"This way," Dulce said, walking past a girl in high kick mode, to the entrance. Edith followed, bemused. Lusion had surprises yet!
Outside, they flew up and across the landscape to a distant cliff, then to a truck-sized cave at its base. "Here live the bats."
"The bats!" Edith exclaimed, amazed anew.
"I work with them in my off hours," Dulce explained. "They mostly sleep by day."
"We—we encountered them last night," Edith said, realizing that Dulce probably already knew. "They—they circled around us."
"We have a deal with them," Dulce said. "They keep the castle environs clear of nasty bugs, some of which are huge, and we help safeguard their welfare. They were here before us, and were very useful when we needed advice about Lusion. They signaled us that two visitors were lost. We told them to keep an eye on you, just in case you got into real trouble, knowing you wanted to explore."
So there had never been real danger. "Thank you," Edith said. "For your discretion."
Dulce smiled. "We were all once new here."
They entered the cave. Dozens of man-sized bats were hanging from the cave ceiling, sleeping. Dulce approached one. "This is Bonnie Bat," she said. "She was injured last week in a collision and suffered internal injuries that are not healing well. I do what I can but it's not sufficient. I don't know enough bat physiology, so my touch lasts only two or three days. I wish I could do more."
Edith was touched. This woman was really trying to make a difference, here in Lusion. "Can I help?"
Dulce considered. "You might."
Edith put her hands beside Dulce's on the bat's head and willed Bonnie to be mended. The effect was miraculous. Healing power surged. The bat became vibrant, and Edith knew she was completely well again. "It's the power of your soul!" Dulce said, amazed.
"My soul?"
"You're a visitor. You retain your soul. Not only does that give you magnetic personal appeal, it lends you power."
"The power to heal," Edith said, impressed.
"To make a difference, yes," Dulce said. "As you just did with Bonnie. But I must warn you that if you come here to stay, you will no longer have your soul, and won't be able to perform miracles. You'll be ordinary."
"Ordinary," Edith echoed. "But I could still try to help bats or other animals, in my more limited capacity."
"Yes, as I do."
"I think I would like that. Parties and magic are fine, but this is meaningful."
"This is my case. Now it's Deron's turn with you."
"Deron's turn. Does he have a serious side too?"
"Oh, yes. We all do. Parties are for visitors. Behind the scenes it's serious."
"I was looking for the reality behind the facade," Edith said. "Maybe now I have found it."
"Maybe you have," Dulce agreed. "Yet—"
"There is something else?"
"There is. Kent is more, shall we say, party oriented than you are. His needs are more immediate."
"Amen," Edith agreed.
"So to make my case to him I will not show him bats. Instead it may need to be more direct pleasure."
"Sex galore," Edith agreed.
"If you are amenable. I do not wish to interfere with your relationship."
"Don't worry," Edith said. "Our relationship is mostly one of convenience; we're not really a couple. I found the magic fruit, and we followed up. That's it."
"Then with your tolerance I will show him some of the art and power of sex," Dulce said. "This is what Lusion can offer him."
Edith suspected that Kent's love of Eden was about to transfer to Dulce, who had similar sex appeal buttressed by maturity. That would be convenient. Eden would still be there, but no longer monopolizing his attention. Edith could have her own life.
They returned to the castle, where the party remained frozen. Deron and Kent were returning from another direction. Nice timing.
"Wow!" Kent said. "Deron just showed me the game of Freak Poker. What an experience! I have to play more of that soon as I can!"
"I'm sure Dulce will hold your attention similarly," Deron said.
"I believe I will," Dulce said, taking his hand. "This way, stud."
Deron looked at Edith. "If you care to come admire my etchings?"
"By all means," she agreed, curious about his serious side.
He led her to his room, which turned out to be like a small gallery featuring pictures of a ferocious large fish. That was curious. "This is a mosasaur," Deron said, seeing her glance. "A formidable carnivorous lizard of the Cretaceous Period, sixty million years ago."
"But it's a fish!" Edith protested.
"No, it's a marine lizard the size of a small whale. I am studying for my PhD in Mosasaur Evolution."
"But that's obscure!"
"Indeed. But I need to write my doctoral thesis on something not done before. This qualifies."
"There are doctorates here?"
"Not exactly. But I will research and write my thesis, and others will judge whether it suffices."
"For the satisfaction?"
"And the knowledge. I am genuinely interested in the Age of Dinosaurs that preceded the Age of Mammals."
Edith was impressed. There was indeed significant substance here. "How does this make the case that I should come here to stay?"
"I crave a favor that only you can grant. The Lusion Library's physically imaginary, but its information is real. But it's dated."
"I see the problem."
"It gets updated by new arrivals from more recent times. I understand there is now the Internet."
"There is."
"If you could look up Mosasaur there, that information would be in your mind when you came here. If you decide to return here."
"So you could complete your research!" she said.
"Yes. If you return."
"If I return," she said. "And if I don't?"
"I'll miss you."
"That's all? No special inducements?"
"None," he said. "I think you now know enough of Lusion to make a sensible decision."
"No promises of endless parties? Phenomenal sex? Wonderful games?"
