Pandora Adams

Azera sat at his desk, going over all the papers once more. He kept his smile up, even though I knew he was bored of all the work. Most days I simply stood here by his side, grabbing him whatever he needed. He had come to trust me, while Jacky was still terrified for some reason. I didn't dislike it, but it cut our playtime shorter. I rested my eyes, watching through all the little nibblers I had accepted into my Hive.

Mommy couldn't take in other creatures as I could. I had given her all that I knew about it, but it was something she couldn't do. Just as I couldn't see the spirits and souls of others. The hour we spent talking to each other had been enlightening, as she explained what she knew of magic. I still think she feels bad about messing up my head.

I couldn't see the issue though. I couldn't hate anything, but I could prefer stuff based on what I liked more. Then there were daddy's words that I used to guide me. I should only return the love others wish to give to me. If someone tried to kidnap me, it just meant we got to play and my nibblers enjoyed an easy meal. Azera himself said there were a lot of slavers that would like to eat me up. It was only fair because even slavers deserved love.

I like to think that Azera understands my logic, that he understands me. I have spent more time with him now, than even mommy or daddy. I didn't miss them since Mark told me about them every day. He gave me messages from mommy and told her my replies. Just like how I got scolded for telling others how old I was. Mommy would probably do it more directly when she came into Eclipse, but that was still three days away.

It didn't matter, as I felt my mind drifting further. The lines between me, and the others blurred as I sank deeper into my personal Hive. The countless legs were moving to different tunes. The unending beating of thousands of hearts. I knew I wasn't like mommy. If her body died, she would just move among her Hive until she got a new one. If I died, then I was just gone. Mommy might be able to save me, but even she didn't know what could happen.

Mommy was one with her Hive, and as I sank deeper beneath the sounds of legs and hearts, I felt warmer. I felt myself falling into the body of a nibbler. A viper rat to be exact. My mind taking over its own, while it slept. Its mind struggled to grasp concepts like love and all the other things I had could understand that it couldn't. Almost like how the termites couldn't perceive doors when this happened to them. Most of them left in a desperate attempt at trying to understand what I had given them during our time together.

They wanted to be one with me, just as I wanted to be one with them. I felt our connection deepening as I gnawed at the wood like the viper rat had been doing. Scraping away layers of teeth, enjoying how nice it felt to scrape them on this block in particular. I could feel my fangs pressed against the roof of my mouth, the buck parts the only thing being scraped. My ears flicked as I heard the others around me. Ah, we were in the storeroom Azera gave me. The place where I kept most of my Hive, and used my allowance to buy blocks of 'useless' wood like this.

It really did feel nice to just nibble. My ears flicked again, "Pandora." It had an echo, but someone was calling my name. I was busy with the wood though. I wondered how nice it would be to shed my skin. The pain was uncomfortable, but the feeling after was simply amazing. "Pandora!" I almost got my buck teeth just right, and my tail was rattling with joy. I stopped when something hit me in the head, "Wake up twerp!"

I blinked, seeing Cheshire standing in front of me. My tongue was hanging past my neck, and I hissed at him. I was at the best part! "You're so mean!"

He raised a brow, poking my forehead again. "Got a problem with it?" He showed his teeth while still smiling.

I pouted, crossing my arms. "You don't understand how nice it feels to bite on wood."

Cheshire rolled his eyes, his flowy sleeve swishing while he waved his hand. "You just have to say the weirdest things, don't you?" Cheshire sighed, "What's my name right now?"

I crossed my upper arms, "Cheshire."

He tsked, pinching my cheek. "It's Azera, I'm the one that should be mad! Why are you dropping a spider on my desk!?"

I hissed at him, "It's Chezire! Becauze you are mean!" He tugged on my cheeks making me speak weirdly. "What zpider?" I looked past him to see Clarice lazily resting on Cheshire's notes. "Oh!" I grabbed his wrist, making him stop. "I don't control this one."

A soft chuckle came to me when the connection was established, |"Young lady, how are you going to be a bodyguard when a deadly assassin such as myself can just waltz in here?"|

I stepped towards her, picking up the spider that was bigger than my head. I had a few workers move to clean her legs for her, "She's with us though. This is the great Clarice!" I presented the Hive's most adorable messenger. Clarice flexed her fangs showing how warmly she received the praise. |"What are you here for? I was working on my magic!"| I fumed a little, as Cheshire refused to pet the amazing spider.

