Chương 182: Act 3, Chapter 36: Roads taken

Day in the story: 15th January (Thursday), after midnight Alexandra May There is a particular kind of strangeness in waking from a sleep during which the mind never truly rested—when it worked at peak attention the entire time. You never reach that brief bliss of nonexistence, which is absurd in its own way. Billions of people go to sleep each day, and their consciousness simply ceases until morning jump-starts it again.

If that isn't a small death we suffer every night we lie down, I don't know what else to call it. Maybe that's why Shadows only dreamt when they were dead. I however was spared that courtesy and I suffered for it. My body rolled out of bed with a groan, pain flaring with every minor movement. I felt disappointed in how my physicality and spirituality had handled the burden of anchoring multiple versions of myself. But I would rather be disappointed in the present than regretful of the past.

And I knew that becoming plural was a necessary step toward greatness. Was that something I truly wanted? Greatness? I asked myself that, hoping some hidden drive would surface. It didn't. What I felt was an urge to become the best; to uncover the truth of who I am, and to discover which challenge might finally break me in that pursuit of perfection. Art was an outlet for that. So were heists, chases, escapes, and fights. The planning and improvisation.

And now all of it intertwined into a beautiful, spidery web of creation and destruction alike. So when my body refused to straighten the leg I had painstakingly crafted for it—with only a little outside help—excuse me, but I was fucking pissed. Fortunately, my other selves were functioning just fine—mobile and fully engaged with everything unfolding. Elle had finished painting the beautifully scaled, mechanically reinforced armor onto Thomas's skin an hour ago and sent him back to the compound.

She warned him that she would take on the persona of Gertrude Monkey for the mission, giving him a heads-up so he wouldn't be surprised. Trudy used that to move efficiently, teleporting small groups of men and their equipment in cycles for the better part of an hour. Returning here to recharge before going back again on a repeat for a better part of that last hour. Soon, the last group would be across, and she with them.

After a brief discussion with Penrose, she chose to teleport them in front of the courthouse in Ideworld's version of New York City. The argument was that it would be safer than landing near Solitary Twin and crossing through the Mirrored City—a splinter realm layered onto itself, and likely far more dangerous than the city's shadowed counterpart. She had suggested waiting until morning to reduce the risk of unforeseen calamities. Penrose, in his usual persuasive manner, insisted they begin as soon as possible.

And so, they would be forced to move through the city at night and travel upward through one of the building bridges closer to the InterContinental. I on the other hand, would try to find the necessary rest in finishing the rest of my three dimensionally printed sculptures to look like proper living beings, but without providing them with their own Identities, just yet. I felt like I wasn't ready yet to split anymore than I already had.

Elle Erikson"It's good to see you alive, and—" I began as I stepped into the bedroom and saw Alexandra sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at her leg, lost in thought.

"You were going to say 'alive and well,'" she interrupted. She was right, of course.

"True. You look like shit. Should I stay with you instead of following the plan?" I asked, stepping closer and kneeling in front of her.

"No. I want to see Paris. I want to know what this city has to offer. Even the version on this Earth is teeming with art and potential. So prepare yourself and go there. Start sightseeing. Visit museums, galleries, the banks of the Seine. Meet people. Spend time there free from my burdens. And maybe you'll learn what lies on the other side as well." As she spoke, I reached for her left leg and began massaging it gently.

Though it was, in essence, artificial, in spirit it wasn't new—her flesh responded to the soul's self-image. The muscles were tense, but gradually eased under my touch.

"I'll probably come back here every night anyway," I said.

"I have to sleep somewhere, and renting a place when I can simply teleport here doesn't seem sensible." She let out a low moan, pain and pleasure intertwined. Sometimes that mixture was the sharpest reminder of being alive: a small, controlled self-inflicted torment.

"That might work at first," she said, "but in the long run, if you plan to make acquaintances, having a place to invite them to could be invaluable."

"We have the money for it. I might as well."

"On the other hand, you could just tell everyone you're a wandering mage without a permanent home and drop the pretense entirely. You're free to be yourself there."

"I'll think about the options. Don't hesitate to call me back if you need me. You're in really bad shape right now, and most likely from splitting yourself for me and Gertrude."

"Seems that way, doesn't it?" she replied. I nodded and pressed more firmly into the muscle.

"It was the same at first when I split my attention between all the additional eyes and ears. My brain and soul adapted eventually. I think this will be overcome in time as well."

"Just stretch the muscle before you push it too far."

"Yeah. For now, I'll just prepare the figures. I'll let them fully live when I feel recovered enough, and when both of you are functioning well independently, without me overseeing everything."

