Page 124 of A Rune's Blood Moon

Yes, she hisses.You miss the warmth without the burning.

That’s not fair. All I ever do is burn. How can I miss something I don’t remember feeling? I wish I was just dead. That would have been easier. Why am I not dead? I died. I had to have died. I made sure on that field there was nothing left.

Wake. Up. Now.

I feel like when I was fourteen and being scolded about getting up for my lessons. I would stay up too late reading textbooks and grimoires and trying to learn any and everything. I wanted to absorb all the knowledge I could. I wanted to remember.

I wanted to make sure I never forgot.

I always thought it would help so one day I could figure out how not to be forgotten. We say we’re immortal, but I always viewed life through a very human gaze. Wanting to remember and be remembered. They say a person dies twice – once when their soul leaves their body, and a second when their name is said for the last time.

Still haven’t figured it out. I’m not a writer or someone famous or anyone of special importance, but I had been accepting of my death.

And they want me to wake up as if this is just a dream.

I do not want to wake up.

You owe me.

A new voice – and yet not. Lazy and drawling. I bare my teeth at the sound.

I do not, demon.

You do. It was my blood you drank on that field that prevented you from dying. Nearly sucked me dry, so you now owe me.

I curl tighter within myself and wrap dagger-like claws into my blood. Sensing my aura and power and rhythm from my heart. Scenting the poison and. . . thunder. Ozone and blood but it is not mine.

I’m calling in my favor now. Wake up.

I want to scream. Clever fuckingdemon. I want to rip his neck out. This is not fair.

You will regret this.

And I can feel his amusement.Wake up and make me then.

I will.

I canalmostfeel him smile.Stupidfucking demon. He doesn’t realize how much of a promise I mean that as.