32. Abraxas

Atrickle of heat stirred me. Heat? In this gods-forsaken frozen wasteland? That great endless chaos was close now. I could feel it already sucking me in. Was this the last bit of comfort I would receive before the end?

Aflash of light, blinding in the endless darkness, came between me and that great pit. Tori stepped through, golden, glowing, and warm. She lay her hands on me, and I was nothing but a man in the presence of a goddess.

"It's time, Abraxas."

Ihad waited so long, but I still hesitated. "What have you done, my love?"

Shesmiled at me softly. "I broke the world to get back to you." I could feel it. What had started as a warm breeze was now a molten flow, fighting back the shadows that clung to me. She held my face in both her hands and kissed me tenderly, as if I still might fall apart under her touch. "It's time to wake up, Abraxas."

Ishook my head, "Tori, I haven't been the beast for centuries. I don't know what will happen if I awaken."

"When you awaken," she corrected me.

"Tori," I reached out and clutched her cheek, "I could hurt you. More than that. It won't be a dream any longer."

"You could try." Her vicious smile set me aflame. "You would have to catch me first."

"Careful, little bird or you might get burned."

"I've always liked to play with fire, Abraxas." She slammed her hand to my chest, and dragonfire enveloped us both, but nothing shone as bright as her.