Free Pandora Gets Greedy by Carolyn Hennesy

each other to get it?”
    â€œMaybe. But it seems to really get to the senator. So maybe it has something to with when he’s here.”
    She stopped and sat down.
    â€œThere’s nothing suspicious.” Pandy sighed. “Nothing even curious. But I had to give it a shot. I’ll tell you, Alce, the main thing is I feel like … like …
myself
again. Gods! I think I’ll try calling my dad again later tonight. I mean, he’s gotta pick up his shell sometime, right?”
    â€œYou know it,” Alcie said.
    â€œOh!” Pandy said with a smile. “I don’t know what did it, but two ticks of the sundial ago I was lost. And now, looking at Lucius looking at that coin, it’s like I suddenly woke up! We’ve got two evils left to get and one of ’em is here and we’re running out of time.”
    â€œWhat we’re really running out of is time to get that water back to Grumpius Maximus,” Alcie said.
    â€œThere’s a fountain for the speakers and performers at the back of the stage,” Pandy said. “It’s the one I use when the Senate meets. Come on.”
    Pandy led Alcie up onto the stage and around to the back stairs; they found themselves behind the main theater in a beautiful and well-cared-for garden surrounded by long arcades on either side.
    â€œSee that wall way back there and those steps in the middle?” Pandy asked, filling the water pitcher from a bubbling fountain. “Behind it is where Pompey put the secret temple to Venus; almost no one is allowed there.”
    Pandy put the lid on tight and looked around for Alcie who, Pandy realized, had fallen completely silent. She was standing at the railing of the platform they were on, gazing out into the trees and at the manicured plants, and at the lawns, completely devoid of people. The only sounds were made by birds singing in the trees.
    â€œThis may be the most beautiful place I have ever seen,” Alcie whispered. “I just want to find Homie and stay here.”
    â€œYeah,” Pandy said. “I know, I know. Let’s go.”
    But as they turned toward the amphitheater, a voice—like the trilling of a songbird, only much louder—came like a shot across the garden.
    â€œAlcie, honey? Wait!”
    Alcie froze in her tracks.
    â€œHuh?” she said softly.
    â€œWait, Alcie! Wait! Come on, Proserpine! Don’t look at me like that. You’ve been
wanting
to meet them for days, we finally track them both down and now you’re stopping to adjust a
sash
? Well, what then? Oh, your
garland
… well, pardon me. Come on, they’re right over here. What? I
know
!”
    Alcie and Pandy both slowly turned around again and peered into the garden.
    â€œWho is it?” Pandy asked.
    â€œGaahhhh,” Alcie gurgled.
    Pandy truly couldn’t tell if Alcie was delighted or terrified. Flying across the lawn, spinning their way through the trees, came two identical, beautiful creatures in deep gray robes shot throughout with streaks of scarlet, light rose, and fuchsia. They raced up the stairs and onto the platform; as one girl made a slight adjustment to the garland of spring flowers on her head, the other girl made straight for Alcie, catching her up in the biggest, tightest hug.
    â€œHI!”
    â€œHI!” Alcie managed to cough out in exactly the same tone, although the look on her face was pure surprise.
    â€œDidn’t expect to see me so soon, did you?”
    â€œNo …,” Alcie wheezed. “I … I … you gotta put me down, please.”
    â€œOh, sorry! Forgot my own strength!” said the girl as she released Alcie. “I know, I
know
! Soooo …
hi
! So much to tell you, but first things first. This is Proserpine! She’s me, only Roman.”
    â€œHI!” said the first girl, her garland still not quite right.
    â€œHI!” Alcie answered back in a way that Pandy would have scoffed at back