I saw myself as a child, sitting on the floor with a shiny rattle just outside my reach. My face was contorted in exhaustion, and then a line of pure, white light expanded like a spider’s web upward from my wrist. Followed by another one from the second hand. Two more from my legs, and one final strand reaching from my spine. They all yanked me up and forward, dropping me onto all fours and making me move.

  One limb after the other, I crawled, directed by some invisible marionette master. Then I became older—just a bit. My face less full, limbs still stiff, and I was yanked even harder, forced to stand on two legs. Ordered to move. To walk.

  Older still: a child, forced to run by the strings above me. Then to steal, to smile, to hug, to cry, to win, to give up, until the icon of animation in the form of a control bar appeared clear in my mind. And then I saw myself holding it instead, finally able to take over.

  “This is just the mark I wanted,” I said as I took the item and sent it into my Domain.

  “Is it?” the fox asked. “Maybe it’s the one you just think you need?”

  “Maybe. But I’m still glad I got it. Thanks.” I replied, and both beasts nodded slightly. As soon as their heads lifted upward, both Liora and I were back outside the temple, standing on the stairs that led up to it.

  “How far along am I, Anansi?”

  [You are at 47%. You need 53% more essence of Authority to initiate growth.]

  “And you’re sure I’ll be able to get a new soulmark when I advance now?”

  [Yes.]

  “Great. Can’t wait for it to happen.” I checked my phone. It showed 5:58 PM. Just a bit over an hour to spare.

  “Lio, I’m sending you to Peter’s domain. Take a bath or whatever you’d like. I’ll meet you in about an hour.” He responded by shifting almost fully green. As a reward, I did as promised and, with a flicker of thought, placed him within my brother’s soul-realm.

  I, on the other hand, went straight to my own room. Instead of sending my Usagear away, I simply undressed, folded the thing, and moved to the bathroom in my bathrobe.

  I gave my tub the best scrub I could manage and poured warm water inside. When it was full, I squeezed in some liquid laundry detergent and held it under the running water until it frothed into suds—warm and pleasant to the nose. When everything was ready, I sank my costume into the mixture and let it soak for a few minutes while I took a shower in the stall.

  After I was done washing myself, I came out and started cleaning the cloth by hand. I let the tub drain, filled it again, washed by hand once more, and repeated that rinse cycle five times in total until I was finally, deeply satisfied with the nice, clean scent the armor had taken on.

  “I understand now why Batman had a butler. Anansi, you need to grow some legs and arms, pronto.”

  [All of sudden I don’t feel as deeply invested in that idea, as I was before.]

  “Oh come on. It’ll be just once in a while. You might grow to like it.” I replied only to be met with loud silence. “Oh, that speaks volumes, girl. I will remember that betrayal. You will ask for a body one day!” I shouted into the air, while my second brain wondered what the neighbors must think about all these strange noises and people leaving the apartment but never getting in.

  Probably nothing much. And if anything magical ever came to their minds, Reality would dismiss it, just like it did with all the bigger issues in my life. Even the brutal killing of Malik, right in the middle of a New York street, went down without much of an echo in the local news or law enforcement.

  [Bad choice of words?]

  Yes, sorry about that. I’m coping in my own way now, spidey. I feel like all the tears I could give were already spent, and now only sadness, determination, and anger remain. And sadness is the easiest to drown out with humor and by throwing myself into other things.

  [I feel like humor and work are good choices.]

  I wonder if that means the other me used work to deal with her own demons too and that’s why you’re fine with it, or if those are your own feelings.

  [I really don’t know Alexa.]

  “Yeah, don’t worry, I won’t be fixating on it,” I replied as I finished hanging my Usagear on the dryer. I laughed as I imagined Superman’s suit left to dry in the sun.

  **********

  “Why are you pacing like that?” I asked Peter a few minutes later as he futilely tried to carve a canyon in our living room with his intense strides. Zoe sat beside me, scrolling through her phone and showing me pictures from their recent dates. They looked adorable together, but they were both some bizarre specimens of near-perfect beauty, so it was no surprise.

