Pandora's Box (Open - Inquire Within)

[Mister J]

His fist had clenched when she mentioned her... it was still shaking at his side. His lips quivered, teeth clenched tight.

"... But... I want it."

Suddenly his hand went lax, fingers fell limp. Slowly his head turned to face her, dark eyes cast upon her own. A part of him that had been buried away ever since his transformation clawed it's way up, through all of the hate and evil, through the pain and the suffering, it fought to get out... if only for a moment. It almost broke the surface, he almost smiled. He could feel his lips curving up wanting him to give in, to just let the warmth come over him. But he couldn't, he wouldn't allow that part of him out ever again. Not after what happened last time. He hesitated, glancing to the side. He wouldn't lose this one too. Fingers curled back into a fist, the anger resurfacing, shadowing his sadness and swallowing the warmth whole, pushing it back down. Deep down into the darkest part of his soul where it's light would never reach the surface. Not again... not ever.

Downward eyes closed for a moment and reopened... staring straight at her.

"You're a damned fool... stupid girl..."

Pithos shook his head and collapsed into the shadows on the wall.

"You already have it..."

 

[AGirlCalledKill]

She simply stayed on the floor for a moment, unmoving from the curled pose she had taken while speaking to him, her gaze locked on the spot where his feet had been. She had hurt him. Actually managed to hurt him, with the one thing she had never thought of doing... To tell him...

"Pithos...," She started, but didn't let the words finish. She couldn't. What was she to say?

Instead, she stood; slowly, legs still shaking from his earlier efforts' toll on her body. If he was done with her, then perhaps it was best to attempt to head to classes. Her eyes fell to the clock as she passed through the open space leading back to the bedroom, a doubtful look coming to her face. She would be late now.
She was late quite often anymore. Not because of instances such as this, but more on their newest.... hobby.

Pandora continued on through the bedroom, going in for the master bath. She started the shower, only to steal a glimpse of herself in the large mirror over the sink. Her hand drifted up, touching gingerly at the band still residing at her neck. "A gift from an admirer," she had explained to her friends.
A lie, back then. She despised it at the time.
But now? A strange comfort.

"Perhaps a wander tonight will clear your head. Both of ours," She called out, her hand pulling away as she stepped inside the frosted glass doors, sliding them closed behind her. "They're still looking for that man around campus... The one who attacked those girls."

Was he listening? She wasn't sure. It was impossible to really know where he was.
She was mostly talking to keep her own mind from lingering.
She had done something... foolish. Insane.

 

[Mister J]

It wasn't until later that night, on her way home, that Pithos finally spoke to her again.

"Where are you going? This isn't the way back."

His words were sharp and direct. The monster was out in force and he was doing his best to hide his emotions from her. When, in fact, he was just as much of a mess as he had been before. He wasn't quiet because he wanted to be. He was silent because he couldn't find the words. What was the darkness supposed to say to the light? Were they even supposed to speak? No, of course not. They kept apart for a reason. He knew that. Pithos couldn't bring himself to let anything happen to her, not after what happened to his first. That was a weakness that he couldn't let out. Not again, and if that meant he had to be the monster, that he had to scare her and make her cry then he would. He would do whatever he had to.

Her shadow passed between others on the wall to her left, in and out among the larger ones cast. Suddenly another shadow walked along side her own.

"Turn around. I'm not taking out any trash tonight. Let the police handle this one."

She kept going. Red eyes glowed brightly, glaring at her from the wall.

"I said... TURN AROUND!!"

Suddenly a huge tentacle, as thick as a school bus, burst out of the wall and slid along the ground until it over turned a car parked beside the road. The little coupe was tossed like a toy. The massive tendril slammed back down on the ground cracking the pavement and cement sidewalk she was on. It melted away, leaving behind the damage it had caused. Pithos remained on the wall, an angry silhouette. Just then a scream echoed out from the alley just a block away.
The shadow shook his head and started to fade from view.

"You're on your own with this one, girl..."

 

[AGirlCalledKill]

She ignored him.
After his silence through the day, through her classes... It was hard to do. She was certain he knew it, too. But she tried to keep her expression stern, ignore the sound of him.

It was so much harder when he made his presence fully known, trying to not look at him, staring ahead- at the sidewalk- where ever there was clear space from him. Did he see her hands shaking, the fists tightening? Both fear and anger... But she kept going.

