“It looks great, Highness. I say go with it. It will do Liz good to lose control for an evening.” Myrto darted over to Olympia’s unliving space and sat down in the second recliner. “I didn’t get to take odds this time.” Briefly studying the yout of the chessboard, Myrto moved her queen and then resumed her small conversation. “Who knew that Liz would actually win one?” A gentle breeze preceded her as she whispered into Olympia’s ear. “Queen to C7, Checkmate.” With a tiny peck on Olympia’s cheek Myrto attended to Vasia. “I am honestly surprised that Ismini didn’t come up here and rey something prophetic.”

  A light grumble fell from Olympia’s chest and she quipped, “Liz did not win. She simply deyed the inevitable.” She huffed, “I know you can hear me. I’ll catch you ter, Liz.” Pursing her red lips, Olympia stomped over to the chessboard. “I will win eventually.” Olympia went silent and studied the board a few minutes before resetting the finely crafted garnet pieces.

  When a steady flow of cherry blossoms made its way through the doors, Vasia and her other two Seraphin all smiled. “Myrto, that was uncanny timing.” Vasia commented while wiggling her sculpted body into the dress she’d picked out. “Ismini, my devoted. Olympia could use some of your insight. Elisavet just won a confrontation and Myrto has once more defeated her in chess.”

  Contemptive and botanical, Ismini flowed into the room as though she were moving through a field of flowers. Wearing one of her many-yered dresses provided by Elisavet, this particur one gave off the presence of basking in the light of a purple lotus with its petals harmoniously opening by her wrists and feet. Completing the delicate look, Ismini’s feather-touched and wispy copper hair had been decorated with strips of silk that moved in harmony with every silent step. “Happy Birthday, My Queen.” Ismini bowed at her knees and dipped her head before addressing the others. “Treasured Myrto...” Ismini enchantingly strolled over to Vasia, “...it is unlike you to assume anything.”

  “What? I didn’t assume anything.” Myrto walked back over and kissed Olympia where Elisavet had tapped her, before sitting. “Olympia, your move sweetheart.” She winked and shook her head, “Don’t open with that pawn.”

  Without asking, Ismini reached out and flowingly zipped Vasia’s dress. “Marvelous, My Queen.” She looked over her shoulder, brown eyes sparkling. “Intelligent observation and truth with oneself is the antithesis of assumption.” Ismini gave Myrto a lopsided grin. “You assumed that I wasn’t here, when the obvious observation is that…” She waved her hand as she watched Myrto roll her eyes, “Fine. I was already outside when Liz ran by.”

  “You had to draw that out?” Myrto looked at Olympia, “Why do you open the same way every time? Stubborn?”

  “Determined.” Olympia rubbed her chin. “I am pretty sure that this can eventually work.”

  Without a word, Vasia walked over to the bed and picked up the locked book that she’d completed and handed it to Ismini. “Archive this before you come down and rejoin the party, if you please.”

  Predictably, Ismini kissed the book and gazed at the name that she was allowed to see in order to accurately pce the compendium with the other thousands. “Sylvie?” Ismini asked softly. “Isn’t that the American woman? The one you spoke with via your sight?”

  “Yes. Though that is her common name. Her tribal name is Taini. I have respectfully used her common name on the cover.” Vasia kissed Ismini on her forehead. “Such a fantastic memory, my lovely lotus.” Vasia looped her arm through Ismini’s and began heading for the door. “Though, she is the one that reached out to me.” She looked at her three Seraphin. “She might be once removed from my blood but her ability is adaptive and sought me out. I merely took the reins when that occurred.”

  “My Queen.” Ismini pointed to Vasia’s dainty feet, “Shoes?”

  “Ever forgetful.” Vasia slipped on a pair of matte bck ankle boots and ughed, “I know you want to, Olympia. Go ahead and say it.”

  “Nine Hundred and eighty-seven, Highness.” Olympia kept her promise and in a blink of an eye was on Vasia’s right side.

  Walking steadily from their room, Vasia held onto Ismini’s arm as they walked towards the first level of the museum. “I can discuss this since it wasn’t one of my aberrations. You see, she was confused about an entry within our stolen volume.”

  “To Xenos.” Ismini commented and saw the empty space within their prophetic library. “It’s use taught all of us…your Seraphin why you do not act or speak of what you see, Highness.” She kissed the locked tome, “Though it would be interesting to see which other versions of this were possible. I will meet you three downstairs in the exhibit.” She bowed, “With your leave, My Queen.”

  Offering Ismini a gentle smile Vasia showed her agreement and then continued walking with Olympia and Myrto. “I know I shouldn’t ask this…” Vasia commented while descending the long flights of steps to the floor level. “...What exhibit?”

  “Checkmate.” Myrto ughed and patted Olympia on the back before melding into the crowd.

  “Um..” Olympia looked away and adjusted the red rose on her pel. “Liz is calling it the Pandora exhibit.”

  Pandora and her jar. Although the tale was much older than Vasia, she’d seen many different outcomes concerning the jar's opening. Many paths, many versions of the legend. Some cim her to be merely a hero, another venture procimed Pandora was the goddess of monsters and magic and wife to Hecate. By far the rgest historical journey told was her as a demigod tasked with bringing the monsters of Greece that had been released by her own hand after being pced in charge of its care. Vasia knew the story well and had used locations and old names combined with history to find, catalog and preserve the artifacts.

  Refraining from the temptation to order her Seraphin to return all of the priceless items back into their vault, Vasia hooked her arm through her devoted soldiers and began to stroll through the artifacts that the five had collected. “How long did Elisavet work on this, Olympia.” She ughed, “I know you didn’t do much to assist…other than keep me occupied.” Vasia walked past a small podium that had a small description of Pandora wearing the armor provided to her by Athena in her task to refill the jar. “Leather of Hope Renewed.” Vaisa gazed to the right of the little title and saw a lifelike version of the armor surrounded by deep red stanchions so people could touch the replica. “Elisavet got this description from my field notes.” Vasia ughed, “That was walking a fine line, don’t you think?”