Page 7 of Blaze of Our Lives

I hugged her tight then released her and backed away. As much as I wished I could count on Lilith, I knew I couldn’t. She might have some words of wisdom, but I knew I was on my own with the Higher Power.

“Mom, be careful what you say,” I warned. “Pandora can hear us.”

“Maybe not,” Gideon said from across the room.

If he was about to be cryptic, I was going to electrocute him. I was seriously at the end of my rope. My uncle could probably end me with one well-aimed shot, but a tiny part of me didn’t find the idea to be all that bad. I pushed down my death wish and focused on the now. Dying would seriously complicate matters. Plus, I didn’t truly want to die.

“Would you care to be specific?” I questioned, shoving my hands into my pockets so I didn’t accidently on purpose antagonize the Grim Reaper.

His grin implied he’d just read my mind. “It would be my pleasure, Goddess Cecily.”

“It’s Bitch Goddess Cecily,” I corrected him.

His brows shot up and his grin widened. Daisy clapped her hands together with delight and Heather gave me a thumbs up. Charlie nodded and chuckled. Cher handed out wine coolers. Tim pulled a notebook and a pencil from one of his many pockets and wrote down my name. Abaddon winked at me and Candy Vargo cackled.

“My mistake,” Gideon said. “It’s would be my pleasure, Bitch Goddess Cecily.”

“Better,” I muttered.

Gideon glanced over at Abaddon. “Shall I, or shall you?”

“I shall,” Abaddon replied. He pinned me with a gaze that made my knees weak and my heart pump faster. The Demon also made me feel secure and loved. He was a keeper. His outer beauty was ridiculous, but his insides eclipsed his exterior. “Cecily, when you don’t want to show a visual representation of your thoughts, what do you do?”

“I shut the door in my brain,” I replied immediately, thrilled I knew the answer to something. “Metaphorically speaking.”

“Ohhhh, fascinating,” Tim said, scribbling on his pad. “Did you know that the both the human and Immortal brain is sixty percent fat?”

“Umm… no,” I said, unsure where we were going with this.

“Oh yes!” Tim assured me. “It’s the fattiest organ in the body. The fatty acids are very important for your brain’s performance. You must feed it with delicious leafy greens and cruciferous veggies.”

I was truly at a loss for words. Candy Vargo wasn’t.

“For fucks sake, Mail Boy,” she griped. “We ain’t got no time for your unnecessary facts right now.”

Tim was disappointed. “One more?”

He was really sweet. I didn’t have the heart to say no. “Sure.”

Tim cleared his throat then giggled. It was strangely adorable. “You can’t tickle yourself. The brilliant brain anticipates your own touch which completely cancels out the physical poking you apply.”

“Umm… thank you,” I replied.

Tim gave me a jaunty salute then continued to take notes. Weird was an understatement to describe the scene that was being played out in my home.

Abaddon crossed the room and took my hands in his. The warmth of his touch grounded me. “In theory, you should be able to block Pandora from hearing you… and us by closing the door.”

“In theory?” I questioned.

“Theory because it’s never been done,” he replied. “This situation has never presented itself… until now.”

“Thank fucking God for that,” Candy announced.

“Speaking of,” I said, turning to the assembled group. “Explain to me how the Higher Power isn’t God.” I wasn’t well versed with the Bible. Plus, I’d learned more alarming and bizarre facts in the last month than I had during my forty years alive. My brain was full.

“FOR FUCKS SAKE!” Pandora screeched, causing me to slap my hands over my ears and bend over at the waist in pain. “Are you stupid? We’re all going to DIE.”

I shook my head as Abaddon tried to protect me. No one could protect me from the insanity. Holding up a hand I stopped his approach. “Need to test the theory.”

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