Chương 89: Act 2, Chapter 42: The question that changed everything for me

Day in the story: 17th December (Wednesday) You know, when Penrose "asked" me to help transport his people and gear to the other side, I expected something reasonable. After all, I'd used teleportation with and around him before, he should've known my limits. To be fair, I wasn't entirely confident about them myself. Still, the moment I saw what he had staged in his little "backyard," my soul told me the truth, that Anansi confirmed: I wouldn't be able to shoulder this.

"Mr. Penrose—" I started, only to realize I'd already stepped into a trap. He cut me off before I could finish.

"Phillip, Jessica. It was supposed to be Phillip. We're partners, aren't we?" Despite the early hour, he looked like he had stepped straight out of a magazine spread, impeccable in a three-piece burgundy suit that contrasted perfectly with his silver-gray hair and beard. Armani? I wasn't sure, but the question turned my thoughts toward Akira, who still hadn't reached out. The longer the silence stretched, the more I worried. Maybe something had happened.

If I ever find a little time—girls are allowed to daydream, right? —I should check his place. I still have access. Dragging myself back to the present, I had to admit Penrose had managed to surprise me with the scale of his ambition.

"Okay, Phillip, you've overestimated my abilities. There's no way I can transport a fully armed combat helicopter into Ideworld." I couldn't help but admire the machine. The money he must have sunk into it, the sheer idea of unleashing something so beautiful and so lethal on the other side. Matte black from nose to rotors, it looked like a man-made predator. Guns bristled from its front and wings, and a rocket launcher waited underneath. A few soldiers in combat armor, close to what Caroline wore, milled about it.

I spotted Ramirez among them, explaining something to a man in a pilot's helmet.

"Really? Maybe we should at least try?" Phillip pressed, his tone utterly serious.

"If it doesn't work, we'll take it apart and ship it in pieces. We have people who can reassemble it on the other side."

"There's no point in trying," I said flatly.

"The moment I look at that bird, my soul tells me it won't work. It's too big."

"Alright then. We'll start disassembling it today. Will you be able to transport twenty-five people, five groups of five?"

"Yes, but with breaks to regenerate in my Domain," I answered honestly. I didn't want to be completely drained in case something went sideways.

"I should make you aware, though, that the place I'll be moving them to is a village and people there weren't hostile toward me. I want them to stay alive."

"People? Or shadows, Jessica?" Phillip asked, voice flat. The way he used my persona's name made me appreciate him a little more.

"The longer I spend in Ideworld, the more I'm inclined to believe shadows are people too." I said.

"That's a dangerous assumption."

"Maybe. Still feels true to me." I laid out the plan.

"I'll go with the first group to brief them on where they are and what to expect. Then I'll send the others in batches, and I'll travel with the last group as there's something I need to sort on-site. Does that order work for you, Phillip?"

"I see no reason we can't begin. Rei, your group goes first," Penrose said, turning to Yamashiro. I'd expected Rei somewhere nearby as he was supposed to be on the transfer roster, but until then he'd been ghosting the edges of the scene. When he stepped out from behind Phillip, the air seemed to dip; a cold ripple ran up my arms. He'd been hiding in a shadow until the last second, and that little trick sent goosebumps over my skin. If he could disappear like that, his Domain had evolved, just like mine had.

Hiding in someone else's shadow fit his personality, sure, but the ability itself made me want to keep as much distance from him as possible. He wore armor that looked guild-issue. Penrose must have blown a fortune kitting these people out; for someone who holds dominion over money, cost was probably a laughable detail. Rei's left eye socket was covered with a dark leather patch, and his one good eye never left me. It was cold and measuring.

"Alexa," he hissed, low and snake-smooth. He didn't pretend not to know who I really was.

"Rei, good to see you. Half a face suits you," I shot back, not missing a beat.

"Looks like your Domain's been busy."

"Fucking obviously. I'll always be one bloody step ahead of you, cunt." Rei replied, charming as ever.

"Kids, stop arguing," Penrose cut in, shutting Rei up. I wasn't going to respond anyway.

