by Black, E. B.
He could tell he was still lying on top of the same cliff. Dirt surrounded him and rocks pressed against his back as they always did.
He moved his arms. His chains were gone. He was free, but it made him uneasy. He stood.
He snapped his fingers and a tiny light exploded onto the tips like a torch.
He heard a woman breathing shallowly next to him and moved his hand to illuminate Pandora's wide eyes, shadowing them in a spooky way.
"Turn it off," Pandora whispered.
He obeyed her and then wrapped his arms around her. She fell like a rag doll into his grasp.
"Why is there no light?" he asked.
Pandora's voice shook. "When they see the light, they charge towards it."
"Who's 'they'?" Prometheus asked.
The snip of scissors cut through the silence. Pandora screamed and clung to Prometheus. He ran his hands through her hair and found some of it missing.
Something sniffed the air and reached for her. Prometheus growled, shoving their hands away. He yanked her behind him, ready to charge forward.
"Get away from her." He shook all over, his hands tightening into fists.
A cackle filled the air in response. He punched towards it, but the sound was teleported somewhere else. He was laughing farther away now.
He knew that cackle, the sniff, and the snipping. Death or Thanatos as he preferred to be called, always cut his victim's hair before he claimed their life.
How did he get free? Prometheus locked him up for a reason. Prometheus wanted humans to die of old age-not randomly and tragically. Thanatos thought death was some kind of gambling game. Zeus promised that if humans had to die, it would be under Prometheus' terms.
Prometheus tightened his fist. Another lie. He shouldn't have been surprised.
Pandora must have freed him somehow using the jar she was holding when he passed out. It must have been a portal to their prison. Prometheus shut his eyes slowly. This was bad.
Still, this was more than Death could do on his own. She had unleashed other things. He wasn't foolish enough to fight Prometheus once again by himself.
Prometheus had brought him back to life. He couldn't kill people unless he was undead, so how did he have his powers back?
The cackling disappeared. Pandora was safe for now.
Prometheus heard a noise in the distance breaking through the ringing silence. He grabbed Pandora and walked closer to where he knew the edge of the cliff was. He made sure to shuffle slowly forward. Although he wouldn't die from the fall, Pandora wasn't safe from it. He'd feel the edge of the cliff pressing against his heel before he saw it.
He needed to listen more closely, so he could piece together what was happening. The sound had grown louder. It was men screaming. Some kind of war was taking place below and humanity was losing. The sound of metal objects swinging through the air, bodily fluids splattering, and people moaning met his ears. He was glad not to witness it with his eyes.
Pandora was sobbing. "I didn't know this would happen."
This was a cruel trick. Prometheus had underestimated Zeus. He had not only wanted to trick Prometheus and Epimetheus, but also Pandora as well. This girl's conscience would suffer for the rest of her life for what she had done. Her descendants would be cursed because she released something this terrible and doomed humanity.
Prometheus wiped a tear from her eye. "I'll protect you. Zeus tricked you into doing this. He's always wanted humanity to destroy itself, so he can't be blamed for it. There's enough grumbling among the gods who are loyal to him about attacking the Titans."
"They promised to rescue you if I let them go," Pandora whispered. "When I opened the jar, the chains melted off your body. I ran over to wake you and kissed your cheeks. I didn't even notice the creature approaching us. He had butterflies all over his body; I didn't see how he could harm us when I saw him.
"Chains burst from the ground and wrapped around his waist. He fell back and the raven started pecking him. He was screaming and blood was gushing from him.
"You wouldn't wake up because you hadn't started breathing again yet. I shook you because I knew we needed to do something, but you regenerated too slowly. He died and the Earth shook.
"The butterflies on his body withered away. The raven's feathers fell off as it grew diseased and died from devouring his flesh. His body smelled like it was beginning to rot. The sun started to set, but no stars came out. The moon was gone.
"I clung to you when I saw him move. Similar creatures were emerging from inside the jar. The withered butterflies on his body started to flutter and he hovered over the ground, his wounds healing.
"I ran over and forced the lid back on the jar. It was difficult; I could feel at least one creature struggling inside.
"The sun was gone and the other creatures started attacking anyone with a camp-fire. You woke after all the light was gone. I've been shivering in the dark, terrified that you wouldn't come back to me."
"I'll always be here." Prometheus took her face in his hands. He was lying to her, but he wanted her to feel safe for at least a little while.
This was bad. When he had trapped Thanatos inside that jar, he had been alone. Zeus must have found him and placed other creatures inside as well. He gave the jar to Pandora to open the portal to get what he wanted. Zeus promised never to hurt humans again when he imprisoned Prometheus and he wasn't about to break a promise to a god a second time. The other gods would turn their backs on him if he did. If a human opened the jar and unleashed horrible things on humanity, then Zeus would be guilt-free. Humans would be damning themselves and it was Prometheus' job to save them.
"Don't leave me." He couldn't see them, but Prometheus felt the tears falling onto his fingers. "I destroyed everything to be with you. I can't lose you, too."
He couldn't leave her alone in this state, no matter how much the other humans needed him.