Cheshire tried to walk past me, but I blocked him. He looked at me, "Move, I got work to do."

I smiled, "Pet the great Clarice! She deserves lots of praise!"

Cheshire tried to step past me again, backing away when I almost pushed her into his chest. I grinned more, knowing he didn't like spiders. Clarice chuckled again, |"I'm sorry for interrupting dear, but Scix asked me to inform you about what's been going on in his stead. He's been rather busy with his elves these days."|

I had the man cornered, but he teleported to his desk. "I said I have work to do! No spiders allowed on my desk." He straightened his shirt, our chest ruffles matched since I tore the old ones out and replaced them with my silk. Everyone needed to know I was protecting him after all. He squinted at me, "Keep this up, and I won't give you a single copper this week."

|"My, how rude."| Clarice stretched her legs, while my workers cleaned her belly.

I huffed, "She says you're rude."

Cheshire's eye twitched as he went over his papers again. "I swear you need to learn about boundaries, you little twerp."

I raised my lower arms from my dress, making myself look better while they snipped "I haven't even made your pants! I'm respecting them!" I stamped one of my four slender legs. |"You're right, Cheshire is a jerk."|

|"My, it seems to be that way. As I was saying, however, the Raven has largely claimed the side closest to Argus. Or, I should say reclaimed. He has half his territory back while using the Blind Eye's service to 'invigorate' the lesser gangs. A cunning tactic on his part to be sure, as they are joining him for the discounts offered. Which leads to Argus having more funds to spend on her adorable little gnomes."|

I smiled, even though Cheshire ignored me. Gently petting Clarice, while the workers cleaned her back. I knew the spots I wasn't supposed to let them touch. |"They are adorable, you're bigger than some of them!"|

Clarice softly laughed, |"They always include their caps, and it's rude to say a lady is big. I might have to teach you some manners."|

I let my snippers fall back to my dress while I stood in the corner, swaying my hips to make it just a little harder for Cheshire to read his papers. I giggled when he pointedly made a portal that made me look at myself. |"I made you a silky bed. You said you can't get mad at me, especially when I call you Auntie Clarice the most wonderful spider in all the Underground."|

Clarice tapped on my forearm to let me know she was done being cleaned. |"I truly can't be mad at you. Not when you're ever so thoughtful. Where is the bed, dear?"|

|"It's in my warehouse."| I continued to pet her while swaying my hips happily. The bottom of my dress flowed more since my snippers were latched to it and made the dance even more fun.

|"Ah, I'll get it later. Anyway, Scix has moved into the Underneath for the time being. He's using the tunnels and his elves to get him a few new bodies to control. Though he has established a presence opposite of the Raven's territory. I believe he's biding his time to snag a few more bodies, though he admits the local entomancers have been annoying."|

I shrugged, |"Did he do that thing with Kobe?"|

|"What thing, dear?"|

I stopped moving, trying to think about what it was. |"I don't remember, but it's Scix. He probably did it."|

|"He hasn't told me, but you're probably right, dear. Gray,"| I let out a hiss at his name. |"Don't hiss, it's very unladylike."|

|"He left us."| I gnashed my teeth, not hissing as I was asked.

|"Your mother will give us more information. Until she gives the word we should harbor no anger towards his actions."| Clarice crawled up my arm.

|"You sound like Auntie Argus."| I huffed, |"It hurt though, and we don't even know if he'll come back. What if he kills one of you? It'd be better if he told us why he left!"| I didn't hate him, but that didn't stop me from getting upset or angry. It still worried me, I mean Clarice was the weakest of us. If he caught her, I might never get to play with her again.

Clarice climbed over my face, resting behind my doily horns. |"Your mother has decided to allow Argus to handle this. If something bad happens, then we just need to take care of it after. You'll worry yourself to death if you fret about everything little one. Life is too short to not enjoy it."|

I nodded slowly, |"Okay..."| It was sad to think about it. None of us knew how long Clarice would live, since she was a monster spider. All the bugs I knew tended to die in a few months, and she was even older than me. A pair of legs went over my eyes, making me giggle as I closed them.

|"Guess who."| Clarice teased.

|"The best spider in all the Underground."| I sent back while still giggling.

|"That's right, now my bugs heard some very interesting things that mister Cheshire might want to hear."| She pulled her legs back so I could see again. |"Call to him like I taught you last time."|

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"Oh, Azera~" I half giggled as he dropped the portal, shuddering a little.

