Return To Pandora: Book 1 in The Pandora Series (4 page)

“What the…?” Escaped Zack’s mouth as he was thrown across the room and landed with a loud thud against the far wall, he was up and swinging his arms violently at our attackers who had effectively covered their faces from our view.

I got up and started doing the same. The adrenaline that I use to control everything when I am pissed or scared is coming out now and helping me throw our attackers against everything I could. I hear it before I see it and before I even realize what is happening. The water from the river behind the building is flowing violently into the building and surrounding the two people who came here to either kill us or kidnap us. It swirls around them like a twister taking them in and I use my instincts and twirl it out of the building and back into the river with them still inside.

I heard a scream when they were let loose, but Zack and I were already on the run back home to get help and explain that I am definitely what my mother envisioned, a force to be reckoned with.

When we reach my house out of breath and breathing rapidly, I was just about to climb the four steps to my door when a cloud of smoke appeared in front of me. I was about to go through it when suddenly there was a figure there, no wait there were two of them there. Both of whom looked to be about the same height and weight as the two people we fought at the warehouse.

As I look at them they pull their hoods down and grin at us. The woman looking to be about my mother’s age greets me, “Well hello Jacquelyn.”

That’s all it took to get my blood boiling and I flung her to the door of the house without even realizing it was happening. I used my right arm and flung the guy looking to be about the same age as this woman into the wall beside her. They both looked to be in their mid-forties and they look to be related with dark black hair and streaks of gray in the front. Both of them with coal colored eyes and lightly tanned skin.

“I don’t know who you are or why you are here, but I will kill you if I have to,” I said to them both.

My voice was so steady and calm I didn’t recognize it in my ears. Then the door that the woman had been restrained on opened and out came my mother.

“Olivia?” She said in a shocked voice.

Unexpected Visitor

I dropped them both and they landed with a thud on the porch. “You know them?” I asked her incredulously.

Her features changed and then they were picked back up against the walls the way I had them a moment prior. The panicked looks on their faces showed they feared my mother and I for one was grateful for that.

“I knew them back in Pandora, they were allies with Christina. They are the reason your father is dead. They gave away our plan of attack. We were going to go through the tunnels that run under the castle and end up in the kitchen and they were met with guards on the ready with weapons to kill them before they even had a chance to fight. I never saw your father again after that day.”

She looked sad and pissed all at the same time and I couldn’t help but want to kill them for her. My only problem was I didn’t have a weapon on me and I had never killed anyone before, let alone thought about killing someone.

My mother spoke calmly but deadly, “What do you want? I want the truth or I will slice both of your heads off in one swipe of my hand.”

Olivia looked more scared than the guy did, which given the look on my mother’s face, I would be a little scared too.

I had to tell my mom what happened at the warehouse but I didn’t want to tell her all the details in front of them. So I just blurted out, “They attacked us the warehouse. If I didn’t fight back then I would most likely be dead by now or kidnapped and taken somewhere no one knows about. Mom they shot me with something!”

I moved my sleeve over so she could see the puncture wound in my shoulder. But to my surprise and by look on his face apparently the guys too, it was already healed.

Zack was there instantly inspecting me and the warmth of his skin on mine sent shivers down my spine. I had to hold back the look of pleasure from him and everyone else. Which with him I do more often than not so it wasn’t that hard.

“Amazing,” he said and brushed his fingers over the pink scar that was left in the place of my wound.

I loved the way his skin felt so perfect on mine.

The guy cleared his throat to get our attention and he winced as my mother tightened her hold on him.

“If I wanted to kill her I would have,” he said.

He was so sure of himself that I had to question if he was being truthful or not. He did have us at a disadvantage with our focus not on them but on each other and on my ability to lift things with my mind.

“We found her while tracking you and when we saw her lifting everything into the air without moving her hands, we knew we had you. Only your mother carried that gift and it is suiting that your child carry it since she is the destined one to bring us back from the dark ages in Pandora.”

He spoke so calmly and was so convinced that I would lead them through these dark ages. Before my mother could say anything he continued.

“Katherine. We did not come here to hurt either of you. Also that wasn’t us in Pandora that gave away his plan. We would never do that to you or to him. He is our King.” He stopped and an emotion that looked like regret passed over his face before he could conceal it. He didn’t speak again.

