Page 20 of Another Underworld

That was then. This was now.

“This place is really something neato,” Cher said, looking around in awe.

A vast mountainous landscape of raging fire lay in front of us as far as the eye could see. The words wicked and sultry came to mind as I watched the flames lick up the sides of trees bearing wildly unusual fruit—definitely not something you could get on the mortal plane at the grocery store. Swarms of brightly colored birds soared through the fire. Their wing spans were the size of an SUV, and the sounds they made reminded me of metal on metal in a deadly pileup of cars. I felt a glorious kinship to the scene. A colossal red sun hung low in the inky purple sky.

I glanced over at Abaddon. His expression was neutral, but I could see the relaxed and comfortable stance of his body. He felt the call of this place even more than I did.

Fifi took everything in with a grenade in each hand. Cher gave her some crap about that but zipped it when Fifi pointed out that Cher was holding a sword and a bazooka.

Pandora walked away from us, her gaze roaming the fiery landscape. Her expression was unreadable, but her slumped shoulders displayed her melancholy. She was finally back in the land that she loved… that no longer loved her.

The conundrum of getting our people to accept her was clawing at me.

Abaddon leaned in and whispered in my ear. “It’s not up to you. It’s up to her.”

I gave him a sharp glance. “Can you read my mind?”

He chuckled. “Your face, Cecily. I can read your beautiful face.”

I smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

“Hey, come on over here,” I called out to the others. “I need to test something.”

Cher and Fifi walked over. Abaddon already stood by my side. Pandora didn’t move.

I shrugged and kept talking. “I need you to open your minds and focus, please,” I told them. We made a circle. “Lilith could talk to her people in mind speak. I’ve been able to communicate like that as well. I know it works with Abaddon. I’m not sure it will work with you two.”

“Why not?” Cher asked. “I’m team Bitch Goddess Cecily all the way!”

I stared at her for a hot sec and did my best not to laugh. I hadn’t realized she’d touched up her makeup before we’d left. Her lips were lined in bright green, and her eyes in fire engine red. She looked diseased. I really needed to buy her a compact with a mirror in it.

“And I am as well, My Liege Bitch Goddess Cecily,” Fifi added with a respectful nod of her head. “I would fornicate thelife force out of anyone who wishes you harm. And if time is of the essence, I would joyously blow the enemy to bits with my hand grenades.” To demonstrate her violent loyalty, she opened up the coat she was wearing. I’d never seen so many grenades in my life.

“Okay,” I said with a slight wince. “Thank you, Fifi. You humble me. I’m gonna say that screwing people to death is probably off the table, but the offer is very considerate of you.”

The Succubus preened with delight. Cher cackled. Abaddon groaned. Pandora still had not joined us. Whatever. She was going through some stuff, and I hadn’t expected her full attention, all things considered. I only hoped she’d pull herself together when the time came to step up for our people.

“The reason I’m concerned is because Cher is an Angel and Fifi is a Succubus, but it’s worth a shot. Okay, here goes nothing,” I said, then thought the rest of my message. “Hi Fifi, Cher and Abaddon. I want you to know that I love all of you and am so grateful you’re with me.”

“Back at you, favorite client of mine,”Cher shot back with a grin.

Fifi’s eyes grew wide.“This is quite wonderful! My Liege Bitch Goddess Cecily is the most powerful Goddess of them all!”

“I’ll second that,”Abaddon added.

“Should I see if this will work with Pandora?”I asked the trio.

“It won’t,”Abaddon said.“She isn’t loyal to you.”

That made sense. And the same could be said for me. I wasn’t loyal to her. Right now, I couldn’t imagine a time that would change.

“Alright,” I said aloud, instantly realizing I should have asked Dagon and Shiva for more specifics. “While I’ve been here a few times, I’m not familiar with the geography of the Darkness. We need to find the camps.”

“We’re all going to die,” Pandora muttered.

“Cake hole. Shit it,” I snapped.

“It won’t be difficult for you to find the camps,” Abaddon said, ignoring Pandora’s unhelpful comment. “Close your eyes, Cecily.”

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