Of Ambrosia and Stone: Pandora's Curse

7

Much to Athena’s delight, she was no longer on around-the-clock babysit the human detail. Whether Apollo took pity on his sister or Artemis prompted Apollo to do so, I”m not sure, but her presence was much less frequent.

Though several guards have become routine wall decorations in my rooms, Hyacinthus was now the most frequent flier after Athena. Somehow, Hyacinthus spoke even less than Athena. Thankfully, he tends to stand guard in the hallway.

Day seven of gruel. The sight of the blended oat concoction makes me want to groan. Utterly odorless and tasteless, the matter was only aggravated further by luxurious and fragrant smells wafting up from the kitchen at mealtimes. When I finally get my mush, it almost hurt to eat.

I sit for a while contemplating my fate. Sitting up here only to starve or risk dying while making his life a living hell…. Or worse, eat the oat mush.

The answer was obvious to me.

The first place that I checked was the window. Throwing open the shutters, I stood looking out from on top of my windowsill. Staring out, I knew that I couldn’t escape from there. Four flights down there was a raised porch, but I would probably die if I leapt. There was a window on the floor below me but no easy way to get to it. I didn”t want to climb those dead and crumbling hanging vines unless I had no other choice.

Think Pandora, clear your head. There must be a way out of this marble cage.

Crossing the door, I stared out the keyhole for several minutes. Though I couldn’t tell which guard was standing at attention, there still is one at the door, of course.

Sighing loudly, I decided to ease my mind with yet another bath.

Entering the giant bathing chamber, I don’t bother closing the door to my rooms behind me.

The large bath is sunk into the floors. Turning the dials, I wait at the edge for the steaming water to fill the basin. Crossing my legs and I watch the ripples rolling across the water.

Dragging my finger across the reflection pool, I watch a colorful image take shape in the water below me. My previous ripples still make it too garbled to see what I’m looking at.

Jolting to attention, I whirl my head around.

Nothing unusual is in the bathroom.

Nothing that would explain the colorful lights flickering in the water.

Rolling myself onto my knees, my face presses closer to the image. Blinking, I watch the image roll in the water. Still not quite discernable, I hover an inch over.

Is that a face?

My eyes widen as I feel two hands wrap around my shoulders and yank me downward. My body splashes into the water.

Sucked down, I fight against the invisible hands.

A silent scream escapes my lips. One that the water swallows up.

Struggling in the shallow pool, I push with all my might and leap out of the water. Thank gods that my legs are working. Bursting into the cold air, I gasp for breath.

Twirling around, I watch the basin suspiciously. Looking for whatever monster or god grappled me.

There was no one under the water.

It was just me in the bathtub.

Did I slip? Where in Tartarus are my clothes? I”m certain that I didn’t take them off yet.

From behind me, I hear the distinct sound of slow clapping. Instinctively, I freeze at the sound of the woman’s voice behind me. “That was quite a trick.” Twirling around, I hunch over in the water. Doing my best to cover my very exposed body.

A maiden sits at the edge of the pool, her legs dipping into the water. I lock my eyes on her face, she’s as naked as me. “Feeling modest all of a sudden?” She giggles playfully. Her long ebony hair sways with the movement of her chest, covering her breasts. “It”s nothing that I haven’t seen before.” Her silver eyes wink.

The door to the main suite is propped open.

Who is she? Her face feels familiar. Like a face I should know. Even her laugh feels familiar.

“Are you okay?” she questions. Her voice was full of concern. “I know the circumstances are far from ideal. Being forced away from your family and everything you know. On top of that being subjected to that prick Apollo.”

Taking a deep inhale, I reply cautiously, “Yeah, and he doesn’t get it. Apollo lords around like he owns me. I hate it.”

How does she know my situation?

Forceful knocks sound at the front door of my room.

“Who is it?” I shouted from the bath as my heartbeat thundered in my ears.

“Apollo.”

Hades of course. The maiden’s eyes widen as she launches herself out of the tub and pulls on a bathrobe.

“Hekate, you need to go,” I whisper. She nods, scrambling around my quarters.

Wait, how did I know her name?

Why were we naked together in the bathroom?

Gripping my hand, Hekate squeezes. “I”ll be back. Just hang in here a bit longer and I will have your passage secured out of this damned court.”

I smile at the maiden. “Thank you. You”re an absolute lifesaver. I don’t know where I would be without you.”

Tossing a grin over her shoulder, she replies, “I know exactly where you’d be. Right here in the House of Zeus.”

Zeus?

But Zeus is in Tartarus.

…I thought I’m in Apollo’s court?

Ignoring my confusion, I press on. Giving her a crooked smile, I scrunch my nose at her. “Bye,” I whisper softly.

“What’s taking so long girl?” Shouts Apollo.

