Free Endeca (The Escapism Series) by Maria Dee

mouthful of bourbon. We were running out of feasible options. Maybe he was willing to try anything at this point.
    “What’s the oath I’d have to pledge?” I asked, quickly hopping on board.
    “It’s an oath to the goddess Styx, the only one who can seal the portal,” Orion responded, humbly.
    “So I ask Styx to lend a hand and I won’t bare the wrath of a crazy deity?”
    “Exactly,” he replied, relinquishing the thought, “because you’re a Charon, one of her servants, she will grant you one request.”
    “Whether or not she’ll consider it is another thing,” explained Nicholas, furrowing his brow.
    “Another round, anyone?” Orion offered, amused.
    “Hit me,” Nicholas crooned, heedlessly.
    “What’s gotten into you? First with the hard liquor and now with entrusting Orion so readily,” I whispered, seizing his drink.
    “Stressful times,” he said, releasing a heavy sigh, “If you’re afraid, I can pledge to Styx instead,” he said, taking his drink back.
    “Sorry to intercept this lovers quarrel, but it has to be Xenia,” he clarified, sternly.
    “Why’s that?” I asked, skeptical in anything that came out of his mouth.
    “You see, with such a big pledge there are certain stipulations one must offer, one of them being female,” he sneered at Nicholas.
    “I’ll do it,” I said, committing to the unknown. What choice did I have?
    “Then it’s settled,” Nicholas said, finishing his drink. “Let’s start.”
    “Now?” I asked, taken a back.
    “Better now than later. Unless you’d prefer to wait and see what an open portal does to all your friends and family. Personally speaking, it all sounds entertaining—I love surprises,” Orion mused.
    “Fine. Let’s go,” I sighed, flustered.
    We each transitioned to Styx and with every metaphysical shift, a different color spiraled into the sparkling universal white light. I started to notice the other traveler’s energies. With Nicholas and Orion, I felt and saw an unbridled amount of symmetry—it was dark, twisting and agonizing to witness. They both arrived before me, standing adjacent to one another by the edge of the river.
    The usually calm river seemed angry and unsheathed as I stepped foot in the shallow end. I had only known the river to be very deep but on either side, it seemed to vary.
    “Ready?” Nicholas asked, anxiously.
    “Yes,” I whispered, while my heart pounded against my chest.
    “Here,” Orion said, handing over his old, leather bound book, “I’ve highlighted what you should say aloud,” he said, sternly.
    I took the book and nodded in agreement.

    Θεά Styx , προσεύχομαι για εσάς θεά . Το σώμα και την ψυχή μου σε αντάλλαγμα για το λάθος Έντεκα . Πάρε με τώρα .

    “ Thea Styx, proseύchomai yia esas thea. To soma kai ten pseche moe se antallayma yia to lathos Έnteka . Pare me tora .”
    I exclaimed, invoking a powerful deity. The river grasped hold of my legs, keeping me in place, while she rose from the deep waters. A beautiful deity slithered from the depths of the river, hovering over the water. Her scaly light green skin was shiny and her lower half looked mermaid like. She stared, eerily waiting.
    “What do I say now?” I whispered to a stark Orion.
    “Nothing,” he said, stepping into the water beside me. He grabbed a hold of my hand.
    “What are you doing?” I asked, alarmed. Styx looked titillated by our presence.
    “Finishing the pledge,” he said, cautiously, “Only an immorta can pledge an offer in the river.”
    “ To iero skafos ,” she chimed, gliding before us.
    “What have you done, Orion?” I asked, horrified. I tried escaping, but his grip was too tight.  I called out for Nicholas but he was gone.
    There were so many telltale signs, Xenia. Why were you so blind?
    “ Parte to soma, thea ,” Orion shouted, pulling out a dagger. He quickly sliced my palm diagonally, squeezing my hand