Chapter One

PANDORA

You know when you pick up a rock and there's all this worms and maggots under? That's how looking into people's head felt like. In the millennia, I've lived on this earth I've found mortals truly appalling and primitive, they centered and based all their living on money and sex. Nothing drove them except money. Like the guy sitting next to me, it's been over fifteen minutes and all he could think about was having sex with the bartender. This was how he phrased it 'Tear that cunt apart' And then I saw her on him moaning and pounding like a pistol while he soaked in the pleasure, but there was more going in his head and that's why I decided to stay.

I asked for another round of my soda, she filled me up 'You will keep up with the soda?" I smiled at her "Do you have something light but better?" she smirked and next thing I knew she dropped a glassful of martini in front of me.

"What's your name?" She asked

"Dora" I said

I drank the martini "So what brings you to Jersey Dora?"

"I've been tasked with finding a group of people. The next generation of gods and until I find them I'm still hooked to my past life" I emptied the glass.

"Wow, that sounds..." she was at loss for words.

"Unbelievable and crazy"

Believe me after a thousand years of saying this unbelievable and crazy are the next words that people seem to say or Are you mentally ill? Ellen included, she's the bartender.

"Another beer!"

She walked over to the disgusting frame of man and handed him a beer "You know Ellen ever thought of dating?"

Right there I knew he was drunk "No Jared, I'm doing fine on my own"

"You need yourself a man Ellen"

Ellen laughed "So I've been told but I can take care of myself"

I hope so because he's got a whole of lot action planned for you in the next hour

It was almost 9:46 pm and reading from Jared's mind Ellen's shifts ended at 11:00 pm. I glared at the wall clock. He knew all the routes Ellen took.

Ellen usually walked for a mile before she could get a taxi on the streets. The Beton bar was located Jersey, away from the streets. After my third glass I took my leave and waited in an alley where in Jared's mind he planned to tear that cunt. The night was cold, the skies are clear as day, and tiny little stars twinkled like diamonds.

After twenty good minutes of watching the nights skies I heard Ellen from a mile away. The smell of Jared alcoholic breath wavered in the air, and a very grotesque cologne. He was so excited in his mind. Ellen's heels echoed in the distance. Jared hid behind some dust cans. I moved behind him as he waited patiently for his Ellen. Having these powers came with doing the impossible. For example, as I stood behind Jared, I made he see nothing as Ellen walked away.

Ellen passed without a worry and Jared's expression was priceless, the shock of it rippling all over his face. I faded into the darkness after my heroic act was done and met Ellen across the street. She was really surprised to see me. She wore a brown overcoat with a scarf around her neck. I'd been studying her for the past week now. I knew everything about her, and I could tell you there were not many things she liked as much as she hated a lot of things.

She was good at deceiving and manipulating things to her way, she was knowledgeable and applied her wisdom to great length. Moreover, she was practical and smart, pretty. Personally, I envied her. She wasn't delicate but dangerous. Her blue eyes saw everything because she was a profiler by birth, her gait calm and her voice smooth as the River Nile, her words flew as they are calm and had direction. Her dark hair was a camouflage of the night and her red lips was the end game of any man after her.

I waved towards her and she walked to me. I met her halfway under the streetlights, the night was still cold and I just wanted to get out of Jersey. Another pressing matter called to me, one of the three had been found.

"I'm guess its not a coincidence meeting you here"

"No" I said "You remember what I told you earlier on"

She chuckled "How could I forget?"

"Well I'm sorry to tell you this, you are one of the chosen"

"You say it like it's a curse".

Most people usually asked Chosen for what? but Ellen noticed the pity in my voice. I believed anyone chosen to inherit the power of the gods was cursed. It's wasnt just having these powers, they would relive the lives of the old gods, face their enemies, and most of all fight amongst themselves.

I took the letter left behind by my father, Hephaestus, from my back pocket. Ellen stared at me, caution in her eyes. She gripped the stun gun in her handbag while preparing to run. I didn't blame her. I handed her the letter, she released the gun and took it .

"Only the chosen can read the letter, if you can't then I'm sorry to have wasted your time"

She was hesitant which was natural . Under the circumstance even I would have conceded that I was not to be trusted. Yet still she slowly opened the letter and read it out loud.

