Day in the story: 16th December (Tuesday)

"Working for you?" I repeated, genuinely surprised. "What sort of work are we talking about?"

"Details would come later. For now, think of it as errands." Joan's Domain flickered back into place, though this time only in a small sphere around us. No crushing gravity—just a quiet bloom of life. From the ground sprouted two stools made of living wood, green shoots still curling up their sides like decorations. Joan gestured for me to sit. I did.

"Errands? And the agenda is…?"

"The protection of my people. And of a few other shadow-spawned species we hold concord with. I cannot move as swiftly as you do, nor am I permitted to in certain matters." Their cracked eyes softened. "And truth be told, I am unwilling to risk my children."

Right. But they'd risk me. At least Joan was being honest about it. Still… not exactly a dealbreaker.

"How do you know I can move swiftly? And how would that protection work?" I asked.

"I suppressed your escape attempt," Joan said, a slight smile curling their lips. "I know what you wanted to do."

I raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.

"Gathering information, mostly. And spreading it." They leaned back slightly. "The Guild actively hunts people like me… for no reason other than us being different."

"Maybe kidnapping people counts as a reason too?" I said, skeptical.

"As far as I know, the Guild doesn't care much for ordinary people."

"They have Hexblades removing threats coming from Ideworld to Earth," I pressed.

"They don't do it for people. They do it to gather materials and knowledge." Their tone left little room for argument. If I knew people well, Joan was probably right about the Guild's management. Some Hexblades might act for the sake of people, but mostly it was business.

"Let's say I accept that. What's in it for me?"

"I will teach you. And provide you with resonance items suitable for your Domain."

"What's this resonance again?" I asked, curiosity tinged with caution.

"First lesson will be free," they said, with a tone that suggested I could learn the same from any other knowledgeable mage if I asked. I suspected Nick knew about it too, but I didn't interrupt.

"Resonance happens when an item—or a being—you place within your Domain happens to share traits with it. I, for example, have a lot of items connected to nature in my Domain, carrying nature's authority—be it artifacts or soulmarks. As they sit there, they generate resonance over time, increasing its level for my Domain. This, in turn, increases its power."

"So essence isn't everything?" I asked.

"Essence allows a Domain to grow, giving it more space for items, for one. It also increases the capacity and level of your marks. It's like gaining more tools," they said, "while resonance makes the tools themselves more powerful."

It was an interesting take. My Domain felt a little different in that regard—my power was often borrowed from the Identity I used, like with my nuclear reactors. It was more conceptual. Still, I guessed that with more resonance, I could become even more powerful, which was always good—for me, at least.

"You would also help protect Jason from threats if he becomes one of us."

"He might die in the process?"

"That happens sometimes, albeit very rarely."

"Why are you proposing this to me?" I asked finally.

"I told you why, child."

"You told me what I would do, and why you think I could do it well, not why you proposed it to me—there's a difference. Let's not pretend there isn't."

That earned me another smile. They were quite handsome when smiling.

"There were a few reasons. First, you—as you yourself said—read people pretty well, and I agree with that. Then there is your devotion—you came all the way across New York to us, which is not an easy task, and stood in front of God to demand an audience. I like that. I could use that. And thirdly—and mind you, this is what tipped the scale—you know people from the guild and yet are not part of it."

"I could have been lying."

"I believe you weren't."

"So… spying on the guild would lay in my work requirements as well?"

"That depends on how your relationship with us and them turns out. I will not force this upon you." They shifted on their seat, the small branches of the nature-made stools creaking slightly.

"Give me an example of the task you'd need me to do."

"There is a fortune-teller in New York on this side. She's a stubborn old lady who works for anyone willing to pay her, but she really sees fate. So we pay her sometimes when certainty is needed. I'd like you to go visit her and remind her that she was supposed to deliver the blueprints for us."

"Okay, seems like a task I would be willing to take." I said, mostly for the reason that I wanted to learn more about this world. "Is she a mage that lives here?"

"No, she is a Reclaimer—a lucid shadow that absorbed her caster."

"She did what?" I answered, genuinely surprised. "Is that what happens to shadows that cross over?"

"No. It's an equivalent to being a sourcerer on their part. You were called to your proto-Domain when you awakened your power to establish it within Ideworld. She was called to her caster to absorb her on Earth, and as she did, she was taken back here."