Hekate’s silver eyes frantically darted to mine. As if pleading for me to say something back to him.

“One second, I”m in the bath. I just need to get some clothes on,” I improvise. Splashing out of the water, I wrap myself in a robe as the door to the main suite creaks to open.

“Ooo, a bath sounds wonderful right now, what do you say, do you’ve room for two?”

The maiden’s eyes flare wide as we enter the suite.

Shit.

Think fast Pandy, I encourage myself.

“Apollo, I swear to Hades himself that if you open that door without my permission, I”ll gouge those golden eyes from their sockets!” I shout as I ball my hands into tight bundles. This man is aggravating all the time.

Gods help me.

“Fine. Hurry up otherwise I”ll reconsider,” Apollo snaps back.

Sighing a breath of relief, the maiden quickly hugs me as she swipes her clothes in one arm and tugs on the sconce between the bathroom and the wardrobe. To which, the panel of the wall creaks open. “Until next time. Don’t let him get you down. We will find a way out of this together.” The wall clinks shut behind her.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

“Are you dressed yet?” Apollo hollers through the door.

I growl, “Apollo, did I say you could enter? Nope, I didn’t. Hold on!” Crossing over into the bathroom, I search for my clothes. The floor is slick from steam. My feet are having a hard time gaining purchase on the stone surface as I hurriedly gather my things.

My foot misplaces its step and I tumble into the tub.

SPLOOSH.

My head cracks against the mosaic floor of the tub. The air from my lungs tumbles toward the sky.

Time feels frozen in the water.

Opening my eyes wide, everything feels cloudy.

Above I see lights and colors but the water blurs everything outside its grasp.

Pulling at my arms and legs, I feel like a broken puppet, unable to move my limbs. I remain immobile at the bottom of the water.

The burning of my lungs is a raging wildfire.

No matter the pain, my body won’t listen. Won’t move.

Here is how I die.

How the girl who cheated death returns to Hades. He”ll probably die of laughter knowing this is how I died… Or he”ll be upset at how I wasted his gift to me.

If someone dies naked, are you damned to live in the underworld without clothes for the rest of eternity?

A dark shadow stands above me.

Here he comes, I brace for death like I”m meeting an old friend.

I feel arms reach around me once more, pulling me from my doom.

Coughing and spluttering water from my lungs, I treasure each of my breaths. I stare into the eyes of my red-haired friend. “Arista?”

Rubbing the side of my head, I feel a large lump already beginning to form.

“Pandora, what in Gaia’s name are you doing,” Athena’s voice shouts. Blinking rapidly, the serene face of Arista transitions into Athena’s frantic face.

I reel backwards in shock. “What in Hades?” Looking down, I”m wearing my clothes, sans the bathrobe.

Thank the gods for that.

“Where’s Apollo?” I exclaim as I search the room for him.

Styx knows that I don’t want him seeing me like this.

That would make everything harder.

My clothes hang heavily over my frame. Feeling like they’re weighed down with marble blocks.

“Probably in his study,” Athena answered with a voice full of confusion. “Why are you holding your head like that? Did you hit your head?”

Ignoring her questions, I clarify, “So he isn’t outside my door.”

“No. I was out there when I heard a loud sploosh. I came into you lying prone at the bottom of the tub,” Athena replies in aghast. “Now, did you hit your head?”

Ignoring her, I feel my thoughts spiral.

Am I losing my mind?

What I saw felt so real.

“No. Yes. I was getting ready for a bath when I thought I heard someone at the door and slipped.” I rub my head, wincing at the lump already forming.

“I”ll call for Chiron,” Athena states.

Pulling myself from Athena’s clutches, I enter my main room. “No, no. I”m fine. I need to sit down.”

Stumbling around the room, I threw myself on the first seating area that I could find.

The gasp from the guard said it all, she was once again not pleased with me.

But right now, I don’t care. The pounding in my skull was the only thing that I could focus on.

“No, you”re not. You sat on a five hundred year old chair while sopping wet,” skeptically Athena adds.

Groaning, I rub my temples and press my eyes shut. The lights and sounds are making my head throb in pain.

I shoot her a pleading look. My eyes only open a sliver. Barely wide enough to see her reaction.

“Fine, but don’t come whining to me when you don’t wake up.” The captain’s eyes narrow. Before nodding slowly, taking her leave. “Be more careful next time. Otherwise, Apollo will insist on having a guard in the bathroom with you.”

“Promise.” I splutter.

“Good. Now get some rest. My guards and I will be checking on you every hour.” The captain warns, “If you decline even slightly, I swear on the memory of my mother that I”ll drag you to the healer’s wing myself. Do we have an understanding?”

Is this what it’s like to have a mother who cares about your wellbeing? Sure, she looks like she’s basically my age but she acts so much older. “Understand,” I replied.