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Pandora
Pandora loved a lot of things. The moon. The stars. Her art. Her flute. But flowers had always been her weak point, and likely always would be. She wasn’t a gardener, or anything that would come close. She was more like a thief, picking pretty blooms from the sidewalk and letting them dry in glass jars.
It was for that exact reason she was running a wee bit late for class today. It was hardly her fault the universe decided to have her cross paths with a random patch of clover on her way.
She’d actually been doing really well for time up until then. She left home at five, just as the sun was starting to tease dusk. Ready to spend an hour relaxing with her music and sketching on the bus to get her to campus by half past six. But under the fading light of day and a beautiful sky cast in shades of pink, orange and red. She stumbled across a patch of wild clover.
And what sort of person would she be if she didn’t at least try and find a four leaf one? And pick a dozen of the flowers… Then make a flower crown from her collection… Then stash a few more away for her jars at home… Then look at her watch and realise she had missed her bus and needed to start running or she’d miss the next one too.
So now she was on the bus, wearing a wonderful crown of flowers and pair of paint splattered overalls, hoping like hell the professor wouldn’t be too mad about her missing the first couple of minutes.
Its only the first week of semester, she reasoned, not overly concerned. She had a four-leaf clover and a flower crown; nothing could go wrong. I’ll just say I got lost and couldn’t find the room.
That was a perfectly acceptable version of slightly altered truth. Besides, it was just a random science unit. She really wasn’t all that interested in learning about biology, but after forgetting to actually submit her selections when she chose her classes, she’d just been happy about not having to defer a semester due to her malfunctioning attention span. Pandora managed to get her first three preferences by sheer dumb luck, but for her fourth, the only class left that fit her timetable was evening biology.
So here I am…
Here she was indeed.
As the bus pulled into the campus stop, Pandora practically dove out the door and onto the street. Waving a cheery thank you to the driver as she raced to where she needed to be. Thankfully, despite the lie she intended to tell, she’d had a few lectures in this room before and knew exactly how to get there.
A footpath, a tunnel, some stairs and a deserted hallway later, Pandora was approaching the classroom door, only two and a half minutes late, when Pandora was tripping over her own feet. Because of course she was. Fairly certain she was going to end up on her backside with a broken laptop, Pandora closed her eyes and prepared for impact. Accepting her fate.
But the fate had different ideas. The impact never came. Somewhere between the air and the floor, Pandora was caught by a pair of cold arms and hoisted upright.
“Are you alright?”
Pandora blinked, her heart suddenly racing, as she looked across into a pair of concerned eyes. Beautiful emerald green eyes.
“I-I,” she stammered, her cheeks flushing as she tried to get a hold of herself before she said something stupid. Because whoever this girl was, she was gorgeous. Her freckled skin and soft red lips were devine. Her auburn hair cascading past her shoulders like a river of molten copper.
Pandora needed to thank her. Or apologise. Do anything other than stutter. She probably should have asked her brain to be a little more specific.
“Where did you come from? I swear I was alone out here.”
The girl’s green eyes widened, as she pursed her lips and swallowed… nervously?
“I-I was just- just behind you,” she breathed quickly, before changing the subject. “Anyway, are you alright? You didn’t roll your ankle, did you? That was nasty fall.”
Pandora shook her head. Her ankle was fine. It was her pride that was a little sore. Which proceeded to get a littler sorer when she realised, she was still very tightly holding the girls hands. Which were really soft. And calmingly cool. Adorned with rings. And fuck she was way to gay for this.
She quickly dropped the girl’s hands, feeling heat rush to her cheeks as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Come on Pandora… you have class…
When she opened them, the girl was a step closer, her head tilted slightly, wonder blooming in her eyes as she stared at Pandora’s… shoulder? Tongue moistening her parted lips… Pandora felt her heart skip a beat, and at that exact moment Lily seemed to realise she’d been caught and stepped back. Her cheeks turning pink and blinking furiously.
Pandora was tempted to say something about it. Maybe a light tease. Potentially a flirty taunt. But she was very, very rudely interrupted by a very, very annoying man’s voice.
“Are you ladies here for my class? Because we’re about to start and I don’t fancy staying back tonight.”
“Sorry, sir,” the girl immediately apologised.
“Coming right away,” Pandora added for good measure.
The girls shuffled into the classroom after the man, quickly taking the final two seats at the back of the room. Pandora wasn’t sure if she was glad the girl sat there, or annoyed she wasn’t going to be able to focus for the lecture.
