PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  I lug the crate into the teaching lab and toss it on the counter next to the window. Downstairs sounds like a stampede. I shove open the pane and lean out. It's a long ways down.

  The container of books go first. The crate crashes and breaks on the asphalt.

  It's an unsettling demonstration of what might happen to my bones. I crawl up on the sill and leap anyway.

  So much for not playing Spiderman.

  I tuck and roll into the landing, then skitter across the parking after the crate. Smoke billows out the emergency exit doors.

  I grab the broken crate, shove it into my car, and peel out.

  ***

  As I'm flooring it down I-8 into Arizona, my phone rings. I fumble for it in my pocket and answer without checking the caller ID.

  “Dimitri, I'm coming over. I'm heading toward Phoenix now.”

  I stare out the windshield, dumbfounded. I have no idea what just happened.

  I think I blew up a lab.

  “Dimitri, can you hear me?”

  Silvia is on the line.

  “Silv, what? What are you doing?”

  She huffs. “I'm swinging by your place in about an hour.”

  “What?”

  I can't think of anything else to say.

  “Are you drunk?” Her tone is admonishing.

  “No, but I would like to be,” I say. “Why are you coming by?”

  Sometimes I forget she knows where I live.

  “I have stuff for you,” she says. “I'll show you when I get there.”

  “Okay . . . ” My brain is still trying to catch up. “Silvia, I'm not going to be home for a few hours.”

  “Why not?” She sounds irritated.

  “Because I'm . . . Look, just go hang out at McDonald's 'til I call you.”

  She groans. “Fine.”

  I hang up.

  Dealing with Silvia is not in the top hundred things I want to do when I reach home. To make matters worse, she's apparently sneaking out of the mansion now.

  I wonder what she is up to, and how it's going to cause new problems.

  Chapter 6

  Once I see there's no Audi in my carport, I call Silvia to tell her I'm home. I would rather just meet her at McDonald's, but the Walkers do whatever they want. Especially Silvia. I need to get her headed back to the mansion before I can take the books to Karl. Otherwise, she might become bored and decide to wait for me here—and then run into Syd.

  I lug the broken crate of books up the front porch. My muscles throb and burn with every movement. Unfortunately, I still have a ways to go before I can crash.

  With numb arms, I work the key into the lock and let myself into the living room. I try to kick the door shut behind me. My balance slips. I turn to catch my fall and knock the crate into the end table. The crate finishes breaking in half. The books scatter across the floor and couch.

  I stare down at the books because I'm too tired to move. Then I take a deep breath, gather them up, and stack them on the coffee table.

  The doorbell rings.

  Silvia is already here. Lucky me.

  I trudge to the door and pull it open.

  Silvia looks up at me expectantly, like I'm supposed to be happy to see her. Instead, I gaze over her to the carport.

  “Where's your car, Silv?”

  “Oh, I left that at McDonald's. I like walking.” She pushes past me into the living room and turns in a half circle. “This place hasn't been redecorated since I was here three years ago. I'll send someone out tomorrow.”

  “Please don't.” I shut the door. “And you left your car where?”

  “It's two blocks. Good exercise.” She plops down into the chair.

  I rub my hand down my face. As much as I would like to be angry, my brain just can't handle anymore stupidity.

  “Give me your keys,” I say.

  She raises her eyebrows. “My keys for what?”

  “Silvia, you clodpoll, you don't leave a Porsche unattended in a McDonald's parking lot.”

  Her expression drops.

  I sigh. “Come on.”

  We load up in my car and head to the McDonald's.

  “Aren't you going to do something about all that?” Silvia points her finger up and down me.

  “About what?”

  “You look like you fell off a mountain,” she says.

  I glance at my arms. They are gashed up, bruised, and dirty. My face probably doesn't look any better.

  “I'll deal with it when we get back.” I pull into the McDonald's parking lot. “Go get your car and follow me.”