He shook his head. "Those are ornaments. You don't need them."
"Give me one good reason why I should come to Lusion to stay."
"Only if you truly want to, otherwise you're better off mortal."
"Why should I pass up all the remarkable entertainments here?"
"Because they can get dull. They are temporary, not permanent."
"You are telling me to stay in my dull mortal existence?"
"Edith, you have a mind and conscience. You can make a difference."
"I don't see how."
"When you leave here, see what Della is doing. That should show you a way. What she can do, you can do."
"If I return here, I'll be immortal. There I will eventually die."
He laughed. "Immortality is overrated. When you have indulged yourself in every conceivable way a hundred times, you can lose your taste for indulgence. That's not a problem for a mortal."
"I'm curious. How old are you?"
"Age is meaningless here, since you can change to any age you prefer."
"How old?" she repeated.
"You would reckon it nine hundred and forty two years."
"And Dulce?"
"She's a bit younger. Only seven hundred and some years."
Edith digested that. These people truly were immortal. And they didn't care about it? Hard to believe! "Let’s return to the party."
They walked to the ballroom, where the festivities were frozen in place. The dancers were still kicking high, showing their all.
Kent and Dulce arrived from the other direction. He looked dazed, ignoring the lifted legs. He must have seen something better.
He spied Edith. "Let's dance, Eden," he said.
So they danced, to the restored music. "There's something on your mind?" she asked.
"Oh yes! I want to move to Lusion. You can stay mortal if you w
ant."
"You would go without me?"
He paused briefly. She knew why. "Now don't take this the wrong way, Eden, but—"
"Don't be concerned," she said. "I told Dulce it was all right."
"She's the one!"
Just so. "We're not a couple," she said. "Just two people working together to explore new prospects. I'm still considering mine."
"Good enough." It was clear that his love for Eden had been preempted by a greater love. Dulce had been professionally persuasive. So Kent had decided.
Edith remained uncertain. She was impressed by both Dulce and Deron, and by Lusion itself. But was that all? She still feared a catch. Until she figured that out, she lacked information to make an informed decision. What was she missing?
They finished the dance, and Kent went on to dance with Dulce. Deron joined Edith. "If still in doubt, stay mortal," he advised.
"What side are you on?" she flared. "Aren't you supposed to persuade me to come here to Lusion so someone else can have my soul?"
"Edith, you are a sensible woman, and I would love to have your company for an indefinite period," he said seriously. "But—"
"But I'm ordinary. I'm not the shadow of Dulce."
He took her hand. "Stop that. You're not the shadow of the woman you will be in another century. I relish the thought of being your friend and your lover as you mature, and I think you would like me too."
"You can't be serious!"
"Assume your natural form."
Bemused, she did: slightly dowdy, more than slightly overweight, some lines.
"And here is my appearance at fifty," he said. He became a portly man with receding hair, slightly warped nose, and crooked teeth.
Then he kissed her. Physically it was nothing special, but emotionally it was a paean of desperate desire. He did indeed want her.
Oh. It was her soul that turned him on. "If I come here, I won't have my soul," she reminded him.
"True. So this is no clincher."
"So what do I have to recommend me?" Because now, perversely, she wanted to be persuaded.
"Dulce was no beauty either, initially."
"Magic transformed her," Edith agreed, privately satisfied with this information.
"But she quickly learned the arts, as you will."
"So if I come here to stay," she said, "I will be immortal, have powers of magic limited only by my imagination, and sex/romance."
"That's it," he agreed. "Della will have your mortal life, and I will have your company. It's a reasonably fair trade, overall."
"Why aren't you trying to become mortal, to make a difference?"
"I am from a different age. I would not be comfortable there."
"Well, I'll think about it." It did seem to be a fair trade, for those who wanted it. Was she one of them? She just didn't know.
The party continued, seemingly unaware of the two hour freeze. Kent was obviously having a good time, but Edith was torn by doubt.
Then seemingly suddenly it was time to return; their 24 hours was expiring. The pavilion was unchanged.
Kent kissed Dulce ardently.
Edith shook Deron's hand. "Thank you for your guidance," she said. "I'm sorry I am as yet unable to give you a definite answer."
"If you return, I will welcome you," he said. "But you must honestly judge what is best for you. Only then can you be satisfied."
They stepped into the pentagram. They were back in her apartment.
"You will have a day to decide," Damon's voice came from behind.
They turned. There were Damon and Della in the pentagram. "Some things you need to know before the magic fades," Damon said. "I've found a job for you, Kent. It's lowly clerical, but has prospects for the future."
"I don't want it," Kent said. "Keep it."
"I will, gladly," Damon said. "But protocol requires that twenty four hour wait."
"And what of you, Della?" Edith asked.
"You will find the pots I have set up to grow new plants when the new fruits develop. And you will see the novel I have started."
"Novel?" Edith asked blankly. "Your mortal body has a fair talent for imagination. I am using it to write a novel about Lusion."
"But why?"
"To acquaint more people with the concept, so that when they encounter the fruits they will be ready to visit there."
