Pandora's Box

Chapter 1: Part III

The princess slashed at the air and the indigo fire limning her hands arced like lightning into the three thugs surrounding the king. Lakal watched in horror as his men dropped their weapons and convulsed in agony. Silt poured from their eyes and ears and mouths as their blood turned to dust.

Lakal fell to his backside and scrambled backward up the hill for the cover of the rocks. He pointed a damning figure at Pandora. His lips quivered as he delivered his accusation before disappearing around a boulder.

"That girl shall be the death of us all!"

Drake climbed to his feet and stared hard at the desiccated remains of his attackers.

"What have you done, my daughter?"

Pandora felt the tingling sensation fade in a slow spiral, down from her elbows, past her wrist, and finally through her fingers. Light flooded back into view and the world at her vision's boundary filled itself back in. A sickly feeling filled her stomach. Acidic. Sour. Shameful.

No...

Not shameful. Not remorseful either. Those men, those animals were going to hurt her father-her faday. That she could not allow. Not ever.

But...

Pandora saw the look in the king's eyes. It wasn't fear. Not exactly. And it was neither disgust nor disappointment. More like...

Concern.

Pandora had never demonstrated any gift for magic beyond what the king and queen had seen her demonstrate first hand during her lessons at Khamos. The affinity for the dark power of the Blight magic had come to Pandora during the quiet moments before dreams slipped into sleep. She hadn't yet found the right words to tell them...

"I... I'm sorry. They were going to take you away from me," Pandora said, parting her eyes from her father's gaze. Tears rolled down her porcelain cheeks.

"I couldn't let them."

The king hobbled over to Pandora's mount. "You did what you had to to protect your family." Drake wiped Pandora's tears.

"To not act in the face of danger is the highest sort of cowardice."

Pandora sniffed and nodded her understanding. "What should we tell mother?" Her stomach somersaulted twice at the idea of admitting to having used magic in such a terrible way. Queen Adella would never understand.

A half-hearted smile stretched over the king's face.

"You let me worry about your mother."