Damian is silent on our way to the cemetery, and I'm honestly grateful because I'm nervous enough without his smartass remarks. Even if I know I want this and that I have to do it, something is weighing me down.

It doesn't take long to reach the graveyard, not with my ever-increasing skills in motorcycle riding, but somehow, I'm not happy or satisfied. I'm actually... Nothing. Empty. And the moment I enter the graveyard and my boots find the gravel path, half of me is afraid that I'll be losing more of my soul instead of completing it.

I didn't even get some flowers!

Damian gently nudges my head and I look down. A bunch of dandelions sprout on the edge of the path, their puffy yellow heads smiling at me. Even if they're not the classiest flowers, the joyful color lifts my mood, so I start picking them on my way.

By the time I reach my Nana's gravestone, I've managed to make an impressive bouquet. I expect Damian to sneer, to tell me they're just weeds, but he surprisingly stays silent.

I heave a deep sigh and finally dare lift my gaze from the ground. A lonely blue butterfly flutters around the headstone as if guarding it, its jewel-like wings glittering in the reddish light of twilight. The moment I lock eyes with it, something hums in my chest and I'm flooded by hope and terror in equal measures.

It's mine. I can tell it's mine. But the simple thought of touching it, making it my own, terrifies me. Could I even? What would happen if I did? Would I actually stop caring that she died? It's mainly that thought that makes me slightly nauseous. Nana deserves this butterfly guarding her. How could I ever take it away?

It would change you.

Damian's voice is low and soothing and my fear alleviates the tiniest bit. "How will it change me?"

You are who you are because you've known loss. Very few people know what it's like to live without it. But loss makes us stronger. Fighters.

I contemplate his words, trying to imagine a world in which Nana was still alive. I'd be like Fifi, maybe, throwing myself headfirst into everything. Maybe I wouldn't see the need for positivity and encouragement like I do. Maybe I wouldn't be... me.

You wouldn't be you. You'd be an entirely different Carolyn. Maybe more entitled, maybe more rebellious. Maybe indecisive.

Maybe worse.

I honestly don't think you would be better. A chipped soul isn't the end of the world. You are fully happy without it. Experiences are what make us, babe. How we chose to treat our losses and come back swinging defines who we are.

Tears fill my eyes, and this time, Damian lets me. His body allows me to shed two tears for my Nana, to look at what I've lost and let it fly. Not go back. Because I've always been an advocate of looking forward. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today is a gift. That's why they call it present. It's a gift just the way it is, and I'd be tempting the laws of Karma by changing something from my past.

Well, not exactly...

I shouldn't do this. I shouldn't deprive Nana of her guardian. I should be proud that I lost a bit of myself and bounced back. Accept my pain because she deserves it. It just shows how much she means to me. And Damian is right. I am fine. I am happy. I did rise.

That's right, Carolyn. And I wish I knew that when the moment to make my choice came.

"I'll get you your soul back, Damian," I say with a fierce nod. I lower on one knee and leave the dandelion bouquet leaning against the headstone.

The butterfly flutters its wings faster as if my tribute to Nana makes it happy. I smile at it and straighten from my crouch, ready to finish my mission.

Thank you.

"For what?" I ask, surprised by his humble tone.

If you would've completed your soul, you would've smothered me and pushed me out. Without a soul vessel, I would be searching for the Devil myself right now.

I shudder at the thought, a sudden wave of cold overtaking me. "Why didn't you tell me that?"

I didn't want to influence your decision. I wanted you to either come to this conclusion on your own, or... You know. Push me out.

Even if his words would normally warm me up, the cold persists and my muscles tense. I turn away from the headstone, scanning the surrounding area. The light is dim as the sun continues its descend beyond nearby buildings.

"What's going on?" I ask.

Before Damian can answer, a gigantic shadows slithers down from one of the trees. It's black form seems almost corporeal as it drags its form towards me. It has horns and a gaping mouth filled with sharp teeth.

"What the actual fuck?"

Carolyn, it's a demon breaking between realms. Run!

Damian was right. Not all demons are small and cartoonish like Butch. This one is huge and wide and seems to be made out of the night itself. But there's another thing I remember. I have a useless dagger which breaks if it makes contact with anything except a demon. Let's see if Desiree's money is where her mouth is at.

