Pandora's Box, part 11

Pandora watched the light hover beyond the palace walls, and strained to keep it in view, gripping the windowpane as she pushed forward. The wind whipped her black hair across her eyes, and she gasped as the icy air hit her. The light glowed and flickered as it danced above the thick, impenetrable forest now surrounding the palace.

“Come closer!” Pandora ordered.

The light glided straight towards her, and as Pandora peered at it, she realised that the light was a lantern, held aloft by a figure, a man, wrapped in a snow-white cloak. She jerked backwards as he flew in the window, landing softly before her. He was as tall as her, and his pale eyes met her dark ones with easy confidence.

“Your Majesty, you called for me,” he said. “I have come.”

Pandora pointed to the box. “I must have this box opened.”

The man stepped closer to the box, which was hissing and shuddering on the table. “Ah, I see,” he exclaimed with glee. “This is a beauty, your Majesty.”

“Beauty?” Pandora looked down with surprise. “Ah yes, I forgot that it could be seen as such. It haunts me, night and day, Locksmith. It holds the key to everything. Can you open it for me?”

The man tapped the box and it jumped and juddered. “Of course I can; no simpler than a wave of a hand or the blink of an eye. But Queen, do you really want such a thing? Think of the power it exudes already, with the lock fast shut. Think of the damage it has already begun to wreak.”

Pandora waved a hand imperiously. “I do not expect a lecture.”

“No lecture, my Lady, just a simple warning. I can open your box, but I am telling you to beware of doing so. I have heard tell of this box from the gods, and it truly holds all that your imagination could dream of.”

Pandora’s eyes grew black with desire and anger. “OPEN IT!”

"I will, but first you must promise me something, great queen."

"What?" Pandora's roar would have terrified the bravest lion, yet the locksmith stood firm.

"You have three options. One, you will give me your first-born child."

"Fool," sneered Pandora. "I have no child."

"Two," he waved her words away as if swatting an irritating fly. "You will give me the final item to come out of this box."

Pandora lay greedy hands on the vibrating box, her lips pursed with greed. "This belongs to me, and me only," she said.

"Or three," the locksmith continued, as if he had expected such an answer. "You will give me a cabbage from the royal gardens."

"A cabbage?" Pandora laughed. "A cabbage? Well, that's an easy choice, Locksmith. You may help yourself to any cabbage you take a fancy to. Just open my box."

“So be it.” The Locksmith shrugged carelessly, put on a set of large glasses to block out the light, and placed a giant set of earmuffs on his ears. Finally, he pulled a sparkling golden key out from under his cloak and inserted it with easy precision into the padlock.

A blinding light seared Pandora’s eyes as the box gaped open, its chains falling to the floor with a thud. Balls of scarlet flames hurtled out of the box, tearing down the curtains and burning them to blackened cinders. Black shadows swept around the walls and a keening wail filled Pandora’ ears.

“Released at last!” A haunting cackle reverberated around the chamber as voices whispered and spat out messages. Black wraiths advanced and swept over Pandora’s head and hair, leaving her with an impending feeling of doom.

“Hatred, envy, destruction and despair,

As hearts are ripped out and souls laid bare

anger, hopelessness, depression and malice,

Now fill the walls of your loveless palace

Vicious and malicious are revenge and spite,

Drowning the day, sucking out the light,

Greed and grief, fear and frustration

Shame and disgust, torment and vexation

Lovelorn lady living a living death

Disappointment now haunts your every breath

Your eyes filled now with apprehension and alarm

Paranoid and pitiful as you seek to cause harm.”

“STOP IT!” screamed Pandora, covering her ears in a vain attempt to shut out the cacophony.

The locksmith shook his own head, clinging hold of the bedpost as wind whipped around the room and furniture blazed. “Can’t be done. Once you begin an action, you must expect a reaction.”

“Get out of my sight!” she yelled.

And quick as a kingfisher, he was gone.

Pandora stumbled to the box. She was about to slam it shut when she noticed a faint glowing light fluttering deep in one of the corners. Unblocking one ear, and flinching at the clamorous wails and screams pounding her senses, she reached down to unleash the light. She touched it with one finger, and a small breath escaped her. She lifted it up and gazed at a set of gossamer-thin wings, white as the ice of the frozen north. The creature fluttered in her palm, staring up at Pandora with enormous eyes.

“Who are you?” Pandora asked.

It was almost impossible to hear the answer, yet Pandora just caught the whispered word, “Hope.”