Irena - Dreams

Once more Irena sat on a hotel bed, enthralled by the laptop in front of her. She scanned indices and tables until she found the entries she was looking for. The first detailed a bar in the depths of Centrys, City of Doors, Eternal City at the center of the multi-verse. The description and sketches matched her imaginings at Brochan's perfectly. Down to the small table in the alcove and the urchin seated there. The second description was of a public market in the heart of Jakara, Gem of the Lotus, capital city of the Lotus Empire.

She sipped slivovitz from the bottle she had bought, nibbled on greasy pizza, and wandered the descriptions and renderings of the game world for a couple of hours. She turned the laptop off and slid under the covers, falling rapidly into a deep sleep.

Her dreams were random and unmemorable until a strange purple flash occurred in one. The heart shaped sapphire of Sophia's rested in her hand, pulsing and glowing with a deep purple light. She lifted her eyes from her hand to the table in front of her. Knives, swords, pouches of grease, and sharpening stones were laid out where possible customers could examine them. Overhead dark grey clouds shifted and swirled above the market area. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed in the distance. Cloths and tarps had been hastily strung up on poles to protect wares and the people close enough to browse them. Canals were visible behind the merchants not backed up against tall wooden buildings. Her table was set back in a narrow space between two buildings, their balconies and bridges providing shelter from the drizzling rain.

Balconies, bridges, and narrow walkways snaked between the tall buildings and arched across the canals in front of her. The throng of people gave little attention to the storm, instead focusing on haggling for food and goods as if it were a normal day. Few found their way to her small table, which was just fine. The flow of faces and styles in front of her was more interesting than the thought of having to sell anything.

A bright purple flash of light blinded Irena and, when it cleared, she found herself looking out into a forest glade. In the center of it a hexagonal wooden hut crouched. Smoke curled from the chimney and a white fence surrounded a stretch of emerald green grass and beautiful flower arrangements. Behind her the forest brooded, dark and forbidding. Animal cries echoed in the distance. Overhead the sky was deep, crystaline blue with tiny puffs of white cloud. Behind the hut, rising in the distance was an impossible spire of rock, thrust up sharply, and rising out of sight into the sky.

Irena began walking toward the hut. As she neared the fence it resolved into bones, woven together to form a fence. Grinning skulls rested atop the fence posts and seemed to watch her with dim, orange fire eyes. The gate swung open as she approached, while a voice softly whispered, "Welcome home, Mistress."

A loud honking and banging slammed her awake, abruptly ending the spell. Her head pounded with the suddenness of the intrusion. The cheap hotel clock showed five in the morning and the sky was just showing the beginning of day.

Irena - Shopping with Stacy

Stacy spoke to Irena in the morning, however, she was still distant and formal. She thawed slightly as the day progressed and a bit more when they met up with Amy to go shopping. Once again it proved how much Irena had changed and what her expectations had grown to be. Even the chain pseudo-goth shops weren't available in the local mall.

While Stacy and Amy sorted through clothes, scurried back and forth to the fitting rooms, and chattered on excitedly about the men they'd seen at Brochan's, Irena let her mind wander. She was in a roofed over street market. The murmur and crest of numerous conversations swirled around her. The air was heavy with spices, scented smoke, perfumes, and sweat. Women walked boldly in the bustle, often followed by men carrying bundles and bags. Here and there friends met and chatted at small tables near food and drink vendors. The clothing was a riot of vibrant colors and rich fabrics. Hot yellow sunlight smote the streets beyond the market. Jugglers and musicians performed for copper coins in open spaces in the bustling crowd.

"Irena. Irena! Hey, what do you think of this?" Stacy almost shouted in her ear. Irena snapped back into the tawdry mall shop to find her friend standing in front of her in another hideous outfit. It was pink, with little embroidered unicorns, and made of saggy knit fabric and might have looked good on an eight year old. Irena couldn't choke back all of the laugh that rose unbidden at the sight. "Hey! I think it looks great on me," Stacy snapped back.

"I'm sure it does. I'm fashion impaired, remember?" Irena replied.

"Yeah, yeah you are," Amy added with real venom.

When they headed into the next shop, Irena pulled her cell phone and dialed. "Alex, could you call me back in half an hour?"

"Sure boss, what's up?"

"This vacation was a bad idea. I need to leave, but I want to give my friends an excuse, something like a disaster at work."

"Sure thing. Not enjoying the old haunts?"

"Realizing there are some places it's better not to go back to."

"I hear you there! Got to go, we're getting busy."

Rather than follow her friends into the shop, she continued down the walk until she found a book store. She was wondering the aisles, finding a few interesting titles, when Stacey stormed up to her. "You trying to ditch us or something? Too good for your friends now? What happened to you?"

Irena started to answer when her phone rang. She made a show of looking down and checking the number before answering it. "Yes?" She listened for a few minutes then ended the call with, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Who was that?"

"My assistant manager. Someone disappeared after leaving Waverly's and they want to question everyone that was on duty that night. I'm going to have to head back right away."

"Disappeared? Why do you work there? Why do you live in that city? It's a dangerous, nasty place!"

"Because I like it, Stace."

"I don't think I know you anymore. You used to be sensible and interesting. Ever since you started hanging out with that weird Esther character in high school and then those gaming geeks in college, you've just gotten weird. I thought you wanted to see us but I guess I was wrong."

The ride back to Stacey's was spent in silence. Their goodbyes were pleasant but distant as Irena climbed into her car and drove away. She kept going until she reached the motel she had stayed in on the way out.

