A/N: This was written as a request by one of my friends...I'm most humbly sorry if it sucks... Just be happy it's a one shot. That is all.

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Dark. That would be the first word that comes to his mind when he thinks of words to destroy her. Not cruel-she was unusually gentle considering she was the regent of Hades-and not evil, though she certainly was, just dark. Delicate, too, in a weird way. Her long fingers, optically elongated by the black-painted fingernails on her pale fingertips, looked as though they could easily be snapped. Her eyes were rimmed by long, black lashes that made her appear submissive when she shut them. Strict was also a good word for her. She didn't really have many rules, but when one was broken...he closed his eyes. While the memory of his punishment at her hands left him slightly queasy it also brought about some curious thoughts.

To say she had been angry when he told her the Specters had been killed was like comparing a flashlight to a star in the sky, or a candle to the sun. One look in her unusual eyes-as deep a hue of purple as amythest, and twice as hard as the stone-told him she was positively furious with him. She spoke not a word as she strolled past him, her long hair and gown billowing behind her. He screwed his eyes shut-he know what was coming next.

Pain. As her elegant hands plucked the harp strings, pain like he'd never known before ripped through him. Slow at first, than faster, faster, harder, until he was forced to throw away his opinion that men should not scream now matter how badly they hurt. He was surprised his bones weren't breaking, his skin not peeling off, his organs not exploding. He fell on his knees, unable to remain upright any longer.

Still the girl played. He chanced a glance at her face and was taken-aback by the tears coming down her white cheeks. Why was she crying? Was her heart even more tender than she let on? Had the death of the Specters actually caused her anguish? Was she sympathetic towards him? Did she regret having to harm him as she was? Was it something else? Something good? Something bad? Would he ever find out?

Finally, she slowed her playing. She gave a final tug at the harp strings and he collapsed against the hard, cold floors, gasping for breath. He stared up at her. Her tears were gone.

Shakily, he climbed to his fit and ran his hands through his hair. He moved to stand in front of her.

"Rhadymanthes", she said, and he winced at the way she said his name. Her voice had not risen even half a decibel above her usual soft tones, but it still sounded dangerous.

"You have done a foolish thing, Rhadymanthes. I told you the course of action to take. You disobeyed me. You should pay for such insolence with your life, Rhadymanthes."

"Lady Pandora-", he gasped. He hung his head, hoping she was not being serious about killing him.

She was quiet for a moment, her eyes slipped shut. She opened them back up and gave him an appraising look.

"I will forgive you this time-don't make the same mistake again."

She left him then, and he released the breath he wasn't aware he was holding.

Rhadymanthes sighed-if the Lady Pandora knew he was in love with her, would she let him hold her close to him, run his fingers through her long black hair, and breathe in the sweet scent of her perfume? Would she not say a word as she killed him where he stood? Or would she laugh at him, coldly mock him, and throw his affections towards her back in his face? More than death, that third option scared him.

She was so different from other other girls her age. There was just something about her that transcended simple maturity. He couldn't place his finger on what it was, but something about her drew him to her, an attraction he knew was foolish at best, fatal at worst. He was a regular idiot for believing she could ever love him.

He thought of the story of Pandora's Box, and how the Lady Pandora was kind of like the Pandora in the story. Both were stubborn for starters. Both had defiant streaks a mile wide hidden behind their demure personas. Both were ambitious and did what they had to to get what they wanted.

Rhadymanthes found the stubbornness and ambition to be strangely attractive. She was a strong woman who could take care of herself and didn't need a man to fuss over her.

He was glad she was so self-sufficient, but at the same time, he sort of wanted her to need a man-wanted her to need him, in particular. Like the Pandora in Pandora's Box, the Lady Pandora held a box that was forbidden to be opened by anyone.

Unlike the Pandora in the story, though, his Lady Pandora kept her box closely guarded. She would never open her box, for her box contained the most wondrous of treasures.

Her box held her heart, and more than anything, Rhadymanthes wished to open that box for her and let the beauty of her love shine through. For her, he would go to hell and back.

And yet, she had not a clue.