Chained Souls: Night Sixteen--The Final Night

**Katherynn** · 01-23-2012 03:30 PM

Chapter Sixteen: The Final Night

I glared at the alarm clock and it's bright red numbers and blaring noise.
Today was Monday which meant school—which was something that I hadn't done in forever.
I climbed out of bed and walked to my closet, carefully selecting my clothing as someone walked in.
"Pick the one with the silver design," Helios said as he sat on my bed, carrying something in his arms. "Silver suits you."
I immediately thought to my tattoos and smiled as I pulled a long sleeved shirt with a silver rose opening in the middle. On the back 'Forever Loved' was printed in the same silver.
Next came a pair of jeans and then my socks and normal pair of black Converse.
The poor Converse were so worn it was hard to believe the shoes were still holding together. The black had long since faded to grey even though I'd gotten them just a handful of months ago.
Even though Helios was in the room I didn't think twice to undress and redress in front of him as I got ready for school.
"What do you have there?" I asked finally as I brushed my hair, giving a pointed look at the papers in his hand.
"Don't you know what today is?" he asked curiously.
"Um...Monday?"
"In Mr. Keats," he said as if I was stupid. "Our project is due."
I couldn't help it. I laughed. And it was loud.
"All of us could die and you're worried about our project?" I laughed. "We have barely worked on it!"
"Correction, you have barely worked on it."
I blinked and he handed me a summary with our names typed in bold print on the front cover.
"Completely, one hundred percent done," he said matter-of-factly. "That I can promise you."
I blinked several times before flipping through everything, trying to remember the requirements.
"All I have to say is...wow."
He laughed and took the things back from me before walking out the door.
I finished getting ready and looked around the room one, final time before leaving.
This was probably the final time I'd ever see my room again.

