Pandora's Mistake (Fate of Eros #0) (The Fate of Eros Series)

by Black, E. B.

  For a long time, he hadn't felt any form of pleasure, but at the sound, a feeling as cool as the water hitting his stomach spread through his body.

  His vision cleared and he saw a female form crouching before him. Her brown hair brushed his face as she leaned over him to press the wet wash-rag against his forehead. She licked her luscious lips as she stared at him with eyes as blue as the sky. Her body was tanned and curvy. She moved with the grace of a dove. She was more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen.

  He was probably hallucinating, but he might as well go along with it.

  "What manner of goddess are you?" he asked. "Has Zeus been overthrown? Are you here to free me?"

  But even as he spoke, he knew she wasn't a goddess. She was too gorgeous to be one. She was his dream-a human female. Back when he was free and thought he had all the time left in the world, he had been about to create one, but Hecate had distracted him.

  Pandora giggled. "My name is Pandora. I'm a human."

  He sighed. He was so sick from dying repeatedly that he was growing delusional, but it was a wonderful fantasy. Not creating a woman had been his one regret. If only he hadn't been foolish enough to fall for Hecate's seduction...

  He remembered the way Hecate stroked his neck lightly. A snake coiled itself around her arm and slithered towards her neck. Her eyes were heavy-lidded and lustful. Her dark hair fell like wavy drapes over her shoulders. She watched him, but he didn't look at her.

  The spirit dogs that followed her everywhere, creatures that looked as if they emerged from the fog, growled as they sensed her agitation. They had little patience for Prometheus. They were jealous and protective of their mistress.

  Prometheus had just formed a ball out of clay. He would shape it until it resembled the head of the first human woman.

  He had retrieved it from a lake and was sitting in a field of roses, preparing it.

  None of the other Titans understood his obsession with Earth and why he'd rather spend time with the animals than the other Titans. Hecate followed him wherever he went, but didn't get it either. If it wasn't for her nagging, he'd never show up at any of the Titans' parties.

  "Leave me alone, Hecate," Prometheus said. "I'm busy." He wasn't in the mood for a lecture.

  She nibbled on his ear instead, her warm tongue flicking his lobe.

  He groaned. "I'm serious, Hecate."

  "Is it because we've been dating a hundred years now?" Hecate asked. "I've been told that the second hundred years is not nearly as romantic as the first."

  Hecate had a strange voice that he found seductive. Deeper than most females, it sounded like three women talking at once.

  Prometheus rolled his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

  Hecate crossed her arms and paced. The snake draped itself over her shoulders. "You've been ignoring me ever since you decided that you wanted to create humans."

  Prometheus laughed. "I have not." But he was lying.

  He couldn't help himself. Humans were so beautiful, with the gold flecks in their skin, their thick shiny hair, and muscular bodies. They were his works of art.

  He had never understood what Gaia was talking about when she told him that the greatest feeling in the world was to give birth. He wasn't a woman, but in his own way, he had given birth to all life on Earth. He had created the animals and the humans. He got absorbed in observing their interactions. The way they spoke and moved fascinated him. It was because they were his. Just as a mother looks at her baby for the first time and adores it because it came from her body-he adored humans every time he saw them.

  "I'll spend more time with you as soon as I finish doing this," Prometheus said. "I've created female mates for all the animals, but I have yet to create one for the humans."

  She wrapped her arms around him and forced him to look into her eyes. "Aren't I enough for you? Can't you spend a little time with me and ignore this for a while?"

  "You know I care for you," he whispered. "What I am doing right now has nothing to do with our relationship."

  He dropped the clay on the ground as their lips met. Their tongues fought for control of their passions as they entered each other's mouths. That old familiar desire to explore Hecate's body crawled down Prometheus' chest and to his loins. He moaned into her mouth, until he opened his eyes for a moment.

  He looked at the ground. The clay was covered in dirt and it had rolled over several flowers. It was misshapen.

  He pushed Hecate away, forgotten. He lifted the piece of clay in his hands and tried to dust it off. It was ruined.

