PANDORA'S BOX ▷ s.rogers [2]

(1) I'M ONLY GOOD AT BEING BAD

THEY CALLED HER ERIS.

She'd grown used to that fact. In fact, she'd come to accept that there was no changing it. Eris was how they remembered her, so perhaps Eris was who she had to become.

For now, at least.

They called her Eris. 

And she'd died.

Those things, she'd come to terms with. She'd died. Eris Schmidt was dead and the woman who remained seemed to be only a resemblance of the person they'd known. She could tell by the looks she got, the whispers they thought she couldn't hear.

The blond-haired man called her Winky.

Or at least, he had.

"On your guard!"

Eris snapped back to reality, just in time to dodge Okoye's jab. Her spear cut the air between them and she yanked her own staff up, blocking the woman's swing inches from her face. Spinning on her heel, she lashed out, but Okoye blocked it easily.

The woman didn't look impressed, moving back.

"You're too predictable. Too slow."

Eris ground her teeth together and swung again, only to be blocked once more. Okoye spun her staff and jabbed her in the stomach, sending her stumbling back. Eris gasped and barely caught her balance before another swing swept out her feet.

She hit the ground hard, grunting in pain.

Okoye stood over her, looking even less impressed.

"Too slow."

"I really hate you."

"I know."

The woman offered a hand and Eris took it, wiping sweat from her brow. The shadows underneath her skin thrummed and whispered quietly, but she smothered the feeling. Eris hadn't acknowledged them since... well, since she woke up.

They said she used to be able to use them. Control them.

But not anymore.

Eris feared the darkness under her blood.

"Something's on your mind. Keeping you from being able to fight."

Snapping back to reality, Eris blinked. Okoye had lowered her guard and arched a brow, meeting her gaze steadily. But Eris only shook her head.

"It's nothing, I'm fine."

"That's a lie."

"Glad to see you care."

The woman huffed and Eris looked away. She scanned the courtyard and found a blond-haired figure watching from the shade a little ways away. The Captain, with his hands tucked in his pockets, shoulders rolled back.