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

by Pohring, Linda; Dewberry, Anne

  “I swear on my life that I’m a human being and I’ll explain what you saw in the meadow as soon as I know you’re all right.”

  “How can you be human when you can appear out of thin air?”

  “It’s complicated; but basically, consciousness is able to convert into energy and vice versa. Even the scientists of today are coming close to these findings.”

  Maxim stopped speaking when he saw Oddily begin to rub her head with her free hand.

  “What is going on with you?”

  “It’s my scalp. It’s starting to tingle.”

  Maxim squinted at her in the dark and realized that Oddily’s hair had grown considerably in the last several minutes. The length went from her shoulders to just above her breasts. Oddily noticed her lengthened hair as well and ran into his arms, but the tender moment wasn’t to be. Without warning, Maxim and Oddily were surrounded by men in dark uniforms with flashlights shinning in their faces.

  Maxim held Oddily in a protective manner and whispered, “You must have triggered one of the alarm systems when you left the castle.”

  “Sir, you must step away from the girl.” One of the security guards spoke as two other guards closed in on them from behind.

  “It’s entirely my fault!” Oddily wiggled free from Maxim’s grip and stepped forward. “I’m a guest at Bentley Castle and when I asked Maxim to meet me outside, I didn’t know I would set off any alarms.”

  “I’m assuming that the male with you is Maxim.”

  “Yes, I am.” Maxim spoke for himself.

  The guard in charge made a call, and a few minutes later, Paul showed up and stared at Oddily for a long time.

  “Mr. Bentley, this girl claims to be a guest of yours.”

  “Yeah, she’s right.”

  Oddily was hoping for a friendly smile, anything to show that Paul wasn’t mad at her for sneaking out on him, but he showed no emotion whatsoever.

  After the guard and the security team left, Paul told Maxim and Oddily to remain where they stood and turned to head back to the castle.

  “Wait!” Oddily ran after him. Paul stopped and waited for her to catch up.

  “Please Paul! I can’t stand the thought of what you must think of me.” Her sweet voice pleaded with him. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you as a friend.”

  “Is everything all right?” Maxim stepped up to Paul and Oddily.

  “Are you blind?” Paul lashed out at Maxim. “Take a look at your girlfriend!”

  “I’m going to get her help.” Maxim’s eyes didn’t waver from Paul’s.

  “Then I’m going with you.”

  Maxim didn’t like Paul’s boldness and took Oddily by the hand. “Come on, we need to go…now!”

  Paul stepped in the way. “Sorry Maxim. I can’t let you do that. My interest in Oddily’s welfare is not what you think, so stop acting jealous.”

  Without warning, Oddily wrapped her arms around Maxim’s waist and gazed up into his handsome face distorted with emotion. “Please, I’m scared Maxim. Let Paul help me in any way he can.”

  Maxim stared at Paul for a long moment while considering Oddily’s plea. “All right! For Oddily’s sake, you can tag along.”

  “Great! I see that you drove Oddily’s car here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, let me tell my mom and uncle that everything is all right, and then I’ll get my Hummer. We can get to your destination a lot faster!”

  While Maxim waited for Paul to return, he lifted Oddily’s chin and kissed her with such love and passion, Oddily’s body became like a limp noodle in his arms.

  “Please don’t walk out of my life,” Maxim’s voice choked with emotion. “I want us to be together again.”

  Tears began to flow down Oddily’s cheeks. “Can it be forever?”

  Maxim could hardly contain the joy that filled his heart when he realized that Oddily still loved him despite what he was.

  “Do you know that right now, because of you, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world?”

  Oddily smiled and leaned her head on Maxim’s chest. How could she resist him when he desired her so much? No, she was the lucky one.

  Paul pulled up in his bright yellow vehicle and unlocked the doors.

  Maxim and Oddily climbed in to the backseat and then Paul pulled out onto the main road. Maxim glanced over at Oddily and saw her staring at him with a dreamy faraway look in her eyes. He could have easily read her thoughts, but he chose not to. Instead, he whispered, “What are you thinking about?”

