Page 25 of Another Underworld

Harsh, I thought. “Funny,” I shouted back. “The only ones dying seem to be you.”

Out of the twenty, only half remained.

“Five for me and five for you,” I told Pandora.

“I can work with that,” she replied.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fifi morph into a hulking, six-foot monster with razor-sharp fangs. With a grenade in each hand, she looked like a nightmare come to life. She was gorgeous. The fence had been deactivated. That was excellent since the enemy was doing its best to shove us into it. Fifi’s shift stunned the guards for about three seconds. Apparently, they’d never witnessed a Succubus in action. The first time I’d seen it, I was flabbergasted. Today, I was thrilled.

The slight pause was the opening we needed. Three seconds was the gift that could determine our lives and their deaths.

Thankfully, I’d misjudged Pandora. She fought like a maniac on steroids.

The battle was fierce and bloody. Pandora moved with speed that almost rendered her invisible. We were back-to-back and took charge like a well-oiled Goddess machine. We suffered hits but served them right back, times ten. The sensation in my arm as I lopped off the head of a raging bastard who wanted me dead was intense.

“Eight more,” Pandora bellowed with glee.

I had to admit, her excitement was a little off-putting. I was seriously happy she was on my team. She was deranged.

We were winning, but not by much. The odds were not in our favor, but I’d been in this position before. Abaddon and Cher were still going strong. The Demon prisoners were still safe behind the ward. Fifi had run into the camp and was going after anything that moved. The blood, guts and body parts that flew everywhere made the bile rise in my throat. The need to hurl was real. However, puking during battle was bad form. If Pandora wasn’t losing her cookies, I wasn’t about to lose mine.

“Fucking bitch. I will end you,” the one I’d assumed was in charge shrieked as he ran at Pandora like a crazed and rabid animal.

My other Goddess-half was busy beheading another who’d come up from behind and I didn’t like that asshole’s attitude. I was bleeding. Pandora had lost her left arm. These Demons had messed with me and my people in vile ways.

I was done. There were now only six despicable bastards left. It was time to reduce the number to zero.

I was about to go experimental. Raising my arms over my head, I screamed. The sound reverberated through my body like a bomb, shook the ground we stood on, and reduced the hut to ash. The enchanted fire that covered my body felt like a comfortable cashmere sweater. It was every kind of right.Slashing my arms to my sides, the six remaining Demons exploded like blood-filled ticks. The green goo and partial charred body parts scattered all over made my stomach roil, but this was what happened to Demons who harmed my people.

The silence after the battle was deafening. Pandora stared at me with her mouth agape like I had two heads. It was more unnerving than fighting the flaming assholes. I cautiously reached up to make sure my noggin was still attached to my body and that I wasn’t on fire. I heaved a huge sigh of relief when I determined that I was still mostly in one piece and not covered in flames.

“Are you serious?” Pandora snapped.

“About what?” I snapped right back. I’d just saved her ass multiple times, and she was being a bitch.

“It might have been nice if you’d shared that you could blow up the bad guys. Would have saved a bunch of time,” she complained.

“Yeah? Well, you didn’t ask,” I said flatly. “Plus, I’ve only done it one other freaking time. I didn’t know if I could repeat it, Stinky Whore.”

“If you can do it once, you can do it again, imbecilic slut,” she ground out.

“Nice to know, dick face,” I snarled. “I’ve been a Goddess for a few weeks. Can’t say I know all the ins and out like some douche canoe who has been around for millions of years.”

“Do not bring my age into this,” she growled. “I look fabulous.”

“You have one arm,” I pointed out.

“Whatever,” she groused. “It’s growing back as we chat.”

I squinted at her in disbelief. “I’d hardly call this a chat.”

“What?” she demanded, slapping her good hand onto her hip. “You want me to hug you?”

“Oh my God,” I said with a laugh. “Absolutely not. That would be so out of character I’d probably remove your other arm or lose my mind. Not sure I could handle you being nice.”

The nut job grinned and walked toward me with her one arm outstretched. She was coming in for a hug.

I backed away laughing. “No can do, Stinky Whore,” I choked out with a wide grin.

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