As Pandora reached the bottom of the stairs, it opened up into a large room. There were more torches down here and there were 8 corridors that came off the large room. Pandora saw her two Grandmothers talking in the middle of the room in strange garments or were they robes? But she was so over come with curiosity that she snuck into one of the rooms, outside of the room had a photo hanging titled Joseph Danvers, she had never met him but knew that he was Grandma Tesla's husband. The room itself contained statues, photographs and portraits of her Grandma Tesla. She was aware a child she had posed for various things but just thought that Grandma Lisa was obsessed with painting, sculpting and taking photographs (everyone has to have a hobby) and just yesterday after her party Grandma Lisa had sculpted her, but there was a chair in the middle of the room. She thought this was strange.
Her Grandmothers voices carried in the cavernous room and she heard her name mentioned. So Pandora hid behind the large griffon statue and listened.
Peta: Mother, do you not think you are being a bit harsh, not telling Pandora?
Elena: My dear Peta, in the beginning it was a pipe dream. I never thought that we would come as far as we had. If you are honest, did you think we would of achieved this much?
Peta: Yes, I did as you had encouraged me, I did the same with my daughter and so on down the line. Why should it be any different with Pandora? Why can't she be given the choice?
Elena: *angrily* Because now it is not a choice. Out of everyone I though you would be the one to understand the most.
Peta: Do not be angry with me, Mother. I understand that you do not want to jeopardise the Dynasty and I can feel we are close. Possibly something to do with how long I have been eating the ambrosia for, but I also feel that Grim is watching and waiting.
Elena: Yes my child I feel that too, which is why I don't want to put all that we have accomplished in the hands of a child.
Peta: But Mother------
Elena:
NO, I will not have it. I do not want to be the one to look into her eyes and tell her the family secret. I will not be the one to tell her that she cannot love, she cannot leave, she cannot have a child, but she can live forever. If I do that what does she have to live for?
Peta: But one of the others is working-----
Elena: Peta I love you, like I love each and everyone of my daughters, but Pandora can make or break this. She will work towards her requirements for immortality but she will not know that which she has to give up!
Pandora was stunned. Immortality?! Dynasty?! Requirements?! She came out from behind her hiding place and confronted her Grandmothers.
Pandora: Explain yourselves.
Peta: Pandora, please stay calm.
Pandora: No, I have just heard you talking about my life as if I don't have a choice in what I do or say.
Elena: Let me explain, your destiny has already been written.
Pandora: Destiny?!
Elena: Yes, you will become the eighth Immortal in the Danvers line.
Pandora: But I heard you talk about me not having children or a boyfriend? I'm confused.
Elena: Yes I know you must find this confusing but that is your destiny.
Pandora: And what if I don't want to, what if I want a family and a husband. I look around this room and see pictures of past Danvers men and how happy my Grandmothers are when I hear them talking about them. What if I want that?
Elena: As I said it is your destiny to become the eighth Immortal, those are things that don't concern you.
Pandora:
NO. I will not have my life decided for me.
Elena: Child, your life was decided hundreds of years before you were even born. You do not have a choice in the matter.
Pandora: I can't believe that you were not going to tell me any of this, to make my own choice. How dare you-----
Elena: How dare I what, provide you with a roof over your head, give you any material thing that you desire, take you on holidays that you would not have experience otherwise, cook your meals? Need I go on?
Pandora was exasperated, confused and angry. She started to cry.
Elena: Look its very late you have, school tomorrow. Lets talk about this later. Get yourself to bed and we will talk tomorrow.
Pandora: I do not want to talk to you ever again!!
That night as Pandora slept she had an idea.
The she got up early went to the store and gave herself a makeover.
She rebelled against her Grandmothers and mother. She didn't go to school and would spend her days driving around Sunset Valley in her birthday present
*Car stereo*
She's a rebel, she's a saint, she's the salt of the earth and she's dangerous.
One night Pandora was out after curfew, when a cop drove past.
Police Officer: You realise you're out after curfew don't you.
Pandora: Whatever.
Pandora tried to run but the policeman caught up to her.
He put her in the police car and took her home.
Police Officer: Please take this as your first warning. If you are caught out after curfew again, you will spend the night in the cells.
Pandora: Oooo exciting. So it's a date, tomorrow I'll meet you in the park at 11pm? *laughs*
Aurora was waiting for Pandora as the police station had phoned ahead to let her know.
Aurora: Pandora, what are you playing at? We can't have the police coming to the house it's not good for your reputation.
Pandora: Yeah, well what are you going to do. You can't kick me out, goes against the rules. You can't stop me, it's all about the free will of me.
Aurora: Pandora, please. I know it wasn't nice the way that you found out but, please understand I did want to tell you. Don't punish me for your Grandmothers view, I'm your mother.
Pandora: You call yourself a
mother?! HA, a laughable concept. A
mother would of told her daughter, would of wanted to give her a choice. She would not procreate in order to have the eighth immortal. Listen Aurora, just call yourself what you want.
Aurora: Pandora, I love you yes it was the wrong. But my hands were tied, I didn't have a choice. I could----
Pandora: We always have a choice!
With that she left her mother on the front lawn and went off to bed.
The next day instead of being at school Pandora was hanging in the Park when her phone rang. She checked the caller display and it was one of her Grandmothers. She sighed but answered.
Pandora:
What?
Grandmother: Is that how you answer your phone? Not very polite.
Pandora: Yeah, well when you have been told your going to live forever, what is the point in being polite.
Grandmother: Oh, so your there.
Pandora: Where?! I'm at the park, couldn't be bothered with school again. I'm having way too much fun.
Grandmother: Pandora, it may not seem it but things will work out in the end I promise you. Just-----
Pandora: Listen
Grandma, I've heard it, you've all tried to talk to me, but I found out about the Dynasty in the most awful way imaginable. Image going along in your life happy and feeling loved. Only to be slapped in the face with the only reason you were born, the
only reason you exist is to be the eighth Immortal! Do you know how that makes me
feel?!
Pandora could feel her voice starting to crack and the tears were coming as they stung her eyes she hung up the phone without waiting for a response from her Grandma.