  “I’m just anxious, that’s all,” he replied, pausing for a brief moment. Just then, Sophie opened her bedroom door and stepped out, sporting a loose, almost see-through sundress over a silver bikini.

  “Woah!” Zoe exclaimed.

  “Too much?” Sophie asked, slightly embarrassed.

  “More like too little,” Peter shot back.

  “Oh, come on.” I cut in. “You said it yourself. Swimsuits are mandatory.” And we were all wearing them. He was in his blue and orange striped trunks, paired with a white shirt that he had lazily buttoned in a couple of places to cover his chest. Zoe wore a one-piece white suit with golden embroidery and a cute little skirt, while I had opted for a green bikini adorned with floral patterns, topped off with a shirt just like Peter’s. Mine, however, was fully buttoned, and my bikini was a bit less stringy than Sophie’s.

  “No body shaming, man,” Zoe responded, her brow furrowed.

  “I’m not shaming! She has a gorgeous body.”

  “Oh, thank you very much,” Sophie replied, while Zoe’s eyes turned icy, and I could almost feel the chill reaching Peter.

  “It’s not—” he began, but then sighed and dropped the thought. “Never mind. When’s Nick coming here? Couldn’t you just teleport him?”

  “You accuse me of never walking, and you want me to do that to other people too? How convenient.” I replied with an exaggerated tone of mock offense.

  “He’s almost here,” Sophie answered, returning to the real question. “He insisted on coming alone.” She said that just as she reached for a glass of water. I considered myself fairly attractive by most standards. I had good legs-to-body ratio, was slim but curvy in the right ways, and I was muscular without looking overly strong. Still, when I looked at Sophie or Zoe nearly naked, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Genetics and lifestyle had shaped them beautifully. It wasn’t just luck; Sophie was meticulous about what she put into her body. She counted calories, went on fasts, and mostly drank water. She ran occasionally too, and while Zoe wasn’t quite as strict with her diet, she made up for it with running and regular workouts.

  “What’s up, Ali?” she asked, setting the glass down. “You look worried.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a little woman’s jealousy.”

  “Are you unhappy being single?” Peter asked, completely missing the point. Sophie’s reaction was priceless.

  “You can be a total moron sometimes, Stark. It’s not all about boys.”

  “What is it about, then?” he pressed, and she totally ignored him. Meanwhile, Zoe moved closer and wrapped her arms around me tighter than I was hugging my knees.

  “Everyone has different tastes, girl. You know that. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” she reassured me.

  “I look like a dotted cow or a cat,” I replied, thinking of the freckles that adorned my skin.

  “What?” Peter exclaimed, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “You’re ashamed of those? Why haven’t you ever told me?”

  “I’m pretty sure I have. More times than you can count,” I shot back, just as Sophie headed toward the door, right after we heard a knock.

  “I had some too, on my nose. They never bothered me,” Peter continued, but just then, Nickolas walked in.

  “Hello, guys. You all look—” he paused, his gaze landing on Sophie, who twirled around, showing off her beauty. “Great.” He cleared his throat, swallowing audibly. “Please continue what you were doing while I get undressed, okay?”

  “They don’t bother you because, in your case, they just add to your charm. I, on the other hand, am fully dotted,” I replied, standing up and presenting my legs with both arms. “See? It doesn’t look good.”

  “I completely disagree,” Zoe countered. “You see them that way because of where you came from, right? Kids made fun of you?”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “You know, we were a bunch of cruel devils when we were younger, picking on anything that made others different from us. Honestly, I envy you. Your skin looks interesting. It’s naturally inked everywhere. Embrace it, girl.”

  “Thanks, Zoe.”

  “You surprised me with this,” Peter added. “I always considered you… I don’t even know how to say it without insulting you.”

