Shadows of Chaos: Choosing Chaos, #3

Shadows

of

Chaos

Shadows of Chaos

Book Three of Choosing Chaos Series

featuring Kable VonSable

By: MJ Hutto

Caper’s Agenda

Caper’s Agenda

Note from the Author

1 Hey Y’all

JJ 1

2 You Again

JJ 2

3 Leprechauns Aren’t Cute

4 The Trouble with Goombah’s

5 Shit Magnet

6 And So It Goes

7 Spells, Potions, and Charms, Oh My

8 I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared

JJ 3

9 First Impressions

10 Pregame

11 Hike from Hell

12 Transitions

13 Wonderland, Oz, Narnia...Nope

14 Rules

15 That’s a Real Thing

16 River of Pain

JJ 4

17 Constant Struggle

18 Wait, Why Are We Here

19 Help or Nah

20 Oubliette

JJ 5

21 Is That a Pomegranate in Your Pocket, Or...

JJ 6

22 Just Tell Me

23 Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression

24 What Have You Done

25 Depression

26 Assassins

27 New Stuff, Same Day

28 Life Ain’t Fair

29 Staff, Spear, Stick

30 Death Goddess

31 Memory Lane

32 Exit Strategy

33 Head Case

34 Reunion

35 Story Time

36 Not a Monster

37 Allies

38 Next Steps

Lyrical Lessons

Quotes and Such

Acknowledgement & Dedication

Random Banana Pudding Recipe

Map of the Underneath

Thibideaux

Note from the Author

This is a work of fiction. Any characters within are my creation, and resemblances to any living, breathing person are purely coincidental. These are my versions of things that have always held a fragment of my heart in this world and the supernatural one. I’ve attempted to provide my interpretations with respect and love.

I hope you’ll enjoy the story and forgive my creative liberties.

MJ

1 Hey Y’all

Welcome back to the life and times of Kable VonSable. I’ll be your host for this episode of what has she gotten herself into this time. I hope you’ve been enjoying our world of Chaos and mishaps. I have to say it’s been a wild ride so far.

A little about me. I stand about five feet tall, and I’m curvy. I have silver eyes, white hair, and light blue skin. It’s not hard to pick me out of a crowd, look for the Jack Frost wannabe shorty, and you’ve found me. For those of you just joining our program, let me bring you up to speed.

Episode One: Kable found herself involved in a serial killer case. She somehow managed to get kidnapped and almost killed twice, and all by the time she turned thirty. Her family was crazy and wonderful; her friends, magnificent; and she met a very hot detective. Magic and mayhem ensued. Bad guy lost; good guys won.

Episode Two: Kable helped catch a ring of Anime Bandits and met a few new and interesting supernatural kinds of beings. More magic and mayhem. The hot detective was still hanging out. Family was still crazy and great. New friends and foes. Bad guys cheated and almost won, but you guessed it, good guys won.

So, here I am, Kable Maybelle VonSable. I know, just laugh, it’s fine. I am the proud owner of Tea Leaves and Tomes. I’m planning an opening for a soup kitchen named Kaddy and Drex’s Place. I work with the Chaotian Investigation Division—CID for short—and my hot detective. My ghostly best friend has been kidnapped, my lightning bug familiar is pining himself to death, my sister is out of the country, and my brother and his wife are fostering a delinquent we rescued. (He’s also a genius and Orokkian like me). My shop has skyrocketed in popularity. We keep selling out of my potions and charms as fast as I can make them. I’ve started bribing my detective into helping me spell. Reva and Maxine are doing great, and the twins have a booming hot cocoa side hustle that I’m fostering.

All in all, we’re doing okay. You know, in the grand scheme of things. But it wouldn’t really be a good story unless some shit was going down. Right?! You’re jumping in at about the time we’re trying our damnedest to get out of the Underneath.