  She shifts in her seat, somehow moving closer even though she was already against the center console.

  “You always look after me.” She caresses my hand on the console. “I think Daddy would be happy if he knew.”

  I groan and loll my head back on the seat. “God, Silvia, it's not a good time for this.”

  “Well, when?” She draws back, her expression darkening. “When is a good time?”

  “It's never going to be a good time,” I say, even though I shouldn't.

  “You don't have a choice in this, Dim,” she replies with an edge.

  I glare at her. “The fact you'll have to order someone to be with you should speak volumes.”

  Her mouth gapes. Then she composes herself and bursts out of the car. She stomps halfway toward her vehicle, spins around, and storms back to my open passenger window.

  “I brought this for you. I thought it would help with your research about the hospital donation. I thought it would make you happy.” She flings a folder I didn't even notice she was holding onto the seat and stalks away.

  In a few seconds, her Porsche squeals past my car, zips out of the parking lot, and disappears from sight.

  I pick up the folder and shuffle through the papers. It's a print out of everyone who has worked at the mansion in the last thirty years, their role, their dates of employment, and their salary.

  Typical of Silvia, her power to acquire anything is both impressive and useless.

  ***

  My wounds are numerous but superficial. Considering I jumped two stories from an exploding building, I'm surprised all I need is some rubbing alcohol.

  The hum is so light it might as well be gone, but it won't fully shut off until I deliver the books. As much as I would like to sleep first, I never really rest until I've completed the wish. It seems too risky.

  Plus, I probably should make sure Silvia arrived safely. Karl will pin it on me if something bad happened to her.

  The drive to the mansion is quiet. The desert offers no noise, and I'm too tired to bother with the radio. I don't like the thoughts creeping around my mind, but they're always there. I might as well let them get their say in eventually.

  I have no idea what will happen when Silvia inherits the master bond and takes our situation to a new level. I'm not looking forward to finding out either. The worst part is, I have no idea how this is going to impact the future with Syd. My hopes and my reality are not meshing, and I don't know how to fix either.

  At the mansion, I let myself inside and lug the books to the summoning chamber. I swear these damn things are enchanted to grow heavier with each step.

  I drop them on the floor, and then jump.

  Karl is already sitting on this throne.

  Good god, it's after midnight.

  “Bring them to me,” he says.

  My shoulders slump with exhaustion, but I scoop them up and leave them next to the throne. I step back and wait, because I'm sure he has plenty left to talk about.

  That's just how this night is going.

  “I would be upset,” he says.

  Yep, here it comes.

  “It turned out well in the end, however.” He leans forward. “You got lucky. Orders are orders.”

  I scowl. “What are you talking about? I found the books and blew up the lab.”

  The hum has vanished, so I know I fulfilled the wish.

  I have no idea what
is happening anymore.

  “I had asked for the lab to be in ashes, but I only wanted to send a message,” he says. “What you did sent one, loud and clear.”

  I would almost swear he is praising me. I must be so tired I'm hallucinating.

  “I'm pretty sure it's in ashes,” I say. “I used thermite. Lots of thermite.”

  He puts his hand to his chin. “Smart move, but it didn't collapse the building. Left sizable damage. Possibly weakened the structure.” He smiles and settles back in his throne. “They got the idea. Good work.”

  I stare at him. If he's ever complimented me on anything since I became the genie, it has been so long I don't remember.

  “There is one thing,” he says.

  Crap. I should have left when I had the chance.

  “You're playing in a big world now, Dimitri,” he says. “Cameras are everywhere.”

  My heart stops. Then it kicks up. Of course I'm on camera. I saw security watching monitors at the downtown office building. The anthropology lab would have had them too.

  I stutter trying to formulate an answer, but I have nothing.

  He holds up his hand. “I took care of them. Just be mindful next time. I can't always swoop in to fix things, but I know this is new to you. We're no longer hunting down businessmen, where the only cleanup needed is paying someone to take the fall. I understand everything has changed. But soon, Dimitri. Soon it will be over.”