  “It’s Nexa!” Oddily’s crooked grin appeared out of nowhere. “I can’t wait to see her face when she sees the three of us together again.”

  “You’re right,” he whispered back, frowning at the thought of his sister. “I’m sure she will be surprised.”

  29

  Nexa stared down into the chamber filled with lab equipment and spotted her father with two others. Nero was arguing with the male while a female sat off to the side. Nexa couldn’t see their faces; but, interestingly enough, the two stranger’s were as bald as her father was.

  You deceived me Thor! Nero was the one speaking. When we agreed for Maxim and Zaylyn to become mates, you didn’t inform me that Zaylyn would be used as an experimental lab rat. Now, because of your daughter’s hybrid status, this union cannot take place!

  Zaylyn jumped to her feet. How dare you call me a lab rat!

  Thor’s agitation with his daughter showed when he shouted, Shut up and sit back down!

  When Nexa recognized Zaylyn voice, she began to squirm; but Willa’s firm grip on her shoulder, warned her to remain stock-still.

  What about Nexa? Thor had managed to calm himself despite his daughter’s outburst.

  I have no problems with your son. He will make Nexa a suitable mate.

  Both Nexa and Zaylyn gasped at the same time, but for two very different reasons.

  For Nexa, it was the idea that her father chose Zaylyn’s brother as her mate behind her back. Was Nero completely out of his mind? What if this guy was as crazy as his sister?

  Zaylyn’s shock came with the discovery of having a sibling and her outcry of disbelief echoed throughout the chamber. Do you mean to tell me that all this time I have had a brother and you never bothered to let me know?!

  Zaylyn became so furious with Thor, she tried physically to attack her father, but that was a mistake. Thor grabbed her by the arm and twisted it behind her back.

  Let her go! Nero threatened Thor as he stepped up to him. There is no need for violence!

  Thor released Zaylyn and then stared menacingly at Nero. You have no idea what you’re dealing with here, do you?

  Nero raised an eyebrow. I guess not, so enlighten me.

  Zaylyn, show him what you’re capable of.

  Father, please! She was still rubbing her arm.

  Do it! He shouted in her head.

  With a lack of enthusiasm, Zaylyn closed her eyes and began to clench and unclench her fists until something strange began to happen with her energy field. Then, without warning, Zaylyn threw her head back and let out an agonizing moan. There was a division forming within Zaylyn’s energy field and suddenly, a genetic replica of Zaylyn began to take shape. Within moments, Nero was staring at Zaylyn’s duplicate standing next to her. The exertion it took for Zaylyn to accomplish this feat had drained her. There was even a moment when Nero thought she was going to pass out and yet, Thor didn’t move to help her.

  What have you done Thor? This ability was not accomplished by the injection of growth hormones, so what other experiments have you allowed the High Council to do on your daughter.

  A new strain of synthetic DNA was formulated, and Zaylyn was placed in a controlled environment while they did the test.

  Nero stepped away from his former colleague. Thor, you have changed since I last saw you. You sound like a madman!

  Thor laughed at Nero. Perhaps I am, but aren’t all scientists a bit crazy?

  Suddenly, a rock fe
ll from the ceiling of the chamber and both Nero and Thor’s attention went to the crevice from where it fell.

  “We’re not alone!” Thor spoke loudly enough for any outsider to hear. “Show your face willingly or there will be serious consequences.”

  Willa went ahead and poked her head out of the crevice before Nexa could react. “It’s me…Willa!”

  Thor cocked his head suspiciously at Nero. Willa looks different, and since when did you give the android a beating heart?

  Nero was angry because he knew that one of his children had disobeyed his orders and was up there with Willa. He also knew that he needed to hide this fact from Thor.

  Certainly, you can remember that Willa has been a pet project of mine. Nero patted Thor on the back. What you hear is the beat of an artificial heart supported by a complex pacemaker that I designed last year. I’m pleased that you thought it came from a real heart!?

  Yes, I’m sure you are! Thor nodded. I would like Willa to come down here and join us—now, if you don’t mind. You have captured my curiosity.

