After pulling the Machete from Richard’s chest, David dropped his mangled corpse, and the blade, to the floor and released Paul from his glass prison, silencing him immediately. “I don’t care what you have to say, Paulie,” David said. “I never liked you, but you were never all that bad to me and Junie. And though I can’t trust you enough to let you live, I want you to know I do appreciate that you kept your mouth shut, for the most part, when it came to belittling my former girlfriend and my...” David looked back at Cadence, whose skin was beginning to turn beet red. “My God, is she beautiful.” He snapped back to Paul. “My wife. So to you Paulie, I bid farewell. This will be quick and painless. May your God bless you and keep you.”
David held Paul by the hair with his left hand and held out his right, as the shadow in the corner tossed him Paul’s gun. He pointed it between Paul’s eyes and pulled the trigger seven times. He didn’t have to let go of Paul’s hair for his body to drop to the floor. He did, however, place all twenty-four pieces of Paul’s head next to his body. In case it might make identification easier for a police crime scene investigator.
“And we’re done.” David walked back to Juno and Cadence. Juno was still on her knees. Dry heaving. Throwing up bits of bile. Physically overreacting to the stimulus.
“I love you, David.” Cadence kissed him and ran her hands around his waist, encouraging him to love her face with his hands as he reciprocated. And, for yet another moment, they became lost in each other.
“What...?” Juno asked from her place on the floor. “What about me?” She began crying. “Whatever I did, I’m sorry. I know I wasn’t a good girlfriend to you. I cheated on you. A lot. I pretty much fucked every man who ever wanted me when you weren’t around. And, in case you know, since you two seem to know... fuckin,’ everything, I was going to trade your life for my own, but I was scared, Davey. I’m sorry. I thought I wanted to come back to this, but I was stupid. I was wrong.” She looked over at Cadence, begging. “And I’m sorry, too, Cadence. I meant to call you everything I called you, but I’m really sorry I did. And I’m sorry I ever made fun of you, or your gifts. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel ugly. Please don’t be angry with me. I don’t want to die. I’m so sorry. I swear.”
A wind blew the front door open fully and ambient light filled the warehouse.
“We know, Juno,” David said. Cadence smiled even more brightly. Noting he was now calling her Juno. No longer Junie.
“I’ll take care of this, dear. Okay?” Cadence kissed David on the cheek and whispered into his ear. “I know you used to love her. Some part of her. So she can’t be all bad. She can’t hurt us, can she?” David shook his head. “Then let me fix her up. I’ll give her the briefcase you took from the policeman who set you up next door to Brent’s house and send her on her way. Yes?”
Be easy with her, okay, angel? David asked. Any love I may have felt for her is gone. It may never have really existed. We both loved the drugs more than we ever loved each other. She’s not a threat to us, like Brent was, and she’s no better or worse than I am. Except for the cheating. I should probably go see a doctor soon. But, if you love me, you’ll take pity on her. She doesn’t deserve to hurt any more than I do.
I know, love, Cadence said. You’re a beautiful man, inside. She was a fool to let you go. And the shadow was protecting you, all the time you knew her, David. Though she may carry several unusually potent strains of HPV, you’re perfectly healthy and clean. And I promise I won’t hurt her. But I can’t promise I won’t if she tries to come between us in the future, now that we’re one. You understand, yes, dear?
Yes I do, angel. Just know there are no other women for me. None could ever replace you.
Oh, my husband. Cadence giggled, which put Juno ill at ease. I know you’re true. But you underestimate the feminine. Tremendously.
David nodded and looked at Juno, picking her up by her armpit, like he was picking a penny up off the sidewalk. He hugged her tightly, patting her on the back. He spoke to her aloud, so she would know Cadence could hear. “I’ll always remember there was a part of me that loved you, and a part of you that loved me. For however brief that moment was. I hope you have a good life. A better life. Take the money we’re going to give you and make that life for yourself. You don’t have to run from anyone anymore. You don’t ever have to prostitute yourself again. I’ll miss you but, for obvious reasons, we’ll have to part ways.” David kissed her on the cheek and, looking to Cadence to make sure it was okay, she kissed him back and he walked away. Cadence waved him off and he walked out through the doorway into the alley.
