The Box's Pandora part 1

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I was debating about whether to release this story as a serial, or wait until it was finished. Serial won out.

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“Are we there yet?” I asked from the back seat of my family car, a five year old sedan that Dad had bought brand new.

“No,” Dad answered from the driver’s seat.

I turned my attention back to my DS, and the Pokemon game that I was in the middle of playing. A few minutes later, I repeated the question, “Are we there yet?” This was more from boredom, than because I thought we were really that close to our destination.

“Not yet,” Mom answered from the passenger seat. “We’ll be there in about half an hour though.”

I didn’t bother responding to that. Instead, I focused on my game, trying to divert my attention. After the six hour drive, I was more than a little bored.

“Can I drive?” I asked, for what had to be the fourth time during the drive. I had a driver’s permit, and in less than two months, I’d actually be able to get my license. “I can use some more practice.”

“Not right now, Byron,” Dad responded with a hint of annoyance in his voice. I smiled faintly at that. If I was going to be bored and miserable, at least he’d be sharing in it.

My name was Byron Houseman, and I was a pretty typical sixteen year old boy. Well, technically, I wouldn’t be sixteen for nearly two more months, but I was close enough that it didn’t matter. At least, that was my opinion on the matter. My parents, on the other hand, didn’t seem to share my views.

“I told you to bring your homework,” Dad said with a sigh. “You could have gotten ahead of your class reading, if nothing else.”

“I can’t read in the car,” I grumbled. “I get motion sick.”

Mom chuckled at that. “But you don’t seem to have any problems with playing video games.”

I shot a glare to the back of her head. “That’s different.”

“Of course it is,” Mom replied, in a slightly sarcastic tone.

A short time later, we arrived at our destination, a large, two-story house, that was set well off the main street. The house wasn’t a mansion, though with the fenced property, heavy iron gate, and security cameras, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had been.

“We’re here,” Mom announced unnecessarily. “Dora’s house.”

I looked up at the house, having been here only once before, three years ago. My Aunt Dora lived here, and though she came to visit us once every year or two, this was only the second time I’d ever gone to visit her. I liked Aunt Dora, but I could think of more exciting places to spend my spring break, not that my parents had given me much choice.

We had just barely climbed out of the car, when the front door opened and Aunt Dora stepped out. She was a beautiful woman, with long black hair that cascaded down her back and ended at her waist. In contrast to the dark color of her hair and eyes, her skin was smooth and pale, what my mom sometimes referred to as ‘porcelain’, and somehow managed to avoid seeming unhealthy.

Aunt Dora had what I could only think of as, an ageless look. She looked like she could easily be anywhere from her mid-twenties to her mid-thirties, though I knew she was a lot older than that. How old she actually was, I had absolutely no idea, and I was wise enough not to ask.

Once, because of her pale skin and youthful looks, I’d jokingly asked Aunt Dora if she was a vampire. She’d just given me a strangely amused look, and pointed out, “I am standing out in the sunlight, and wearing a cross around my neck. What do you think?”

“You arrived earlier than I expected,” Aunt Dora said with an English accent.

“We made good time,” Mom responded with a smile. “There wasn’t much traffic. It’s good to see you again, Dora.”

“And you as well, Theressa,” Aunt Dora responded with a smile. “Come in, I have tea on the stove.” Then she looked to me and smiled. “Welcome, Byron. Enter freely and of your own will.”

I rolled my eyes at the line from Dracula and grumbled, “I am never going to live that down…”

“Not for some time,” Aunt Dora agreed.

“I was ten,” I protested, pausing to give Aunt Dora a hug.

“Almost like yesterday,” Aunt Dora responded with a smile.

As soon as I stepped into the house, I saw all the antique furniture and décor, and was clearly reminded of how Aunt Dora made her money. She collected and sold antiques and artifacts. The older, the better. In fact, that was how Aunt Dora and my mom first met.

Aunt Dora wasn’t really my aunt, though I’d grown up thinking she was, and had only learned the truth about a year ago. She was actually just a very close friend of my mom’s, and was actually the one who first introduced my parents to each other.

Mom was an archeologist, though it had been years since she’d actually gone out into the field on a dig. Now, she usually stayed close to home, cataloguing artifacts for the local museum. Since Dad was a college professor, who taught classes on mythology, their professional lives were pretty compatible, and often took over the conversation at the dinner table.

After we were escorted to the living room, Aunt Dora said, “I’ll be right out with the tea.” Then she looked at Dad. “And Lucas, I remember that you don’t care for tea, so I made some coffee for you…”

“Thank you,” Dad responded with a smile.

