Pandora's Curse

“Nothing to do now,” Warren grumbles, taking a spare seat next to me. “But we’ll figure it out.” I glance around the room, eying the cameras watching us and give Warren a look.

“Well, I mean, we’re at least kind of stuck in here, so you know...” I shrug and Warren snorts, leaning back in his chair throwing me a mild look.

“Yeah, or if the harpies are behind the guards we could be sent away and there’s not much to do then.”

I started to say something but the door opened suddenly and the security guard came back, a scowl on his face as he glared at us, keeping the door open.

“My apologies but you’re free to go.” I glance at Warren stunned who looks just as confused as we warily stand.

“We are?”

“Yeah, the big guy says you’re free to go. The other guy was the instigator.” A strange look passes over the security guards face and a chill settles down my spine and the guard glances at us, a dark frown on his face as he raises a brow at us. “Yeah, and he hopes he doesn’t see you again. Especially later tonight when there isn’t much around west.” With a final glare he steps aside letting us through and we walk back out into the museum, stunned and confused.

“Warren, why are we waiting here?”

“The guard said west. The back of the museum has a door on west, and there’s typically a small amount of security.”

“You think it was a message from someone helping us? Or a trap?”

“Could be either one.” Warren muttered and I slumped back into my chair, groaning in frustration. “But I doubt it was a trap. If it were harpies they had us stuck with us. Had they approached, we couldn’t do much in a small space. Besides, Harpies are not one for traps. Cunning they may be, but traps are not their thing. They prefer to sneak, and cut through without even realizing it.”

“Then who could’ve helped us?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Galatea could’ve done something, Dionysus could be seeing this, don’t know.” War settled back in his seat, staring at the locked side door to the museum as a few guards mingled around. “Galatea has some influence I’m sure. But all we can do for now is wait until later.”

I settle as comfortably as I can, watching people mingle outside the museum until they one by one start to move away, until a single person lingers outside, smoking and looking at his phone. Warren narrows his eyes and his lips twitch slightly. “If there’s one thing you can learn Pan in just brief seconds of your surroundings,” Warren muttered, pulling his jacket off. “It’s to recognize the little things because that can be your moment of saving grace. Like right now.”

“I don’t...” Warren placed a finger his mouth and reached for the door handle.

“Don’t leave the car until I tell you to.” And he slipped out of the car, closing it softly behind him and walking away from the car but away from the security guard smoking, who briefly glanced up but turned away. I peeked through the dark but Warren had faded into the darkness too easily, I was terrified to see him pop up out of nowhere.

A faint groan somewhere and when I looked straight ahead, the security guard was gone and no one was in sight. My skin prickled eerily, tensing as I gripped the door handle in preparation-

Knock

Knock

“STOP DOING THAT!” I shriek and Warren buckles over laughing as I clutch my pounding heart in despair, slumping in my seat, gasping in shock. “Eísai bástardos! Elpízo na dialýsete, ilíthia!” I snarl, slipping out of the car and scowling up at him as his shoulders tremble with laughter and he wipes the mirth from his eyes. Huffing in frustration and still reeling in shock and fright, I turn away from him, slamming the car door a little too hard. Warren’s still grinning but turns away, looking at the door where no one now stands. “What did you do?”

“Nothing. I just put him to sleep. He’ll wake up confused and wondering when he got in his car.” Warren walks to the boot of the car which he pops open. “You remember what I said about taking in your surroundings and any little detail?”

“Nai.” I murmur, pulling off my jacket as Warren does the same, leaving himself in a thin, black long-sleeved shirt tucked into his dark jeans. He straps a band through his jean loops like a belt and another over his shoulder and chest, which he tightened. I raised a brow in confusion but couldn’t help but slightly admire the way he looked. “You saw something?”

“Yes,” Warren pulled out a black rolled up sheet and unrolling it in the trunk, revealing an assortment of weapons and items. Warren pulled out his sword, sheathed in a thick black, leather wrap, raising it slightly, the steel blade glinting in the dim lamp lights and crescent moon above us. “Like you said, could be a trap or not. For one reason, I’m leaning away from trap. Like I said, harpies are not one for traps. They don’t care for them. Spiders don’t particularly lay traps, but their webs catch their prey because they were unable to see it or blind to the web. If this is a trap, Aello is not stupid to believe I’d so easily step into it.”

“So, if the chance is a trap, we trick her by tricking ourselves.”

