Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

The transport was fine. The destination… not so much.

"Umm… we made a detour?" I asked, glancing around the familiar house warily.

If this was where the Higher Power resided, consider me completely freaked out. We were at my place in California—a beautiful Craftsman bungalow next to my brother Sean's almost identical home on a quaint and quiet street in Venice Beach. The lemon trees and twisting hot-pink bougainvillea vines along with the orange and avocado trees made my soul happy. Right now, my soul was on the verge of having a seizure.

The house was empty except for the three of us.

"We did," Candy announced, pacing the living room and chewing on a few toothpicks. "Need a fuckin' meeting first."

Abaddon stood by the bay window with his arms crossed over his muscular chest and watched the Keeper of Fate closely.

While I wanted to crumple into Abaddon's arms and weep, I didn't. I was the Goddess of the Darkness and I had a problem that needed to be solved. Granted, it was the most fucked up problem imaginable, but it was mine. Longing for the good old days, where all I had to worry about was getting to my auditions on time and knowing my lines, was a waste. Those days were gone.

With a small shudder, I centered myself and stood tall. The need to do property damage was seriously tempting. However, I'd hold that impulse for later since I might have double the magic due to the hideous fact that my worst enemy had taken up residence in my body. It felt incredibly uncomfortable to know that Pandora was inside me. My mind raced with the most absurd scenarios. Part of me wondered if I stabbed myself would she would feel it? Logically—if that word could even be used in this situation—I knew it wasn't her physical body that was taking a sabbatical in my gut. It was more her spirit and essence. The complexities didn't matter. It all just sucked. Hard.

"Question," I ground out as unsettling thoughts blasted through my frontal lobe. "Pandora can't make me evil, or force me to do evil things. Right?"

Abaddon didn't say a word.

Candy Vargo didn't say a word.

Pandora didn't say a word.

That didn't bode well.

I wasn't sure if the deplorable woman hanging out inside me could hear everything going on, but it was very possible she could. Of course, I could inquire, but I wasn't sure I could handle the answer without losing my shit.

Candy sighed and handed me a box of toothpicks. I took them, popped two into my mouth and bit down hard.

"That fucked up question right there is one of the reasons we need to have a little meeting," she admitted, sounding cagey to my ears.

Freaking out wasn't going to help. I refused to cry. If Pandora was aware of what I did, I wasn't about to show weakness. She was a horrid Demon. I wanted her out of me as much as she wanted to get out. However, I'd give her no ammunition to use at a later date.

"I'd suggest we get this party started," I said flatly.

Candy checked her watch. "In five, four, three, two…"

In a blast of dazzling magic, the others arrived. The gathering of Immortals was a surprise and at the same time it wasn't. It was going to take a lot to surprise me at this point.

Gideon, my uncle, who was also the Grim Reaper, appeared first along with his better-half, Daisy, the Angel of Mercy. Gideon was somewhat terrifying. Although, he had been the one who helped me control my magic. Point to the scary Demon. He was my mother's brother, but I was fairly certain they weren't close. I reserved my opinion on how much I could trust the gazillion year old Demon until a future date. He was technically one of my people, but he seemed more like a loner who made his own rules. Daisy, on the other hand, was open, kind and a badass in her own right. She also had some sort of gift for helping the dead. The first time we'd met, she'd been sweet to my dearly departed Uncle Joe. My gut told me she was to be trusted.

Tim, who was dressed in a postal uniform, materialized right next to them. He was the Courier between the Darkness and the Light. I wasn't sure what he did, but he'd been really friendly when I'd first met him. If his smile was anything to go by, he was still on my nice list. The man was tall and thin. He looked to be around forty-five which I was aware was misleading. Immortals could choose their age. In this room, right now, there was several billions of years- worth of living. It was difficult to wrap my mind around, so I didn't. I couldn't quite tell if Tim was an Angel or a Demon. My guess was that he was simply an Immortal like Candy Vargo.

The next to arrive was a woman named Heather. She was the Arbitrator between the Darkness and the Light. Again, no clue what the job entailed. Heather had a unique gift that was as mesmerizing as it was weird. When her power spiked, her skin danced with shimmering tattoos in every color of the rainbow. She gave me a tight smile and moved to stand next to Daisy. I nodded politely.