She knew full well it was pissing him off.
The lashing out confirmed it. She'd done enough.

Pandora was shaking now, finally glancing over at him with a stern set look in her eyes.
But she said nothing.

"You're on your own with this one, girl..."

The words managed to sting. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, taking a quick deep breath as she stepped over the cracks and broken cement he had created. "Fine then. Hide away. I'll handle this myself... I don't always need you, you know. I can take care of things alone once in awhile..."

God, she wished she believed the words she was saying.

She walked faster as another scream came. Louder, more frightened. Dora took to a run now, rushing around the corners to find the source of it-
A man's figure; though not as she would have imagined from the horror stories everyone told of this lurker of the campus. They had made him sound some hulking monster, destructive and strong. This was... thin, rather lanky, shaking himself as he stood over the young woman who now lay on the ground.

"Hey..." Dora cleared her throat, taking a few steps closer. "Hey! You! I know you can hear, get the hell away from her!"

He spun around, a wild look in his eyes while the rest of his face held no expression. He merely cocked his head at her, watching for a moment, the racing breaths causing his chest to rise and fall. He smiled, slowly. "Two for one...," He crooned, starting toward her with deliberate steps.

That other girl. She wasn't moving. Why wasn't she moving? "Get up... You- Hey, Get up, get out of here!" Pandora glanced between the man and the girl, her fists still balled at her side. "And you- Get- Get away!"

"No... Nope. No." His arm darted out, grabbing her throat and slamming her to the wall.
Well. She was used to that. Her leg flailed out, catching him in the groin, but it barely phased him. He just kept smiling. Staring. He merely flinched with the kick, his other hand raising. A knife, already reddened on its edge. "Two for one. Yay for me." His pale face leaned in closer, resting his arm at her throat as he pressed the knife against her chest, as if testing how much it took to draw blood.

He had said she was on her own...
If I die, so do you. Don't you at least care about that?

 

[Mister J]

If I die, so do you. Don't you at least care about that?

Something rose up silently behind the man, a dark silhouette that stretched out from the ground. It bathed them in sudden darkness. Two glowing red orbs opened in the midst of the shadow. The man went to look over his shoulder but it was already too late for him. Before either of them could move further, the shadow spread huge bat-like wings and quickly wrapped them up. When they opened their eyes again, moonlight lit up the rooftop of some building far from the alley. Police sirens could be heard heading away from them. Pithos, in his human form, held the man like a doll. He dragged him across the rooftop, kicking and squirming. Pandora was laid out some few feet from the others. Pithos lifted the man and pushed him up against the support beams for a radio tower. It was one of their favorite spots to hang out and watch the city. The tallest of the skyscrapers. His tentacles slithered out and wrapped around the man's wrists, ankles, and mouth. He didn't want any undo begging. This one was going to die tonight.

Then, Pithos turned to walk towards her. He was dressed in a simple black suit. A silky crimson tie the only contrasting color to the ensemble. His red eyes glimmered brightly in the moonlight. He stopped just a foot from her and peered down, the frown on his face not budging. This was not play time. No games tonight. He leaned down and pulled her to her feet. Without another word he ushered her towards the once intimidating and frightening man. With a sigh and put his hand on her shoulder and nodded towards the killer.

"I told you I wasn't going to take out your trash. If you want him gone, it will be done by your own hand."

He lifted his hand away, leaving behind a piece of himself. It grew, flowing down her shoulder and around her arm. The shadow hardened, forming interlocking plates, like jagged and sharp armor. The gauntlet covered her hand, sharp claws at the end. On the elbow, a long curved blade grew outwards. He gave her the weapon, the opportunity. All she had to do was take it.

He leaned over her shoulder and whispered into her ear.

"After this is done, you and I are going to have a little... conversation."

 

[AGirlCalledKill]

Dora watched him, somewhat unphased for the most part. To gag him seemed... Surprising. Didn't he usually enjoy the horrible sound? Or was it more her reaction he enjoyed?

But he truly didn't appear to be enjoying this. No interest, more annoyance than anything else. That was what amazed her.
Scared her.

She took his hand, looking away from those burning eyes as she got to her feet. "I wasn't going to just walk away... I had to try..." Her voice was soft, like a child explaining irrational actions to its parent. "She needed help. Someone had... to..."