Wha--

I take my dagger out and fling it like a javelin at the increasing shadow. I expect to regret my decision and watch my useless blade pass through it and break against grass or daisies. It doesn't. Instead, the dagger lodges itself inside the shadow, drawing a prolonged growl out of it. In a puff of black smoke, the evil shadow disappears.

I can hear birds sinking again and the distant sound of traffic. The daggers rests peacefully on the grass.

Well then, Damian says. I had no idea you could actually stop them before they fully materialize.

"You learn something every day," I say with a shrug, then head out to pick up my demon slaying weapon.

Needless to say, I have new-found respect for it and for Desiree's skills.

👸

It only seems fair to let Butch do the honors of summoning Satan. Not like we have much of a choice since Desiree simply refuses to do it and we don't have an Ouija board carpet. We hide Fifi in Damian's room upstairs and Desiree also decides to abandon me just because she doesn't like the devil.

So, alone, holding an encrusted soul vessel, I wait.

It's going to be fine. He's an ass, but ultimately respects his deals. 

I'm not sure if that makes me feel better. I just hate waiting. Like, a lot.

Fortunately, in a puff of black smoke and silver disco lights, Satan materializes before me, Butch at his heels. I expect to be frightened, to want to cower and step back. Yell and jump behind the couch to hide.

Instead, I just can't help but admire how well he pulls off the black suit - black shirt combo and the fact that he sort of looks like Idris Elba if Heimdall decided he wanted creepy red eyes instead of the amber ones.

"You were right, little puppy. That entrance wasn't bad," he says, his voice as smooth as silk, then turns his attention to us. "Damian Bradley. Well, well, well. I always appreciated your ingenuity. But this? This is genius even for you."

"Not very nice, though," I mumbled. "He could've at least asked."

"And you, Carolyn Danes..." His eyes sparkle, but he still sounds pretty nice, so he doesn't scare me.

"We have what you want." I shake the soul vessel for good measure. "Can we have our reward?"

"If I restore Damian's soul, you will not be able to both fit inside that body."

I was thinking you could move Carolyn back into her own.

The devil smiles, and he's finally scary. But I steel my spine and glare at him, to let him know I'm not intimidated. I still have a dagger to use if he gets too frisky.

"That was not part of the deal."

My blood freezes in my veins. I can feel Damian stiffening inside me. I have no idea what to do now. If I should protest, beg, ask for lenience. I'm sure he has a point. Moving bodies was never part of the deal.

But, then again, neither is keeping quiet about what we know.

"Okay then. We'll just let everyone know what you were actually looking for," I say with a shrug.

His eyes narrow and the irises turn into burning flames. "Are you threatening me?"

"I have hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram. If that movie is so dangerous that it cost you a piece of your soul, I must warn them about the dangers. It is my duty and my purpose in this world."

"You are aware that I could put Damian back in there and have your soul be lost forever, right?"

Damian mutters some warnings, but I ignore him. I won't let myself be bullied. I've seen enough devil movies to know he is held by his deal. I can be just as cunning as he is.

"I am very aware. I am also aware that my soul being trapped in a jar will not affect the world as much as the news that you have feelings. Putting me back doesn't cost you a thing. As it is, I've got an Instagram post set to go up automatically in five minutes. And even if you take it down or call me crazy, who needs to know will know. And your reputation will never be the same. "

Satan squints at me some more. "That is a blatant lie."

No, she actually did that.

I expect the devil to instantly smite me and turn me into a pile of ash. Instead, he smirks, his eyes reverting to embers. "I like this. I like you. You're one resourceful young lady. I'd hate to see that kind of talent wasted. And you do have a point. It doesn't cost me a thing."

I try not to get my hopes up, but it's me. I probably look as if I've said yes to the dress. It makes Satan chuckle and shake his well groomed head.

"So be it," he says. "Carolyn Danes, you can have your body back. Damian Bradley, as promised, you can have your soul back and are free from my employment."

"Oh, thank you!" I say, clapping my hands together. "I swear I won't breathe a word about any of this."

"I know you won't." The devil brings his hands together, but before he can clap them, Damian shouts out.

