Marla or Calliope have a spare formal dress that would agree with me.”

  “Well, well. Aren’t we picky? Check out the mall—it doesn’t close for another three hours. I can even drive you there personally.”

  Orion’s persistence was distracting. Distractions were good for me.

  “I could lend a hand in the dressing room—deciding on a gown can be very difficult,” he offered. His tone was devilishly excited.

  “I doubt you’d be much help,” I snapped.

  “If only you’d let me try,” he challenged, wildly amused.

  “No, thank you,” I snarled. In his own perverse way, I knew he was trying to lift my mood.

  “
No
. Thank you,” he said, playfully.

   “For what?”

  “For the visual, silly,” he sighed, delighted.

  I grumbled, hanging up the phone without saying good-bye. Immediately after, I texted Marla for an emergency dress hunt. After I mentioned Orion and Spring formal, she was at my doorstep demanding to drive to the mall at once. She sped like a madwoman, maximizing our time, accordingly.

  The mall was dying down with only a few window shoppers lingering about. To my amazement, I found a gorgeous black strapless number with crystal sequins speckled over the bustier. After the dress was taken care of, we drove back to my place for hair and makeup application. Marla was ready—aside from wearing her dress. She gladly assisted with my hair, curling the ends, twisting strands up, and securing them with pins.

  “Maybe this is a mistake,” I grumbled.

  Marla rolled up another strand in the curling iron, commenting, “I think it’s a wonderful mistake. You need to get out of the house and be with someone—preferably a male companion.”

  I wanted to tell her Orion was not your typical
male
companion—he was actually double-dead. He died in the Offline and Online worlds and was immortalized. “He’s a companion all right, but do I want to be in his presence? He’s so—”

  “Sexy? Gorgeous? Annoyingly perfect?” She scowled, releasing a curly strand, “I hate you, Xenia Sanders.”

  I cocked my head in the mirror and Marla stuck her tongue out, playfully.

  “Yes, aesthetically speaking, he’s a total babe, but there’s something eerie about him,” I explained, vaguely.

  “He’s mysterious—big whoop. I’d like Landon to be a little less forthcoming—if you know what I mean.”

  I giggled. “Thanks for saving me tonight. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but see you at formal, gorgeous.”

  Marla laughed, hugging me tightly. “You look beautiful, Xenia, and yes you most definitely will see us tonight. Cal will be shocked.”

  Calliope had been asked to Spring formal by a senior varsity football player—exactly her kind of guy. Although I wasn’t ecstatic about formal, I was pleased to know my two best friends would be there.

  “All done. You are jaw-dropping-formal-ready,” she announced, gleefully.  “Landon will be here any minute.” She looked at her wrist watch, nervously. I hugged her carefully, afraid to spoil her hard work.

  “Thanks, Marla,” I hollered as she hurrying off to get dressed.

  Orion shortly arrived thereafter, knocking at my front door.

  “What’re you doing here?” I asked a tall, well-groomed Orion, sporting a tux.

  “Taking you to Spring formal, silly,” he whispered, mischievously.

  “I never said I’d go with you,” I sighed, guardedly.

  “You never said you wouldn’t,” he smiled, cocking his head.

  I bit my lower lip, suppressing a wicked smile.

  His dark blue Porsche sparkled in the driveway with a tiny box resting atop.

  The minute we stood by his car, he opened the box, displaying a corsage.

  “I wasn’t sure if you wanted one, but it’s tradition,” he said, handing me the box.

  “Well, aren’t you sweet and old-school,” I said, examining the box.

  “Allow me,” he whispered, placing the corsage around my wrist. I awkwardly shifted, and he opened the car door for me, executing his second chivalrous act of the night.

  Orion glanced at me, periodically as he drove. I sensed his eerie gaze, unsure of his motives, but I was sure of one thing—I knew or at least felt— he was powerful. According to Kiran, he was not a fan of my existence, but he seemed normal around me—at least as normal as a person could seem.