She looked at the growing remnant, frowned at his words.
"You know I can't...," she whispered, looking toward the bound man.
...he killed her...
...he tried to kill you...
...Pithos tries all the time.
But... That's different. He could do it, but never does.

So many thoughts, all arguing in her mind, all while staring at the man. Pithos' gift tightened on her arm, as if begging, encouraging her to take its intended use.

He had influenced her so much.
"The bastard needs to die...," she stated softly, her fingers tightening beneath, her steps moving her toward him.
Close your eyes. Its not as bad if you don't see it.
Her arm swung heavily, a horizontal slash of the blade as her eyes clenched shut.
Not fast enough.
She saw the horror in his eyes as the blade ripped into his neck.

She turned away quickly, shaking as she did with his first attacks. Doing them herself... Harder. So much harder.

"I just want to go home, Pithos," she stated softly, staring at her feet.

 

[Mister J]

"I just want to go home, Pithos."

With arms crossed over his chest he snorted his disapproval.

"We don't always get what we want."

The tentacles holding the lifeless body grew and engulfed it. The black mass pulsed and writhed, the bulge where the body had once been, growing smaller and smaller until there was nothing visible. The shadowy appendages separated and slithered away into the darkness once more, leaving nothing of the man who would have killed Dora. Would have tried anyway. Pithos held out his hand and the armor around her arm was pulled towards him. It melted into a sticky black goo and leapt towards him. Upon hitting his hand, it was absorbed back into his body.

He clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes at her. Even now, she resisted. He scoffed and started towards her. This was growing more and more tiring. When would she just accept it? They were bound, together, for eternity. Forever.

His hand clutched her wrist and he tugged her over to the ledge. A gust of wind whipped at them, almost making it hard to stand. Pithos looked out over the edge and then turned back to her. He had to yell to be heard over the wind.

"This is going to hurt!.."

He looked back to the open air.

"... alot!"

Slowly he glanced back at her from over his shoulder.

"We are bound, you and I! As long as I live... you cannot die... and I'm immortal! So then, you are as well!"

A hint of a smirk played on his lips.

"Let go of your fear!"

And then...



He threw her off.

 

[AGirlCalledKill]

She frowned as the thing pulled free of her arm, flexing her fingers and looking away as he worked on removing what remained of the man. She didn't dare ask... Was that really something she wanted to know?

"Then what is it y-" Her words cur short as he grabbed her wrist, gasping softly, trying to brace her feet. He liked heights. Liked overseeing the word. Dora... Not so much. She was shaking as he pulled her beside him, trying not to look down, not let her fear win over.

Hurt...?
What would hurt?
"Let go. It's not funny, just let go...," she begged in a whisper, shaking her head, pausing as he spoke over the wind. Yes, he was immortal... But...

What was he doing?!
"Let GO!," she screamed in her panic, trying to pull away.

Let go of her fear....
Oh god.

She screamed even louder as he threw her off, horrified...
He truly was going to kill her, wasn't he? This was it, his... His punishment for disobeying so often, for all of it... She was crying as she fell, her heart racing.

Accept it, then.

...but he said we're connected.
He said...
I trust him, don't I?

The fall seemed endless. As though it were slowing, now. Her mind playing tricks? Or more of that twining with him?

Her body met the ground.
Pain.
But not as much as she would have thought.
Pain meant you were alive.
...and she was breathing.

 

[Mister J]

Slowly, as if rising from Hell itself, the dark haired man emerged from a shadow on the sidewalk. Eyes a glow with a constant crimson flame. Heavy footsteps circled her broken figure on the cracked cement. A long dark trench coat flapping in the sudden breeze. She was almost entirely healed already. Bones set themselves, fractures sealed, internals healed two and three at a time. It really was remarkable. He stopped at her side and looked up at the group of thugs loitering by a set of steps across the street. They stared back wide-eyed.

A smirk and a flash of those burning ember-like eyes was all it took to scare them off. What was it the comic books said? A 'superstitious and cowardly lot?" That was about right.

He turned to look back at her, still on the ground and immobile. A red trail followed each of his eyes as his head turned and his eyes cast downward. They went wide for a second and settled on her back. There, between her shoulder blades. Two almost identical rips in the fabric of her shirt. He crouched and stuck his finger through the hole to touch her flesh. Tender, a newly formed scar. Pithos peered through long strands of black, using the newly formed claw on his finger to cut the back of the shirt right down the middle. He carefully pulled the two halves apart to reveal twin scars. His eyes narrowed as he placed his hand over one. A pulse, like a heartbeat, greeted his touch.