I stepped into Mr. Keats classroom and took my seat beside Helios. Selene wasn't in her seat and her partner looked very peeved. His leg was bouncing up and down, hitting the underside of the desk.
"Ready?" Helios whispered.
"As much as I can be."
It was kind of funny, actually. I was terrified of speaking in front of a class but I was ready to die. How that made any sense was beyond me.
Several groups went up and took their turns when called upon until, finally, it was our turn.
"Pandora Avalon and Helios Pendragon," the teacher said in his gruff voice. "You're turn."
He peered up from above his clipboard as we walked to the front of the class room.
Helios, thankfully, was the one speaking.
"Pandora's Box, originating from Greek Mythology, was said to be a magical box gifted to Pandora by Zeus," Helios said calmly, handing me a wooden, beautifully detailed box. "But, we cannot describe the story of it without first describing Pandora herself.
"Epimetheus and Prometheus were the start of the legend. The two were titans who watched over the humans. Epimetheus, who saw the people suffering, had the idea to steal fire from the gods and give to his people. And he did exactly that.
"Zeus, angered with what Epimetheus had done, ordered Hephaestus to craft a woman. Hephaestus, who longed for Aphrodite, eagerly took the task and perfected the woman before giving her to Zeus.
"Shortly after, Pandora, who's name means 'all gifted', was filled with many 'gifts' from the gods and goddesses. Some of which were intelligence, the gift of music and song, and, the most noteable, curiosity.
"Afterwards, she was sent to an all-male earth and given as a bride to Epimetheus. She was gifted with a box which she was told not to open under any circumstance.
"For quite some time Pandora when without opening the box but, as time continued, her curiosity hedged her to open it. Eventually, she succumbed and opened it.
"Immediately all the evils plauging mankind now were released from the box. Pandora, terrified, slammed the box closed, leaving one evil inside--hope."
I opened the box and, on a stone inside, was the 'evil' Hope.
"Hope, many argue, shouldn't have been put it the box with the others. But, at the same time that hope is meant to be good, hope can also ruin things. You hope your partner isn't cheating on you. You hope you'll pass a test you know you failed.
"You hope that what you believe is true.
"Hope is just as much an evil as it is a good force. It simply depends on what outlook you take on it."
I closed the box and we walked back to our seats, handing Mr. Keats the rest of our items due before sitting down.
Selenes partner when next, awkwardly sifting through details before the bell rang saving him.
The rest of the day went exactly how a normal, human day should go. Everyone was oblivious to how much danger they were in.
At the end of the day, Helios and Pain were waiting for me. Pain even asked how my day was.
We made my way to our house and I sat down as we made small talk--waiting. Even Evie was quiet.
"Oh, Pandora," Helios said, reaching into a bag and pulling out a piece of paper. "I got our grade for our project."
"What was it?"
"A C minus."
I stopped and jerked the paper from his hands, seeing the angry red 'C-' glaring back at me.
"Really?!" I said, glaring. "He really have us a C?!"
"Minus."
I glared at Helios and sighed, dropping the paper and falling back into the chair.
"Wow...Just...wow," I sighed. "I hate that man."
"Mom," Evie said, locking eyes with me. "It's time."
Everyone was immediately on their feet and, with no warning, we were thrown every which way like rag dolls. When it stopped, we hit rock walls.
I groaned, struggling to my feet as I observed the room...or, rather, the hallway. A very familiar looking hallway.
We were in Tartarus.
"No way," I breathed. "Pain? Helios?"
I held myself up on the hallways side and looked around. The others were gone and I felt myself pale. Being seperated wasn't good for any of us.
"Evie?! Tribute?!"
No responce.
I immediately started running.
This was the hallway that led to my room while I was held captive here. It took me no time to find the door.
I shoved through it and stopped in my tracks as I my gaze met a green-silver one.
"Doubt?" I breathed, feeling myself pale. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't you see, Pandora?" he said, rounding my old cage. "This is one, final test. For you. For us. It is the ultimate test."
"You don't have to do this," I said, panicking. There was no way I could fight Doubt. "You don't have to listen to Selene!! Think about Talisen. About...About...About Signit!! What would she think if she saw you now?!"
He didn't even hesitate as he walked towards me.
"Signit is dead," he said calmly. "And Talisen is home. You need to be destroyed--extinguished."
He slammed me against the door, hand around my throat, and I fought for enough air to take a breath.
"This is the end," he said calmly. "Goodbye, Pando--"
I felt something sharp edge at me and it took me a moment to realize that it was something that had come out of Doubt.
My gaze settled on a familiar female as Doubt fell to the ground, not moving.
"Neme...sis," I gasped, choking. "You...You're here..."
"And others," she said, pulling her dagger out of Doubt's back. "Selene is at the heart of Tartarus with Death. Evils are crawling all over the place. Helios has already taken out Obsession. Evie found Pain and they're working together.
"We need to hurry."
I nodded and she rushed out the door. As I turned to follow, I heard it--the voice.
"Pandora..."
I turned and saw Signit in white robes. Standing beside her was Dou--no. Standing beside her was Cult, smiling.
"Thank you," she said, smiling, her arm wrapped around Cult's waist. "I finally have him back."
"Save our brother," Cult said sadly. "He can be saved--but only by you. You saved me, now save him too."
"I will," I promised firmly. "I will save him--I promise."
