Page 46 of Pandora's Pain
Grinding to a halt, I stood in front of a battered wooden door with a small hole covered in bars for a window.
I knew it almost as well as I knew my own hand. Probably better if I thought about it. The only difference was that I knew it from the other side.
"Want to take a peek, my dear?"
I shivered as Zeus' voice rang through my ears.
"I'll pass, thank you," I replied as politely as possible. I might have been defying a god, but I hadn't lost all of my senses.
"I really suggest you do." His voice was sweet but I could hear the menacing edge. He almost wanted me to disobey so he could do something about it.
Dread unfurled in my stomach. I wasn't quite sure what I'd find when I looked inside the room that served as the inside of my box, but I knew it wouldn't be good. Zeus wouldn't be here if it was.
Lifting myself up on my toes, I peered through the small window.
Sorry.Alex's single word filled my mind.
I tried to keep a straight face but really, I wanted to cry. What was he doing in there? We didn't see eye to eye on things all the time, sure, but I'd never wish my box on anyone.
"How long has he been in there?" I whispered.
"Long enough." Zeus clicked his fingers and the corridor transformed into his throne room before I could even blink.
I clutched my stomach, the sudden movements appearing to have made me sick.
"Why?" My voice cracked as I asked. Damn Zeus and his meddling. What had I ever done to him? Opening the box in the first place had been a trap. I might not have had a clue about what would happen when I did, but I wasn't naive enough to think the gods hadn't been well aware.
"You weren't doing your job, Pandora." There was more menace in his voice. "And as much as I like watching you make men squirm, that's not what I sent you to Earth for."
"Then why did you send me there?"
His wording played on my mind.Hesent me there. Not the gods in general. Which probably meant they'd been overruled by the father of all. That was right on character to be fair.
"Maybe I just want to watch you squirm."
"Right this second, yes, but I doubt that's why you sent me to Earth." I folded my arms under my breasts and stared at him. Maybe I shouldn't have been so bold, but realistically, I didn't have anything to lose.
Zeus clicked his fingers again, and one of his guards appeared. I didn't recognize him, which meant he was one of the minor gods, like Alex. Or maybe even a demi-god. I was very out of the loop in god culture, so had no idea where anyone stood.
"Bring him," Zeus demanded.
Ah, shit. I wasn't sure I could face Alex right now. How could I when it was my fault he'd been locked in my box?
The lesser god disappeared, only to pop up mere seconds later with a bedraggled looking Alex in tow. His hands were in manacles, his face smeared with dirt. Was that how I'd looked when the gods brought me before them?
"How long have you had him?" I demanded of Zeus.
Not too long, dear. The voice sounding in my mind definitely belonged to my god, but somehow, I knew it was actually Zeus speaking. The bastard.
"How long?" I repeated, gritting my teeth.
"Only last night," Zeus replied, studying his nails.
"Then how..."
"Have you forgotten the magic of your box so easily?" Zeus raised an eyebrow and gave me a bored look.
I wasn't sure why he was bothering with me if he didn't find me interesting enough to play with.