Wings.

She was moving along fast. Faster than he had anticipated. They must have sprouted as a defense mechanism at the last second. She was too far gone into shock to realize it though.

"Hmm..."

His own voice, a sudden comfort in the silence.

Several thick tentacles rose up from the ground and gently snaked around her still fragile form. They dipped back down into the darkness, pulling her along with them. They would deliver her back into her bed to heal and rest.

Pithos lingered for a moment, feeling the strain on their bond the further she got from him. An immense pressure, an ache in his very being. He let out a troubled sigh and stepped back into the shadows. She would wake soon and he would need to be there for her.

 

[AGirlCalledKill]

She hurt. Everywhere.
But it wasn't the hurt she would have expected after the events of the previous night. This wasn't horrific, body wrenching pain. This was... More like a day spent too long at the gym. A body sore and spent. Dora's body after a night of Pithos'-

Pithos.
She stirred, sitting up slowly in the bed. Her head was reeling, almost along the lines of a hangover. Narrowing her eyes, she glanced around the bedroom, looking for signs of her shadowy roommate.

"What happened last night?," she called softly, her own voice seeming so soft to her. "Why... Why did you...."

She couldn't finish the question. He knew. She didn't need to. Her eyes closed again, her hand rubbing against her bare shoulder as she curled into the bed. Her mind recalled it; the fall, the fear, how her body seemed to be lost from her consciousness... Then him. She wasn't fully aware of it, but she knew he came to her, tended to her. How else would she have arrived here?

"You spoke of how we are connected. I knew that since the day you explained this." She tapped her necklace, still speaking to the shadows. "But.... Last night.... How did you know that fall wouldn't kill me?"

 

[Mister J]

"... But.... Last night.... How did you know that fall wouldn't kill me?"

Her words had seeped into his mind a little at a time, distant and faint at first, but soon as he moved through the darkness and shadow, the whispers became clear. Finally he emerged from the far wall facing the foot of the bed, a black fog pushed aside as pale white hands crept out. His body came forward, the dark clouds dissolving back into their rightful shadowy shapes. He stepped forward, brushing a strand of raven away from his face. Eyes the color of pitch stared straight at her, a pair of bright ruby colored pupils danced over her covered form. A few steps brought him closer, both hands raised up to take hold of the iron poles that made up the bed's lower supports. He let those crimson orbs linger on her a bit at a time, drinking up her figure. His thin lips parted as a long tongue snaked out, gliding across only to hide away once more before he spoke. His voice, quiet but firm. This one was never one to speak lightly.

"Mmm... because, little one, I am still alive. If were to die.. then you should start to worry."

He started to come around the side of the bed, one finger trailed down the iron bar before falling to the comforter, up to her foot, over her knee and along the length of her thigh. Around it went, over the curve of her hips, then down along the valley of her middle until it trailed over the hill of her breast only to fall down upon the nape of her neck and up over her chin to finally rest on her lips.

"Shhh now... rest. Your body is not ready yet."

He brought that finger up to his lips, dipping it between them teasingly, tasting her flesh off of his own before he plucked it back out.

"We have much to do, much to do."

With that, he turned away from her and sunk into the shadows once more. Gone, yet his voice still echoed in her mind. His words clinging to her thoughts like a warning of things to come.

It was true, he had plans for her now that he knew just what she was capable of. For now though, she was to rest. She would need her strength and he would need time to think.

 

[Mephistophelily]

She listened, trying to understand despite the pain that still lingered within her. Certainly not as strong as she would have thought after what had happened... His words were something that she had known. He had explained it before. But still, she never truly thought he would test her in such a way. What exactly had he been out to accomplish?

"Pithos-," She started, the whisper of his name turning to a shiver's sigh as his finger traced against her skin. Mapping terrain he knew too well... Knew better than her, and she was the one inside that skin. But he was too... His touch worried her and comforted her at the same time, a confusing mix of emotions twisting inside her.

Dora simply watched him, turning her head against the pillow as he moved his finger between their lips. Small glimpses of his intentions, hints to what laid ahead.

Never a true answer.
Never a complete reply.
He never lied... but he rarely told the full truth. Just enough...

She sighed as he vanished into the room's shadows, closing her eyes and trying to rest. He was right about that; her body simply did not want to leave that bed yet.