  Hecate frowned and grabbed the snake around her neck angrily. Before it had the chance to bite her, it transformed into a golden key. Her face warped and began to change with it.

  The dogs' muscles were strained, their bodies ready to spring with a simple command.

  Hecate's lips grew fuller. Her eyes became larger. Her body was curvier.

  "Perhaps this form of mine will tempt you more," Hecate whispered. Her voices were husky.

  Hecate knew he was unable to resist this body the most out of the three she possessed. She could shapeshift between them. He stared at the head of the human woman for a moment before placing it gently on the ground. He could come back for it later.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and pecked her on the lips.

  "What do you need those humans for anyway?" she asked. "You have three women right here, living inside me, who all wish to sleep with you. I'm like a living, breathing orgy."

  That was one of the things that originally attracted him to her.

  Their lips met and caressed each other once again, sending heat traveling down their bodies. He squeezed her breasts and her hips. She felt so soft in his arms and she didn't mind getting messy. His hands were covered in clay still and they would have to take a shower later to clean up. He groaned at the thought of her nude figure.

  He pulled away, his eyes glowing. "Why are you always trying to get in the way of me working on these humans? Are you jealous?"

  She looked away and blushed. Prometheus frowned. Apparently he had hit a nerve.

  "I get afraid sometimes that you're so obsessed with humans that you'll forget all about me once you make a human female. Maybe you'll fall in love with her instead."

  "That will never happen," Prometheus whispered.

  She sighed and frowned. "Is that why you pulled away from me while we were kissing in order to fix your human's face? Humans are obviously more important to you than I am."

  "That's not true! I'm sorry I did that. I'm just eager to finish this project. Let me prove that I want you most."

  He crushed her chest against his, so their bodies met at every angle. Their mouths devoured each other's as Prometheus pressed the evidence of his lust against her. He stripped her.

  He wanted to reassure her that the only woman he desired was her.

  *** *** ***

  He gazed into Pandora's eyes. She was everything he had ever wanted and more. Hecate had been right. He would never have looked at her again if she had allowed him to create female humans.

  "Where did you come from?" he asked.

  She blushed shyly and looked away from his intense gaze. "Zeus created me and gave me as a gift to Epimetheus."

  Zeus? He recoiled as if the fireballs that swirled above him had lit his skin. How many times did he have to tell Epimetheus to think things through before he'd stop getting the two of them into trouble? Every deal or discussion they shared with Zeus had ended poorly for them. Zeus wasn't generous. His gifts were vicious lions disguised with ribbons to make you think they were pretty until they ripped open your face.

  How cruel Zeus was to create the one thing Prometheus had always wanted and give it to his brother.

  "Get away from me!" he shouted.

  The fire above him crackled and Pandora was forced to cower as ash rained upon her. Even though Prometheus was terrified of this creature, she looked so sweet and innocent. He didn't wish to harm her.

 
; For the first time, he noticed a pig speared through with a stick. It hung low in one of the trees on a platform in a higher part of the cliff. It was near enough to the fire to cook. She was a clever girl, getting her cooking done while she attended to him. He narrowed his eyes. Her appearance of being foolish and gentle must be a trick.

  Prometheus knew Epimetheus had banned cooking for his family. She had to be doing this behind his back.

  "Where'd you get that meat?" Prometheus growled.

  "I found it on the way here." Her voice was too high-pitched to be real. "After Epimetheus dropped me off, I found a pig trapped in some bushes. All its legs were broken, so I was actually doing it a favor when I cracked its head with a rock. It must have been a gift from Zeus to me, and I didn't want it to go to waste."

  Prometheus had been right. This woman looked innocent, but she was violent. She had murdered an animal in cold blood!

  Pandora's head tilted sideways as she tried to figure him out. "What's wrong? Do you need another sip of water?"

  "Do not touch me! I'm immune to your trickery!"

  "Trickery? I just want to help you." Pandora reached for the rag she had been using and pressed it against his forehead once more. He would have knocked it out of her hands if he wasn't tied down.

