Free Pandora Gets Greedy by Carolyn Hennesy Page A

at school. So silly, so … girly. But now, watching these three, it seemed as natural as rain.
    â€œNow you introduce
your
friend,” Persephone said. “As if we didn’t already know!”
    â€œI know!” said Proserpine.
    â€œI
know
!”
    Alcie turned to Pandy and the most fantastical grin spread over her face. Pandy saw that Alcie was nearly electrified with happiness and strangely relaxed at the same time.
    â€œPandy—oh, Gods—Pandora Atheneus Andromaeche Helena, this is Persephone and Proserpine.”
    â€œHI!!!!” they said together.
    From out of nowhere, her mouth opened and …
    â€œHI!” Pandy giggled, and she flew into Persephone’s arms for her own tight hug.
    â€œOh, Pandy! Can I call you that? Of course I can!
We
can! I have heard the most wonderful things about you and I have been telling Sistah-Goddess Proserpinehere all about your quest and the amazing places you’ve gone and about Mother’s best friend, the she-dog …”
    â€œYour Hera, my Juno,” whispered Proserpine conspiratorially.
    â€œâ€¦ that’s right,
our
she-dog, sending Alce here into the underworld and all the fun we had until Buster—Hades—sent you back up topside. And now, we’re here! And what’s a few years between visits, huh?”
    Persephone turned to Pandy.
    â€œDid she tell you all about the underworld? Did she, huh? Huh?”
    â€œShe did!” Pandy said, caught up in the excitement, completely forgetting that Lucius Valerius was waiting for his water. “She talked mostly about the food.”
    â€œI know! Oh! OH! I nearly forgot,” Persephone cried. She pulled a small sack from the folds of her robe. Inside were several clay jars, their lids sealed tight.
    â€œLet’s see, what did Cyrene send you? I think there’s snail custard, wilted field greens, and maybe, just a few …”
    â€œDon’t tease. Don’t tease me!” Alcie said, stamping her foot.
    â€œWould I do that to you?” Persephone laughed. “Of course she sent a special batch of roasted dove hearts!”
    â€œNow it’s a festivaaaaaal!” Alcie squealed.
    â€œBut you have to share,” Proserpine said.
    â€œAs if!”
    â€œYou’d better!” Pandy giggled, playfully hitting Alcie on the arm. Then she looked around and shook her head, trying to clear it. Who
was
she? Why was she talking like this? And there was something bizarre Persephone had just said.
    â€œHow did you know I was here,” Alcie said. “I mean right here, right now? I could have been anywhere!”
    â€œOkay, alpha,” said Persephone, “we’re goddesses …”
    â€œDuh!” said Pandy, parroting what had been Alcie’s favorite word on their quest.
    â€œâ€¦ so we can pretty much see anything we want to. And beta, we were all out there today, you know, celebrating just like mortals. Zeus brought everyone to Rome and we’re all living together and having the mostest fun! So when Proserpine spotted you and Alcie in the crowd and then saw you come in here, we followed because we have something to tell you.”
    â€œOh!” Proserpine squeaked. “Best idea! Best idea!”
    â€œSay, say!” Persephone cried.
    â€œWhy don’t Alcie and Pandy and …”
    â€œIole,” Pandy and Alcie said together.
    â€œIole! Why don’t they all come over tonight for a Morpheus party and we can give each other facials and paint our toenails and …”
    â€œParty, party,
party
!” Persephone began to chant as Proserpine joined in and the two began to play-slap at each other.
    â€œParty!” crowed Alcie.
    â€œWe can’t,” Pandy said, snapped back into the reality of their situation.
    â€œWhy not?” asked Alcie, slapping at the air in front of her.
    â€œBecause we’re slaves and Iole’s a junior Vestal and we can’t go out