Page 34 of Another Underworld

“What about the prisoners in the fourth camp?” Pandora asked.

This was why I was running my pull-it-from-my-ass plan over with them. I’d forgotten about the thousand people we were about to liberate. “They’ll be in no shape to fight for at least eight hours. We’ll leave the fruit, food, clothing and water with them. When they’re stronger, they can join us.”

“I have a question,” Abaddon said.

“Ask,” I replied.

“Have you tried to communicate with Irma, Jonny, Stella, Moon or Corny yet?”

“Oh my God,” I said after I’d gasped. All the fighting had left me little time to think of anything else, and in the thick of everything, I’d forgotten about my crazy, brave battle buddies. “I haven’t.”

“Try,” he suggested.

I nodded. Sweat broke out on my upper lip and under my bra. I’d have felt like the shittiest Goddess in existence if I hadn’t been standing next to the shittiest Goddess in existence. As it was, I was sure I was the first runner-up. Why hadn’t I thought of reaching out to them earlier?

Because I was an idiot—as Pandora liked to say. However, I could change that. Now.

“Irma, Jonny, Stella, Moon, Corny,”I called out into what felt like the abyss.“It’s me, Cecily. Bitch Goddess Cecily. Can you hear me?”

I waited.

Nothing.

And I waited more.

No response.

Then I tried again.

“Irma, Jonny, Stella, Moon, Corny.” My voice sounded desperate to my own ears.“I’m coming for you. Don’t do anything stupid. Or… don’t do anything else stupid. Disobeying Dagon’s orders was stupid enough. I have no clue if you can hear me, but if you can, know that I love each of you, and I’m on my way. Please, stay safe.”

I waited for a response and got none.

“Nothing,” I said aloud. “Either they can’t hear me or they’re…” I didn’t want to say dead. I didn’t want to give the word any power in case they were still alive. The fact that they didn’t respond was alarming and made me feel lightheaded. My hand went to my pocket to check for the toothpicks. They were there. I also had Cher’s and Fifi’s boxes. It was possible my friends had been infected with death magic. If they had, I had the antidote. The terrifying thought made my boob sweat trickle down my stomach. Death magic—as awful as it was—would be a far better scenario than dead.

“No,” Pandora said without an ounce of derision in her voice. “Chub Chub Wang is powerful. If that fucker can wield death magic, then he certainly can block a Goddess’s communication with those in his palace.”

“Cecily’s palace,” Abaddon corrected her.

“Not until we eliminate the bastard,” Pandora shot right back. “And to be honest, if Chub Chub Wang had taken over my castle—not that I fucking have one anymore, I’d burn that sucker to the ground five seconds after I removed his head. There’s not enough sage in the Universe to get rid of that rank crap.”

Her words, all of them, brought me comfort. And she was definitely onto something about decimating my abode after we decimated Chub Chub Wang.

“Okay,” I said talking to myself more than them. “I’m choosing to believe that Irma, Moon, Stella, Jonny and Corny are alive. The alternative is too horrid to consider, and if I do consider it, I’ll have a panic attack.”

Pandora tsked me. “You’ve made a grave mistake becoming friends with your people. It was unwise. Personal attachments to Demons are detrimental to leading them. Period.”

“Nope,” I contradicted her. “You made a grave mistake not becoming friends with yours. Look at you now. You have no one.”

That shut her up fast. The fleeing expression of hurt that crossed her face made me feel bad, but not bad enough to take back my words. They were the truth… and sometimes the truth hurt.

“Moving on,” I said curtly. “Thoughts on sending the Demons ahead?”

“I think it’s prudent,” Abaddon replied, looking thoughtful. “Thousands of us coming in at the at the same time could be a deadly disadvantage. We’d lose the advantage of stealth. However, you need to be prepared that you might not be able to communicate with them.”

I mulled that over for a hot sec. “Honestly, if Chub Chub Wang has cast some kind of blocking spell, I wouldn’t be able to communicate with my people there anyway. At least, we havea chance of knowing what we’re walking into if we send them ahead. The blocking spell might only be powerful in the castle… which I’m going to blow up when we’re done.”

Abaddon winced. Pandora gave me a thumbs up.

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