Pandora's Curse

“Warren, I...”

“Don’t hesitate.” Warren spins the metal smoothly between his fingers, belying his skill and how easy he could make it look. The show off!

Shaking my head as I hold it up awkwardly. “But what if-”

“You can’t kill me, Pandora. Just cut me, hurt me sure, didn't stop you when you met me. But you’re right about one thing.” Warren steps a half step back from, raising his arm, poker end pointing at my chest. “Going into a fight like this, empty-handed if you will, is not a good idea. And this will have to do.”

“But, shouldn’t this be done with a sword-” Warren’s lips tightened, whether from amusement or annoyance I couldn’t be too sure but he fixed his gaze on me.

“Pandora, if I had a spare sword around maybe. But if I have anything to do with this, hopefully, you won’t be in too much danger.”

What was that supposed to mean? Was he planning on taking the brunt of everything? Of shielding me like some porcelain glass figurine? Was I that useless-Of course I was!

“I don’t know what brought that look on your face but you’re mad now. So, do something about it?” War tilted his chin at me, eyes smirking as they dared me on. Jaw clenched, I gripped the poker with two hands and swung across at him-

CLANG

I stumbled back, arms shaking as the metal pieces hit and my arm ached in protest. War stood calmly in the same place, only having moved his arm barely to catch my swing. He only raised a brow at me and swept his arm before him, inviting me to strike first. Eyes narrowed, I swung from down and upwards-

And Warren was gone. And something nudged the back of my knees forcing me onto my knees awkwardly. “What the-”

“Is that it?” I glared at Warren over my shoulder, who quirked a brow at me and smirked coolly. “Are you mad now, Pan?” Glowering irritably, I straightened up and rolling my shoulders as if preparing for the ache that could befall my arms again. Standing before Warren, legs parting slightly for balance and keeping my gaze locked on him as I gripped the poker tightly and taking a breath. Okay, swing faster and don’t stop moving-

“And you’re dead.” The tip of Warren’s ‘sword’ touched my collar as I blinked stunned and gaped at him and he glared at me. “Did you hesitate when you realized who I was?” At my expression he smirked. “You never stopped moving. You had a will to live, determined and pushing through. And boy, were you mad and terrified. So Pandora, are you angry?”

“Of course I am.” I gritted my teeth and as Warren pulled the poker back I suddenly swung it upwards, catching metal and swiping it away. He didn’t lose his grip, and suddenly reached out catching my arm, swinging me around until my back hit the stable walls.

“You’re only bringing out tiny sparks.” Red sparked in my mind and Warren rolled the metal in-between his fingers. “I wonder if your eyes get angry like mine do.” Gritting my teeth, I lunged forward, swiping left, knocking the rod aside briefly and swinging it downwards-

CLANG

“Shifty aren’t we...or you’re just trying to be.” Glaring darkly at Warren, my mood dropping further into a dark abyss and War grimaced. With a frustrated huff, I struck again only to get shoved back when Warren swatted my weapon aside like he was too lazy to properly swat a fly away. Glowering angrily, my mood striking forward.

Only to be blocked.

Pushed aside.

Halted.

Killed.

Killed.

Defeated.

Panting heavily, my eyes burning furiously, burning with sweat and tears. Adam snorts calmly from where he stood as if unaffected by two people swinging sharp steel rods around. My arms and shoulders ache but not as heavily as my chest which feels tighter with every passing defeat. My mood darkening further. With a growl, I swung upwards and I heard Warren sigh as he swiped my weapon aside. I stumbled sideways, leaning against the stable walls, heart thundering and my every nerve on edge.

War stared at me as he backed away, watching me carefully. “Is that what it is?”

“You’re starting this.” I snarl and War glares darkly at me.

“Pandora, you’re angry-”

“Stop...Just shut up!”

“Pan you-”

“STOP IT!” Shrieking in fury, I threw the poker at Warren who casually steps aside as it strikes the floor with a thunk. Thunder quaked distantly but I ignored the coming storm, focusing on my coming storm. "Skáse! Just stop telling me how I should or shouldn’t be feeling! I’m angry and scared and you’re not helping me!” Panting heavily as I stare at Warren through stinging, red eyes and shaking in my fury. Warren stares at me expressionless, which only serves to make me angrier.

“I get it already! I’m useless! I’m a burden! But stop treating me like I’m glass! I could probably die, I know that but so be it! I bloody deserve it after I keep bringing death and shit to everyone. Stop playing around with me and treating me like I’m useless. Just stop it! Just stop it!” My breathing shaking as I point at Warren, jabbing his chest with my finger, staring at him through burning tears that refuse to fall without permission. “Stop asking if I’m angry! I am mad! Okay! I’m scared, angry, terrified beyond belief for myself, for you, for letting those who have died for nothing! I want nothing more than to hurt Aello, scream and curse at the God’s for everything!” Warren continues to stare at me without any expression and crying in frustration, I shove against his chest though it does nothing.

