Page 19 of Blaze of Our Lives

“Click your heels three times,” Candy suggested.

Heather zapped her. Candy zapped her back. Daisy got between them and gave them a look I didn’t ever want to see aimed my way.

“Do not make me have to put either of you in time out,” she said, eyeing them steadily. “You will not enjoy it.”

“Sorry,” Heather said, pulling Candy back to her feet. “Knee jerk reaction to Candy being an idiot.”

The Keeper of Fate chuckled. “Might be an idiot, but that’s how I got back.”

“Seriously?” I asked. “Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz?”

Candy nodded.

“Mom? Gideon? What about you guys?”

“For me, it wasn’t conscious,” Lilith admitted. “My body came back to this plane when the time was right.”

Gideon pressed the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I certainly hope this doesn’t apply to you, Bitch Goddess Cecily, but I came back once I’d slayed the monster.”

“Fuck,” I muttered. I hoped that wasn’t my ticket home.

Abaddon walked to my side and put his arm around me. The heat of his body and his proximity calmed my racing mind. More than anything, I wanted him with me. I hoped physical contact worked to bring him along on my trip, but I had a feeling I was on my own.

“One more thing, shit-stain,” Pandora said. “One can’t die in the dream state, but one can get trapped there. Do not fucking do that. I will be furious.”

“Is that true?” I demanded.

“Is what true?” Lilith asked.

“Pandora said that while I can’t die in the dream state, I could get stuck there.”

Lilith nodded slowly. “I’ve always understood that to be true. It’s the reason I’ve only gone to the plane of the Higher Power a few times in my millions of years.”

“Well, slap my Brazilian butt and call me Betty,” Cher shouted, pulling a gallon box of wine out of her bag and taking a swig from the spout. “That doesn’t work for me. We have a damned TV show to do.” She took another gulp. “And as far as I can tell, correct me if I’m wrong, but you haven’t done the nasty with Abaddon yet. You gotta bang the hot guy, Cecily!”

I was positive my face was blood red if the heat I felt in my neck and face were any indication. Abaddon let his head fall back onto his broad shoulders and stared at the ceiling.

Everyone else in the room was either smiling or doing their best to hide their amusement. They were failing.

“Cher has a fuckin point. Pun absolutely intended,” Candy added with a wide grin. “Y’all would make some mighty cute Demon babies.”

“Let’s stop right there,” I said in my outdoor voice before I got any more unneeded input on the situation. “My… sex life is no one’s business. And neither is Abaddon’s.”

“What she said,” Abaddon muttered. He was as flustered as I was.

Little did anyone know my goal was to live long enough to bang him. For a hot sec, I considered sharing the fact. I didn’t. My face was scarlet enough. I shook off my embarrassment and got back to business.

“Is there a time limit? A tangible one of how long I can stay without getting trapped there?” I asked, knowing it was a long shot to get an answer.

The Grim Reaper spoke up. “Not as far as I’m aware. However, get out as quickly as you can. Time runs differently on different planes.”

Again, the more I learned, the less I knew. I hadn’t even gotten there yet and was desperate to get back home. Not the best way to start, but it was what it was.

“Be the badass, Badass,” Candy Vargo reminded me. “You’ve got this.”

“From your mouth to… umm… whoever’s ears.” Resolved, I took out a sleepy-time green gummy and popped it into my mouth. Walking over to the couch, I gave instructions. “Abaddon, Cher, Candy, Tim, Gideon, Charlie and Daisy please touch me while I’m out. Mom, do not touch me. You’re human now. I refuse to risk it.”

Lilith didn’t look pleased, but nodded. “As you wish, my child.”

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