Chapter 9
Author's Note- The chapter starts off with some music. The song is Hello Love Goodbye by To be Juliet's Secret.
I saw you walking in the street
Don't look this way love, please.
Just let my heart, let it go.
It took me back to that day
You turned and walked away
And said it's suposed to be this way
I thought I'd be okay cause it was all the same
I guess our story is ending here
"Ben," called Pandora.
"I'm here," he answered in a low voice. Pandora turned and smiled weakly.
"Ben, I can't do it. I love you," she said. "You love me right?" Ben cupped her face lovingly and kissed her forehead.
"Of course I do."
My pen could only write your name
You were filling every page, so fast.
Then we fell and died away,
It's not supposed to be this way
I'm so far from okay, if it's all the same then it's just you that's okay.
"You're gonna take care of us right?" Pandora asked cradling her swelling stomach. Ben glanced down at it and rubbed it affectionately.
"Of course..."
I saw you crying in the street
Don't do this now love, please.
We've been here so many times before
Take me back to that day,
I turned and walked away and said
It's supposed to be this way, I thought I'd be okay
Cause it was all the same, I guess our story is ending here
Pandora gripped Ben's hand and brought it up to her lips.
"You're gonna be a great daddy." Ben smiled and sighed.
"I love you, Pandora. I'm sorry..." Ben's words faltered as he shoved her out the window.
Take me back to that day, I'd make it all okay
I don't know what to say
I didn't know you felt that way,
My lips could only say your name you were filling every phrase, so fast the we fell and died away
Pandora fell farther and farther down until she hit the ground with a CRASH! Blood flowed from her body, and tears from her eyes. Her lips emitted a feeble whimper as she gripped the iron pole stuck in her her side. She raised her hand and saw the crimson color of hate and love that coated her hands.
"Ben!" she screamed. He down looked down at her from the window above. "BEN!" Her slitted eyes gazed up at him and were horrified at what they saw.
He looked down at her with a expression of eerie satisfaction. He smiled cruelly and laughed. Pandora's body shivered with fear and pain. Ben's face left the window, her left her there to die.
"My baby," she whimpered. "My baby."
(Major Flashback)
Pandora awoke to a banging on her door. She hauled herself out of bed and slowly opened it.
"Sis," greeted Arty. Tears filled Pandora's as looked at her brother.
"Arthur." She pulled into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry." Tears flowed from her eyes and drenched his shoulder.
"I've missed you," said Arthur quietly. Mark, Tommy, Joey, and Johnny appeared behind him and Pandora.
"We all missed you," said Mark. Pandora released Arty and stared at Mark.
"Hey brother," she mumbled. Marky hugged her tightly, engulfing her tiny frame in his.
"Hey sister."
"Pandora," called a familiar voice. Pandora turned and gaped at what she saw.
"Mother." she said. Mark released Pandora and she stood before her parents. "Mom, dad..."
"We're here sweetheart," said her father.
"We've missed you too." added her mom. Her mother walked to her and slowly wrapped her thin, old arms around her daughter. "Oh Pandora, we've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too," said Pandora. She looked over her mother's thin shoulders to see her niece, Chrissy, looking straight at her. "Chrissy?"
"Hi aunty," she said meekly. "It's been a while."
"Nimrod?" called Layla from the study room. "Where are you?"
"I'm up stairs!" he yelled back.
"Come down, I want to show you something." Layla heard a loud thud, which were followed by hurried footsteps.
"What is it?" Nimrod asked. Layla held up a sparkling silver necklace.
"Do you remember this?" she asked her brother. Nimrod gaped at the piece of jewelry.
"It was mother's," he said quietly. His sister nodded to him.
"I just found it going through our old stuff." She handed the necklace to Nimrod.
"I remember her wearing it the day of your dance recital. The year your partner dropped you on stage." he laughed. "I remember I couldn't stop laughing." Layla gave her brother a playful shove and giggled.