If you are reading this that means I've already faded away from existence. It means we lost the war and the fate of the mortals lies in your hands. You may have been wronged gravely by the gods but you should know everything I did was for the benefit of mankind. Zeus and his brothers were shorted sighted, they refused to see the long term implication of going to war with the Titans.

I know asking this of you bears no duty to you so I'm forced to once again burden you with this task. The faith of the world depends on it. You know me, and as much as you loved me I love the world more. I wish for it survive and evolve, especially our people. With that said, before the war, I gathered a fraction of all the god's power and stored it in a vessel. That vessel was you. It was why Zeus imprisoned you. You are Pandora's box. Although we have faded away from this existence our life force still wavers in you. Your duty is simple Pandora. You must find the next generation.

With love

Hephaestus

"You hate him" Ellen said

I opened my eyes after she inserted the letter in my hands "I thought the gods were a myth"

"They are to me" I said after I pocket my letter "And you should prepare yourself for what is to come. You are the goddess of wisdom"

"Athena right!" She shrugged

"You still don't believe me"

"Of course I don't. I don't mean to sound insulting but you're mentally sick or delusional" The spark of pity in her eyes was so discomforting and honestly, annoying "And I've just wasted thirty-minutes of my time with you"

"What I'm I thinking?" I asked

"How I'm I supposed to know that?"

"Just look at me, you'll know" I remained impassive while looking at her "Humor me"

She shrugged "Let's get this over with" She exhaled rather disturbed and stared at me for about five minute. Just then she laughed unbelievably. It surprised me even more.

"To think I actually I believed you" Ellen said "Unbelievable". Just then, she fell to her knees in shock. I knew the feeling really well. The power of Athena finally settled on her.

"What was that?" she asked breathing heavily.

I knelt close to her "That is the power you now possess. You are yet to discover a lot of things goddess of wisdom. Knowledge is your power now"

And there goes the power of mind reading and knowledge. Now to my grand task. Ellen rose up, now able to read my mind by just looking at me she invaded my whole privacy. I could feel her. Her eyes were fixed on me and she moaned in awe. I stopped her from unlocking too many secrets before she saw the whole truth.

"Teach me more" She demanded, but not before she realized the cold eyes I shot at her.

"I'm sorry, you are your own teacher" I say and turned away.

"I can help you. I know one of the three. I know where he is''

The stench of desperation in her voice was compelling. I didn't care much for an apprentice. All I needed to do was find the next Poseidon and all this burden would be gone. Maybe Ellen could help, and once in a while I could teach her something about herself, about Athena. I turned back to her feeling like a shepherd to a sheep. She was scared of me, maybe for now but that was good for me. I learnt from the old gods fear was a deadly weapon that could be used to one's advantage.

"You take me to him and then we're done. If you ever try to enter my mind again, I'll tear your legacy apart before you can even grasp it. Got it?"

She nodded frankly. I touched her and after a moment we landed in her apartment.

"What just happened?"

Ellen remained silent trying to comprehend what happened "After I discovered I could teleport and tried it the first time I vomited"

I ended the statement just in time to watch her vomit on her couch. I grimaced seeing all that disgust.

"A little warning next time"

She wiped her mouth and rushed to the ladies, with a snap of my fingers the slimy pool of disgust disappears. I sat and waited for time to pass. Ellen returned refreshed and lively, she poured a glass of bourbon for herself.

Her apartment was subtle, and mainly occupied with books. She didn't carry much sentiments around, no photos or family portraits except the thirty-million vanghau painting on her wall, passed down through her family for generations. Ellen's family was affluent and she inherited everything after her mother passed away, a total sum of six hundred million slept in her account yet I wonder why she lived a simpleton life.

"So what's your story" Ellen asked

I didn't reply her but I shifted my gaze to the ceilings "I saw glimpses of your past life" Each word seemed like a carefully calculated step from Ellen "Although there was one dominant memory, the man on the hospital bed"

Right then, I brought my attention back to her in fit of rage. I didn't let it get it best of me but I tried to be pleasant enough "He's important to me, and he will be to you" I said

I knew she'll persist with more questions so I readied myself. It couldn't be avoided, denying her answers was like compelling her to enter my head.

