Page 3 of Pandora's Pain
The gritty earth tore at my skin when my knees hit painfully against the dirty sidewalk. My palms held me up, my face inches away from a piece of pink, chewed up gum.
Gum?
A small amount of foreign information drilled through my mind. It hurt. Magic tingled through me, and I knew the work of the gods was flooding my senses. They gave me a trickle of information about today’s world.
But when I stood, I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t ready.
The information wasn’t enough.
Chaotic noise washed over the city before me. Horns blared, shouting and yelling and harmonious music tangled together. It shoved anxiety through me at the sound of it all.
Bland colors of gray and white and black decorated the towering buildings stacked high into the heavens.
Early morning sunlight warmed my skin, and the feel of it alone gave me the strength to stand.
Black boots stepped into my vision, and when I stood before the man, I vaguely remembered him as the hard-glaring guard Zeus appointed to help me.
Crystal clear blue eyes studied me. His pale hair was shaved short, giving his features a more severe look.
“What are you waiting for? You going to cleanse the world of these miseries or continue to waste our time sight-seeing?”
The cold tone of his voice set annoyance through my veins. This man was here to mock me while the gods were away.
Never in my life had I seen such beautiful but terrible people. This one was no different.
“You look weird. They did something to you.”
His words caused fear to slice through my chest. They did something to me? Something more?
Why can’t they just leave me be?
I turned abruptly, my shoulder jarring into several people as they quickly passed. Loud voices filled the busy street. Not one of them acknowledged me. Not an excuse me or apology was offered.
When my gaze landed on my reflection in a shining storefront window, the breath fell from my lungs. My normally ratty blonde hair hung in a glossy wave of perfection that blew lightly in the breeze. The green of my eyes was brighter, more alive and my skin radiated with a warm hue of health and beauty.
“They didn’t do anything to me, you asshole.” My eyes narrowed on his reflection. “They just put me back to how I was before the gods sank their claws into me.”
“Careful how you speak of the gods, Dora.”
My jaw ticked when he said my name. “Don’t call me that.”
The stern look in his features smoothed and he almost smiled.
Almost.
The golden armor no longer covered his body. A soft cotton shirt was pulled across his broad shoulders. The simple clothing didn’t take away from his stiff, soldier-like posture.
“I’m just saying you look tolerable now.” A taunting look shone in his pretty eyes.
Tolerable?
Was that supposed to be a compliment? It’s not as if I was a beast before.
Asshole.
“What’s your name?” My question was clipped, and I forced myself hold his hard gaze.
“Alexius. Call me Alex. Unless you want a lot of music references coming your way, you’ll consider letting me call you Dora.”