Settling into her seat, doing everything in her power to not look to her left, Pandora pulled out her laptop and opened a new document as the professor began speaking. Talking about rules and expectations. The assignments they’d be given and the general concepts they would cover over the semester.
He was halfway through droning on about his special study group ‘The Slug Club’, Pandora noticed a little slip of paper and a pen slide across her keyboard.
- My name is Lily <3
Pandora swallowed. Fighting with every fibre of her being not to look at Lily. Because her face would almost certainly betray her reaction. Why did she have to add a heart? Why did she need to do that? What did it mean?
Without hesitation, Pandora picked up the pen and started writing on the paper. Nothing fancy.
- Pandora :)
Just her name.
- You play hero with strangers often?
And that.
Pandora held her breath as she slid the piece of paper back before she could overthink what she wrote. Her heart racing as she bit her lip and stared blankly at the slideshow explaining the risks and consequences of plagiarism. Not absorbing a single thing aside from the doubts swirling around in her head.
What the fuck am I doing?
Her brother was going to bully the shit out of her for this. She had a bit of a habit of falling quickly and not thinking through her actions. In her defence. People were hot.
Pandora felt the paper slide across the desk before she even looked. The stiff edge brushing her fingertips.
She swallowed. Then glanced down.
- Usually, I’m the vixen villain ;)
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
Pandora was very glad she was the only one aware of how quickly her heart was beating.
She was halfway through short circuiting, when Lily… fuck… Lily let her cold hand slip below the desk, onto her thigh. Giving it a gentle squeeze as their shoulders brushed together. She felt Lilys hair on her shoulder as she leaned closer. She felt her cool breath on her ear…
“Would you be interested in joining me for a drink after class?”
Pandora shivered. Had her heart given out? Was she dead? Was this heaven? She nodded anyway. Fuck it. She was not saying no to a goddess. Lily knew it too. She tightened her grip, making Pandora take a sharp breath.
Lily leaned back to her own seat, but didn’t move her hand.
Slughorn kept talking.
The slides kept changing.
Pandora didn’t take anymore notes.
---
Lily
Lily had been having a normal day today. She’d woken at dusk and managed to finish one of her assignments and start on some homework before leaving for class. She was nearly done with her studies, she just had to get through this semester, then she’d be finished. This biology unit had been on her list for years, but for some reason the university required this unit to be done in person. Something about the professor being an old man with a grudge against the internet.
She could hardly attend during the day, so it had taken three painful years of requesting an evening class for something to come up.
No matter. She could do this. Then she’d graduate. Then she could get a start on finding a job. She honestly had no idea how her father had managed to get so far in life with his sunlight problem. She was relying on the power of computers and remote work to save her.
So, there she’d been. Walking to her very first in person class, a few minutes late because it was her first time on campus, and she had no idea where she was going. When she spotted her… tripping over her own feet. Naturally, Lily caught her. What sort of lesbian didn’t want to play knight in shining armour to a beautiful damsel in distress? Certainly not her.
So, she caught her, that all happened and now she was in her first biology lecture of the semester, completely given up on concentrating today. While a human blessed by Aphrodite herself sat beside her acting all cute. And god was she cute.
Pandora was easily the most beautiful women she had ever laid eyes on. The flower crown atop her platinum braids made her look like an angel. Her skin was rich and warm, and her eyes were like pools of molten bronze, shimmering in the light. And her blood… god… Lily was struggling to contain herself.
The girl smelled like the first day of spring in a moonlit meadow; Lavender and Jasmine, mixed with twinkling stars. Her sweet little heart was beating allegro. The pink in her cheeks like the whisper of a soft dream. She was temptation beyond temptation. She was torture incarnate.
I need her… lips, neck and all…
As Professor Slughorn finished up, and the rest of the class made their exit. Lily remained seated, holding Pandora in place by her thigh. Not that she was doing much to resist. She looked lost in her own world. Lily needed to get lost in that world with her.
She leaned forward, breathing in the sultry scent and letting her lips graze the skin of her ear. She felt Pandora shiver. Heard her heart skip a beat. Lily smiled and parted her lips.
“Still up for that drink?” she whispered sweetly, buzzing at the cute little jump her heart made.
Pandora took a sharp breath, and Lily knew her answer before she even said it. Yes. Her heart was saying. Yes. Her body was praying. Lily smirked as Pandora confirmed the yes in her soft singsong voice. She had no intention of getting Pandora a drink. But she was most certainly going to enjoy hers.