“What do you mean is?” My mother demanded. “HE IS DEAD DEREK, BY YOUR HANDS!” She yelled with venom dripping words.

He didn’t flinch, he didn’t even blink an eye and all he said was, “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I assure you my Queen, I never did anything to betray you. Yes I threw a dagger at your daughter, but that was a test and once I saw everything fall as she was hit I knew she was your Jacquelyn and she has her father’s powers as well I see,” he said looking at me. “Katherine, you are not listening to me. Stephan is alive. Christina captured him and has him in some sort of trance. He doesn’t realize that you were ever his, he doesn’t even remember having Jacquelyn. He’s forgotten who he was and even the mention of your name doesn’t bring him any sign of recognition. She is having him do her bidding, killing the people of our kingdom who don’t agree with her and still think that she should be overthrown. He is weak without you, but the others are still no match compared to him. The Queen must have realized that he couldn’t be defeated because they didn’t kill any of the warriors in that tunnel. They are all alive and doing her dirty work. We tried to go on like it didn’t bother us, but we couldn’t do it. We need saved and we need you!” He finished looking defeated. It must have taken a lot to admit he needed some ones help, especially ours.

My mother’s hold on them fell and they both fell with a thud. “You have seen him for yourself then?” She asked with a sparkle of hope in her eyes and voice.

“Yes,” Olivia said. “He came to our village a few months ago with a few of the warriors that were with him when he disappeared. He looked right through me as if he had never seen me before. Katherine, can you imagine what it feels like to have your brother look through you as if you were nothing to him? Just some commoner who lives in filth and fights for the Queen when she needs it?” She pleaded with my mother.

But all I got out of that was brother? Brother? My dad was her brother? I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Especially if my mom swears that they were deceiving him and turned him in to the Queen. But he’s alive? I had hope now too. Hope that we could win this if he just saw my mother and me he would realize that we were his family.

Olivia must have noticed the turmoil going on in my head because she answered some questions I was sure I didn’t ask out loud.

“Yes he is my brother and yes I would be your aunt. No we didn’t turn on him I would never do that to him. I loved him, he was and still is my only brother. My parents both died when we were young so naturally we helped raise each other. We are twins. A very rare case in Pandora you will soon find out and there is no other bond stronger than that of a twin except true love. I hope with all my will that he recognizes you and even if it is small, it will make him ponder it and loosen the hold on him that the trance has him in,” she said looking at both my mother and me.

“How do you fit into this equation?” I asked Derek pointedly.

He chuckled at my look and what left his mouth next was not at all what I expected. I was so stunned I couldn’t be furious.

“We, my dear, are to be married.”

All I noticed as my mother yelled at him, telling him that the moment he turned his back on us the deal was off, was Zack tense next to me. All emotion gone from his face and turning very pale.

I’d had enough. I couldn’t marry some douche bag that I didn’t love and looked to be about my mother’s age. I took my arms and leaving Zack by my side I pushed everyone up against the wall. The stunned looks on every one of their faces was proof that I was more powerful than any of them thought, except Zack. He witnessed my powers first hand and knew I was evolving faster than anyone did. 

“First, what age do we live in? No one does arranged marriages anymore. Second, I refuse to marry someone I do not love and I will not marry someone old enough to be my father either. And last, how are you two going to help me defeat Christina? Because from where I am standing I don’t need either one of you, all I need is Zackary and my mother. From there on out everyone else can go suck on something.”

I held them all to the wall while I pulled Zack inside the house with me. After I closed the door I waited a few more seconds then released my hold on them. I heard the familiar thud as they all dropped to the porch, then I continued to walk to the kitchen to grab a drink and a snack.

“You wouldn’t marry him if your parents forced you too?” Zack asked me from across the counter.

He looked distraught and the tone in his voice signaled that he was already coming to terms with me having to marry someone else.

I was rummaging in the cabinets and refrigerator for a snack and it looked like I needed to cook because we had nothing in here. I closed the door to the refrigerator harder than I intended and I caught Zack jumping at the sudden bang. I tried to hold in the laughter that came out but I couldn’t.

“A little on edge there, sweetie?” I asked after I got my laughter under control.

He just gave me a dirty look in return and said, “So does that mean you would?” He asked sounding a little defeated.

