Machine of Fire and Blood

TEN

 Calaithe found herself standing face to face with a clone of herself. The other Calaithe smiled pleasantly at her.

"Hello, Calaithe," her other-self greeted.

"Who are you?" Calaithe asked. "What is this?"

"My name, Calaithe, is Maia. I believe you know who I am."

Calaithe frowned. "Maia? As in the earth goddess?"

Maia nodded. "The very one."

"Why? Why are you here?"

Maia smiled again. It was unnerving seeing Calaithe's own face smiling at her. It felt like she wasn't in control of herself.

"To be honest, I am not really here for you, Calaithe. The issue is that my dear, sweet Adithreel has me blocked out. He does not let me in anymore. I do not blame him, though."

Calaithe looked around the space they were in. It was the hostel, but it was cleaner, brighter. As if someone had scrubbed the very imperfections from the surface of every item in the room. There was no one else in the room either save for herself and Maia.

"I want you to give Adi a message for me, Calaithe. Tell him first, that his informants are correct. Danson is coming for me. I am vulnerable. If he hooks me up to the machine, he will gain power."

"Hooks you up?" Calaithe interrupted. "You're a goddess. How could he even contain you in order to hook you up?"

"It is very rude to interrupt a goddess, you know. But he could do so quite easily, since I am already contained. I reside within a human body in the Temple of Maia. My human capsule is what allows me to commune with humans and use my powers on this plane of existence. All Danson has to do is kill all those who are in the Temple, and take my human capsule. Once he hooks me up to his machine, he will control my capsule and effectively, me. Mind you, my temple is guarded by some very talented fighters. My guess is that he will have to make a stop along the way to rally some forces. That should give you time to catch up with him."

Calaithe swallowed, hard. For some reason, she'd had it in her head that they would only have to confront Master Danson himself. One man, no matter how nefarious his schemes, didn't seem that intimidating to go up against. If that man was raising an army, though...

"What's the second thing?" Calaithe asked. "You said that was the first thing I should tell him, and that implies there is a second."

Maia nodded her head slightly. "Correct. Tell Adi that my friends are getting restless. Tell him that the previous offer is on the table once again. And tell him that I hope he will make the right decision this time. Otherwise, I have my eyes on a suitable secondary option."

Maia's eyes racked up and down Calaithe, causing goosebumps to raise on her arms. Coldness swept through her and she shivered. She didn't know a lot about goddesses, had only just learned that Maia existed, but she felt like meeting a goddess was supposed to be a more pleasant experience. This goddess was supposed to be one that helped those she favoured according to Adithreel, but all Calaithe felt as she stood before the goddess was fear.

"Please forgive me for using you as my messenger pigeon. You must understand I would have gone straight to the source if I could have."

Calaithe nodded slowly, barely breathing.

"Well, then, if you have got the message, I should go. Do not let me down, Calaithe. I expect it to be delivered promptly. Make sure you do it as soon as you wake up."

"Wake up?" Calaithe echoed.

Maia just smiled.

~+~