Even when one was about to have a mental breakdown, one could still have manners.

Charlie, the Enforcer, came into view after Heather in a mist of icy silver magic. His eyes were a shocking vivid blue, and his power was evident. I had to breathe in short, shallow gasps so I wouldn't faint. Sometimes he looked sixty. Sometimes he looked thirty. At either age he was insanely powerful. Today he looked sixtyish.

"Tamp that fuckin' shit back, Charlie," Candy Vargo griped, flipping the man off.

I winced at her language, but Charlie didn't seem bothered. He simply nodded and did as he was requested.

"My apologies," he said to me with a wink and a twinkle in his bright eyes. "I tend to overdo it when under duress."

"No worries," I said with a forced smile as I sucked some magic-free oxygen into my air-deprived lungs. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience or that I'd accidently chowed down on a bunch of my brother's Devil's Lettuce gummies. "I get it." My voice was high pitched and tinny. I should have stopped there, but somehow my mouth didn't get the memo. "I'd love to step outside and blow up all the houses on my street. After that, I'd be down for peeling all the skin off my body and flying. The last time I flew—which was twenty years ago—I knocked a few teeth out and got a face-full of stitches. Honestly, I'd settle for draining the ocean with an explosion or three, but I'd feel bad for the fish. Fish are cute… and I'm a big fan of sushi."

The perplexed and alarmed expressions of my uninvited company made me quickly review what I'd just said. If I could have melted into the ground like the Wicked Witch of the West, I would have happily done it. I closed my eyes, slapped both hands over my mouth and pretended for the briefest of moments that if I couldn't see the people gathered in my living room, they couldn't see me.

It didn't work.

Opening my eyes, I sighed and gave an apologetic smile that I hoped didn't look like a pained grimace. "Sorry about that," I said. "I have a lot going on."

"Underfuckingstatement," Candy Vargo agreed. "Let's get these fuckers up to speed."

So, we did. Between Abaddon, Candy and me, we retold the unbelievable truth. Questions were asked. Questions were answered. It took two hours and ten minutes to wade through the shitshow of a story. The tension in the room was thick. I was worried the story was so far-fetched, no one would believe it. Not to worry. Far-fetched was the norm for Immortals.

"Can she hear you?" Tim whispered.

I shrugged.

"YES," Pandora shouted, making me jump. Her nasty voice seemed to linger like an echo bouncing in my brain.

No one else jumped or flinched. Apparently, I was the only one who could hear the Stinky Whore. Lucky me. Grabbing a pad of paper and a pen from the coffee table, I quickly let the Immortals in the room know what she'd said.

Glances were exchanged. Abaddon, Gideon, Tim and Candy Vargo huddled together on the far side of the room. They whispered so quietly I couldn't hear them. I was in a room filled with people I really didn't know, except for Abaddon and Candy Vargo. Blind trust wasn't my usual modus operandi. Even though I knew Candy wouldn't bring people in who weren't on my team, I couldn't shake the feeling of being outnumbered and outmatched. It didn't help that I was housing my arch enemy who could hear what I heard and what I said.

Charlie quickly walked over to me and began to sing. I didn't get it until I did. He was masking any chance that Pandora could overhear the Destroyer, the Grim Reaper, the Courier and the Keeper of Fate. His choice of song made me laugh. It was nuts that I could laugh amidst the chaos I called my life, but Charlie for the win. Hearing Old McDonald Had a Farm come from the lips of the man who made it almost impossible to breathe when he went all badass was bizarre.

Daisy giggled and Heather grinned.

"He has grandkids," Daisy told me as she joined in with Charlie.

"A bunch," Heather added as she sang along with her cohorts.

When in Crazy Town it was polite to go crazy. I was polite. When they got to the verse about the cows, I moo-mooed like my life depended on it. It occurred to me that it might. The ridiculousness of the moment was almost as cathartic as blowing shit up. Almost… but almost was good enough right now.