“I know a place…” Lily breathed, and the girls stood up. Following the last few stragglers in the class out the door. They all turned right. So, Lily turned them left, taking Pandoras hand in hers and leading her down the corridor.
Their footsteps echoed off the empty walls. Two pairs of shoes tipping and tapping across the floor.
Lily found the exit. They drifted through it, straight into a maze of thick shrubs and tall trees. The cool evening air rustling the leaves like song as they walked deeper and deeper into the labyrinth. Lily slowly losing her resolve as Pandora enveloped her every sense.
Her soft breaths. Her warm hands. Her lingering eyes. The thump, thump, thump of her sweet heart.
Just a little further… She urged her burning throat.
Just a few more steps… She coaxed her raging desire.
Lily wasn’t known for her patience, but time was on her side tonight.
They soon reached an old park bench. It was mostly aged timber, with rusted metal fittings roughly nailed and welded together. They were surrounded by nothing but night sky and foliage. This was the spot. Lily paused, giving Pandoras hand a gentle squeeze as she spun around to face her.
Pandoras eyes were wide and shining. Dark lips parted as she stared at Lily like this was her reason for being.
“Why did we stop?” she asks breathlessly, and Lily responds simply by fluttering her eyelids and tilting her head to the side with a sly smile. Dropping Pandoras hands and finding her body. Curling her fingers around the girl’s waist.
“Do you object?” Lily wonders aloud in a teasing voice as she leans in closer. Letting their breaths mingle.
Lavender and Jasmines became potent in the air. The scented sparkle of stars more intense than before.
I guess not…
Pandoras fingers find her cheeks. Her warm, pulsing palms pressed against her cool skin. Pandora smiled. Lily smiled back. They closed the space between them. Their lips met.
Heavan…
That’s where Lily was now. She was sure of it. Because only an angel could kiss this perfectly. Only a being beyond human could be so alluring.
Their lips tangled together. Dancing around to the song of Pandoras breathing, to the beat of Pandoras heart. Lily was already addicted, craving more.
She let one arm curl around the small of Pandoras back, pulling her in and pressing their bodies together. Feeling her soft chest against hers. Exploring the curve of her hips with her fingers. Lily let the other hand work its way up her back, weaving through her hair and holding the back of her head.
Pandora was letting her own hands wander too. Tracing Lily’s face and gliding down her neck. One drifting to rest on her shoulder while the other delicately cupped her breast.
Oh god…
Lily couldn’t stop herself…
She swiftly pushed Pandora down on the seat, following her movement and straddling her lap. Lily needed to taste her. Kissing wasn’t enough. She needed her blood on her tongue.
Lily peppered kisses across Pandora’s jaw. Grinding against her and gliding her lips down her neck. She kissed at her throat. Nipping at the skin as she traced the veins with her tongue. Earning herself moan after moan.
Lavender. Jasmine. Stars.
I need her…
Lily tightened her grip on Pandora. Digging her fingers into the flesh of her body and tilting her head back. Pandora did nothing but oblige. Leaning into the motions like a flower to the sun.
Or perhaps a wolf howling to the moon…
She opened her mouth. Letting her tongue swipe a stripe up Pandoras throat. The girl shivered at the coldness; Lily held her in place. She grazed her fangs over the mark. Every cell in her body screaming to sink them into the skin. The fire in her throat was raging. Her tongue was ready to taste.
Lily bit.
Oh… oh…
Blood seeped into her mouth. Thick, warm and sweet. Like melted chocolate. Or fresh syrup. She held Pandora firmly. Drinking and drinking and drinking. Emotions that weren’t her own, worked their way into her body. Excitement. Passion. Confusion. Shock. A little fear mixed with mostly desire. They tasted divine.
Pandora to her credit, wasn’t even resisting. Not in the slightest. The hand on Lilys shoulder was now on her waist. Having worked its way under her shirt and it was massaging her skin, playing with the band of her undergarments. The hand on her breast trying to perform the same routine.
“You taste so good…” Lily breathed, and Pandora arched into her.
How am I meant to give her up…
She hadn’t really thought that far ahead when she decided to get her mouth on the girl. She’d half figured that a deep kiss and a nice drink would satisfy the fluttery feelings in her stomach but… if anything they’d gotten worse. Giving Pandora up would be impossible… surely….