It was still dark in the room when she awoke. The heavy curtains he preferred kept the room in near pitch black conditions, Pandora keeping her various candles of both electric and wax to provide lighting most often. The man resided in shadows- to give too much light was destroying his comfort. Slipping her legs out of the bed first, she hesitantly stood, finding her frame far more accepting of the motions than her attempts to just sit up earlier.

How long had she been asleep?

Getting up, she plucked the small black robe from the chair across from the bed, slipping it on carefully as she moved out from the room. "I need something to eat, Pithos." She wasn't even sure if he was listening. He had to have known she was moving about, heading into the small kitchen to find food. "I'm... I'm going to guess I was out for more than an hour..."

 

[Mister J]

"...No I don't think you understand. You can't keep her like some kind of pet!"

"A pet? A PET?! How dare you!"

One voice was unfamiliar... the other belonged to Pithos. The two argued on the roof of Dora's building. The air was cold and the wind swept up from below to continually tussle his raven black hair. More and more now, he took this shape, the human. For some reason he couldn't fully understand, he found a small comfort in it. Red eyes peered angrily across the rooftop at the other man. He wore a suit as well, with a fedora-like hat and strands of bright green falling down from it. Every now and then a glimpse of gold peeked out behind squinted eyes.

Pithos looked like he was going to strike at the other man, but he soon deflated and sighed deeply, glancing below as if he could see her there in the bed below the concrete and steel.

"She's not a pet, never a pet... She's... She is..."

The green haired man just shook his head and shrugged.

"Look, whatever she is... she's in trouble. She can't be hooked into you forever. She's already turning. Soon she won't be remotely human. You need to--"

"Don't. Just go."

The green haired man stood on the ledge for a moment as if he was going to say something else but soon he stepped back and fell away from view. Pithos didn't bother looking over the edge. Nothing to see and he heard her calling for him. It was time to go anyway.

The demon sunk into the ground, disappearing from the roof only to emerge once again in Dora's bedroom.

"I'm... I'm going to guess I was out for more than an hour..."

He stood before her, hands tucked into his pant pockets. His eyes glowed in the dim light.

"Something like that."

She started towards the door and he moved to follow at her side as the pair made their way to the small kitchen.

He did his best to hide it, but inside... his emotions... they were clashing. Did he really think this could go on forever? He tried a few times to speak, but nothing came from it. He couldn't find the words, nothing sounded right in his mind. He watched her as she walked, his eyes following the flow of her robe and the skin of her legs. He couldn't help but lick his lips.

"You're changing... into what, I'm not entirely sure. This hasn't exactly happened before."

He glided into the kitchen, a graceful stride to the counters on which he leaned while she made herself something.

"Do you feel it?"

 

[Mephistophelily]

Pithos' lack of true response to her question brought a momentary frown to her face. It had been awhile, hadn't it? How had he kept himself busy during that time? He was easily bored, she knew that well from their first encounter... and the many, many after.

Don't focus on it. Like you, he's had a lot to think about and deal with lately.

Glancing over to him as she reached for her coffee cup, she tried to force a smile, though her concern on exactly what was going on made it hard. Did he think he could hide it? As much as he could read her... She could read him. Not as easily, but... it was there.

Something was wrong.

She set the coffee pot into the sink, starting to reach for the knob as he spoke.

"You're changing... into what, I'm not entirely sure. This hasn't exactly happened before."

So that's what was wrong.
He was.... worried. It sounded strange to be coming from him.

"Do you feel it?"

Pandora said nothing, simply stared into the pooling water for a moment. He was waiting, watching her, those crimson eyes peering and curious.

"I felt- something." She turned the water off, leaving the carafe in the sink as she braced her hands against the steel frame. "It scared me at first. I thought you had... grown tired of this. That I had made things too difficult with the compromise. I know how much you hated that." She glanced at him then, her face still holding solemn. "But it changed. When I hit. Before then, really. I started... a bit ago. Small... but... when you let go. I felt it then, so much more than before. Fear, and something else."

She shook her head, finally picking up the container and bringing it to the coffeemaker.
"I don't really know what it was. But it wasn't anything I've felt before. Not even from you."

Dora turned it on, watching as the first of the dark liquid trickled down into the clear container.

"It's like... Like there's someone else in there. Not just you. But they won't say anything."