"That gave her magical powers?"

"Her caster's dreams of herself gave the shadow powers. Reclaiming gave her permanence and an ability to grow in power by herself."

"How do shadows do that?"

"Let it be a subject for a future lesson, if you decide on taking my offer."

I paused, letting that sink in. Of course, this world didn't do anything by halves. Shadows absorbing people, reclaiming power, becoming permanent—it was insane… and fascinating. I had to admit, my curiosity was fully hooked.

Joan could've also used their Domain to influence my choice—that's probably why we were still inside that bubble.

"Are you influencing me somehow right now—with your Domain, I mean?" I asked as I stood up, eyes narrowing.

"Yes. I am using it to soothe you." Wow. I expected a lie, a deflection, anything—but not this.

"Okay. If we're going to work together, don't do that ever again." I said firmly. Their Domain retreated into their soul like a tide pulling back, leaving only our little nature-made stools behind.

"I proposed you'd work for me, not with me," they replied evenly.

"I don't do work for anyone anymore. Got burned. Let's call it contracting. You want something done, we discuss it, I decide if I accept the task." I shrugged, tossing a casual glance at them. Their laugh was low, deep, masculine, echoing in the little bubble of space we'd created. For a split second, their skin shimmered in green and brown shadowlight, like sunlight through leaves.

"I hope you'll negotiate with such vigor on my behalf, too, for the tasks you accept?"

"We'll see. Depends on the power dynamic. Right now, I'm driving the wave." I picked up one of my cards to play with, letting it spin between my fingers to focus myself.

"You certainly appear to do so," Joan said, unbothered, as if the very air around them didn't dare move without permission.

"I have another question, before I accept the partnership," I said, letting the card settle into my palm.

"Go ahead."

"You mentioned concord. I want to know what other species, as you described them, are in this group."

"There are vampires and elves," Joan said, "which—thanks to pop culture—you might think you're familiar with. Though, they're not exactly as advertised."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What do you mean?"

"You understand that we are shadow-spawned. The Shattered were once people like you, but changed by forces within Ideworld—our God, in our case. Vampires are similar in that regard, though their God differs. Creatures like that exist here, spawned from ideas in your world, but the original vampires that inspired those myths… they are something else entirely, albeit they do drink blood. As for elves—they're almost nothing like what you think."

"What are they, then?"

"They are not shadow-spawn, for one. They are like you—or like I was, before. They came from Earth originally, but from ages long past, when reptile beasts still roamed the world. They faced calamity and survived by employing powerful magic, creating a second version of Ideworld—a splinter as large as a whole planet was in those times. Most of them still dwell in that world, but a sizable population lives here and on Earth as it is now."

"Elves are… lizard people?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They are heavily feathered," Joan corrected, "but yes, that's close enough."

"Seems like I can work with that. Any other species?"

"Not species—just individuals. Humans, lucid shadows… anyone who needed protection and somehow found us, we took under our wing," they said, a note of nostalgia tinting their double-voiced words.

"Seems noble on the surface—which I'm fine with—but honestly, I'm considering it mostly because of the surprise factor. I didn't expect a job interview walking in here. I was ready for a ruse, a fight, maybe a parley. But this? Color me interested."

"Does that mean you agree to… cooperation?"

"Overall, yes. We'll have to iron out the details as we go. I'm new to this and don't really know what I should pay attention to yet. Most likely, I'll use subcontractors for some jobs now and then—like the people I brought with me today."

"That's acceptable," Joan said, "as long as they are not from the guild."

"I assumed as much."

"What about Jason? Will you drop your pursuit?" Their gaze locked on me, unblinking, heavy with intensity.

"You seem like a functioning being. The other Shattered I've met as well. So I'm inclined to believe you when you say he'll be better after the transition. But I need proof he's still alive, and I'll need him to show up on Earth soon. My brother's being held by the FBI over his disappearance. How soon can I expect Jason to become Shattered?"

"The proof is already on the way. He will be ready in about a week to be reborn. Usually, we let people believe that those taken are dead, and our new Shattered assume new identities. Is that an undesirable outcome for you?"

"Depends on the FBI and their eagerness to frame someone for it. Which could be very high, considering Jason's parents are both lawyers."

"I see. Then I will deal with those problems."

"How?" I asked.