We came for Jaylin and Melisande. What we've found is a whole lot of trouble and not a lot of solutions. I’m here with a merry band of misfits like any good caper, but we were deeply unprepared for what we found.

I’m pretty sure we were lied to and tricked into taking this on. By whom? Well, that’s what we’ve gotta find out, but it seems like everybody’s lying about something.

We would’ve come anyway—Jaylin and Melisande are here, but we were definitely misled. And, as supernatural beings are want to do, they seem to have provided their version of the truth. The words are true, but they leave key information out—you know, that kind of unhelpful, devious, chicanery.

I’m sure you know the type. If you don’t, I’m happy for you. If you do, I’m sorry. They are the current and biggest pains in my ass.

Enough of my complaining. Let me take you back to the start of the current debacle. I think St. Patrick’s Day is as good a place to start as any. And who doesn’t want to have a drink to celebrate Granda?

JJ 1

Jon was playing with his hired love partners again, which was good for me. I was feeding off the lust and anger. They always had a pleasant look on their faces, but that anger was a deep-seated thing. It ran so much deeper than that encounter, and it burned in their bellies like pits of fire.

I was sitting cross-legged on the floor with my eyes closed. I’d stopped watching a long time ago. He was an interesting guy, but not my thing. I preferred tall, blond, and charming. Throw in a Vandyke beard, and I was your girl. But I digress, I’m Jaylin Jereau, a little blue ghost-succubus Chaotian girl. And this is what I get. Thems the breaks, baby.

I started to feel funny, like when it’s been too long since I’ve visited the InBetween, or when Lil is pulling really heavily on me. But I was actively feeding, so it shouldn’t have been that, and I’d just gotten back from the InBetween. What then? I hit the floor with the palm of my hand and growled. I’m so sick of all the bullshit!

There was moaning that sounded real, so I looked over at the bed, and one of the ladies was looking directly at me and smiling. She crooked her finger for me to come over, and my eyebrows went up. I looked down at my rainbow tutu, red, satin bra, and panties and thought, Of course.

So, here’s where I am. You know that part of Beetlejuice where he sees the Girls, Girls, Girls sign, and he dances on over, even though he knows it’s just a distraction. Yep, I was about to be-bop on over when I felt a tug. Ugh, Kable, not now. That girl has about the worst timing ever!

I took another step, and the tug was harder. What the hell? She didn’t usually do that. Maybe something was wrong. I closed my eyes, let the pleasure, tension, and anticipation in the room continue to fill the void in my soul. I took a deep breath of it, like a long drag on a pipe, and focused on the tugging. Too late, I realized it wasn’t Kable. Even more distressing, it wasn’t Lil either, and once I focused on it, they had me. Son of a bitch!

The room I was in wasn’t very big. I tried to walk through the wall but rebounded like I was solid. Odd. I looked down at myself, but honestly, it was hard for me to tell how ghostly or solid I ever was. I just knew I could walk through shit, so I did. And suddenly, I couldn’t. Double odd.

I walked around the tiny room trying to find a door—no door, no window, no nothing. Well, there had to be something, or I wouldn’t have been able to get in. I laid down on the floor and stared up. The walls, floor, and ceiling were solid white. It was enough to drive a person crazy. And imagine a person like me who was already a bit off their rocker. Curiouser and curiouser.

What do you do while you’re waiting for whoever kidnapped you to grow some balls? For them to tell you why you’re there? I didn’t really have much with me. That particular outfit was slim on pockets, even if it looked pretty nifty. Maybe I could will something in? I closed my eyes, screwed up my face in concentration, and thought hard about Kable’s silver athame. Nope, that didn’t work. I tried to use my powers, but mostly they were passive. It’s not like I could read the damn room aura and have that help. It was gray in case you wondered—about a hundred shades of gray. No joy.

I walked around the room, pushing on the walls, trying to find a secret compartment, or locate a hidden door. There wasn’t one. I started hitting the walls with more and more frustration. My hands started to hurt, so I stopped hitting and started yelling. My hands shouldn’t hurt. I looked at them in confusion.