I walked over to him and placed both hands on his face and made him look me in the eyes.

“If it were you they were making me marry, I wouldn’t think twice. But some guy comes back from Pandora and says we were to be married, he’s lucky I didn’t kill him because I would never marry him. I don’t want him.” I said and my boldness came out because I wouldn’t have said this under any other circumstances. “I want you, I always have and I always will,” I said planting a sweet kiss to his lips as my mother and the two people I didn’t want to see came in and cleared their throats.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” my mother said, amused that I was kissing Zack out in the open. She knew how I felt about him and she was probably thrilled that we finally were on the same page with each other on how we felt. “But we have agreed that you are not going to marry Derek. He has agreed to let you marry for love and he will never bring that topic up again,” she said in a stern voice that I assumed was directed to him.

I turned away from Zack, but he kept his hand in mine while I looked out at the three of them. “Ok, good,” then I asked “So what are they still doing here?”

My mother let out a huff of air and told me why they were here. Mostly because they know the way around the castle and know the routines of all the guards and blah blah blah.

I stopped listening after she said they would be assisting us. I really didn’t want to work with them. I had a gut feeling I couldn’t trust them even though she is my father’s sister, once a traitor always a traitor.

We finished the discussion and I told them that under no circumstances were they to help me train with my powers. They could help the others but I did not want nor did I need their help.

They both nodded their heads understanding that they were in a world where they were not in control. I was. I also told them none of the kids that they train will know about my extra gifts.

When they asked why I simply replied, “Because I said so.” That brought a slight laugh out of Zack and it made me smirk. They both nodded their heads in agreement and guessing they were waiting to be dismissed I said “Ok, you can leave now.”

They left after my mother walked them to the door and I had a feeling that she didn’t want them here “helping” us either. They were definitely trying to kill us earlier today, what changed? Was it the fact that they couldn’t? Maybe, but I would not let them watch or teach me how to use my powers. Then I would have no element of surprise if they go against me.

We explained everything that happened with them at the warehouse to my mother. I told her how I tapped into another power by controlling the water and that was how we escaped them. She listened to everything we said and even after we were done she didn’t seem to have anything to say.

“I guess we will keep a close watch on them then, but I don’t get a bad vibe from them, in fact I feel very strongly that they are telling the truth. But if what you said is true then maybe they are deceiving me yet again.” She looked lost in thought as she made her way up to her bed for the night.

I walked Zack to the door and before I even realized what I was doing it was out of my mouth and in the air before I could stop it. “Can you stay the night?” I asked with a little venerability showing in my eyes.

His stroked my cheek lightly with his thumb as he looked me in the eyes. I tried to look away but he held firm using his mesmerizing gaze to glue my eyes to his.

“I would love to,” he said as he leaned in and kissed me. Gently at first, but it grew more fierce the more I kissed him back.

I realized that I wanted him in a way that was very inappropriate for our age no matter the world we came from. I pushed away slightly and held his hand and tugged him up to my room.

I went to quickly shower and change in the bathroom and when I came back out I realized he was already asleep. I took his shoes off and threw my spare blanket over him while sliding under my blanket already on my bed. I lay with my arm wrapped around him and he rolled over and pulled me closer to him. I loved this feeling. Being held by the guy you love while falling asleep in his arms. It felt weird, but also very good to have this. To finally have Zackary the way I have wanted him for so long. It was like my own piece of Heaven.

“Rest your mind it is keeping me awake,” he said half asleep and I felt him stiffen as he opened his eyes wide. “What the heck Jackie? I can hear your thoughts. All of them!”

He sat up, ran a hand through his messy hair and looked at me incredulously. “How is that possible? What are we missing that we haven’t been told?” He asked me over and over again

I was at a loss for words. What am I supposed to say? Um, I’m not trying to have you hear my thoughts and I bet our parents know more than they let on.

Then he said, “Jackie just stop thinking you’re too loud in my head.”

I flew out of bed and as I rushed to the door I said, “I’m going to get my mother.”

He stood up and ran to her with me.

“MOM!” I yelled as I rushed to her door and opened it without even thinking. She was sitting at her vanity absently mindedly brushing her hair and crying. “Mom,” I said again and added, “we have a huge problem and what’s wrong?”