Joan's body shimmered, broke apart into crystal-like mirror fragments that held a vague human shape, and then rearranged. In an instant, Jason stood in front of me—same height, same build, even the same clothes. It was uncanny.

"I will make an appearance and tell the story," Joan said in Jason's voice.

"First of all—wow—that's pure magic," I muttered, giving them a once-over from head to toe. "Second, what story?"

"Me and Peter were attacked in the bathroom. I didn't see the assailant's face, but he knocked Peter out, then me. I woke up in some damp basement, managed to escape only today." Their clothes shimmered again, shifting to look damp, bloodied, and dirty. Jason's face twisted into a perfect picture of trauma—bruises, cuts, exhaustion. "As soon as I could, I reached the authorities. I hope that both Peter and Alexa are okay." Another shimmer, and they were Joan again, clothed and composed as ever. "Nice to finally know your name and remember your real face, Alexa. It would have been better if you introduced yourself earlier, but I see now—trust is not your strong suit."

"You got his memories?"

"My God shared them with me. Not everything, but enough to make an impression."

"And you're lecturing me about trust issues? While you're out here rifling through someone else's memories?"

They stirred uncomfortably at my comment. Looked like I had struck the right chord.

"This is not how it sounds. Those memories—Jason shared them with our God willingly, he really did. And he willingly shared them with me as well, once our God explained the situation. He wanted to help Peter—and you."

"He knows I came for him? And he still wants to change?" Somehow, that was hard to believe.

"Change, once begun, is irreversible. Stopping it would mean his death. He doesn't want to die," Joan answered just as another Shattered emerged from the looming tower—the same indigenous woman who had taken Jason from us. She carried only a phone in her hand and nothing else. Didn't they find pockets useful?

"I see," I muttered.

The woman passed the phone to Joan and hurried back toward the tower. Joan checked something, then handed it to me. I scrolled through the images: Jason, half-submerged in something that looked like water—if water could break into jagged glass waves. Picture after picture, he shifted slightly, proof that he was indeed moving. His eyes were open, though shadowlight was already seeping from them.

"Why didn't you record a short movie?" I asked.

"Pictures work in Ideworld. Movies don't," Joan replied simply. I didn't press. I hadn't checked that rule myself, but I believed them. Too many things behaved strangely here to dismiss it. „I believe now comes the part in which you return to your group to bring back my son, so we can arrange the first task I have for you."

I bowed slightly to maintain the appearance of courtesy, and in the blink of an eye, I chose the University as my destination. The world shifted with dizzying speed to make my wish come true. I felt no opposition, neither from Joan nor from the Solitary Twin. Both allowed me to move wherever I wanted, but I had no intention of leading them to Nick, Malik, and Caroline just because we had established the illusion of civilized contact.

When it comes to beings who can change their shape, voice, and take over memories, a few pictures of Jason were no proof that he was alive—nor that Joan's intentions were in any way friendly.

I waited a few minutes, sitting quietly on the ground beneath the tree. I had already skipped quite a few classes, but I'd managed to finish and hand in all my projects on time, so the final exams shouldn't be a problem. Still, the thought that such an important part of my life—my studies—was slipping through my fingers because of all the extracurricular activities I was now involved in wouldn't let me rest.

Joan hadn't followed me. I didn't feel watched in any way either, so after a brief consultation with Anansi—who confirmed she sensed nothing alarming—I chose our hideout near One World Trade Center as my next destination, where the team was keeping our target.

Malik was the first to notice me, and he nearly jumped in surprise. Nick and Caroline, on the other hand, were still caught up in a heated discussion about what to do with the Shattered, whom Loki was holding on an invisible leash. Their argument was so intense that they didn't even notice when I settled into an armchair in the corner of the room to catch my breath and think about what to do next.

Only after Malik had recovered from his initial shock did he draw their attention to me. "Hey, guys. Did you know Alexa's already here?"

Nick turned around in an almost comically slow motion. Caroline followed right after him, crossing her arms and putting her hands on her hips in a gesture that called to mind a disappointed mother.

"Were you planning to tell us that you were already here?" Caroline spoke, her tone perfectly matching her stance.

"I didn't want to interrupt you. That would've been rude—and courtesy means a lot to me."

"Funny much?" Nick quipped.

"You can joke later. Can you explain what took you so long to come back to us?" Caroline pressed on.