  “Great start, brother,” I shot back.

  “I thought you thought of yourself as the best,” he said, trying to clarify.

  “I know my worth, man. That doesn’t mean I’m free of insecurities. Even though I understand they might not be backed by reality, I still feel inadequate. That’s why I cover those freckles with makeup most of the time.”

  “I thought it was to hide your identity,” he joked just as Nickolas finished changing out of his pants. His quads were massive, his calves chiseled like those of a Greek god. Of course, I peeked with the eyes painted on my nails—not the real ones. It was easier to maneuver my hands to take in everything than people realized, so those nails would definitely stay like that. A quick scratch to double-check my surroundings? Yes, please! I could take ten of those fingers.

  “Yes, it is, but it’s also for myself. It feels nice to be comfortable in my own skin, even if it’s painted on.”

  “I think…” Nickolas began, but paused for a second while pulling off his t-shirt, his head temporarily covered by the fabric. Somehow, he had snuck up on me with his transformation. When I met him just a few months ago, he was chubby—like a guy who enjoyed his food. His face was round, his body a bit cushioned with soft fat. But now? He had visible abs! Not completely chiseled, but definitely not covered by much either. He was buff. “…that you’re just perfect, Lex,” he finished.

  “Oh!” Sophie squealed. “You’re a real gentleman!”

  Zoe, however, clenched her jaw tight and fixed her gaze on me, most likely noticing my blush. She didn’t seem too thrilled about that comment.

  “Thanks,” I replied quickly. “Can we please drop me as a topic and move on with whatever this pool party is supposed to be?” I directed my question at Peter.

  But it was bad—worse than I thought. I knew I had feelings for Nickolas. I was attracted to him, loved having him around, and enjoyed listening to him. But he was a no-go zone for me; I could never betray the trust Sophie had in me.

  Anansi, can you keep those thoughts away, like you do with my various sense feeds?

  [No, I’m sorry, Alexa. You’ll have to deal with them yourself. I can only help with things that are magical in nature—those that you have Authority over.]

  Fuck.

  “Sure. Let me open the way for us,” Peter said, and walked to his room’s door. He set his arms close to his chest and slowly began opening them outward, while shadowlight poured out of his body like an azure-and-maya-blue mist. His right hand swept wide while his left grabbed the handle and opened the door. A breeze moved throughout the room with the scent of salt and ozone, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore and the cackling of seagulls came through like a long-forgotten melody of maritime peace.

  He stepped aside as the portal stabilized. “You are all welcome inside my Domain,” he declared with the Authority of its lord. “Ladies first.” He added, motioning for us to enter.

  Zoe went in first, leading the way. Sophie took me by the arm and dragged me through the portal as well.

  “I am walking,” I managed to hiss to Peter on the way. He smiled in response.

  We emerged onto a sandy beach under a picturesquely clean sky. Dotted with millions of stars and one large moon overhead, the sky—paired with perfectly warm air—was the best greeting we could have asked for. The ocean stubbornly smashed itself against the jagged rocks on the shore to our left, while the jungle surrounding the crystalline fortress teemed with avian life of many kinds.

  The fortress itself looked like an iceberg that had wanted to become a tower, but decided that wasn’t enough and had spread its base outward. And yet, despite its cold appearance, warmth radiated from it.

  “Wow, man,” Nickolas said in quiet awe as he grabbed Sophie and pulled her closer to him. So close… “Enormous.”

  “Yours isn’t that big?” Peter asked.

  “It’s not that out in the open, that’s for sure.” He answered, oblivious to the girls’ giggles. “My family’s Domain looks more like a big hearth inside the castle; with various foods, tables, kitchens. It is big, but it’s not so immediately obvious, if you know what I mean.”

  “I think so,” Peter replied, his face taking on a more solemn look. “Come after me. I want to show you all something amazing. I’ll tell you there why I wanted you all to be here.”