Hours later, no one had come. No one had checked on me. No one had told me to shut up. No one had told me why I was there.

...No one.

What the hell? It’s hard to keep track of time as a ghost. So, I really had no idea how long I’d been there. I don’t eat, I don’t pee, I don’t sleep, and I don’t get sleepy. See, hard. I sat down on the floor again, slumped, and then flopped back.

I still had plenty of built-up energy. I didn’t feel Lil’s pull anymore, so where did that put me? Lil’s my boss, who graciously shared her succubus with me. That was sarcasm, by the way, she is neither gracious nor giving. She put that thing in me so she could feed off me. I closed my eyes and thought about Kable. Maybe I could will myself out of here.

Usually, I just think of Kable, or sometimes Hottie, and I’m there with them. Sometimes I think of a place, like Kable’s house, Hottie’s house, Jon’s room, you get the idea. I did those things, and nothing happened. I scrunched my nose. What now?

I spread my arms and legs out, opened my hands—touched the floor, closed my eyes, and went through each muscle group—first tightening, then relaxing them. I cleared my mind. Taking deep even breaths, I thought about Kable again and focused on her. She was my strongest link.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a different room. I could feel my body, back in that white room, but I was in Kable’s mind room. Unfortunately, she was not. I huffed and sat down at the table to think. And to wait. Surely it won’t be that long, right?

I looked up, surprised to see Kable finally. She seemed surprised to see me, too. Oh, thank god! I yelled.

Where have you been? Do you realize Lil is looking for you and she is majorly pissed! she asked with her arms thrown wide around her wild mane of hair.

I threw my own hands up in frustration. I don’t have much time. I don’t know where I am or what is going on but something or someone has me trapped. I was with Jon and suddenly I was nowhere. I had to focus all my energy to get in here and I’ve been waiting for you.

She blinked slowly. You were waiting for me to find you inside my own mind. Of course, that would’ve been my first logical step.

Look here now, no one ever said I was logical. But you gotta come find me. I...Kable, I don’t think I’m in your world anymore. I could feel myself thinning. How long have I been in here waiting?

How the hell am I supposed to do that if you aren’t in my world? she asked, pacing.

I looked behind me and back to her, scared. I don’t know, but this place is bad. I think I might be in the Underneath, I told her. I’d been thinking about it, and if Lil couldn’t get to me, couldn’t access my reserves, and I was solid instead of ghostly, I was probably on a different plane or in a different realm. Maybe I was in the Underneath or somewhere like that.

Her silver eyes were huge and wide when she whispered. Do you mean Hell? Jaylin, are you in Hell?

Less Hell, more Underworld, I think, but it’s pretty bad either way, I guessed. My body felt more solid, but also less? I could see all my ghostly bones, and if the look on her face was an indication, I looked scary.

I’ll go shade if I stay here. Please, I grinned tiredly at her, which was impossible since I don’t get tired. But, again, there we were. Help me, Kable Von, you’re my only hope, I said, trying to lighten the mood and also let her know I needed a rescue pretty bad. I can’t help it. I make jokes when I’m scared.

Where were you last? she asked, but I was fading and couldn’t answer her.

Motherfucker! Will nothing work out the way I need it to? What could possibly be pulling me back after all this time?

2 You Again

H ey, Karmine. How’s Colombia? I asked as I answered my cell phone. I was still getting used to being able to use one. My magic used to interfere, but we’d made a charm to combat that.

Hot, she said, laughing.

Well, it’s the middle of March, and it’s a subtropic country. Surely you aren’t surprised? I laughed.

No, it’s really great! I hope to be done in the next two weeks.

Well, don’t rush. We hit a run of cold days here. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

She snickered and made sounds of commiseration. Well, you better live it up for Granda. At least one pint in his name.

Yes, yes, I know, I said, rolling my eyes and reaching for a basket of dried tea. There was another basketful I still needed to work on. Plus, the salvia and the jasmine.

