Anachronistic: Endless Masquerade

16 | Among Monsters - Part 1

- 16 -

Lilith watched the sun lift itself lazily above the horizon as the breakfast bell was rung. She walked to the second class galley looking out towards the soft orange pink of the sky shifting into the blue it would carry throughout the day.

        Thirteen more sunrises until Eden.

        Pandora walked along side her. No, it would be more accurate to say she walk slightly behind her. The narrow space between Lilith's left shoulder and the lined up deck chairs was too small to fit a person. Yet, Pandora had squeezed herself in as if the plentiful room on Lilith's right didn't exist.

        "I'm shorter than you. I don't think I'll block your view of the sunrise," Lilith said.

        "I have a thing about people being on my left."

        Lilith drifted over a few feet and Pandora slipped into the free space she made.

        "Why does..." Lilith's question drifted off as she ran it through her head again. "Because you can't see well on that side."

        "Not too bad, Lilith. I'm impressed."

        The conclusion seemed obvious. Lilith tried to examine Pandora's expression, sure that the hunter was making fun of her. When she looked over the woman glowed in the early morning light. She looked like angels did in illustrations; a heavenly beauty backed by a shimmering halo. When Pandora noticed the stare, she gave a wide smile. Lilith turned her gaze away, heat rising in her cheeks.

        "You're being sarcastic, aren't you?"

        "Usually, but not right now."

        "What is there to be impressed with? It's simple reasoning."

        "I used to think the same thing. Mocked the first few people to get it wrong. But it kept happening. Over the years I've realized observation and reason might be requirements for a hunter, but they don't make corn grow faster. They don't season a stew, or stitch torn clothes. Most people don't strengthen their mind because they don't need to."

        Pandora raised her arms high above her head stretching the muscles. "That's why now when someone asks a stupid question... Well, I still mock them." Her arms fell back from their stretch. Her right hand landed atop Lilith's head on its journey down and began to rustle her hair. "But I appreciate the smart one's like you."

        Lilith pulled herself away from Pandora and swept her hair roughly back into place. "Stop, your gonna mess it up."

        Pandora beamed. "Who do you think fixed it in the first place."

        Lilith stuck her tongue out wringing a laugh out of the hunter. Not looking to be teased any further, she shifted the conversation back to her previous curiosity. "Pandora, how did you lose your eye?"

        "I didn't lose it, I know exactly where it is."

        Lilith blinked at the speed of the non-answer. There was no awkward silence while she decided whether or not to reply. Not even a pause while she put together her words. She hadn't just dodged the question, but done so automatically. A rehearsed denial. Did that mean she was uncomfortable sharing with anyone, let alone a relative stranger like Lilith?

        Lilith had just been praised for her reasoning, so she decided not to get the complement revoked. She wouldn't press the issue. The rest of their walk was spent in silence only broken by the creak of a door. Lilith spun. Pandora held it open, beckoning Lilith inside with a wave. She had wandered straight past the destination. Not wanting Pandora to see her embarrassment, she kept her head low and shuffled inside. She could feel the woman follow her in; the hunters presence like a weight on her back.