Cadence knelt and took Juno’s injured hand in hers, and when she released it, Juno’s ring finger was whole again. At her feet, was the heavy briefcase they’d gotten from Franklin. Stuffed full with cash. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, easily.
“Thank you.” Juno looked at her finger in awe. “Where did all this money come from? How did you—?”
“How isn’t important, dear,” Cadence said, as she ran her hands down the sides of Juno’s face, taking away her pain and erasing the damage. “Neither is who, what, which, when, where or why. Just accept the blessings you’ve been given and, as David said, make yourself a good life.”
“I will,” Juno said. “Thank you so much for not killing me.”
“That’s an oddly specific thank you,” Cadence said, laughing. “But you’re welcome. And so you know. Though David thinks it’s best you two part ways for good, if you ever really do need our help, we’ll be happy to assist you however we can. All you have to do is think of either of us and we’ll hear you, no matter where we are.” Juno looked confused and began to speak. “For the love of... Don’t ask me how. Like I said. It doesn’t matter.”
“Thank you, again,” Juno said, as Cadence hugged her. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
Cadence held Juno tight. “You owe us nothing, Juno. We want nothing from you, except for you to live a good life and to spend your money wisely and to, hopefully, find true happiness one day, as I’ve found with David and he’s found with me. If you do have problems, or you get into a fix, you can always stay with us until you get back on your feet. I owe you that much for bringing David back into my life.” Then she whispered softly, gripping the back of Juno’s neck, drawing her head slowly in between her own neck and shoulder and squeezing hard. “But if you ever so much as remotely think of trying to entice David into unforgivable sin with your beautiful little body and adorable little face. I won’t kill you, because that would be too kind. I can guarantee I will, however, hurt you so badly, you will wish you were dead, while simultaneously ensuring you live an eternity in the Underneath. I won’t ask for David’s permission to protect him from you. I’m prepared to humble myself before him and beg his forgiveness for the rest of my days on this earth if necessary. But I will never allow you to hurt him. Not while his body lives and breathes. Please, do us both the kindness of always bearing that in mind. Because I love him, we were meant to be together, it took me so long to realise that and, now that I have, you should believe with ultimate certainty I’m more serious about preserving our happiness than anything you’ve ever known.”
Cadence nibbled and licked at Juno’s neck, breathing heavily and warmly on the trail of her saliva. She finished by licking and kissing her on the forehead, as Juno let out a long throaty moan of ecstasy and moved her left hand between her legs. “Thank you?” she said. Kind of asked, as she tried to keep from rubbing herself too vigorously. Looking puzzled as Cadence’s form changed, for a moment, into that of a fairly good likeness of what she imagined David’s Melody would look like.
“Be good to yourself.” Cadence stood Juno up and helped her place her hands down the front of her jeans as her knees began to wobble and her breath came out in fast, heavy whimpers. “We both love you. Do the best with what you have. All the money you’ll ever need is yours, and everyone who ever ruled you is now gone from the face of this earth. David is happy now, as am
I. It’s only right that you should be too. And, yes. My name is Melody. I’m back. And I’m keeping him all for myself this time.”
Cadence walked out into the alley, and into David’s arms as he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her into the darkness of the night, to their waiting car. Waving good night and goodbye to the city.
Franklin walked out into the alleyway after them. “How about that? My favourite little son-of-a-drug-addled-bitch monkey did it. Good job. Now let’s go.”
David looked over at him with confusion and anger as Cadence silenced him and he reversed it too slowly. “Yes, I’m aware,” she said. “I can hear Him welcoming me back.”
