I barely had strength to keep my eyes open any longer, but I could sense as much as see Rhyzkahl crouch before me.
“Ah, dear one. I cannot restore you. You are too far gone for that, and even I have limits to my power.”
It’s all right, I thought, dimly seeing sparkles of light at the edge of my vision. So this is really the demon realm?
“Yes, dearest, this is my demesne. Would that I could keep you here as mine, but even here you are dying.”
Too bad I can’t see more of the place. Oh, well. The sparkles of light grew brighter and more insistent.
“There will be another time for that. I cannot restore you, but I will give you a chance. More chance than you had. I have taken the payment I wish for this already.”
Confusion muddled through me even as the light grew brighter, obscuring all else. Chance? Payment? No, not Ryan!
I heard a melodious laugh just before a ripping crack obscured all else.
Chapter 30
The void was nothingness. Not light or dark, but the absence of all reference. No color, no sound, no touch. I drifted for a time, seconds stretching to eternity, aware of the void and feeling the expectation, the anticipation of something more, something beyond the void.
But the nothingness swallowed sensation and thought alike, and I gradually ceased to wonder.
Come on, Sweets. You can’t stay. You don’t belong here. You need to keep going.
Going?
Yes, keep going through. Go on through, sweetling. You’re doing just fine.
I am?
You always have. I’m so proud of you.
Where am I going?
Through. Go on through.
Through?
He’s calling you. Just follow his call.
Too easy to lose the way.
Too hard to keep from unraveling when there’s nothing to remind you of who you are and where you should be.
Another eternity passes in the flick of an eyelash.
Kara. Kara, you need to come back.
A feathery touch on the edge of my essence.
Come on, Kara. Find your way back. You’ve been gone long enough.
A flickering awareness of self. Curiosity. Emotions and awareness creeping back in gradually.
Kara. Kara. Come back. You can do it. Come back to me.
The presence. A rich familiarity.
Kara. It’s time. Come back.