Page 117 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“The cave?”

“Yes, and that is where you wrote a diary for yourself on the walls. You asked me to ensure that there would be a genuine test of humanity. You wanted me to ensure you lived long enough to judge humanity on its current merits.”

“Test?” I whisper.

She looks away. “It had to be a significant enough event to test your resolve.”

“You put Ty into the Jar?” I mumble.

“Yes, but I created the duplicate Jar and separated his essence, spirit and beast form. So if something happened, and you opened the Jar, you would have the chance to undo it. But in true Pandora fashion, everything changed. You weren’t meant to fall in love with a god, Natia. But that is the beauty of free will.”

“Now I’m choosing between my heart and the rest of mankind. That is some test, Emi.”

She blows out a breath. “I’m sorry, for you, for Archan. You have been through enough in this life, never mind any other before it. I never meant to cause you heartache. And Archan is like a grandfather to me, he has never wanted anything for himself, until you.”

I run my hands through my hair. “You didn’t consider someone else getting their hands on the Jar?”

She shakes her head. “I had the key made as a failsafe. You can open the Jar whenever you want. Anyone else would need the key. The tribe on the island is there to protect the Jar from anyone but yourself retrieving it. Everything was going as planned.”

“Until I fell for a god.”

“There is still a way for you to come out of this unscathed. But no matter which path you choose, it will end in some heartbreak. Maybe that’s the way it was always meant to play out.”

“The fates showed me something,” I mutter.

She leans back. “You saw the fates?”

I nod. “Yes, they showed me how to save mankind.”

Her eyes glisten. “Listen to me, whatever they showed you can be changed. You aren’t simply a human at the whim of the fates. You are Pandora, the first human woman made by the gods, you are the champion of humanity, you are its judge, juror and executioner. The Creator believes the choice you make will be the right one, but that choice is yours, no matter if destiny herself came and showed you the future. You control it.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Couldn’t you have thought of a less dramatic apocalypse for my test? Like a game of chess or something?”

A small smile teases her lips. “The gods invented chess, you are in the longest game ever played and you are the strongest piece on the board. But that doesn’t mean sacrifices won’t have to be made. Any good chess player knows when to sacrifice a piece for the overall win.”

I run a hand through my hair and look at the carpet. Emi put Ty in the Jar. But she did because of my request.

She takes hold of my hand. “I am sorry,” she whispers.

I squeeze her hand. “I forgive you. I wouldn’t go telling everyone else you gave us The King of Monsters as the ultimate boss in this game.”

Her lips twitch. “They will find out eventually, but I am on your side. Whatever you decide, it will be justified.”

Something warm lands on my shoulder, I jerk in my seat and swing around. Duncan’s warm brown eyes study me. “All okay?”

I nod. “Yes.” I swing my gaze to Emi and back to Duncan. “I can fill you in later. Tonight we need to let loose a little, before we face the end of the world.”

Zee ascends the stairs with Jed and Aaden behind him. He frowns at me. I shake my head.Later,I mouth.

“Natia has declared we drink, laugh and be merry,” Emi says, jumping out of her seat and dragging me behind her. I glance at the crowded floor, patrons have taken over the dancing poles, some less than classy moves being executed. I chuckle as a group of men watch with amusement and confusion as a woman grinds like she’s trying to have uncoordinated sex with the pole.

“Think you can do better?” Jed says next to me.

“I can do better with my eyes closed,” I mumble.

“Great!” Jed grabs my hand and yanks me towards the back of the balcony. A pole sits central on a stage surrounded by deep purple silk curtains. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I fold my arms and spin to face Jed and Zee, who’s followed for this little show. “I’m not pole dancing for you.”

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