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Mercury walked down the long halls, chin held high, shoulders squared, her dark blue hair bobbing slightly in time with her brisk steps. The motionless guards watched her, no doubt sensing the tension in her jaw. The large windows lit up the golden hallways, portraits of long lost battles and ancient rulers lined the walls of the hallway, going out of sight around a bend. She stopped in front of a ruby red door with intricate gold outlines, taking a deep breath before knocking. A painful moment passed. Then another. A voice broke through the door.
“You may enter,” the voice never failed to send shivers down her spine. She took another breath before entering. Alieus sat at a table on the other end of the room, a small book in his hands. His golden eyes stayed locked with the book as she entered. Despite being seated, he seemed to almost loom over her.
The table faced her like a receptionist desk. Except this wasn’t a receptionist. In fact she’d probably be fired if she compared Alieus to a mere receptionist. Executed even.
Bookshelves lined the walls, all sorts of rare and unusual items among them, including the Pleiades collection, something Mercury had wanted to read for a long time. A large bay window overlooked the ocean behind his desk, various small islands breaking up the waves here and there. The sun hung low in the sky, stretching Alieus’s shadow over Mercury.
“Mercury, I thought I told you not to be late again,” she winced. He still hadn’t looked up, let alone closed the book he was reading.
“My sincerest apologies my lord. I had other issues to attend to. It won’t happen again.”
He lifted his eyes from the book and leaned forward, “ I called you here Mercury,” he leaned over the table, his voice growing colder, “because you are failing. I said before the end of the year I wanted Athena behind bars. You must make an example of them.”
“It is almost done. I told you my lord, it will take more than a year to-”
“Mercury, I want results not excuses. You have until the Oblivion Project is finished to complete your mission or I will find someone else who can do this job. Do I make myself clear,” the shadows grew sharp, sweeping over the windows, blocking out the golden light from outside. The shadows crept towards her, dancing around her feet.
“Yes my lord. I understand.” She did her best to maintain her composure. To keep her eyes set forward, not downward on the tendrils of shadow below her.
“Very good. You are dismissed,” he sat back down, the shadows receding, “and Mercury, don’t forget about the party tonight. Venus will be there, and she expects tight security. We wouldn’t want a repeat of the Summer Solstice would we? You’ve been slipping as of late, and I’d rather not have to see you go when we’re so close to our goal.”
“Of course my lord. I will not mess up again,” she gave him a quick bow, then stepped out of his study, the door clicking shut behind her. She let go of the breath she was holding, and began walking back the way she’d come.