"I remember," she said. "What shall we do with the necklace now, she's not here anymore and I don't want it." Nimrod shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Well, maybe you should give it to Pandora, she might like it." suggested Layla.
"Maybe," said Nimrod. "Maybe." Layla nudged Nimrod into the desk.
"Give it to her, she'll think its sweet."
"Alright," said Nimrod as he slipped the necklace into his pocket. "Do you think I should invite her to lunch with us. She could see the twins and I could see her."
"That sounds lovely, Nimrod. How does she like them?" asked Layla.
"She loves the twins. She said that Philipa reminded her of her own niece." Layla smiled.
"You love her don't you."
"More than anything in the world. This house is getting lonely with just me and Groanin and we can't have the children over all the time," said Nimrod. "I just want someone to be with and she wants to be with me."
"My little brother is falling in love, I'm so happy." They both laughed and hugged each other.
"I think I'm going to head over the Pandora's studio and pick her up."
"Shouldn't you call first," asked Layla.
"I want to surprise her." Layla shook her head and walked out of the room.
"Oh my god, Chrissy. You're so grown up," cooed Pandora. Her pulled her into an embrace.
"I've missed you aunty." said Chrissy.
"I've missed you too." Pandora's nephews appeared iin front of her and smiled warmly.
"Did you miss us, Aunt Pandora?" asked Hunter. Pandora turned from Chrissy and her nephews.
"Of course I've missed my boys," she cried as gave each one a bear hug. "I've missed everyone."
"Since we are done with this meet and greet, can we get down to business?" asked Arthur. Pandora released Hunter and turned to her brother.
"Right, let's get to work," said Pandora. She lead her family further into the studio and sat them all down.
"Alright, we have a serious problem," said Tom.
"Yes, Belphegor is in London and looking for his daughter," announced Johnny. "We got to find that girl and get her to safety."
"Do we know who the girl is?" asked Pandora.
"Uh...yes we do," Joey. Pandora looked at her brothers.
"Care to share," she asked.
"Pandora, you got to remember what the goal is. We are to find and protect her and avoid any confrontation." said Arthur.
"You gotta remember that," said Mark.
"Ok I get it, who is she?" asked Pandora.
"Pandy, its...Maria's daughter," said Tom. "Maria died a while ago and her daughter is unfortunately the girl we are looking for." Pandora's heart sank.
"Ron was..." she whispered.
"Yea he was." said her father. "We know that you two were best friends. We're sorry."
"She was my best friend..." said Pandora. She looked up at her dad. "Did he kill her?"
"That's what we think." commented Johnny.
"Pandora. please don't be all sad. The girl asked for it by marrying that guy." remarked Tom. Pandora shot him a death glare.
"She didn't know. I didn't know, it wasn't her fault, she was blinded by love." argued Pandora. She stood up from her seat and stared at her brother. "Did I ask for it when Ben pushed me out that window?"
"Pandora, don't even got there..." started Mark, but he was stopped by a knocking on the door.
"How is it? We are going to be closed for a while," called Pandora.
"Pandora! It's Nimrod! Could I see you a while!" Pandora quickly drew a smiled and ran to the door.
"You're gonna open the door now, we are in the middle of something!" yelled Arthur, but she ignored him and ran to the door.
Pandora swung the door open and gestured for him to come in.
"Hello," greeted Nimrod. Pandora hugged him and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
"Hey sweetheart, what are you doing here?" asked Pandora nervously.
"I wanted to ask you to come over for lunch or something." Pandora looked back behind her and turned back to him.
"I'm sort of busy right now, Nimrod." Nimrod gave a look of disappointment.
"What are you busy with?" he asked. Pandora sighed and pushed some stray hair back.
"My family is here," she said. "They're here for some business and...yeah." Nimrod smiled.
"Oh can I meet them?" asked Nimrod.
