“Don’t touch that, Em!” Folded against his chest, she looked up at him in wonder. She knew a lot about this universe from her many years playing the game. She knew about the races that were options for avatars, and she knew that his race, in particular, had two hearts. It made them formidable in battle because they were harder to take down - an extra heart to keep going if the first one was pierced with a weapon. But now she could hear them both, beating just slightly out of time, one sounding like an echo of the other. Em pressed her ear closer to him, noting the rhythm of his heartbeats as they slowed and matched her own. “Em?” His deep voice resonated through his chest as he released her, pushing her away but keeping hold of her shoulders.
“Sorry. Um...what?”
“Don’t touch the lock. It’s iron. You know that will burn your skin. Remember that time in the ruined keep in Ruarden, when they locked us up in the iron cages?” He touched her chin gently. “You rested your chin on the bars for a moment and almost went up in flames.” He must have felt her stiffen at his touch because he let her go quickly and turned his attention back to the lock.
“I remember,” she whispered. It was becoming hard to remember if she remembered watching that happen on her screen, or if she could remember the pain from her inflamed skin. Her inflamed skin. What was happening?
“It is also almost certainly spelled, so we may need to find something in that book of yours to remove enchantments.” He looked back, and she quickly removed her hand from the place on her chin where his hand had been moments before.
“I’m sure there is something in here,” she said as she fumbled in her satchel. Taking a deep breath helped clear her mind, and Em produced the spellbook. She found the spell he was asking about, focused her will on the padlock, and spoke the ancient words of the spell - only after taking a moment to marvel at the fact that she could read the words written on the pages as plain as day. Was that...French? How had she never noticed that the spellbook was written in French before? The healing spell earlier was one she had cast often and had memorized, but this one was not as familiar. Extending a hand toward the lock, she almost laughed aloud as a single strand of green magic flowed from her fingertips into the lock. It sprang open and fell from the door with a thud. Em grinned from ear to ear as she looked up at Lex. “Did you see that? It worked!”
“Of course it did, Em. You’ve unlocked loads of doors that way before.” Lex looked puzzled for a moment before removing the lock carefully and tossing it across the room away from her. He put his long, pointed ear up to the door and closed his eyes a moment.
“Do you hear anything?”
“Ssh.” He extended a finger toward her as he listened, then his face broke into a grin. She was distracted by the set of his jaw, watching the patterns of his tattoos as they merged and cascaded over onto his neck. “All clear. Let’s go.” He pushed the door open and again held out his hand. She took it, and they ran through the open door together.
Inside, there were torches lit at the four corners that cast a dim glow over a table in the very center. Red cloth covered the table, and in the center of it was a black box, so black that it seemed to suck the light out of the rest of the room. There was a keyhole on the front of the box, and as they moved closer, they could see an emblem carved into the top of the box. “Lex, that’s the shadow guardian sigil.”
“I know. That’s what the guardians up top were protecting.” He reached out and took the box from the table, cradling it in his large hands. “That’s what we are here for, Em.”
“What is it?”
“No time, we need to get out of here before those guardians appear again at the entrance.” He turned to the door and held his hand out, but she stood still, watching him, arms folded across her chest. “I promise, Em, all the answers you want, but not here. NOT HERE.” Instead of waiting for her, he grabbed her arm and ran, pulling her along the same corridors until they reached the mirror. She dropped his hand and stepped away from him.
“Now what? Do I go back?”
“To where?”
“Lex.” She pointed at the mirror. “Through here, back to my other life.” A tiny part of her hoped that he would insist that he didn’t know, and she would get to stay in Arcstone a bit longer.
He rubbed his face again in frustration. “Since I’m not sure what you’re talking about, I don’t know the answer to that question. What I do know is that we have to get out of this burrow without those guardians catching us.” He moved toward her, and she stepped back again as the tiny part of her rejoiced, bumping into the mirror. Em spun around and placed her hands on the mirror just like she did before when she was still in her kitchen. When she was still Maddie. She spread her fingers and pushed.