"Cronus, forgive me." Prometheus wrapped his hand behind her head and took her lips in his. He should be rescuing all of humanity. That was his job, but he was finally free to touch her and love her the way he wanted to. He couldn't miss out on this final opportunity to be happy before he was imprisoned again. Besides, he knew she needed him now and she was more important to him than all his creation combined. Guilt flooded through him as men's screams filled his ears. Since when was he choosing someone over his creation? He hadn't even done this for his own brother or Hecate!
The movement of their mouths started out as gentle caresses. Prometheus' nerves were overwhelmed by the softness of her lips and he groaned lustily, but soon, he couldn't restrain himself anymore. He grabbed her by the curve of her back and pressed her body tightly against his. He nudged her mouth open with his tongue and buried it inside. His arousal was pressed into her body. She moaned appreciatively as he nibbled on her ear. They collapsed onto the ground.
He would save humanity. Power zinged through his veins. He would have the girl and still rescue everybody. He just needed to be selfish for a short while, for once in his life. He didn't want to think things through this time. It was best just to act like his brother for once.
He tried to peel off her clothes gently, but became frustrated and wound up ripping them off. She giggled as she pulled down the loin-cloth he wore.
They tumbled around the ground for a while, until he landed on top of her. Their naked bodies were pressed together. They were breathing heavily and kissing each other up their shoulders and onto their faces.
Prometheus gently squeezed and suckled the soft curves of her body. A bolt of desire ran through him as she met each brush of his finger or tongue with a high-pitched sigh. He worked his mouth more vigorously to receive more of these responses. He parted her legs and brushed his knuckles against her. She bucked her hips and moaned, grabbing his wrist.
"What are you doing to me?" Her voice was hoarse.
She should have been frightened to lose her virginity, but instead, she seemed eager. Epimetheus must have done everything wron
g. Her desire was intoxicating.
He positioned himself on top of her, between her legs. He kissed her on the lips several times and shivered as her hands ran up and down his back and chest.
Butterflies filled his stomach. It seemed that she wanted him, too, but he had to make sure she was ready. He couldn't make the same mistake his brother had when he beat her. Even though he'd never have this opportunity again, he wouldn't enjoy it if it was against her will.
He pulled away, expecting her to slap him in the face. "Are you okay?"
"I'd like you to make love to me." She sounded giddy.
There was his answer. He wasted no time and thrust inside her. Perhaps he should have been gentler, but it was difficult to restrain himself. She shifted and cried out as she lost her virginity beneath him. He had hurt her and for that he felt guilty. He froze in place, unsure how to proceed from here, until she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his lips down to hers.
"Please, continue," she murmured into his mouth.
This time he was gentle. He grunted as he held back with every thrust. Soon her hips were moving to meet his and their bodies danced in a faster rhythm. She grabbed him by the shoulders and arched her back, so her breasts pressed into his body. He grabbed her by the hair and they both cried out as they finished.
He collapsed on top of her and wished to hold her, but he couldn't. The moment had ended too quickly, but he couldn't dwell on what he was losing. It was time for him to save humanity. It was time for him to let Pandora go.
Chapter 14
"Wait!" Pandora called after Prometheus. The absence of his body against hers left her cold in the darkness.
He didn't respond and an empty feeling sunk into her chest. She felt around the ground for her clothing. Once she found it, she put the scraps back on as well as she could. She stood.
She was about to yell for him again when a deep cackle exploded into the air next to her ear. She could feel the creature's breathe on her neck and she froze in her tracks. Maybe if she didn't move, it wouldn't attack her. If only she could see, then she'd attack it first.
A bright yellow light burst upwards from the bottom of the hill. It was shaped like a man and it took Pandora a moment to realize that it was Prometheus. He ran wildly and screamed. He looked like a moving, breathing meteor, soaring through the darkness. He was covered in fire.
What was he doing? The demon next to her became entranced with the flame, like a bug drawn to light. Already, about ten creatures were on him and more piled all the time. They snarled as they pounced.
Blood dripped from the demon that had been about to hurt her. His arms flapped unnaturally with his movements, as if they were barely attached to his body.
From Prometheus' hand burst a flame that took the shape of a sword. Pandora clasped her hands together anxiously. He swung the sword and chopped off the bloody demon's head. Another demon roared and ripped off the entirety of his shoulder. As it grew back, Prometheus grinned at the demon and charged.
Another demon halted Prometheus' movements. The demon looked frail and wherever he walked, the plants around him wilted. He wrapped his arms around Prometheus' face and sucked the muscles out of his neck, until he looked slender from starvation. Another demon that was grotesque, misshapen, and oozing made boils explode across his skin. Another with the head of a fly made locusts lay eggs in the pus. But none of it hurt him. Pandora had forgotten Prometheus was immortal and that the absence of the green drool from the raven allowed him to heal faster.
The demon's head that had been cut off rolled towards his body. The bloody flesh stitched itself back together. The demons were immortal, too.
Pandora wanted to help him, but knew she'd get in the way if she tried. She stubbed her toe against something as she walked forward. It was the jar. Electricity shivered down her spine.