  Nero needed to distract Thor from his interest with Willa, so when Nero saw Zaylyn’s duplicate beginning to fade he was relieved. Thor, what is happening to the clone of your daughter?

  As soon as Thor turned his attention away from the crevice, Nexa beckoned Willa to leave with her, but not to the lab as Thor had requested. Nero was right. She should have listened to her father and stayed away. Now she felt insecure about what lurked around every bend in the path as she tried to move silently through the cavern.

  Suddenly, Nexa stopped in her tracks. She could see Willa’s beam of light on the cavern walls, but there was something more. A much brighter circle of light was heading their way.

  Willa stepped in front of Nexa to take a stand while the light approached.

  “Who do you think it is?” Nexa whispered.

  “I hate to tell you this, but this light is not coming from someone’s flashlight.”

  The blonde-haired beauty became even more frightened. “Then what is it?”

  “If your father’s data serves me well, the ball of light could be a member from the High Council.”

  Nexa recalled Nero’s reference to the group of highly evolved humans who had outgrown their need for a physical body. “I don’t understand Willa. Why would one of them come here?”

  “I don’t know, but I think we’re going to find out.”

  After the light approached, the brightness expanded to encircle Willa. The intense heat radiating from the orb turned Nexa’s skin red and its brightness made her eyes water, but she couldn’t turn away. Somehow, the being of light wouldn’t let her.

  Willa maintained her position in front of Nexa for as long as she could, but something was causing the android’s system to short-circuit which activated the shut off mode. Nexa was now unprotected from the pulsating light; and, she still couldn’t move. Then the unthinkable happened. In the time it took Nexa to blink, the orb had penetrated the wall of her chest and invaded her. Nexa’s body slumped against the cavern wall for a moment and then slowly straightened upright again.

  Nexa was no longer in control of the shapely body that began to move towards Nero’s lab. Instead, a presence more powerful than the combined strength of Nero and Thor was heading their way.

  30

  Why did you send my daughter to a parallel universe? Thor was still arguing with Nero.

  No thanks to you, Zaylyn has been showing signs of dangerous behavior. She has even gone to the extent of injecting a primitive girl with the experimental growth hormone that I suspect was the same one used on her.

  Thor’s head snapped in his daughter’s direction. Is this true?

  Zaylyn turned her back on her father, but Thor grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him. You stole the formula from the High Council, didn’t you!?

  So what if I did?

  Visibly shaken, Thor pushed his daughter aside and confronted Nero. Who is this girl? I must return her to normal before the High Council finds out!

  You’re too late! Nexa leaped down from one of the crevices in the ceiling.

  All Nero, Thor, and Zaylyn could do was watch in opened mouth wonder at Nexa’s agility as she landed on the floor of the chamber. After she straightened her posture from the crouched landing position, Nexa’s head snapped in Zaylyn’s direction. Nero knew at once that something strange had happened to his daughter but remained silent as he watched with growing concern.

  Where is the female you injected? The voice was Nexa’s, but the intonation was different.

  Unable to detect the discrepancy, Zaylyn acted full of herself and sneered at Nexa.

  After grabbing Zaylyn and pinning her to the ground, Nexa’s sky-blue eyes turned to Nero. Where is the injected female?

  Nero was both shocked and impressed by the strength emanating from Nexa. Her name is Oddily.

  Nexa continued to stare at Nero. Zaylyn has created an unfortunate fate for the girl you call Oddily—a fate that no one from this timeline should have to endure.

  After listening to Nexa’s little speech, it finally dawned on Thor that a member from the High Council had claimed her body. His concern now was for his daughter. Zaylyn, stop struggling! I’m sure that Nexa will release you if you cooperate.

  Nexa’s head tilted at an odd angle while staring down at Zaylyn. Do you realize the seriousness of what you have done? The members of the High Council have been given no other choice but to bring judgment upon you.

  Isn’t that a little harsh? Thor interjected. After all, it was just growth hormones, right!