Wait!

"What?" both me and Satan ask.

Didn't you say you wanted your memory of all this erased?

The devil lowers his hands, once again looking interested. I'd completely forgotten about that. That was my initial intention, but now... I think about all I've been through in just a matter of hours. All the skills, all the experience.

You haven't hashtagged in hours.

That's a little frightening, bur also true. My view of the world has changed. Sharing my soul with Damian taught me so much. Forgetting everything would be such a waste.

"No, I think I'll hold on to them. Even if I'll never share with anyone what happened, I want to keep this memory." Because nothing is more worthy of my favorite hashtag. 

#aboutlastnight

There you go again...

I don't care. I smile as the devil claps his hands and everything goes dark.

👸

I swear I'm freezing again and I have no idea what's going on. It's dark and cold and annoying and all I want is to...

"Good morning, sleepy head."

My eyes dart open and focus on a cream ceiling. It's bathed in warm light, as if it's close to noon. The moment I focus, I realize I'm not cold anymore. As a matter of fact, I seem to be wrapped up in a cashmere blanket.

I turn slowly to the right, my body tense, my heart beating wildly. Cerulean blue eyes gaze at me with adoration, joined by a tender smile on an incredibly handsome face. Damian Bradley is glancing at me, and I'm not inside his body.

I sit up and pat my body. Boobs! I have boobs again! I can't help but hug myself. I'm me again, all soft and warm and fabulous and still wearing that Alexander McQueen.

Damian laughs. "I totally get it. I was thrilled to have control of my body as well."

I turn to him, my eyebrows scrunched, and slap him across the face. God, it feels good to finally be able to hit him without hurting myself.

He pulls back, hand over his cheek. "Fair enough. Totally deserved that."

I push the covers off myself and stand. Wow, I'm so short now.

"Carolyn."

I scan the floor for my shoes and spot my gorgeous heels by the door. I stride over and slip into them. A bit better, but still short.

"Carolyn, wait."

"What?" I turn towards him, hands on my hips, drilling holes into him.

"I wanted to apologize for everything. And thank you."

A part of me wants to scream, but I've been proven again and again that it doesn't help. Neither does holding a grudge. I have more sense than that. So I straighten, take in a deep breath, and preform my calming exercises. I can do this, be a lady about it.

"Apology accepted. Gratitude accepted," I say, and I feel so much better about myself. 

Damian grins and I hate how good it looks on him. He picks up my purse from the nightstand and hands it to me. Only then do I realize I'm in his bedroom.

"Working with you was a pleasure," he says.

"I wish I could say the same, but my introduction in this affair was lacking." I have so much grace, oh my god, I'm amazing. "Where is Fifi?"

"I drove her home and told her you'll get back to her."

Good. I was not in the mood for more screeching. My head still pounds a little after all that devil magic. I pull my phone out and ignoring the bazillion missed calls and notifications, I call an Uber.

"Can I drive you home?"

"No, thank you."

"Carolyn."

I roll my eyes. Can't he read the room? I need space. "What is it, Damian?"

"I just wanted to tell you I really like you." He comes closer, basking me in his heat, his scent and his manliness. "So, once you get settled in again, I'd like to ask you out."

Somewhere inside my head, my jaw drops. He doesn't need me anymore, so this means he really does want to date me. But, nevertheless...

"No."

His face falls. "No?"

I give him a small smile. "No."

And just like that, with the grace of a Greek goddess, I leave his house, get inside the car I ordered, and return to my life. #girlpower #independence 

👸👸👸

Word count: 2532

Total Word count: 23,907

Aaaand, this is the final chapter. I will have a short epilogue, but the plot is over and done with and oh, my God, I can't believe I managed to wrap it up in so little words. I'm usually VERY long-winded.😅

I hope everyone had fun with this story. I had a ton of fun writing. I also liked the growth of our ditzy MC throughout this story. Even if she seems to have reverted to her old ways there at the end, it won't be so easy.

Were you disappointed that she didn't want to go out with Damian? Poor guy put his soul into her (literally).😁

Stay tuned for the epilogue to see what became of our beloved characters. And if you enjoyed the ride, don't forget to vote and comment.