“And stop looking at me like that!” I cry, still shoving against him, tear flowing down my cheeks. My fists clenched as I slam them over his chest, my vision red and burning and itching me, blood rushing like a rushing river in a storm. “Stop making me angry. Stop letting me feel! Feeling is weak right now and I can’t help it! I have to...I have to be strong and I can’t...” My punches grow weak as my head collides on his chest, the tears flowing freely now as I try to speak through gasping breaths. “It hurts, War...I can...”

I felt my knees weakening but Warren's arms were suddenly wound around me, holding me up as I clung to him desperately, terrified of letting go for fear of this disappearing before my very eyes. Warren never said a word for a while as he held me, his arms holding me close to his body while I cried.

"Pandora," He suddenly murmured above my head, his chin resting against the top of my head. "You wouldn't be you, strong, determined, caring and beautiful if you didn't feel at all." My heart hiccupped at his words as I hiccupped in time as I clutched his shirt in my hands.

Did he call me beautiful and strong?

"But War, I'm useless, weak-"

"You are useless if you think you are. But I know you are not." Warren's arm rubbing gently up and down my spine. "Did you not risk your own life to save a nun and priest, even though you may not have had a chance against three ogres? Do you not have your battle bruises from jumping off a balcony onto a harpy to save a bunch of others?" A shaky laugh left me and he snorted. "We're gonna have words about that though, but Pan, a person who tries and feels the consequences of everything, regardless of their fault or not, doesn't make you weak or useless." Pulling away, Warren's face softened as he smiled faintly down at me, while I rubbed my teary eyes, hiccupping quietly. Warren leaned in suddenly, clutching my shoulders as he forced me to look at him, a wry smile on his face. "Pandora, I said use that anger, that fear for yourself and others to fight. Just don't let anger control you. I've learnt that myself. I...I am a product of anger, and violence, rage...bloodlust."

"But you're not..." Warren cupped my mouth with his hand cutting me off as he gave me a soft glare.

"I learnt the hard way, to use my anger. To fight. To survive, to help. You're not useless to me. You're frustrating as hell...stubborn as fuck, but no way are you evil." He chuckled, shaking his head in shock at the thought while I smiled weakly. "You're far from evil, Pandora. You know what your name means right? Gift. Yes, maybe in your case it doesn't seem the best knowing what you know but," My gaze was forced to meet his again and he quirked a brow at me. "Who's to say that you're the gift to save all from all this crappy shit?"

I blinked rapidly at the thought, rubbing my eyes as I sighed shakily, a wet smile crossing my face.

"Warren, I wanna believe that and right now, I don't...but thank you." I wrapped my arms around him shakily and he returned the embrace, running his hand up and down my back as I closed my eyes, enjoying this moment of peace. It wouldn't make things perfect. I knew Warren enough to know there was stuff he wished to say and I did too. There were things I needed to fix but right now, it was one step at a time.

"One step at time..." I whisper and Warren hums in agreement.

"We'll figure out a way. We'll defeat Aello and her sisters and we'll get that blasted box. No more crap has to happen." I shook my head against him, the cotton of his shirt bunching up against my forehead.

"I just...it sounds horrible, but the box means nothing sometimes when I think about yesterday and all those people who died, slain by harpies, who died in the fire. I was lucky to survive. Aello would've easily killed me or she wanted me alive just so I could see what she had planned and I just..." Pressing my fist against my mouth as I press on with words that made my mood darken, relishing the idea. "I want nothing more than to hurt her. Not kill Aello but make her hurt for everything. Break her like she said she wanted to break me."

"I know how you feel."

"I just...the thought feels dark and intoxicating and I want to just tear her face apart. Pull the feathers, those winged things on her face of. Tear the feathers off her wings or hack it off and I hate this. I hate Aello but thinking this way, I don't like it and..." I pull away, looking up to meet Warren's gaze which was blank but a flicker of understanding crossed their depths. "You'd understand that bloodlust."

"Everyone has it, not just me Pan." He smiled wryly and but his face darkened momentarily. "Pan, what do you mean by tear the feathers from her wings?" I frowned at Warren at the question.

"Aello has wings..." I falter even as the words fall out. Didn't Warren say Aello was wingless? But Aello was the first harpy, a commander of her kind, her legion. How could she be wingless? "You said she doesn't-"

"She doesn't. She can't," Warren frowned darkly, shaking his head as he stepped back. "It, that's impossible, Pandora because I..." Warren froze as I did before he could finish and I gazed up at him, reading him stunned.

"Did you..." Warren's face hardened and a chill fell down my spine as I backed up slightly. "You have history with Aello and you've never wanted to share and I wondered if it was maybe, an intimate history-" The thought just briefly was sickening but had me feeling green. "Did you...did you do that to Aello?" War grimaced in distaste, staring just past my shoulders for a minute before spoke.