It struck Edith like a blinding light. "You really do mean to make a difference!"
"Yes, of course. That's why I came here."
"Invoke us again tomorrow when the last flower blooms," Damon said.
"If you want to go to Lusion to stay," Della said. They faded.
"I'm going there," Kent said. "Dulce's the one for me." Edith wondered whether he knew how old Dulce was, but it didn't matter.
"Tomorrow," she said.
"You bet." He departed. He had never questioned her own decision. Again, it didn't matter; he could go alone.
The pots were there, and the manuscript started on the computer. "Gloria knew the moment she saw it that this was forbidden fruit." Edith smiled. Far more dramatic than her own discovery of the fruit. "Yet it appealed to her strangely." Oh, yes. This might do.
The fruit had led her to Lusion. Was that properly Illusion, or Delusion? Immortality, youth, indulgence. So it was all imaginary. What did this dull mortal life have to offer her except boredom and eventual death? Why not escape into the realm of imagination?
Then she remembered the requests of their guides. She connected to the Internet and soon was scanning the Physiology of Bats, and the Evolution of the Cretaceous Mosasaur. She knew then that she would go to Lusion. She could make a difference there, ironically. She did not understand much if any of the technical information she was garnering, but trusted that Dulce and Deron would.
Now at last she could relax. She had made her decision, for good or ill. Right or wrong, she would be satisfied. She was choosing adventure over commonplace, and her soul was not too great a price to pay. She was satisfied that her body and soul would endure.
Kent came promptly and eagerly next afternoon. Now Edith was excited too. The flower bloomed, they sniffed, and summoned the demons.
"We're ready," Kent said.
"Thank you," Della said. Edith realized that the demons, too, had been worried about the decision.
They stepped into the demons, making the exchange. And were in the pavilion.
Deron and Dulce were waiting, smiling, relieved. Deron enfolded Edith, and Dulce melted into Kent. "I did my very best to provide you a proper basis for decision," Deron said. "But I very much wanted you to come."
"I researched Mosasaur," she said.
"That too, he said, and kissed her. "Now let's make love."
"What, here? In this body?" Because she hadn't changed to Eden.
"Why not? We're alone." For Kent and Dulce had disappeared.
Then they were doing it and she was loving it. Bodies didn't matter here. At least not their appearance. Preference was all, here.
The following weeks were a whirl of fun. Deron was highly pleased with the research she had done, and so was Dulce. And the bats.
And suddenly it was the one year anniversary of their arrival in Lusion. Naturally there was a big party. There was always a party.
Kent approached her. "I feel guilty," he said.
"Why?"
"Dulce has been absolutely great. She's perfect. But I am missing reality."
Edith felt a chill. She had a similar concern. "Immortality and magic and sex are not enough," she said.
"Not enough," he agreed.
"Because in the end, existence here doesn't make a difference," she said.
"That's it," he agreed. "I never believed it, before."
"So what do we do now?" she asked.
He considered. "I guess we tell Deron and Dulce. They've probably encountered this before."
"Probably," she agreed. So they went to Deron and Dulce and explained.
"Yes," Deron said. "We had hoped y
ou would be content."
"But those with minds tend not to be," Dulce said sadly. “They tend to crave more challenge than Lusion provides. We do understand."
"That was the case with Damon and Della," Edith said.
"And many others," Deron agreed. "Folk have to experience complete license in order to comprehend its ultimate futility."
"And you," Kent asked. "Why are you satisfied to remain forever in Lusion?"
"We are not," Dulce said. "But someone has to stay here to maintain the essential framework. The castle, the deal with the bats."
"Otherwise it would all dissolve," Deron said. "There would be chaos, as there was before us. That would ruin it as a retreat."
"You would rather be mortal?" Edith asked.
"Oh yes," Deron said. "To make a difference."
"But you are making a difference here!"
"This is impermanent."
"No it isn't," Edith said hotly. "You are making it possible for others to return to make a difference."
"That's second hand."
"The hell it is! You're a key link in the chain. Without you it would fall apart. That's a huge difference."
Deron shrugged. "Regardless, this is the nature of our contribution to the effort. Until such time as others take our places."
Edith suffered another revelation. "I want to do it too! Not to replace you. To help you make the difference. Your role is worthy."
"You are welcome," Deron said. "I am gratified."
Dulce looked at Kent. "And you?"
"I am torn," he said candidly. "Edith makes a good case. I've done nothing with my life so far, just lived it up. My life as a mortal made no more real difference than this."
"But you could change," Dulce pointed out. "As others who have come here have done."
"And I could help others change," Kent said. "As you have been helping me change, Dulce. I suspect it has been a real chore at times."
"I would not say that," she protested.
"And you can teach me how not to say it to the next ignorant visitors to Lusion. To have your great patience and discretion."
"If it is your true desire," Dulce agreed.
"I think it is. I don't need to search elsewhere for meaning. I can find it right here."
"As you wish," Deron said, smiling. "You are free to change your minds at any time. Meanwhile, welcome to the responsibility."
Edith exchanged a glance with Kent. It seemed the two of them had finally found their mission, where they had least expected it.
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