Page 60 of Blaze of Our Lives

“So,” Phyllis said, lighting up yet another cigarette. “Youse two are gettin’ along now? Youse can work together? Youse can rule the Darkness without killin’ each other? Is dat what I’m seein’ here?”

I was stunned to silence. Had this been some kind of fucking test? Pandora seemed at a loss for words as well. That was rare for her.

“Answer my question,” Phyllis said with her eyes narrowed to slits.

“Yes,” Pandora finally said. “We can work together in harmony after I take my punishment for killing Lilith.”

“And youse are gonna do that without no protest?” Phyllis pressed.

“I am,” Pandora said.

“And youse,” she said, pointing at me. “Youse got a real shitty mouth on youse. Youse gonna work on that?”

The theme of Alice in Wonderland roared to the front of my brain. Embrace your true self. If that was the lesson to be learned, then the Higher Power had put that lesson in place. I knew my answer. She wasn’t going to like it, but I was going to embrace and own who I was.

“No,” I said flatly. “I’m not going to watch my language. I am who I am. I’m a good person. I have compassion. I don’t screw with people’s lives like you do. I am fair and I care. So, no. I will not watch my mouth.”

The Higher Power threw her head back and laughed. “Fine. You want her out then she can come out.”

With a wave of her hand, Pandora left my body. The feeling of her exit left me empty and sad. However, the voice inside my mind was now the woman standing next to me. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. She was truly stunning on the outside, and I was pretty sure Lilith had lied about Pandora being bald. If she hadn’t, Pandora had one hell of a wig. But the best part of all was that the hope was shining through. It was in her eyes. She’d fight it, but it would win.

“Cecily,” Pandora said with a small smile pulling at her lips.

“Pandora,” I replied, smiling back.

She extended her hand. I reached out and took it in mine.

“Well, ain’t dat sweet,” Phyllis said sarcastically. “Youse know there’s a catch. Ain’t nothin; that can happen in the Immortal world without a catch.”

“What’s the catch?” Pandora demanded.

Phyllis smiled. It wasn’t pretty, but neither was she. “Only one of youse can leave.”

I wanted to attack her. The need to end the Higher Power was intense. Pandora held my hand tight and kept me from going at her. There was no way Pandora was staying here. This was my dream state. There was a good chance I could get out of it myself. There was no way she could leave it without aid. The decision was easy.

“She can leave,” I said at the same time Pandora said the exact words about me.

My gazed jerked to hers in shock. “No,” I insisted. “You go. I can get back on my own.”

She shook her head. “No, Cecily. You will leave. It’s the right thing to do. You have an entire life to go back to. I have nothing. I can serve my time here. Maybe once that’s done, I’ll be able to come back. You should go.”

“I’m not leaving without you,” I told her. “Period.” My attention turned to the Higher Power. “We’re leaving together. You made the rule that there had to be two Goddesses of the Darkness. If you don’t let us leave, Armageddon will come, and you will be the cause.” I smiled at her. It was icy and didn’t reach my eyes. “And just so you know, if you don’t play it my way, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure the entire Immortal Universe knows that you’re the harbinger of the end. It’s all on you, Phyllis.”

“Are youse threatenin’ me?” she asked.

Pandora laughed. “I believe she is.” She squeezed my hand. “I shall not be revoking your Demon card after all. That was very badass of you, Bitch Goddess Cecily.”

“Thank you, Goddess Pandora.”

“Fine,” Phyllis said, not happy at all. “But ders only one way for both of youse to leave at the same time.”

“I don’t care what it is,” I told her. “Just do what you have to do.”

The Higher Power grinned. It was terrifying.

The icy-white sword, as big as she was, appeared in her hands. The blood-red veins still pulsed through it, making it seem alive.

“Well, shit,” Pandora muttered. “Figures.”

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