SHIRLEY
MAATITES TEMPLE
"What happened?" The high mother asked.
Our leader and only connection to Maat herself. Some say she's over millennials old, others say she's one of Maat's handmaidens. But one thing is certain, her powers can rival a few gods. Nobody wants to be at the center of her ire, and right now that ire is directed at me.
"He was in danger, high mother. The protection spell in his house was breached"
There was a collective gasp around the hall, everyone here knew there are very few handful who can break her spell.
"Do you know who breached it?"
"No, high mother. But a Duat bull was sent in to capture him"
There was a deadly silence in the hall as the high mother stood up. Her face looks like she has a good idea who the culprit was.
"Explain to me what happened in details" she demanded
"I was supposed to meet him this night, so I went to his place. I was on the way when I had the sendation that the spells were breached, I got there as he was knocked out by the Duat bull, so I engaged it. After fighting it for some minutes, Aiden came to and cut off it's head"
"With what?" She asked suspiciously.
"He manifested a sword, high mother"
There was another round of gasps and it's beginning to get on my nerves.
"You didn't tell us his powers has reached that level"
"It didn't, not at first. but after he woke up his powers kinda got upgraded"
"How many minutes was he out for?" she asked suspiciously.
"Five minutes, six give or take" I replied, wondering where she was going with this.
"That's impossible" Tamat said, the high mother's personal guard.
Was it?, I didn't know. Since that was my first encounter with a Duat bull. We already know someone was helping him, we just didn't know who. I chance a look at the high mother and I feel she has a good idea who it was.
"High mother, if I may?" Zimri spoke up. What has the bitch got to say, I wondered.
Zimri has always been my rival since we were kids. But she made herself an enemy when we were in a particular assignment together.
"What is it Zimri?"
"Her cover was blown tonight and the rule states that our cover should never be blown while on assignment. it's the rule we all abide by, she should be punished and replaced high mother" she said, smirking at me.
Yeah, hence the reason I called her bitch. She just had to speak up. There was silence now, everyone waited for me to defend myself. But I wasn't going to, there was no need.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Shirley?" the high mother asked me
"You told me his safety should be my first priority more than anything else, high mother. The situation called for it and I did just that, also nobody is going to be able to go near him after him, am the only one that can protect him closely"
"Well, I think that settles it Zimri. This gathering is dismissed" she said.
As the hall began to empty, high mother called out to me "Shirley, my chambers now"
I knew the questioning wasn't over yet and she saw too much. I already guessed she knew about my relationship with Aiden, that it wasn't just a front. Well no time like now to get it over with, I thought with trepidation.
"Yes, high mother" I replied.
I thought as I followed her to her chambers how strained she looked, she looked vulnerable now. This was the part of her only I and her personal guard Tamat was allowed to see. I wondered where Aiden was going to sleep tonight, sturborn goat. He really should learn how to accept help.
"Do you know who is training him?" She asked as soon as Tamat closed the chamber doors.
"Not yet, high mother"
"You need to find out fast, I have an idea who it is but I need confirmation"
That did not sound good. "The person is an ally, right?"
"Not if he is who I think he is. Zain wouldn't help anybody unless he was promised something" Tamat responded
"Who is Zain?" I know have heard that name before, I just can't seem to place it.
Completely ignoring like I didn't just ask a question. Who can this Zain be?, I began to wonder. He must be someone dangerous and powerful to make the high mother anxious, now am worried about Aiden's safety.
"Find out who is helping him fast, it's important"
"Yes high mother"
"Is that all, high mother?" I asked, eager to leave.
"I don't think your report is done, is it?" She stared me down.
Shit, I should have known she was going to ask. She just had to sidetrack me like that.
"I don't understand what you mean high mother" I decide to feign ignorance
She looks at me and smiled, yeah that smile said she knew everything.
"Since you are feigning ignorance, let me spell it out for you. When did you start having feelings for your assignment?"
Trust her to delve right in. well, I was already anticipating this moment. I decided to go for honesty.
"Since I saw him, high mother"
"And you never thought it could have been his Demi god allure?"
"That was what I thought at first, but its more than that, high mother"
"Does he feel the same way?"
"That's what I think, no I know that he feels the same way"
She smiled, like she actually smiled. What did I miss?
"Don't look so startled, I knew you were going to fall for him. That's the reason I sent you specifically for this mission"
"What do you mean?" I asked not liking the way she said that.
"You are not ready for the answer to that question, so drop it. You are dismissed"
I left her office more confused than when I entered. I know I won't be getting my answer just yet, so I have to wait.