Atlas of Worlds (Pt. 1)

"Well it said book of dungeons before I touched it.* I swear I didn't do anything."

"Maybe it responded to your powers," Stryker would guess. "Made it reveal its true form or something."

"Book of Dungeons sounded like a toy," Maggie sound say. "But Atlas of Worlds sounds sinister. Almost like something people would genuinely kill one another for."

"really? Heh...I wonder why it didn't do the same with the other me. I'm sure we have the same power..."

"What if the books have their places switched on purpose? What if this was the one your world was originally meant to have?" Stryker theorized. "Think about it. It's literally found at the exact opposite place, in a world that's literally a mirror reflection."

"Our Lillith is a demon, yours is an angel," Maggie would add. "You're very casual about killing, our Liela is not."

"That's an interesting Theory I have to say though I'm not very sure that Lillith being an angel part is real. There's no way, she's a demon right? " Devionus was mostly questioning herself than the others.

"Wasn't meant literally, but more like 'she doesn't eat people's souls'," Maggie would add. "Our Lillith does, though our Liela handpicks which ones she's allowed to."

"Ink demons are not supposed to be able to eat souls in the first place. Whatever is wrong with your lillith is unatural. "

"How did your Lillith come to be?" Maggie asked. "Ours was a father bringing back his daughter, but getting her back not quite right."

"I don't know how she came to be. All I know is that I found her in an old empty house whining that she couldn't save her dad for some reason. Honestly who sticks in the place like them?"

Yep. Definitely an alternate, mirrored universe.

"Whoa..." Maggie gasped.

"Okay, I think I got a plan on what we can do," Stryker cleared his throat. "We sep up a trap. I have a couple of teammates willing to help me set it all put, Ayah can scout ahead. Cynthia can disguise herself so that she'll look exactly like you. We'll use the book as bait, lure this 'mage' in. Pavel will work his magic. Then we get him to set things right by, well, persuading him. You get your Lillith, we get our Liela. Sullivan can even get us some stuff for a party. If all of this goes well, I might just forgive you for killing my latest recruit. I hand-pick each and every member for my team." 

Stryker's eyes would meet with hers, staring into her soul. He showed her that he still has his guns, but didn't take them out.

"You think I'm bad? That other mage is far worst! He's too smart for your plans! And he doesn't play games. As soon as he gets a hint that something is wrong, he won't hesitate to kill. " She was looking right at him.  "I don't know about you but I want to live. Do you?"

"That's why we're making a plan, taking a risk. I can help you take him down," he'll take out one of his guns, giving it a twirl and checking how many rounds were still left. All six of them. "Just tell me how. Weaknessess, anything you can think off. Let me worry about the rest."

"grrr are you not listening to me?!? As far as I'm concerned, the guy doesn't have a weakness! I kicked him in that balls and he didn't even flinch!"

"Then you didn't kick hard enough," Stryker told her. "Or doesn't feel pain. Which opens up a lot of options."

He'd open up his coat, revealing plenty of different tools for different occassions, including a few interesting ones. Like flechette rounds.

"Frankly, now I don't have to worry about accidentally killing him if he's that tough."

"whatever protection spell he has on him is pretty strong...your weapons of metal wrnt going to do a single thing"

"Oh yeah? How come I was able to bring you here?" he'd give her a sly grin. "And I was still holding back."

He'd take a coin out of his pocket, flip it and hit it in midair, fanning the hammer with slick speed.

"I know people like you. Misguided. Used to be too, back in the day."

"So, make your decision," he's state. "You either help us or I will find you. And I will make you pay. You wouldn't believe how creative I can get after you've killed someone who, though blind, could hear the sound of falling leaves, a punch heading his way. He had nothing to lose. The dojo kicked him out for refusing to strike an innocent."

"We had a ninja?" Maggie would blurt out. "A real ninja running around?!"

"Yes, we had," Stryker would say. "Now he's gone. She didn't care he had a family."

"look I have no idea to family or anything not like it mattered he didn't even try and fight you didn't even care he welcome death! He saw me do something and I couldn't allow him to live... Get over it and I might bring him back.."

Stryker would turn off the safety of his second revolver. "Final word?"

"Isn't supposed to be 'final words?' devionus said as she opened the altar of books. "Let's not get too violent now. We can do that after this meds is delt with. " She was paying no mind to his weapon.

Maggie would stare her down. The book would drop from her hands before she had a chance to open it up proper.

All Dev could do was blink. Probably cry.

Stryker would holster his revolver and take out his phone. "Pavel? Yeah, it's me. Could you bring me the package? Largest one. Nah, I'll do the vacuuming myself after I'm done. Shouldn't take more than tomorrow and whatever is left of today. I'll call you back."

"And what if she changes her mind?" Maggie would ask.

"Unlikely. I'll get in touch with Cynthia. Make her do a sketch so she remembers how she looks like so we can fool the mage by the disguise."

Devionus was looking down at the book. She seemed more concerned about it right now. Couldn't this wait till after she helped them?

Stryker would take the book away and give to Maggie, who left the room and re-entered after she hid it.

He'd then approach her and say. "Hello, sweetie. We're going on a date. I even brought my own silverware."

"Magdalene, I'm going to need your help. Think you can make someone petrified while still keeping their tissue able to respond to outside stimuli?" he'd ask. Took her a while to understand, but she nodded.

"Take her with you. We're going to some empty room."

Devionus'eyes were going frantic by now

"What's the matter? Scared that it'll go wrong? Don't worry! I'll explain everything. We're going to have so much fun together!"

Maggie would turn to her and coldly state. "Is there any other way I can help?"

"Can you soundproof the room?"

Now devionus was making mumbled noises as the two flames that were always floating above her got bigger. They didn't seem to be affected by the stare