"I would never touch Aello like that. But..." War ran his hands through his hair, his face paler and his eyes dark and they looked oddly nervous. The answer was clear on his face. "Are you sure, Aello had wings?"

"Yes! She had giant, white wings! Complete and all. Are you sure you did anything then-"

"I know what I did to Aello." The way he said the words left a sickening chill down my spine and I swallowed heavily.

I'll break you like War broke me. The words of Aello whispered cruelly in my ear like I was back there as Aello lowered her mouth to my ear, her breath chilled and ghostly. Warren rubbed his jaw, face hardened like marble and muttering quietly, he brushed past me before stopping in his steps and turning back to me.

"Then maybe Aello has already utilized the boxes powers." The words were terrible in itself but I wasn't surprised anymore. "Meaning, Aello is powerful enough without her sisters to help."

"But she'll still..." I swallow heavily, fearfully and Warren nodded darkly.

"Yeah. If anything I could say about Aello, she is at least loyal to her sisters as they are to her. And God help us all." Thunder rumbled heavily above our heads as we stared at each other.

I stared blankly at the ceiling in the dark, listening to the rattling of the branches outside knock against the window and the winds whistling by followed by a soft fall of rain. The shadows of branches flickering through the gaps in the curtains, dancing shadows over my body and the wall across.

I couldn't sleep again. My mind in turmoil but a little more at peace than yesterday but the guilt would linger and maybe that was fine. I needed that guilt so I could make sure this didn't have to happen again. But...blaming myself couldn't help me now. Maybe I'd deal with it after everything but now...I needed to be at peace, even if temporarily to stop Aello and her sisters and the power they would soon assume control of. My mind faded to another thought.

Once we got that box...why couldn't a God, an Olympian just destroy it? Why continue to leave it upon this world? Why bring me back to retrieve it when you could just have it and all it's inhabitants destroyed? Or why not keep it in Olympus, where it could be safe from human mortal reach? Why bring me into this when the easier choices were there?

Groaning, I roll over facing away from the window, burying my face into my pillow.

These thoughts were not helping me. Far from it and they were stopping me from getting sleep and I needed sleep. Bad. Even just a boring, mindless distraction to bore me to sleep would be great but there was something ticking in my head and I glanced up at the ceiling again, briefly wondering. Before I could talk myself out of it, I threw my blanket off me and crawling out of my bed and standing facing my bed and the window. Fighting that sensation of feeling desperate and weakness, I dropped to my knees and clutched my hands together on the mattress and took a deep breath.

"You can probably hear me and don't care what I have to say or you'd think me as insignificant. Your toy, your puppet but I've said it before and I mean it." I tightened my fists as I narrowed my closed eyes. "I won't be your fixer upper. I'm doing this for myself. I have to win, for my sake, for everyone's lives at stake whether you care or not."

"And while I detest asking anything of you, I can deal with it. I need...direction. We need help. I know when things are bad, even if War won't be direct about it, and if you want me to stop anyone using your creation, you'll help anyway you can. You know you made a mistake when you made this box or there is some wicked further idea behind all of this but..." I shook my head, unable to believe my own words and drop my head on the mattress groaning in frustration. "Maybe, I want to know if...there is a chance or winning? And not to sound selfish but if the odds are ever in my favour."

"You made me." My voice broke briefly but I shook of the lower tickle, glaring forcefully ahead. "You created me, and I...I despise you for that. Respectfully." I quickly muttered, aware this was still a God I was speaking to, if he was even listening. "What you did...to me, to my mother, my husband, Prometheus, everyone involved with me...I hate you. But even though you created me, to use me as a trick..." I stared up at the ceiling as looking for anyone looking down at me. "Is that all I was really made for? Because it feels like I'm standing on a road but a wall is blocking me from seeing anything before me. Maybe I'm overthinking it but...I don't know anymore. Anyway," I kissed my fists and touched my head to the bed and stood up slowly, wiping down my pajama top. "That's all I guess. I probably didn't help my case but whatever." I crawled back into bed, pulling the blanket over me once again as I stared up at the ceiling once again and feeling sleep pull at me. "All I ask is something...anything, from anyone."

I sigh in relief as I felt sleep at the back of my mind pulling me down under the surface, a comforting midnight black swallowing over me like a blanket. I drifted into a blank state of mind, feeling the exhaustion relax into comfort, peace...I was...floating-

And cold.

Floating in the middle of darkness, the open empty expansion of the ocean and I was pulled- dragged down. My chest tightened as I struggled for air, scrambling for leverage, for reach, for my slipping conscious. No! No! It's a bad dream! Pan, open your eyes! Open them dammit! Screaming soundlessly through black waters, reaching up for the surface until I gasped for air.

And I opened my eyes.