 

[Mister J]

He watched her subtle movements about the kitchen, something in the way she moved from one task to the next almost made him smirk.

"It's like... Like there's someone else in there. Not just you. But they won't say anything."

Slowly his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed for just a moment.

Did she know?.. about him? The other him?

Pithos pushed off of the counter and walked away. His bare feet led him out onto the small balcony they had. It was a stone half-circle enclosure. He looked back over his shoulder, as if waiting to see her follow, before gazing out into the city. The cold air felt good against his skin. His clothes fluttered in the gust as he went to lift himself up on the ledge. He stood there, looking out into the chaos of civilization far below, toes clinging to the edge of the hard stone.

"Heh... the human. I remember him... me. I remember being human..."

He brought his hands up and stared down at them as if replaying some distant memory.

"So very long ago... just fragments, pieces of a life... her."

Suddenly his eyes went wide. There she was, his lover long dead, standing on the building across from him. Playfully gliding across the ledge like a happy child. He couldn't hear her giggles but he remembered the sound. He leaned forward, eyes squinting to see. Blue and white robes flowed out from her like water. He couldn't believe it... not possible, it wasn't. Hades had her... locked away.

She turned, looked straight at him. His breath caught in his throat. She beckoned him forward. Without thinking he started to step off of the ledge...

 

[Mephistophelily]

She didn't even notice that he'd wandered off at first. The coffee pot finished dripping, her cup in hand as she stood there, simply thinking on the odd dreams and curious feeling that had been passing through her. It just seemed so...

"Hey..."
She noticed now.
"Pithos? Wh... what're you..."

Her bare toes touched against the tile as she trailed after, the empty cup still tagging along. He was speaking, but words that didn't make much sense to her. She simply stood in the doorway, watching him talking to the sky, himself, on that ledge as confusion slowly spread across her features.

Pieces that leaked through, fitting together, almost making sense.
Himself.
His past.
His...

"Hey, listen. If... If it's something I said, I didn't mean to drag up bad memories," She called softly. "You had asked. I was just trying to explain and..."

Was he listening? He wasn't turning around, barely acknowledging her. It almost felt like he wasn't even in her head anymore. She didn't feel him as she normally did. Was he that lost in his own thoughts?

"Pithos, you're worrying me. C'mon."
Still nothing.
"...Pithos?" She stepped hesitantly closer, seeing his own steps take him near the edge. "Get down, c'mon!"

He stepped again, but no stone under his feet.
She screamed, dropping her cup and rushing to him, trying to grab his arm... Miss. "No-Nonono-" She swung herself up and onto the ledge, her robe no longer a concern as she dropped after him.

Catch him.
You need him.

Her arms wrapped against him, her head buried against his neck, a sob in her own throat as she clung to him. She wasn't even sure how... What had let her do that. The fear he told her to let go of... she had.

She felt it now. That feeling again.
"Don't you ever do that again. You can't leave me alone in this. I can't...," She pleaded into his ear, her eyes opening enough to see her robe slowly falling to the ground below through the strands of his hair.

Her back ached- It felt so strange... But almost familiar somehow.
"I need your help... I think... I think I- Pithos, I'm naked over the city, I'm fricking FLYING- I need you to snap out of this and help!"

 

[Mister J]

Finally Pithos snapped out of it. He quickly realized what had happened and before Dora could say anything else, her world was enveloped in darkness. When the shadows retreated, she was back in their bedroom. Pithos was standing on the other side of the bed, her laying atop it. He was looking out the window, the drape pulled to one side. It was like he was waiting for something.

"I saw her... on that building across from us. Just laughing... like everything was fine... she called out to me... I saw her.. I did..."

It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself even more than her. His voice wavered from certainty to confusion and back again. For once, Pithos was the one who was suddenly insecure. Was he going crazy? He turned to face her. The wing had retracted, again they acted like a safety mechanism to protect her and retreated back inside her when she the danger had been averted. Pithos took the few steps towards her on the bed and ran a hand through his long hair.

"I can't believe I did that... thank you..."

He almost couldn't believe he said it either. Politeness wasn't exactly his cup of tea.

"You were scared.... are you okay?"

He looked down to her on the bed, genuine concern showing on his face, a completely alien concept to him any other day... but with her... it was different. He actually... well... he cared. Maybe more than that.