“He’s welcoming you? Well then. Let’s fuckin’ go,” Franklin said. “I ain’t got all fuckin’ day.” He waved David off. “You can get the fuck along now, son. Your job’s done. Top marks, kid. Piss off.”
“Excuse me, but—” Cadence began.
“Why? Did you do something inexcusable? Come on, you whiny little candy-ass,” Franklin interrupted. “Time to go. Didn’t I tell you it was simple this whole time. Seven points. Me, you, the whore, the cannibal, the two junior gangsters and this loser. All packed inside each other like a Matryoshka doll. Bing. We’re Home.”
“Understand this,” Cadence replied. “I may return when I wish. Your mission is complete regardless of whether I stay or go.” Franklin’s face turned sour and part of it slid off the bone. “Yes. I’m aware of your agenda, and I’m aware of the details of your punishment. The tribulations He set for you were not what I would have wished on anyone, but it is not my place to question His judgement. Bottom line: You are free to return Home. So why don’t you just leave?”
“But—?”
“But nothing,” Cadence snapped. “You may be an arrogant piece of... You make me insane, but that doesn’t give you the right to... It just doesn’t. I told you. I’m staying to live out this life with David, so our souls will depart together. So we can spend as much time together, in these vessels and on Our journey back Home, as possible. So you. You go on Home.” Franklin began to question her and she roared. “Now.”
“Right now?” Franklin walked back into the warehouse and mumbled. “As you wish. Have fun playing with the monkeys, you insufferable nuisance.”
Cadence began to apologise for the shadow’s behaviour and David shushed her. Softly telling her it wasn’t the worst he’d ever seen, heard or had happen to him, by far. Cadence’s smile returned and the moon made the night just a little bit brighter.
Juno wobbled out into the alley, and away from David and Cadence, on weakened knees shortly thereafter. Shuddering at the warmth, and intense feelings, between her legs. Sexual arousal that grew with each and every movement. Every step, every breath, every twitch of fat and muscle. Making her way, hesitantly, off into the distance.
“What the hell did you do to her, angel?” he asked.
Cadence looked back as Juno dropped to her knees and slowly, carefully, crawled away. Her moans becoming deeper. More guttural. Like an injured animal. Dropping to her stomach and writhing in an ecstasy well beyond her capacity to understand or control.
“I gave her a going away present,” Cadence said. “She’s protected until seven days after the spell wears off. And, if she can remain conscious for the next twenty-five minutes, she’s going to have more fun than any girl ever ought to.”
“Only you could make being bad sound so deliciously good.”
As he turned back around to face her, Cadence pulled his head to his chest and stroked his hair. “Before we go any further, it’s also important you know this,” she began. Her voice soft and soothing. Slightly deeper and more maternal. Humming in between sentences. “I never meant to hurt you, David.”
“I know that, Cadence. You already said...” David looked up and saw that Cadence had changed again. Her face was blurry and indistinct, but her smell was unmistakable. “How could you know that?”
Cadence held his head in her hands and kissed him on the forehead. “Just like with Melody, I saw and felt everything your mother was as her soul passed through me. Everything she had been, and had the potential to become. I know exactly what she was and how she felt. She’s been waiting. And I can’t deceive you. Not now that we’re bound. You know that.”
“Yes, but,” David began as a tear ran from his left eye. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?”
“I think it does, David,” she replied. Feeling more full and soft. Comforting and warm. Her voice changing. Channelling. Acting as a conduit. “I think it’s important you know I never gave you up, my son. Not when your father left me. Not when the state threatened to take you. Never. Because, though it may not have been the best thing for you, I loved you so very much, I couldn’t bear to let you go. And,” she paused. “I’m sorry the sickness took me. My sickness. It’s important you know that none of what I did was ever your fault. The choices I made, and the fixes I got myself into with the drugs and the chaos that came with them. They were my choices. If I hadn’t made such poor decisions, perhaps your life would have been better. And I wish that... I just want you to know that I always loved you, and I never meant to hurt you. I’m watching over you, even now. And I’m so very proud of you. My beautiful, sweet child. David.”