"Don't do that, twerp!" He looked at me, a bit flustered from our antics. "I don't like the fact that you've been giggling either."

I skipped towards him, upper hands on the desk while my lower legs clung to the face of the desk. I crawled up it a little so I could look at him at eye level, crossing my arms. "Clarice has important news for you~"

Azera shuddered again, "I said stop!" He put his papers to the side. "It better be important, or you won't get any dessert for a month!"

I stiffened, |"Oh no... this is important. I promised my Hive that I'd give them the leftovers, Clarice."|

|"Hmm, do you really think he'd do it? Squint at him, and let out a low hiss. It's what your mother would do, dear."|

I gave a slow nod, but stopped and squinted at Azera. I wasn't mad at him anymore, but there was no time for weakness! I let out my most intimidating hiss, "You wouldn't."

He clasped his hands together, looking into my eyes. That smile turned smug. "You think I won't?" He tilted his head. "You've been getting rather rebellious lately. I don't need a brat for a bodyguard. You seem to misunderstand your place in all this. How about we make it two months of no dessert if you fail to provide me with something useful."

I swallowed hard, |"Is it really good? I might get in trouble if it isn't."|

|"He wants to hear this, challenge him!"| I found courage in Clarice's words.

I let out another mighty hiss, "It's so good that you can bet four months of no dessert on it!" I put my hands on my hips, laughing.

Cheshire grinned, "Eight months then, and no allowance then. Unless it's just that good."

"Wait no, you're supposed to make a counteroffer! Like double desserts because it's so good!" |"Tell him, Auntie!"| I was about to cry.

Auntie Clarice decided to stay silent while Cheshire leaned forward, "Oh no, you're living here rent-free, just like all your bugs. The storeroom I gave you to use would cost two gold a day." I swallowed hard at that, "That's not counting your allowance, the coin I have to spend because you let those pests nibble on everything, and even your desserts. You don't get a counteroffer, only eight months no dessert, and no allowance if you continue to waste my time."

I covered my face with my hands, it felt like my world was falling apart. I wouldn't be able to feed my Hive, I'd lose my snakes and rats. My bugs would be abandoned on the streets, they'd be orphan bugs! All of them with tiny little cups begging for crumbs, and no one would give them any. All because I made a mistake. I couldn't blame Auntie Clarice, mommy taught me better than this. "Oh no..." I realized Cheshire might even kick me out too. Then I would fail the mission I was given.

Auntie Clarice gently combed her legs through my hair, |"I suppose this simply needs to be good enough, doesn't it?"|

I let out a hiccup because I couldn't cry like the others did. I slowly nodded my head. "Please, let it be good enough."

|"The Cheshire is a mean one isn't he?"|

I nodded again, "Yes, he's very mean, but what could be worth *hic* eight months and *hic* allowance?"

|"Hmmm, not much. I may have made an error. If your bugs are kicked out, then I'll have to take them into my tunnels."| She tapped my horns.

"T-thank you Auntie, *hic* Clarice." I sniffled a little.

Cheshire coughed, "I can hear you, you know?" His voice was low, it was the voice of a cruel person. So very mean, even though he stole those books for me. It only made him slightly less mean.

|"Tell him that the Rat tribe has made an agreement with Kobe."| Auntie Clarice was combing my silk hair, and patting my horns.

"T-the Rat tribe *hic* has made an agreement *hic* with Kobe."| I peeked at Cheshire through my fingers. Hoping it would be enough. I didn't even know where to find cups small enough! Maybe giving them mustaches made out of silk might work. Bugs in disguise.

Cheshire turned serious, "What kind of agreement?" A shadow covered his face.

|"Information on the current tribe politics in exchange for protection. They feel this united front might fall apart within the next two months."|

"Information *hic* on..." I told him everything Auntie Clarice said. Which only made him lean back slowly. I knew him well enough to know he wasn't happy. |"Auntie! How was that supposed to help!? He's mad now."| I hiccuped a little more.

|"Yes, but he's not mad at you anymore."| She patted my horns a few more times.

I swallowed hard, while Cheshire took a deep breath, "I need more details. This is extremely important, Pandora. Please tell them to me."

"Y-you won't *hic* throw my bugs out onto *hic* the streets? I don't *hic* have to make them tiny little cups?" I looked at him, my vision a little blurry, but I couldn't produce tears. It just made my eyes very glassy, even while I hiccuped again.