Sophia - Into the Realm

Tyana opened the door at Sophia's nod, Dry air, laden with the scent of old dust and stone, filtered into the room. Outside an enormous cavern vaulted overhead, above a large stone platform, sitting on a tongue of rock, over a vast chasm. Tyana wavered, sagged, and would have fallen if Sophia hadn't grabbed her. "What's wrong?"

"Too much damage. I can't maintain outside with this much damage."

"You there! You, near the strange building, where did you come from?" A tall woman, wearing silver and grey leather and metal armor, called as she strode toward Sophia.

"Us?" Sophia asked puzzled.

"Yes, you. Are you touched or something, girl? Who else would I be talking to? Why did you bring me here?"

"I didn't..."

"You did. I saw your building shimmer and fade then some type of magic wave crashed over me and I woke up here."

"Field and nav system damage. It must have been worse than I thought," Tyana whispered, sinking lower. "Get me back inside, please." Sophia turned to help Tyana back through the door.

"Oh no, don't you leave me here with no answers!" the woman shouted, running toward Sophia.

"Oh alright, come on in then," Sophia snapped over her shoulder. "Tyana, where are those stone doors and that chamber we saw?"

"I don't know. Echoes from the nav sys maybe. With the power systems as damaged as they are, it might be almost anything," Tyana replied as Sophia helped her to one of the battered old chairs in the entry room.

"Who the hell...holy hells, what kind of magic do you have here?" The woman staggered as she cleared the door, sinking to the floor and clutching her head. For a few moments she huddled there before slowly easing herself onto a low stool. "Who are you, how did you learn to control such powerful magic, and why have you brought me here?"

"I'm Sophia and this is Tyana. I..someone brought us here against my will as well. I don't know what is going on, other than this thing, that supposedly brought me here, is damaged."

"I've been waiting for days for you to come out of your little house. My world is being ravaged by a mad-man and I won't be able to stop it."

"Who is this mad-man?" Tyana whispered from the chair.

"Lord Shalmar, one of the Wizard Lords of my world, and he is seeking to conquer the other Wizard Lords and enslave everyone under his rule. I was trying to acquire a powerful artifact that would have let me defend against him, until your magic brought me here. Please, you must send me back!"

"What do I have to do to convince you that there is nothing I can do? I was brought here, just as you were. This thing is broken, it can't go anywhere."

"Liar!" the woman screamed. She pulled a dagger and threw herself at Sophia, only to be stopped in a pillar of harsh red light. Tyana groaned and Sophia staggered as exhaustion ripped through her.

Sophia staggered to the woman, pulled the dagger from her hand, and collapsed to her knees on the floor. "Stop," she called in a ragged whisper. "Stop or it will kill you." For long moments the woman stared defiantly at Sophia before relaxing slightly. Instantly the light snapped off and she stumbled forward a step and slid down to sit on the floor. Sophia rocked back until she was sitting cross-legged facing her.

"What happened to you?"

"She is bound to this item. Everything that happens to it, happens to her, and happens to me," Tyana answered. "It is damaged, so we feel the damage as pain and weakness. You are lucky. If you had tried that under normal conditions you would have been turned inside out without having a chance to reply." Tyana almost smiled at the shock on the woman's face. "You know who we are. I think it's time you returned the favor."

The woman hesitated long moments, the replied slowly, "I am Lady Ayrthane."

"Dorotea, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Sophia said without thinking. In her mind she saw the character data for Lady Dorotea Ayrthane, wizard lord of Formnought Holding, on the world designated as Wizilandria, world after the wizards went to war.

Dorotea stiffened, "How do you know my name?"

"Oh, um, oh..." Sophia trailed into silence, shocked back from her memories.

"Names have great power in many realms, mistress," Tyana added. "You would be wise to be careful in the sharing of ours and the mentioning of others."

"Where do you come from to know of realms? What matter of sorceress are you and what have you studied?" Dorotea asked.

"Sorceress? I know nothing of magic," Sophia answered.

"Mistress, I must rest. Please excuse me," Tyana rose slowly and stumbled toward the hanging at the back of the room.

Dorotea's eyes followed her, then turned a puzzled gaze on Sophia. "I thought this was a single roomed hovel."

"I am remiss, now that I have invited you in, I should offer hospitality. Come, let me offer you food and drink," Sophia said as she struggled to her feet. Dorotea rose and followed her through the hanging, into the throne room.

"This..this is the Hut of All Worlds," Dorotea whispered. "The oldest myths speak of this room and its curious ceiling. Forgive me mistress. If I had known I would never have spoken so harshly to you." She dropped to her knees in a deep bow.

"Get up!" Sophia said sharply. "I don't deserve to be bowed to." She turned abruptly and shuffled toward the door in the wall to her right. She crossed the richly appointed dining area to the far corridor and then to the kitchen. She pulled a bottle of wine from a place on the counter and laid out the bread and cheese she had found earlier. "I am sorry I cannot offer more, however, I don't know where the store rooms are yet. Please, eat, drink, and relax," she explained as she sank onto a stool. "Soon I must rest. I am sure there are guest chambers in here somewhere if you would choose to rest here instead of at your camp."

"You are treating me well, mistress. I will accept and enjoy your hospitality and remain so you cannot slip away without me."

"Tyana, where would we find rooms for our guest?"

"The door on the fifth landing of the Central Stair has the least oddly decorated bed chamber."

"Thank you, Tyana." Sophia waited until Dorotea had finished then conducted her to the chamber. "If you wake up before me, you can get something in the kitchen, wait in the dining room, or take the stairs down to the fifth door, cross the cloisters to any of the inner doors and wait in the library. I'll join you when I wake up." She then turned to her own chambers and fell into dreamless sleep.