Fate of Pandora - Book II

The Meeting

"What do you mean they disappeared?" Karina hissed at Kira and Damon. The long-haired man was on his knees and flinched at his Goddess's raised voice.

"My lady, we were watching them at the mansion again, but one of them, the Chronos girl, did something and they all disappeared. Only the nekomata was left behind."

"We were planning our attack. This is something we weren't expecting," the ghostly man added. "If I heard it right, the Chronos demigod took them to the Gods' realm – or something like that."

"The Gods' realm? They are seeing the Gods of their rings?" Karina broke the glass she was holding and wine dripped from her hand, dyeing the beige carpet underneath with a strong red stain. Damon's displeasure seemed to be more over the spilled wine on the carpet of his apartment rather than the woman's fury.

"What is the problem, my lady?" Kira stood and handed her a handkerchief to clean her hand.

"The problem is that they can confirm the chest's location before we can, and gain a new strength. This could become dangerous." Karina looked around the apartment as she tried to figure out something they could do. Her hand slipped to a pocket in her jacket and she checked the chain of rings that she had collected over her lifetime. She wanted that group's rings as well; because, for one, she wouldn't have any other forces opposing her; secondly, the more rings she had, the faster she would find the sacred chest. Her anger lessened as she remembered something, and her frown changed into a grin.

"The Gods' realm is a dangerous place for mere humans, you know? Even I don't dare go there with flesh and soul... however, I can make an exception," she murmured before calling the attention of the bored man. "Damon!"

"Yes?"

"I need more space other than your tiny room. Do you know if I can use the roof of this building?"

"The last floor has an abandoned rooftop terrace. I guarantee that I have never seen a living soul go to that place." Damon told her what she wanted to hear, and her smile grew wider.

"This is perfect. Kira!"

The man in black was relieved that Karina had figured something out, and he was glad that she had returned her attention to him after Damon's maze fiasco. "Yes, my Goddess?"

"We are going to this building's roof. Make the necessary preparations and join me."

"What about me, madam?" Damon asked her while she turned her back to him, already heading for the door.

"You have already done your job today. Watch obediently as I finish what you have left undone."

Damon wasn't content with her attitude toward him, but all he could do now was sit back and wait for further orders.

"The rings are attracted to the box..." said Aphrodite.

"The fact that you all met at Tokyo was no mere coincidence..." howled the Wolf.

"You were brought there by fate..." said Demeter.

"Because the box is hidden in the city..." explained Artemis.

"You need to find it..." continued Chronos.

"But also, to fight against Pandora, you will need help..." warned Selene.

"Pay attention to me, and you'll learn how to unleash your greatest powers," finished Quetzalcoatl.