"Jessica, if you don't mind, get on with moving my people."

"We haven't settled my fee yet," I said, folding my arms across my chest. Considering everything I'd seen today and Penrose's assurance that he'd pay whatever I asked, I decided to start high.

"One million dollars."

"Fine." Penrose answered without a flicker of hesitation. No negotiation. Rei flinched the moment he heard the figure.

"I expected a higher figure. How would you like to receive payment?" Now that was the real question. Normally, Phillip's accountants handled my finances so I wouldn't have trouble with the IRS. But now I was on my own, and I had no idea how to play this. Cash would be a nightmare; a transfer that size would light up Uncle Sam's radar immediately. I wondered, half seriously, if anyone had a Domain for tax evasion.

"To be honest, I don't know. What do you suggest, sir?" I asked, fishing for advice. Penrose smiled in that familiar way from the old days, when surrounding himself with beauty still seemed to matter more than business. He waved to one of his men who'd been overseeing Phillip's soldiers stowing equipment. The man in a suit no less immaculate than Phillip's approached and pulled out his phone.

"Please send Jessica the account details," Phillip instructed. The man nodded and slid a finger across his screen.

"I've set up an account for you in the Caymans," Penrose continued smoothly.

"Conrad will give you all the necessary details shortly, along with the ownership documents. I recommend using that account for all future payments."

"Is the account in my name?" I asked, genuinely surprised. Penrose raised an eyebrow.

"Which name are you referring to? It's not the one you were given after your birth. Jessica Hare is the account holder."

"Thank you," I replied simply.

"I'll take care of the transport now. Where should I start?"

"Rei will show you the rest of his crew," Penrose said. As he turned away, he paused, lifted his head, and looked back at me like something had just clicked.

"How is Peter? I hope he's not holding a grudge about what happened."

"Peter's fine. You could say he left our meeting unscathed."

"Culinary magic?" Phillip asked.

"Something like that."

"I'm glad to hear it." He walked off toward his people, leaving me with Rei.

"What the fuck was that about?" Rei demanded, motioning for me to follow. Despite his obvious dislike, the task Penrose had given him outweighed his urge to pick a fight. Professionalism, if only barely.

"Private matters, Rei," I said, shutting the topic down.

"Chinatown on the other side wasn't too much trouble, but Ideworld as a whole is just a different beast. Danger lurking around every corner."

"We'll manage." Rei stopped in front of four burly men in guild armor, each carrying a machine gun slung across their shoulder and a long blade strapped to their thigh. I didn't know them, but they clearly knew me, watching in silence, weighing me and my overheard worth. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"How are we doing this?" Rei asked.

"This might sound childish, especially to guys your size," I said, addressing the hulks directly, "but you'll need to grab each other's hands and form a chain. One of you takes my hand." We stood on grass surrounded by crates. Reality only knew what was inside. A dozen more people lingered nearby, men and women alike, presumably the rest of the squads waiting their turn.

"If you want to bring any of these crates, whoever's touching one should keep holding it. I'll transport anything in continuous contact with me." I paused, a stray thought catching me. I could probably transport someone remotely by now. Something to test later. I had to admit, Penrose's people were well-trained. He must have spent a fortune not only to select them but to shape them into a unit like this.

I wondered if it was going to be their first visit to another world, or did they each harbor some kind of magical secret? Not my place to ask. Not right now. They formed a chain quickly, Yamashiro at the end with one hefty-looking crate under his grip. At the front, a bearded man, the face of this train. He extended his hand toward me. I focused on the Chinatown picture in my Grimoire and met his palm with mine.

The moment we touched, the strain hit me: two souls resisting my pull, plus the sheer weight of six people and their equipment pressing against the world itself as I asked it to move for us. Still, I had it in me to carry them and if need be, to force it. The resistance didn't last. When the Rei and the other mage hidden among those people gave in, the pressure melted away, and the world shifted. Penrose's early-morning compound dissolved into a traditional Chinese street washed in red lanterns and neon light.