You sound busy. I just wanted to check-in. How’s that hot detective of yours? she asked.

He’s somewhere close by. We’re spelling and exercising tonight, I said, distracted.

Oh, is that what you’re calling it?

Ha, ha, ha. No. Like punishing exercise, I said, looking upward and picking at the tea leaves.

Mmm, she hummed. Even better

I sighed. You’re as bad as Jaylin. Speaking of which, we’re doing that, too.

Jaylin? she asked suggestively. Is she back?

I groaned. "No. We are not doing Jaylin. We are discussing what to do about Jaylin."

She giggled, and I shook my head. I was too easy.

"Try to behave, brat. I love you!’

Is that Karmine? Tell her I said hi, and don’t get kidnapped by a drug lord. We don’t have the resources for that right now, Achlys called from across the room.

Achlys says hi and to stay out of trouble.

That’s not what he said, but that’s okay. I love you, and I’ll try to stay out of the hands of the cartel. No promises if it’s a sexy drug lord who wants to shower me with attention and love.

I shook my head, laughing. Bye, Karmine.

Bye, Kable. Bye, Detective Hottie!

I turned to see him walking up beside me, smiling. His soft dark curls were long enough to flop into his dark eyes. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt today since he was off work, and we were doing spell work. The heather gray Henley clung to his muscled chest, distracting me. Looking away, I wrested my brain out of the land of ecstasy and fun.

Karmine says hello and goodbye, and she’ll make no promises about the cartel.

He bent down to place a warm kiss behind my ear, scattering my thoughts even further. I nudged him back with my elbow. None of that. I have to pay attention. Quit trying to distract me.

He grinned boyishly and crowded me again. I’m helping you work on your ability to function in stressful and distracting situations.

Is that what you’re doing? I snarked. I hope none of the situations I need to function in have people trying to kiss me senseless.

Senseless, huh? he said, leaning down again.

I pushed my elbow into his stomach, and he backed up laughing. The look of consternation on my face was belied by the grin tugging at my lips.

Your ego does not need any stroking, buddy. Come on, we have to get this done. I’m trying to bulk up the stock.

His full lips drew into a sensual, sinful smile. I have something you can stroke, he told me, completely unrepentant. It’ll definitely bulk if you stroke it enough.

My lips pursed as I looked up at the ceiling, pulling in a breath and releasing it slowly. Universe, save me from this ridiculous man with his one-track mind.

He chuckled softly. All right, hot stuff. What are we doing?

We opened the grimoire, and I read out which ingredients to pull down. I’d replaced everything Lil, the demon everyone loved to hate, had ruined about a month ago when I’d pissed her off by not doing what she wanted. The last thing I was waiting on was spider eggs and they were coming by courier in the next few weeks. I didn’t need them today though. I’d moved all the spare charms in here, so we had gadgets and gizmos aplenty. Ba-dump-bum. Yes, I’m a geek. Anyway, I moved everything from my room into the lab so we would have all the supplies in one place.

We were working on getting Achlys a lab. He had a really great area that started life as a panic room. The ventilation was piped in on the sides so no interference, and lantern mounts for lighting. They hadn’t installed electricity and that helped him out considerably since he wouldn’t need to gut it out. He was talking to the contractor I’d used for my lab, to maybe work on his. We were designing a circle for him that would fit his needs and the space he had. He was serious about the process, and I loved seeing him delve into this world of Chaos and mystery.

What are we making? I can start setting up the bases, he said, looking at the ingredients. Some of these aren’t familiar to me. I can’t guess.

I don’t think you’ve helped me make Now You See Me before. I frowned as I said it. Gonna do Love, Leave Me Be, Placement, Health Potion, Wake Me, Hero Complex—I don’t think you’ve done that one either.

He stared at them all, a little taken aback. I guess not. It seems like a lot. We doing charms too?

