Page 61 of Blaze of Our Lives

Getting here had been quick and painless. Leaving… not so much. Without any pomp or circumstance, the insane talking ashtray raised the terrifying sword over her head.

And then… the crazy bitch decapitated both of us.

EPILOGUE

Hand in hand, we landed in the front yard of my LA home with a violent thud. I immediately checked to make sure I still had a head. I did. I glanced at Pandora, relieved to see she still had hers as well. From behind me, there was a commotion.

Quickly getting to my feet, I pulled Pandora to hers, then put myself between her and the front porch, where all the people I loved were standing, ready to kick some ass on my behalf. Abaddon was front and center with his sword drawn and a murderous look in his eyes. Candy Vargo was glowing and floating in the air. Fifi, Gideon, Daisy, Charlie, Tim, Cher and Heather flanked them. They were all armed and extremely dangerous.

Only my mother was unarmed. She stared at me with a look of wonder on her beautiful face. She understood.

“Everyone, stand down,” I ordered. “Pandora is not going to run. She’s willing to accept her punishment.”

“You sure about that, Badass,” Candy Vargo asked skeptically.

“Very,” I assured her.

Pandora stepped out from behind me and stood by my side. “Bitch Goddess Cecily speaks the truth.” She looked at me and gave me a small smile of gratitude. “My guess is that Bitch Goddess Cecily always speaks the truth.”

“She does,” Lilith said, crossing the yard and approaching the woman who had killed and rendered her mortal.

I took a small step back as the two women stared at each other.

Finally, Pandora spoke. “I… I…” She was having a hard time.

“I forgive you,” Lilith said softly.

Pandora couldn’t look at my mother. Lilith reached out and lifted her chin until their gazes met.

“Over time,” Lilith continued. “We’ve both done wrong by each other. For that, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not good at this,” Pandora hissed. “But I forgive you too. I deeply regret killing you. It was a very shitty thing to do.”

“Underfuckingstatement,” Candy Vargo said.

Pandora gave Candy a look. Candy gave it right back.

“Correct,” Pandora admitted. “What I am grateful for is that you have the gift to live the rest of your life with love.”

“You have that chance too, Pandora,” Lilith told her. “Where there’s hope there is light.”

“No Lilith,” she said in a hollow tone. “That ship has sailed. I shall take my punishment then do my best to do no more harm. That’s all I have left in me.”

I didn’t believe that, and someday Pandora wouldn’t either. I felt it in my bones and my heart. The day might not happen for a long time from now, but eventually, it would come.

I stepped away from Lilith and Pandora. There was someone I needed to touch. Abaddon met me halfway and held me so tightly it was difficult to breathe.

“It was crazy,” he whispered, his lips buried in my hair. “Your body disappeared. In the dream state you should have been on the couch the whole time. But as soon as you fell asleep, you vanished.” His voice was rough with emotion, and I was pretty sure he had no intention of letting me go anytime soon. “I died a thousand deaths.”

“I love you,” I said. “I’m here. I’m back. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“What the fuck?” Candy Vargo bellowed as an explosion erupted in the street.

My heart sank. I was terrified that Pandora had broken her word. It didn’t seem likely, but maybe I’d been wrong.

She hadn’t. Lilith was behind Pandora, and my friend’s sword was drawn. She lowered it slowly as the smoke cleared.

“What the fuck is right,” I muttered. I quickly ran to the frightened group assembled on the street. They looked unsure and terrified. “No one attack,” I shouted. “I know these people. They’re my friends.”

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