Nothing happened. Em stepped back, surveyed the mirror a moment, and then ran at it, her fists outstretched. She collided with the mirror with an awful crack that knocked her backward, and she ended up on the ground, holding her wrists up at her neck and moaning softly. Lex sighed sadly and held his arms out to her - Em gasped as his wings extended and wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. He spoke in a low voice, using words that she had heard so many times in her headphones, words that would dissolve them where they stood and take them somewhere else. Her last thought before everything around her went black was that she had no idea if this mode of transportation was painful - it seemed as though it would be, but Alex - Lex, she reminded herself - had never mentioned it. She pressed her face against his chest again and closed her eyes.
Four
“You can look now, we’re clear.”
Just as she had upon landing next to the mirror, she stared at the sight that greeted her. “Is this...Iredale?” It was too good to be true - the trees spread upward into the sky, the fireflies lit here and there. There was an earthy smell in the air that tracked with the eternal springtime that seemed to exist in Iredale. It never snowed there - it always seemed to be green and warm and beautiful. On first creating her avatar and entering the zone, Em could remember thinking how much it reminded her of the small village where her grandparents lived before they moved to Paris. In this village, her father was born before they moved to Montmartre.
“Of course it is. You live here, Em. This is your home.” His face appeared in front of her again, his tattoos starting to turn red. “What is wrong with you?” She swallowed hard at the momentary fear that the crimson glow meant that he was annoyed more than worried.
“Nothing. You said once we left the burrow, we could talk.” Em folded her arms and tapped one of her boots. “Start talking.”
“Not here, not out in the middle of -”
“In the middle of what, Lex? The bloody trees?” She took a moment and a few deep breaths before continuing. “There is no one around us now, no NPCs - you know that! How am I here, and don’t say you don’t know what I’m talking about, ALEX, because I’m fairly certain you do.” He opened his mouth, but she held up a finger to silence him. “And don’t you dare say who is Alex because you know bloody well who Alex is, it’s you!” All of the fear and confusion that she buried inside her back in the burrow suddenly came streaming out. “How did I get here? Where is my kitchen? Where is my village? How do you sound like Alex but look like Lex?”
Lex held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. I have been Lex since I was made Prophis. You have called me Lex since we met in that very prison in Ruarden when I healed you after you tried to burn your skin off by grabbing the iron bars.” Again Em opened her mouth to respond, but he held up a finger to silence her. “I can name off hundreds of battles we have fought, skirmishes we have become involved in, and enemies we have conquered, Em, but with Sydarr as my witness, I don't know where your...kitchen is, but this is your home, and Embercrest is your village. I sound like Lex because I am Lex.” Lex carefully took hold of her hands. “Em, I am worried about you, and I don’t know how to answer your questions any better than I have.”
“Great. Back in the real world, I must have had a stroke.”
“A what?” Lex looked puzzled and still concerned. Em sighed loudly.
“Nothing. Clearly, I am on my own, but I am home now, apparently, so…” She looked around and then back at him. “Don’t you need to get back to Demonwell or wherever you go when -”
“You know good and well that I was exiled from my home because I helped YOU, so this is my home now. With you.” Em’s eyes widened. That HAD happened in the game, and at the time, she hadn’t minded so much because it meant more time with Alex’s voice in her ear. But here was Lex, in front of her, in all of his tattooed and winged glory. What was she supposed to do with that? His gaze seemed to soften as he touched her chin again. “Perhaps we both just need some rest. We have the box now, let’s get some sleep and then try to get it open in the morning.”
“Is it night time? It is still so bright out, but -” She looked up through the trees, and as if on cue, the sky filled with stars and everything was cast in a bluish hue. “Oh, wow, seeing that in person is just…” Her lips formed a thin line. No more discussion about how she had ended up in the game or how to get home - Lex wasn’t getting it and clearly wasn’t much help. He was looking at her quizzically again. “I mean, it’s just lovely after being stuck in that burrow.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Em, but how hard did the Shadow Guardians hit you in the head the first time we tried to enter? You just don’t even sound like yourself.”