  I study Karl in silence. For the first time since I took over this role, I see the man who had brought me gifts for Christmas and my birthday when I was young. The man whose daughter I had built forts with in their enormous backyard. The man who used to tell the house staff that I was to be treated as his son.

  Back then, I had considered us family. Finding out that wasn't the case for him might have been the second worst thing he has ever done to me.

  The first was killing my father.

  ***

  A good night's sleep can improve almost anything. In the morning, I'm able to shove down the disaster of the last few days.

  I try calling Silvia, but she doesn't pick up. I'm not worried. I saw her car in the garage before I left the mansion last night. She is just mad at me.

  Nothing new there.

  I text Syd to let her know I'm back. She wastes no time showing up at my front door wearing tight black shorts over fishnets, another pair of wicked boots, and a shirt that shows a peek at her stomach every time she moves. She damn near jingles with jewelry.

  Being re-invited to the party was arousing on its own. Now that I know I have an exclusive pass, I don't want to waste a moment of it. I lead her to the couch and pull her onto my lap.

  “How's it going?” She leans in for a kiss and straddles my lap without moving her head.

  I'm already straining against my zipper. Her arms slip under my shirt and lift it over my head. Then her head lowers to my chest and her teeth sink in.

  Wasn't expecting that, but damn.

  She lets go, moves down a few inches, and does it again. My body flinches, but I kind of like it. Her hands slide down my abdomen and massage through the crotch of my pants.

  My head tips back on the couch, and I close my eyes, praying she's not going to leave me hanging. Not like she ever has, but I want no one else. Ever.

  Her fingers undo the button, and then the zipper. She reaches inside, freeing me. The warmth of her hand makes me want to wrap her legs around my waist and nail her against the wall. I nudge her shoulder with my knee and give her a little motion to stand.

  She resists, smiling up at me with the most amazing pair of eyes that have ever been in this position.

  “I want to watch you,” she says.

  The request makes me nervous and harder at the same time. She continues to stroke me, but with a slow, leisurely motion.

  “My God, Syd.” I clench my jaw and dig my fingers into the couch arm.

  She says, “I want to know every part of you, Dim.”

  The fading logic in my brain tells me this is bedroom talk, but that lingering desire aches in my chest. I really do want her to know me, but we mean different things.

  Her tongue trailing up me puts a sudden halt on those thoughts. She swirls her tongue around, then goes back to using her hand.

  “On the couch.” I lean forward to start unwrapping her.

  She shimmies out of her clothes. I expect her to straddle my lap, but instead she settles on the couch on all fours.

  I scramble out of my pants and crawl over her from behind. As always, there's no waiting. I reach my hand around her waist and touch her in the way that makes her gasp until she shudders. Her hand clenches the back of the couch at her side, bracing herself up until the end. Her body relaxes, but I slip my arm around her, holding her up. On the last thrust, I fall against her and pull her down next to me.

  Our naked bodies fit tight together. My face rests against the back of her head. She smells of coconut and I-can't-wait-to-do-that-again.

  We doze until sometime in the afternoon, when we fumble toward the bedroom and take to the bed for round two. She is on top and acts like we have been apart for a year. The rest of the day is spent like that: sleeping and taking turns rousing the other into raging lust, and then satisfying it in every direction.

  I've never been so enthralled with someone, or so terrified of the power they have over me.

  ***

  In the evening, Syd says goodbye, leaving a trail of kisses from head to head. I lie under the covers for a while after the front door closes, gazing though the darkness at the ceiling. I could sneak in so many more days like this with her, if only I could loosen Karl's hold on me lately. Maybe I'm not supposed to have my own life, but that doesn't keep me from wanting one.

  I just don't understand what has changed.

