The Perfect Outcast

by Melissa O. Hansen

  Her heart sank when the men stopped, as if engrossed in their conversation; they couldn’t move on. They must have been instructed not to let her out of their hearing. After all, she could do a lot of damage if she believed herself mortal.

  Alina pressed her lips together. She hated herself for it, but what choice did she have?

  She gave a high, musical laugh. “Oh, Zaiden!” She slapped his arm. “You’re sweet to worry for me, but there’s no need. I was out of my mind today. I talked to Rex, and he reminded me that while I look different now, the serum runs through my veins, so with time I’ll look like the other girls. He even said my appearance could help me go far, like make me famous!” She almost grimaced and gave herself away. She was taking this too far. “Pria is so full of opportunities, and—well, um, I just love it here!” she finished, not knowing what else to say. She hoped the men were convinced, because Zaiden’s expression was killing her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. His eyes flickered to the men nearby.

  “Of course!” Alina exclaimed. “Why do you ask?”

  “You’re” —he cleared his throat— “acting a little strange.”

  “I’m a new person since I talked to Rex.”

  He stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, well, it seems you’re right.” He looked away. “You are like all the other girls.”

  Alina’s heart plunged. She opened her mouth to confess everything but stopped and bit her lip.

  Zaiden glanced once more at the men as he turned back to his house. “I’ll see you later, Alina.” He ran his fingers through his hair as he walked away.

  The two men looked at her, and she flashed them a smile. This seemed to satisfy them; they turned and continued on their way, leaving her alone in the street.

  She wanted to rush after Zaiden, grab his arm, and explain everything. But she’d promised to tell no one, and she knew so little about him. Someday, she hoped, they would be close friends and he could learn the truth about her.

  As she started toward home, a warm rain began to fall, something Father Sampson gave sparingly. Appearances meant everything to him, including the weather. But at times, his moods crept in, disrupting the constant sunshine.

  This storm fit Alina’s mood perfectly. Invigorating, brisk, and cleansing, the rain poured over her like her feelings for Zaiden—fresh, unsteady, and exhilarating. The ground seemed to shake beneath her feet as the rain dripped through her clothes and tickled her back. When she reached the end of the block, she paused and glanced back toward Zaiden’s home.

  She blinked her eyes. Am I dreaming?

  It wasn’t a dream. He was watching her through the rain, his bronze hair slicked back and his wet shirt clinging to his shoulders. At her distance, Alina couldn’t tell if he was relieved, or sorry, to see her go.

  Alina walked into her home, drenched, and Jade sprang from the couch to retrieve a towel from the closet. She ran to Alina, searching her face as she wrapped the towel around her.

  Alina beamed. “Don’t worry, Jade. Rex explained everything to me. I can’t believe I thought I was mortal! In Pria? That’s impossible!” She squeezed out a giggle as she ran the towel over her face and hair. “He said my beauty will come, and I’m sure it will. I’m already improving—look, the red bumps are gone!” She framed her face with her hands. Of course, the blemishes were still there, but she hoped this might prove her conversion.

  Jade smiled knowingly. “Yes—I knew Rex could explain things better than I could. He has a way with people. What do you think, should we go to the feast tomorrow?”

  Alina knew Jade had no desire to go. The feast was an excuse for people to dress in fancy clothes, overeat, and over-drink, to celebrate the harvest they didn’t need. Father Sampson would speak about the hard work mortals must do to obtain food, and how Pria had such plenty—for their enjoyment, and not because they needed it.

  But Pria was different to Alina now, and she and Jade could no longer hide in the background. The more involved they were, the more convincing her indoctrination would be. Now she understood why she didn’t have friends growing up. Father Sampson isolated her because any close friend might come to learn her secret. This no longer mattered; she didn’t care to be friends with the superficial people of Pria. But perhaps Jade could renew friendships with those she loved.

  “Yes, we have to go. I promised Rex. I think he likes you! You should give him a chance. Every woman in Pria would envy you.”

  “Oh, I have no interest in Rex,” Jade replied, but Alina caught a blush. “On second thought, maybe we shouldn’t go tomorrow.”