The two smiled and I rushed out the door, barely noticing the pulsing feeling of the evil being absorbed into me.
"There you are," Nemesis growled, dropping a form at her feet. "I just finished off Intolerance and Pain took out Irresponsibility."
As if on cue, I felt the pulsing in my leg grow more frantic as the evils spread through me. My tattoos burned but I shoved the pain aside.
"So all that are left are Wrath, Distrust, Hate, Misery, and Defeat," I said as the burning subsided and we started to run through the twising hallways.
"And Death," she said coldly. "Keep in mind--he is an enemy now."
I nearly fell as another burst of heat flooded my tattoos.
"Who fell?" I gasped, slowing down slightly. I wasn't sure how much longer I could go on. "Who took them down?"
"Aphrodite just took out Hate," Nemesis said, chuckling. "She's always strongly disliked that evil. Good to know she got her claim."
I would have to ask Nemesis about that when we all got out alive. About that and pretty much everything else about gods and goddesses.
An evil I recognized as Misery suddenly appeared in front of us. Nemesis didn't even blink as she decapitated it in one move and stabbed it for good measure in another.
Half a second later the burning sensation returned and we were running. I could feel in the pit of my stomach that were were close.
"Up ahead!" she yelled as we rounded a corner and burst into a large, cavernous room lit only by thousands of candles.
Helios, Pain, Tribute, and Celfior entered seconds later. None of the other gods or goddesses followed.
We met up in about the center of the room and the sensation in my leg built to the point of pure agony and I fell to my knees.
"Pandora," Helios gasped, his white shirt torn across the chest and bloodied. "Come on--don't give up now!"
"Pandora," Pain said, helping me up.
"Her body can't take it," Selene's voice said, bouncing off the walls. "A human body simply can't handle all of them in it."
She laughed and I caved.
"Show yourself!!" I screamed. "Don't be a coward you traitor!!"
"Oh, but I'm not the traitor," she said, walking to us from the darkness. Standing behind her was Death. "He is."
I felt my heart stop as Death's blank expression stared at nothing.
"Death?" I breathed, reaching for him. "Death--don't do this. Please...Cult...He died. He wants me to save you."
Selene laughed. Loudly.
"Save him?" she said, laughing hysterically. "Are you serious?! Wake up Pandora! He doesn't want to be saved!"
Death was covered in blood and I wondered how much of it was his and how much was someone elses.
"Oh," Selene said, nodding to Death. "And I figured you'd want the body."
Death tossed a disgruntled form in front of us and I had to cover my mouth to cut of the cry that tried to escape me.
'The body' was Epimetheus.
"You...You killed Epimetheus?" I breathed, tears filling my eyes.
"After he attacked you he came to me," she said, smiling. She licked s drop of blood of his jaw and smiled at me. "I told him to go kill Epimetheus. Simple. After that, he became my toy."
She leaned up and whispered something in Epimetheus's ear before backing away.
"Have your fun," she said with the same smile.
Death stepped forward and eased into a fighting stance that I recognized from his time as Talisen.
"No," I whispered. "No...I can't..."
"Pandora!!" Helios cried. "You have to do this!! You have no choice!!"
I heard someone mutter a curse as the others were attacked. I watched as Nemesis was knocked out by Wrath who then faced the twins. Distrust went for Helios. Pain was left to Defeat.
"No!" I cried out. "Stop this!!"
I felt something connect with my side and I was sent sailing through the air. My body colliding with the wall was the only thing that stopped me.
"Pandor--"
I couldn't respond to them as I pulled myself up to look at Death.
"Don't do this," I begged Death. "This isn't you! You're kind. You care. You have a heart!!"
He grabbed my wrist and jerked me up, taking his nails down the side of my cheek. I felt the blood slid down my cheek and jaw, going to my neck.
"No," I whispered. "I love you."
His hand, poised to slam into my heart, froze mis-thrust. After a moment he pulled back.
I jerked out of his hold and slammed my foot into his stomach. He staggered back a few steps and I spun, my leg slamming into his side.
Death slammed me against the wall and I slammed my head into his while kneeing him in the stomach.
His hold on me loosened and I slid around him. I didn't get very far before I hit the floor. He dragged me back and, by the ankle, slammed me into the wall.
I felt something snap and I screamed. The evils let out a joyous cry.
I clasped my left shoulder, feeling that my arm was broken, and fled. Once again I only got a few feet before Death grabbed me again.
He pinned me to the floor and wrapped his hands around my throat.
I heard one of the evils cry out and felt the heat slice through my leg. The tears in my eyes fell as I tried to breathe.
"Dea..ath," I breathed. "Ple...ase...I...you..."
My vison was blurring and I was having issues trying to even stay conscious.
I heard the remaining two evils cry out before the pain in my leg doubled and I let out a strangled scream.
Death's grip on me loosened and I managed to see his eyes through the haze.
His eyes, filled with familiarity, looked over me before he jerked away, putting as much distance between us as he could.
"Dammit!" Selene screamed. "You useless human!! How dare you call yourself an evil!!"
"Pandora!!" Helios and Pain cried out, rushing to me.
They helped me stand and I shoved away from them, walking towards Death as I spoke.
"This is my fight," I growled. "Stay out of it!!"
I turned and faced Selene and slowly closed the space between us.
"You made my life Hell," I growled. "You've ruined my happiness three time. You've killed so many people I know that it's not even funny. You threatened to hurt my children. You attacked my children. You even went so far as to completely warp the one person I love!"