  "You are some sort of witch!" Prometheus shouted. "Otherwise, how did you bring water up this mountain? Not only is water heavy, but a bucket full of it would evaporate as soon as you got here because of the heat."

  Pandora giggled. "I'm no witch. Epimetheus helped me by carrying as much water as he could, so that some of it would still be leftover once it started evaporating. He wanted me to attend to you, while he was out hunting. I am his wife. He says it's my job as much as his to care for you."

  "Do not use my brother to lie to me, witch! He'd never agree to marry a woman that Zeus gave him. He's not that foolish!"

  Prometheus was bluffing. He'd seen his brother do more foolish things than this on many occasions. After all, he would have never been in this mess in the first place if Epimetheus had thought ahead.

  When Prometheus created the animals and humans, he had given Epimetheus the task of creating the blueprints for them. Epimetheus would decide who got claws and sharp teeth. He gave wings to birds and decorated other animals with fins. But Prometheus was the artist that brought Epimetheus' creations to life.

  Prometheus saved the best for last-the humans.

  "How should I decorate them? Will they have wings and claws? Or maybe gills and a tail?"

  Epimetheus' face fell and he kicked the dirt with his foot.

  "What is it?"

  "I forgot to save a special gift for the humans. I don't know what we should do with them. Chronus only gave us so many claws and teeth to share with all of them."

  Prometheus rubbed his forehead as he got a headache. "You saved nothing at all?"

  Epimetheus shook his head. "Hey, you gave me a hard task to do and I did a good job up until this point."

  Prometheus ignored his rebuttal as he tried to think of a solution. Maybe if he went home and sat in front of his fire, he would be able to think of something good.

  That's it-he would give them the gift of fire...

  Giving them that gift had been fine with Cronus, but when Zeus took over the throne, he had taken it back. Humans were too powerful and would one day rise to the status of gods if they were allowed to have fire, or so Zeus claimed.

  Prometheus could not sit around and watch his creation get destroyed...

  Prometheus shook his head and forced himself to concentrate on the present. Epimetheus was being foolish again by letting his lust dictate his decisions. Prometheus would have to fix it alone.

  Pandora wiped the wet rag across his upper lip and he moaned at the sensation, resenting the witch for making him feel so good.

  "Get away from me," Prometheus warned. "Or I will be forced to use my powers."

  "I know you're afraid because of what Zeus did to you. Epimetheus explained everything to me, but I promise my intentions are pure."

  Prometheus' eyes narrowed. He doubted that.

  He forced all the power bursting subconsciously from him to become more focused. He stared at Pandora's arm and saw the delicate flesh puff with blisters. He was sending heat and fever through her body to cause her skin to boil. She screamed and ran, clutching her arm.

  Prometheus felt horrified as he watched her back disappear from view. What had he done? He had taken the beautiful creation of a human woman and harmed her! How could he?

  Bad enough that Zeus tortured his body day by day, but now he must have sent this witch to mess with his mind as well.

  Still, an emptiness filled him. He missed her company. It had been a long time since humans had visited and of the ones who had come to see him, none had faces as pleasing to gaze at as hers.

  Maybe he shouldn't have chased her off. Even with Epimetheus' help, she risked her life by approaching him. The crow was easily agitated by anyone trying to assist him.

  Zeus was good, a little too good.

  Chapter 3

  Tears fell down Pandora's cheeks as she raced down the mountain. Fire pulsated in her veins as blisters formed down her arms resembling Epimetheus' back where he had been burned. Unlike him, she couldn't heal from her wounds immediately.

  She screamed while she ran. The burning blinded her to everything but the pain. Her legs stumbled as she lost herself in the woods.

  She found Epimetheus standing next to a small stream. She plunged into the water sideways, not caring about the mud. The right half of her body was soon soaked and dirty. She crawled out slowly, her arm still aching.

  He ran for the shore and knelt beside her. The burning was less persistent, but she knew it would probably still sting for days.