“You’re getting a little confused there.” Warren laughed softly and stepping back momentarily, rolled the sword gracefully around in his sword, cutting it through air in a silver blur that faded as I blinked. “Galatea was responsive but not so easily. Galatea wouldn’t hesitate to take Aello down, so if she can’t respond, there will be a reason. And there’s a chance, someone might be involved as well.” Unsure of what to think but except reach in for some of the knives laid out flat while Warren slipped his sword through the loops on the back of his belt that was crossed over his shoulder and back. I pull out a long black curved knife which was my arm length, with a wide blade and sharp-tipped edge, sheathed in smooth black material, and a handle with a grip edge.

“You seem good with a knife.” Warren muttered reaching into the boot and pulling out different knives, long, simple knives which he slipped into my belt that he had given me earlier. “These knives, I got a long time ago and they’ve served me well. The things with these knives, they’re sharp and they cut well, even through tough skin like a harpies. But you have to be close to a harpy to do such a thing.” Warren flicked his gaze up to me, giving me an intense glower. “When you’re close, you move and you move fast okay. Strike and move like you have been. Don’t ever stop fighting. Don’t ever overthink and back away or talk yourself out of doing anything. Killing is not glamourous and physically and mentally giving, but it’s you or them.” Swallowing heavily but not looking away, I give a firm nod.

“I will.” He never takes his eye from me as we stare at each other. My heart is a slow thundering beat inside my chest that swallows us both in it and his hand on my belt tightens.

“If you have to fight dirty, you do it.” Warren murmurs. “Don’t do anything you shouldn’t do at risk to yourself and while I said don’t back away, always be cautious about where you are, what you see and your surroundings.” I nod shakily. “There’s a ridiculous chance that it could be right here in plain sight of course.” The thought of how close this could to play was terrifying me, goosebumps rising in fear and Warren’s gaze bore into me, unable to look away from his eyes. “And, you better survive, Pandora.” He releases his hand from my belt but doesn’t step away from me, leaving me in a warmth at his close presence and I bask in it briefly before it’ll change.

“Then, you better be okay yourself.” I murmur, and Warren smirks, stepping back slightly and looking at the long dagger in my hand and curls my fingers around it.

“I always am.” With a couple more items from inside the boot, he closes the boot with a thump and locks the car, throwing his jacket on and we hurry towards the back door of the museum. With the keys Warren had obviously taken from the guard, we slipped in through the door, into the dark.

“Do you remember the way to Galatea?”

“Second floor.” I whisper. “But we shouldn’t take the elevators.”

“No, we shouldn’t.” We found the closest staircase and hurried up the floors, keeping an ear out for any sounds of people around. Reaching the top of the second floor, Warren pressed against the wall, peeking around the corner subtly for a mere second, before pulling back quickly. Warren glances at me, placing a finger over his lips and raises two fingers.

Two people. Security or harpies.

Nodding, gripping my dagger in hand as Warren slips around the corner, pulling me close behind him as we slipped through the open corridor, running between displays to remain hiding, but I couldn’t see or hear anything except my own thundering heart and short breaths. We duck under behind some displays in the corner, hiding in the dark and Warren peeks around the edge. There, I hear sounds like something scratchy and moving around-

Like talons on the floor.

“Pan,” Warren barely whispers under his breath. I look at him, tense and nervous. “Go to Galatea.” I didn’t want to leave Warren but I knew he was more than capable of taking care of himself and I was better off getting out of his way at least. Nodding shakily, Warren took a long knife out of his belt and slipping out of the shadows, with one last glance at me and I quickly turned and hurried around the display. A loud shriek from behind but was brutally cut off, followed by another low bird cry and I didn’t dare look back, running through the floor, passing through the archways and open doors, as the distant sound of fighting followed behind-

Rounding the corner to where Galatea stood in shadow and moonlight and two strix that stood next to Galatea, their faces stretched into horrifying grins.

“Come now, child.”

“Don’t hold back now.” They crooned, their wings fluttering excitedly as they stepped towards me. Heart thundering wildly like I would faint in terror but I gripped my knife determinedly and one of them crooked their talons at me, as if daring me to come first. “We’ll make this quick then, little one.” With a shriek, jaw parted, showing darkness that was calling to me and I gripped my knife, tensing as I sprang forwards-

Whump

The strix dropped with a thud, the sickening thunk of the arrow embedding itself into the creatures head, made my stomach curdle. The other strix howled, yellow eyes glowering wickedly as it launched forward. I dove aside as it charged past me, towards its friends killer. But with a choked scream and gurgle, it fell before my eyes on its back, arrow embedded deep in its throat as it spasmed.

Stumbling back, knife in hand as a figure strode smoothly from the dark, and my senses screamed eerily at me like they had whenever I encountered Dionysus or that woman at Pan’s party. The fear and intensity cloaked the figure in a powerful aura that was strangely calming and I didn’t like that. The man, didn’t pay me attention, only reaching down to pull the arrow out of the strix’s throat and wiping it on his pant leg and then he looked to me. Eyes burned like a candle, the colour a rosy hue that was hypnotizing and hard to look away from, like a snakes. Pale golden curls ran down his neck and over his shoulder, tied back loosely.

The stranger gave me a whimsical smirk and bowed at me staring, as he straightened his grey suit jacket. “Pandora, herself is beauty in this horrid stain of a messy moment.”

“Um,” He turns away from me, glancing briefly at the dead bodies as he threw me a look.

“It appears you and the Horseman are making slow headway and I arrived just in time.” The man strode past me as I followed him warily until he stopped before Galatea, a pained smile on his face as he gazed upon Galatea. “But not quite in time. I apologize my dear friend for taking too long.”

“You’re...” I step closer, clutching my knife still. “You’re here for Galatea?”

“Yes, she is my friend and I love romantic stories like hers. Acis reached to me for help but I only received such notice not too long ago and could only come now. Now, I realize why. Aello and her sisters are here.” He gives me a dark look, his eyes a burnt red and his face shadowed in the dark. “But this I did not expect.”

“What do you mean?”

“Shipments.” Spinning around, I see Warren approaching from the darkness completely unharmed and his eyes on the stranger before me, warily watching but Warren seemed more relaxed despite things. “The harpies have taken over this museum for a long while and they’ve been bringing in shipments that are not on any display.” The stranger nodded.

“Exactly. Acis spoke of change of hands in the museum over a year ago and then the arrival of strange boxes that have been taken to the basement. Unfortunately, he nor Galatea knew who had taken hands on this place until it was too late.”

“What do you mean by shipments?” I ask, turning to Warren who gazes at Galatea and then to me, meeting my nervous look. “What have they been bringing in?” Warren surveys my expression and his face tightens, unable to say what I realize only now. “How bad can we expect things to be?”

“Considering they’ve come from around the world presumably,” The stranger hums, glowering at the dead bodies he stands before, nudging them roughly. “I can’t imagine this will be good at all. Certain creatures are not meant to be out in such publicity like this. If released...”

“It’s a war. Aello and her sisters want to be at the top again and in the light. And they’re bringing in more for an army.” Warren runs a hand through his hair. “This is why Aello has been patiently waiting. For her sisters and until they had all they needed.” My blood runs cold and my mind drifts to that early morning where home was thrown into chaos and monsters rampaged through the streets or dove through the skies, killing all they gazed upon.

The stranger eyes us with slight judgement, brows furrowed. “Aello has the Box, from what I assume.” I tense as he continues to eye me darkly. “I can’t imagine such a thing in such a despicable beings hand. But I’ve been hearing of word of Pandora herself who was brought to life, which I see now, with the harbinger of War himself. A sight I’d never thought I’d see nor the feelings between you both. I’d never thought War would be the soft type.”

“You don’t know me very well.” Warren muttered and strangely, he gave the stranger a faint smile and the man returned the smile back.

“Nor do you know yourself as well. It has been a while but time is of the essence, War and Pandora.” The man strode past us both, yanking the other arrow out of the strix’s head and suddenly it was gone. “I believe there are harpies we are hunting down.” I glanced to Warren who only gave me a brief nod and shrug.

“Do you know him?”

“Yeah,” Warren sighed as we followed the stranger down the hallway. “He is actually Cupid.”

“Cupid?” I clasped Warren’s shoulder, stunned. “Like, Eros himself?”

“No, Cupid is his own deity. He’s close with other deities of love like himself. A little odd of a fellow but decent man who enjoys his time upon earth when he can.”

“How do you know him?”

“We went to war together.” Cupid spoke up from where we stood in front of the elevator. “We fought in World War 1 and 2 together. This horseman was determined to end these wars because of how bad they were.”

“You, Cupid, the God of love was in war?” Frowning stunned, it was such a confusing contrast. Like two differing sides to a coin. Cupid gave a soft laugh as we took the elevator down to the first floor.

“Don’t let my sweet looks fool you. I’m just a ordinary person who had heartbreak at the situation between men. War is...dark, sad, full of anger and grief. A naïve part of me would look to try and make things...better in anyway I could. That was me being naïve.” I glance up at War who gives me a brief smile and I shake my head faintly and the doors opened up and we stepped through into the foyer.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s naïve, it’s, hopeful. Trying to hope for good things.” I mutter, as we follow through the hallways until we find the doors with stairs leading down. “How big of a basement do we think this is?” Warren shoved the door open, ignoring the crack of the lock he broke and started down the stairs.