"What can you do," she sneered. "You're just a--"
She broke off when she met my gaze. Apparently the anger seething in my veins was visible on my face.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, backing away. "If you try anything I'll have everyone else killed!"
"It's over, Selene," I hissed. "There is no one else. You're through!"
She tried to attack me but, instead, was thrown back into the wall, blood clotting her hair from the impact wounds.
"You are going to die, Selene," I said coldly. "And I'm going to be the one to kill you."
She jumped back up and managed to grab on my arms. I ignored the pain in my left arm as I grabbed onto her own. All too late she realized what I was capable of.
"You made a mistake in this 'perfect plan' of yours," I growled, digging my nails into her arms. "You messed with me."
I let all the rage--all the violence and pain inside of me--erupt around me.
Selene screamed, her voice breaking through unheard of octaves and energy lashed through the room in the form of electricity. The energy screamed through her veins and raced towards her heart.
Her voice shot higher as I commanded the electricity to tighten around her heart.
"You're done," I growled, tightening the bands until her heart disintegrated into ash.
I dropped her body and glared at it.
"You didn't deserve any mercy," I spat, turning away from her.
The others stared at me in awe as I walked back to them, victorious against the one person who had ruined my life.
"Pain," I said calmly. "You know I can't let you stay 'Pain' right?"
He smiled and held out his hand.
"I know," he whispered. "I'm ready."
"I can keep the human side of you alive," I said as I took his hand. The silver-blue electricity started from my elbow and spun clockwise around our hand to his elbow. "But only if you want me to."
He glanced at Evie and smiled before looking at me.
"I want to live," he said softly, kissing my cheek gently. "Thank you, Pandora."
I smiled and closed my eyes as I drew the evil out of him and into me. Both of us screamed but I could barely hear it over the pulsing of my blood and the pounding of my heart.
Celfior fell to his knees and I followed before he managed to lift his head and look at me with his old eyes.
"Pandora," he whispered.
"You're welcome," I said softly. "But I'm not done. Take good care of Evie."
He looked at me confused as I let Evie take hold of me. Nemesis frowned and followed me as I went to Death. The others followed after.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Pandora?" she asked gravely. "Is this really what you want?"
I nodded.
"Things need to end--and they'll end with me."
I knelt by Death who's face was streaked with tears. Even when I said his name, he didn't respond.
"Death," I repeated. "You're the only evil left, you know that, right?"
He didn't respond.
"I can't take you into me," I said calmly. "You're Death, after all. It has to be your choice. Are you ready to become Talisen Oullette again?"
He lifted his head and his eyes shone with his tears.
"I still love you," I whispered. "What you did doesn't phase me."
"You still...love me?" he whispered back. "You don't...hate me?"
I shook my head and smiled as I sat beside him, wrapping my arms around his neck while I sat my head on his chest.
"I'm ready for this to be over," I said quietly. "It needs to end. This has gone on for thousands of years. Even though 1492 is when it began over here, that doesn't mean it hasn't gone on longer.
"This has to be the end."
He leaned over and held me to him, lifting my head to settle his lips on my own.
This was our first kiss. Our real first kiss as simply Pandora and Death. Before there had always been Pain. Now it was just us. Now we could be happy.
"You're going to die," he said sadly. "There's nothing I can do about it. What I did to you...And taking all of those evils into you..."
"I know," I whispered. "I know. I knew I was going to die. I'm ready to die."
Evie let out a sob and I heard Celfior comfort her as everyone else was silently listening.
"I don't want to live without you."
"Death," I said gently. "You're Death. You choose who lives and dies. Signit and Cult...they found each other. She was waiting for him. Even after all of these years...she still loved him."
I shifted my gaze to the others and smiled.
"Helios," I said, smiling weakly. "If it wasn't for you and that stupid project I would be normal. And we couldn't have that."
He laughed, a tear falling down his cheek.
"No," he agreed. "We couldn't have that at all."
"Celfior," I whispered. "If it wasn't for you I would've died here all those weeks ago. I would've never made it out."
"You can't do anything without me," he laughed, crying as well.
I laughed which ended with a cough.
"Tribute...Evie...be happy," I managed. "Find your place--no matter how long it takes, find it. The fighting will be worth it. Just don't die in the process."
"You'll be happy now," Evie said, crying as she clung onto Celfior.
"Truly happy," Tribute, crying, agreed. "Thank you, mom."
I smiled as the tears fell down my cheeks.
"One more thing," Helios said softly. "Happy birthday, Pandora."
I sobbed and managed to say thank you as the others repeated it in tears before I looked up at Death.
"I'm ready," I whispered, leaning against him. "I love you, Talisen Oullette."
"I love you, Pandora Avalon," he said calmly. "And I'm ready to spend forever with you."
A smile slipped across my lips as I felt the pain slowly begin in my leg and cold seep through my veins.
"I'd like that."
And then I closed my eyes and never woke up.

**Aristaeus** · 01-24-2012 09:19 AM

Yikes, I had a feeling Death/Talisen would end up killing someone important. I liked how the chapter started off with a more carefree atmosphere before falling into chaos.

A couple of mistakes I spotted:

Spoiler for Typos: