by Amy Sumida
I flew over the plains, watching the Indians hunting the buffalo that feasted on the sweet grass. Their horses thudded over the earth, herding the animals together. The men looked wild and as free as I felt, their bare chests glistening in the sun. But I didn't want to watch the hunt. I enjoyed the meat, and I understood that the Indians were needed to keep the herd from growing too large, but I hated watching the kill. So, I angled away and soared over the mountains.
The highest mountains of Neverland were too tall for Tink to go. She said that the higher up we went, the colder it would get until the air became too cold to breathe and then her delicate wings would freeze up. I looked longingly at the ice-capped peaks, but I didn't want to leave Tink behind, and part of me whispered that it wasn't wise to go against the teachings of an expert.
Instead, I veered along the rocky sides, following the trail of water that came down from the mountain's peak. The ice melted and fed several rivers and streams around the island, but I was most interested in the little pool that sat on a ledge, halfway up the side of the mountain. The pool overflowed the ledge, creating a magnificent waterfall which filled another, much deeper and wider, pool at the mountain's base. This pool was the one which fed the river which ran by our tree, and it was nice to see the source. I alighted on the ledge and peered over the side, watching the water tumble down hundreds of feet.
“What happened to dive bombing mermaids?” Tink asked as she hovered beside me.
“I wanted to have a quick drink first.” I knelt and scooped the water into my mouth.
It was briskly cold and bracing. I drank it down and sighed deeply. Then I turned and looked thoughtfully at the ice far above me.
“I don't like that look, Pan,” Tink said.
“I was just thinking that it would be nice to drink cold water all the time,” I mused. “And maybe the ice could be used to keep food cold.”
“Why would you want your food to be cold?” Tinker Bell asked.
“Because then it might not spoil so fast,” I said. “I've seen things in the pool. The humans have boxes that they put their food into. These boxes are magical and are very cold inside. It helps their food stay fresh.”
“Magical food boxes?” Tink blinked, getting that look again.
“Forget it.” I waved my hand. “I need some time to think this over, but I believe I may have a way to create our own magic food box.”
“I will look forward to seeing your creation.”
“Until then”–I shot up into the air–“let's dive!”
Tink gave a whoop, and we flew down into the valley, and then over to Mermaid's Cove. The cove was on the opposite side of the island from the bay, where Kadmos moored his ship. The entrance was hidden by flowering vines which draped all the way to the surface of the sea, but from above, I could see right into it. A channel from the ocean led into a roughly circular nook within the island. There, the land gradually dipped into the cove, allowing the mermaids to slide up the smooth rock and bask in the beams of sunlight streaming through the opening above. The walls were sheer and smooth, so the only way into the cove was by sea. It was a perfect, private place.
There were three mermaids currently lounging on land, and two mermen. Their tails gleamed in the sun, glowing with iridescence in green, pink, blue, and pearl. One of the maids was lying across a merman, kissing him lazily. I felt something clench inside my chest as I experienced a keen jealousy. I wanted to lay in the sun and kiss my lover. What bliss that must be.
“Come on,” Tink whispered. “They're going to be so surprised!”
“All right.” I grinned and her.
We swooped down, whooping gleefully, and the mermaids all jerked up in shock. Then they saw who it was invading their sanctuary and gaped at Tink and me.
“Pandora?” One of the women asked as I came to stand on the rock before them.
“Yes, it is I,” I said in a teasing tone as I spread my legs wide and planted my fists on my hips. “Are you surprised?”
“Yes,” one of the men said with a smile. “It was very shocking to see an earth-walker in the air.”
“I taught her to fly!” Tink said proudly.
“Well done, Tinker Bell,” another mermaid praised. “What wonderful magic to be able to take a woman from earth to sky.”
“Thank you,” Tink said shyly. “But Pandora did the hard work. I just sprinkled some pixie dust.”
“Could you teach me?” One of the mermen asked. “I would love to experience flight.”