  You are wrong! The entity said while releasing Zaylyn. What was injected into Oddily is much more complex than what we gave your daughter during the growth hormone experiments.

  Don’t you have an antidote? Zaylyn’s tone of voice sounded respectful after she felt the powerful presence residing in Nexa.

  I wish it were that easy, but Oddily is from this timeline. Her body won’t be able to fight off the transformational DNA; which reminds me, where is she?

  31

  When Paul pulled up in front of the iron gates leading to Stafford Manor, he expected them to open automatically but the gates remained closed.

  “What gives?” Paul got a glimpse of Maxim through the rearview mirror. “Are you going to let me drive onto your property or not?”

  During the drive home, Maxim had time to reconsider. He was having second thoughts about Paul entering his property and his growing concern had reached its peak. “Look, you can drive us to Stafford Manor, but after that…!” Maxim’s voice trailed off.

  Paul shut off the engine and turned around, frustrated with Maxim’s paranoid ways. “Go ahead and finish what you were going to say!”

  Maxim didn’t like Paul’s tone of voice but answered anyway. “I was going to tell you that you need to wait in the car while I take Oddily inside.”

  Paul shook his head. “No. I think that we should all stay together. What are your thoughts on this Oddily?”

  Oddily felt the gentle squeeze of Maxim’s hand on hers, and the unspoken gesture allowed her to know how difficult it was for Maxim to let Paul enter his private world. “Please, I just want to find Nero.”

  Paul became angry with himself when he noticed the added stress his actions were causing Oddily. “Hey, it’s all good! I’ll listen to music until you guys get back.”

  Paul restarted the engine and, this time, Maxim opened the massive iron gates. After entering the grounds of the private estate, the only sound other than Maxim giving directions was the honky-tonk sound of country music playing on the stereo.

  Paul slowly drove through the darkened forest, following a maze of narrow dirt roads, until he spotted the outline of Stafford Manor against the backdrop of a full moon. Paul pulled up to the shadowy structure and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you serious? You guys actually live here!”

  Maxim gave no explanation as he climbed out of the vehicle, bringing Oddily with hi
m.

  “I guess you do!” Paul mumbled to himself as he watched the two disappear inside the rundown manor. But moments later, Maxim returned, motioning Paul to roll down his window.

  “Did you change your mind about the three of us staying together?”

  Maxim smirked. “No. I forgot to warn you not use your telepathic powers until I say it’s okay.”

  “That’s it!? You’re not going to give me any details?”

  “Listen, I’m just following orders from Nero. You know—the tall fellow with a bald head and bluish skin. The one you acknowledged at your friend’s party.”

  “You can drop the pretense,” Paul said with a tinge of sarcasm. “Shouldn’t you be heading back inside? Oddily might need you to fend off the rats.”

  “We’ll take this up later smartass!”

  Oddily had been waiting for Maxim by the enormous fireplace when he returned, and then they both entered the secret passageway leading to the underground tunnel. It was while they were heading for the light that Maxim noticed the outline of Oddily’s body move in an unnatural way.

  “See that light up ahead?” He said. “Nero has a laboratory inside one of the chambers of the mountain and…wait a minute!” Maxim stopped in his tracks and tilted his head when he overheard Oddily’s name mentioned. The voice coming from the lab sounded like Nexa and yet, Maxim’s instincts warned him otherwise. Then a stranger’s voice spoke up and Maxim knew that Nero had company.

  “Do you think something’s wrong?” Oddily whispered.

  Maxim grabbed Oddily up in his arms and quickly returned her to the main floor of Stafford Manor. It wasn’t until then that he spoke. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I think it’s best that you stay outside in the car with Paul until I get back.

  “But something is happening to me Maxim. You said Nero can help me!”

  “I know. Just give me a few minutes and then I’ll come back and take you to him.”

  Complying with Maxim’s request, Oddily got as far as the decaying front door; but then, glanced over her shoulder to where she had last seen Maxim. When there were no signs of him, she turned and stumbled while walking back to the secret passageway. While rubbing her sore leg, she listened closely, expecting to hear his footsteps, but all was quiet.