- 29 -

"I'm such a stupid bitch."

Pandora pulled her werewolf cloak tight against herself and tried to sleep. Falling asleep was typically easier in a cool place, but the winter air seemed to cut right past the fur. She curled up into a ball to fight back against the shivering. The deck chair's steel bars dug into her back in half a dozen places, the lumps only pressing in deeper as she concentrated her weight across a smaller area. But those were just excuses. As a hunter, Pandora had practice falling asleep in less comfortable places. The real problem was that she couldn't calm her mind.

Sleep was proving impossible, but the starry sky greeted her each time she opened her eyes again. Every glimpse served only to keep her mind in a constant loop of recollection. Stargazing had led to that boneheaded confession; led to that fucking kiss. Pandora squeezed her eye shut before stargazing could ruin her life any further.

Lily's horrified face met her in the darkness. Her winced eyes. Her scrunched nose. The slight bite of her bottom lip. She had looked about to vomit, and Pandora felt the same way remembering it.

The nausea intensified as a familiar voice called out to her, "Come now, Pandora. You'll catch your death sleeping out here."

The last person in the world she wanted to hear from. That rat bastard, Gamal, had found her at her lowest point. She already felt empty, and now he was here to kick the husk around. She didn't even have the energy to fight back.

"No need to pretend to be asleep. It's quite rude don't you think?"

Pandora gritted her teeth. There was no escape from the pain. She had been trapped in a constant cycle of misery for the past five years. Why did she think she could suddenly escape?

"Though I suppose it's in your nature to be rude. Wait... Don't tell me that's why you're sleeping out here. Did you have a fight with that little girlfriend of yours?"

His shrill voice scraped against her mind like nails on a blackboard. Since she had met him, each of his words had been akin to physical pain. But now they hurt worse because there was nothing to argue against. He was right.

"What a shame, but you were always fighting against time. Can't hide your personality forever."

"What do you want me to say? That I'm a sad, miserable, raging bitch and no one will ever love me? Fine, it's all true; you win. Now please, just leave me alone."

She didn't know why she was even bothering to beg. That's not how this worked and she knew it. Life was going to drag her as far down as it could manage.

"Pandora, I'm hurt. Is that the type of man you think I am? I couldn't just leave you here like this. Why don't you stay in my room tonight?"

"Spend the night with you? I'd rather freeze to death."

"With me? No, no. We can trade. You stay in my room, and I'll go keep little Lilith company."

Unbearable tension pulled Pandora's muscles taught against her bones. A rush of heat overtook her body. If he says one more word I'll fucking kill him.

"With you out of the picture, maybe she can finally learn what an orgasm is."

Pandora was standing before her mind finished processing the sentence. Her body moved on its own, fueled by the pressure of her blood boiling. By the time conscious thought caught up to her, she found herself pinning Gamal to the wall; forearm against his throat. Though her actions hadn't been her own, she approved. Her only complaint was that her body hadn't squeezed harder into his windpipe, a mistake she quickly corrected.

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The bastard's response — laughter. Deep and slow.

"Seems I struck a nerve. Must be true then." Gamal's voice became thin and raspy as Pandora pressed even harder into his neck, but his smile never faded. "If you need help, there's a finger technique I can teach you. Maybe if you make her cum she'll take you back."

"Listen to me you repulsive little fuck. Leave her alone; she's not part of this." Pandora's body shook from the cocktail of adrenaline and anger running through her veins. The world would be a better place without this scum, but you can't just get away with killing humans. At least, not unless the church decides to classify them as youkai for their own convenience. Through clenched teeth, Pandora added, "Come after me all you want, but don't touch her."

Gamal's features twisted and warped as his smile grew deeper, almost to an unnatural degree. "But, dear Pandora, they're the same thing."

"Hey! What are you two doing over there!"

Pandora turned to find a fresh-faced young man in a security uniform sprinting over. Just behind him the lead security officer, Allister, stood with his head in his hand. They must be out on patrol. Pandora ground her teeth, then pulled her arm from Gamal's neck. She watched him cough and suck in air as the security officer reached them. She pushed past the young man and headed toward Allister.

"Ma'am, wait! Ma'am?"

Pandora ignored him.

"Sir, was that woman attacking you?"

"Who, Pandora? Oh, no, she's a good friend of mine."

That, Pandora couldn't ignore. She turned back, finger pointed at that bastard. Her eyes locked with his and she screamed, "Not your fuckin— AHHH!" Frustration had locked every muscle in her body, including the tongue. She had lost the ability to articulate her thoughts. The uproarious laughter Gamal threw out in response only made the problem worse. Giving up, she crossed the remaining distance to Allister, a cigarette lit by the time she reached him.

"Pandora, just what the hell was that all about?"

She held a heavy hit of smoke in her lungs until she couldn't handle the burn anymore. She exhaled, then stood in silence for a moment before hurriedly saying, "Don't worry about it," and taking another drag.

"Well I am worried, so tell me what happened." Allister stepped forward and tried to rest a hand on her, but she ripped her shoulder away from the touch.

Pandora glowered up at the man. Was he trying to intimidate her with his size? If he thought that would work he was dead wrong. "What, this your first day with eyes? I obviously got into a fight."

"About what?"

"None of your business." Pandora walked away from him and threw herself down into the deckchair she was calling a bed.

Allister let out a sigh. "Fine, you don't have to tell me tonight. For now, I'll just walk you back to your room."

One last drag finished out her cigarette and Pandora flicked the butt across the deck and over the side to the ocean below. "I'm not going back to my room."

Allister's brows raised. "What do you mean you're—"

The officer Allister had been leading around rushed up like a child looking for approval from their father. "Sir, I sent the other passenger off to his room. He was adamant that he didn't want to press charges."

"Very good, Stanley."

"What about her?"

Pandora could feel the man's eyes all over her. She reached up with a still shaking hand and gave him the finger.

"I'll take care of it," Allister said. "For now, I want you to finish out the patrol route. I'll meet you back in the office afterward."

"Yes, sir!" Allister's underling gave his best salute then rushed off down the deck. Pandora didn't bother to watch him leave. Instead, she found her eye glued to those damn stars again. Memories flooded back of the look she had received.

"Is it Lilith?"

Pandora froze at Allister's question, then rolled over and curled up hoping to ignore it. First, she had to deal with that ape bastard and now Allister wanted to hassle her. She was so fucking tired of it all. She had tried so hard to stay strong after what had happened with Lilith. Struggled not to break down. But now every person on the ship was lining up to rub it in her face and she couldn't hold back anymore.

The sting in Pandora's eyes overwhelmed her as tears poured down her face. She sucked in air in uneven gasps. Why couldn't this night just be over?

Footsteps approached and Allister's voice was closer when he said, "Pandora, are you crying?"

Pandora spoke between sobs. "So... so what if I am? Is that illegal? If you're not going to arrest me, fuck off. I... I just want to sleep."

"Fine," Allister said, "Pandora, you're under arrest."

Was that his idea of a joke? Pandora sat up and turned back to the man expecting a look of satisfaction for having bested her. Instead, she found only a deep sorrow. He let out a breath and said, "I won't close the cell so you'll be able to leave whenever you're ready. But the room is heated, and the bed has a real mattress."

Pandora was still for a long time. When she finally gave her answer it was silent. The gentle nod of her head. Then she stood and collected her bags. Once everything was gathered she took a spot beside Allister, then an impulse struck her.

Pandora gave the man a grateful hug, and he returned it.