The Power (The Magnificent 12 4)

“Dietmar?” Mack said. “Do you mean Dietmar?”

“If you mean Dirtmore, yes,” Risky said.

“No,” Mack said, not liking himself right then. “How many people will you kill? We can’t let you loose on the world, Goddess Ereskigal. Not even for our friend’s life.”

“I . . .” She swallowed hard, and her perfect lips quivered. “If I . . .” It was something she could barely bring herself to say. “If I . . . I could . . .” She slumped, defeated. “I would give up my power. Renounce my nature and become . . . just a girl. Just the most beautiful girl in the world and much prettier than Shrimpy McFrench girl there.”

“You can do that? You can bring Dietmar back and renounce your power?” Mack asked.

It turned out she could.

And she did.

Suddenly, there was Dietmar.

“Dude,” Mack said. “You were dead.”

“Surely not,” Dietmar said dismissively. “Perhaps an illusion of death.”

Mack instantly disliked him again, but he was still glad to see him alive. He turned to Risky. “Now the rest. You have to de-goddess yourself and become a regular girl.”

Risky sighed deeply. “It’s no fun being a goddess, anyway,” she said. “Not if you won’t worship me.”

She held up her hands, palms out, then with a sad expression said, “At this time, in this squalid little town, before these inferiors, I hereby renounce my power, my godhood, my immortality, and my membership to the Valhalla spa. I will henceforth no longer be Ereskigal, princess of evil, and will instead be mortal. A regular girl.”

She bowed her head and said, “Make it so.”

And suddenly the sky was darkened by a noisy flight of ravens. And then came the swirl of bats.

And it was finally over.

Well, over except that the sun started spinning in the sky before finally stabilizing.

Finally, the terrible saga had reached an end.

Except for a terrible moaning sound that rose from the very earth itself like a chorus of vengeful ghosts.

And that was it.

Except for a sudden, freezing wind that chilled them all, then blew away.

And thus it was done and over.

Except for the remaining popcorn on the hibachi all popping with a single, gigantic pop that made everyone jump.

And that was it.

No, really.

The End