MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) (10 page)

“Her name is Oddily.” Maxim’s tone carried a subtle edge of annoyance.

“It doesn’t matter. She won’t be around much longer.”

All at once, Maxim lunged at her, but quickly regained control before grabbing her by the neck.

“I’m impressed with your restraint,” she smiled sweetly.

This girl, with her long lashes fluttering up at him, was puzzling. “Who told you about Oddily?”

“It was the wonderfully handsome Nero. He informed my father that you had reached maturity and it was time for us to meet. He even brought me here himself to make sure I made it to the right destination, and now I can see why.

Maxim recalled the conversation he had with Nero about the chosen mates picked out for him and his sister when they were toddlers.

“I have found someone of my own choosing.” Maxim’s voice sounded firm.

In response, she gave him a teasing look as she slid the skirt of her dress up past her thighs.

“Look—whoever you are…”

“My name is Zaylyn.”

“All right—Zaylyn,” he spoke her name clearly. “I wasn’t aware of the arrangements made by our fathers concerning mates until recently, so I can’t honor what they have planned for us. Please try to understand that my heart belongs to Oddily. She has become a part of me in ways you wouldn’t understand.”

Zaylyn sighed. The resonance of his voice when he spoke Oddily’s name made her understand why animals used sound for seduction. “You’ll have a change of heart after you get to know me. Besides, now that I’ve seen you in person and have talked with you, I’m not backing off.”

“Is that a threat?” His eyes narrowed.

“Not to you.” Zaylyn stood up and gave Maxim a playful wink. “I want to keep you around.”

An uncharacteristic look of disquiet shadowed Maxim’s face, knowing Oddily was still her target.

“There you go again, worrying over your precious redhead, but I suppose you should considering the circumstances.”

“If you touch her, I’ll…!”

“You will do nothing,” she smiled seductively, taking Maxim’s hand and pressing his palm to her breast. “Oddily doesn’t have these, does she?”

Maxim angrily yanked his hand away.

“Oops, I’m running out of time. If I don’t leave right now, my continued presence with you could alter our destiny. Goodbye Nexa!”

By the time Nexa stumbled out of the cabinet to wring the girl’s neck, Zaylyn had already begun to shimmer and fade.

11

The next morning, Maxim gave Nexa and Oddily a ten-minute head start to school and used the time to reflect on how effortless it was for Zaylyn to leave the control room. She had used a form of teleportation to maneuver herself around, something he knew in theory, but hadn’t tried yet. Today was the day he would attempt to relocate himself to River Lodge and retrieve his black BMW that was still parked in the lot of the
Inn
where Oddily had stayed for a few days.

When the ten minutes were up, Maxim readied himself and began to focus on his desired destination. The energy around him started to build momentum, creating a funnel of terrifying power. Suddenly his body mass was no longer evident, until a split second later when gravity took hold again, and he reappeared standing near his car.

Maxim quickly glanced around to see if anybody had witnessed his arrival, something he hadn’t considered beforehand. Thankfully, there were no bystanders. He hopped into his car and took off towards Bradley Donut’s, a well-known hangout for kids before school. As expected, he found students gathered in small groups, several of them appearing as couples.

“Perfect!” Maxim mumbled as he parked his car and rolled down the window. To remain inconspicuous, he decided to act as if he was talking on his phone while in truth, he focused on the conversations outside his window. With eyes averted, he listened in on the back and forth dialog and began to familiarize himself with the use of slang words.

“Hey, there’s Maxim. I’ll be right back!”

Maxim turned his head to see who had spoken and spotted Paul heading to his car.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Paul bent down and glanced inside the car. “Where’s Oddily and Nexa?”

“They’re at school.”

“Shoot, I needed a lift.”

“What about your friends over there?” Maxim indicated the group that Paul had been visiting.

“Nah…they’re ditching today. If you want, I’ll introduce you around before they leave.”

Maxim recalled Nexa’s words from the night before. She said that he needed to familiarize himself with Oddily’s world, so he agreed to go and meet with Paul’s friends.

After stepping out of the car, Maxim stared at Paul’s friends curiously while being introduced. He met Jeff, Mike, Stephan, Andrew, Liz, and Jenny who gawked at him in return. His focus remained on Stephan and Andrew because the two females were apparently their girlfriends. After ten minutes of listening in on how they interacted with one another, Maxim finally understood the meaning of the term, pet names. Nexa was right. He did feel foolish. The strange ritual was supposed to be a form of intimacy between two people.

“What school do you go to?” Jeff asked.

“I was home schooled,” Maxim tried to be friendly.

“Ahhh man, you’re a lucky dog!”