I nodded, pulling some from the cabinet—wood, silver, and lava stone. The items would be soaked in the base potion to take on the effects. Detection, luck, loyalty, and reservoirs.

He frowned, looking over at me doubtfully. Kable, that’s a big job. We going to have time for that, and to go out later with your family?

The grandfather clock chimed three-thirty and I bit my lip in thought. I think we’ll be fine. We can get everything going and settled, go out, and I can finish it up when I get home.

His eyes narrowed, lips compressed. You trying to say I’m not invited back with you?

We started the burners for the potions, and I laughed at him, then twirled around singing softly. Since our interlude after my cousin’s wedding, he was a constant presence. But honestly, we’d been seeing a lot of each other before that. It was absolutely insane we’d only known each other for four months, because our souls were old friends.  

Did you close the circle? I asked looking around. Something felt off, I couldn’t place it, but the air felt different.

Didn’t you?

Fuck! No, I swore as Lil walked toward us. I pulled him into me, snapping a circle in place around us and the table. I barely made it in time to keep her out.

Lil, short of Lilith—mother of demons, succubus, and generalized asshole—threw back her head of long, wavy, red hair and cackled. She was wearing a skirted business suit with pink-soled three-inch heels, all in white. It was startling against her magenta skin, and quite striking.  

Very good, sweets, she purred while skimming her silver-tipped nails across my circle’s invisible barrier, sparks and a horrendous screeching accompanied them. Also, the circle was comprised of my aura and Chaos, so she was—in effect—scoring her nails down me. It hurts—sharp, bone deep, gashes leaving bloody, burning agony in their wake. You’re becoming very good at that, aren’t you?

Achlys was bracing me. The pain wasn’t too bad yet, but the last time she’d done some pretty significant damage to my aura. It had taken extra Chaos and a fair amount of time to heal. I didn’t really want a repeat performance, having a damaged aura isn’t fun or good. It’s dangerous.

I’ve been practicing, yes. I’ve had pretty good incentive to get better, I told her, with a quirked brow and sharp voice.

She pouted prettily and pointed to herself. What? Little old me? You flatter me.

Achlys snorted and slipped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. I settled against him and stared at her in annoyance.

To what do we owe this...pleasure, Lil?

She sniffed the air, nostrils flaring, and tongue flicking out. Her tail whipped viciously at my circle. There was no pain, but Achlys grunted like he’d been struck. He must’ve tried to shield me. It had to have worked since I didn’t feel anything, and he did. He was getting better too. We’d been working diligently on his circles. He could put one up now without salt or chalk, not a strong one, but the ability alone was freaking amazing. He was progressing really fast, which was exhilarating and fantastic, but also hard to keep up with sometimes.

She unbuttoned her jacket to show off her white lace bra underneath. I was surprised she had anything on under there, but the lace was more decoration than utility. An enhancer, if you will—well, if you could get past the unhingeable jaw filled with row upon row of razor-sharp teeth. And then there were the forked tongue and gold elliptical eyes. I’m a little surprised her hair wasn’t snakes like a gorgon.

I see you two are cozy. I guess you forgave your darling detective for plundering sweet Taffeta every chance he got.

My stomach flipped, and an icy knife in my chest twisted painfully. Achlys stiffened and tensed behind me.

I never wanted to do those things with that, –he took a shallow, halting breath— woman. I feel like someone hijacked my body and locked me in my head while they did what they wanted.

I pulled him closer to me and wrapped my arms around his where they encircled me. We’d both suffered through that, and Lil was a bitch. She had tricked him into getting cursed and then fed him to Taffeta Belmonte.

Her tongue flicked out again, and she shivered. Your desire was sweet, but your pain... She inhaled deeply while her eyes rolled back. Your pain is fucking intoxicating. Her half-lidded eyes watched us hungrily. I cannot fathom how filling the sex would be.

Surely you did not come here to proposition us again? I asked, fed up.

