Maxim studied his father’s reaction to Oddily’s appearance from afar and cringed from what he had witnessed. Nero wasn’t happy.
What is it, father? Is she okay?
Nero’s head snapped in his direction and he glowered at his son. This primitive girl has recently traveled by an unnatural method of teleportation! Are you aware of this?
Oddily told me about the incident last night. Zaylyn had transported her from a shopping mall in the next town to a nearby cemetery. I didn’t know that was possible.
Yes, and there can be side affects, but I don’t know if this accounts for some of the changes going on in Oddily’s body.
Maxim watched Nero glance over at Paul, and blinked hard when Paul gave his father a slight nod of his head. Did they know each other?
Maxim was going to question his father about Paul, but was distracted when commotion broke out in the room. From out of nowhere, Starla tried to approach Oddily, but Nexa had become a human shield and blocked her attempt.
“Stay away from her!” Nexa ducked when Starla swung her fist.
Oddily heard raised voices, but she wasn’t paying attention to what was said. For her, her world consisted only of Starla who had tried to hit Nexa. She became furious and charged forward grabbing hold of Starla’s dress, tearing the tulle from her skirt.
“Leave her alone!” Oddily shouted over the commotion.
Maxim grabbed hold of Oddily, pried her hands off Starla, and then hustled her outside to set her firmly on the hood of his car. She moved to be free but he held on relentlessly. She shrieked and struggled beneath his hold, but Maxim was too strong.
“Let me go! I need to help Nexa.”
“Will you stop fighting me and take a look! Maxim turned Oddily’s head so she could see Nero and Nexa heading towards them.”
“I…I’m sorry!” Oddily was so pissed off she could hardly speak. ”I don’t know why I’m acting this way.”
“Don’t be sorry. You’re beginning to feel emotions that you have kept buried for years. Please believe me when I say that your anger with Starla is justified! However, the growth of your fingernails worries me. Nero is a doctor of sorts. He wants to examine you, but we need to get you home first.”
“No!” Oddily began to struggle again.
“Oddily, why are you afraid?” Maxim saw the trace of fear enter her eyes. “Did something happen while I was away?”
“It’s Willa and Tinley. They are creepy to be around!”
Maxim’s heart sank. This was the first sign that Oddily was rejecting his world.
19
Back at the house, Oddily gawked at Nero while he drew blood from her vein. The bluish hue of his skin was unusual, reminding her of the “Aladdin’s Lamp” story. Nero looked like the genie that had popped out of the lamp.
“Take off your clothes.” Nero gave an order to Oddily. “These rags will hinder my examination of your body.”
Stop it, father! Maxim’s rebuke made Nero reconsider.
“Excuse me. I want you to search your body for any signs of growth that is hidden from my sight.”
Oddily’s questioning eyes looked for reassurance from Maxim. “Do you mind if I go to the upstairs bedroom?”
“No, go ahead. Do what makes you feel comfortable.”
What do you think father? Maxim questioned Nero as soon as Oddily had left the room.
When Nero opened a niche on the wall and retrieved a strange looking microscope,
Maxim was stunned. I didn’t know there was a compartment there!
Nero ignored him and began to make clicking noises with his tongue while he stared into the lens of the microscope at a sample of Oddily’s blood.
Father, what is it? What do you see?
This is interesting! I have detected an unidentified substance running through Oddily’s bloodstream.
What is it?
I’m not sure, but her body seems to be adapting to the foreign matter.
Will Oddily be okay?
Until I find out what’s going on inside her, it is too early to make an accurate prognosis.
All of a sudden, both Maxim and Nero overheard a squeal coming from upstairs.
It sounds as though Oddily is pleased.
I’ll go and check on her.
Maxim left the kitchen and began to jog up the stairs. “What did you find, Oddily?”
“Come here…hurry!”
Maxim stepped into the room as Oddily rushed up to him and whispered, “I found some more areas of growth, but don’t tell Nero!”
“Will you tell me?”
Oddily pointed to her chest and grinned, “I got boobs!”
Maxim smiled and kissed her. “You leave Nero to me.”
Maxim and Oddily met up with Nexa during their return to the kitchen.
“Thanks for driving Oddily’s car home sis.”
“You’re welcome. What have I missed?”
I can’t talk in front of Oddily, so don’t believe what I’m going to say aloud. “Nero drew her blood and it shows up normal. She’s fine.”
Okay, now what is the real story?
Nero found foreign matter in Oddily’s blood sample and wants to watch her closely.
Nexa turned to Nero. What happens now?
I know what happens. Maxim spoke up. I must find Zaylyn! This has to be the situation she warned me about right before she left! She said I would hunt her down and do anything she wanted after I found out what she had done; and, she is right. I can’t have her messing with Oddily anymore!
Calm down son. We need to think this through.
That reminds me father, it was Nexa’s turn to speak. You said that Zaylyn was part of an experiment. Please, tell us what you know so Maxim and I will understand what we are dealing with?
Part of the experiment by the High Council was to tamper with hormonal growth. This new procedure caused Zaylyn’s body to advance to full adulthood by the age of five. At the same time, she acquired the powers of a grown-up while her maturity level remained as a five year old. Unfortunately, her living in this altered state has turned her into a very dangerous breed.
