Page 25 of Blaze of Our Lives

“We’re brass, sass, and full of whoop-ass,” the Dolly’s added.

All of them grinned so wide, I saw more fang than I’d ever wanted to see. As to their fighting skills… they gave me a demonstration. It was brutal, bloody, every kind of wrong and fast. I’d participated in a number of battles since becoming a Demon. This one came close to making me puke in my mouth. Not one single Clark had any legs left. Most of the Dollys were now bald, breastless and severely bruised. The Jennifers fared decently, but were blood soaked. The Warrens, who hadn’t had much to say at all, were missing arms and several heads were dangling. The Brads, every single one of them, had their eyes gouged out. A selfie was out of the question.

“Holy hell,” I choked out. “That was… like nothing I’ve ever seen before and ahh… something I hope to never see again.”

The munchkins giggled and high-fived each other. The Brads, being blind, had a difficult time smacking palms but gave it their best shot. Time was wasting. I needed to get to the obstacles, whatever they might be.

“One more question before I have to skedaddle,” I said, picking up a leg and handing it to a Clark. “Do you guys and gals plan on coming with me?”

The screams of terror were unsettling. If they giggled after the massacre they’d just taken part in, that boded horribly for the rest of the journey.

“Nooooooo,” the Dollys screeched. “Never step off the green brick road. NEVER!”

“Why?” I demanded. Their fear was contagious and I was leaning into it. “Why can I never step off of the green brick road?”

The exchanged glances. Well, not the Brads, but everyone else. They appeared confused and perplexed.

“We don’t know,” the Warrens admitted.

“It’s your dream state, ignoramus,” Pandora reminded me. “If you don’t know the answer, how are they supposed to know it?”

She’d made a point. I didn’t like it, but I acknowledged it. Walking over to the remnants of the gingerbread house, I pocketed a couple of chunks. It was delicious and not poisonous.

Fine. If it was my dream, I’d leave the fanged munchkins with something positive and kind.

“You all will be fine. No more fighting unless you’re attacked,” I told them. They hung on my every word. “It would be lovely if you found some non-violent hobbies and lived a very happy life.”

“I’m taking your Demon card when I get out of you,” Pandora grumbled.

Ignoring her was getting easier. “Did you guys and gals make your houses?”

“Yes!” the Dollys confirmed.

“They’re delicious,” I told them, much to their delight. “Maybe, you all could open a bakery or a dessert catering business. You’re very talented.”

“Or a brothel,” the Clarks suggested.

“No uterus, no opinion!” the Jennifers shouted at the old school munchkins.

I winced, ignoring the Clarks’ sexist-pig suggestion. “Anyway, thank you for your hospitality and the directions. I will always remember you.”

The blind Brads raised their hands. I nodded at them twice before I realized they couldn’t see me. “Yes?”

“Can we come to your house sometime?” they inquired.

Pandora roared with laughter. I didn’t like that one bit. She clearly looked down on the fanged freaks.

And then I made my first of many mistakes. “Of course.” The minute the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them, but the munchkins looked so pleased I couldn’t take them back. Plus, this was a dream. They didn’t really exist… I hoped. “In a few millenniums,” I added quickly.

“Fast of your feet, for a moron,” Pandora commented with a chuckle.

I stepped on my own foot again. She deserved it. Her screech made me smile.

“It was lovely meeting you,” I told the group.

I realized as I began walking down the green brick road, I hadn’t lied. It was lovely meeting the trucker hat wearing munchkins. They hadn’t tried to off me and they made a mean cookie house. Win-win so far.

Unfortunately, I feared we had a long way to go.

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