5. Calypso #2
And that golden door was without a lock! Calypso tried not to smile too wide as she stalked toward it.
Before she could take another step, a familiar image formed in front of the door.
“Not again,” she groaned at the sight of Priestess Olma.
This morning’s guest was unwanted enough.
Typically, she never got more than one visual hallucination a day.
Most of her hallucinations were of the dead, but Priestess Olma was very much alive.
Calypso believed the woman had been around since the founding of the sanctuaries five hundred years ago; not even the devil would want the bitter old woman.
This time she showed great restraint and didn’t hurl her fire at the image, instead just walked right through it. The hallucination disintegrated without trouble.
Not even the chilling image of Priestess Olma would stop her, because she knew the Eye of Azara was behind this door.
The amulet was one of the oldest relics in the realm, formed in the time of dragons by a powerful witch.
It appeared in the aid of all great conquerors, good and evil, throughout the ages.
Last being spotted on Mother Selene. Once the head priestess went into hiding a hundred years ago, so did the amulet.
Like everything about these religious fanatics, it was secrecy and hiding. They stored it away like rats, waiting for the time their dear head priestess returned.
But Calypso had no interest in waiting; the amulet would be hers.
She put her hand on the cold door and pushed, holding her breath in eager anticipation.
Nothing. This decaying door didn’t even budge.
“Open, damn it!” She slammed her hands against the immovable door.
“It’s sealed with magic,” a voice spoke calmly behind her.
“I am magic,” Calypso ground out before turning to face a slightly older woman whose tanned skin stood out against the white robe wrapping around her body.
Her icy blonde hair was pinned in a neat low bun.
If she had to guess her age, Calypso would likely put her in her forties, but she suspected the priestesses could manipulate their appearances to a certain degree. “Open the door.”
“Many would fear the repercussions of making demands in the home of the all-seeing mother.”
“I thought her home was in Solar City. This is just a provincial imitation.”
Even with the priestess’s composed appearance, the comment caused a slight flinch.
Calypso stopped herself from growling in frustration. She did not come here to antagonize, but yet always found herself in this position. “Look, you sycophant, I do not want to be here anymore than you want me here. Just open the door and I’ll be on my way.”
“I am called Priestess Levorn,” she snapped back. “And I know what you are here for.”
“Let me guess, the Mother Selene told you herself in a dream?”
The woman rolled her blue eyes. “You are not so important for our mother to comment on. You are also not subtle. Talk of a fire witch disturbing sanctuaries across the realm in demand of the dragon’s eye relic has spread even to this provincial town.”
They could mock her all they wanted, as long as it ended with the amulet in her hands. “Then save me the trouble and tell me what I wish to know.”
“It is not here.”
Calypso waited, but the priestess walked away, lighting the candles in the atrium.
Now that she had taken her revenge on Lord Thomas Haworth, Calypso didn’t want to wait any longer.
Her black magic was making her madder by the day, and she still had unfinished business.
Regaining their strength until they could return to Sanograd would take too long.
The amulet would give her the power she needed to storm the capital unfettered.
“I am sick of waiting. Your treasury door may be magic, but I highly doubt the rest of the building is.” Calypso set her hand aflame, gesturing toward the greenery planted nearby.
The priestess's eyes widened. “You wouldn’t! There are ailing resting in the infirmary.”
Calypso cruelly smiled. “From what you’ve heard of me, do you think that would change anything?”
Priestess Levorn’s hesitation caused a sharp ache within Calypso’s chest. She told herself she had wanted to be viewed as a monster of fury, but being thought of as someone who would harm the sick was still painful.
“I’ll walk you through the prayer room,” Priestess Levorn relented. “But it truly isn’t here. Or any sanctuary, for that matter. The amulet was lost long ago.”
Calypso wanted to believe it was lies, but even she heard the ring of truth in that statement. “Show me anyway.”
Begrudgingly, the priestess led her toward the golden door and placed her palm onto the surface. The door opened smoothly under her touch, and they entered.
They barely fit into the small space, and only one person at a time could ever pray here. Its neat shelves were mostly bare. There were three metal icons depicting Mother Selene speaking to her flock and a glass container of their holy water.
For a moment, Calypso actually felt sorry for this lonely priestess. Was she any different, putting her beliefs onto something that may or may not be true?
“I see,” Calypso simply said before extinguishing her fire and leaving the room.
“If you continue going as you are, you will die,” the priestess called out.
Calypso sighed, but didn’t turn back. She was well aware of the priestess’s warning.