“You’re bleeding!” Maxim interrupted Nero when he caught Oddily wiping away a trickle of blood from her neck.
“I know. There’s something on the back of my head, and it hurts.”
“Let me see!” Maxim turned Oddily around and found a puncture wound.
“Move out of the way son!” Nero examined the mark hidden beneath Oddily’s hair and began to curse profanities.
“What is it?” Oddily looked worried.
“It’s just a small spider bite. It’s nothing to be concerned about.”
Nexa quickly moved to Oddily’s side. What is it, father?
Maxim was also staring at Nero while waiting for his reply.
It’s an injection mark! Now we have a clue as to what is happening with Oddily.
Zaylyn did this to her!
Yes, I believe you’re right. Nero’s voice trailed off.
Nexa sidestepped over to Nero. I’m worried father.
You should be because, now that I think about it, I suspect that Oddily was injected with the same experimental growth hormone that was used on Zaylyn.
Tears began to glisten in Maxim’s eyes as he grabbed Oddily up in his arms and held her close, burying his face in her neck.
Nexa’s beautiful cherub lips twisted into a frown as she watched Nero reach over to Maxim and place his hand on his son’s shoulder. We will work this out…I promise!
Maxim grabbed hold of his father’s hand and squeezed it for a moment before Nero took Oddily’s blood sample and left.
It wasn’t until Nexa left the room that Maxim started to smother Oddily with kisses, but Oddily stopped him because something that Nero had said was still bothering her.
“Why did Nero call you his son?”
Whether his answer came from a place of love, or fear, it didn’t matter. Maxim released Oddily and spoke the truth. “Nero is my fa
ther.”
At first, Oddily acted stunned by Maxim’s confession, but then her face lit up…a girlish, irresistible smile broke through her worried face like a gleam of sunlight. The vague fear was gone from her eyes as she burst into a fit of giggles.
Oddily’s silly response caught Maxim off guard. “I’m serious, Oddily.”
“Sure you are!” She laughed even harder.
Maxim caved in to Oddily’s playful spirit. It was a nice, but temporary, break from his concern.
20
The next morning, Oddily woke with a start when she heard Nero’s laughter. The young man with bluish skin, who had intrigued her since their first meeting, was downstairs. She could also hear Maxim moving around in the shower room, so she decided to slip out of bed and go spy on the being who Maxim claimed was his father.
Oddily descended the stairway as quiet as a mouse, but then Sweeper showed up, and ruined everything. As usual, the robot greeted her with its loud synthetic voice.
After Sweeper scanned her body, Oddily walked into the kitchen where she found Nero gulping down a thick glob of…well, whatever it was, it smelled putrid.
“Good morning. You are up early.”
“I know. I have to be at school by seven forty-five.”
Nero cocked his head. “Must you leave?”
“No, I guess I could stay, but I have a math test today.”
“That is unfortunate because I would like to have you stay home with me.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe we can hang out after school. Will you still be here?”
“Yes, I will be waiting. Would you like the rest of my drink?” Nero held out his half-empty glass.
Oddily wrinkled her nose.
Unaffected by her response, Nero finished it himself and sat the glass down on the counter. “I want to take another look at your fingernails before you go.”
“Sure.” Oddily held out her hands and, upon examination, Nero took note that her nail growth had continued during the night. The same with Oddily’s hair, but not enough to be visibly noticeable.
Oddily gazed up into Nero’s handsome face, her thoughts on what Maxim had told her about him. She had a question on the tip of her tongue and decided to spit it out before she lost her nerve. “Maxim says you are his father.”
“Good, he has finally told you!” Nero nodded his approval as he stared at her curiously. “You seem to be handling the news well.”
“Oh how funny!” Oddily burst out in a laugh.
“Is that so?” Nero released Oddily’s hands. “Did Maxim also inform you that Willa is your mother?”
“Oh my gosh!” Oddily’s hand flew to her mouth in a pretense of surprise. “No, he didn’t!”
“Seeing how you are handling all of this so well, did you know that I am a time traveler from the future?”
“I do now!” Oddily grinned as she played along with him. “That must mean Maxim is a time traveler too!”
“Don’t forget Nexa!”
“That’s right! If Maxim and Nexa are twins, that means they both are!”
Willa had slipped into the kitchen after she overheard Oddily’s high pitched giggles.
“Hello mom!” Oddily’s crooked grin lit up her face.
If there had been a startled robot contest, Willa would have taken first place.
“What’s all the noise going on in here?” Maxim joined them and headed straight over to Oddily for his morning kiss.
“Hello, my time traveling boyfriend.”
Maxim’s eyes widened with caution as he looked to Nero for an explanation.
Nero didn’t even flinch. I told her the truth.
It was not your place to tell her anything father. Now, either Oddily thinks you’re just kidding around with her, or she has come to the conclusion that you’re completely insane!
“Guess what, Maxim? Willa is my mom; but of course, you probably already know that—right Nero?”
“That’s right!” He grinned directly at his son.
Stop it father! This is not funny!