She settled herself back and rebuttoned her jacket. No, but the offer is always on the table. I’d even agree to your no-harm clause, she said, eyes fever-bright and watchful.

We both shook our heads. It’s a no for me!

Mmm. Well, I did have a purpose tonight. Don’t you want to take down that silly circle?

I shook my head as the first timer began ringing. I took the potion off the burner and turned it off. They would be going off about every five to ten minutes over the next thirty. I moved us both by the table so we could manage them.

She grinned at me and sat in one of the chairs next to the wall. She checked her nails and began cleaning under them. Who the hell knew what she might have under there? I’d definitely need to sweep again. And then burn whatever got collected.

Have you seen Jaylin? I asked. I haven’t seen her in over a month.

She looked up with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. I have not. But I may know where she is. Have you heard of the Gardens of Godly Grace?

I flashed back to my conversation with Monty a few weeks ago and nodded slowly to her. Monty was a Crossroads demon who trapped Thibbs, my lightning familiar, in a dastardly deal. He’d come to tell us Jaylin was in the Underneath and that the Lord and Lady of that realm had her held prisoner because of a freaking bet. And that I was the center of some new convoluted ordeal. Surprise, right?!?

I hadn’t seen or talked to Jaylin in weeks. She’d come to me in my—don’t roll your eyes—head room and told me she was in the Underneath. I hadn’t shared that with Lil. I had no desire to share anything with Lil, ever.

It’s in Sector 5, right? Achlys asked, pulling the next potion off the burner and turning it off. His face never changed from his bland smile. He knew about Jaylin’s visit and Monty’s, for that matter.

Whatever your silly humans are calling it now, she sneered. It changes so often, it’s ridiculous. I have it on good authority she may be there. Held captive in the Underneath.

I was startled she knew this information and let that show on my face. She would be suspicious if we didn’t react. The Underneath? Captive?

Mmm, yes. Very distressing, she said, yawning. Her teeth glittered wetly in the candlelight. I shuddered and looked away. Achlys had paused in pulling the next potion off the burner but continued after a moment’s hesitation. Alas yes, she’s being held there, and I can’t get to her.

I frowned and pulled another potion off a burner. We only had one left and we’d be done dividing our attention. It was never good to be distracted when Lil was around. She liked to capitalize on inattention and diversions. She was up, pacing around the room.

I believe you will need to go after her.

I froze.

Pardon? Achlys asked politely.

Pardon, she mimicked. You heard me, angel cake. You will have to go get her.

To the Underneath? I asked quietly.

Her toothy grin looked more like a snarl, and I had to force myself to remain still. The circle wasn’t very big, and I didn’t want to step back through it accidentally. I wasn’t sure I could get another up before she got to us. Achlys pulled the final pot down after turning off the burner. The grandfather clock struck five. It was nearly time to meet my family at the pub. I almost groaned in frustration because I wanted very much to see them tonight, and Lil was quite likely going to mess that up.

Yesssssss, my darlings, she hissed. The Underneath.

And how do you propose we do that? None of us are dead, and I don’t know of another way in, I replied tersely. Also, we are not in the mood to get dead, thanks.

There are ways in through the Garden. I can get you there, but I can’t go down. I can’t cross.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her. Ways in without being dead?

You’re so precious, she cooed. Yes, ways in without being dead. When will you be leaving?

My face was screwed up in a look of distinct astonishment. Achlys and I made eye contact, his face was just as incredulous as mine.

What are you talking about? he retorted. "We aren’t going anywhere just because you think it’s a good idea."

She growled, and my heart fibrillated inside my chest. I scooted closer to Achlys, and pulled him over, away from the edges of the circle. The sound was somewhere between a tiger’s roar and the low bass snarl of a hellhound. It tickled along my spine and up the sensitive nerve endings. My throat worked convulsively.

You will go because if you do not, I will call in my marker.

