The Pandora Principle

“Yeah, well, software hasn’t picked a new lead since James.” Sheridan’s voice softened. “I’m assuming it will be Serenity.”

 

 

“That’s up to them.” He glanced at me. “You ready to witness history being made?”

 

I gave him a secretive smile. “I’m sure you know all about making history, Messenger.”

 

Sheridan gave me a look as though I lost my mind, but I paid it little attention as I focused on Mercer. Every muscle in his body froze, and his face became a mask of fake pleasantry. His eyes, however, flashed at me like an emerald fire. His hand shot out and grabbed my elbow.

 

“Excuse us,” he said.

 

He pulled me through to door on the lower level, down the hall, and into an empty lecture room. Mercer seemed to like confrontations in classrooms. Then again, he didn’t want the mortals to overhear the truth. I gasped as something tickled in the back of my mind.

 

“You figured it out.” Mercer’s voice broke my train of thought into a million pieces. “For a pandoran, I was expected you to figure it out sooner. You’re not so good at this game.”

 

“I’ve had other things on my mind,” I said. “Despite what you think, my thoughts don’t revolve around you.”

 

“Are you sure about that?” He pulled me closer until the scent of olives and patchouli enveloped me, and his thumb massaged the softness of my inner elbow.

 

“Positive.” Though, my voice came out husky, with the pitch elevated. “I should have known. Mercer is a dead giveaway.”

 

“I’m surprised you didn’t notice it sooner.” He smirked. “So, do I play the millionaire play boy well?”

 

“Perfect. But that’s not surprising, given who you are.” I swallowed hard as his thumb continued its caress up my arm. “So what is Hermes doing in a small school like this?”

 

“I have my interests,” His breath ruffled my hair.

 

“Did you kill James because he was in Serenity’s way?” I asked softly.

 

His fingers tightened on my arm. “I told you I’m not your enemy.”

 

“You’re also the god of liars and thieves.” I swallowed, trying to ignore the way the tingling raced through my body and awoke my loins. “Besides, you’re all enemies. You come here, take what you want, and damn anyone who gets in your way. The gods don’t care about humans.”

 

“I do care.” His hand dropped to his side. “I actually like humans.”

 

I rounded on him, crossing my arms. “No, you have a few favorites, but as a whole, we’re nothing to you. Troy proved that. Thousands died, all because three of you got into an argument over who was the prettiest.”

 

He raised his hands. “Hey, that was Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena. Not me.”

 

“You screwed over plenty of people. Countless women you slept with and left.” I burst into a bitter laugh. “You haven’t changed much as Mercer, either.”

 

He narrowed his eyes. “Stop being so uppity. Humans aren’t much better.”

 

I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at her. “Humans don’t have the power a god has.”

 

He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t they? Maybe not before we left, but now, you have the ability to cause as much devastation as any one of us with the push of a few buttons.”

 

“You’re talking about bombs.”

 

“In particular, yes, but humans have come up with quite a bit, all I the name of killing each other. The ones at the top used the masses to further their power.” He smirked. “When you think about it, sweetheart, we’re not that much different.”

 

“Not all humans are like that.”

 

“And neither are all gods.”

 

I locked eyes with him. “But you are. You worked with Zeus to create Pandora and help spread the daimones in that box.”

 

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, causing a lock to fall over his left eye. “I did what my father asked, and that was a long time ago. I’ve changed.”

 

“It doesn’t really look like it,” I said. “What have you done since you got here? Besides bother Serenity and seduce me?”

 

“If you remember correctly, I was on that roof with you, trying to stop James. And who, exactly, did the seducing?”

 

He leaned closer to me so that we were only inches apart. My heart pounded in my chest as my fingers itched to run down his chest. I shuddered, took a deep breath, and stepped back. Concentrating was all but impossible with him so close to me.

 

“You never answered the question,” I said. “Did you kill James?”

 

“You already called me a liar. Why would you believe me if I said no?”

 

I stared up at him and sighed. He had a point. What had I thought I could achieve by confronting him? It’s not like I could tell if he was truthful. He’d fooled way better than me, from what the stories said.

 

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