“A lot bigger now.” Warren muttered. “They did some construction here months ago I heard. Yet, nothings changed apparently.”

“Big enough for a harpy eyrie.”

“Exactly,” Cupid muttered. “Harpies like the open space, though preferably outside. And they need space for their growing numbers. They can breed like crazy if they are careful.”

“Were you the one who got us out of security and sent that message?” Cupid gave me a grin and nodded.

“I figured at some point Warren might recognize that sentence.”

“Not until I saw you, I didn’t. You only used it once. I wasn’t going to not be prepared and think it was safe.” War scowled and Cupid shrugged.

“I thought it was clever. But I was surprised to see you here and so I intervened. I had the cupids do what they needed and now here you are. I’m glad I’m not alone at least.”

I throw a look at Warren, a faint smile curving my face. “At least, three is better than two.” Warren nods, a warm look passes across his face momentarily, his hand briefly touching mine.

“Better now.” He whispered and we continued down the stairs in silence.

A locked, barred door greeted us at the bottom of the stairs and Cupid slipped out an arrow which he jimmied into the locks, opening them and then opening the door. He gave us both a wicked grin. “You’re welcome.” Inside it was dark still but there in the narrow darkness, I heard it.

The sounds reached us, a faint brush of air fluttering through in a faint keening pitch and my skin shivered, rising in goosebumps as I took a shaky breath.

“I hear it too.” Warren muttered and with Cupid in front, we stepped through, following the faint whistling cries that grew louder and louder, raising the hairs on the back of my neck and with a glance at War and I, Cupid gave a tense nod and slowly cracked open the door in front of us. Immediately, light peeked through the open crack and the screams and shrieks hit my ears, my blood shivering in terror because the cacophony of screams were too many to even think about.

With a final hesitant moment, Cupid slipped through and Warren and I followed through and we stared the sight before us in stunned horror.

“Oh fuck!” Warren cursed.

We stood at the top of a narrow balcony which overlooked a huge open hall, where thousands of boxes - several thousands at least - ran through the entire basement. The walls ran up high with open holes in them, and hundreds of harpies gathered around, against the wall or all over the basement floor, screaming and howling in blood thirsty excitement. A large wooden stage put together by old, wooden boxes that stand high enough for someone to tower and overlook the edgy and excited crowd of harpies and strix.

Someone - Warren - grabs my arm, pulling me down behind the wall as we kneel behind it and listen to the jeers and excitement below that thrums hungrily in the air.

“I don’t know why I was expecting less than that to be honest.” Cupid grumbles, settling up against the wall and pulling off his jacket. “But I haven’t had a good show down in a long time.”

“Remember what I said,” Warren hissed and threw me a look. “We remain cautious until the right time.”

“Which is when exactly?” I grumble. War opens his mouth to say something but suddenly the screams reach higher, blocking out any other sound and making my ears bleed painfully. Peeking over the edge, trying to ignore the ringing in my ears. The harpies are keening and shrieking with delight as a white winged fury swept over the stage, larger than all the other harpies and landed with a dull thud on the stage, body hunching over from the land. Aello straightened up, facing the crowd before her, and with a sweep of her huge white wings and her arms, her grin splitting his face apart.

“Kyríes, our time has come!” Aello howled, the wings with her eyes over her face fluttering widely. Swooping from the dark behind Aello, two other massive harpies landed heavily beside Aello and my heart jumped in terror. Unlike the sea of mixed greys, whites and blacks that were a tangle of colours, the three harpies stood on the stage, overshadowing all. Aello, the Swift Storm, stood the tallest and with the more impressive stature of pure white bodied and enormous wings and little wings as her eyes. Ocypete, the Swift One, was slightly hunched over, scanning the crowd menacingly, her head had a huge crest of feathers like a towering crown of feathers fanned out and her eyes settled at the top of each feather crown. Her body was like a natural silver grey, settled between black and white. Celaeno, the Dark One, stood at Aello’s right, her body in pitch black that could meld so easily into darkness like liquid itself. Talons peeked from the top of her wings, little slashers in the dark and her had an unusual curved triangle over her head and no eyes glimmered or showed within the darkness that was her head. Seeing the three harpy sisters altogether, not just Aello was terrifying in itself. The utter fear instilled from where I sat behind a wall watching them filled me with tremoring dread.

It’s begun.