  Alina almost agreed; she didn’t want to go, either. But she had an act to keep up.

  “Let’s go, please? I promise I won’t mention anything about Rex. But I want to talk with him again. He helped me feel so much better today.” She searched Jade’s eyes for understanding.

  Jade nodded. “Sure, we can go. But remember how busy Rex will be. He probably won’t have time to talk with all those people around.”

  Alina hadn’t thought of that. Disappointed, she put on her best smile. “Okay. We’ll have fun anyway.” She yawned. “Well, I’m tired, I think I’ll go to bed.”

  Now she realized why Jade told her to keep her nightly routine a secret. All of Pria would envy her if they knew she slept each night. Jade concealed the truth because the longer the pretense held up, the longer they could be together, and Alina would be safe.

  Tears came to Alina’s eyes, and she reached out to Jade, pulling her into her arms. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  This wasn’t good. Rex told her not to be emotional.

  Jade’s expression remained steady, but Alina felt her shaking through the embrace. For the first time in seventeen years, she understood her caretaker. Their connection went beyond their clasped arms, and Alina held on much longer than she should.

  The next evening, Jade and Alina walked to Rex’s home as the leaves transformed from emerald green to golden yellow, orange, and crimson. The Harvest Feast launched summer into autumn, patterned after one of Carthem’s few beauties. Immortals craved variety, so Pria revolved through the seasons with leaves changing in autumn, snowflakes falling in winter, bright blossoms in spring, and countless flowers in summer. Outdoor recreation rotated through the seasons, the years, and decades. Sometimes Sampson constructed mountains with sheer cliffs and powdered slopes for skiing or blue-green lakes for boating and deep swimming. People climbed those same cliffs to leap from their heights and explore the valleys—always searching for bigger thrills and prettier flowers. Sampson had a demanding job, trying to keep his subjects entertained.

  Yet nothing enthralled Alina. The snow drifted, new flowers bloomed, fresh fruit grew—but underneath it all, Pria remained the same.

  Alina smoothed the curls in her hair and fidgeted with the bodice of her scarlet gown, which was too low-cut for her liking. She and Jade shopped for hours but found nothing that flattered her body. Most women loved to flaunt their perfect figures, but Alina knew the more she covered, the better she looked.

  Lights pulsed on Infinite Way, flashing over the writhing dancers who crowded the street. Occasionally someone sprinted across the roof of Rex’s estate and hurled himself into the air, landing in the center of the dancers. Long tables filled with wine bottles, crystal goblets, and trays of food lined the road. Swarms of people hovered nearby, laughing, kissing, or nuzzling with each other. The music throbbed through the ground up into Alina’s bones, and her teeth chattered nervously. She wiped her clammy palms on her dress. Her task overwhelmed her. Could she pretend to love Pria when she despised everything about it? She might do well tonight, but what about the next celebration? Or school next week? Jade flashed Alina a sly smile, then spun on her heels and strode toward a man and woman conversing nearby, holding glasses of blood red wine.

  “Donovan! Selena!” Jade’s voice rang out.

  The couple shared a surprised glance as Jade walked toward them, her sapphire gown clin
ging to her long legs. “I haven’t seen you in so long! Isn’t the wine divine tonight?” She gave an exaggerated but plausible giggle. Alina looked down and smiled. Jade hadn’t tried the wine. Rex spoke the truth—she was a good actress.

  She’s showing me how it’s done.

  Alina squared her shoulders and followed Jade, wobbling in her jeweled heels. Jade’s body swayed as she prattled and flirted, and before long a small crowd gathered around her. Alina joined in and forced laughter until her eyes bulged. She could never hold a group’s attention like that. Too bad she wasn’t more like Jade—she’d have no problem convincing Sampson she loved Pria. But she couldn’t feign interest in their shallow words. Bored, she turned her head and scanned the crowd for the person she most wanted to see.

  She found Zaiden a short distance away, standing with his caretaker and a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Maybe his caretaker had a partner, and they raised him together. This was rare, but not unheard of. Alina smiled as she watched him, hoping he would turn and look at her. He looked perfect in his tailored suit and white collared shirt, his hair slicked back, his square jaw shadowed with facial hair.