Old wooden huts leaned against concrete buildings, the line between eras blurred. People were already awake, sweeping storefronts, setting up stalls. Wind carried birdsong, chiming bells, and the low hum of morning conversations. Our sudden appearance didn't go unnoticed. The denizens of the street scattered like startled birds, retreating into their homes and shops. Meanwhile, the squad moved with precision, quickly orienting themselves to the new environment.

They maneuvered the crate toward the largest free space, the big glassy gate that marked the entrance to the concrete jungle. Their professionalism was impressive; I couldn't help but wonder if they'd been here before. My thoughts were interrupted when one of them froze mid-step, staring upward. Every other member followed suit, their necks craning back, mouths agape. In the distance, where the sky should have been, another city loomed, its buildings and spires pointing straight at us.

Each time I'd seen this before, it had made an impression, but now, it was intensified. Two drakes clashed in the distance, tearing through the air. Fire spewed, claws raked, teeth met flesh, the aerial duel lasting a good thirty seconds. One drake's wing was ripped in half; the other, a vibrant green specimen, caught its falling opponent in its hind legs and began gnawing off its head. What a show. Ideworld certainly knew how to make a first impression. I stepped closer to the squad.

"Here's the deal," I started.

"This village, the Chinatown of this world was calm when I visited last time. Pretty chill people live here. Treat it like Earth: don't start randomly shooting people, or I swear I won't bring you here again." They all nodded in unison. One muttered, "Yes, ma'am." Rei just smirked, arms crossed.

"Unless of course something tries to kill you, which could happen. Then feel free to defend yourselves," I added, pointing toward the nearest building-bridge we had used to cross over.

"This skyscraper can get you into Mirrored City above us. Touch the outer windowed wall, gravity flips, and you move as if it were solid ground." I took a deep breath.

"Once again, I ask: don't break anything unnecessarily. I'm trying to make a good impression."

"Sure, fuck off now," Rei replied, and the others moved toward the crate. I gave them one last glance before teleporting back to my Domain, letting my soul regenerate a bit.

It was right before my last batch of people when Thomas approached me. Despite his usual troubles of identifying me in my different personas, this one was easy for him. I wore this face pretty often when working with him back in the days. His own though, looked tired or stressed, maybe both. According to Penrose, he was supposed to stay back on Earth, so his presence here had to mean something else. Maybe other business. Maybe just me.

I only then remembered he'd wanted to talk earlier, and I hadn't managed to carve out time for him. I can be such a bad friend sometimes. Was I even his friend? Or just a work colleague? The line blurred more often than I liked to admit. Still, Thomas had always been more supportive than the job required, and that had to mean something. I waved off the team that was eagerly waiting for me. They weren't happy at first, until they realized who I was walking toward.

My painted eyes gave me a full 360-degree view, letting me catch their mood shifts even when they thought they were subtle.

"What's up, big guy?" I asked. He actually smiled at that.

"I thought we weren't speaking to each other after you broke off."

"I'm sorry, that's entirely on me. I certainly gave that impression, didn't I?"

"Yes. You did." He looked twitchy, like he didn't feel safe here, measuring everyone around us with careful distance.

"I'd still like to have that talk, just not here. I've still got my camper, so we could meet there if you're willing."

"Sure. I promise I'll make time as soon as I can." I saw only a corner of his mouth lift. Thomas always smiled with his whole face; I was boxing him in, wasn't I?

"You know what?" I said, full smile now, "If you don't mind, I can snatch you up right now." He returned the smile without hesitation this time.

"Thanks Jess, I appreciate it, but I can't go now. I'm needed here."

"Okay. I get it. I'll carve the time out for you."

"Do that," he said, then added, "Take care, girl."

"You too, big guy." I turned back to the waiting team, but my attention stayed on him. I watched him leave through my painted back-eye. He didn't look comfortable. His moves were tentative, as if he expected an ambush. Why? He'd always been Penrose's right hand, sure, but things change. He's a human in a world of mages. Despite his smarts, skill, and sheer mass, he can't punch a mage to death. He might get lucky once or twice, like with that guy tailing Bobby. But most of the time he's outmatched.