A quick, sharp and cool burst of crystal white magic made me sigh with relief. Cher had arrived with a cooler filled with alcohol and the crappiest makeup job I'd see to date. My talent agent was an Angel, literally. The woman was twelve million years old, but looked to be in her mid-sixties. Her teeth were bleached along with her bottle-blonde hair. The tiny gal had a well-done boob job, a nose job that wasn't as well-done and a lip job that she could have sued her plastic surgeon for… and won. However, she was gorgeous to me—even with those lips lined in navy-blue or lime green. She also had someone with her.

The sight of my mother made my eyes fill.

I might be forty. I might be the newly crowned Goddess of the Darkness. I might have more power in my pinky finger than should be legal. But right now, I needed my mom.

"Cecily," Lilith cried out as she crossed the room and took me into her arms. "This will be okay. We can get through it. I will be with you."

Her words were comforting even if they weren't true. My mother was no longer the Goddess of the Darkness. The title became mine the day Pandora killed her. She was now Lilith the human. She wouldn't live forever, but she would live out the rest of her days with my dad who loved her with all of his heart.

I hugged her tight then released her and backed away. As much as I wished I could count on Lilith, I knew I couldn't. She might have some words of wisdom, but I knew I was on my own with the Higher Power.

"Mom, be careful what you say," I warned. "Pandora can hear us."

"Maybe not," Gideon said from across the room.

If he was about to be cryptic, I was going to electrocute him. I was seriously at the end of my rope. My uncle could probably end me with one well-aimed shot, but a tiny part of me didn't find the idea to be all that bad. I pushed down my death wish and focused on the now. Dying would seriously complicate matters. Plus, I didn't truly want to die.

"Would you care to be specific?" I questioned, shoving my hands into my pockets so I didn't accidently on purpose antagonize the Grim Reaper.

His grin implied he'd just read my mind. "It would be my pleasure, Goddess Cecily."

"It's Bitch Goddess Cecily," I corrected him.

His brows shot up and his grin widened. Daisy clapped her hands together with delight and Heather gave me a thumbs up. Charlie nodded and chuckled. Cher handed out wine coolers. Tim pulled a notebook and a pencil from one of his many pockets and wrote down my name. Abaddon winked at me and Candy Vargo cackled.

"My mistake," Gideon said. "It's would be my pleasure, Bitch Goddess Cecily."

"Better," I muttered.

Gideon glanced over at Abaddon. "Shall I, or shall you?"

"I shall," Abaddon replied. He pinned me with a gaze that made my knees weak and my heart pump faster. The Demon also made me feel secure and loved. He was a keeper. His outer beauty was ridiculous, but his insides eclipsed his exterior. "Cecily, when you don't want to show a visual representation of your thoughts, what do you do?"

"I shut the door in my brain," I replied immediately, thrilled I knew the answer to something. "Metaphorically speaking."

"Ohhhh, fascinating," Tim said, scribbling on his pad. "Did you know that the both the human and Immortal brain is sixty percent fat?"

"Umm… no," I said, unsure where we were going with this.

"Oh yes!" Tim assured me. "It's the fattiest organ in the body. The fatty acids are very important for your brain's performance. You must feed it with delicious leafy greens and cruciferous veggies."

I was truly at a loss for words. Candy Vargo wasn't.

"For fucks sake, Mail Boy," she griped. "We ain't got no time for your unnecessary facts right now."

Tim was disappointed. "One more?"

He was really sweet. I didn't have the heart to say no. "Sure."

Tim cleared his throat then giggled. It was strangely adorable. "You can't tickle yourself. The brilliant brain anticipates your own touch which completely cancels out the physical poking you apply."

"Umm… thank you," I replied.

Tim gave me a jaunty salute then continued to take notes. Weird was an understatement to describe the scene that was being played out in my home.

Abaddon crossed the room and took my hands in his. The warmth of his touch grounded me. "In theory, you should be able to block Pandora from hearing you… and us by closing the door."

"In theory?" I questioned.

"Theory because it's never been done," he replied. "This situation has never presented itself… until now."

"Thank fucking God for that," Candy announced.

"Speaking of," I said, turning to the assembled group. "Explain to me how the Higher Power isn't God." I wasn't well versed with the Bible. Plus, I'd learned more alarming and bizarre facts in the last month than I had during my forty years alive. My brain was full.

