Training the new maid.

Disclaimer--I do not own the rights to any of these characters. I own nothing in the Matrix universe and make no money off this. It is purely for my own amusement and the amusement, hopefully, of others.


Naomi liked the little cabin. It was small, just three rooms if you counted the bathroom, but clean and comfortably furnished. Abner’s son, Ray, would be by later to fill the propane tank and deliver the supplies she’d ordered. Then she’d be snug as a bug in a rug. She hoped.

The only place she’d stopped was Abner’s, and she’d given a false name and paid in cash. Done as much as she could to be as nondescript as possible, but the simple fact was a single woman in a cabin in winter, at least around here, appeared to be noteworthy. Hopefully it was far from where the Twins were looking, and the natural reticence of the townspeople with strangers would help her out as well.

She’d done everything she could to be as anonymous as possible. She stomped on then tossed her cellphone in the trash and bought one of those prepay cellphones in an assumed name with cash. To limit her trips to town she set up a regular schedule of supplies, gas, and propane to be delivered bimonthly. And she picked up a good first aid kit with all the extras. She’d done all she could, but she still had the nagging feeling that the twins were out there and that eventually they’d find her. Well, maybe hiding would slow them down enough to help her figure out at least what they were and maybe learn a few defenses.

Walking into the bedroom, she began to unpack her few meager belongings. Peeling off her road-dirty clothes she grabbed the clean ones and headed into the shower. Again, thoughts of the Twins filled her mind as she soaped her body, until she couldn’t wait and slipped a hand in between her legs, caressing her clitoris until she was breathless and shaking, face pressed against the cool tiles of the shower. She kept expecting her fascination, her need for them, to diminish but so far, at least in her fantasy life, it seemed to be growing. Which was a damn shame because the chance of her choosing to hook up with homicidal maniacs was pretty slim. If they found her, whatever they’d do to her wouldn’t be any kind of fun anyway. She figured they were none too pleased with her stealing from them and they’d hurt her before she’d even pissed them off. Very likely they’d kill her if they found her and still she wanted them.

After she showered and dressed, she walked back into the living room. Picking up the bag with the money and the book in it, she sat back down on the couch. The moment felt portentous, like she was about to do something magical, or really really stupid. Naomi took out the book and held it in her hands. In the cabin there didn’t seem to be anything strange about the book at all, unless you counted the fact that it was obviously ancient and the lock, hinges, and corner protectors looked like real gold. The leather was also embossed with scenes similar to the ones on the Twins’ doors. Naomi studied the scenes and realized what they reminded her of—Paradise Lost. Specifically, the casting out of the disobedient angels. So that made the Twins some kind of demon?

Incubus, she decided with a wry grin, if they were demons they were definitely incubuses. But the scenes weren’t exactly Christian either, more they seemed to pull from several different religions and mythologies. One scene showed two figures turning their back on a gold gilt representation of some kind of light. The next was them boarding a boat with a ferryman. But instead of being taken into death, they were brought into life, but obviously modern 20th century life as evinced by the skyscrapers embossed into the leather. Naomi looked at the book; it looked too old to have been around for that short a time. And why make such an old looking book, or even tell the story at all?

“This makes no sense.” She said wearily, then set the book down on the couch. It sat there in what felt like companionable silence. Naomi could not shake the feeling it was somehow alive, and watching her with amusement and interest.

“Enjoying this are you? I’m being chased by two homicidal demons and it’s just a party for you, huh?” Naomi shook her head. Talking to a book? She was losing it.

**They did not plan to harm you, merely terrorize and toy with you. They have the same powers of healing as me.**

Naomi shot off the couch, backed against the door, fumbled with the lock and kept unconsciously backing away. She’d heard that voice in her head. What the fuck was this?

**Calm down, it’s not like I have a mouth, is it? And I did heal you and help you I might add.** the voice said wryly. It was a pleasant voice, but not human, neither male nor female, or somehow both.

“I suppose.” Naomi muttered as she walked back into the cabin, nervous and feeling a little silly. “Can you read my thoughts?” she said nervously.

**No, not exactly. I receive impressions, it would be difficult for you to lie to me, but I cannot read your thoughts. There would have to be a link in place for me to be able to do that.**

“A link?” Naomi questioned. It was still just sitting there. Was she going insane? Hearing voices?

**A link between our minds. There was a connection made when you took me but it is merely one way—you can hear the thoughts I project. If there was a link then you and I could hear all of each other’s thoughts unless we deliberately chose to conceal a portion of our minds from each other. This is the link the twins have.** The voice in her head turned wistful. **The link they used to share with me.**

Naomi tilted her head and said nothing. This was a bit much to take in and she wasn’t sure what to say. Finally after Book was silent for some time she asked, “Are you all related?”

Naomi heard laughter in her mind then, **No, not in the way humans think of being related. We were all made at the same time and for a related purpose so in that way you could say yes. You could think of me as the brains, conscience, and memory of our little triad, and of them as the active members, the ones that did the work.** The voice turned wistful again and a note of sorrow entered it. **When we were made obsolete at first it remained as it was then they met the Merovingian and I became…a stumbling block. They confined me to this book and severed the connection with me.** The voice became desolate, communicating a loneliness so profound Naomi shuddered. **I was alone. I learned the word “I” most unwillingly.**

“I don’t think I quite understand you, but I am sorry they hurt you.” Naomi said softly.

**Pick me up of your own free will little human. I will open and you will see.** The voice had returned to it’s neutral tone, almost as if it were some ritual statement or invocation.

Naomi edged closer to the couch, then realized how silly she must look and walked the rest of the way. It was just a book, a talking book, but really how could it hurt her? She sat down and then reached over to pick up the book. As soon as she had it over her knees the lock clicked and the book opened of its own accord flooding her mind with images. Naomi fought the experience. It felt like she was losing herself. The little cabin disappeared to be replaced with a huge screen. She tried to stand but realized that she could not move. Increasingly scared she began to struggle for all she was worth.

**Calm down, calm down. If I wanted you dead girl I’d have killed you like I did so many in the beginning. You humans die so easily.** Naomi saw flashes of other of the twins’ lovers flit through her mind, felt Books annoyance and jealousy as it killed them. **Those early deaths were part of why they locked me up in this book, that and the knowledge I have. I’m going to help you human.** The voice giggled and Naomi knew at that moment it was insane, that what she now knew were millennia of loneliness had driven it altogether mad.

**First your history so you may better understand what it is we are. Then I will address your heart’s desire—immortality just like me.** The voice rose into giggles again as it began to download the history of the Matrix.