“You’re right. I just need to sleep. I was headed to rest when you called me out to try the revised plan, remember?” Thankfully he nodded, and Em released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Lex wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she resisted the urge to look for his wings as he led her toward a small cabin in a clearing.
“Home sweet home,” he said as he opened the door and held it for her. She walked past him, wondering for the first time why no one locked their doors here. As Em busied herself by taking a very close look at everything inside the cabin, he started a fire in the hearth. “Would you mind making us a cup of tea?”
“Finally, something I know how to do!” she said, smiling. Lex returned her smile, and again Em was taken by his jawline and his sparkling eyes. Those details did not translate to what she saw on screen, for sure. His tattoos glowed a deep purple as his eyes followed her movements, watching her prepare the loose tea in the mugs, hang the kettle over the fire, and then sink into a chair at the table while waiting for it to boil.
“You make the best tea, Em.” Em glanced over at him to find him still looking at her - his eyes now a deep purple like his tattoos. She couldn’t remember what the purple meant, but she had a feeling that he appreciated more than her tea-brewing abilities. He moved to an armchair near the hearth and sat down - he was too big for the chair, so he slung his long legs over one of the arms and leaned against the other, his chin resting in his hand as he propped his elbow on the same arm of the chair. Such human movements and posture from someone so very NOT human. “Why are you sitting over there? I know you are still sore from the guardian attack and the mirror transport - come over here and let me get the tension out of your shoulders.”
“I’m fine, really.” Something was uncoiling in her core, something warm and fuzzy that was demanding that she let him work on her shoulders, but her rational mind was screaming for caution and hesitance. She remained in the chair, and he kept his gaze solidly fixed on her. Amusement crept into his features as he smiled at her.
“Have it your way, but you won’t get any sleep tonight with your muscles still sore.”
The kettle sounded off, and Em hopped out of her chair, chastising her inner jezebel to pump the brakes as she poured two steaming mugs of tea. “How do you take your tea?” she asked, knowing that she should probably know the answer to that already. The look on his face confirmed it. “Lex, I’m tired, do you want milk and sugar or just milk?” Em tried desperately to remember doing this in-game before, but nothing was coming to her. Just start making it, she thought to herself. Maybe it will be like opening the lock. Maybe this Em just knows. She began with her own tea, adding milk and a touch of sugar, and then looked at his mug - just in time to see her hands adding a splash of milk before picking it up to hand to him. This world was a marvel.
Lex took the mug from her and sipped it before smiling broadly. “See? Perfect.”
“Of course. I was teasing, and I told you, I’m just tired.” His eyes twinkled as he smiled and took another sip, and Em took that as a chance to look around the tiny house more carefully. She thought about the times she had come here in-game and was immediately annoyed at how little attention she had paid the house. It was just a place for her to hang out with Alex - with Lex. Clearly, from the expectant look on his face, he remembered some of those late-night conversations with the same embarrassing accuracy that she did. Always right up to the brink, but never crossing the line - she wasn’t even sure that she knew where the line was anymore. “So, rest, right.” Downing the rest of her tea, she stood - and frowned as Lex did the same.
“Yes, I think we need to just sleep, Em.”
“What else would we do?” Lex chuckled as he moved closer to her and took her in his arms. He kissed her forehead, and the sensation was like a red-hot brand being placed against her skin. She reached up to touch the spot before she realized what she was doing.
“I love your sense of humor. Who knew that you stuffy elves could be so funny.” He released her and left the room, walking toward a corridor that she guessed led to the bed chamber - or bed chambers. Why could she not remember the layout of a zone she had visited nearly every time she logged into the game?
“Come on, two beds at least,” she whispered under her breath as she replaced the mugs by the hearth and scattered the embers in the fireplace to encourage the fire to die down, then tidied everything in the room that she could lay her hands on.
“Em? You coming to bed?” Scratch the multiple beds, she guessed.