"FOR FUCKS SAKE!" Pandora screeched, causing me to slap my hands over my ears and bend over at the waist in pain. "Are you stupid? We're all going to DIE."

I shook my head as Abaddon tried to protect me. No one could protect me from the insanity. Holding up a hand I stopped his approach. "Need to test the theory."

Glancing around the room, I pointed at Lilith. Quickly, I jotted a note and handed it to her. Her lips compressed and her lovely brow wrinkled in worry.

"You're sure?" she asked.

I nodded. I needed her to insult Pandora. Lilith knew her nemesis better than anyone. They'd ruled together for billions of years. There was no way Pandora could resist insulting her back. I'd try it with the mind door open. I'd try it with the mind door shut. I'd try it multiple times because the evil Goddess of the Darkness was wily and smart.

Lilith inhaled then exhaled slowly as Candy Vargo glanced at the note and chuckled. She handed Lilith a toothpick. My mother accepted.

"Pandora's bald. Her raven locks are a wig," Lilith announced.

Every single person's mouth in the room dropped opened, including mine.

Pandora's mouth opened as well. I only knew that because of the litany of filthy words that spewed furiously from her made my head spin. It was loud and so freaking profane, she made Candy Vargo look like a chump in the cursing department. I wasn't about to repeat it. Honestly, I was in shock that everyone in the room hadn't heard it.

From the expressions on their faces, I knew they'd been left out of the vulgar diatribe. Lucky them.

As Pandora continued to swear at Lilith and deny she was hairless, I pictured a massive reenforced steel door. With anal precision, I closed it. And I bolted the sucker shut.

Pandora's voice disappeared.

I didn't trust that.

"Another," I told Lilith. "Make it worse."

"Worse that being bald?" Cher asked with a wince.

"Yes," I insisted.

Lilith began to pace. I wasn't looking forward to hearing Pandora lose her mind again, but I needed to know I had a sure-fire method to keep her out. There was no way I could keep my own mind intact if she was privy to everything. It was horrifying enough that I was her condo until I could figure out a way to evict her.

"She had a lover… once," Lilith said.

"Once?" I asked, confused. The Demon had lived for billions of years. A single lover in all that time seemed strange. Pandora had no morals. Monogamy didn't seem like her thing. The Demon killed others for sport.

Lilith nodded. "It was in the beginning… before she became the woman she is now." My mother walked over to the couch, sat down and pressed her temples. "He didn't love her like she loved him. He used her. Used her for a million years."

"To what end?" Daisy asked, sitting down next to my mother and putting her arm around her.

Lilith blew out a long sigh. "Me. I was his end goal."

And the ick kept getting ickier. I reminded myself that living for a kagillion years would mean everyone had a past and not all of it would be pretty.

"And?" I questioned, realizing Pandora was still silent.

"And, after a million years, I gave into temptation," Lilith admitted. "Not my best moment, but the aftermath was brutal. That's when… when…" Lilith's chin fell to her chest. Her shoulders shook as she silently sobbed.

"Break time," Gideon announced tersely. "We shall reconvene shortly."

He took his sister's hand and led her outside. Abaddon wrapped his arms around me from behind and whispered in my ear.

"Did Pandora hear that?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think so." It had been radio silent since I'd locked the metaphorical door to my consciousness. "Did you know the story?"

The Demon I loved rested his chin on my head. "Somewhat, but only from rumor."

"Do you think knowing the rest of the story is important?" I questioned as I noticed Cher and Tim offering everyone refreshment. I wasn't sure where they got the food since I hadn't grocery shopped lately, but I didn't ask.

Abaddon turned me around to face him. "Words have power and meaning. If they're spoken it's usually for a reason."

"We're wasting time," I told him. "Lost time is never found again."

"Benjamin Franklin," he said, naming the quoter. "However, what's the definition of lost or wasted time?"

He had me there.

He went on. "To lose patience is to lose the battle."

The Demon played the quote game as well as Sean, Man-mom, Uncle Joe and me. He'd quoted Gandhi. Fine. He won this round. He was older, smarter and he loved me. I was no dummy. If I couldn't beat him, I would join him.

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop," I shot back.

Abaddon grinned. "Confucius."

We would get the party started when it was time for the party to start.