Chapter 33
Gen’s Quarters, Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Gen stepped into her new quarters at the Rogue Rider mansion, her eyes widening at the sight before her. Amanda, the house manager with a flair for the unconventional, had truly outdone herself. The room was a stunning fusion of modern elegance and medieval charm, proof to Amanda’s uncanny ability to blend the old and the new.
A rustic stone fireplace dominated one wall, its warm glow casting dancing shadows across the room. Beside it was a large, blue plush pillow that seemed to invite Gen to sink into its embrace. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of dragons soaring through the skies, their intricate details a nod to Gen’s own incredible journey.
“What do you think?” Amanda asked, an expectant look on her face.
“I actually love it,” Gen said, looking around.
“Why do you say ‘actually?’ Did you have doubts?” Amanda asked, looking between Gen and Sophia who was studying the space, smiling brightly.
“I ate mud for dinner,” Gen replied. “I have doubts about everything in my life now.”
“Well, I made you a place to wash out your mouth and in a style that I thought would suit you.” Amanda pointed to the corner where a washing basin stood atop a beautifully carved wooden stand, its copper basin gleaming in the soft light.
Gen couldn’t help but smile at the familiar sight, a touch of home in this strange, new world. The bed, a magnificent four-poster with rich, burgundy drapes, looked like it had been plucked straight from a castle chamber.
Yet, as Gen explored further, she discovered the subtle touches of modernity that Amanda had so thoughtfully incorporated. A sleek, minimalist desk sat beneath a window, its surface bare save for a single, elegant lamp. The closet doors, a marvel of engineering, slid open to reveal a spacious interior, complete with built-in shelves and drawers.
“What’s that?” Gen asked, pointing to the large pillow on the floor.
“Oh, that’s something that Sophia always has in her room, so you got one too,” Amanda said proudly. “That’s a bean bag. You sit on it.”
“Nice,” Gen said, watching as Sophia strode over and plopped down in the big, plush pillow.
The floor was a warm, honey-colored hardwood and partially covered by a luxurious, intricately patterned rug that looked like it had been woven by the skilled hands of a medieval artisan. And there, nestled in the corner, was a bookshelf filled with tomes both ancient and modern, which showed Amanda’s understanding of Gen’s love for the written word. The house manager was very intuitive and had done her homework.
As Gen took in the room, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. Amanda had created a space that was uniquely hers—a haven that celebrated her past while embracing her future. This was a room fit for a warrior. It was a place where Gen could rest, recharge and prepare for the battles ahead, although it sounded like she’d be training for the rest of her life.
“Oh, and Dwayne left this for you,” Amanda said, lifting a piece of paper off a side table and handing it to Gen. “It’s your list of tasks that you have to complete for training.”
Gen unfolded the parchment, taking in the strange blocked type. Her eyes widened.
Catching the look of horror on her face, Sophia sprang to her feet and strode over. “What is it?”
“I have to solve a murder,” Gen said, looking at the list of tasks that Dwayne had assigned her before she could get a Rogue Rider case. “That’s my first assignment on my internship for that evil man.”
Amanda held up a finger. “But first you have to find a murder.”
“And then I have to solve it,” Gen repeated, an idea brightening in her eyes suddenly. “Maybe Dwayne is asking me to murder him. Then I’ll know who did it and case closed, all done.”
“I think I can actually help you shortcut some of these tasks,” Sophia offered, looking over Gen’s shoulder at the list.
“Really?” Gen asked, hope springing to her chest. “How? I’ve got to solve a murder and then…” She gasped with even more shock than before. “I have to complete six hundred hours of shadowing other Rogue Riders. Oh, that man… I get the significance of that specific number of hours that Dwayne picked.”
“Because you’re six hundred years off your original timeline,” Amanda guessed.
Gen nodded, glancing back at the list. “And then I’m supposed to catalog and observe over fifteen hundred magical creatures.”
Amanda laughed. “Because you’re from the fifteenth century. Wow, I didn’t think that man had a sense of humor.”
Gen grimaced. “I still don’t think he does.”
“I know I can help you with the first one,” Sophia said. “Then we just have to get clever with the other two.”
“How in the world can you do that?” Amanda questioned.
“Well, I know people,” Sophia answered. “And then there’s this whole time travel thing that could work in our favor. I mean, I can bend a few arms, maybe make some Rogue Riders help you out with shadowing hours. Who is to say how you did this all so quickly, as long as we can prove that you did? Dwayne is trying to make it impossible. We’re just going to make it look like you possibly did it, right after you solve an actual murder, of course.”
“You’re good and evil at the same time, Sophia,” Amanda gushed, a delighted grin on her face.
“I’m strategic,” Sophia countered with a wink. “And I know how to beat bad men at their own games by still playing by the rules. I win because I don’t cheat. They lose because I know that they will.”