“In a bit. I want to wait for the fire to die down - it will give me time to think.”
“Whatever you need, mo’croydi,” he called back. Ugh - what did that mean? Em couldn’t remember, but it was no surprise really because everything that had happened to her in the last few hours suddenly came crashing down on her. It sounded like Irish - Alex was always tossing in bits of Irish that he had learned...somewhere. It was his comeback when she accidentally added a French word here and there. If only she could talk to Alex for a moment, not Lex, but Alex. Was that even possible, though? A buzzing sound to her left caught her attention, and she looked in that direction to see what was making the sound. There was nothing that looked promising, so she got up and walked over to the large sink where she had left the two mugs. Buzz, buzz.
“What is that noise?” she wondered aloud. It sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. Buzz, buzz. A light flashed outside the window of the house in time with the buzzing. Blink, blink. Em looked back toward the bed chamber and then leaned as close as she could to the window to look outside. Again, there was the blinking and the buzzing. She tiptoed back to the bed chamber, and sure enough, Lex was asleep. She lingered in the doorway for a moment, watching him, captured by the sight of him snuggled up in the bedclothes. How easy it would be just to slip into the bed with... No, no, no! She turned on her heel and headed for the front door.
Once outside, Em followed the blinking light until she came to a strange little thing that resembled a post box. Of course! She nearly slapped herself in the forehead. It WAS a postbox - this was how they communicated in the game - the buzz and the blink were Alex trying to contact her over the voice chat! Her knees nearly buckled in relief as she leaned down and opened the front of the post box as she had directed Em to do many times from the other side of her laptop screen - but this time, the chatbox did not appear in front of her. Alex’s voice did not fill her ears with darlin’s and come ‘eres. There was just a piece of parchment in the box, and she retrieved it and broke the seal before she thought to
see if she recognized the sigil pressed into the wax. Before unrolling it, she tried to put the seal back together - it looked like the Shadow Guardian sigil, but that was ridiculous. She unrolled the parchment to read it, rubbing her forehead as the words appeared.
Maddie, you know me, but I cannot help you yet. I am writing to warn you about Lex. He is not who he seems to be. Remember that the Prophis have long been enemies of the Tyrael, and he is undoubtedly here to spy on you at best or means you grave harm at worst. Take my warning to heart, please, dearest Em, my darlin’ - I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.
Em faltered, and her knees buckled, driving her down into the soft mossy ground as she cried out in fear and confusion. Maddie? That had to be Alex. But Lex was Alex - wasn’t he? She felt like her head would explode and take her heart along for the ride as she knelt in the grass, wishing that something would make sense or that she could find a way home. Was Lex what was left when Alex logged off? How was he warning her...about himself? What about her house, her roommate, or her job? Her family, both in Europe and the United States - would they even know she was gone? It was too much, just all so very much, and she just collapsed under the weight of it all.
As if on cue, the weather turned, and lightning lit up the sky above the trees at the same time that thunder rumbled nearby. A memory flared in the very back of Em’s mind: a warning to go inside because the rain in Iredale was toxic. Too much exposure without proper magical protection, and she would die. Her eyes opened wide suddenly - if she was here and she was Em, what would happen if she died? She tried to get to her feet, but stumbled back down onto all fours, swearing.
“There’s no need for that language,” Lex whispered in her ear. She turned her head, and he was there, squatting down next to her, his tattooed body radiating a warm red light as he reached for her. Em thought that she should probably get herself off the ground but couldn’t. His muscular arms closed around her, pulling her close - she traced his tattoos as he carried her back inside and deposited her in a chair by the fire. Lex’s ebony hair was loose from the braid or ponytail that he usually wore, and Em noticed for the first time that it was longer than hers, falling just at the small of his back. He shut the door to the house and put the bar across to secure it just as the wind picked up outside with a spine-chilling howl before returning to Em. He knelt down in front of the chair so that they were eye to eye. “Why were you outside with a storm coming, Em? You’re lucky that the thunder woke me.”
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