"There's also Jason and his connection to Solitary Twin. That might require your direct attention—especially now, with Peter out of the picture despite all his big promises," I said, even though I knew she didn't want to hear it. Sometimes you have to force yourself to face what you'd rather avoid.

"Yeah. Jason. Joan. Caroline." She sighed.

"I should tell Caroline I'm alive, get up to speed on her investigation. I want Rhythm gone. And that means stirring trouble for him, preferably using Alex to do it."

"We just talked about you not pulling another muscle too quickly."

"Most people can't divide their attention the way I can. It would be a real sin and a tragedy not to use that."

"It could end in one too," I said quietly.

"If you die. If your soul fractures under the constant pressure and trauma." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. She shot me a look.

"Fuck you for being so sensible. And right." She paused, measuring me. Then continued in a softer tone: "I'll take it slow. Don't worry, Elle."

"Gertrude's coming. Let's see her before she goes off with Penrose's team."

"Sure. Help me out here." She slipped an arm over my shoulder and I helped her stand. Despite being in a body that had once been something artificial, our Authority gave me the strength of a real mage, and her weight felt like nothing. We moved slowly out of the Art Palace and into the agora outside, bathed in moonlight and the soft glow of our soul core. As we walked, I decided to name it for what it was, the Weaver's tree.

"I like it," Alexandra said, catching the thought.

"It has a nice ring to it." Her body regained normal function mid-step and she pulled away from my support. Together we approached Gertrude, who was sitting with her back against the core. Light spilled from the crystalline trunk, engulfing her in soft threads of rainbow color, filling her with Authority—one to spread the will of Artistic Creation, but also the authority simply to be. Both of us could use magic, but in truth we were magic as well.

"It's more difficult without the real tattoo on my back," she said, turning toward us.

"Teleporting heavy equipment and groups of people is one hell of a stretch." Alexa stepped closer while I remained a few paces behind.

"You're doing fine, Trudy," she said, placing a careful hand on Monkey's shoulder. Gertrude laid her own hand on top of Alexa's. Watching them like that felt strangely comforting: one soul taking care of several bodies.

"If at any point you need to get out, just do it."

"I'm seeing this through to the end. I don't want Phillip holding us in debt."

"Alexa," Anansi said. All three of us turned as the jumping spider skittered closer.

"Liora wants to come home."

"Go get him then," I replied.

"You have access to our abilities."

"Yes," the spider guardian answered, "but it still feels wrong to decide on my own when you're not in distress." She reached through space and pulled the cloud serpent closer to Alexa. Even though Ani was part of us, she had no aura of her own and she could only cast magic on behalf of one of us.

"I need rest, Alexandra," Lóng spoke through the painted mouth. He was bathed in blood and bits of entrails. Several of his scales were scratched as well.

"Even a dragon of my stature needs a reprieve when the time calls for it. I see you are no longer confined to a single body, human."

"Yes, Lio. We aren't," Alexa replied.

"Fuck off with that superiority complex," Gertrude added.

"We love you, but you're a partner, not some lord."

"Did my words press too hard, woman?" Lio hissed through his draconic mouth.

"Am I mistaken in saying that you are human and a woman?"

"No," I said.

"But how you say things matters too. That might be natural for you, but if you're going to interact with others, you'll have to learn some manners."

"Luckily for you, I am both merciful and intelligent, so I will learn that. Now however—" Lio's body dissolved into shadowlight before anyone could respond. The serpent unraveled into a ribbon of colorful luminescence and drifted upward on an invisible wind, weaving through the web-like canopy of the tree. He wrapped himself lazily around one of the larger branches.

The blood and bits of entrails he had carried with him dropped to the ground, right after he turned intangible, before splashing down with a wet, unpleasant sound.

"I will rest," he continued, already settling into the branch.

"Continue with your squabble." All three of us stared at the mess he had left behind. Before anyone could volunteer—or refuse—to clean it, the surface of the lake responded. The dark water rippled outward, swallowing the remains. Blood spread through it like spilled ink, thin veins of crimson dissolving into the black depths while the entrails slowly sank into the abyss below.

"That's certainly a thing," Gertrude said after a moment.

"Could be a weapon and a defense mechanism if someone ever invades this place."

"I'll ask Sophie about the additional container," Alexa said, standing up from beside her and looking up at the star-filled sky.

"You still think anchoring the entrance to that thing is a good idea?" I asked.

"What if we ever lose the ability to teleport and need to reach the Domain and it's sitting at the bottom of the ocean?"

"It's fucking obvious, Elle," Gertrude said, rubbing her stomach absentmindedly.

"Either we advance enough to get here, or we move the entrance. It's tied to whatever we consider home anyway."