"Nimrod, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Well, they could come to lunch at my house and you could talk about business there or something." said Nimrod.
"Nimrod, I don't know," said Pandora. Nimrod pushed past Pandora wand was walking to her family.
"What, I'm sure they'll love me."
"Nimrod, NO!" He walked into the room and all eyes were on the two of them.
"Hello,...everyone." stammered Nimrod.
"Pandora who is this?" asked her mother in a dead voice.
"Um...well...this is uh," mumbled Pandora. "I wasn't really planning for him to meet you now." Nimrod stepped forward and straightened his blazer and smiled.
"Hello, I'm Nimrod Godwin." Pandora smiled thinly and walked up to him and gripped his hand.
"Everyone this is the man I've seeing," she announced.
"I'll kill him!" shouted Mark as he stood up ready to pound Nimrod's face in. Pandora rushed up to hold him back and place he back on his chair.
"OK, this is Nimrod and NO one is going to kill him...him knows I'm a witch every thing is all good." said Pandora. Their jaws all dropped.
"Pandora, sweet heart is he a..." began her father. Pandora shook her head.
"No, Nimrod is a djinn." She turned to him and smiled. "Isn't that right, darling."
"Yes, I am." said Nimrod proudly. "I'm also the leader of my tribe." He smiled again trying to get them to like him. Pandora's mother huffed and turned to her daughter.
"Pandora, a djinn really?" she asked sarcastically. Pandora frowned at her mother's remark.
"Mom don't you dare say another word," warned Pandora. "I will not allow you to mess this relationship up for me too." Nimrod walked up to her mother.
"What's wrong with me being djinn?" he asked. Her mother rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Our kind and your tribes don't mix. You keep to yourselves and so do we," she replied. "This relationship will never work."
"It will to mother!" shouted Pandora.
"Pandora let's not get all worked up," eased her father.
"NO I will not be silenced by the both of you. I'm a grown woman and you are in my house, you should respect me enough to keep your comments to yourself." Pandora stomped her foot, meaning her word was law here and they needed to realize that.
"But seriously Pandora you two won't work," sighed her mom.
"And why not?" asked Nimrod. Her father laughed.
"It will never work because you will never understand," said Pandora's father. "You don't know what it's like to really fight evil. You've never had to worry about going to battle or getting killed, djinn just sit around lazily testing each other's power over mortals. We have to protect those people while you help destroy them."
"I do know what it's like to fear for my life," insisted Nimrod. "I've gone dangerous missions before, I've fought evil too." They all laughed, even Pandora fought back a giggle.
"I don't think hitting up the casinos in Vegas is really fighting evil," goaded Johnny.
"It is, those Ifrit could kill me." Nimrod huffed.
"Now Nimrod, we shouldn't get so worked up," reminded Pandora.
"Haha Pandora very funny." Nimrod jammed his fists in his pocket and leaned next to her, Pandora threw her arm around him and smiled.
"Love you too." She smiled and looked at her brothers. "Nimrod invited us to lunch." Nimrod looked up at her with a joyous expression and nodded to her family.
"No," stated Arthur. "We have work." Hunter frowned at his father.
"Dad it would be cool to hang out with Aunty's boyfriend," he said. Christy gave her dad a puppy dog look.
"Daddy, come on let's go have lunch with Aunty, we haven't seen her in a long time," she pleaded. Pandora's mother sighed and stood up.
"Where are we going for lunch?" she asked in an annoyed tone. Nimrod perked up.
"We will be eating at my house near Kensington."
"Isn't Kensington like the rich people neighborhood?" asked Christy.
"Yes, sweetie it is," noted Pandora.
"Wicked cool," commented Hunter. Pandora turned to the rest of the family.
"So we ready to go?" she asked. Her brothers sighed in defeat and nodded.
"This is a big house," said Christy in awe.
"Damn." sighed Mark. Nimrod gripped Pandora's hand and walked into the house with her.