  Her smile faded as a girl approached him and placed a manicured hand on his shoulder. Her flaming red hair swirled past her shoulders and her silver gown shimmered as she slunk around him. She was so stunning, all the women around her seemed plain.

  Alina’s face burned as Eris batted her eyelashes and stroked Zaiden’s arm. She tossed her hair and leaned in toward him, but he stepped away.

  Alina bit her lip to suppress a laugh just as Eris looked over Zaiden’s shoulder and met her eyes. Eris flared her nostrils, dropped her hand from his arm, and started toward Alina.

  She turned to Jade for help, but Jade was deep in conversation with a man Alina didn’t know. She glanced back at Eris and caught Zaiden’s eye instead, who had turned to see what captured Eris’s attention.

  His eyes lit up and he smiled at her. She started to return his smile, but Eris’s sour, puckered face interrupted them.

  “Alina, darling! You look almost decent tonight. How much makeup did it take?”

  Alina rolled her eyes. This time she wouldn’t give Eris the pleasure of a dramatic reaction. She smiled sweetly. “At least makeup can make me look better. No amount can hide a sneer, but you did your best.”

  Eris glowered at her. A sneer made a woman wholly unattractive, and to point one out was a terrible insult. Zaiden kept glancing at them, and without meaning to, Alina’s eyes flickered in his direction.

  Eris turned and caught Zaiden as he looked away, then let out a high laugh. “So, you have your eye on Zaiden! How perfect. Did you know my caretaker is dating his? I’m seeing him a lot these days, and he likes that. It was a game for me, but now that I know it’ll break your heart, I think I’ll get more into it.” She pivoted in her stiletto heels and pranced back toward him, her curls bouncing against her bare back.

  Zaiden watched her as she approached, his face a mix of suspicion and interest, and he shot Alina a careful glance as Eris slid her arm through his. Alina’s heart dropped. She had no hope of getting to know him with Eris hanging around, and now she couldn’t convince anyone she was having a good time—especially Sampson. She scanned the street for Jade. Perhaps they could leave. But Jade was nowhere to be seen.

  The situation was familiar to Alina: complete isolation though thousands surrounded her, never a friend to rescue her from the awkwardness. She ducked into the crowd, her eyes picking out and examining every blue dress. Jade, where are you?

  Maybe she could find Rex. He might not know where Jade was, but the idea of talking to him comforted her. She crossed the street to his estate, slipping through the tangled lovers on his lawn to the front door. More couples filled the corners of his foyer and front room, and she felt their heavy eyes on her. Rex wasn’t there.

  She stepped back onto the porch and her heart rose to her throat. In the front yard she saw Eris and Zaiden, fused together, her white-tipped fingers running through his hair. Alina clutched the pearls around her neck and swallowed. Eris met her eyes and smirked, then locked her lips with his in a tight kiss.

  Alina lifted her gown and ran into the street, her eyes blurred with tears. She ran to where she last saw Jade, then stopped. She couldn’t face Jade like this. Sampson would see her upset when she should be happy. She’d have to go alone and invent an excuse for leaving early. She spun around and started toward home, but after a few steps, a hand seized her arm.

  “Come with me, Alina,” a low voice commanded. The grip tightened, as if he expected her to run away. She wiped her tears with her free hand before turning to face him. She recognized him as one of the men who followed her from Rex’s the night before.

  She forced a smile. “Where are we going?”

  He didn’t smile back. “You’ll see when we get there.” She didn’t resist as he led her, but her eyes scoured the crowd. It was unlike Jade to leave her.

  They reached the end of Infinite Way the same moment a sleek, black aircar pulled up. Only Sampson’s top officials owned aircars. Her heart raced in her chest. This was it, her final moments before she vanished forever. Sampson had planned her capture perfectly. By ensuring she had no friends, only Jade and Rex would know if she disappeared. Even Zaiden would forget her, if he hadn’t already.

  The man opened the door for her, and she gave one final, desperate glance down the street. No one noticed her; their wine and dance partners consumed them. Alina ducked into the aircar, slid across the smooth seat, and gasped.

