Page 2 of The NemeSis
Me: Yes, I just stepped out of class. Meet you at The Drip?
Beth: Yes! Grab me a white mocha and put our drinks on the sorority account. Official business.
Me: Say less.
I wrapmy coat tighter around my body as I make my way across campus to the coffee shop. This cold and gloomy weather is not what I want for spring break. Thankfully, in a matter of hours, I will be at the coast and welcoming the ocean air on my face.
Although the weather is gloomy, the air feels electrified. There’s chatter of excitement all around as students make their way to their final stops before the campus becomes rather empty.
I walk up to the counter. “Two white mochas and two chocolate chip muffins on the Omegas account, please.”
“We’ll bring it to the table, Kyra.” The barista smiles.
“Thank you.” I slip a few folded bills into the tip jar and make my way across the room to my favorite booth.
I slide across the soft leather bench seat and open up my book bag to pull out the iPad and open up the app our sorority uses to communicate. As the social chair for the Omegas, it is my responsibility to communicate with the rest of Greek life on campus. Some groups are more exclusive than others. The Omegas have slowly climbed to be one of the top houses on campus, which is why I take my role seriously.
“I’m here,” Beth calls out, her dark curls flowing behind her as she moves across the room. She drops her bag to the floor before sliding into the seat across from me. “Please tell me something good.”
I nod to the barista, who approaches the table immediately after. “Perfect timing.” I smile at him and we both say thank you as our drinks and muffins are left for us. “I’ve been doing some digging and there’s a test for the exclusive, hidden deeper than we thought.”
“Tell me more.” She breaks off a piece of her muffin and starts eating.
I take a sip of my drink, letting the warmth fill me up. “You have to get an invite to the test and be approved before you get the real invite.”
“Of course.” She leans in closer to whisper. “That’s why they’re so secret.”
I pull my phone out and reveal the text message.
Unknown:
You’ve been cordially invited to a black tie event.
Bring a plus one, choose wisely.
Two weeks notice.
Time and Location to follow.
I’m not worriedabout showing her the message. I wouldn’t show anyone else. “I have a feeling my boyfriend is not meant to be brought as a date.” I grimace. The invitation clearly told me to choose my plus one wisely. They know who I am and the company I keep.
“I think you’re right; Ryan wouldn’t be a good fit.” Beth leans back in her seat. “Can your respond to the message?”
“It’s encrypted.” I fidget with the napkin below my muffin. “I have two weeks to find the perfect person to bring with me. I have a feeling who you bring is part of the test. Any suggestions?”
“I can ask my sister if she heard anything when she was here a few years ago. This isn’t one of those times we have legacies with information. I dived into the school newspaper, archives and everything. There’s nothing. No sign or trace.”
“There has to be something.” I groan before breaking off a piece of my muffin and eating.
“Your mom and stepmom were both Omegas. Maybe ask your stepmom over the break.”
I swallow the bite of muffin and nod. “I considered that. I could ask Apollo too, but he didn’t care to get involved in Greek life or any other societies when he was here.” My older stepbrothers went to this university, just as all of our parents had.
“What about Ares?”
My eyes roll in reflex, and she laughs. “I haven’t seen him in years.” Ares prefers to stay away from the family and keep private. I don’t even know when the last time he talked to his mom was. It’s a shame, honestly, because Apollo started a family. We have nieces who he is probably never around.
The truth is—Ares would most likely be the exact person to ask—but he would never tell. I don’t think he was part of any secret societies while he was here, but I remember him being the one to make quick connections for Apollo during his university years. I’d been a freshman in high school, but I vividly remember the conversations the two of them were having when Apollo was taking over the family business.