  “Thank you,” I said, quietly.

  “You’re welcome,” he looked confused. “May I ask why you are thanking me?”

  “I’ve never worn a corsage before. I’ve seen them in old movies, and thought they looked tacky,” I said, candidly.

  “
Oh
,” he furrowed his brow.

  “What I meant to say was now that you’ve given me one, I can see why a girl would think it’s sweet,” I breathed uneasily.

  “I’m glad you feel that way,” he returned to his trance-like state.

  I examined him, wondering how long he had been in existence.

  “What?” Orion asked.

  “Just curious as to when were you born?” I asked. 

  “August first—I’m a Leo,” he replied, evasively. He flashed his white teeth, amused.

  “What year?” I asked, pryingly.

  “Eighteen twenty,” Orion whispered after much deliberation—I could imagine why.

  “You look good…for two hundred,” I laughed, nervously. I was born in two thousand and one—so that made Orion one hundred and eighty one years older than me.

  “Thanks,” he chuckled, continuing, “I was twenty six when granted immortality by Nyxta.”

  “Why’d you become immortal?”

  “I kind of ran out of options,” he eluded.

  I wondered how he had died in both worlds at such a young age.

  After an enlightening drive, we arrived to our destination.

  “Wait here a second,” he said, getting out of the car. He walked around, opening the door for me, extending a hand.

  “Xenia, you look…breathtaking.” He softly kissed my right cheek, lingering a while longer than customary.

  “Thanks, you too…uh…look good yourself,” I muttered.

  He looked exquisite, actually.

  We stood idly before he leaned forward, kissing my left cheek, edging to my mouth. His soft lips hesitated, giving me a moment to resist before parting my lips. He was delighted, yet stunned by my reception—as was I. He pulled me in closer, paralyzing my lower limbs with excitement.

  The physical connection insufferably reminded me of Nicholas—and once I reopened my eyes, it was too painful to endure. “Orion,” I gasped for air, placing one hand over his chest, instigating a halt. “Let’s go.”

  Surprisingly, he was just as invested in the moment. He was completely grounded by the looks of his clearly defined eyes. I pegged Orion for the two timing kind—wooing a girl Online and Offline simultaneously. However apparent I thought he was, I was disproven that night.

  “After you.”

  We approached the entrance and with every step closer, the vibration of music intensified from beneath us. We joined the big crowd of people in celebration—whether I liked it, or not. I followed Orion to the bar for a glass of champagne.

  “Something to take the edge off,” he said, tapping his glass against mine. “Cheers.”

  I nodded and raised my glass in return, guzzling half of the champagne with the lump of guilt stuck in my throat. Looking around, I spotted Marla and Calliope dancing with their dates—they each smiled and waved at me. I smiled, raising my glass to them. Seemingly, everyone was having a good time. A year earlier, I too, would have been having a plain old good time. Nothing about being who I was, was ever going to be simple again. I felt indifferent about whether that was a good or bad thing.

  “Xenia,” he called, seeking my attention. “Care to dance?”

  I snapped out of my daze quickly. “I need to know about certain things now,” I demanded, annoyed.

  Orion rolled his eyes.

  “First, we dance,” he said, leading me toward the dance floor.

  “
Fine
. One dance—so long as you tell me all I need to know.”

  “Would I lie?” He asked with an impish grin that was anything but reassuring.

  I winced, following him to the dance floor. He spun me around once, playfully. Orion danced very well—he had a bicentennial of practice on me.

  “I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but here goes. Nicholas has vanished it seems—for good.”

  “What do you mean? What happens to us when we vanish?” I asked, alarmed.

  Orion groaned displeased, as though he had told this story many times before. “As you know, Nicholas was a powerful Diplozoe, but not as powerful as I.”

 
It was always a competition with boys.

  “Still, he was too powerful for his own good—he slipped up. I can’t even trace him myself, and I’ve had a lot more practice, Xenia.”

  We danced even closer so that our words were mere whispers, only for each other to hear.

