Page 1 of Blood and War
One
DEMITRIA
Ten grueling years since the Ascension, and still, everything was burnt to ash. Demitria’s eyes spanned across the barren landscape that surrounded her. Scanning. Scouting ahead for anything out of place. Everywhere she looked was desolate. Lifeless. The charred remains off in the distance the only inclination that life had once been abundant here. Ten years since the world had become a living hell.Life never got easier.
She scanned again. Waiting. Always waiting for something to attack, but like this, without anywhere for them to use as cover and hide, it made her job that bit easier. Nothing, not even the creatures from the damned Underworld itself could get past her eyes in the clear conditions. It was a small reprieve, but one she was grateful for nonetheless. The earth beneath her boots was nothing more than dirt and the burnt remains of what life had once been. A constant reminder that everything she had once longed for now lay dead at her feet in a crushing heap.
“It’s clear.” Demitria’s body twisted swiftly around in the supple leather saddle, holding the beast underneath steady as she called back to her companion waiting behind. The loud hum of the motor from his bike increased as he neared. She sat silently as he caught up to her, wind blowing a crisp breeze,catching a lock of dark hair that had escaped the braid she’d quickly trapped it in hours before. Righting herself in the saddle, Demitria scanned once more to be sure. There was nowhere for the creatures to hide, but it never stopped them from coming. Nothing had moved, but she held her breath anyway.
Never let your guard down, no matter how safe you think you are. Do so, and you die.
Jace’s words from long ago echoed through her mind. He’d drilled those words into her, time and time again. Never to forget. A constant reminder of just how much things had changed.
“It doesn’t look like we were followed.” The whir of the motor quieted as he pulled up beside her. Jace rested his feet on the ground to keep the bike steady. “We’re clear to move ahead.”
With a nod, Demitria nudged the horse beneath her forward. The beast just as alert as she was swiveled his ears back and forth, always listening for anything Demitria’s eyes may have missed.
Up ahead, the traders’ large building came into view. She searched for anything out of place. When nothing moved, Demitria came to a halt a few feet from the entrance and Jace followed her lead. Freeing her feet from the stirrups, Demitria swung her leg behind her before her feet touched softly to the ground. She tied the worn braided reins in a loose loop around the hitching post in front of the door. Jace was already steadying his bike beside them.
The patchworked building had been constructed from fragments of timber and massive pieces of scrap metal. Anything that could be salvaged from the wreckage of the once prosperous cities that surrounded the area. None of the structures were much to look at, but they provided shelter and that was more than any of them could ask for.
Tall heavy metal doors sat open, beckoning them inside. She knew from years of coming here that the tin roof had been scavenged from some rubble pile miles away, the mismatched sheets torn and gouged in places that let in sunlight on the nicer days, but nearly flooded the place during a heavy rain.
“Let me do the talking today.” Jace looked down at her, eyes narrowing. She knew her place.
Stay still and keep your mouth shut.
It was the usual routine whenever she’d had the chance to accompany him on these outings.
“Whatever you say, Jace.” The corners of her lips curved up into a wicked grin. It wasn’t like she intentionally screwed these things up. Her mouth just tended to get the better of her at times. “I’ll do my best.”
“I knew I should have brought someone else.” Shaking his head, Jace let out a loud sigh as he fiddled with something in his jacket pocket. He hadn’t mentioned anything about the item they would use as trade, but it seemed small in comparison to what they were after.
“You and I both know you don’t mean that.” Her laughter was infectious, and soon his own soft chuckle echoed inside the building, signaling their arrival.
For weeks now, trading days had proved to be chaotic as neighboring communities became frantic for supplies, making hard to acquire items even more scarce. Demitria knew that the other settlements in the area had been running out for some time now, they all were. It would only be a matter of time before there was absolutely nothing left. She never asked how they came into their stock. Didn’t want to know for that matter. So long as her people had the supplies they needed, she didn’t care.
Demitria quietly fell into step beside Jace, hand subtly resting atop the pommel of a blade she’d concealed beneath the dark fabric of the cloak billowing around her. Jace had noweapons hidden within the confines of his worn jacket, the deep brown of the leather faded in spots from years of wear.
“By the gods, I swear if you pull that thing out again today, Demi…” With a shake of his head, Jace raked a hand through his wheat-blond hair as he let loose another sigh. She didn’t say a word, but followed behind as they entered.
The same rules no longer applied,she reminded herself. There was no honor system, no safety in those walls anymore. Bad people took the things they wanted, whenever they wanted. And they didn’t care if they had to kill to get it. She wasn’t about to let Jace get attacked over supplies. The blade was needed, despite his protests every single time she’d brought it. Jace believed that making a show of weapons set a certain tone about them, but she wasn’t so sure that was a bad thing. Demitria thanked the gods she had never needed to use it here. Yet. She let her hand fall back loosely against her side.
The building was dimly lit with large candles placed precariously along the unpainted walls, the flames flickering as the breeze crept inside from the cracked front doors. At the counter, an oil lamp lit the counter area in a warm glow.
She counted five men with the clerk, each one older than her and Jace by many years. Each one with varying shades of gray peppered throughout their once dark hair. She recognized one of them, Augustus, the leader of Valencia, one of the largest communities around. Demitria found her hand hovering back toward the weapon at her hip, feeling the pommel warm in her hand. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone else in the building with the clerk. It was their time to trade.
“How nice of you to finally join us.”
The clerk narrowed his gaze, blue eyes fixed on them as they walked further in. Demitria’s grip tightened around the weapon as they stopped before the large counter in the center of theroom. The man had been kind to them in all their encounters prior. Most times, anyway.
“We’re early.” Jace’s voice was loud, firm as he rested a strong hand on Demitria’s wrist.
She released the sword, only slightly, still feeling the edge of the blade at her fingertips. They had arrived earlier than their meeting had entailed, much earlier in fact, to avoid any overlap of time slots should their trades take longer. Jace pulled out the item he’d been toying with from his pocket. Her eyes caught on the intricately carved pocket watch that she’d recognize in a heartbeat. It had been his father’s, gifted to Jace on his last birthday, spent all together so many years ago. The engraving of his father’s name had been rubbed smooth in spots along the underside, his fingers always grazing across the cool metal as it lived in the pocket of his coat. She’d never seen him without it. Another constant reminder of what once was. Had he really come here to try and trade it today? One of the only pieces of his family he’d had left? She wouldn’t let him.
“Quite early, in fact.” Jace added.
“I can’t promise your resources will be available.” The clerk set his hands on the counter before clenching them into tight fists. Eyes roaming over the others before him.