My heart stuttered to a halt. Marker? What marker? Is this why she’d sent Jaylin to save me in December? Is this the other shoe I’ve been waiting for?

Marker? I whispered, not blinking at all.

She smiled—eyes gleaming, teeth shining wetly, cheeks flushed. Then her eyes moved to include Achlys in the look. His hand was on my back. I was cold and stiff, waiting for her answer.

You know what a marker is, don’t you, Kable? She tinkled out a laugh.

I closed my eyes and laid my head on the table as a wave of nausea rolled through me. Fuck my life. What could I possibly owe Lil? She certainly hasn’t done me any kindnesses, and I haven’t traded anything leaving an open-ended favor. Out of a pot and into the fire, every damn time!

What are you talking about, Lil? What marker? Achlys asked, angry.

You didn’t think we saved your little faery princess for free, did you? she asked. Her voice held joy and pleasure and anticipation.

She didn’t make any deals with you. So, who did?

She cackled with her head thrown back. Does it matter, sweet boy? It will change nothing.

I stood up and looked at her with dead eyes and a slack face. She’s right. It doesn’t matter who. It only matters that it was done. What do you want, and what do I have to do to get my marker back?

That’s my girl, she purred. Straight to business.

I am not your girl. What is the price, Lil?

She pouted and draped herself around the chair again. I want Jaylin back and in one piece. I can’t access her down there, and I can’t bind anyone else with ours still in place. You will bring her back, and I will have my, –she breathed deeply— fill.

And that will release my own marker? I asked, skeptical. She nodded and my eyes narrowed.  Say it. Say when we return with Jaylin, my marker will be released with no stipulation.

Her eyes flickered oddly, and she twitched in the chair, but she said it. When you return with Jaylin, your marker will be released with no stipulation.

Achlys was frowning darkly when I looked over. His shoulders were tense, and his cheeks stood out sharply in his face. He looked big and dark and dangerous and pissed. But not at me. Lil watched us like we were interesting pets. He shook his head at me. Don’t do it, Kable. I’ve got a really bad feeling about this.

I wet my lips and tried to smile. I have to. We have to get Jaylin. And whatever she calls that marker in for next, might be even worse. I’m just lucky it wasn’t to eat my first-born child or inhabit my body the first time we made love. Rescuing Jaylin is already on the agenda. He scowled darkly at Lil as I turned to her. Okay. Where is this entrance?

She sat up straight, looking pleased with herself. Fabulous. I’ll be going with you.

Like hell, you will, I exclaimed.

No. Absolutely not! Achlys thundered out. I looked over at him, surprised. I’d never heard him get loud. Ever.

She laughed happily, and we shuddered. You will need a team. I will be on that team. Deal with it. Gather who and what you think you need. We will be leaving in three days’ time. Be ready.

She was fading out of sight, and we hadn’t secured any reassurances or gotten any information.

Wait! What kind of team? How are we supposed to work together if you try to eat us every time you come around?

That sounds like a personal problem, she quipped. A beat later, she called out. A truce then, until Jaylin is returned to this fair city. And as for the team, she said, almost gone, just her toothy smile remaining, figure it out. You’re a smart girl. Later angel cake.

I sagged against the table, and we huddled together like scared little children. The candles had gone out when she vanished, and the room was dim. I wrapped him around my shaking form and prayed to every god I knew for strength, intelligence, wisdom, and patience.

Definitely patience.

JJ 2

Somewhere between Kable’s mind and this new, smaller, and dirtier prison I woke up in, my clothes changed. Oh, goodie . New clothes, new digs, just what everyone wants for their trip to Hell. One hundred percent loving this trip. Would absolutely recommend for vacation destinations.

The new prison was made of dirt. I could stretch out my arms and almost touch the crumbling walls. It was a circle and very, very deep; like so deep I could only see a tiny circle of light above me. My clothes were some kind of pajama-looking things. Oh. Scrubs.

Oh, why would I have worn scrubs? Well, our summer camp, as you probably already