Pandora Gets Angry by Carolyn Hennesy Page A

Soo … why shouldn’t she play it safe and wait for Pandy back home; after all, Pandy was certain to get them all into more life-threatening situations, and she, herself, had just been so close, too close, to death. Pandy would be able to recapture the evils without her. Pandy was doing just fine. No one would ever blame her if she chose the easy way, and the hills above Athens were so pretty this time of year.
    â€œI’ll go to Persia.”
    â€œYesssss!” said Persephone.
    â€œWait!” Alcie said, a thought popping into her head. “Apples! If I’m in a wall, how will Pandy know? How can I get to her or contact her once I’m in Baghdad? I mean, you know, if I’m ‘altered’? Or even if I’m not?”
    â€œAlcestis,” Hades said, a scowl deepening his brow. “Much has been done for you! The Fates have been swayed for you! Must we continue to solve all of your dilemmas? Can you not figure this out on your own?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Alcie said. “I’ll find a way.”
    Persephone, however, had recognized a tone in her husband’s voice. It was one of pure defeat and it was very rare that she or anyone heard it at all. She knew that her husband had absolutely no idea how Alcie could contact Pandora. He was a giant of a god, strong, powerful, and robust, but he was unused to commotion in the underworld; it exhausted him and he just didn’t have any answer for Alcie. But Persephone did.
    â€œAre you ready?” Hades asked Alcie.
    She nodded, then Hades motioned her to the center of the room.
    â€œNow, step up to the bowl and call to your friend.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Prince Camaralzaman
    â€œAside from everything else,” Iole said, looking at Pandy, “why are you frowning especially deeply this morning?”
    â€œI’m a little worried about Dido,” she answered.
    â€œBut Mahfouza paid the guards very well to take him directly to her home. You know he could never have come with us,” Iole replied. “Not considering the prevailing populace perspective on canines.”
    â€œThat’s my point. I think,” Pandy said. “I just hope the guards take care of him and that Mahfouza’s family treats him well. Did you know she has, like, eight brothers and sisters?”
    Then she jerked her head back on her neck as if surprised by a thought.
    â€œMahfouza!” Pandy said suddenly, whipping around quickly and walking backward to be able to talk softly to the dancer. “Why are you still here? Why haven’t you gone to your family? I got the little map to your parents’ house that you left on top of my pouch. Why aren’t you there?”
    The walk from the caravan encampment, across the river and into the city of Baghdad, had been more of a march than anything else. Douban, his son, Pandy, and the rest, including Mahfouza, had been forced into a single-file line and “escorted” by many guards. Now the gates of royal palace were in sight.
    Mahfouza stopped glaring at the guards to either side and stared at Pandy, her eyes hard and cold.
    â€œThe guards have heard me speaking out for days against this travesty—this injustice—that is about to take place. So, when I tried to leave early this morning, because I am desperate to know what is happening in my home, I was informed not-so-politely that I am now considered a threat. That I might actually rally common citizens to come to the aid of the Physician. I am not to be at liberty until he is dead.”
    Mahfouza spit, hard, at one of the guards walking alongside. He deftly dodged the white wad and kept walking.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Pandy replied, her fault weighing heavily upon her again. “We’ll get to your home as soon as we can. I’m sorry.”
    For an instant, Pandy thought she saw a flicker of resentment in the older girl’s eyes. Then Mahfouza closed her lids for a moment, a