My box

(Ra POV)

I look at Poseidon as he stares into the distance. I can tell that he is unhappy with the situation, but over the years he has gotten into the god-mentality. Nothing much fazes him anymore and he prefers to think about everything and not act hasty. It is surprising to me, that to this day, so many gods act on impulse and feelings despite being immortal and living forever. But he is different. He has started to 'smoke' or rather to steam, as he likes to call it. At first, I thought it was ridiculous until he smiled at me like he does when he finds out a secret or knows more than I do. A smile I came to love. After he realised how I felt about it, he added scents and special effects to the steam. 

Now his steam is less dense when he is around me and has the sweetest smells. He also added special effects to the steam, like it being able to lift one's spirit or calm one's mind. I know he has more ideas on how to use it, and I do too, but it was too soon. Now things are looking different. He created a throne for me ... next to his. That is equivalent to proposing and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Again he had that smile on his face. I almost devoured him right there but managed to stop myself using all my willpower. 

The messenger god was ejected from the Kingdom and now Poseidon is thinking about the situation. He is not thinking about whether or not to go to Olympus, he is far too powerful for that. He isn't really part of that Pantheon anymore. But he still has a close relationship with Hades and Hestia. I find it marvellous how he can look so apathetic but have so much charisma that he manages to befriend Hades who is a god of the dead and Underworld. I am certain that despite his words, he would also have a closer relationship with Zeus and especially Hera, but they don't allow it and are jealous. And despite his charisma, Poseidon is still a powerful god and naturally has his pride. He wouldn't allow anyone to walk over him.

Finally, I see the light in his eyes. He has decided. 

"You decided what you want to do?", I ask him. 

"I did. And it involves you.", he smiles at me. 

"What did you plan this time?"

"I believe it is time for the world to know who my woman is.", he says. 

"Hmm, is that so? So you are finally committing?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. That mind-bitch of a niece you have has the hots for you ever since she saw you the first time.", I say casually. I try not to sound jealous, as that is not attractive and doesn't suit a former God King like I am. 

But he sees right through me. 

"You mean Athena? Come now, you know that she is merely interested in our large library and the knowledge it contains."

"I know you aren't that dense, Poseidon. And if you are then let me tell you. As a woman, I can tell that she is eying you badly. No matter what nonesense she is spouting about being a virgin goddess, she would jump at you the first chance she gets. And I believe you know that, which is why you want to take me with you.", I smile at the end. 

"You are the smartest woman I know. So are you ready?"

"Sure, let's go."

.

.

(Pandora POV)

Darkness, that's all I know from before I opened my eyes for the first time. My father, Zeus, is amazing. He gave me life and allowed me to see what he rules over. I can't help but marvel at his beauty and the strength I feel from him. I look around the marvellous hall I am in and don't have anything I can say. It is beautiful.

"Hello Child. Your name is Pandora.", my father says to me. 

"..Pandora?"

"I created you, so that you may go and live among the humans. You are our present to them and you will carry great importance in the future.", Father tells me. 

"What should I do?"

"Nothing. Just live among them and enjoy yourself. Everything will be revealed in time."

"I see. I will do as you wish, Father."

"Before you will be sent to live among humans, you will receive gifts from each of us.", Father tells me. 

He holds his hand above my head and I feel his power affect me. 

"I have already gifted you life, but I will also beauty, charm, and the ability of persuasion. But this is the most important gift of all. This box. Protect it with your life. Now everyone else may also gift you something.", Father says and looks at the other gods. 

A beautiful woman steps forward. Each of her movements is filled with grace. She touches my cheek and smiles strangely. 

"I am Hera, the Queen of the gods and Zeus's wife. I will gift you with curiosity and clothe you in beautiful garments.", Hera says and waves her other hand. The most beautiful garments appear around me and clothe me. 

"Beautiful...", I say. 

"Indeed child."

After this, another beautiful woman approaches me. Unlike Hera, she feels like she is full of knowledge and wisdom. But she also feels like she is strong and powerful, ready for a fight. 

"I am Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. I will gift you Pandora various skills, including making wise decisions and how to weave."

My mind felt freer and I gained the knowledge of weaving and how to make clothes. I bowed my head to the two women and then saw another one approach. Thinking about the other two goddesses, she is even more beautiful, which is hard to believe.