She’d never had blood this nice. She’d never had a kiss this nice. Everyone else was in black and white, while Pandora was colour itself. How was she going to be satisfied with other humans after this? Lily would be forever chasing the high of this girl…
Pandora was making her feel things… real things. The sort of things her dad spoke about with her mum. The kind of things her grandmother described about her grandfather. Feelings she’d caught glimpses of with past partners, but never truly felt this deeply.
---
Pandora
Pandora was many things. An artist. A musician. A tarot card reader when she needed the extra cash. But above all else, Pandora was generally regarded by as… odd. She took it as a compliment, regardless of whether people meant it as one. Because they had a point. She was off. And she wore that like a badge of honour.
She believed in the unbelievable, with unwavering faith and optimism. She dove headfirst into the mysteries of reality, searching between the lines of myth and story. She believed that spirits and ghosts were out there. She believed that life existed beyond earth. She was optimistic there was some form of great deity but couldn’t quite narrow it down to one.
Pandora was a believer, because what harm could come from curiosity. Being incorrect? That was hardly worth controlling her wonder.
So, when Lily’s kissing slipped from her lips to her neck, Pandora was intrigued. And when her tongue became teeth, she was hooked. It felt good. Really good. An undeniable pleasure better than anything she’d ever experienced. In the moment, she decided that whatever it was that Lily was doing, Pandora was more than okay with it.
It took her a few minutes for the haze of pleasure to clear enough for her to notice that Lily was sucking at the wound. Drinking up every drop of blood that oozed out of her bite. Like some kind of vampire… It should have bothered her. The concept should have completely shaken her view of the world. But Pandora was odd. Odd enough that… I guess vampires are real and I’m into it… was the full extent of her existential questioning.
And boy was oddness working in her favour…
“You taste so good…” Lily breathed into her neck as she drank. Her breath cool and lips cold, though warmer than they were before.
Pandora’s body arched at the sound of her voice. Her hips, her neck. Offering herself up like canvas to a brush. Desperate for the art to continue.
Keep going. Consume me. Take all of me for yourself.
Her head was just starting to spin, and Pandora was just starting to lose herself to cloud nine, when Lily pulled back from her neck. Pandora ached at the loss of those bloodstained lips as Lily sat up, drinking in her beauty and praying for her touch to come back. She was still on her lap. Her arms were still curled around her neck and waist. But it wasn’t enough.
“Why did you stop?”
The words fell out of her mouth in a breathless whisper. Her lust weaved through her tone.
Lilys eyes widened for a moment, surprise flashing across her pretty face. It was different to before. Her eyes were red, with shadowy cracks running down her face, though those were receding with every second she stared. It was haunting… hauntingly beautiful…
When the shock subsided, a playful smirk took its place. Her eyes narrowing and lashes fluttering as she tilted her head.
“You do know what I was doing, right?”
Pandora nodded, and Lily raised an eyebrow. She leaned in. Getting right in Pandora’s face. Breathing cold air on her lips. Red eyes drilling into brown.
“You’re not afraid?” she asked, her hands gripping a little tighter. Maybe a touch more than necessary, the pinch stinging just enough to make Pandora take a sharp breath. Though hardly enough to scare her off.
Pandora returned Lily’s grin and gently tugged her closer. Lily’s cheeks grew a little pinker.
“Only thing I’m afraid of is not getting to kiss you again,” she said breathlessly.
Lily giggled. A sweet laughter like music as the pink in her cheeks darkened to red.
“That’s not the usual reaction I get,” Lily teased, amusement clear in her voice. Green rings starting to appear in the red of her eyes. The shadows entirely gone.
“Good thing I’m not usual,” she remarked, biting her lip and feigning confidence as the blush crept across her face. As her heart pounded in her ears. Thump, thump, thump.
Lily titled her head to the side, her eyes full of curiosity and question. Like she was trying to understand a difficult math equation. Or perhaps read a completely new language.
The bushes and trees around them swayed. The leaves whispering with the light breeze.
Lily dragged her hand through Pandora’s hair, past her ear and onto her cheeks. Her fingers were cold, but soft. She gently swiped her thumb across Pandora’s cheekbone. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Then she smiled. Not the grin or smirk from before. But a smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes. That made her look bright and full of life.
“I don’t live far…” she whispered, her eyes momentarily darting down to Pandora’s lips. “Do you have any plans for tonight?”
Pandora had lots of plans for tonight. She needed to start a few assignments. Needed to call her brother. Needed to cook dinner. Needed to put on a load of washing. Needed to finally do her taxes which were about to be overdue.
And yet. Pandora shook her head.
“Nothing more important than you…”