Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Hand in hand, we landed in the front yard of my LA home with a violent thud. I immediately checked to make sure I still had a head. I did. I glanced at Pandora, relieved to see she still had hers as well. From behind me, there was a commotion.

Quickly getting to my feet, I pulled Pandora to hers, then put myself between her and the front porch, where all the people I loved were standing, ready to kick some ass on my behalf. Abaddon was front and center with his sword drawn and a murderous look in his eyes. Candy Vargo was glowing and floating in the air. Fifi, Gideon, Daisy, Charlie, Tim, Cher and Heather flanked them. They were all armed and extremely dangerous.

Only my mother was unarmed. She stared at me with a look of wonder on her beautiful face. She understood.

"Everyone, stand down," I ordered. "Pandora is not going to run. She's willing to accept her punishment."

"You sure about that, Badass," Candy Vargo asked skeptically.

"Very," I assured her.

Pandora stepped out from behind me and stood by my side. "Bitch Goddess Cecily speaks the truth." She looked at me and gave me a small smile of gratitude. "My guess is that Bitch Goddess Cecily always speaks the truth."

"She does," Lilith said, crossing the yard and approaching the woman who had killed and rendered her mortal.

I took a small step back as the two women stared at each other.

Finally, Pandora spoke. "I… I…" She was having a hard time.

"I forgive you," Lilith said softly.

Pandora couldn't look at my mother. Lilith reached out and lifted her chin until their gazes met.

"Over time," Lilith continued. "We've both done wrong by each other. For that, I'm sorry."

"I'm not good at this," Pandora hissed. "But I forgive you too. I deeply regret killing you. It was a very shitty thing to do."

"Underfuckingstatement," Candy Vargo said.

Pandora gave Candy a look. Candy gave it right back.

"Correct," Pandora admitted. "What I am grateful for is that you have the gift to live the rest of your life with love."

"You have that chance too, Pandora," Lilith told her. "Where there's hope there is light."

"No Lilith," she said in a hollow tone. "That ship has sailed. I shall take my punishment then do my best to do no more harm. That's all I have left in me."

I didn't believe that, and someday Pandora wouldn't either. I felt it in my bones and my heart. The day might not happen for a long time from now, but eventually, it would come.

I stepped away from Lilith and Pandora. There was someone I needed to touch. Abaddon met me halfway and held me so tightly it was difficult to breathe.

"It was crazy," he whispered, his lips buried in my hair. "Your body disappeared. In the dream state you should have been on the couch the whole time. But as soon as you fell asleep, you vanished." His voice was rough with emotion, and I was pretty sure he had no intention of letting me go anytime soon. "I died a thousand deaths."

"I love you," I said. "I'm here. I'm back. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

"What the fuck?" Candy Vargo bellowed as an explosion erupted in the street.

My heart sank. I was terrified that Pandora had broken her word. It didn't seem likely, but maybe I'd been wrong.

She hadn't. Lilith was behind Pandora, and my friend's sword was drawn. She lowered it slowly as the smoke cleared.

"What the fuck is right," I muttered. I quickly ran 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, 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." 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, Demons. 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. "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 Abaddon and Pandora seemed to be on my side.

Our asses had just gotten out of the frying pan, and we'd landed in nuclear dumpster fire. I looked at my Demon love and 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. 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."

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.

The end…