PK Chapter 1

“Part of me wants to run away screaming. But where can I go? What can I do? The only family I have are the man I was created to marry and the teacher/maid he hired for me, Rena. It’s true I've met a few people in the nearby town, but I don’t really know them. Besides, they are probably loyal to my betrothed, the Titan, Epimetheus. No, there is nowhere I can go. This is going to happen no matter what I do. Tomorrow, at the tender age of 6 weeks old, I will be married.”
~*~

I closed my journal and sighed. I simply didn't see any way to escape my fate. The last of the roses by the entrance to the garden just outside the master suite, holding their last breath of beauty before giving into their own fate of the season, offered little consolation as I beseeched them for an answer. Finding none, my mind wandered, as it always did, to the little box on the upper shelf of Epi’s office. When the gods created me, each gave me a gift. Most of the gifts had been personality traits and knowledge but this one was different. The box itself is a lovely freshwater pearl, with gold and jewels of sapphire, rubies and emeralds on the corners and edges. The box screamed to be opened to find what other treasures may lie inside but Hermes had forbidden me to open it. Who gives someone a box and then tells them not to open it? All of my short life, I've pondered what might be inside the box and every time I had a free moment

I found myself obsessing over the possible contents.

This night, however, the only the box could console my troubled thoughts. I must discover what was in the box! With a determined gait, I marched past the roses and into Epi’s office where he works on the books. As I got to the office, however, Rena almost bumped into me.

“There you are! You should be in bed, Pandora. Tomorrow’s your big day! How exciting to be marrying a Titan. Oh! I’d faint at the very thought.” She started undressing me and guiding me to the bed as she talked. “The roast is cooking; the flowers are all in place. The whole village has been buzzing about the young lady who finally snagged Epi’s heart. Pandy you’re a local hero!”

“I am?”

“Why yes. Every eligible woman around has tried to catch the eye of ‘Epimetheus the Titan.’ It’s better than marrying a king, you know.”

“I suppose that does make sense. I just wish I felt more ready. Why I barely know him. I hardly even know myself. Rena, I’m scared.”

“Well get some rest, Pandy. It will make you feel better. Tomorrow will start with a hearty breakfast and a luxurious bath. You’ll be ready in no time.”

“Alright. But Rena?”

“Yes?”

“Will you stay with me?”

“Yes, I’ll be right next to you. I am giving you away, remember?”

“Yes, I know. I mean … oh never mind.”

“Oh you meant tonight?” I looked at her hopefully. “How about if I sing you a song while you go to sleep. Would that work?” Rena sat on the bed next to me and hummed a tune I didn't know. Her hand absently played through my hair while her humming turned into a song. I was too tired to even notice the lyrics. Her hand stroking my hair had a hypnotizing effect when coupled with her tune. Before I knew it, I was dreaming of playing in the gardens and dancing in the room—wedding and mysterious box long forgotten.

~*~

Epimetheus curled up in bed behind me and wrapped his divine arms around my delicate body. He pressed himself against my backside. He was ready and eager. I was terrified.

“Finally we can be joined, my love,” he whispered as he rolled me toward him so my back was flat against the bed, "Today we wed!" His hands caressed my thigh as he lifted my gown and I shivered. His hand moved up to stroke my breast and I squealed in panic. I wriggled out of bed to run … where? There was nowhere to go! I ran to the garden to hide and think.

He is big, but I’m small and quick. I stole a quick glance back to see he was still in shock that I had run away, faced down on the bed where he landed when I bolted. I rounded the corner and hammered my feet on the serpentine footpath hoping to find a good hiding place among the plumage. I could hear Epi coming so I dipped behind a large statue of a winged horse.

“Pandora, what’s wrong?”

I looked up and saw he had already rounded the corner and saw where I was heading. Still panicked, I darted back around the horse as he reached for me and headed back toward the master suite. If I couldn't hide, I knew something that might make him back off. I flew past the bed and ran into the office area. There was the box on the top shelf, almost too high to reach. Epimetheus knew I was not supposed to open it so he would do whatever it took to stop me. Surely it would help me keep him away from. I grabbed the box and held it out in front of me.

“Pandy, no!”

“I’ll open it if you come any closer.”

“I know you are scared. I will slow down. I promise,” he said and took a step closer.

I put my hand on the edge of the lid and yelled, “Stay away!” I could think of nothing other than keeping the big man as far away as possible.

“You know that you are not supposed to open that, Pandora. Please, give it to me,” Epi said in a gentle voice. Then he dove for the box and before I knew it, the box was open and Epi was on top of it. I heard Rena yell, “Nooo!” right before everything exploded.