 

[Mephistophelily]

He came to.
Faster than she even could expect. She barely saw the recognition in his eyes- but she felt it. His mental state. Awake. Aware. He was back. She clung to him, drawing a last relieved breath above the city as he drew her in. Don't do that again, please... Please. Fear, echoed even in her thoughts as he brought them home.

He left her on the bed, but was wandering himself. The window? Since when did he care about-

When he spoke, her face paled. He sounded so certain on it all. As though the image he saw was truly there. She started to speak, only to shake her head and close her lips. What to say to him? Would he even listen?

"I can't believe I did that... thank you..."

Pandora looked up, shocked. She had only heard that from him a few times before- and even then, she wondered if it was sarcastic. This was... honest...
"Y-Yeah. No problem. I just..."

"You were scared.... are you okay?"

She hesitated, looking back to the floor, a hand clutching at her opposite arm. He knew her mind. He knew everything. And yet, it was still hard to say.

"I'm fine."
A lie.

"You scared me."
Not a lie.

"You just stepped off. Like it was nothing. I thought I was going to lose you, Pithos. That's what scared me. Not what you said before, about us linked... But that you would- would-" She shook her head, still refusing to look at him. "Go ahead, call me stupid. I know... I'm sorry." She frowned, looking at her hands, bending them together a moment, flexing them back. "I used to be afraid of you. Now I'm... I'm afraid to be without you." She finally looked at him, trying to bite back tears as she forced out a quick laugh. "I know. I know! Go ahead."

 

[Mister J]

A shake of his head was what he offered, followed by a weak smirk. He knew what she had meant, the phrase he used with her more times than he could remember. It had become a term of endearment more than any kind of insult.

"Stupid girl..."

He reached down to touch her, remembering what his old acquaintance had said. If she was to be more to him, more than some kind of pet, he would need to start treating her as such. What had happened to him, to the embodiment of the evil of men? Was he going soft, was this girl rubbing off on him just as much as he rubbed off on her? As the skin of his fingertips brushed against the pale skin of her shoulder, the black in his eyes started to pull away, like fire being extinguished or a cloud parting to reveal white beneath. The crimson pupil faded to a dull cobalt blue. He wasn't aware of it and just as his touch seemed to trigger the change, when he pulled back, so did the usual coloring of his eyes. They glowed once more as he peered down to her on the bed. He brought his hand back to his side and sighed.

"Get dressed. I need a distraction."

It was true, the image of his long lost beloved had instead turned out to haunt him. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had after seeing her. As always, his mind raced with possibility. What did it mean? Was it her? Did someone send her? Was he dreaming still?

No, he needed quiet now... or something to keep his mind distracted for a little bit anyway.

The demon turned away from her coldly and almost marched out of the room.

"We're going out. Put on something... slinky."

As he passed out of view, a slight smirk pulled at his lips. Time to play.

 

[Mephistophelily]

Pandora lowered her head slightly as he spoke, trying to hide the smile that played at her lips with the words spoken. As much as they once irritated her, she had come to... like them. It was the closest she had ever gotten from him to the words she wanted to say herself.

She had tried. Even said them, in a way. But not... how she meant to.

His hand touched her shoulder, a brief flitting of warmth against her skin. She sighed, closing her eyes- only to realize.

Warmth?

Impossible.


"Get dressed. I need a distraction."

Back to blunt, almost angry words. She frowned, glaring at the head of the bed as he started for the door.
"We're going out. Put on something... slinky."

"Yeah. Sure." She slipped off the bed, glancing after him. Something was odd about him.

No time for it. His 'suggestion' only gave her a small window of time before he would begin harassing her. Best get to moving.

Going to the closet, she took out one of the dresses fitting his request. Funny how most of her wardrobe fit into his favorite colors...

Wait. Something of a different hue, resting in the back of the closet. She smirked, pulling it out.

The bright pink dress clung to her, the color managing to make her smile even more. "Hey, look. We don't have all black around here," She called as she stepped out of the bedroom, the thin black strap around her neck present as always. "She shrugged, pointing to it. "But I just can't seem to lose it."

 

[Mister J]

"What are you talking about, gir--"

He turned, his eyes went wide, and his jaw hung agape. Genuine surprise, for the first time that they had known each other. He was actually caught off guard.

"You... what... that..."

He lifted his arms in a half shrug, confused at her choice. Was she trying to prove something? She knew what colors he liked on her. Some sort of rebellious tendency? He cocked his head to the side, giving her another look. His lip curved up in a snarl.