"I am the one and only Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. I will grant you grace and desire. You will be known as one of the most beautiful women to walk the earth."

"Thank you, goddess.", I say in a daze. 

Before I can realise what is happening, another male god stands in front of me. He has wings on his shoes and is very fast. He smiles mischievously.

"Hermes is the name, the messenger god. I shall give you a cunning mind and the ability to deceive."

After that, no one comes forward anymore and I stand there next to Hermes, the Herald of the Gods. I look around and see the rather angry look of Father as he observes me and Hermes. 

"Hermes! Did you do what I told you?", Father asks. 

"Indeed, Lord Zeus. I visited Poseidon in his Kingdom. I told him about your summons, but I am unsure whether he would truly arrive here, or when."

"He will come. Despite his apathetic appearance and arrogant eyes, he cares about humans and will not allow them to go through this alone. Otherwise, he would go against his words and that would wound his pride. He will come.", Zeus says.

I don't understand, what do humans have to go through? And why does Poseidon have to be here?

"I agree, Poseidon will arrive shortly. It is in his character to arrive for this moment.", Athena says. 

"Oh? If the smart prissy Athena says so, then it has to be true. Hahaha"

"Silence Ares! We can't all be mindless brutes like you. You better not open your mouth before we see the cobwebs you have for a brain.", Athena says and closes her eyes. 

*Vrooom*

A powerful pressure is released from Ares and his eyes burn with fire as he looks at the goddess Athena. 

"Say that again, wench."

"Call me wench one more time and I shall cut off your testicles, idiot.", Athena threatens and releases her own pressure to counteract Ares. Before I am about to pass out, a loud bang is heard. 

*BOOM*

"ENOUGH!", shouts Zeus and flares his own power at his children. 

His eyes shine bright blue in anger and lighting dances around his body. Just as this is going on, something else happens at the other end of the big throne room. A lot of steam materialises from nowhere and in the next moment ...

*Puff*

"Well, well, well ... are you demonstrating your control over your loving family, brother?"

A very pleasant voice is heard from the steam. The large hall is filled with a pleasant scent that permeates from the steam. It feels like I am sitting at the beach and a cool breeze gently touches my face. I am filled with happiness and vigour after smelling this and can't wait to see the person who did that. 

After the steam rises into the air, another throne becomes visible. And on the throne, two people sit. A man and a woman. The woman sits on the man's lap. The man is sitting on the throne in a relaxed manner, almost lying there and has one hand behind the woman's hips and in his other, he holds a pipe that emits steam. 

[Picture]

The woman looks beautiful and powerful at the same time. She is a tall and muscular woman with warm brown skin. She has long, dark hair that cascades down her back in waves nearly to her ankles, and two tresses of her hair rest over her shoulders and end in round golden scrolls. She has gold, red, and black markings around her eyes, and wears thick red lipstick. Her nails are painted black and her eyes are golden and seem to glow. She wears a beautiful one-piece sea blue dress, that accentuates her curves perfectly. 

"Poseidon.", Father says in a low growling voice. 

It seems that Father doesn't like Poseidon for some reason. 

Poseidon ... is a tall and very muscular muscular man, his face is completely apathetic and devoid of any emotion, with golden-blonde hair as well as light blue almost white irises. He dons an ornamental patterned golden choker and dark blue clothing with a golden border that covers the entire upper half of his body, revealing his very ripped abdomen and chest. Despite not having as big muscles as Ares, his are much more defined and ripped, while being rather lean. There are tattoos on his body that seem to tell different stories. 

Additionally, beneath the coat, he wears a pair of baggy pants that match the cloth on his arms, tucked into a pair of seaweed-coloured boots with designs similar to those of ancient ruins in the ocean depths. I see his gaze moving around the room like a ball on top of the water until his eyes land on me. Both the woman and Poseidon stand up and walk towards me.

"So you must be Pandora. You're quite the beauty. Leave it to Zeus to create something he would f*ck.", Poseidon says and pats my head affectionately.

The woman kneels to my eye level and cups my cheek. Similar to how Hera did it. But this time, I feel her care for me unlike before. 

"You are truly a beauty. Say, do you want to come with us?", she asks me. 

Without realising what I am doing, my head moves up and down. 

*BOOOOM*