"We don't actually know how moving that anchor feels," Alexa said thoughtfully.

"Or how long it takes. Or if there's a cost. Anchoring it to the container could teach us all of that and serve as a safety measure." She folded her arms, gaze still lifted toward the sky above the Soul Core.

"There are many dangerous people who know my real identity. And where I live. I'm confident they would have trouble entering this place uninvited… but I'm equally certain it wouldn't be impossible."

"So we prepare," Gertrude said bluntly.

"Otherwise we're sitting ducks."

"Yes, Trudy." Alexa's tone shifted slightly.

"I'm also concerned about Eveline lately. Beatrice said she was inside Ideworld's New York the last time we spoke about her. Maybe she's gone for good… or maybe she's preparing retaliation for what I did." Her jaw tightened slightly.

"And unfortunately she's among the people who know my real face. She could learn about the name too."

"It would not be an easy talk, but certainly a possibility."

"I postponed dealing with that for far too long," Alexa admitted quietly.

"And I can't rely on maybe. If she's smart, she could find me through the university anyway." She exhaled slowly.

"I need to talk to Shiroi about her. Maybe he or Robert already dealt with the problem."

"Good fucking start," Gertrude said with a nod.

"Do it when you get the chance. Better to strike first than wait for her to make the move." I handed Alexandra both of her phones.

"Better to check as soon as possible right?" She asked and I nodded. Alexandra May I left the girls to prepare for their adventures while I appeared on top of my bed, laying down and staring at the ceiling.

"Just make the call," Feline Anansi told me from her position by the desk. She'd been scrolling Reddit in the meantime.

"I don't want to tangle myself in other people's mess again," I told her, but she cocked her head and I swear I felt a contemptuous [Really?] being sent straight to my soul.

"At least any more than I already have."

"You made yourself a target when you failed to kill her. She might not attack anytime soon, or any second, but she most likely will at some point if she is alive."

"Right." I spoke back to her, brought up the phone and pressed S, h, i, until his name appeared on the screen and I dialed the number. I did not care in the slightest that it was the middle of the night. There was a signal, which was a good sign.

"Hello?" he asked from wherever he was.

"Akira, hi. Alexandra here."

"I know. Do you know what time it is?"

"I do, but that stopped playing a big role for me some time ago. I apologize if I woke you up, though. Are we cool?"

"It's not that big of a deal. Did you get the guy that killed your friend?"

"No, not yet. But I will." He exhaled hearing that.

"With every passing day I find revenge less and less appealing. Life had been easier when I was killing yakuza."

"Didn't take you for a nostalgic type. Did you get De Marco's boss?"

"Yes. He is scattered into the wind, but Edge did not like it very much."

"You guys fine?"

"Mostly. Why are you calling?" He clearly was not in a mood for small talk.

"Have you crossed paths with Eveline?" I asked, and the pause that followed made me check if my phone was still connected to his.

"Shiroi?"

"I am just wondering if I should talk to you at all."

"What, why?"

"Why are you asking about her all of a sudden?"

"She knows my face and is free somewhere in the world. It doesn't make me feel very safe."

"Robert tracked her for some time soon after your fight. She moved into Ideworld through the Guild's gate as we assumed she would. With most of her stolen powers gone, she was pretty much powerless here unless close to sleeping people. So Ideworld felt like the right choice. She was always very capable in there."

"Is she still around?" I interrupted him. I didn't need to listen to him praising her, especially now when my Elle and Gertrude were discussing the nature of our existence inside my Domain, making my head spin with the implications.

"Robert realized at some point that she owes him for what she'd done to him, and this allowed him to establish a link between them. She's nowhere near New York, Alexa. She went south somewhere, far away from here. I will let you know if she ever returns—if Robert is still alive by then, of course."

"Why do you think she went away?"

"I have no idea. Probably to gain strength or try something in a new place. I really can only speculate."

"Why are you afraid for Robert's life? You said you two are mostly fine."

"Mostly in a sense that we overtook Edge in ownership again, and we are trying to get into the closed circle Alicia Bergman had created, but it will take time. Time during which the thing that keeps us alive is pretty much only money, and it's a thin layer of protection."

"I see. If you need some help, let me know. I will try to do whatever I can."

"It's under control for now, but thanks."

"No, I thank you for keeping me in the know about Eve. I hope to be ready whenever she decides to come back."

"Me too," he whispered.

"Take care."

"Likewise, Akira." I set the phone down beside me and rolled onto my side, turning to face my new cat as she worked on a laptop. I exhaled slowly, thinking it was a welcome change of pace that something which might have been an imminent danger had been delayed rather than hastened on its way toward me—for once, at least.