“I don't see why not,” Tink said. “All you need to do is think happy thoughts, and then, when you are filled with joy, I will sprinkle some dust on you.”
“Laren,” one of the women chided the man, “we are water beings, we do not belong in the air. It will dry you out too much, and then you will suffer.”
“I think it's worth the risk,” he said firmly and then closed his eyes to concentrate.
The mermaid just shook her head.
“Okay,” the merman declared, “I'm ready!”
Tinker Bell sprinkled him with her sparkling pixie dust, and it settled over the merman gently. It flashed once and then faded. The merman remained on the ground.
“I swear, I'm thinking happy thoughts,” he said. “What am I doing wrong?”
“The magic knows where you belong,” the same mermaid gentled her tone. “Be happy with the sea, brother. The sky is empty and cold.”
“I suppose,” he said sadly.
I went over to the merman and held out my arms, “I think I'm strong enough to carry you. If you don't mind holding onto me.”
“Now, why would I mind that?” The merman smiled broadly as he went into my arms.
I held his cool body tight, and his muscled arms circled my waist. Then I smiled into his stunning eyes, and he smiled back. My happiness lifted us off the ground, and Laren's eyes widened. The mermaids gasped as they watched us rise higher and higher, then out of the cove entirely. Laren's tail was wide and heavy, making it more difficult to maneuver, but I was able to just float us over Neverland, and give him his first bird's eye view of our world.
“Amazing,” he whispered. “I've never seen such beauty. Look how the water sparkles from up here. And the tops of the trees are like sea sponges. I feel as if I could lay down upon them and sleep.”
“It's lovely,” I agreed.
“Thank you, Pan,” he kissed my cheek. “I will not forget this.”
“My pleasure, Laren.”
“I suppose we should return before my sister starts to worry,” he said.
“One more minute,” I urged. “Then we can go back.”
“One more minute that I will treasure forever,” he whispered.
Chapter Five
“All right, I'm ready to train,” I said as I walked back into the tree.
After I returned Laren to his sister, I had felt energized and ready to take on the challenge of Straton and his training. Tink had headed home to be with her family, and I had rushed back to the tree.
“Where have you been? Straton growled. “You can't just go running off... did you just say you're ready to train?”
“Yes, teach me to be a great warrior, Commander.”
“Are you mocking me?” Straton narrowed his eyes.
“No, I'm serious.”
“Oh.”
“So?”
“So, what?”
“So, are you going to teach me?” I huffed.
The other men were standing around the living room, their eyes going back and forth between Straton and me as we spoke.
“Yes, of course, I'm going to teach you,” Straton growled. “The training sessions were my idea.”
“All right then, let's get started,” I said.
“What happened?” Straton drew closer and stared down at me. “While you were gone something happened to change your mind.”
“I had some happy thoughts.”
He harrumphed loudly. “Fine, don't tell me.” Straton headed up the steps to the main entr
ance of the tree.
“It's the truth,” I said as I followed him.
“Fine, you thought about happiness,” Straton threw back the trap door and crawled out onto the forest floor. Then he reached a hand back to help me out. “Come on; the practice swords are already in the clearing.”
“All right.”
“Your agreeable manner is worrisome,” he noted.
“Now you're upset because I'm doing what you want?” I gave him a baffled look.
“No, I'm wondering if this is a trap.” Straton spun around, and I smacked into his chest. He steadied me with hands on my upper arms and stared hard at me again. “Are you trying to trick me, Pandora?”
“Into what?” I grimaced.
“I don't know,” he said suspiciously. “But every time I've brought you here you've moaned the whole way.”
“Moaning can be fun.” I waggled my brows at him.
“Pandora.” Straton took a deep breath. “We are all trying our best to do right by you, but we can't protect you while we lie with you in your bed.”
“Wow, you just came out and said it.” I laughed. “Why not?”
“Why not, what?”
