Both of them freeze as they stare at us. Jullia’s eyes zipping from my face, to Callahan, to my legs. Legs which are covered in scars and bitemarks and all visible for everyone to see. Panic replaces all other emotions but I wave her off.
“It’s alright, we’re fine,” I say. Pushing away all the tension and his words and that still electric zipping feeling.
Asher wraps his hands around Jullia’s waist as he keeps his eyes locked on the devil. I’m sure he can feel Callahan’s aura still filling every corner of this room. Not that Callahan spares them a single glance, his eyes are locked on me. Pulling her flush to his chest, Asher’s earthy scent begins to trickle stronger into the room.
Jullia puts on a smile as she shrugs to try and play it off. Leaving Asher’s arms to head towards her wardrobe. “As long as everything is okay. . . “
“Yup,” I respond, popping my lips to accentuate thePsound. “And actually, Callahan was just leaving.”
I turn a pointed look at Callahan. I’m sure he won’t want to, but he’ll have to leave anyway because Jullia will be needing to get dressed and ready, and no way will Asher allow another man to stay in the room with her. He would go up against a devil – and with emotion backing up his magic he’d probably win.
“And if any word gets out about what you’ve seen and now know,” I start, darkening my voice like I have before. Like when I had threatened the other celestials. “I will report you to the Mage Board.”
His eyes narrow a bit at that, but otherwise he doesn’t do anything. I bet he didn’t know I knew that. It’s not something widely known as is because not everyone really knows about true forms unless you’re a devil or an angel, but if a devil or angel releases their true inner self in any way they’re immediately sentenced to death.
True forms are. . . they can surpass gods.
With that threat, I sit up and slide off the bed to stand. I set my drink on my desk to finish later. Rolling my neck out, I clasp my hands behind me and arch my back to stretch it out. Callahan still doesn’t move even as Asher’s aura continues to slowly fill the room. More threatening now with a demanding energy. Callahan needs to leave now.
A protective instinct to keep Jullia safe from Callahan who is the largest predator in the room at the moment. The same instinct he had when he first met me and demanded I make a blood oath with him. A type of promise that bounds even celestials.
So very curious about a mage and a vampyr. I wonder when they’ll fully realize what they are to each other.
In every lifetime.
You are mine in every lifetime.
You. Are. Mine.
Every. Lifetime.
The next beat of my heart thumps in my mind. I squeeze my eyes against it for a moment and when I open them I’m no longer in the presence of contradicting aura that balances itself. Instead the world is tinted in cool tones. Some sort of flake is hovering throughout the air. Snow or. . . ash.
I’m surrounded by a forest. Trunks bleeding black blood with darkness covering their branches instead of leaves or flowers or fruits.
There are whispers behind me. I should turn around to see what it is. Only I already know what I’ll find.
A puff of air clouds before my mouth as I exhale. You would think the temperature would be freezing because of that. I know better. I know that freezing is the exact opposite of how the temperature is.
It has been a very long time since I’ve been here. Since my mind has locked me in the past and afterlife. Since I’ve been trapped in a nightmare while awake.
I know this only ends one way. I’ve tried before to not turn around. Spent weeks as my body screamed at me to move even an inch somehow. But the only way I can move is by turning. There is no forward, no back, no escape. There is only turning and facing it.
Fluttering my eyes closed for a moment, the first thing I see within is gold. Light and dark balancing with an aura so powerful it rivals that sun devils. It rivals the bone witch I call Nana.
It rivals the Forgotten God of Blood Moon’s.
When I open my eyes a color that is not cool toned wraps around the tree before me. Black blood still dripping from its bark and at its base is a single blue belladon. But despite the black blood, despite the aura that fills this nightmare cage, a color I’ve never seen here blooms.
Red spider lily looking flowers are attached to a reddish-black vine covering the tree.
They say that blue belladon is the one thing that can kill all – no matter the creature. However, it is also said that the gods cannot be killed. They are the one thing blue belladon cannot kill. If only history was written correctly.
Roi sanguin’divin is the full name. Roi sanivin for short, and it is known as the godskiller. A true thing that can kill all – including the gods.
It is the symbol of the Forgotten God of Blood Moon’s. A way to make him remembered. . . and a way to ensure his downfall stays that way.
I finally turn to face my nightmare. Black ribbons with light threaded through and gold accompany me with solace. I will not die here.