Adahlia walked around the fence to enter the patio. She didn't head for the table. Instead, she chose to lean against a wooden support column that connected the fence to the roof. She crossed her arms and looked at the people seated around the table, her eyes lingering on each one for a comfortable time.
When her eyes met the descendant of Thor's, she smiled. "Raiden," she said as a way of acknowledgement.
Raiden tucked his chin forward in a quick bow, returning her smile. "Adahlia."
Finally, she turned her attention to Maitho, watching him for a few moments. It didn't make him feel uncomfortable. Rather, he returned the look without making it seem like a challenge. This wasn't a staring contest. It was merely a form of greeting where two people sought to understand a little of each other before engaging in a verbal discourse.
"Welcome to the world of the Guardians," she said, twinkle in her eyes. She smiled wider, as though thinking of a joke. "The true world of the Guardians."
Raiden pushed back his chair and stood up, stepping behind it and leaning on the fence. Adahlia nodded a thanks before taking the vacant space, crossing her legs and placing both hands on her knee.
"So is the entire Norse pantheon with Mr. Cray?" Maitho asked.
Adahlia tilted her head to the side. A subtle movement, but she never lost the mirth on her face. "Are you looking for someone in our pantheon to help you?"
Maitho did not expect that. Adahlia was very perceptive. She definitely possessed centuries of wisdom with her. He opened his mouth to deny her question, but thought better of it. He wasn't in the company of fools. "The thought crossed my mind."
To Maitho's surprise, Adahlia offered a soft laugh. It wasn't a pretense. It was honest and wholehearted. "Even after living for nine hundred years, honesty never goes out of style."
"Maybe you have heard a lot of lies in your lifetime."
"Maitho, my entire life has been a lie. So has yours."
There was no answer to that. Taking advantage of his silence, Adahlia continued, "But perhaps you are looking for allies because you haven't considered us as your allies."
"That's not a decision I can make quickly."
"But time is not on your side, is it?"
Indeed. Maitho had less than two weeks before he would meet his death. He looked at Cray, wondering what he could do to save the old man. Or how he would manage it knowing that the man did not need saving anymore. Was this the end? Was death the only conclusion awaiting Maitho? He freed those thoughts from his mind. Now was not the time to ponder about his fatality. "So are you going to challenge the Gods?"
Adahlia turned to the garden. She waved one hand, as though she was bidding goodbye to the scene. No sooner had she done that than vines began to sprout from the garden. The plants began to encircle some of the beams of the fence, crawling up the structure until they hung from the railings. Maitho was enraptured by the scene. Looking around, he noticed that everyone's eyes were on the scene that took place before them. No one made so much as a noise until Adahlia was finished. Once done, she looked over at Maitho. "A young man, barely fourteen, watches his parents slaughtered in front of him in his own home. It was a home invasion gone wrong. The killer was a man saved by a Guardian two weeks before the crime."
"Why?" said Maitho.
Adahlia held her hand out and several vines reached out to her. She moved her hand to one side and the vines followed her movements. "No one knows. The fourteen year old boy loses his home. The Guardian, on the other hand, gets to go back to their home. A home, which by the way, that they get to live in without charge. Just like your apartment."
"Which does not exist anymore."
"Now you know what it's like to lose a home."
Maitho felt a presence behind him. Turning around, he saw one of Cray's guards standing there with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked at the old man and after a signal, walked up to him to whisper something in his ear. Cray nodded and dismissed the guard, who returned back into the mansion.
"It seems you have made some good friends, Mr. Oruba," said Cray.
Maitho knew who the old man was referring to, and he had the faintest idea why. He checked behind him, thinking that he might see them there. "Where are they?" he asked Cray.
"Outside. It seems the entire gang is here."
Maitho stood up to leave. "You said I could walk out of here if I wanted to."
"The door hasn't been closed since you arrived here, Mr. Oruba."
Maitho looked at the old man, then at Raiden, and finally at Adahlia. They did nothing to stop him. "What happens to me at the end of the month?"
"You reach the end. Nothing more to it."
"You're not going to let me save you, correct?"
Cray shook his head. "You can leave. I won't stop you. But I won't stop your death."
The words hit him hard. He felt a strange sense of anxiety, knowing he was so close to departing the world of the living.
Maitho pondered for a moment. He wanted to believe that everything that had been said to him was a lie. After all, he had not seen even a sliver of proof about anything that had been told to him. "All I have are your words. I have seen nothing to confirm any of your claims. But I'm sure you would like for me to see something."
In response, Adahlia reached for the tablet and tapped the screen a few times. She opened a file located in a folder named Erik Odinson. Within that folder was just one single document and upon opening it, there was an address.
"Another meeting? I think we should keep those to a minimum." Maitho took out his smartphone and made a note of the address.
"It's more than just a meeting," said Adahlia. "It's answers."
"I haven't asked the questions yet."
"Yet."
Maitho looked at the garden. He wondered if he could come here before his death. Maybe watch this view as the last seconds of his life slipped away. Or maybe there were other places he could visit for a sense of peacefulness before peace took him forever. "You know, you called me here. Told me some stuff. Now you want me to go somewhere so I can probably see some stuff. All for what? You have one of the most powerful pantheons working with one of the most powerful people on the planet. And yet you go through so much to get me on your side." He allowed the words to sink in before continuing. "You have Guardians. You have an army. Let's not forget the money. So why me?"
