A note concerning Alexandra (Project: Lodestar 9)

Alexandra relished the feeling of crossing the threshold. With the passing of time she has felt more and more a stranger in what she has come to think of as the material world. There she felt confined within a cage of flesh, but here her body was made from scintillating phosphorescence. No one was ever able to figure out just where it was that Alexandra went when she stepped through a mirror. In time she was able to bring others with her but unliving objects were never able to make the crossing. The scientists, bereft of their instruments and strangers to this place to which she seemed to be an integral part, were unable to collect data with which to feed their science and thus nothing conclusive was ever determined. Years later, Alexandra still didn’t know where it was that she went, but she didn’t really care anymore, because wherever it was, the place felt like home.

A vast snarl of luminescence pulsed in tangled masses for as far as she could see. To the best of Alexandra’s knowledge these shining skeins represented the ebb and flow of life and death. Right now it was a particular death she sought. She hefted her staff, here a great barbed spear, as she cast her perceptions along the strands. Her head snapped to the right, orienting like a weathercock in a strong wind and she hurled the spear. As it streaked away it became a winged serpent and she took off in its wake.

Soul, chi, anima, life force, whatever people wanted to call it, had an analogue in that place. The death of something was a physical event, something that she could observe, and even interact with. Always the spent life lingered, but never for very long. Alexandra hoped that she wouldn’t fail Cassandra the way she did Steven. If she could get there fast enough and gather up that spark before it faded, she fervently believed she could save her friend.

She set down beside a flaring pillar of scarlet light that could only be Amaranth. Cities were difficult to work in because of the sheer density of complex life crammed within them. With practiced ease she began to filter out the threads of the living. Once they were shut out she could detect faint greenish wisps. She gently stroked one. It felt like Cassandra, but something wasn’t right, there should have been more. She tried to refine her focus even further and as a result did not see the vibrant blue chains surging out of the darkness towards her.

In a blink she was ensnared, her body sizzled where it touched the restraints. An ephemeral figure the same color as the chains came in to view. “When I first devised this trap I never thought it would catch a fly so quickly,” it said sardonically.

Alexandra peered out from the constricting mass of links. “It would seem you’re not quite as dead as we thought.” She thought for a moment, “Did you fake Cassandra’s death?”

“Oh no, she’s quite dead,” said the image of Ansel as it approached her.

She could just barely make out a knot of greenish energy constrained within it. “You didn’t just kill her, did you? What else did you do?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” replied Ansel. His fingers sharpened into wicked points and his hands ignited in blue fire. The chains parted to reveal her torso. “Any last words?”

“I’m impressed. You picked up more than I thought. Not only are you able to project across the barrier but you can exert your power here as well,” Alexandra tensed against her restraints.

Ansel reached towards her, “It would seem that I made a better student than you a teacher, but it would be remiss of me not to thank you.” His fingers paused a fraction of an inch from her navel, “After all, I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for you.” He plunged his hand into her body and frowned when he didn’t meet the resistance he expected. He grew even more concerned when he couldn’t pull his hand back out.

Alexandra shook her head. When she spoke her voice was icy, “You arrogant shit. Did you really think you could get the better of me in this of all places?” With a soft noise the chains exploded into a cloud of thousands of flower petals.

Scowling, Ansel leapt back, his arm separated from his body at the shoulder. He spoke calmly, “This is only a minor set back.” The severed arm distended and then disgorged a writhing organic mass of tendrils that quickly enveloped Alexandra. Ansel gathered the last few wisps of Cassandra’s life force in his remaining hand. “Good day Alex, until next time.”

Her voice was clear despite the overwhelming cocoon that had surrounded her, “Oh no, I’m not done with you yet!” Mouth open in a silent cry the winged serpent dropped from above like a lighting bolt, transmuted back into the great spear, and transfixed Ansel in place. Streamers of white energy coruscated from the wound. The cocoon withered and fell in great glittering flakes. “I can feel her on you. What did you do to her!”

“If you were in my place do you think you’d answer that question?”

“No, but if you were in mine there’s no end to the torture and atrocities you’d commit until you got your answer.” The spear pulsed. Ansel grimaced. His image was beginning to fray at the edges.

“I’ve always liked this dark side of yours. Keep this up and I may have to start calling you a tease.”

She grabbed him. His shoulder reacted like putty to her touch. “We’ll see how long you can keep up the smug remarks. I’ll get her back, Ansel, even if I have to shred your fucking soul in the process.”

His reply was shaky, “As much as I would like to see how far you’d go, I don’t think that’d be in my best interests.” Thick blue sparks exploded into Alexandra’s face and with a mighty effort Ansel ripped free from the spear, leaving most of his lower body behind. “I guess there are still a few things left that you can teach me. I look forward to prying them from your corpse.” His projected image began to unravel rapidly. With a shout Alexandra lunged for him, channeling all of her power into her grasp, but she could only watch helplessly as the threads slid between her fingers and disappeared. The throbbing energy of the city came back into focus around her. Staring at her clenched fist, she stood isolated and alone amidst that vast tangle of life. When she opened her fingers, a handful of green motes sparkled in her palm, far more precious than the gemstones they resembled.