  Father Sampson was sitting beside her.

  “Hello, Alina,” he said in his deep, oily voice. The aircar began to move. “How nice to see you again.” She could see one side of his face where the party lights illuminated his perfect features. He was the handsomest man she’d ever seen, but his was a dark, threatening beauty.

  “I d–don’t remember meeting before,” she stammered.

  He chuckled. “Oh, you wouldn’t remember, I suppose.” He spoke as if he knew her intimately. Her pretense had failed.

  What about Rex? Sampson must never find out what he’d told her. The game had to go on.

  “I’m sorry not to be more presentable,” she said, smoothing her hair. “You caught me at a bad moment—a girl was rude, and I was upset. Please don’t be angry. I love Pria so much, I don’t want to be sent away.”

  Sampson’s hard eyes unnerved her. She kept talking.

  “I think Rex can help me feel better; he did yesterday. Can I see him now?” It was a daring move. She wrinkled her brow innocently.

  Sampson continued to glare. “Don’t worry. You must know I can give you more than Rex ever could. I will be far more helpful in soothing you.” His chilling tone made one thing clear: he didn’t trust Rex.

  “Oh—yes, of course.” She cleared her throat and looked out the window at the passing lights, crossing her arms to hide her tremors. “Where are we going?”

  “You are my special guest tonight,” he said. “How would you like to see Gordian Palace? Have you been there before?”

  “Um, once, on a school trip.”

  “Ah, yes. Then you haven’t seen what I will show you tonight.” He stared as if he saw right through her, down to her naked skin.

  She straightened her back and tried to appear calm. What could he do to her? Put her in a comatose state or torture her to speak? She shivered. Could he trick her into exposing Rex or Jade? She was grateful Rex hadn’t told her any of his plans. She didn’t trust herself to keep them safe now. She forced a smile. “I’m interested to see it.”

  He smiled back, showing white, even teeth. He must be the handsomest man in Pria. He makes sure of it. His silver hair fell behind his ears, bright against his olive complexion. His eyes were dark and captivating, his shoulders wide and solid. Any girl would covet her place. Everyone knew he had a way with women. But she felt only repugnance as he stared at her.

  “Can I ask you something?” Alina said.
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  “Of course.”

  “Why are you taking me now, during the feast? I was having a great time—well, except for that rude girl—but I’m sure you don’t want to miss the party either—”

  “Quit the charade, Alina,” he ordered. She froze in her seat.

  He leaned in, his face inches from hers. “Do you think you can fool me? Do you think I don’t see right through this pathetic act?” He straightened in his seat, his black eyes flashing. “I know more than you realize, and what I don’t, I soon will. Ah! Here we are.”

  An iron gate opened, and the majesty of Gordian Palace stretched before them. The innumerable gold turrets looked sharp and threatening, as if piercing the sky.

  Alina’s mind raced. If he knew the truth, then he knew about Rex. Was Jade safe? She had no time to think of a plan.

  “Thank you, Leonard,” Sampson called to the driver. “I’ll take it from here.” The aircar slowed to a stop and Sampson jumped out, then walked around to Alina’s door and opened it. He didn’t look at her as he held out his hand to assist her.

  She took a deep breath. He was about to find out how difficult she could be when she didn’t have to pretend.

  Alina ignored his hand as she stepped out. Without waiting for him, she squared her shoulders and strode toward the front steps of the palace. She released a faint cry as his fingers enclosed her throat, holding her in place.

  “No one goes before me,” he growled in her ear, “especially in my own home.” He tightened for a moment before releasing her, and she clasped her neck and let out a wheezy cough. Sampson marched ahead of her toward the stairs. Alina followed.

  The porch steps seemed endless. He waited patiently for her at the top, then led her through the towering front doors into the foyer of Gordian Palace. A giant chandelier sparkled in Sampson’s eyes as they walked under the staircase and toward a hallway with thick, velvet carpet. Memories of her field trip came rushing back to her. School kids were allowed to visit Gordian Palace just once during their educational years, at the age of ten.