Cheshire covered his mouth, he wouldn't frown, but that was how he expressed the action. "I promise, so please, tell me everything."

|"Jacky knows, and he planned on saying something next time he saw you. By then it may be too late. The chief of the rat tribe will be meeting at the Minotaurs warehouse."|

I let the Cheshire know what Auntie Clarice told me, while the man chewed his lip. "Who else knows about this?"

|"Only the foxes, but they likely wouldn't have told Azera for free. Their leader even mentioned keeping Jacky busy in their territory, should they provide a few crystal shards."|

I told Cheshire, who rolled his eyes. "Lovely, glad the foxes got that covered. I'll send a small box of shards to Kyu later. We'll be paying a visit to Remy in a few hours."

|"That is unwise."|

I swallowed hard, "Auntie Clarice says that isn't a good idea."

|"He should be present for their meeting."|

"She says you should be there when the rat chief is having his meeting."

Cheshire looked me over, as he paused. His grin grew wider, "You're right, I should be there for that. The Minotaur will provide protection, regardless of what Remy tells them. The fact that I know will send a very clear message about my information network. You're a terrible bodyguard, but a brilliant spy, Pandora."

I huffed a little, "I'm trying! Mommy said to protect you."

Cheshire chuckled, "I'm glad she did. If you have more to tell me, I'll give you double desserts this month."

I perked up, staring at him with wide eyes. I bounced on his desk, making it rattle a little. |"Auntie, please!"|

She chuckled through our connection, |"Only because you asked so nicely, dear."|

Cheshire grabbed his paperwork, "Stop! You're going to knock it all over. You won't get anything if it all gets mixed up!"

I stopped, while Auntie Clarice told me the secrets she gathered. Stuff like how the Bewmen were selling their enchanted weapons to the lizard tribe mommy was worshipped by. Then there were the frog people with razor teeth. They made a deal with the Raven for extra water, because they didn't want to be seen as weak by Azera. Clarice recommended sending Levi there to make sure nothing bad happened.

There was also the meeting with the assassin's support group, which wanted Azera to come and talk about his success. Clarice said it'd probably mean a lot to Liz, and shouldn't interfere with his paperwork. Azera himself said there wasn't much potential in the people there, but he'd do it to make Liz happy. Clarice promised to eavesdrop on a meeting between the bears and the wolves.

The day ended up getting pretty busy after that, with Azera teleporting us to tell some people where to go, and what to do. Auntie Clarice got her silk bed and was very happy. Even though she had to leave before night came. We stood behind a few crates while we waited for everyone to enter the warehouse an hour later. Azera was probably a better sneak than Auntie Clarice or even Scix.

It was kind of cool, how the ratman clutched his cane, and had a hood over his face. He had fangs and a rattler like the viper rats his people came from. Azera told me he could make smoke and control it with his talent, but that didn't seem as impressive as the fox people making illusions. I think they had magic based on their race or something, since I never saw them do anything else.

I heard the footsteps before I saw the Minotaur. Cheshire was watching the rat chief, so he didn't notice when I quietly walked behind him and onto the wall of the warehouse. Honestly, it was kind of rundown and dingy looking. It would be a perfect place for my Hive. Kobe taught me something very important though. I continued walking up the wall, then on the ceiling since the bottom of my legs were very sticky. Azera noticed me, suddenly going very pale. Nobody else did, even as Kobe himself walked through the wide doors.

All eyes were on the Minotaur, as he looked around. He smirked, walking towards the rat chief. "I'm glad you made it!" He kept the ax over his shoulder.

Remy coughed, "Yessh, it was rather difficult to arrange this meeting. Essspecially without anyone noticing."

Kobe smirked, "Oh? Tell me little one, what's the most important thing I taught you?"

Remy looked up at him, probably blind because of the hood on his head. "I beg your pardon?"

I took a deep breath, "ALWAYS GO AFTER THE BIGGEST GUY IN THE ROOM!" I let go of the ceiling, as the others jumped in surprise. Kobe let out a bellowing chuckle that rattled throughout the room, even as I landed on the flat part of his ax. My movements were flawless, and he was mine! I tackled his neck, hugging him while he kept laughing. I needed my extra-long arms to give him a proper hug. Kobe patted my back.