  She looked into Epimetheus' eyes, expecting sympathy. His brow was furrowed and his lips pursed. "What have you done to my brother?"

  She should have expected this. Still, she was shocked when she received a slap to the face. Her cheek stung and her teeth snapped together. "Answer me! Damn it!" he shouted.

  Wasn't being almost burned to death enough of a punishment for her transgressions? She shook with rage, but remembered what Zeus had taught her. She breathed slowly, trying to control herself and be a good wife.

  "I did everything you ordered me to do. Why do you hit me if I've done no wrong?"

  Epimetheus' fists tightened. "My brother loves all humans. He'd never hurt one on purpose, unless they attacked him first."

  "You forget that I was created by Zeus. I don't count as a human in his eyes."

  Epimetheus' rigid posture finally relaxed. Her words had sparked some kind of understanding in his eyes. "You're right. I'll talk to Prometheus and take care of everything."

  Pandora didn't fail to notice that he hadn't apologized to her, even though he believed she was telling the truth now. She didn't dare admit that she never wanted to be near his brother again. She knew he would make her attend to Prometheus later and hit her again if she argued.

  She was on a roll making him angry, so she might as well finish the job. "I also have a pig cooking in one of the trees that you'll have to carry down." Tender, roasted pork was worth a slap.

  He grabbed her by both shoulders and shook. "You have what?" He was so angry, he was spitting in her face as he spoke. "I told you that you weren't allowed to light a fire."

  Pandora's voice was unusually calm and devoid of emotion. He could do anything to hurt her, but she didn't care anymore. She felt numb. "I didn't light one. It's hot enough up there to cook a dead pig without me needing another fire."

  His face hardened. "He's being tormented by that fire and you used it for pleasure?"

  Pandora shrugged. "We might as well get something good from it."

  He shoved her to the ground and spat next to her. "I'm almost ashamed to call you my wife. No wonder he was angry with you.

  "I'm going to go talk to him. You clean yourself. You look disgusting." />
  Pandora didn't doubt it. Her blisters were oozing blood now. Her hair was caked and smelly. She nodded her head, almost wishing that the damage to her skin had been worse. Maybe if she were scarred, he would find her ugly and let her go free.

  For once, she was angry with Zeus for giving her pretty features. He said that they'd be a gift any husband would love her for. Epimetheus didn't deserve that gift. He was too cold to appreciate it.

  She'd convince him to let her bring meat up the mountain next time and if she didn't succeed, maybe he'd hit her so hard that he'd stop loving her.

  *** *** ***

  "Why did you hurt my wife?" Epimetheus roared. A moment later, Prometheus saw his brother's rigid form standing over him.

  Prometheus sighed. He wasn't in the mood to argue, especially considering the raven's beak had started to bruise him. The pain had gone from irritating to unsettling. He knew any moment now, the skin would break again and he'd convulse.

  "I don't know." Bitter laughter escaped Prometheus. "Maybe it's related to the reason you chose to take a woman that Zeus provided for you as a wife. Do you ever think anything through?"

  "I didn't think you'd have an objection to it," Epimetheus explained. "You love humans-I thought you'd like her, too."

  The raven pecked harder, sensing Prometheus' agitation. "I love the humans that I created. That abomination was made by Zeus. I have no affection for her."

  The lie burned his throat. She was perfect-so beautiful that Prometheus wasn't entirely convinced he could have done a better job himself. It was why he wanted her to stay away from him. Given enough time, she could persuade him to do anything. That kind of seductive power was dangerous.

  "She's my wife," Epimetheus shouted. "You need to be nice to her. I'm loyal to you and your decisions, even when they get you strapped down and punished on a mountain, but I expect the same in return."

  Prometheus' body shook with rage and a large fireball burst above him. "You're a hypocrite. I know you and women. You beat her, don't you? I'm sure she hides the bruises from me because she's ashamed. But you expect me to be nice to her?

  "You realize that her body isn't as strong as the goddesses you've been with. Humans are fragile and mortal. If you snap her spine, she'll be dead permanently."