The Beginning: Ancient Greek, atop Mount Olympus- date unknown
King of the gods, Cronus, a titan, sat on his throne watching his servants flaunt around the grounds as they gathered flowers and kissed each other. He did never really wonder why the female minor goddesses were so intimate with each other; he didn't mind, but still it dumbfounded him. He stiffened when he noticed a demi-goddess slash angel with her wings surrounding her on the ground as she ran her fingers through the water and allowed the fish to suckle her finger tip. She wore a white dress with the right shoulder strap being the only one she had and it was cut completely up the two sides and held onto her body with a gold rope and silver sash. Her hair trailed down her back in a thick golden red mass and her bare feet were tiny and he was surprised she could even walk on her small bones.
He'd seen her few times before, she was always being trailed after by male titans and gods; Cronus often tried to seduce her too, now that he remembered her a little better. She was almost as old as he was and born out of secrecy. She didn't know and neither did anyone know who her parents were. When Cronus stood, his guards- the future Lords of the Underworld- stepped forward but he motioned for them to stay back and they did as they were told. Torin and Cameo were both branded with weapons and their leader, Lucien- his face handsome and unscarred- looked from Cameo to Maddox- who doesn't have the death-curse yet. Lucien unsheathed his dagger but Cronus told him to put it away before he scared someone not worth frightening.
Lucien did as he was told and they parted but kept an eye on Cronus and the other gods as they parted ways as the other gods and titans emerged. Cronus, clad in a white tunic as the females called them and an ivory-like crown made of silver and gold, walked over to her and she turned when she felt someone approaching. She stood and bowed slightly. She called him highness and he held out his hand, because he was king she had no choice although he felt and saw the unwanting in her actions and her eyes. Her eyes were a soft blue and a golden ring buried in her hair to keep it back from her eyes and exposed her perfect skin on her face and chest. White lilies were entangled in her brown locks and she held one so delicately in between two fingers, Cronus was surprised the hold on the flower was even possible.
Cronus walked her back to his throne and she sat at his feet as people brought her more flowers and grapes in silver bowls. He watched her as she picked them off the stem but didn't eat them; she smiled as his own wife came with a blue rose. She thanked the queen of the gods and instead of keeping it, reached for the queen and she knelt as well and twined the stem professionally into her hair and the queen giggled and blushed and thanked her; reaching up the queen plucked off a petal and held it in her palm and a new flower bloomed instantly. The girl giggled and seemed delighted when the queen gave it to her; she almost refused saying she could never accept such a lovely present. The queen looked down at her large belly and Cronus bit his lip; unsure what he'd do if she bore him twins… could he bring it upon himself to swallow them both? Eventually his wife will do such a thing and what then? She could lie about it and say one is dead… her plans always went wrong.
Cronus reached down and grabbed the girl and pulled her onto his lap, she looked unpleased now and asked to return to the pool with the fish. Cronus denied her that and settled her into the crook of his arm. The queen knew that her husband was taking a mistress but didn't care anymore. Then Maddox and Lucien approached Cronus; there was something going on in Rome. Cronus pushed the girl out of his lap and she went right to the queen and asked if she could return to the water; the queen nodded and she hurried over to the pool and sat down again. Torin went over to her and touched her left shoulder; she looked at him shyly and asked why the king must be so intimate with people other then his wife.
Torin smiled and looked back at the water before answering that Cronus is a king and that's what royalty with his power is like; they don't care if they're caught or seen. Then he asked what her name was.
She didn't have one; she explained that her parents never gave her one. Torin rubbed his smooth chin and looked over as the queen and Paris spoke by telling stories of each other's secrets. Then she looked over as the queen cried out, holding her stomach. The baby was coming. The warriors hurried to her and Cameo lifted her and took her to a private chamber. The girl and Torin sat together her head in his lap as she slept, waiting to hear of the soon to be swallowed baby prince or princess. Torin ran his fingers over her hair, barely noticing what he was doing as the other warriors watched him, waiting for news and prayed that Cronus would spare this child and that he wouldn't torture Torin for touching the king's new pet. Sabin and Strider had gone to go look for the king and returned with him as Maddox and Lucien stood before Torin and the girl, shielding them.
The following morning the girl entered Torin's chamber and he sat up; she hurried to him, crying. Cronus had swallowed the baby boy that she named herself. Zeus. Torin held her tightly against his side and she fell asleep again, against him; Torin's friend Maddox entered his room and shut the door when he saw the girl asleep beside him. Torin told him that she's been upset and came to him. Maddox approached him slowly so not to wake her; she looked tiny against the buff warrior. She had the blue rose in her hair and her closed eyes looked swollen from crying; Maddox realized she's spent the entire previous night crying. Maddox stared as Torin kissed her gently on the forehead and slipped off the bed to join Maddox and the other warriors. Cameo was the only one with a long sword; because she's the only female, she's treated better by nearly everyone.