A couple minutes later, Aunt Dora came back with the tea and coffee, but she didn’t return alone. Cliff Roberts was with her. Cliff was probably in his fifties, and had short grey hair that was cut in something of a military fashion. I was never quite certain if Cliff was Aunt Dora’s boyfriend, bodyguard, or both, though she never went anywhere without him.

“Hello, Lucas,” Cliff said in a gruff voice, shaking Dad’s hand. Then he nodded to Mom. “Nice to see you again, Theressa.”

I wasn’t a big fan of tea, but I could handle the stuff better than coffee, not that Aunt Dora had ever offered me any of that. So I sat there, sipping on my tea and listening in as the adults talked. I was already bored, and was considering how long before I could play my DS, without it coming across as rude.

“Did you find what you were looking for in Budapest?” Mom asked Aunt Dora.

“Yes, I did,” Aunt Dora answered with a smile. “It was well worth the trip too, to get that nasty thing out of circulation…”

That caught my attention, because I had absolutely no idea of what they were talking about. I knew that Aunt Dora traveled a lot, due to her business, however, she never gave many details about it when I was around.

“I wish I could have gone with you,” Mom told her with a sigh. “Unfortunately, I have other responsibilities now…”

“Of course,” Aunt Dora responded with a smile. “But you remember the last time we were in Budapest…?”

“How can I forget?” Mom asked. Then, she and Aunt Dora both began to laugh.

Dad gave them a curious look, then said, “Now, I want to hear about Budapest…”

“Me too,” I added, now paying even more attention to the conversation.

I knew that Mom and Aunt Dora had a lot of history together, though neither of them really talked about it much, at least not to me. However, I suspected that there were some great stories that could slip out in this conversation, and I didn’t want to miss them. At least now, I was no longer bored.

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Comments

Aninteresting start

Looking forward to the rest.

Vampire

I noticed that she didn't actually say "no."

*nod*

^^ This. ^^

- Leona

Okay

littlerocksilver's picture

I think you have me hooked. When's the next episode?

Portia

No hook or gotchu?

BarbieLee's picture

Morpheus my love, you're a writer extraordinaire among exceptionally great writers. I think I would be tempted to trade in my first born to be able to write with the skill you have exhibited in so many of your stories.

But....,
hugs kid
always,
Barb

Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl

Well, it's certainly not ...

... a flashing neon hook.

But after re-reading the last handful of lines a few times it seems to be a hook of some sort.

Byron went for it. I guess I did too.

T

Long enough to catch my

Long enough to catch my attention, Short enough to leave me wanting more. How cruel. lol

Never be afraid to push yourself to new limits. While you might not see the path, you will be amazed at what you can achieve.

I wait with baited breath

Considering your history of your writing talents, I look forward to this one.

Well

Sammi's picture

In 1986 Freddy Mercury and Queen performed a concert live, Freddy sang several songs in Hungarian.

I know that wasn't the answer you were looking for but you have one now, Morpheus' answer will come with time.


"REMEMBER, No matter where you go, There you are."

Sammi xxx

Queen

mountaindrake's picture

Good band, good answer but most likely not the one they wanted. Have a good day and enjoy life.

Have a good day and enjoy life.

Probably not what Morpheus

Probably not what Morpheus had in mind, but I learned something anyway.

Bryon's curiosity

Hopefully what Bryon unleashes will not be as catastrophic.
Discovery is a spice of life.
a

alissa

Hmm, Budapest

Interesting part of the world. An archeologist, and a ??? finding relics. Maybe some have power?

Karen

Boredom breeds trouble?

Jamie Lee's picture

Only little kids ask, "are we there yet?" Byron is almost 16, playing his DS, so why is he asking? Has he no curiosity? Is the country side so familiar it's boring? He said it's been two years since the last visit. Surely things have changed along the way?

Even the inside of Aunt Dora's home bores him. Bryon needs to learn that other things exist in the world. That others can be interesting if he stops thinking only about himself.

Others have feelings too.

Heh

TheCropredyKid's picture

In one of Maryjanice Davidson's "Betsy, Queen of Vampires" stories, Betsy has been kidnapped by a bad vampire and is being taken somewhere.

She amuses herself with the "Are we there yet?" routine. {Betsy is a smartass who is incapable of taking anything seriously}. Her captors become progressively more cranky.

She observes for the reader's benefit that, after her father married her hated stepmothy, he tried encouraging bonding by taking a family trip.

Just once.

 
 
 
x

The Pandora's Box

pandora's picture

So far this is an interesting story! Well written.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed king reigns supreme.

Reading this again for the

Reading this again for the 2nd or 3rd time. Morpheus’ stories will hook you every time. Sometimes they come off the line with tires smoking and engine snarling, others a leisurely start and a slow and steady build up until your are gripping the seat for dear life, but always a fun ride and a rewarding finish. Skill, plain and simple.