“Why can't you protect me and sleep with me?” I scowled. I wasn't supposed to be focusing on the sexual aspect of our relationship. Tink said to lead with my heart. “Forget that,” I waved my hand. “I respect you deeply, Straton, and I'm sorry if you've felt as if I've belittled your efforts to protect me. I'm grateful to have all of you with me, very grateful that Dionysus saw fit to leave you to guard me, and I shouldn't be distracting you.”
“Really?” He gaped at me.
“I've just been lonely,” I whispered.
Straton's eyes flickered, and he swallowed convulsively.
“All of you have had years to live and experience things that I haven't,” I tried to explain what was in my heart. “I was born in a moment, and then given away to a man I barely knew. I was made to seduce, but also to love, and now I have no one. It's been weighing on me. I feel... empty.”
“I hadn't thought ...” Straton scowled. “I didn't mean to be cruel to you.”
“You haven't been,” I assured him. “I've been ungrateful, and I apologize. You're only trying to do what you think is best, and here I am, making things difficult for you.”
“You're a hard woman to resist,” he whispered.
“I am?”
“You know that you are.” Straton heaved a sigh. “That face alone.” He shook his head.
“Well, you've done a remarkable job of resisting my face,” I huffed.
Straton burst out laughing, and it was so boisterous that a flock of pixies was startled out of their tree. They took off, trailing sparkling dust in their wake.
“What?” He asked me when he finally settled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You're breathtaking when you laugh,” I whispered.
Straton stared at me a moment and then turned abruptly away. He picked up a slim, wooden sword and tossed it to me. I caught it as he picked up another.
“I want you to be safe, Pandora,” Straton said. “Let's work on that, shall we?”
“All right, Straton.” I smiled softly. “Let's work on it.”
Chapter Six
I wasn't the only one who Straton trained; all of the men worked on their fighting skills daily.
My bedroom offered the best vantage point to view their training. I had the only window in the tree, hidden among the branches so that it couldn't be seen from below. I could see down very clearly, though, and the view was spectacular.
Straton stood to the side, observing and correcting techniques as the other four paired off to fight each other with wooden training swords. Their muscles glistened with sweat, and their faces were set into ferocious lines. The slam of sword on shield was like tribal drumming as they grunted through the maneuvers.
I sighed, and someone laughed.
“They are most handsome and virile, are they not?”
I jerked around toward the sound of the feminine voice and saw a woman who could have been my twin. She smiled broadly and laid a graceful hand on my cheek.
“How are you, Daughter?” Aphrodite asked.
“You claim me as your daughter?” I asked in surprise.
“My husband made you into my image, using my blood and magic,” Aphrodite explained. “You are as much mine as a child I carried in my body.”
“Then why was it Dionysus who came to my aid, and not you?”
“Who do you think pointed out the injustice to Dionysus?” She smiled smugly. “I don't have the power to do this for you, but Dionysus does, and I know of his weakness for stranded women.”
“You tricked him into helping me on your behalf?” I chuckled.
“My darling girl,” she purred, “there is so much for you to learn about the power a woman can wield over a man. I've been watching over you, and I heard your conversation with the pixie.”
“About the men?”
“Yes.” Aphrodite edged closer to the window and stared down at the sweaty men, their muscles straining in the sunlight. She smiled broadly. “I heartily approve of them all. You shall have them, Pandora, and I will show you how to surmount any of their protests.”
“I would be most grateful.” I grinned.
“You are born of the Goddess of Love,” she declared. “You are a goddess in your own right, Pandora. The Goddess of Hope.”
“Hope?” I looked over my shoulder, to the jar tucked into a nook beside my bed, its lid chained into place.
The bed itself was in another nook formed out of the tree; a curved pedestal that flowed out of the trunk and held a mattress. Walls curved around it on either side, partially hiding the bed. There were crevices set with candles near the head of the mattress, and all about the room, but daylight was currently streaming in from the window, illuminating the polished wood. The only other object within the room was a wooden chest that I had brought with me from Greece, holding the meager belongings that Epimetheus allowed me to take. But the most important thing was the jar. I stared hard at it; the reminder of my broken promise.