"Pink?"

Pithos just stood there for a minute, staring at her. It was slinky, that was for sure, even somewhat classy, but the color... he never expected... that.

Soon enough he gathered himself and took the few short steps towards her. The fabric of his pristine crimson tie almost touching her pink abomination. His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward a bit.

"Take. It. Off."

 

[Mephistophelily]

She was smiling.
Was.

The look on his face killed it immediately, a scared biting of her lips as he stalked over to her. "I... Just... It's almost red...," she mumbled, cringing as he leaned in against her.

"Variety is.... Good?"
Wow, her voice had squeaked. She thought she outgrew that.

The furious snarl drew it, Pandora pulling away and starting to drag the fabric up over her head.
But then stopped.

"Then change it FOR me!" She dropped it back down, glaring at him. "You can't, can you? It's a real dress! It's not part of you!" She hugged her arms about her chest, gripping the fabric. "I'm keeping it. At least this way I know it won't grow extra parts and try to make a mess of me in public!"

She tried to keep the firm stance.
Except she was shaking.

 

[Mister J]

He moved to step forward, his hand started to rise, but then he stopped. His snarl wound its way into a smirk and he paused, looking her over. His breathing was steady and relaxed, the gears in his devious mind were cranking about. The smirk grew wider, showing his curved teeth.

"Fine. You can wear it."

The shadows around them started to quiver and dance. The lights flickered, his red eyes the only light in the brief glimpses of darkness. Suddenly claws pushed out of the various shadows. All shapes and sizes, long and short, thin and jagged. Then hands and arms, followed by whole bodies. Creatures, all different kinds. They looked like goblins, some short, some tall, large pointy noses and ears. They all had the same glowing red eyes like Pithos.

The monsters started to inch towards her, all of them with similar smirks. There must have been at least a dozen of the things. They growled and snarled at her, licked their lips as if hungry. Pithos just stood back and watched, that evil grin never leaving his face.

"We'll have some fun while we rip it off of you... piece by piece."

 

[Mephistophelily]

She cringed again. So much for the attempt at bravery. He knew she was faking it, trying to act like she could stand her ground, and was going to-

Smile at her.
"Uh?" Pandora lost the flinch, her hands dropping from the dress. He was letting her keep it?

Why did this worry her more than him becoming upset?

Her concern was quickly proven valid as the room darkened, those crimson eyes flashing his revengeful intent. She took a few steps back, trying to get back to the bedroom, lost briefly in the darkness as the shadows grew.

"I'll change," She quickly choked out, already afraid of what he had planned. "Just- give me- just- stop..."

The creatures that pulled from the darkness forced a cry out of her, looking back at him as they crept closer. Her eyes widened as he explained the new company, quickly shaking her head. "I'll CHANGE! I'm sorry, that was a stupid comment- I shouldn't have- I'm SORRY!"

She shrieked as one of the demons snatched at her dress, trying to slap it's hand. "Let go! You listen to him, don't you? Well I'm part of him too, so screw off!" Another grab, a ripping sound. Her face paled. "Pithos, call them off!"

 

[Mister J]

Arms crossed as he watched the group of demons surround her. They giggled and cackled like hyenas closing in on their prey. Her panicked screams did not go unheard, but he stood unflinching as they started to claw at her. She was brave in her own way he noticed, swatting at them as if it would help. He shook his head. She actually hit one. The little thing shook it off and went back in unphased. The others did the same, growling and laughing all the while, claws catching fabric here and there. Leathery fingers brushed and groped against pale flesh.

Bits of the hot pink dress cluttered the air and clung to their nails as they ripped and tore the thing away from her body. He stood there all the while, watching. She would learn not to cross him. He was surprised she didn't know already. He always got what he wanted... eventually. Sometimes all it took was a clever idea or a convincing word. This time it was more... hands on.

He raised his hand and they backed off, some still clamoring for more, tongues lapping at lips and exposed fangs.

There was barely anything left of the dress, yet seeing her standing there clutching herself... what was that feeling deep in the pit of his stomach?

Ignore it.

He strode forward, pushing away whatever that was, until he was right up on her. He looked down at her coldly, his eyes firm and unwavering. He almost spoke, but then... another idea. He conjured up a chair. It took shape behind him and he lowered down onto it. His eyes shot back up at her and he motioned toward his lap with one finger.

"Lay across."