Maxim’s jaw clenched when, once again, he was measured up to an animal. This offensive comparison was going to take some getting used to.

“You’re the guy who was with Oddily at the dance,” Jenny volunteered. “My heart goes out to the poor thing.”

“I appreciate your sympathy, but Oddily’s doing fine now.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed,” she grinned.

Maxim placed his hand on Paul’s shoulder. “I’m going inside to get some donuts for Nexa and Oddily. Do you have any suggestions on what the girls might like?”

“Yeah, but it’s better if I show you.” Paul joined Maxim inside the donut shop filled with freshly baked goods. “Hey Helen, how’s my favorite girl?” Paul greeted the woman behind the counter.

“You’re such a flirt,” Helen laughed. “What will it be today?”

“My buddy here needs some help.”

“What can I do for you, young man?”

Maxim stepped up to the glass display cabinet and stared at the array of choices while he listened to Helen’s recommendations. Then he ordered two of each, starting with maple bars, apple fritters, bear claws, cinnamon twists, and jelly donuts.

“What if Oddily’s favorite is chocolate sprinkles?” Paul teased him.

“Add two chocolate sprinkles to my order, please?”

“Hey, I was just kidding!” Paul was surprised when Maxim had taken his remark seriously; but when he saw Maxim grin, he knew the joke had been put back on him.

“I’ll drop you off at school.” Maxim called over his shoulder as he headed back to his car.

Paul ran to catch up with him. “Thanks for the lift. I’ll be your donut delivery boy if you don’t want to get out of the car.”

Maxim’s first response was to say no because he already had plans to be on the school’s campus; but, he reconsidered. This would give him the chance to remain unnoticed while he kept an eye out for Zaylyn. “Yes…sounds like a great idea. Thank you.”

* * * * *

Oddily walked alongside Nexa and Paul while munching on donuts Maxim had sent along with Paul. She was heading for class when one of the students bumped into her, knocking her into the wall.

“Excuse me,” the girl stared into Oddily’s startled eyes.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” Paul grabbed Oddily by the arm in an effort to steady her while she regained her footing. “Are you all right?”

Oddily appeared to be in a daze as she gazed up at Paul. Then suddenly, on impulse, she promptly grabbed him and tried to give him a kiss.

Paul held her off and glanced first at Nexa, then at the girl who had bumped into Oddily. She was ducking out the nearest doorway, but not before she glanced his way and winked.

“Stop it!” Nexa pulled Oddily away from Paul before she could try and kiss him again.

Suddenly, Oddily snapped out of her trance-like state and stared at Paul who had begun to laugh.

“I didn’t know you were a jokester!” Paul playfully ruffled Oddily’s hair in an attempt to blow off the incident, but he couldn’t hide his discomfort from Nexa. It was written in the depths of his alluring brown eyes right before the tardy bell rang.

After Paul’s abrupt departure, Nexa spoke to her brother while she and Oddily rushed to class.
Maxim, Zaylyn got to Oddily and she did it right under our noses.

I know sis. You can relax though because I caught her. I’m going to take care of this situation once and for all
.
I’ll talk to you later.

* * * * * *

Maxim’s light blue eyes were hooded and unwavering while he kept Zaylyn pinned against the wall of the gymnasium. When she finally stopped resisting him, he believed he had the upper hand…but he didn’t. With Zaylyn’s quick thinking, she had managed to free one of her arms. She ripped his shirt open, gazing at his chest seductively, and then into his eyes.

Stop it!
Maxim was the first one to break eye contact.
I don’t want you. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

Damn it Maxim! You are the one who doesn’t understand. I love you. What will you do in fifty or sixty years after Oddily dies? You will have to move on with your life.

No! I have thought this through and I will find a way to keep her with me.

Obviously, you haven’t considered the fact that she will grow old.

Of course I have. Night after night, I have searched for answers.

So tell me, what did you find?

That is none of your business.

You’ve already discovered the answer, haven’t you? I can see it in your eyes. When do you plan on changing her?

You ask too many questions.
Maxim tried to hide his confusion over her last question. He wasn’t sure what Zaylyn was talking about, but it sounded as though she was accepting his quest for prolonging Oddily’s life as a reality. In a strange way, this gave him hope.

It doesn’t matter though.
Zaylyn continued.
I’ll get to Oddily before you do unless, of course, you stop resisting me.

Maxim began to dig his fingers into Zaylyn’s arms as a surge of rage came over him; but, Zaylyn disappeared in a whirlwind of flickering light.

Maxim was stunned. Zaylyn’s hasty departure appeared to be different from what he had witnessed inside the control room the night before. How many ways were there to disappear?