“That's right.” She nodded at my look. “You are the Keeper of Hope now, but more importantly, you have magic of your own.”
“I do?”
“That pixie couldn't have taught you to fly if you didn't.” Aphrodite smirked. “No amount of meditating can make you fly. That's ridiculous.”
“No wonder Laren couldn't do it,” I said, and then my eyes widened. “Damn, Tinker Bell,” I hissed. “She could have killed me.”
“Tinker Bell knew instinctively that you could accomplish flight,” my mother waved her hand. “Dionysus made these beings to serve you. They would never hurt you.”
“Wow, that's a lot to be responsible for,” I whispered.
“This is your land, Daughter,” Aphrodite said. “Yes, you are responsible for it, but only in the most basic way. It is more beholden to you for its very existence.”
“All right.” I looked back out at the men. “What about them? How do you think I should handle them?”
“The pixie was partially right,” Aphrodite noted. “Thinking positive and acting with confidence will help. But you are a child of love, and that is where your power lies. You were given gifts by the gods because Zeus asked it of them, and he did so because he knew that a truly irresistible woman needed more than superficially beautiful. You needed the wisdom to woo a man, kindness to gentle him, and generosity to love him despite the faults that all men have. These things inside you have been put there with a purpose: to make a Titan fall in love with you.”
“Yes, but that didn't last, did it?” I huffed.
“Love needs to be maintained, and, at the very least, reciprocated,” she admonished me. “You did not care for Epimetheus; no amount of generosity and kindness could change your heart. I believe your heart knew it was meant for more than that fool.”
“Dear gods, I hope so.” I sighed. �
��I'm not alone, but I feel so lonely.”
“You are made for love.” Aphrodite kissed my cheek, and a tingle spread out from the place she touched me. “I bless you, Daughter, that you will not be lonely for long. Love will be drawn to you–the path to it shall open.”
“Thank you, Mother,” I whispered.
“Oh, darling, that's only the beginning.” She smirked. “Come and have a seat, and we'll have our own training session. And I've brought a gift for you too. Something to protect you in my stead.”
“I have the men to protect me,” I said. “And they are teaching me to protect myself.”
“That is all well and good, darling,” she purred. “But never refuse the gift of a goddess. My protection will make itself known when it's needed.”
Chapter Seven
The path to love was indeed opened to me, and armed with what my mother taught me; I eagerly began my journey.
The very next day, Drakon asked me if I wanted to go fishing with him. I accepted immediately, and Straton was off polishing his sword or something equally warrior-like, so we didn't have to deal with his lectures.
We headed through the forest with fishing poles over our shoulders and a basket held between us. The river near our tree, the one fed by the waterfall, was full of shiny, silver fish. It didn't take long for us to reach it, and then we found a spot to set up along the riverbank.
Drakon baited my hook for me and showed me how to cast it out into the deepest part of the river. We sat for a bit in companionable silence, before I tried one of the things I'd learned from my mother: showing interest in the man himself.
“What were you like before all of this happened?” I asked him.
Drakon looked startled, but then his face settled into lines of retrospection. His gaze settled on the water, and he appeared more serious than he'd been in a long time... since we'd stepped off that boat.
“I was a much harder man,” he said in a low tone, like a confession. “Not a very nice person.”
“Why not?” I asked simply.
“I ...” he looked at me in surprise. “I don't know. Maybe I was just angry. I was dedicated to being the best soldier that I could be, but that left me feeling empty. I had numerous lovers whom I never loved, and fellow soldiers whom I never bonded with. Ironically, it wasn't until Dionysus changed my allegiance from Epimetheus to you that I found some peace in my purpose and began to feel a connection to other people.”