“I also have somewhere more important to be.” He turned on the faucet and scraped at the back of his neck with a wet hand towel, trying to remove all traces of the pungent alcohol and his growing regret.
“Come on, Eva. Pick up. I know you’re awake. You wake up at, like, the crack of dawn every day,” Bridget said to her phone as she dialed again.
“Eva.” Alek lowered the towel and stepped out of the bathroom. “Your friend’s name is Eva?”
“Umm, yeah.”
“You know Eva?”
“I know an Eva. Me and thousands of other people. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who has a friend named Eva.”
“But you are the only person here who knows someone named Eva.”
She dropped the phone to her side. “If by here you mean this room, then yes.”
“I came here last night looking for someone by that name, and now you are trying to find your friend Eva. This must be more than coincidence.”
“I guess.” She paused, studying him. “Are you that guy from her boring English seminar?”
“What? No. I don’t think I even know what an English seminar is.” He wrinkled his forehead and continued rubbing the syrupy mess off of his neck.
“If you think we’re talking about the same person, and you’re not the English seminar guy, then you have to be the one from her anthropology class. The gum popper. She said that you’re super hot, but annoying. You know, because of all of the gum popping. I told her that I knew you were just doing it to get her attention, and apparently I was right. I usually am.”
“I don’t know her from class.” Alek went back into the bathroom to rewet the towel.
She pressed a few buttons on her phone before lifting it to her ear. “Well, I can’t imagine my Eva not telling me about you, so we’re probably talking about two different people.”
He came out of the bathroom and stood next to Bridget.
“It’s too bad, too. Tall, blond hair, tan, muscly, those pretty honey-colored eyes, it makes a gorgeous package.” Alek puffed his chest at the string of compliments. “You’re definitely her type.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know where she is? Your Eva. So I can be sure that is not who I’m looking for.”
She shook her head. “Sorry. That’s who I’ve been trying to get ahold of while you were using the sink like a birdbath. I haven’t had any luck, though. She’s not even answering my texts.”
“Thank you for your help. I apologize for ruining your pillow.” He opened the door and waited for Bridget to walk through it.
She smiled up at him. “I think housekeeping has seen worse. Especially from last night’s party. Go ahead and go. I’m going to try Eva a few more times before I head down. The elevator messes with my service.”
The door closed behind him, and he could hear the beeping of Bridget’s phone as she attempted to call Eva again.
Alek waited impatiently in the empty hallway for the elevator to open.
The sense of urgency returned and filled him with guilt.
“Come now, elevator,” he demanded, remembering this time to push the down button. He did so repeatedly until it chimed its arrival. The elevator slowly lowered to the lobby, and for the first time, Alek was glad the Hall of Echoes was barren. He didn’t want his mothers to watch as he disappointed them.
The elevator stilled and Alek walked out the lobby doors and into the sunny midmorning air. Summer still had its hold on Tulsa, and the temperature outside made Alek uncomfortable and sweaty. He stood baking in the sun and waited for the power within him to pull him toward Eva.
“Why is nothing happening?” Fiery pressure burned in his chest, but the extreme pull he’d felt the night before was clouded by new thoughts of doubt and self-pity.
He plucked the talisman from under his shirt and pressed his only connection to his home between the palms of his hands. “Pythia, I again need your aid. For the first time in my life, I have no idea what to do and know of nowhere else to turn.” He strengthened his hold on the talisman and concentrated on flooding the Underworld with his plea.
A familiar, chilling laughter trickled into his thoughts. Pythia?
“Who else would I be, Immortal Warrior of Tartarus?”
Thank you for answering my call. How is it that I can hear you?
“Your mind is young and desolate. The tentacles of my expansive power wriggled in without problem. Did you call on me to display my abilities, or is it my aid of which you are in need?” Her voice became louder and more forceful as she spoke.
I can no longer fully connect with the power that leads me to the future Oracle. Can you grant me something new so I can continue this journey?
“Young warrior, my gifts make time itself quiver and hide. But, in this, even I am void of guidance.”
If even you cannot help me, what am I to do? How will I find her?