"Because we don't have someone who can see the future," said Adahlia.
Raiden placed his hand on her shoulder. She half turned towards him before looking at Maitho, after which he withdrew his hand. It seemed like Adahlia wanted to say something more.
But Maitho had heard enough. For a while, he had harbored a guess that his powers were the main reason they needed him on their side. Cray had already shown how well informed he was about Guardians. Then there was the time that Raiden had hinted he knew something about Maitho's powers, back when they had faced each other at the warehouse.
It finally felt good to have a sense of confirmation.
"A glimpse into the future. That's all you need me for?"
"Join us and we'll tell you more." This came from Raiden.
Maitho sighed. Part of him wanted to join, if only to discover his purpose. What better way than to work against the enemy than by working from within? But he was afraid that he might see too much to change his mind later. What if they were right? What if the Gods had no concern for humanity, and that everyone on the planet were mere pawns on a giant chessboard? He looked at Cray. "Were you the fourteen year old boy whose parents were killed before him?"
"Again, I marvel at your perceptiveness. But the answer is yes, I am that boy."
"Did you ever find the Guardian?"
"Of course. He's right here, in fact."
Maitho was puzzled for a brief second. Then his eyes widened as he looked at Raiden, whose face held a look of regret. "We have a rare gift, Maitho," said Raiden. "It's not our powers, nor our immortality. It's what we know about the world. Now it's not a question of what to believe. Rather, it's about what we should do next."
Deep down, Maitho knew that such control over people was a gross abuse of power. The whole world is under the impression that they govern their lives, when the reality is simply that they might not. Or at least, they are blind to the involvement of the Gods.
Knowing that the Celtic team were waiting for him, Maitho headed for the glass entrance of the garden. He didn't bid farewell to anyone, partly because he reserved such goodbyes to people he trusted and partly because he had a strange feeling he would be seeing them soon.
Before he could enter back into the house, Adahlia's voice stopped him. "If you are leaving now, then I have two questions for you to think about." When Maitho faced her, she asked. "Can you ask Brigid who she has to save next?"
"What do you mean by that?" asked Maitho, a sense of trepidation coursing through him. How did she know about Brigid's next mission?
"You can ask her yourself," said Adahlia in response. "Second question. What do you think of Cray as the president?"
Maitho was not prepared to hear that. He waited for her to tell him that this was all a big joke. But her expression told him otherwise. "President of what?" he asked, hoping that she wasn't about to say what he thought she was implying.
"Of this country."
That was probably one of the most absurd statements he had heard the whole day. Maitho couldn't help but show amusement on his face. He looked at Cray to see if the old man was about to laugh and reveal that this was an elaborate prank. Realizing that everyone held a serious disposition, Maitho responded in the only way he knew was appropriate for the situation. "I'm going to take this as a joke. But if you were serious about it, even for a moment, then let me tell you this. If you have a conscience, and I am guessing you do since you have been talking about saving all of humanity, then I would strongly recommend against making Mr. Cray a president."
"I'm glad you thought so," said Adahlia. "And we wish we could do anything about it."
"You wish? You are saying as though that is beyond your control."
Adahlia smiled, but he could see a certain sorrow in her eyes. "Talk to Brigid. Then go to the address. Remember Maitho. Trust yourself. And when you do find the truth, don't look away."
There were so many things Maitho wanted to say. But he realized that the best course of action would be to have someone to talk to. He needed someone to help him organize his thoughts. To help him arrange the pieces in his mind. There was a growing sense of frustration boiling inside him. He clenched his fist, knowing that if he didn't, then he would say something he might regret later. Plus, he wasn't about to show others that they could get to him easily.
After stepping out of the house, he headed for the main gate. Exiting onto the street outside, he spotted the Celtic gang waiting for him on the other side. He walked towards them.
"Just so you know, this wasn't my idea," said Brigid, who was leaning against the car with her arms crossed and looking like someone had asked her to walk into a garbage disposal area.
"What are you guys doing here?" said Maitho.
"If you thought that we would let you walk in there alone, then you don't know us very well." Bevan pushed himself off the hood of the car.
"That just so happens to be the case," said Maitho. "I only know you all for maybe twelve hours."
"Dinnae get yer hopes up," said Epona, who was seated in the car with the door open. "We juist wanit tae check oot the neighborhood."
"What they mean to say, Maitho dear," said Quinn. "That they couldn't stop worrying about you. Isn't that right everyone? Come now, friends before pride, as I like to say."
Epona snorted. "Ye wish."
"I can take care of myself," said Maitho. "But thank you nonetheless."
"What did they say?" said Brigid. She was referring to Cray and the Norse Guardians.
"A lot," responded Maitho, blowing out his cheeks to dispel some of the tension he was holding inside. "Looks like we're going to be making a big decision. But I want to ask you something Brigid. Do you know who you are supposed to save next?"
Brigid frowned, but answered nonetheless. "Someone called Jennifer Yansay. Mother of two, apparently."
Maitho felt his heartbeat racing. He wanted to deny the fact that there was even the slightest possibility that the Norse team, and by that extension Cray, was right. "That's not possible."
Epona noticed his reaction. "Whit's wrong?"
Maitho turned to her. "I saved Jennifer's life a few months ago. Then she went and destroyed a family."