And if Penrose dislikes something, it becomes a liability. I owed Thomas my life. He'd pulled me out of tight spots more than once back when my whole existence was tidy little thefts and fast exits. I'll pay him back. Soon. I had to. I wouldn't ignore him the way I'd ignored Jason. I came up to the last team as they formed their hand-chain, and noticed Penrose moving toward us again. I pulled my extended hand back and waited.

"I come bearing the documents to your account. I believe Conrad sent the information I asked for?" he said, eyes scanning the squad as they assumed ready positions. Military contractors, mercenaries, maybe a few mages among them. All of them awake; you could tell by how other groups handled the idea of being moved through worlds.

"He did," I answered, taking the papers and skimming them.

"Did something change, sir?"

"I wanted to oversee the final transportation. I paid you a hefty sum and I've placed trust in you, trust I admit was badly bent not long ago. I want to see those people delivered where I contracted you to deliver them." He sounded formal and clinical With my will and a little shadowlight show I've sent the papers onto a desk inside my Domain.

"Fair," I said.

"Trust is hard to rebuild."

"It is. If it's even possible." He didn't threaten, exactly. More posturing, meant to remind everyone who had the power to make things stick. I nodded and reached for the mercenary at the front.

"Put your hand on my shoulder," I told Phillip. He didn't hesitate; I could tell he expected a direct connection. When his palm met my body it felt like a promise. It was heavy and solid, not a polite tap but a grip that said he was holding the operation in his fist. The world folded. Even with Penrose and three of his men opposing the move, I didn't wait for the resistance to wither. I pressed my Authority into the seams of reality and forced the shift.

The compound dissolved around us and the air smelled like spring markets and red lanterns. We landed in China Town.

"That was quite the show, Jessica," Penrose said, removing his hand.

"You pushed my power back more than I expected." He sounded impressed and annoyed in the same breath. It came at a price. I tried to hide it, but my soul felt drained, like a battery that had been worked too hard. My chest tightened, a small, familiar fizz at the edges of my awareness, warning lights. I'd squeezed a lot of myself into that pull, more than I'd meant to. Still worth it. Phillip took it all in.

The sights, the smells, the hum of the market, then glanced toward his people as the last group settled and set up a temporary camp. He stayed with me, eyes fixed on the other city suspended in the sky.

"That's poetic. Reflected skyline looking back at us. Beautiful," he said, drinking in the view. That's the thing about him, the one redeeming feature that kept me going through all the things he taught me and the ugly lessons he made me live. At heart he was a poet, an artist, or at least someone who genuinely loved beauty. I kept hoping that wouldn't change, even if his Domain was something different now.

"It is, sir. The city is dreaming about itself. Reflecting on its nature," I answered.

"Well said. It makes me wonder though…" He trailed off, eyes lifted to the mirrored spires, letting the whimsy take him.

"Wonder about what, sir?" I asked, curious, as my own two eyes followed his.

"Does the art ever dream of you?" He hit me with that simple question and it landed like a stone in a still pond. Small ripples at first, then everything moving. The question had weight. It made me feel tiny and enormous at once. I was the maker; I made things feel like they mattered. I gave them a voice, nudged their souls. Would the art dream of me, its creator? How would it see me?

"With a Domain like yours," he said, pulling me gently back from the spiral of thought, "you could change a lot in both our worlds. Don't waste it, child." There was something almost proud in his eyes, something like a father looking at a stubborn, brilliant kid. I had no clever answer, so I said nothing. He rested a hand on my shoulder, softer this time.

"Send me home, Jessica. I came, I saw. They will conquer." I focused on his compound and asked my Grimoire to find the path. He didn't resist; this time his authority folded into mine without a fight. The world shifted and he was gone. I sank onto a bench in front of a parlor. A cat sat at the far corner, cleaning itself like any ordinary cat at first glance. Then it looked up, and its eyes were nebulae, stars and clouds swirling inside them. It reminded me that I was still inside a dream-made place.

I smiled and decided to rest there for a while. It was a good place. And I was left with the greatest question ever asked of me to wonder about.