"I had a conversation with the Shattered. They want their son back. I'm just wondering how much of what I heard was the truth, and how much was meant to steer me toward actions that serve their goals."

"What did they tell you?" Nick asked as he dropped into the armchair to my left, stretching his arms across the armrests. Caroline still towered over me. Could it be that the Guild had some other reason for placing her here with us?

"Quite a lot. Generally speaking, Jason is alive—but he's going through a transformation into one of them." There was no point burdening them with my suspicions or revealing that they were shapeshifters, at least not while she was still here. "They'll release him as soon as he's ready."

"You're not seriously thinking of letting that monster go, are you?" Caroline's face betrayed a certain tension. I was becoming more and more curious how she would react if we actually did.

"This isn't just my decision. I handed the lead on rescuing Jason over to Nick, so as I promised, I'll submit to his judgment."

Nick paused in thought before answering. "Do you believe these beings will honor your agreement?" One of the reasons I liked Nick was that he trusted my decisions and my experience in dealing with people. Technically speaking, Joan was still partly human, weren't they? My opinion should matter, then.

"I don't know, Nick," I replied.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Malik cut into my thoughts, "but didn't we already manage to do what we planned? We have one of them, and we want to trade him for Jason, right?" he added.

"Not exactly, Malik. We do have one of them, as you said, but they expect him back in exchange for Jason—who won't be ready for a few more days, and who may not even be human anymore, if he's alive at all." I answered, though I noticed that Caroline had calmed down a little. Did that mean she hadn't seen the situation the same way Malik did until he spelled it out?

"In the end, we've basically accomplished nothing," Caroline began. "Jason is lost to us—he'll either die during the transformation, or it will succeed, and in that case he'll be our enemy." And now I was faced with a dilemma: should I tell her about my negotiations, or keep them to myself?

"Not entirely. During my talks, the leader of the Shattered offered me a job with them—a job I intend to accept."

"A job?" Nick, Caroline, and Malik asked almost in unison.

"Yes, a job!" I replied with a touch of feigned cheer. "A girl's gotta have a proper job, right?"

"No jokes, Alexa," Nick brought me back to order. I sighed.

"Okay. The Shattered want me to handle some simple tasks on their behalf, things that require mobility. In return, they'll pay me in artifacts and knowledge. Oh—by the way, is it true that Domains grow stronger through resonance?"

"Yes," Nick said. "I thought Dad told you about that. You leave certain objects inside a Domain, and it creates a resonance that—"

"Okay, not important. You can explain it to Malik later. Generally speaking, I intend to accept their offer, hand over this Edward here—" I glanced at the Shattered, held on Loki's invisible leash. He seemed almost frozen, completely devoid of movement. "Caroline, is he even breathing?" I added, distracted by my observation.

"No, he's in stasis. Once my Authority runs out, or I release Loki from the command, he'll wake up as if nothing happened. Right now, he exists more or less outside of time. Alexa"—Caroline took a deeper breath, but her voice returned to a calm, steady tone—"it's dangerous to strike deals with Shadow-spawn. You're human, and that's the only way they'll ever see you." Now she sat down as well, though at a chair by the table.

If ever there was a time for a double or triple play in my life, it was now. "I know that. I plan to work for them to uncover their secrets. I think it's time I met someone from the Guild."

"You want to spy for us?" she asked, surprised.

"It seems we're not exactly on the best terms with them, so that kind of help would be an asset to your superiors, wouldn't it?"

"This isn't a decision I can make on my own, but I see no reason why you couldn't work for us. You're resourceful enough, and your Domain would be an asset."

"I suggest the following: I'll send all of you back to the Lebens' house. Just before the teleport, you release Loki from the command so Edward goes free. I'll return with him to the Solitary Twin, talk about the first task they might have for me, and accept the cooperation. After that, I'll come back to the Lebens' place, where we'll discuss my meeting with the Guild. By the way, I mentioned earlier that I might need help with these tasks—what I meant was you boys."

"Awesome!" Malik shouted. Nick just nodded.

"You're certain we won't be able to negotiate Jason's release?" Caroline pressed, still focused on the goal.

"Yes. I had the chance earlier during the chase, but I wasted it. Now it's too late."

"Then let's do it your way, Alexa," Nick decided.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.