While Maxim was reprimanding Nero, Oddily’s phone began to vibrate.
Oddily pulled out her phone and answered, “Hello? Paul! No, I’m fine. Okay, bye.”
Maxim’s brows wrinkled together. “Paul has your phone number?”
“I guess he does! Paul must have memorized it when he added his cell number to my phone after using it to talk with Nexa.”
“It’s true!” Nexa called from the other room. “Oddily, are you ready to leave?”
“I’m coming. I just need to brush my hair and teeth.”
“Wait!” Maxim followed Oddily out of the kitchen. “What did Paul want?”
“He’s bringing Nexa and me breakfast this morning—isn’t that nice of him? He’s going to wait for us in the school parking lot.”
Maxim searched Oddily’s thoughts as he followed her up the stairs; but, he found nothing to warrant his jealous reaction. He waited while she brushed her teeth and fussed with her hair before he wrapped his arms around her shoulders to nibble at her ear. “I’ll see you after school baby. I’ll make sure I’m home.”
Oddily turned in his arms to gaze up at him with adoring eyes. “You’re so sweet to me.”
Her sentiment puzzled him. “What did I do?”
“You gave me a pet name. I tingle all over every time you call me baby.”
“Mmm, I like that!” he grinned. “What are you going to call me…sweetie?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“You’re going to make me wait and suffer, aren’t you?!”
“I would never do that to you!” With a playful kiss on his bare chest, Oddily said her goodbyes and joined Nexa. Before they could leave, Nero ordered Nexa to keep a watchful eye out for any changes in Oddily.
On the way to school, Oddily had fun staring at Nexa with a big cheesy smile on her face.
“Why are you making that face at me? You look silly.”
“Wouldn’t you grin if you were staring at a time traveler?”
Nexa screeched Oddily’s Smart car to a stop. “Who told you?”
Oddily went wide-eyed with wonder. “What…is everyone around here in on the joke?”
Nexa was going to remain tightlipped until she could find out what was going on, but a hypothetical question came to her mind. “What if there is such a thing as time travelers and I am one of them. No! Better yet…what if Maxim is one?”
Oddily made a funny snorting sound through her nose. “I’m not stupid!”
“No, but you are a daydreamer. So, how do you imagine you would react?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I think I would want to run away and hide from him.”
Nexa felt a lump form in her throat. “You would leave Maxim?”
“I think I would have to,” Oddily cringed at the idea. “If I didn’t, I’d probably loose my mind!”
Nexa was disappointed by Oddily’s answer and didn’t want to talk anymore. Instead, she stepped on the accelerator and drove the rest of the way to school with her mind solely on Maxim. She worried over her brother—believing that he could very well end up with a broken heart.
21
After the girls left for school, Maxim headed back to the kitchen and confronted his father. What do you know about Paul?
Obviously, you already know he is like you and your sister.
Yes, but do you know him?
I know of him.
And? Maxim urged his father to say more.
There’s nothing more you need to know at this time.
Tell me something about him…anything!
All right…if you insist. I know Paul’s father.
Is Paul’s mother a primitive woman?
Yes. She has raised Paul on her own which is why he interacts well with the outer world. Now, let us be finished with this topic.
Maxim could tell that his father was becoming annoyed with him so he changed the subject. May I ask you about something else?
Nero cocked his head as usual when he was listening.
I want to know more about Grayson.
Nero raised a hairless brow. You have been in my laboratory!
Yes, but don’t worry. Tinley showed up and made me leave.
That doesn’t explain how you know about Grayson. The tone of Nero’s voice had become troubled.
It was an accident. I took a seat on the chair not realizing it was more than just a place to sit. Is it true that he is me but in a parallel universe?
It is true. Nero had a faraway look in his dark eyes. That reminds me, I need you to join me in the lab. There’s something I want you to do for me and, by the way, Oddily is charming. I can understand why you fell in love with her.
Maxim followed Nero to the secret lab that showed recent signs of activity.
Ahhh, so this is where you disappeared to last night. Maxim smirked at his father. It looks as though you have been busy.
I have, but first things first. Nero walked over to the chair that had transported Maxim into the mind of Grayson. Take a seat.
Are you asking me to return to the parallel universe…to enter Grayson’s mind again?
Yes, I am.
There was a mixture of excitement and fear as Maxim sat down in the chair and watched the dome materialize over his body. Moments later, the weird sensation in his head had returned. The same dull fog began to seep in, threatening to take over his mind, but this time he didn’t struggle against it. He trusted that his father had a good reason for initiating his return.
It wasn’t long before Maxim found himself looking through Grayson’s eyes. This time, his other self was walking through the woods reflecting on the success of his recent concert tour. Now that it was over, and he had returned home to Stafford Manor, his goal was to stay with his parents as he considered the next move in his career.
While Maxim listened in on Grayson’s thoughts, the realization that his parents were close by had him excited. Would he really be able to view his mother through Grayson?
Maxim brought his thoughts back to where Grayson was headed, hoping to see his mother soon. However, from his vantage point, Grayson was roaming around the southwest portion of their land—far from Stafford Manor.
MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) Page 11
