Read Online Pandora (Book 3) (The Omega Group) by Andrea Domanski - Free Book Online Page A

story, but she decided to let it go. There were more urgent things
to discuss. “We really need to speak to Artemis.”
    “She is waiting for you,” the queen said as she ushered them
toward the goddess’s statue.
    Mirissa felt sure they could have spoken to the goddess
without being near the statue. During the battle at Ortega, Artemis spoke to
Mirissa telepathically while she’d been unconscious and saved her from having
all of her powers drained by a succubus. The enormous statue was nothing more
than a physical likeness, but, she had to admit, talking to it rather than
empty air did make her feel a little less crazy.
    “Artemis?” Mirissa’s mother called out. “We need your help.”
    “I’m here,” the melodic voice of the goddess of the hunt
replied. “I will tell you what I know, but that is as much as I’m allowed to
do.”
    “Is it really Pandora’s box causing all of this?” Mirissa’s
mother asked.
    “I’m afraid so,” Artemis said.
    Mirissa thought the goddess sounded tired. The strength that
normally radiated through her voice had been replaced by something else.
Despair? “I remember the story of Pandora from my Mythology class. Zeus gave
her a box and told her not to look inside. She got curious, opened it, and let
all of the world’s evils out.”
    “Not exactly,” Artemis replied. “You see, this planet you
call Earth was once our playground. For millennia, the gods held dominion here.
When Zeus created man, he gave this world to you, which angered many of the
gods, none more so than Eris, the goddess of discord. She tried, unsuccessfully,
to rally the other gods against Zeus. When that didn’t work, she turned her
wrath toward mankind. Destroying all humans became her sole purpose. ”
    Mirissa’s mind whirled. Although she’d accepted the reality
of Greek gods long ago, she still thought of them as background characters in a
story revolving around humans.
    “We are, for the most part,” Artemis said, in response to
Mirissa’s unspoken thoughts. “You must understand that the majority of us sided
with Zeus. Watching humans from afar has been a great source of entertainment
for us. Eris, however, could not be appeased. She inflicted every manner of
disaster on the earth in her quest to reclaim it from you. When she caused a
great flood to cover the lands, Zeus was forced to intervene.”
    “Hang on,” Mirissa interrupted. “When you say ‘a great
flood,’ are you talking about the whole forty days and forty nights thing?”
    “Yes, young warrior. That event almost caused your
extinction. Zeus knew, in your primitive state, you were no match for Eris’s
wrath. His only option was to contain her.”
    Greco spoke for the first time since Artemis began her
story. “So, he stuck her in a box?”
    “Yes. But to appease the gods who supported her, he struck a
bargain. The box would stay closed for five thousand years, giving mankind time
to evolve. When it was again opened, humans would have to prove their
worthiness by defeating Eris, with no interference from the gods on either side.”
    “And if we can’t?” Mirissa asked.
    “Eris will eradicate you all, leaving the world, once again,
to the gods alone.”
    “That makes no sense,” Greco said. “Even with five thousand
years to evolve, Zeus had to know humans would be no match for an angry
goddess.”
    “He did. Why do you think he allowed preternaturals to
populate the earth? He knew that when the time came, only a human with
exceptional powers would be able to close the box.”
    “And that’s me? My key is meant to close it?” Mirissa’s
voice shook under the weight of the awesome responsibility.
    “Yes, Mirissa. Zeus fashioned the key all those centuries
ago and entrusted it to a woman whose descendant would be destined to be the
key-holder upon Eris’s return.”
    “Pandora,” Mirissa said, putting the pieces together in her
mind. “I’m Pandora’s descendant.”
    “It is your destiny, Mirissa. And