Maddox told Torin about Pandora's box and that she'd been chosen to guard it with the evil inside of it. Torin growled and the noise made the others look over, he glanced back at his closed bedroom door and turned back to his friends. They were going to Pandora and demand why she'd been chosen instead of one of them.
The girl woke at the sound of Torin's growl and crept to the door. They spoke about a box- what box? Then Pandora being the new protector of it. She crept out of the room without anyone seeing and made it to her small room and grabbed her only dagger and hid it on her thigh and easily followed the guardians to Pandora. She in a field talking with other warriors about the box; a battle was beginning to wage about the box and she planned to take and hid it somewhere for good. She wasn't greedy, just curious- it was her fault- curiosity she'd heard could get one killed. She didn't believe that was possible; how could a feeling get her killed?
She hid behind the trees and watched as Maddox argued with Pandora and Galen and Baden glanced at each other; Gideon, Torin, Strider, Paris… they all watched Maddox and Pandora argue for several minutes, Lucien and Torin did try to stop him. She bit her lip when Maddox grabbed Cameo's sword and held it against her throat. She held her hand over her mouth but didn't utter a word; instead she hoped that Pandora would surrender the dumb box.
Pandora pushed him away and her followers began to attack the guardians… and Torin. She gasped when Torin was slashed from behind- cheater. Her wings dispersed into her back as she'd seen Aeron do and she moved to go forward but then she heard a scream and then Torin and Lucien yelling; Pandora had been stabbed. Galen and Baden were arguing about the box and Maddox used Cameo's sword to kill Pandora, stabbing her six times in the stomach. A follower snuck up on Torin and she ran forward and pushed him away; Torin was her friend, not her lover, just her friend and friends protected each other… didn't they? Torin had said it once. Torin turned to see her there and grabbed her to move her before him; Maddox issued a fifth, then sixth stab and Pandora fell. Blood seeped through her garment and her golden red hair fell about her shoulders, her palm open she died with her eyes open and blood from her mouth and nose.
She swallowed and looked over as Baden and Galen went to the box. Pandora was dead now. What could be the harm? She was curious, it overwhelmed her but Torin had locked his arms around her tightly. He whispered he wouldn't let her go, he cared for her like a daughter, he said. They looked nothing alike so she knew he wasn't really her father. But she was achy; Baden unlocked the box and Galen eased it open. There was a flash and Cronus was in the field. The followers were gone and it was just them; Torin's grip on her tightened. Cronus looked from them all and then saw the open box as several blackened shadows emerged.
"Merge with them!" He thundered and he was pointing at the warriors and then he saw her in Torin's grip, her back to the box, eyes closed and her grip on his bare arm. Her nail drew blood but Torin didn't even notice it. Suddenly screams, pleading, and sobbing issued and the warriors, including Torin fell. She knew it hurt because she was going through it too but Torin's warm body was gone and Cronus held her in a death-grip. She stabbed him with her hidden dagger; Cronus slapped her but she pulled the dagger from his chest as she fell back. Right beside Pandora's body. He looked behind to other guards and ordered her to death. A voice in her head told her to run, with the box, that she could save Torin.
Then she saw Torin trying to get to her; she went to him but before they could touch fingers the voice told her to not touch him or she'd be diseased and die by nightfall. She pulled away and she saw Torin's face of shock and pain as she stood, holding her side where it hurt from the shadow. She needed the box, she had to get it somehow. She looked down at Pandora and saw a necklace around her neck; she reached down and took it for herself. It was bronze, lovely and a beautiful glassy blue and brown for wings. There was a flash as Cronus tried to grab her with magic but she dodged it and fell back, she felt her back hit something and it was box.
…
…
Maddox was cursed with his death every night, Torin wasn't allowed to touch anyone; Lucien guided souls to hell or heaven and manages to lead the Budapest warriors, Paris needed sex to survive- although most men would be thrilled to get any women he wanted; Aeron got angry quickly but calms himself down eventually- his thirst for blood makes him dangerous at times, and Reyes needs to be in pain or his life feels unresolved- you never see Reyes without a bleeding wound or a broken bone(s).
Strider needs to win everything- no matter what it was, Baden could no longer fully trust anyone ever again; Sabin causes doubt to course through the mind of everyone and is the leader of the Greek warriors, Gideon can't tell the truth anymore- his code is confusing but manageable; Amun rarely speaks for he can spill the secrets of everyone, Cameo- the only female warrior (or so they think) has a voice that makes people want to kill themselves for the misery of the world runs through her veins and out her mouth as her voice. Kane, poor man can't go anywhere without causing destruction; Gideon holds hope.
Now Baden is dead.