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Sol had shot to his feet, his hands curled into tight fists. He fixed his enraged eyes on Apollo. “You—You killed her? It was you who killed Pandora?”
But Apollo ignored Sol. He was staring wide-eyed at Pandora as if she was a ghost. Slowly, he backed away from her, but she only laughed.
“It’s too late, Your Majesty,” she spat. “The darkness will devour you first.”
A scream filled the air, and at first, Pandora thought it was her own imagination—that the goddess’s memories had overtaken her once more. But several people cried out in alarm, covering their ears, and she realized the screams came from the dark magic. Coils of smoke speared toward Apollo, who yelped, trying to run from them before they strangled him.
Pandora lost sight of him as darkness flooded the room, crashing into walls and pillars. Screams pierced the air. Debris rained around them. And all the while, Pandora stood there with her arms outstretched, waiting to be freed of the memories and turmoil that had claimed her for so long.
This is it, she thought. Now, I can be free.
No, hissed a low voice inside her. Gaia is next.
Pandora stiffened. She had forgotten there was more to her revenge. But killing Gaia would be simple. Easy, even. Much easier than destroying an entire realm.
No, the voice said again. We will not stop there. We will claim the mortal realm. We will claim all the souls for our own!
Pandora shook her head, her arms trembling. “You cannot,” she said aloud. “That was not part of the plan.”
We changed the plan, cackled the voice. We want more, young goddess. And we will take it.
Pandora gritted her teeth, fighting against the bloodthirsty rage boiling inside her. For the first time in her life, she actively opposed the forces within her. And she hadn’t realized until now how strong they were.
“I… don’t… want… this,” she bit out, every word ripped from her by force. Her fists trembled. Her bones rattled. The endless churning of the soul inside her only intensified, roaring in indignation.
Avenge me!
It couldn’t be stopped. No amount of destruction would be enough for it. It would constantly yearn for blood, for death, for endless suffering. The goddess’s soul was a yawning chasm that would never be filled.
Pandora had thought she would be free of this. But she was a prisoner of these memories and emotions for all eternity.
She would never be free.
This had all been for nothing.
“Stop,” she commanded.
But the voices inside her only laughed.
“Stop!” she screamed, stretching her arms wide and summoning her earth magic. Her voice broke on an enraged cry as she sank to her knees, digging deep within her reserve of magic, unleashing everything.
Cracks split the ground, and her tree branches sprang forth obediently, surrounding her in a protective dome that shielded her from the darkness.
“No!” she shouted, frantically waving her hands. Around her, screams filled the air as the dark magic feasted. “Help them! Save them!”
She was finished being a pawn in a dead goddess’s game for revenge. She was finished bowing to the whims of the lost memories trapped inside her.
Even if it killed her, she would resist them.
They had used her. She thought they were her allies, that they only wanted to be free. Just like her.
But in the end, the goddess’s soul and memories had just been another prison for her.
Everything in her life was born of pain. There was nothing left for her. No one she could trust or turn to. No one, not even herself, could save her.
Sobs poured from her throat. She let the tears fall, covering her face with her hands as the misery drowned her. She felt her magic expanding with her grief, widening the dome of tree branches to span the entire ballroom.
But it wasn’t enough. Beyond the palace, the screams of the villagers echoed. Out there, people were dying. And her magic wasn’t strong enough to stop it.