"I'm guessing the three are Zeus, Hades and Poseidon"

"Yes"

"I saw a man, white beard, deep blue tingling eyes..."

"That was Zeus"

The contempt in my own voice surprised me more than it did Ellen. Yet I felt no remorse for the death of Zeus. My life's torment and unhappiness originated from his jealousy for my father. Had it not being for my own stubbornness perhaps my father would not have been banished. I knew Hephaestus always wanted to live in Mount Olympus. After the day Hephaestus created me, he did the most unthinkable. He sought out Gaia who brought me to life. When Zeus heard of this he smit him. A smite from Zeus to a god meant he was banished and all his possession belonged to Zeus, which included me. I begged Zeus to forgive my father, to banish me in his stead. The rest of the gods and goddess never helped only Hera. Where the other gods saw a weapon created by my father, Hera saw a child pleading for her father. Nevertheless, Zeus meted out the punishment in his mind he thought was right, and because Gaia created me an immortal I spent the rest of my life imprisoned. The darkness crept on me, sneaked its way into my skin. A prison which took away my five senses, I felt like nothing.

The feeling of being non-existent clawed its way into my mind.

I felt a tight grip around my neck and then I see Ellen's face magnified in fear, sweating and panting. Her living room was engulfed by darkness, and the temperature had dropped drastically.

I calmed myself knowing full well this was my fault and after a moment it all faded away. Ellen was relieved, and fells on me with a heavy sigh, she trembled in my arms and it felt so uncomfortable. But I couldn't just throw her off me even though every part of my body was itching to do so. To top it off she embraced me and some warm feeling made the hair on my skin stand.

"I need a drink"

As usual, she poured herself something strong in a glass and gulped it down followed by a sizzle.

"I'm Sorry" She turned to me.

I'm still quiet waiting for the remainder of her explanation to follow, I saw the slight gamble in her eyes which made whatever she was trying to apologize for more desirous. I gazed at her with my cold eyes. Furthermore, I increased the temperature in the room, care of Demeter's powers.

"I tried to breach into your mind when you were zoomed into wherever you went to. And I succeeded." Ellen paused, she took in another glass of whatever was in that black bottle. It made her feel less pressured and frightened but beneath me I was boiling and she knew it.

"I know what there is to know about you and the past gods. But what I find more curious is the heavily guarded secret in that hospital"

"Even for a vessel like me, holding all these powers takes a toll on my body. I should've faded away two decades ago, but then I found one of the three, Zeus." She listened intently "At first he started out as my shadow, just like you, until one day he saved me from myself. The power of the gods ate into my immortality reducing my mortality rate. As time passed I started getting painful headaches, random outburst of powers. I was dying and if I died so would the last of the gods. He did the most unthinkable thing any being would ever do.

"And when you say he you mean?"

"Jaimie" fond memories of Jaimie flooded my mind and I smiled, immediately I wipe the warmth of my face "I'm using Jaimie's power as a regulator, that's all I'm saying"

Ellen was still insistent and wanted to know more about me and Jaimie. She kept on asking more questions and I answered as best as I could. But at some point I was exhausted, and dazed. I yawned intensely and sleep was fast approaching my eyes. The time on the wall clock above the refrigerator, it's one forty-five, getting to two. I yawned again and this time Ellen caught me yearn for sleep. She walked to her bedroom; returned with a foldable bed, she laid it on the floor.

"Shall we?"

Then I'm confused "Are you gay?"

She laughed hysterically "Honey, If I was a lesbian we'd do more than talk about gods" she didn't know it yet, but she used her mind to work me into desiring her. I quenched the feeling before I did something crazy and I lied on the floor. Ellen snuggled next to me, I was feeling a bit excited yet I craved for sleep. Perhaps it was common for two straight ladies to suddenly have the urge to be with the other, especially if they were both strong beings with heightened feelings. We were intimately close, the touch of her nose made my mouth wet and the warmth of her breath breathing down on my mouth made the thought of kissing her lips more enticing. Sharply I turned away from her and closed my eyes strongly. My breathing was not slowing down, yet I was thankful nothing happened.

"See you tomorrow"