Kobe tilted his head back, "Oh no! I have been felled by a dangerous assassin! How could I be betrayed like this!" He peeled me off his neck while I giggled, sitting me on his shoulder. I laughed, as he used his huge finger to poke my stomach and tickle me. I was like the size of a baby compared to him. He was just that huge!

I gasped when I noticed he didn't have any scars on one arm. "What happened to your arm!?"

Remy just stood in silence, while Kobe chuckled. "You might want to ask the scar eater about that. A monster just barely smaller than me, and it eats scars!"

I bit his finger, "I'm a scar eater now! Rawr!"

Remy coughed, "I'm jussst going to leave now." He turned around to find Azera standing behind him.

Azera grinned at the mouse person, "I thought you were going to tell the Minotaur about how our politics were going. Maybe share a few secrets, in exchange for protection."

Kobe laughed, "Ah no! My scars, how will I impress all the lady minotaurs now!?" I couldn't even break his skin if I bit as hard as I could. Kobe pretended to cry, while I laughed.

"All your scars are belong to me!" I laughed at not saying it right, but we were having fun.

Kobe bellowed out another laugh, "Noooo!" He pretended to cry out. He took a few steps forward when I saw smoke. I saw him kick the poor rat guy into the wall behind Azera, who just sighed pinching his brow. "Whoops, my foot slipped"

Azera crossed his arms, and Kobe did the same while looking down at him. "I'm going to thank you for holding back, but I still kind of need him."

Kobe shrugged, which made it extra fun to ride on his shoulders and hang on his horn. "He shouldn't have tried to smoke me out. Guess I thought he was trying to smoke me out."

"Ha! Smoked beef!" I scratched his neck, while he tilted his head with a smirk.

Azera just sighed, "So, how long have you been friends?" He gave me his angry smile.

I commanded the lice in Kobe's fur to bunch together so I could eat them all at once. "Since we met, Kobe told me not to tell anyone."

Kobe stuck out his tongue, "Yeah, I told her not to tell anyone."

Azera rubbed his temples, "Okay, what have you told him?"

I tilted my head, "Anything he asked me about, that I wasn't told not to tell anyone about?"

Kobe tilted his head with me, "Yeah, anything she wasn't told not to tell anyone about."

Azera showed his teeth while his grin grew bigger. "You aren't helping, Kobe."

Kobe tilted his head back with a deep sigh, "Boss, he's being mean to me."

I patted his head, "Don't be mean to Kobe, I thought you were supposed to be nicer to gang leaders. You told me that much."

Kobe held his stomach, leaning down as he laughed harder. "Yeah, you taught her that."

Azera clasped his hands in front of his face, taking a deep breath, "We're going to have a very long discussion when we get home, twerp."

Kobe frowned, "Uh oh, I think you're in trouble."

I nodded sagely, "I'm always in trouble, Kobe. Always." I stroked his fur, "Do you think anyone will recognize bugs with silk mustaches? What if they had little tiny cups and begged for crumbs? I might not get to feed them desert for a while."

Kobe let out a small laugh, "You're awesome kid."

I was told to take Remy home after tying him up with extra silk. I complained that I didn't have enough food in the warehouse to make more and got my dessert and some more from the crate Kobe 'accidentally' broke with his ax. The second thing he taught me was to steal when nobody was looking, if I really needed something. Which judging by the look Cheshire had given me earlier, meant my poor bugs were going to be on the streets with their tiny cups after all.

I dropped Remy off to a bunch of very scared rat people. He had woken up, but I told him that I would get to feed him to my bugs if he tried to make smoke. I cut his bindings and took my silk with me. Once I got home, I lined up a few of my cutest nibblers and put silk mustaches on them. I had them gnaw a single block of wood into a tiny cup, while carpenters made them tiny little caps. I know, a stroke of genius to make them tiny gentlemen down on hard times. The gentle rats would help the thug bugs make their way on the cold hard streets.

Cheshire entered my room, and probably felt some sympathy for them, since he only scolded me. It took all night to tell him everything I told Kobe. Which thankfully seemed to be a lot less than he expected. Most of it was about mommy after all. It was a shame I couldn't accompany him on the super-secret mission above ground anymore. The parade was tomorrow, but there should be one next year. Maybe then I could see it with my sister. Mommy only told me Ember was doing fine, though she was very sick. Hopefully, she'd be good enough to see the sunrise with me soon.