A delicate creature once born, a fledging startled creature that had gone from ugly duckling to black swan. There was a peaceful investment of a family upon the hopes of a daughter's beauty to bring forth fortune.

She was an exquisite canvas, a molding clay that they could form into whatever they chose.

In the kiss of sun's first rays she had stepped into the kitchen of her home, eyes soft upon the handsome pair that were her parents.

"Father, Mother, I have seen such beautiful things."
"In the garden, child?"
"No. It was like a dream but seemed something... I might touch. I saw one and he was... the darkness in my light."
"Child, my dear, was this a nightmare?"
"No father it was beauty. I felt... it seemed... like lo..."
"Pandora, we do not speak of these things."
"But..."
"No more, you know what we said of this nonsense."
"Father... Mother... please I must go... I must find him... he seems so real"

She had stood there at the threshold of the door as her parents shared a glance. The moment was a volume that would take great tombs to fill. Familiar she was with that look. The look they cast upon a daughter with a fresh beauty it might bring down or win over countries but yet the Oracle's vision was a Seer's curse to touch her.

No one would marry a Seer. The glance spared between her parents was a written volume. This would be her secret again.

Her father approached his daughter, spilling a hand across the raven wing black of her hair, a smile to his lips as he stared down into the passing memory of his daughter's midnight blue eyes... those captivating eyes. One moment to seem a blue of mystique and the next so dark they would seem onyx.

Bowing his head his lips touched her brow. A solemn whisper.

"Child... remember what I told you. If you speak of your gifts in public, they will take you from us. If this blessing is spoke of from your lips or the people are to find out... you will never know love."

Her smile was a beauty that was life born of tragedy. A heart could wilt and fade with the knowledge of locking away something that made you who you were. How could any man love a woman completely if a part of her spirit was locked away?

Acceptance filled her eyes, she knew the burden she would carry for the nature to see and yet not to show the world such a gift.

She turned away from her parents after a warm embrace for both. Returned to her bedroom quarters as she sat down in the chair of her vanity.

Reflection on a vision that was not of her face, but of another vision. Him.

Trapped here she was. She would not run away from her parents, she loved them so.

There was a knowledge of a torment that this man of her dreams could fine. Was it a costly thing then to know of the darkness and cold that would make a man's heart cease to beat... to leave him forever changed in a life within death... to know it all and to do nothing?

"I wish to save him from this darkness of soul..."

A whisper to a reflection. The mirror image of her... her looking glass twin was sorrow, a fall of tears from blue eyes that now seemed... tormented.

It could not be beared. Her back was turned away from her reflection. She could not break her word to her family for the promise of a vision that perhaps would be born of insanity. She would keep her word.

It began with a jar. It would end with a jar. The beckon of a pithos. The impatient nature of a teenage blooming into womanhood as she watched as her father and mother cooed over the potrait. Paid the generous sum to the artist.

"They already have heard great things about you, Pandora. The letters already come. By the end of the week they will visit, pay respect."

"You sound as if I have died, mother, and they are to lay flowers on my grave."

"That is no way to talk, Pandora."

She did not answer. A turn away. She left them that night to journey into the close knit roads of her home town. Carthage always would be home to her.

Fingertips traced the structures before she disappeared into the museum. Wandered in its breathtaking aisles. Admired it all. In low whispers she heard the intellect of philosophers discussing the nature of man, the wonders of the world and she smiled to herself.

Men ever would be fools, and women ever lambs.

A fall of lashes when she stopped upon an area of the museum she had never stepped foot in. There was no warning sign, no reprimand for this trespass.

She stepped in, deeper to be embraced by that new section of the museum.

Pandora was drawn to the strange artifacts. One especially.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

A voice like velvet spilled down her back. The man, the fierce beauty of him, took her breath away.

"Yes."

"It has a way to it."

A voice to join the velvet, this one a caress of silk. She found a woman at her side, so lovely Pandora felt she should shield her eyes.

A pantheon they were. She knew others were there. The vision of them played in her peripherals. So Wicked. So Lovely.

Dangerous allure.

The silk voiced beauty purred in her ear. "It could take away this all for you. Silence that which you do not wish to hear. Give you freedom."

"How can a jar give freedom." Mocking the dark ember kindled on Pandora's tongue.

"How can a child see the end of the world?"

She had no answer to that. "Well maybe...just a peek."

Curiousity. A deadly thing. She took a step closer.

Unaware of the victory and the exquisite pleasure in their smiles as they waited... and watched.

When she came home things were not the same. She had a sister.

One she had not known before, yet her mother and father were so acceptable of this new addition to their family.

Only a few years younger then Pandora. She did not ask for the girl's name. Knew that she had to play along.

Pandora knew this girl was a few years shy of being woman, this girl was sent by them. The ones in the museum.

"Selene, go help your sister."
"Yes mother."

A smile there, eyes pale blue resting on this silver pale child. Pandora knew then that this girl was a gift. That from now her life would be bound to this child's.

The pair walked away, disappeared into the garden. It was only then that the silver-blue eyes of the young girl would fasten again upon Pandora.

"You must not go back to them."
"Were you not sent by them, Selene?"
"I was but what they want... I do not wish. It is a bad thing that they do."
"I will do as I wish."
"I know..."

The smile was shared between the two. One a smile of fixed determination, wrought of defiance, the other deep tranquility. Acceptance no matter the cost.

A Sterling Silver Rose and Black Orchid in bloom. Ever together but still Pandora would not heed spoken words.