Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

still sounded in her ears. Was this a dream within a dream? No. People were talking outside her door. She couldn’t make out what they said , but one voice was definitely a woman. They seemed to be arguing. Diana tiptoed to t he door, and put her ear close.
    “Why would I have the key to her room if my father hadn’t sent me?” the woman said. “You know who my father is, don’t you?”
    “Yes, Miss Maia, I do , b ut no one informed me you were coming, especially at this late hour. I was told not to let anyone inside her room except your father, Mr. Crane, or Brother Osiris.”
    Diana covered her mouth, smothering a gasp. Maia. What was she doing here?
    “Okay then, go ahead, call my father,” Maia said confidently. “He’s organizing the meeting and won’t be happy to be disturbed. You know what he’s like when he’s mad. He’ll probably chew you out, but do what you must .”
    A fter a long silence, the male voice said, “Well, okay. I guess it ’ ll be all right.”
    Diana heard the jingl e of keys, and the door opened.
    Maia turned back to the guard outside. “We won’t be long. She’s expected at the meeting before the stars are in alignmen t. This is a private offering.”
    Diana moved back into the room. She started to say something, but Maia shook her head as a warning to play along.
    “Okay, Miss Psychic, get dressed. Daddy wants you to perform tonight.” She stared down the guard, who had inched into the room. “She can’t dress with you in the room .” Maia waved him out and closed the door . She turned to Diana and whispered . “No questions. Hurry up and dress. We have to get out of here.”
    Diana didn’t have to be told twice. She yanked off the flimsy nightgown and searched through the closet. Oh for a pair of slacks. She found a silky blouse and a short stretchy knit skirt that allowed for movement.
    “Hurry,” Maia prompted.
    “I’m done.” she said. “What’s go ― ”
    “ Shh . Not now.” Maia slid the key into the door lock and pulled it to. Silas Compton and Edward Slater stood waiting. Compton, wrapped in a terrycloth r obe, looked disheveled and sleepy, unlike Slater, wide awake and fully dressed .
    “ W here do you think you two are going?” Compton said, crossing his arms over his chest . “Maia, Maia. Did you really believe you could get away with this with us a stone’s throw from this room?”
    Slater pointed to the little red light in the vent and shook his head.
    Diana glanced at Maia and jerked her head toward the camera with a shrug. “I forgot.”
    “ T he guard wasn’t fooled,” Slater said. “Our people are well taught. There are no surprises, even when the daughter of one of the directors tries to pull a fast one.”
    “I’m disappointed in you, Maia. Selene warned me, but I wouldn’t listen. How could I imagine my own flesh and blood would betray me? Not once but twice.”
    Maia squared her shoulders and threw out her chin. “It’s you who’ve betrayed me, Father, by making us all accomplices in your crimes. Federal crimes.”
    “You fail to comprehend the ultimate objective, my dear. The creation of a new world. One of beauty and sensuality and brilliance. The special babies will be nurtured in a paradise of intellectual stimulation. So what if a few people make sacrifices in the process ? There’s always collateral damage in the quest for a better life. The returns more than make up for the losses.”
    “Parents whose babies were stolen from them don’t agree .”
    “They’ll have others,” Compton said. “If they knew the loving care and exaltation their offspring will enjoy, I’m sure they’d offer their babies to us without hesitation.”
    Maia clasped her hand over her heart and struggled for breath. “You’re insane . ”
    “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I wo n’t let anything stop what we’ve started . ” He brushed her off. “ We’ve wasted enough time and energy with traitors. Phillip is right. Time to rid the compound of all those who refuse to embrace our ideals. I’m afraid that includes two of my daughters. We will offer you to God’s adversary, our supreme leader, as a measure of our devotion.”
    Maia stuttered in disbelief. “So …so you’ll eliminate Anat and me and anyone else who hinders the propagat i o n of your Utopia? Tell me, did you kill my mother , too, when she didn’t go along?”
    Compton straightened and settled his gaze on his daughter. “A necessary progression. Your