Page 4 of Another Underworld

Thankfully, she hadn’t. Instead, my newly minted friend’s sword was drawn, and she’d put herself in front of Lilith to protect her. Only when the smoke cleared did she lower her brandished weapon.

My relief, once again, was short-lived.

“What the fuck is right,” I muttered, quickly running 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.”

Drogruzun, Brolrath and Ezzanod, along with the Clarks, the Dollys, the Brads, the Warrens and the Jennnifers, were trembling and looking around wildly at the unfamiliar setting.

When Ezzanod finally saw me, a huge smile broke out on his Mr. McFeely face.

“Is that Pee-wee Fuckin’ Herman over there?” Candy Vargo asked.

“Kind of,” I told her. “Ezzanod, why are you here?”

He turned back and looked at the rest of his travel companions. “We bring a message from Phyllis or rather… the Higher Power.” His expression was one of both sorrow and terror.

Pandora walked over and stood by my side. “What does that talking ashtray have to say?”

The Dollys stepped forward. Each bowed to both me and Pandora. When they opened their mouths to speak, it was the voice of Phyllis that came out. They spoke in unison as the blood in my veins ran cold.

“Youse fucked up, Cecily,” the Dollys said, looking confused and scared. “I don’t like bein’ threatened. Youse are gonna pay for dat. The game has just begun, Demon. Youse better watch your back, because I’m gonna exact my revenge when youse least expect it. Good luck. Youse are gonna need it.”

All of the Dollys passed out. The other munchkins ran to their aid.

“Would someone care to explain that?” Abaddon asked.

I took a deep breath and pinched my weenus. Amazingly, squeezing the loose skin on my elbow calmed me a bit. Point to Tim for that one. “Umm… I might have threatened the Higher Power and…”

“Might have?” Pandora inquired with a raised brow and a slight grin.

“Fine,” I admitted. “I threatened the Higher Power. However, it was well deserved. She’s a bitch.”

The gasps were loud. The faces of my loved ones were ashen. I got the feeling I might have seriously fucked up. Only my mother, Abaddon and Pandora seemed to be on my side.

Our asses had just gotten out of the frying pan, and we’d landed in a nuclear dumpster fire. I looked at my Demon loveand let out a frustrated sigh. At this rate, I was never going to get laid.

Candy Vargo walked off the porch and approached me. “Well, badass, you’ve really stepped in it this time.” She looked at Pandora. “You’re on probation. I’m your fuckin’ probation officer. I ain’t gonna incarcerate your sorry ass until we solve this catastrophic issue. But, you mess with me, and I will make you wish you were never hatched. You got that?”

“I do,” Pandora said. “Loud and clear.”

“So, umm… what’s the plan?” I asked.

“That,” Candy Vargo said. “Remains to be seen.”

“We’ll be leaving now,” Gideon announced. Daisy, Heather, Tim and Charlie joined hands with the Grim Reaper. “If you need aid, it will be provided… at no cost.”

In a blast of shimmering black mist, the contingency of Immortals from Georgia disappeared. Only Candy Vargo stayed.

The party had just gone to hell in a handbasket. Big Brother, aka the Higher Power, was watching us, and It wanted revenge. I wasn’t sure our lives would ever be the same.

CHAPTER TWO

Two days later…

There had been no sign of the Higher Power.

None.

Time marched forward as if everything was normal. LA was its usual sunny self. The flowers bloomed, and the salty scent of the ocean mixed with the sweet smell of star jasmine perfumed the air. However, nothing was normal. Granted, normal was now a relative word in my vocabulary, but we were not living it in any semblance of the word.

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