Page 54 of Pandora's Pain
"I don't know, he just asked for beauty."
"You know that's not possible. I'm not letting Aphrodite get this one, too," the woman replied. She sounded too smart, like she was up to more than just creation right now.
"No, because you want her for yourself."
"Something like that." The woman sounded smug now. Like she was getting her way, and she knew it.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Athena."
Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare. My creators, the two of them. An interesting combination and a slightly concerning one. I wasn't sure how this knowledge was a part of me already, but I knew with certainty that the combination of the two of them was dangerous.
"Just leave defyingfatherto me," she spat, the venom in the word clearer than ever.
I wondered what her father had done to her. As far as I could understand, a father was part of her family and would protect her. Not that she sounded like she needed protection. Being the goddess of warfare probably had some perks.
"Fine."
They worked in silence for a little longer. With each stroke of their hands, I could feel my sense of self growing stronger. It was almost like each of their movements was creating life within me.
"Done," Hephastios announced, stepping back.
"Now what do we do to her?" Athena asked, her curiosity seemingly piqued.
"The same as anything else made of clay, we put her in the kiln.
With surprisingly gentle hands, the god picked me up and carried me somewhere. I hoped I'd be able to see when they were done with me.
Heat rose in front of me, drying out my still slippery skin. It didn't hurt, but it was definitely an irritant. I wasn't sure how long I was left in the heat, but my body dried out, forming the perfectly sculpted lines the two gods had created for me.
"Is it time?" a voice came after what was likely hours.
"Yes," a second voice replied
"Have you got everything we need?"
"Yes." This time the second voice sounded exasperated.
Hands gripped onto my sides and lifted me out of the heat. Cool air hit my shell and I almost shivered. Or I would have done if I'd been capable of it.
"How do we do this?" The first voice, who I was pretty sure was Athena again, sounded as if she was stood to my left.
"We blow into her mouth," Hephastios replied.
What did he mean by that? Surely, he wasn't going to...
My lips tingled as an odd smoke like substance passed over my lips and settled against me. I didn't know what to make of it. The sensation was both foreign and welcome. They repeated the process five times, before announcing it was the final one.
As that last breath settled, something changed within me. My skin softened. My lungs began to fill with air. Slowly, my eyes blinked open and I discovered two of the most beautiful beings I could have possibly imagined standing in front of me.
"Welcome to the world, Pandora," Hephastios said with a smile.
***
"And what happened after that?" Ashton asked, a rapt look on his face as he listened to me speak.
"I played around for a bit. Eating, drinking, fucking—with gods and men alike."
"Sounds exhausting," Zavier deadpanned.
