Page 18 of Generally Hospitable
“And on that note, we’re out of here,” I said quickly. Watching Moon get her rocks off on white pleather wasn’t on my to-do list. “Everyone, get behind me. I’m going to close the hole and command a door. We’re blowing this joint.”
It was time to get to the next part of the plan. Staying alive was still on the agenda, but the party had started and we needed to be there. Pink and John Travolta, along with the rest of us, were all invited.
CHAPTER SIX
The sun,sitting high in the sky, was beautiful. Breathing in fresh air was glorious. Being out of the castle while still breathing was priceless. Abaddon was on me so fast I didn’t see him coming. Feeling his strong arms around me felt like home. I had something very important to share, but it would have to wait. Duty first. Stunning miracle later.
“I died a thousand deaths while you were in there,” Abaddon said, checking me over from head to toe for damage.
“Do not die,” I said with a pained laugh. “I can deal with a lot of things. That isn’t one of them.”
“Roger that,” he said with a smile that made me tingle all over. My man took my hand in his and held it tight.
I was fine with that. His touch centered me.
Irma, Jonny, Moon, a naked Corny and a topless Stella stood behind me, marveling at the assembled army. The army marveled right back at Stella’s legendary rack. This was no time to be admiring boobs. Snapping my fingers, I conjured up a shirt for Stella. After a brief bit of protest from both Stella and the rest of my people, she covered up her assets. No one was marveling at Corny’s wrinkled junk, so I let him stay naked. I was nice that way.
It was time to party. And we were going to kick it off fast and furious. We’d all be hungover tomorrow, but that was the price to be paid for an excellent soiree.
The landscape around the castle looked like what it had become—a war zone. Not a single one of Chub Chub Wang’s guards was alive. The piles of dust everywhere were evidence. My people didn’t fuck around. The entire outside area had been permanently cleared of danger. That didn’t mean there weren’t more evil Demons inside the castle, but the direct threat had been eliminated. The trees were charred and destroyed. The formerly pristine landscaping had been trampled and burned to ash. My people looked a little worse for the wear, but their smiles were wide and real.
Tiny, Cher and Fifi stood in front of me. Fifi held grenades in her hands. There was a profound look of relief that I was safe on her face. Cher sipped on wine cooler. Vintage Cher. She gave me a sly grin and a wink. My Angel agent also offed me a peach wine cooler. I declined. It might be a party, but getting buzzed wasn’t on the agenda.
The only Demon who wasn’t smiling was Tiny. His expression was tight and his eyes darted wildly all over the place.
“Bitch Goddess Cecily,” he said with a respectful bow. “Where is Pandora?”
Closing my eyes briefly, I didn’t beat around the bush. It wouldn’t be fair to Tiny. It wouldn’t be fair to Pandora to sugarcoat anything. “Chub Chub Wang has her. She’s alive, but I’m not sure how much longer she can survive.”
The gasps from my army were loud and distressed. The anguished and animalistic sound that left Tiny’s lips broke my heart. My small and forced smile was sad and bittersweet. Pandora would have been knocked sideways to see that the Demons were unhappy that she hadn’t made it out. She onlyknew hatred from our kind. It hardened my resolve to get her back. The hope inside her had bled out and was now part of who she was to become. I would give her the chance to realize all the potential she had. It was at the top of my goal list along with publicly killing Chub Chub Wang and ending the Higher Power’s reign of terror. It was a lofty list, but I was here for it.
While it seemed all kinds of wrong to move on without Pandora, we had to do it. If we simply stood here and mourned her absence, she’d be absent for the rest of time.
I scanned my people. There were easily four thousand surrounding me. It was the dancing part of the party now. My commands were precise and non-negotiable.
“Chub Chub Wang’s real name is Decatalian. He’s not as powerful as I’d believed. The death magic isn’t coming from him. The Higher Power is the one behind the despicable crime. He’s the Higher Power’s puppet.”
The fury of my people was unmistakable. The shouts of anger were loud and clear. I concurred. Abaddon’s eyes blazed red, and his rage was palpable. I felt the same.
“Are you sure?” he ground out, looking ready to implode.
“I am,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “I have an idea of how to solve it.”
“Keep in mind that there must be two Goddesses of the Darkness or the end will come,” he reminded me.
“Front and center in my brain,” I assured him.
He nodded curtly. “I shall support you, Bitch Goddess Cecily. Always.”
I nodded back. The man made me whole. I was strong and capable on my own, but having the Demon’s love and belief made me stronger. Thomas Moore’s quote came to mind—'A soulmate is someone to whom we feel profoundly connected, as though the communication and communing that takes place between us were not the product of intentional efforts,but rather a divine grace.’ My soulmate was Abaddon. My overwhelming joy that we’d found each other was one of the greatest gifts of my life. He was my touchstone. With him by my side, I could… and would conquer the madness. There was no doubt that in the future more madness would come, but if I didn’t best the monster banging on the door, there would be no future.
And speaking of madness… we needed to get going.
“Tiny, Irma, Jonny, Corny, Stella and Moon will be in charge while I’m gone,” I announced.
“Where are you going, my liege Bitch Goddess Cecily,” Fifi asked, alarmed.
“Getting to that,” I assured my self-proclaimed Succubus bodyguard. “My people, I need you to move and move quickly. Surround the castle on all sides. Protect each other and be cautious. If anyone who is not part of our army tries to go in, kill them. If anyone other than Pandora comes out, kill them. Am I clear?”
