chapter 2
Pandora leaned against the wooden window sill as her mother disappeared through the vines of ivy into the unknown as Pandora traced her finger along the swirls of blue paint she had decorated the window sill with.
Nearly every surface and wall had been painted on with some sort if landscape or portrait painting design- her mother couldn't complain- what else could a girl do all day beside paint, read and dream?
She turned from the window and walked to the small kitchen, now that her mother was gone, she could make cookies. Walburga didn't approve of cookies, and while Pandora knew her mother only said it because she loved her, she didn't think a couple of cookies would make her gain much weight. Walburga wouldn't even notice.
The little black cat slunked out from the shadows, tail tickling Pandora's feet as she combined the dough. She knelt to the cat and gladly picked him up.
"Why hello there!" She smiled, tickling behind it's ears as the cat meowed happily, snuggling into her neck. Pandora didn't know where this cat had come from, but the same one seemed to visit her everyday, only when her mother was not here. It was a strange thought, but Pandora liked to think that the cat was very intelligent and knew that if he were to show his face near Walburga, things would not end well. Nevertheless, having this cat to keep her company since she was fourteen years old had simply been one of the greatest things that had ever happened to Pandora; and they didn't happen very often.
She sat the cat up on the counter next to where she stirred the dough and chatted to it. She needed the company, and she was sure the cat did too. Plus- the cat knew an awful lot about her life, just the cat and her mother.
"I tried very hard to let Mother allow me to see the floating lights... but she got quite mad. I'm rather disappointed, to be honest, but Mother is only doing it because she doesn't think I'm strong enough for the outside world," she said as she rolled the dough into balls.
"Which, I suppose I can't judge for myself because I've never been out there, but who's fault is that?! You've been out there, haven't you, Star," the first time the cat had ever found Pandora's tower, Pandora knew he needed a name. When she asked, he pointed with his small paw to the painting of star constellations on the wall. They had settled on a name.
"Do you think I'm strong enough to go out there?"
Star nodded.
Pandora felt a rush of pride. If a cat thought she was strong enough, surely it wasn't that bad.
She petted Star before kneeling down to the little cupboard to look for an oven tray. "Where is it?" She muttered to herself, taking out the frying pan to get a better look of the cupboard, but when she heard a clatter from the other side of the tower, she froze.
Star was beside her, so it wasn't him; what was the noise? Heart racing, she stood up. Standing before the window, slipping two daggers into her bag was a girl, long red hair tied in a loose ponytail, strands straying from her head, framing her freckled face. Satchel gripped lightly in hand, she brushed down her brown leather clothes.
Pandora resisted the urge to scream. Who was she?! Nobody ever came to the tower, why now? Why her? Pandora came to her senses. This girl had two daggers, she was clearly dangerous.
Oh my god, dangerous, that's what Mother had said. She was right, it was dangerous out there, and the danger managed to find her!
Pandora crept behind her, knuckle white grip of the frying pan as she smashed it into the back of her head, watching as the girl collapsed to the floor, onto the heaps of Pandora's hair.
Trembling, Pandora moved her hair away from the girl, throwing it behind her shoulder as she knelt down to study this girl.
She listed off in her head all of the things Mother had told her that dangerous people would have; weapons- well, yes, but when Pandora saw the girl slip the two daggers from her satchel, they were as blunt as a butter knife, she must have climbed her way up here with these two mere daggers. Mother had also said that dangerous people would have pointy teeth; nervous, Pandora hesitantly lifted up the girl's upper lip.
No pointy teeth.
Pandora brought her attention to where Star was nosing: the satchel. She opened it up to find a jewel encrusted tiara, it was easily the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She glanced at the girl. She was still unconscious. Pandora walked to the mirror and placed the tiara on her head. It seemed to fit perfectly on top if her hair- and there was loads of that.
She stared at her white long braids that strealed the floor. This is what the girl wanted. Her hair- her power. She untucked the the light brown short strand of hair from behind her ear.
Proof that she was once hunted.
Proof that her mother was keeping her safe for a reason.
She turned her gaze to her reflection, assessing herself. Barefoot in a light pink dress, chestnut coloured skin- her arms were quite skinny- that's what Mother said. Yet she had been able to knock out a person with these arms and a frying pan.
Pandora slipped the tiara back into the bag and placed it underneath the loose step in the small staircase. She heaved the girl onto a chair, tying her secure with her metres of hair. Star jumped onto the girl, and pressed his paws down into her nose as she startled awake.
"Where the fuck am I?" She snapped, frantically searching the tower with her eyes, she jumped at the sight of Star before he leapt off, landing at Pandora's feet. The girl brought her eyes to Pandora, and Pandora couldn't help but notice she had the most beautiful ethereal green eyes.
"Who the fuck are you? And- oh my- what the fuck?! Is this- is this hair?!" She cried, flinching.
Pandora levelled her frying pan before her. "Who are you and why did you find me?" She demanded, her voice slow.
The girl gaped at her, eyes full of confusion. Recognition flashed across her eyes. "My satchel! Where's my satchel?!"
"I have hidden your satchel, somewhere you'll never, ever find it," Pandora was quite enjoying herself, her voice coated with smugness as she crossed her arms.
The girl rolled her eyes. "It's under the step, isn't it?"
On pure instinct, Pandora slapped her face with the frying pan and hid the frying pan upstairs in her bedroom, underneath the loose wooden floorboard.
Star woke the girl up again. "Now, I have hidden it where you will never find it."
She girl winced. "You're gonna give me a concussion if you keep hitting me with that thing."
Pandora shrugged, excitement building inside her. She was talking to a real life person! "I will not ask again, who are you and how did you find me?"
"Look, I don't know who the fuck you are, I found a tower, and I thought I'd have a nose, alright? It's nothing personal, just let me go."
"So... so you don't want my hair?"
"Your hair?!" The girl asked incrediously. "Why the actual fuck would I want your hair?! The only thing I want with your hair is to get out of it- literally."
"You really didn't find me to hunt me?" Pandora asked reluctantly.
The girl's mouth dropped open. "No! Why would I hunt you? I don't even know you! I swear, Blondie, just give me my satchel and you'll never see me again."
"Who are you?"
The girl groaned. "Lily. Lily Evans. Please just get me the fuck out of your hair and give me my satchel."
Lily, gosh that was a pretty name- it suited her, Pandora thought, she was a pretty girl. She hesitated before and idea came to her.
"I will give you your satchel on one condition."
The girl winced, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Every year, in three days time, lights will appear in the sky. Take me to see these floating lights, and I'll give you back your satchel.
"You... want me to take you the see the lanterns?" Lily asked, skeptical.
"Lanterns! I knew they weren't stars!"
"Yeah, the king and queen send them into the sky in hopes the lost princess will return."
"Wait- the lost princess?" Pandora asked.
"You don't know?" Lily asked, clearly surprised that there was somebody who didn't know the story. She shook her head, "let me out of your hair, and I'll fill you in."
Pandora nodded, gathering her hair over her shoulder again.
"Nearly eighteen years ago, the princess was stolen from the Palace, so each year they cast lanterns into the sky in hopes she'll return."
"That's really sad," Pandora sighed. Lily stood from the chair and shrugged.
"It is what it is, I suppose."
"That doesn't mean it should be," Pandora argued.
Lily held eye contact with Pandora, her green eyes fierce as her lips quirked into a smile. "I know. Everybody's got struggles, though. It's part of life. Come on, let's go see these lights."