Daughter of Zeus ✔

8.3

Large granite steps led to the mahogany entrance of the office building.

She reached for the golden door handle, but the mahogany doors dissipated. They were a composite hologram, not real wood. She resisted the urge to shake her head. The world was crazy with unnecessary tech.

At least for her, tech was as malleable as dough. Other citizens allowed themselves to become slaves to it. Not her. And certainly not Moretz.

Moretz. It had been his mother's maiden name. When searching for info on him, Ada should have expected a name change. Then she would have found her father sooner. Waste of time. The bitterness of anger left a foul taste on her tongue. She couldn't wait to put her abilities to greater use.

The end of the first hallway was empty. There was no desk for an assistant either. An indentation on the wall indicated a dissipating barrier, and next to that, a large and expensive wall panel.

"Do you have an appointment?" asked the machine.

She recognized the same voice she had spoken with over the phone two days prior. She had assumed she had been speaking with a human.

"Yes, I'm the healthcare rep."

"Which one?" the interface smirked. Yes, the interface smirked, or the tone in its voice held a smirk.

"Mali Muth." Ada's borrowed name left her mouth as if it were hers.

"Oh yes. Miss Muth. The Congressman will be ready momentarily. Please wait."

She released a sigh.

"Would you like a chair?"

She checked behind her. There were no chairs in the hallway.

Suddenly, glowing particles expanded from the wall. Ada started. The particles funneled, taking shape. Then, there was a chair. The composition was hazy, shimmery.

"You may sit. The chair is a holographic poly-fiber composite, suitable to sustain your mass."

The snide remark about her mass shot up Ada's brows, but she sat. Indeed, the chair was sturdy. She wiggled around to make sure the surface was real. When falling through to the floor didn't happen, she quit her movements.

"Are you comfortable?"

The machine seemed to be mocking her.

"Yes."

"Good. The Congressman will see you now."

With its attitude, the assistant must have received the artificial intelligence upgrade.

"Thank you."

Ada stared at the wall, expecting an opening, but none appeared.

Before she could ask where to go next, she was instructed, "First, leave your weapon in the depository box."

From the wall, an opening materialized.

Ada froze. Finally, she nodded and placed her gun into the slot.

"You may enter the Congressman's office."

Losing the gun didn't matter.

I'm the perfect weapon.

She knew she could centralize her powers and focus a beam of energy when and where needed. Just like with Dorrie, she would use the energy to pull on Moretz's heart. But this time, she wouldn't let go until it stopped beating.

Like the chair, the wall in front of her took on a glow, revealing a dark rectangle. Through the faux door, a yawning space beckoned. Shaking off her hesitation, Ada entered through the artificial doorway.

A large onyx desk drew her attention, the only piece of furniture in the room. Along the black, high gloss walls hung pieces of pride displayed via holographic projection: diplomas, certificates, pictures with famous assholes.

The pictures had the same shimmery look as the chair—not quite real. Ada took her time getting to the desk, and to the man seated behind it.

~*~