  “Not ominous at all,” I whispered to Zoe as we threaded through the sand toward the crystalline tower behind Pete.

  “No. It’s actually really cool,” she said, slowing me down so we were last in line and everyone moved ahead of us. “Alexa, is there something between you and Nick?” she asked, then closed her eyes for a second before adding, “More than being friends and adventure-buddies or whatever it is you do together in Ideworld.”

  “I know what you mean, and my first instinct was to play offended.”

  “There is something?” she whispered, an angry furrow on her face.

  “Nothing besides attraction on my part. One I will never let turn into anything else.”

  “It’s not just that, Alexa,” she replied.

  “It is. I promise you. Nothing happened between us.”

  “Oh. I believe you, despite Peter often saying that I shouldn’t take anything you say at face value.”

  “That betraying little piece of shit,” I muttered, then covered my mouth, pretending I didn’t want to say it; but my eyes smiled.

  “You don’t have to turn it into humor. I really do believe you when you say nothing happened. It’s not what I meant. I think he’s into you as well,” she said, glancing at the boys ahead. Peter was showing Nickolas his crystalline walls, and they were talking vividly about something.

  “I honestly didn’t notice that. But neither did I with Jason.”

  “Yes. He looks at you intensely when he thinks no one is looking. And that comment about you being perfect? I don’t think it’s just him being nice. Don’t get me wrong here, Alexa, I’m not telling you this so you can act on your feelings. Just the opposite. I fucking despise cheaters with all my heart, so please do not put yourself on that list, okay?”

  “I got you,” I replied, and we continued our walk in quiet contemplation for a while.

  “Everything is fine?” Sophie asked as she uncoupled herself from Nickolas and came closer to the two of us at the back.

  I wanted to lie to her. It’s fine, Soph. But something in me stirred. The truth didn’t want to be hidden.

  “No,” I replied. “I feel attracted to your man, Soph.”

  Zoe stopped. Sophie’s eyes went wide. I halted too. “I will never—” I began, wanting to explain myself, but Sophie placed her warm hand on my shoulder and smiled.

  “I don’t blame you. He is a catch, isn’t he?” she giggled.

  “You don’t feel betrayed?” I asked, my voice unsure.

  “Girl. I love you. More than him—at least for now. And I also know it was hard for you to come clean about it.”

  “I don’t deserve you,” I answered.

  “Of course you don’t, but you’ve got me anyway. How long have you been feeling like that?”

  “I’m not sure. Realized it fairly recently. But I intend to squelch it and let it die. You know that, right?”

  “Yes. Heads up, Ali.” She put two fingers beneath my chin and lifted it so I met her eyes, smiling.

  “You are insufferably lovable,” Zoe said from the side.

  “Girls!” Peter shouted. “Can you, like, keep up!?”

  “Yes!” Zoe shouted back. “We’re right behind you. I know the way!”

  “For what it’s worth,” Sophie added as we resumed our walk, “I think you’ll meet someone who’ll steal your heart and be yours only. Someone destined for you.”

  “I never felt like I had any destiny,” I replied, looking ahead. “I always felt like the future is mine to set.”

  “That’s a nice way of looking at it,” Zoe said. “We aren’t far, just around the corner.”

  Ahead of us, the guys disappeared into one of the tunnels and we followed shortly.

  Light spilled out of that place in soft hues of turquoise, cadet, and celeste, as well as shades of green: emerald, lime, even fern. They mingled and twinkled like little stars caught in the ceiling of the cave-room we walked into. Millions of bioluminescent mushrooms covered the crystal in this half-open space, connected to the small beach with the softest sand I had ever felt in my entire life.

  There was a clear patch in the center, separated from the sand by a ring of smooth stones—a small hearth meant for a fire. The lagoon itself was tucked away from the ocean by a curved bulb of land, almost like an embrace. Its water shimmered with tiny, glowing creatures, countless points of light that made the whole place feel impossibly magical.