“I never blamed you,” David replied. “I just wish I could have helped... Or done something.”
She shushed him as she stroked his hair. “Nothing is for us to save, David. I know that now. As do you. I feel blessed to know you possess that knowledge while your soul still inhabits a human body. That’s more than I ever hoped for. And you’ve always had the capacity to live a better life than I felt I did. And I want that for you. Just remember, I’ll always be here for you. Not just in your head. I’m real and I’m not coming back to the In-Between, or joining into the collective pool of light, until you’ve completed your journey. I do so look forward to seeing you on this side. But, keep in mind, my son, there is no rush. No matter how long you live, you’ll be back with me in the blink of an eye. And I’ve kept your favourite waggon for you. With all of your things. Even your favourite mobile. In its state of disrepair. As you loved it. Although the shadow’s motives were somewhat pure, I promise you that no one else will ever take them away from me again. Not until you return and claim them. There’s nothing to want for or to worry about. Live your life well. And forgive yourself and those you feel may have wronged you. I know you have and you will. I want the best for you, but only you can define what that means. Above all, be happy. Love yourself and love everyone, and everything, else as much as you can and as best you can. I know you’ll be safe. And I know you’ll be secure. Just know I never regretted you. Not for one single second. Goodbye, my precious David. Until we see each other once more. Good night, my son. I love you.”
“Goodbye, mommy,” David whispered. “I love you, too. And, as you say, I’ll see you soon.”
She continued to stroke his hair, humming a soothing lullaby for about seven minutes as the timbre of her voice returned to normal, and he clung to her and wept. And then her smell was gone. Replaced by Cadence’s, as she stood him upright, smeared his tears into his cheeks and kissed him on the forehead. “It was only fair you got to say goodbye. Though it’s not my place, it was important to me that I made that right. I hope you understand.” David nodded. “We can spend this night here and heal, if you need. As your mother noted, time is relative.”
“Thank you.” David sniffled and Cadence looked into his eyes. “But, still...” He paused. “I know the bastard that killed my mom is dead already, but there are plenty more bad people still wandering around this earth and...” David felt a warmth flow through him and he paused. “No. You’re right. There’s nothing to be fixed.”
“Yes, David,” she said. “As per my confession. That’s no way to live and it won’t really help anything. Plus we’d end up spending all of our time dealing with problems. That’s not what life is about. If you feel like it, from time to time, I sup
pose we could dispatch a few of the really nasty folk. But just for fun. For entertainment purposes only. Like they say on the TV. I don’t want us spending the rest of our days trying to fix the world. Trying to fix what isn’t broken. Life here is about pleasure. Life here is finite. And I want to live a lifetime of days with you. Fully experiencing each and every one. Wouldn’t you rather get started finding out how much pleasure we can give each other before our time runs out? I’ll even keep it interesting and start a running bet that we never peak.”
“I’m in. It’s a bet.” He chuckled and began shaking off the sadness. “Here’s me hoping, for the first time ever, that I lose. Because if I wasn’t addicted to you before, I’m definitely hooked on you now, angel.”
David opened the front passenger side door and Cadence slammed it shut, opening the back door instead. He looked at her quizzically as she pushed him into the back seat.
“Like you said before,” she whispered seductively, “the formalities are just formalities. We may not be wed yet, and this may not be the Ritz, but I’ve been waiting for you my entire human life and, quite frankly, I think God will allow me this one additional transgression for my infinite patience. Check your watch, because the bet starts as soon as we’re inside and this door closes. I’ve been hooked on you since I first met you. And I don’t ever want to quit you.”
“Better idea.” David created a spacious glass prison around them, exited the car and peeled off Cadence’s dress. She blushed and her naked body shivered as he pulled it over her shoulders. “You really do like to be comfortable, don’t you? And you’ve been this way since—?”
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