  The first in the series of subsequent asshattery was kidnapping an opinionated little girl. Hopefully she is back with her family again. After that was my good pal, Phil Ballantyne. There's putting a bullet to good use if ever. Then Karl sent me on that dungeon quest through the downtown office, which ended in defeat.

  Next up, I chased Counselor Robert through the northern Arizona forests. And now I just returned from blowing up a lab.

  I have no idea how these fit together with each other or the one and a half million dollar donation to the hospital. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Karl is just doing some spring cleaning, a few months late.

  My phone vibrates. I pick it up from the nightstand and check the text message.

  It's from Syd. I lost my ring over there. Can you keep an eye out for it? It has a big blue square stone.

  I reply, Okay, good, I won't confuse it with my ring with the big purple stone.

  Her response is a tongue-out emoticon.

  I grin and put the phone aside. Her ring could be anywhere between the living room and bedroom. And the sooner I find it, the sooner I have an excuse to meet up with her again.

  That's motivation enough to drag my ass out of bed. I check around the mattress and pull the blankets. Nada.

  I amble out to the living room, ignoring the burning cuts and scrapes on my arms and shoulders from my high-dive out of the lab. The couch cushions are hiding a few quarters, nothing else. So I yank the couch from the wall and peer behind it.

  The corner of a book pokes from underneath. I reach down and pull it up.

  The book has a gold colored spine. It must have slid under the couch when I hit the crate into the end table.

  Intention is everything and the hum is gone, so screw Karl. He obviously didn't care about this particular volume.

  I cross to the bookshelf and wedge it between some novels I've never read and probably never will. Interior decorators love filling up space with crap.

  If Karl asks for the rest of the golden-spined series, I'll drop it off, but I'm in no rush until then. He didn't spend quality time with asphalt obtaining it.

  I turn around and spot Syd's ring on the coffee table. She must have taken it off when she
stripped down. My eyes hadn't been exactly on her hands at that moment.

  I shower and dress, then text her to tell her I found the ring.

  She replies, I'm with Coleen at a cafe. Wanna swing by?

  My last encounter with Coleen didn't end so well. Maybe Karl will hold off on the summonings long enough for me not to look like a donkey hole this time.

  Sure, where is it?

  She sends me the address.

  Be there in twenty, I reply, then grab her ring and head out.

  When I pull into the cafe parking lot, Syd and Coleen are sitting together at a table outside. Syd waves as I approach.

  I lean over the rail to hand her the ring and kiss her forehead.

  “Gonna grab some coffee,” I say.

  She kisses me on the cheek. “I was going to get a refill. What do you want?”

  “Whatever you're having is fine.” I hop over the railing and take the third seat at the table.

  Coleen is busy poking away on a tablet. Syd scoots out her chair, and Coleen glances up like she had forgotten other people exist.

  “Oh, hey, Dimitri.” She smiles and goes back to her digital world.

  Syd trails her hand across my shoulders as she heads inside the cafe.

  Coleen takes a sip of her coffee, then locks the tablet screen and leans back. “How's the personal security business going?”

  “Secure,” I say with a grin.

  She nods, and her serious expression doesn't break even the slightest. “So, you've been working out of town?”

  I shrug. “Same ol', same ol'.”

  Life as a normal person must be boring. There would be nothing worth hiding.

  “Yeah, I guess.” She glances through the tall cafe windows.

  I turn to see Syd standing in line. She is texting in rapid fire with a scowl creasing her forehead.

  I turn back to Coleen. “She okay?”

  Coleen takes another sip of her iced coffee before replying. “Not really. She's been having a hard time with her family.”

  I glance at Syd again. She doesn't see me watching, her eyes fixed on the phone in her hand. The unabashed anger and sadness on her face leaves me grappling for a reaction.

  “It's out of my jurisdiction to talk about,” Coleen says, “but Syd is my best friend. She's stubborn, but I'll just say, you make her happy.” She pauses, like I'm supposed to comment, but I can't figure out what. So she adds, “Please don't let her down.”