"Greetings." The two maids standing by each side of Ladicae Ansina's office greeted me and let me in. I walked in, greeted Ladicae Ansina and her assistant.
"all respect to you Ladicae, you called for me?" I asked.
"yes, I did. Have your seat, Loretta." She said and I took my seat. "it seems that Masiera Pavilon was not aware of your decision" she said it more like a question.
"Ladicae I know you see the reason in which I would have kept it to myself."
"Loretta, your reason is no excuse, if it would have been any other Masiera I would have taken your side, but we are talking about Masiera Pavilon, in which you are aware, that he is the second controller. You can't afford to get on his bad side in anyway, even when you aren't at fault." She said, putting sense into my head and I knew she was right. I shouldn't have acted the way I did.
"it was not proper to reject his invitation and join the Rebel Angels, but I overlooked that knowing the way you felt but it seems that you did not stop at just rejecting the letter. You went on to provoke him, didn't you?" she asked raising one of her eyebrows.
"I admit that I might have disrespected Masiera Pavilon with my choice of words, but I found no other suitable words to use." I said in my defence knowing that what I had said was not false.
"'you might have disrespected Masiera Pavilon?'" she repeated my words questioningly. "not only did you disrespect him, but you also disrespected the JINUA Dà MASIERA è LADICAE and made yourself look like a threat. What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked, her head resting on her clenched hands.
"I see no wrong in what I said or did. If Masiera Pavilon wishes to make me look like a threat to the plan of the JINUA Dà MASIERA è LADICAE, then he is not wrong, but if he wishes to use this method for revenge, he should keep in mind that I will not stand still." I said, feeling the anger burn in my eyes.
"you do not understand what I'm saying, Loretta. Him using it as a method of revenge is a fact but what you are missing is the other fact that you have committed two sins; you have insulted the JINUA Dà MASIERA è LADICAE, God's representatives and you have gone against the will of the JINUA Dà MASIERA è LADICAE, God's representatives." She said, her hands making gestures on the table. Her purpose of being angry was now making sense. It was just now I realised the matter at hand. Masiera Pavilon had brought my actions and words in their meeting and had pointed out that I had committed two sins and needed to be disciplined.
"they are deciding on how I should be disciplined, aren't they?" I said finally realising the state of my situation, my voice shaking a bit.
"yes, they are and with what I've seen, Masiera Pavilon won't let you go so easily. I'm sorry, my say on the matter had no impact, my power is limited." She said trying to tell me there is nothing that she could do for me.
"when am I going to be called?" I asked knowing it won't be that long.
"surely, before next week." She said and I could feel regret in her voice. She was surely regretting that she had taken me into her care much too soon. "we will discuss again before that time" she added.
"may I take my leave now, Ladicae Ansina?" I asked wanting to be alone.
"you may take your leave now..." She said, unable to say more.
I left the main building and sped to the lake. I lay down on the water, keeping my balance. I closed my eyes and before I knew it the peaceful environment caused me to sleep. I felt myself falling to the ground level of the water, but I was not afraid because strangely, I could breathe.
"Loretta, Loretta, Loretta..." I heard a voice whisper my name softly. I opened my eyes to see who it was but all I could see was darkness.
"who is there?" I asked in the same tone.
"Loretta, Loretta, Loretta..." the same voice called out again in the same tone. I tried to follow the direction, but it was coming from all sides.
"who's there?" I asked again, my voice regaining its composure. I started moving trying to find light or any other place except from the darkness, but no matter how far I went it was still the same.
"Loretta, answer your name. Loretta, answer your name." the voice said still in a whisper and called me again three times, but this time it wasn't a whisper. The words 'answer your name, answer your name' kept ringing in my head driving me insane.
"YES!!!!" I shouted the word with my hands on my head and my eyes closed. The voice stopped and I opened my eyes to see myself standing in a slightly dim room.
"come and sit down, Loretta." I heard the voice, this time pointed at one direction only. I turned in the direction of the voice and shock filled every inch of my face because the Demon I saw was surely the Devil. Long black hair, dark circled eyes, pale skin, long black nails, and dark lips.
"don't just stand there, Loretta. I'm sure you know; patience is not of me." He said with a smirk on his face and that was when I realised there were two comfy chairs and a round table in the middle. He was seated on one. I scanned the room for a way out but there was nothing, no hidden door or even a window.
"there's no way out." He said seeing the way my eyes were scanning the room. "we're just going to have a little conversation, nothing more." he said a smile playing on his face. I sat down on the chair knowing there wasn't any other useful thing that I could do.