MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) (28 page)

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 him.

“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.

Oddily continued to disobey Maxim, and felt bad doing so, but her worsening condition wouldn’t allow her to sit around with Paul and do nothing. With renewed strength of mind, Oddily was heading back down the stairs to the underground tunnel when someone grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth.

“Don’t scream! It’s me…Paul.”

Oddily pushed Paul’s hand away and shushed him.

“Where’s Maxim?” he whispered.

Oddily motioned for Paul to follow her to the bottom of the secret stairway, and then she stepped out into the tunnel. When Paul came up beside her, Oddily pointed to a light coming from beyond the walls made of stone.

Paul was dumbfounded. When he had decided to sneak inside the manor, he had no idea what he was about to get himself into. Finding the interior overgrown with plant life was bizarre enough; but when he followed Oddily through a trap door in the fireplace, the adventure turned into a whole other story. Now, he found himself standing in an underground roadway while staring at a bright light. It was no wonder that Maxim didn’t want him tagging along. Paul leaned over when Oddily tugged on his sleeve.

“It’s the entrance to a laboratory,” she whispered in his ear. “Can you hear anything going on inside?”

Paul shook his head no; but telepathically, he could hear Maxim speaking. He was giving someone the rundown on Zaylyn, and what she had done to Oddily. Then another voice emerged. It was Nexa speaking but the tone of her voice was deeper…more aggressive. She said,
You are a fool if you don’t bring her to me.

Nexa’s statement gave Paul goose bumps as he continued to listen.

First, tell us what you plan to do with her.
Nero’s voice was loud enough to drown out the others.

I will know after I’m exposed.

What do you mean by being exposed?
It was Zaylyn’s turn to speak.
Is Oddily contagious?

Before Paul could hear more, Oddily did the unexpected. She made a mad dash towards the light, giving Paul no other choice but to follow her to the lab.

32

Maxim was stunned when he saw Oddily enter the chamber and limp towards Nero. In the light, the change in her appearance was astounding. Her red hair had lengthened to just above her waist, her nails now hung over her fingers like claws, and one leg had become noticeably longer than the other leg.

Oddily gazed up into Nero’s face with eyes full of fear and begged, “Please…will you help me?”

“Oddily!” the entity inside Nexa approached her.

When Oddily glanced over her shoulder to where the voice had come from and saw Nexa standing right behind her, she turned and hugged the beautiful girl.

Now do you understand the urgency?
Nexa’s clear blue eyes glared at Nero and Maxim just moments before her body slumped into Oddily’s arms.

Maxim lunged forward to help but there was no need. Oddily was showing unexpected strength while easing Nexa to the ground. After Oddily stepped away, Maxim hunkered down on one knee and felt for Nexa’s pulse
. She is still alive father
.

Be careful son.
The High Council member has switched bodies.

Maxim gawked at Oddily, who had her attention turned to Thor and Zaylyn. They had been slowly inching their way past the graveyard of mechanical parts near the back of the chamber when more members of the High Council entered the lab. The two orbs of light glided through the cavern and found their targets.

Zaylyn shrieked, “Get away from me!” She began to swat at them as if they were annoying flies. The orbs retreated a few feet.

Do you Thor or your daughter have any last words before you depart?
The entity inside Oddily had spoken with a tone out of character to the redhead’s soft sweet sound.

Yes! Why do you bother with me?
Thor tried to defend himself.
I didn’t do anything!

Look, I am sorry!
Zaylyn butt in and began to plead her case.
I thought I was borrowing a small vial of growth hormones. I didn’t know the stuff was tainted with something more. It was just supposed to be a harmless prank.

You call that harmless!
Maxim pointed to Oddily’s body. Then after noticing even more signs of bodily distortion, he began to freak out.

Maxim, get over here!
Nero’s voice sounded threatening so Maxim joined him near a stone outcrop.

The entity inside Oddily ignored Maxim’s outburst and continued the questioning.
Did Thor know what you did?

Zaylyn gave her father a sideways glance and then shook her head
.

Speak up!

Thor didn’t know anything until today.

Suddenly, Oddily’s body began to involuntarily jerk.

Oddily’s system is in trouble.
The entity spoke to no one in particular
.

Without another word,
Oddily’s head tilted back and her eyes closed
while an energy field began to build around her body. To an observer, it appeared as though small particles of light were beaming from every pore of her body.

Oddily was dying; or at least, Maxim truly thought she was.

While the entity retained possession of Oddily, her voice started to whimper in pure agony as her body collapsed on the ground, twisting in distorted and abnormal ways. The entity appeared to be torturing her. It was as if the member from the High Council planned to keep Oddily alive at any cost to her suffering, inflicting her with repeated pain.

Maxim wasn’t even sure what was happening to her, and honestly, he questioned whether the entity knew either. From what he could tell, Oddily was an enigma to this highly evolved human from the future. Moreover, despite all the advanced knowledge and wisdom Nero had claimed this entity possessed, Oddily was being treated like a guinea pig right before his eyes.

Nero had to hold Maxim back as his son frantically fought to intervene. The struggle continued between father and son until Maxim saw that Oddily’s body had stopped thrashing and was returning to normal. Her leg was growing even with the other leg and her breasts were beginning to deflate. Finally, Oddily’s eyes fluttered open and came to a standing position. The entity still inside her spoke again.

I purified Oddily’s blood, which has removed the distortions. Her nails and hair have returned to a normal growth pattern; however, she will need to cut off the unusual length one last time.

Is she going to be okay?
Maxim stepped forward and reached for Oddily but Oddily’s hand came up to stop him.

You may not touch her until after I have left her body.

Maxim could hear Zaylyn snickering under her breath but he didn’t have time to give her a dirty look. The entity was speaking again.

Oddily still needs help with maintaining her newly stabilized system. I must inject her with a small amount of advanced DNA.

You can use mine,
Nero volunteered.

Your DNA would be too powerful. It needs to come from a half-breed donor.

Stop it!
Maxim began to shout
. You’re talking about Oddily—not some species you plan to turn into a hybrid. You’ll have to kill me first before I will allow that to happen to her.

You are ignorant like a newborn infant,
the entity
retorted
. Because of the negligence of Nero and Thor, this timeline has already shown variances that are now affecting the future. If I need to save Oddily’s life in order to prevent any further irregularities, you are incapable of stopping me.