A high-pitched voice greeted her. "Help me and I can help you."
Pandora froze and her face twisted. This sounded familiar and not in a good way.
"I know you're there," the high pitched voice continued.
It talked like the pretty fairies in Mount Olympus did, but she knew this was no fairy.
"Leave me alone," Pandora growled and backed away.
"My name is Hope," the creature said. "I'm still stuck in the jar. You closed the lid over me before I could help bring peace to Earth."
Pandora crossed her arms. "Do you really think I'm going to fall for that again? Your friends promised me things as well, but at a cost too large to be worth what I've done."
The high-pitched voice sounded teary. "You don't understand. I'm the spirit of hope. The only way the human race can get through these plagues is if you unleash me. I'm larger than the other creatures, big enough to touch everyone's hearts, so it was difficult for me to escape. I didn't get out before you closed the lid."
Pandora lifted the jar and grabbed the lid. "Do you want me to open it?"
"Please!" the high-pitched voice said. "I can make everything better. I promise."
Pandora stared through the darkness at where she thought the jar was. Electricity ran down her spine. Did she still have the power to do this?
The jar disappeared into thin air. She had willed it into non-existence. She should have felt relieved, but instead, she trembled all over and collapsed. The hole in her heart increased and tears flooded down her face.
She had no idea what she had done, but it had been damning.
She tried to will the jar back. She could undo it, but no matter how hard she concentrated, no electricity ran down her spine. The depression in her grew as she realized that she'd never see that jar again.
Hope was gone.
Chapter 15
The demons piled on top of Prometheus until he could no longer move. They were shorter than him, only coming up to his shoulders, but their numbers were overwhelming. He closed his eyes and let his body grow until he was back to the size of a Titan. He grabbed a demon off his shoulder and squished it in the palm of his hands. Its horns didn't even prick his skin. Its red flesh was stained with black blood. He hadn't felt this strong in a long time.
The demons were like annoying bugs biting him now, but they swarmed him. It was only a matter of time before they would overpower him.
A few clung to his belly, ripping and clawing inside him, similar to how the raven pecked at him with such determination that he eventually broke into the skin. He wanted to rip them off and smash them like a tick, but instead he let the flames surrounding his body attract and devour them.
He needed to keep them away from the humans, no matter what it cost him. The humans. He shut his eyes painfully.
Bones crunched beneath his feet as he walked towards the forest. As a giant, he could get to his destination faster, but he was also crushing the bones of the dead. He forced himself not to look at the broken bodies of his creation beneath him-their glazed over eyes and bloody faces. He couldn't focus on the loss. He had to put all his energy into rescuing those who were left.
He had been selfish. He should never have behaved like Epimetheus. He loved Pandora, but he should have given up his one chance to be with her in order to rescue more of his creation. He looked down. Every grim face with glazed over eyes drove a nail of guilt into his abdomen. The raven might as well be devouring his liver while he fought. This was his fault.
Even though he couldn't die permanently, the demons piled on him so quickly now that they were slashing into his body faster than he could regenerate. He groaned with every step he took as pain like a hundred needles sliced into his skin. They were gnawing him apart and although they screamed from the pain of the fire, they didn't die permanently. He had to do something before he was overpowered and passed out.
He needed his brother here to help him, but he knew why he wasn't there. Epimetheus was probably looking for Pandora, so he could protect her. He was the type of man who would abuse his wife, but not want anyone else to harm her.
Prometheus walked through the trees a
nd left a trail of fire behind him as the forest started to burn. A rush of adrenaline ran through him and the flames grew brighter than ever. He could see the desert ahead; it wasn't a long walk when he was this large. He'd reach the desert at end of the world and then he'd throw himself off into the Underworld.
The wind blew harder as he neared the edge. Soon he and the creatures were covered in dirt and sand. They ripped his eyelids off, so that he couldn't shut his eyes against the bits of rocks that blew in them. He choked on the air thick with dirt and let his feet walk over the edge. He flung his limbs wildly as gravity took over and pulled him down hundreds of feet.
The demons burrowed into his flesh like maggots. The adrenaline that pumped through them from the fall fueled their strength. Prometheus cried out, but the tearing of his flesh wasn't what hurt him the most. Hecate's expression was what hurt him.
Her back was rigid as she held her cobra up in the air. Her other fists were clenched and all her muscles were tensed, but her eyes told him everything. She still loved him and it hurt her to see him sacrificing himself again for humanity. Neither of their hearts had changed, even after all these years. He had suffered for humanity a lot, but he wasn't done with them still.
The dogs howled and barked as he raced towards the ground, ready to devour his body on command.
He landed with a splat at her feet and all the bones in his body broke. His last thought was how he hoped she would find a way in her heart to overlook the things he had done and lock up these demons in the Underworld. They would still terrorize humanity, but without direct access, they wouldn't be as strong.
The world went black.
*** *** ***
When Prometheus awoke, it was so dark, he wasn't even sure his eyes were open. There were no stars or moon. All he could hear was his own breathing. He wasn't being smothered by demons anymore. There was no raven pecking him. His body no longer ached. He was lying on the hard ground on his back.
