"It's so you don't forget me."
"I've never forgotten you, Trinka."
"Yes, you did, Dusty!" she said in as stern of a voice as a ten-year-old could muster.
"You brought me here to lecture me, little one?" he asked with gentle gruffness.
"You died, Dusty. I just wanted to say hi before you left. I miss you." At the mournful note in her voice, he hugged her tightly.
"I miss you," he whispered.
"I want you to be happy."
"Very hard when I'm there and you're here," he said with forced lightness.
"I'm there, too! I'm always there!" she said stubbornly. "And you're not happy. But now you will be."
He hadn't thought himself unhappy; he'd never thought about it at all. He was content with his life, and yet, at her words, he remembered what it was like when he truly was happy. Long ago, before her death, when he'd had a family. If he let himself, he'd feel that again with Bianca.
"You have to go," Trinka said with some sadness. "You have my plaything. Now you won't forget me!"
He squeezed it, not wanting to let her go.
His first vision was that of Bianca's wet, pale face with dark curls stuck to her cheeks. He felt completely depleted of his power, the sense of being fully human again returning. He'd felt similar when the Black God's powers crept through him, stripping his demigod powers in preparation to give him something more.
Jonny. Trinka. Dusty's memories righted themselves. He sat, surprising Bianca, who wrapped her arms around him. He almost dropped the orb in his hand.
"I thought I lost you!"
"Poor excuse for not following my rules," he grumbled.
Darian looked like shit, a stone wall propping him up, and Jenn was hurt and pissed. The woman in Dusty's arms shook from cold and fear. He gazed at the distant blaze, the scent of burning vamps carried on a wind along with the rain.
He looked at his watch, satisfied to see it was past dawn despite the storm-blackened sky. Bianca's cool magic ran through his body, repairing all but his exhaustion. He held her, never imagining anything could feel so right despite the rain and cold. Carefully, he shifted her and placed Trinka's orb in his pocket.
"Uh oh," Darian whispered.
He felt the Black God's presence and released Bianca. He stood. A tall form stood halfway between the fire and them, flanked by two vamps.
"Jonny!" Bianca cried, seeing the man as well. "I didn't lose either of you!"
Dusty caught her arm as she launched forward. She looked up, eyes bright. He looked at Darian, who frowned. Dusty took her hand, his other pulling his remaining knife free. They moved towards the three. Jonny looked healthy and rested, his dark eyes swirling, his clothing dry and neat despite the storm. He motioned the vamps away.