  That was when Liora joined us, streaking through the sky above the waves in a cascade of shifting colors.

  Peter headed straight toward the water, Zoe following close behind. She turned around mid-stride to wave us in. Sophie didn’t hesitate—she grabbed Nick’s hand and pulled him into the ocean with her. I ended up being the last to step in.

  The temperature was perfect, matching the warmth of a human body. Comforting and soothing.

  I waded closer to the group, who were surrounded by those brilliant, floating lights, the water reaching up to their chests. Night had fully settled, and I understood why Peter wanted us to meet here at this hour. The sky and the ocean felt indistinguishable, joined in one vast, cosmic expanse.

  Liora drifted up behind me and slipped into the water, submerging himself up to the neck.

  “Pretty, right?” Zoe asked as she drifted closer to me through the faint mist rising from the surface of the water, a mist that carried the luminescence.

  I nodded.

  “I wanted you to come here to show you that despite the ugly side life has shown you, there are still things that can take your breath away. It will not be easy to overcome the sadness left after death, but trying is what needs to be done,” Peter began, looking at each of us, then up at the sky above him.

  “Thanks, Pete,” Nick said quietly.

  “I also wanted to tell all of you that I’ve made a decision to join the FBI. I’ll finish my semester and go to Quantico. I want to join that special division and help people fight whatever comes out of the other side.”

  “Why?” I asked, while the others supported him with gestures: hands on his shoulders, faint smiles of encouragement. “Why not try alone? Why do you need those guys?”

  “Why not join you and the Hoppers?”

  “Yes.”

  “I told you that I might, but I need an introduction to all of that, and those people have been fighting monsters for a long time. I’m not like you, Lex. You were always the one with initiative. You always knew where you wanted to go, as if nothing ever bound you, even when everything had. I had more freedom in what I could’ve done with my life, and yet I feel more constrained, like I need something to guide me. This is that something, and I hope it will help me be more like you… once I know more.”

  “I understand,” I replied. “I’ll help in any way I can.”

  Nickolas stirred then, cleared his throat, and addressed all of us. “I need a change as well, and I think this is the right time and place to tell you.” He looked at me. “Malik died because of me. I was the one who was supposed to protect him.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” I said.

  “It was because I should have trusted that he would've told me if he needed help. Instead our rush forced his hand and to top it off I was weak. If I were stronger, Rhythm would be dead the first time we fought him. But I’ll never reach that power within the Domain I’m in. I know that now. Look at yours, Peter—its power is undeniable. I saw the resonance it has access to, that you will have access to. My family’s Domain is nowhere near that level and most likely never will be. My family is content with how things are. No one shares experience, no one collects artifacts to place within the core, and it’s far off.”

  “What’s this about?” Sophie asked, her voice cracking. She didn’t understand what any of this meant.

  “I will ask my parents and all the lords and ladies of my Domain to release my soul from the soul core.”

  “You don’t want the crystal fragment?” I asked.

  “No. I want full release. I want to be stripped of my powers… and wait to see if I can produce my own Domain.”

  “I remember hearing about that, but I don’t really understand how it works. Don’t you need a shadow to manifest a soul core? Yours was absorbed into your family’s core before, right?” All heads turned to him.

  “It was, when I joined. That’s how it’s done when someone enters a foreign Domain. The soul from the shadow moves into the crystal to bind you to it. When my shadow’s soul is released, its body will be recreated… and I’ll have a chance to start something new. Something that’s mine.”

  “A chance?” Zoe asked. “You might remain a human?”

  “Yes… but I might also die.”

  “What!?” Sophie shouted. “Why!?”

  “My shadow might be too weak after all of this. Changed by the soul core from being inside for so long. Those changes might affect me, and I could come out weak as well. I can’t be sure.”

  “But your Domain makes people strong. Why would the shadow be weak?” Peter asked.

  “I’m not saying it will be. Just that it might. It’s a risk and I want to take it.”