Page 23 of Generally Hospitable
“You can pick the middle name,” I told him, as my way of apologizing.
“I’m good.” He smiled, then gave me a wink and a thumbs-up. “It’s perfect.”
My relief that he liked it and wasn’t upset with me was real. Thankfully, I hadn’t created another clusterfuck. We had too many of those going right now for me to whip up one more.
“I think straddling her with Lilith is a bit much,” my mom said with a grin. “Maybe something like Lily would be more fitting.”
“Lily,” I said aloud, trying out the name.
Abaddon followed my lead and gave it a shot. “Lily,” he said then repeated it. “I love it.”
“Me too,” I said, looking down at my tummy. “Your name is Lily. What do you think about that?”
“If she answers you, I’ll shit a brick,” Cher announced. “I’m only buzzed right now, but a talking embryo might send me over the edge.”
“Lily did not answer,” I promised. “You’re fine.”
Cher grinned and popped open another bottle of peach. She was well on her way to being soused.
“Getting back to the matter at hand,” Lilith said, with her hand still touching my stomach. “Do you think the Higher Power is aware that you’re pregnant?”
“No. I don’t,” I said. “And that’s what throws a wrench into her shitshow. Why would It arrange the death of one of the Goddesses of the Darkness, knowing that it would bring on the end?”
My statement hit Candy Vargo hard. She leaned forward and listened intently. It seemed as if she had something to say, but if she did, she was holding it close to her chest. The cryptic shit was at work again. Immortals were a complicated bunch. Dagon and Shiva had not spoken much, but it was clear they were keeping watch for danger. Their eyes strayed constantly to the street outside the bay window. Our area was magically warded for safety, but two extra sets of eyes were always welcome.
“May I be so bold as to speak, my liege Bitch Goddess Cecily?” Fifi asked, bowing low while wielding a gnarly-looking sword in one hand and a grenade in the other.
“Absolutely,” I told her.
She laid her sword and grenade down on the coffee table. I was pretty sure it was a show of respect, but I kept half an eye on the grenade. I really didn’t want it to roll off the table and go off. That would suck hard. I loved my little house and losing any body parts was out of the question. They would grow back but I didn’t have time for that crap. Not to mention, Lilith was now human. She wouldn’t live through an explosion.
Abaddon read my mind, or, more possibly, my face. He casually walked over to the table, picked up the grenade and put it into his pocket. I smiled my thanks and got a sexy lopsided smile in return.
Fifi cleared her throat and took the floor. “Is it possible that the Higher Power is playing a game of control with you and Pandora?”
“Keep going,” I said.
“It might very well be that It has no intention of killing Pandora. It’s messing with both of you for the perceived disrespect It was shown.”
“What’s the end game?” I pressed. Fifi was making sense, but only to a point. Both Pandora and I had thought that we were possibly being tested by the Higher Power, but we hadn’t come up with a motive. I still didn’t have a motive. “Many of my people died because of the false God. I believe that’s her doing and it’s fucked. I just can’t see the end game in this.”
“That I’m unsure of, my liege,” Fifi said. “I’m sorry.”
“Nope,” I shot back immediately. “Nothing to be sorry for. It’s an interesting theory and could have some merit. Thank you, my friend.”
Fifi preened under my compliment and bowed so low her forehead touched the floor. The thought that Phyllis was just messing with us and had no intention of ending Pandora gave me a bit of relief. However, the Higher Power didn’t have Pandora. Chub Chub Wang did.
“How much freedom would anyone guess that the Higher Power could have given Chub Chub Wang?” I asked.
“I would think It would keep Chub Chub Wang on a tight rope,” Lilith said, thinking it all out as she spoke. “The Demon is not smart. He had, and I assume still has, very little impulse control. Although, he seems to love women, he despises them as well. If Pandora has no power and is left to Chub Chub Wang’s devices, there is a chance that she could die by his hand without the permission of the Higher Power.”
The modicum of relief I felt only moments earlier turned sour in my stomach. Nothing, and I meant nothing, was going the way I hoped. I felt like I had most of the pieces of the puzzle, but a few of the most important ones were still missing.
“Hey,” Cher said, pointing at her long-time BFF Candy Vargo. “I can tell your ass is just itching to speak. You best let it out or I’m gonna have to come over there and beat it out of you.”
Candy’s brows raised. “Like you could, old lady.”
Cher laughed. “Maybe not, but I most certainly could hold you down and do your makeup. Gussy up your messy self a little.”
