Page 49 of Pandora's Pain
I snorted. “So, it’s martyr time? I hate to break it to you, but the legends have changed. Doing something heroic no longer gets your name in the history books. But you should know that. You were on Earth with me.”
He hung his head, looking a little ashamed of himself. Good.He should be.
“Zeus!” I called out. “I’ve made my decision.”
Within seconds there was a crackle through the air, and the king of the gods appeared back on his throne. Unfortunately for me, he seemed to have lost clothing while he was gone.
“And?”
“A misery in return for Alex,” I said loudly, ignoring the god’s gasp from behind me.
“Very good.”
“But on my own terms. There’s no time limit to collect.”
Zeus’ eyes narrowed. “No.”
I didn’t answer and just waited for him to say more.
“A human month,” Zeus said eventually. “No more.”
“Fine.” I scowled. This wasn’t exactly what I had planned.
Zeus waved his hand and a corresponding clank sounded. That would be Alex’s manacles then. At least he’d be free. We could work on the rest after we were back on Earth.
I turned away from Zeus, hoping that if I headed toward the exit, I’d magically be transported back to Earth. It was a pretty safe bet.
“Oh, and Pandora?”
I turned around, meeting his gaze dead on and trying not to recoil. “Yes?”
“Don’t even think about crossing me. If you do, the time you spent in your box will seem like child’s play.”
“Duly noted.” I nodded once.
Noted. But also ignored. There was no fucking way I was doing what Zeus wanted. He wouldn’t be getting four miseries. He wouldn’t even be getting one. Not if I had anything to do with it. If it was the last thing I did, I’d ensure he couldn’t continue his reign of torture.
Chapter Eighteen
The hard tile of the hotel hall hit my knees. The gods threw us back down with more force than the first time. I gasped as the pain slammed through my body. But my breath was quickly forgotten as my eyes landed on the glossy box placed precisely between Alex and me.
My fingers trembled as my hand lifted. Anger shot through my body, and I couldn’t contain it as my shaking hand skimmed across the top of the pretty little memento.
That was what it was; a moment of my shitty life.
The hall light glinted across Alex’s eyes as he lifted them to watch me with interest. He didn’t speak one word as I ran my palm across the sharp angles of the box between us.
My jaw clenched tightly together. Before I could think better of it, my fingers gripped around the edge and I threw the box against the wall with as much force as I possessed. It hit hard. The force of it shattered the delicate object. Pieces of my little box sliced through the air, clattering along the floor in sparkling slices of alluring beauty.
Alex never flinched away from my outburst.
My lips pursed with satisfaction. But it was short-lived.
In an instant the pieces quivered, trembling against the floor until they flew perfectly into place.
Once again, the daunting little box sat before me.
Sharp nails dug into my palm as anger ripped through my chest.
