Page 22 of Generally Hospitable
It was a legit question. “She won’t go after our daughter.”
“She told you that?” he demanded. “Gave you her word?”
I shook my head. “She didn’t, but I know. I know in my heart and my soul that she won’t harm our daughter.”
Abaddon sighed. He wasn’t happy. “I wish I had your confidence, but I don’t.”
“Fair,” I said.
He looked me in the eye. “What I’m about to say is shameful. I shouldn’t even speak the words considering that you’re sitting here because of Pandora’s sacrifice… but if I don’t say it, it will eat at me for eternity.”
I blew out an audible breath. It came out like a raspberry. I already knew what he was going to say and the answer was no. I didn’t even want him to put the words together in a sentence. He would have to live with that. Everyone was entitled to their thoughts and opinions, but I was the Goddess and I was about to pull rank. I loved Abaddon with all I had. I would love him until the end of time, but his thought was dangerous and as wrong as Pandora killing my mother. Two wrongs would never make anything right. It would only leave a person who committed the wrong with regrets that time would never wash away.
“I will not leave her to die,” I said.
Abaddon wasn’t ready to back down. I got it. I really did. Our daughter wasn’t even here yet and I knew without any doubt that I would die happily for her… just like my mother had done for me. The gift of my mother getting to live out the rest of her life as a human by my dad’s side wasn’t a guarantee that I would receive the same gift.
“Do you think she would do the same for you? If the situation were reversed?” he pressed.
I didn’t need to mull his questions over. “It’s moot. The situation is not the same. Pretending won’t get us anywhere. Pandora offered to die for me and our child, knowing there would be two Goddesses without her and that the balance would be kept. Even so, I won’t let her give up her life. And, if Pandora gets pregnant with a female child, I’d embrace the baby Goddess as my own. I know that if we can save Pandora, she will do the same. I want to give her the chance to prove it to you and the rest of our people.”
Abaddon inhaled slowly and blew the breath out even slower. “I love you. I trust you. I don’t entirely trust Pandora, but I will honor you by helping you save her. However, once our daughter is born, I will watch her like a hawk for the rest of time.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” I told him, knowing it wouldn’t be necessary, but if it made him feel better in this moment, then who was I to deny him the comfort? I leaned into him, going up on my tiptoes, and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around me, and the feeling of his lips on mine was perfection. I would’ve loved to deepen the kiss, allowing it to lead into the natural consequences of our love, but we had things to do, places to be, a Stinky Whore to save, a public killing of Chub Chub Wang, and putting the Higher Power in Its place for good. It was a total lady boner killer.
“Hey, horny fuckers,” Candy Vargo shouted right outside the door to our bedroom. “Put your pants back on. Your mom is here.”
And the party continued to rage on. I just hoped the next part of the celebration followed to plan.
It had to. The alternative wasn’t acceptable.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lilith’sserene focus immediately calmed me. Seated on the couch next to my mom felt right. She sat with her knees turned toward mine, facing me, as she took both of my hands in hers. “Talk to me, Cecily.”
I nodded and let the entire story fall from my lips. It took a good thirty minutes. I left nothing out. I spoke quickly and clearly. No one interrupted. When I’d finished, it felt like I’d run a marathon. Listening to myself tell the story out loud made my resolve even harder than it already was.
I wasn’t sure if Fifi had told her anything before the conversation, but I was certain my mom would have handled it the same way regardless. She was the calm in all storms. I wanted to be like her.
“Decatalian is not that powerful,” Lilith finally said after she’d taken a few moments to absorb the tale.” She nodded reassuringly. “He never was and never could be. It’s no surprise that he was clueless about death magic. Even if he’d been taught how to create the spell, he’s too simple-minded to apply it.” She shook her head as she dismissed the idea as absurd. “To do what he’s doing, he has to have a very powerful benefactor. Iknow you feel strongly that it’s the Higher Power, but have you searched for any other potential enemies?”
I shook my head. “No,” I conceded. “Hasn’t been a whole lot of time, and I’m going with my gut. The Higher Power makes the most sense. It’s the only thing powerful enough to destroy Immortals. Besides, It’s got a bug up Its butt about me, and I’m sure It isn’t going just let it go. It had set me up to be drained of my magic then killed by Chub Chub Wang’s lackies… I mean Decatalian’s lackies.”
Lilith squeezed my hands. “Chub Chub Wang is far more appropriate for a dreadful person like him.”
“Right,” I said with a small smile. Point for my people in the nickname department. They’d nailed it. “So, that’s why I believe it leads back to the Higher Power. Pandora sacrificed herself for me. That’s why I’m here and she’s there. I think that the punishment was meant for me, but she’s willingly paying the price.”
“You know,” Candy Vargo said, picking her teeth. “I ain’t so clear on why that old broad sacrificed herself for you. Don’t make no fuckin’ sense to me. Any way you slice that shit log up, it’s gonna end in Armageddon. Without two Goddesses, we’re screwed.”
Abaddon looked pointedly at me. It was early, but definitely time to share the news. “I’m pregnant with a girl,” I said. Every mouth in the room except Abaddon’s hung open. “Pandora is the one who told me. She knew if she died, the balance would remain intact since I carry a Goddess inside me.”
“Welp, slap my ass and call me Mother Fucker,” Candy said, followed by a long loud whistle. “If that old cow makes it out alive, she’s done her probation time. Ain’t no way to deny she was willin’ to give up her life to make up for the life she took.”
Lilith had tears in her eyes. They were happy tears. “May I?” she asked, pointing to my stomach.
“You may,” I replied, guiding her hand to my still flat stomach. Without consulting Abaddon, I made a decision with my heart that left my mouth before my brain could tell me to cross-reference it before announcing it. “I want to name her after you, Mom.”
Lilith’s laugh reminded me of tinkling bells on a light summer breeze. It was every kind of lovely. If my daughter had even a small amount of my mother’s qualities, she would turn out just fine. I spared a quick glance at Abaddon. I’d just made a decision single-handedly that should have been reserved for both of us. I still would have wanted to name her after my mother, but it would have been better if I’d checked it out first.
