Read Pandora Gets Greedy for Free Online

Valerius, was the closest thing to physical perfection in a human that Iole had ever seen, and that included Pandy’s mother, Sybilline—who was pretty perfect. The only thing that marred Melania’sperfection now was the hint of a scowl that crossed her face when she looked at Iole. She stood in the doorway and stretched out her arms, as if she were helpless against an onslaught of frustration. Iole was completely spellbound by this stunning creature, as if she had come up on a doe in the forest and just wanted to stare for hours. In fact, as far as Iole was concerned, Melania was even
more
beautiful than Aphrodite or her Roman counterpart, Venus.
    â€œLet me guess. You don’t like being the junior Vestal in the Valerius household and you have decided to run away and join the theatre? No? You’re going to entertain the grotesque populace between gladiator fights? No? Oh, I
know
: you’re joining the circus!”
    Iole just slumped where she sat.
    â€œI can’t seem to get the hang of it,” she said softly. “All these pots and brushes. I don’t know which to use for what. Also … I am finding it rather arduous to see in the dark. Perhaps another candle? Just a bit more light …?”
    â€œNonsense! I have taught you everything you need to know to adorn yourself even if your eyes were plucked from their sockets!”
    Iole was horrified. The Romans, she had learned in her few weeks among them, seemed to tend toward the bloody and brutal before they thought of anythingelse. Athenians, she remembered with a pang of homesickness, were of a loftier mindset whereas these people, even the supposedly high-minded VVs, were just … gory.
    â€œYou have an undeveloped but innate ability,” Melania went on. “You simply lack any real creativity—or form—or desire, I’m guessing. That’s fine I suppose. There are Vestals who wear no makeup to be sure … although no one likes to be around them. Or pardoned by them. Or counseled or prayed for by them. Look at you, Iole. You are a beautiful maiden. At least, you are underneath all that paint. Why do you think you were chosen from among most young girls to take on this responsibility? To attend the College of the Vestals? Which is your household of origin, again? I can’t seem to remember.”
    â€œUhhhh,” Iole hesitated.
    â€œWell, it doesn’t really matter. The point is that you were chosen not only for your innocence and purity, but for your extreme good looks … as was I. As were we all. At least … I think you were. I have been known to be wrong. Not often. At any rate, let’s clean you up.”
    At that moment, they both heard a chorus of voices raised in song, carried toward the house on a light breeze.
    â€œAh … they’re here!” Melania said. “Good. I’d likethem to take a look at you; perhaps tell me where I am going wrong. Come along!”
    Moving down the corridor from the back of the large house to the front, she called down to two slaves, bidding them to open the large wooden doors and then, with Iole at her side, Melania again stretched her arms wide as twenty or so women entered from the street. Most were wearing white, but some of the younger ones, the junior VVs like Iole, were clad in shades of gray.
    â€œSisters!” Melania sang down to them, stretching her arms out even further. Iole didn’t know if this was tradition or if Melania simply enjoyed stretching. It did give almost anyone who was close to her the impression that Melania not only knew exactly what she was talking about at any moment, but that she was also extremely … grand … and oh-so worthy of respect.
    â€œSister!” the group called up, almost in unison.
    â€œHave we a moment?”
    â€œWe do,” answered a slightly older woman. “We received word that the battles in the Forum have concluded, but the crowd is still filing out of