"What's this? Another dagger wound?" he said laughing.
"Umm, no, it's a tattoo" I said reluctantly.
"Can I see?" he smiled.
"Yea, hold on, let me take the bandage off."
I gently rolled the gauze bandage off my forearm and brandished a freshly inked seal of a demon of the Goetia!
"That's hot" he eyeballed me.
I tried to ignore his gesture and went on to explain its symbolism.
"They say this seal is used in the evocation of a demon" I smiled.
Rowan looked annoyed. "A demon? Like the one you're in love with in your nightmares?"
"C'mon Rowan, you know I'm involved in something I can't explain. I know it doesn't make any sense, but it really doesn't matter any more. He's gone."
I tried to convince him of something I knew was a lie. I thought of Dantalion every day since we were together on Samhain. And every day before that. He would never leave my soul alone, unless I wanted him to. And then I would have to trap him somehow. The books I read on demonology said there were many ways to trap a demon, but I didn't want to trap him. I wanted to set him free.
We finished the bottle of wine and Rowan looked uncomfortable, like he didn't know what to do next. He leaned in and kissed me, his body warm against mine, unlike the coldness I felt with Dantalion. We both pulled away from each other, when we realized what was happening.
"Hey, sorry, it just sort of happened" he apologized.
"No, its okay" I assured him. "It was nice" I gave him a half smile.
He leaned in again, holding me like he didn't want to let go. I reached for his arm, pulling him closer. We didn't say anything, we only closed our eyes and listened to the sound of our hearts beating.
"They don't usually ask, but they want me to work tomorrow," Rowan replied, getting up to leave. "I should get going. I'll try to check up on you after work, okay?"
I smiled. "Okay, that's fine. Maybe I'll give Erin and Lucia a call. That is, if they're still talking to me."
"They're fine with everything," he smiled. "They know how you get into your moods".
"Yea, well if what happened to me, happened to one of you, you'd all think different," I defended myself.
"Talk to ya later," Rowan gave me a hug, trying to make me feel better.