  “So he died a second time?”

  “His last time, to be precise.”

  “Seriously? How so? I restored him—he should be safe.”

  “He would have, had he not left in a fruitless pursuit—a naïve man he was,” he snorted.

  I took a moment to examine his face and body language—chilled to perfection, as expected. He continued moving smoothly across the dance floor.

  He brushed a strand of hair from my face, and wiped a tear that streamed unknowingly down my right cheek—treacherous tear.

  “Everything will be okay, Xenia,” he said, holding me closer.

  I was overcome by an urge to leave. “I have to get out of here.”

  “You read my mind,” he said, provocatively.

  I was distraught, but not naïve.

  “I’m not sleeping with you, Orion.”

  “Who said anything about sleep?” The corners of his lips twitched into a smile.

  “Orion!” I shouted, annoyed.

  “Okay, so I want you. Is that so wrong?”

  “
Yes
. It’s the wrong time to bring it up.”

  “In that case, one can only assume there’ll be a right time to bring it up—I hope it’s soon,” he beamed at the prospects.

  “How about never. Not Online, not in Styx or…” I trailed off, reliving my escape from the Dome with the thought of the Offline world. I was unsure whether I was even safe there, let alone what Orion had in mind.

  “I get it,” he replied, sullenly. “Xenia, I get the feeling you’re hiding something.” He furrowed his brow, disapprovingly.

  “The feeling is mutual,” I replied, heatedly.

  He gestured with his head, prompting more.

  “I think Nicholas left in pursuit of my biological mother. Apparently, I’m adopted.” I could barely say it out loud. I shivered, continuing, “I’m worried that the ESOM has captured him.”

  “Huh. Fascinating,” he said, feigning interest.

  Orion was back to work with his hand tangled in my long hair, brushing it aside. While his lips grazed my neck, I could feel his warm breath against my skin. He inhaled deeply, and released a sigh full of lust and longing.

  I looked over his shoulder, observing others dancing to the soft, and hypnotic music. I was light on my feet as most of my body felt supported by Orion, and the thick sweet air—it had an indescribable scent, almost honey-like.

  “I know you feel the change, Xenia. Embrace it,” he whispered, enthralled.

  “Can others feel it too?” I raised my head from his shoulder.

  “To some extent, but humans feel a natural high nowhere near what we feel—if they only knew the things we could do,” he said, amused.

  “What’s that?”

  “First off, the trivial perks are tapping into another’s energy and world whenever we please,” he explained, offhandedly.

  “That explains you showing up in Styx when I restored Nicholas,” I mused.

  “Exactly,” he said, suppressing a smile.

  “How do you shift back when travelling?” I asked, interested in any way that could ease the process. I had the basics down but I still had a lot to learn.

  “It comes with practice. Give it time,” he assured.

  “How do you bring others with you when you shift?” I asked. To Orion’s dismay, I was nowhere near done asking questions.

  “You tap into another’s energy. Your body is touching mine for instance—touch is very powerful for us.”

  “Without touch, how do you shift along with others? And what other less trivial things can we do?” I asked, obsessively.

  “Give it time,” he chuckled, amused.

  I rested my head on Orion’s shoulder and willingly embraced all the changes. We shifted energy levels further, reaching the stages just prior to Styx, the transitory portal. Within a second, my heartbeat escalated as Daisy appeared in my periphery. She looked less than pleased, sending chills down my spine.

  “Just admit it. You want me too—I can feel it,” Orion pressed, impatiently.

  “What? No. It’s not you—don’t you see her?”

  “Who?”

  “Look behind you,” I said, cautiously.

  He looked over his shoulder, and something about his gaze shook Daisy to her core. She appeared enraged before disappearing.

  “How’d you do that?” I asked, amazed.

  “Those travelers can be so inconsiderate at times. We can’t have one night to ourselves.”

  “You deliberately scared her away?”

  “Don’t worry. They’ll be back for you.”

  “
They
?”