"Hello," called Nimrod. They heard the platter of feet run down the hall and to the top of the steps.
"Uncle Nimrod," said Philipa. She and John ran down the steps and hugged their uncle.
"Hey Pandora," greeted John.
"Hello John," replied Pandora. Mr. Groanin came into the room and greeted them.
"Who are those blokes in the door way there, I say who are those blokes in the doorway there?" he asked. Pandora turned and smiled.
"Mr. Groanin they are my family and they will be joining us," she said happily. Mark waved and stepped closer into the room.
"Nice place you here Nimrod," he commented.
"Thank you Mark." regraded Nimrod. Pandora's mother looked around the room.
"Typical djinn," she muttered.
"Mother!" yelled Pandora.
"It's true."Pandora rolled her eyes and turned back to Nimrod.
"Please forgive my family," she whispered. Nimrod nodded and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Suddenly Layla and Edward appeared in the hallway.
"Hello everyone," she greeted in an odd tone.
"Hello Layla," replied Pandora. "Um..this is my family." Pandora gestured over to her large family.
"How wonderful," she said. Layla and Edward walked over to them and greeted them too.
"The table is ready," announced Groanin in a monotone voice.
"I can't believe this guy has a butler," whispered Pandora's nephew to his father.
"Just be nice," warned Johnny. The teenager nodded and rushed after the other boys.
Once they were all seated at the table Groanin brought out the food and sat down himself. Mostly everyone was quiet, with a few murmurs here and there, until Christy finally broke the silence.
"Nimrod, do like have to call you uncle now, since your dating our aunty?" she asked. NImrod looked at her in confusion.
"Uh?" he grunted. He turned Pandora for some help and Pandora turned back to her niece.
"No sweetheart," she said with a thin smile.
"Nimrod, will you make an honest girl of our sister?" asked Arthur in a low tone. Nimrod looked around quite dumbstruck with their questions.
"She's a grown woman and she's pretty honest as it is. I think I don't have to change her," he finally said. Pandora's mother chuckled when she heard his answer.
"You don't know my daughter then," she said.
"I know Pandora, just as well as you do."
"No you don't, my daughter is much different than you think."
"How so?" asked Nimrod. Pandora's mother turned to her daughter.
"Nimrod and I have a solid relationship right now," she said. "Stop trying to destroy it." Her mother laughed again.
"You haven't told him anything have you?" she said.
"Told me what?" asked Nimrod.
"Nothing, she's trying to break me." said Pandora.
"What are you hiding from my brother?" questioned Layla.
"Nothing..." stammered Pandora.
"Are you lying to our uncle?" asked John.
"No...I would never." Pandora shot her mother an evil look and turned back to Layla. "She's just talking about something from my past...the should stay in my PAST!"
"What is it Pandora?" asked Nimrod. He gripped Pandora's hand lovingly.
"Don't make her talk about," Hunter warned. "Bad things happen when she does." Pandora's other nephews nodded, with their eyes pleading them to stop.
"Hunter, sweetie nothing bad happens," assured Pandora.
"Yes, it does." stated Christy. "You and daddy and everyone yell and throw things. Then you go away and we never see you again for a long time." Pandora looked down guiltily and sighed.
"That's not going to happen this time, Christy." Pandora rubbed Nimrod's hand and sighed. "I made some bad decisions in my past and now...I'm going to paying for them."
"What do you mean?" asked Nimrod.
"I had a bad relationship when I was younger and now... lets just say we miggggghhhhhhtt be seeing him soon." explained Pandora. Nimrod gave her a confused look.
"Why?" he asked. Pandora looked ashamed and picked at her food.
"Because the guy was a really, really, REALLY bad guy," said Mark. NImrod looked at Pandora again.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked. Pandora nodded and kept her eyes on her plate. Philipa looked at Pandora with sympathetic eyes.
"He was the hurt that never went away," she whispered.
