Page 13 of Blood and War
Her body ached from the impact, but she shoved it aside. Pain was something she couldn’t afford to feel, and she wouldn’t let it slow her down. Not right now. With clenched teeth, Demitria bit back the wince.
He swung, and her sword met his as she tried to block the blow. So hard, the clash of metal was almost deafening as it echoed through her ears. He swung at her again and again in an unrelenting rhythm, Demitria had killed demons and angels alike, but he was even stronger than she’d initially thought, and her blade wobbled beneath each one of his swings. Arms aching with the force of each impact. She’d hold her ground for as long as she could. Then? She didn’t know what she would do. Demitria dodged another of his strikes as she rolled away across the dusty ground, hand reaching to what should have been a small leather sheath at her hip, and her body nearly froze upon finding it not there.
Fuck.
She’d messed up so badly. In her haste to leave, Demitria had all but forgotten to grab the flare gun from within the Guardians’ building, and she had no way to signal Solis of the massive threat that was upon them.
She had to last the remaining few hours until morning. Jace would know something had happened, and the community would be up in arms. An impossible feat, but she had to last. Had to do whatever possible to give Solis their only chance of survival.
He dealt blow after blow and Demitria staggered to keep up. Her body was battered, but she was thankful he hadn’t managed to wound her more than a few minor cuts. She could feel him gaining the upper hand, faster than she would like. Herarms began to strain with each of his blows she’d blocked. Her movements grew slower with each heaving breath she took, her heart beating what felt like a million beats a minute. The male hadn’t faltered once with each of his swings. His body lithe. Graceful as he sidestepped each time her blade came for him. She’d given up on any sort of offense quickly, her movements slipping into a defensive position. It was the only way she knew to make herself last the longest. She couldn’t quit. Hold out. Sword up. Keep going. She refused to go down without a fight.
Demitria cursed. At thiscreaturetrying to kill her. The nightmarish world and barren landscape they barely survived in. She cursed at the fucking darkness that surrounded her, and at the moon that didn’t give off enough light for her to fight like she wanted. And she cursed herself for not pushing Jace to station more Guardians. Because someone had come for her, exactly like the demon said they would.
She didn’t know when he moved to her right. Losing track of him was her biggest mistake. Legs buckling as he kicked them out from beneath her, Demitria closed her eyes as she hit the ground hard. She wasn’t sure what hurt more, the fall from Atlas or this.
His body bore down on top of her as he pinned her to the ground, and she blinked up at him several times from the sudden weight on her hips. She could feel his breath, warm against her face as it slithered across her exposed neck. His smell, woodsy and almost sweet, felt suffocating with each strained breath. In one hand his sword held firm against her chest, the other clenched a dagger pressed against the pale flesh of her throat. She could feel the cool metal as it bit into her skin. Not hard enough to break through, but the blade hurt against her nonetheless. Full lips pulled back into a feral snarl as he leaned in closer, azure eyes narrowed into a piercing glare.
Her death was coming. She wasn’t one to pray, but gods she hoped it was quick. She didn’t want it to hurt. She knew better, though. Knew that the pain would be excruciating, and he’d drag it out. That’s what people like him did. Demons. Angels. Whatever the hell he was, because she was absolutely certain he could not be anything close to human.
An array of different, useless thoughts swarmed through her head as he pressed the dagger into her skin. Could feel the sting as the blade drew that first bead of blood from her throat. She’d done everything she could, and it still wasn’t enough. Had done everything in her power to gain the upper hand, but it was futile. He’d gotten through her so fast she’d barely had a chance to defend herself, let alone the community. There would be no saving Solis. Not this time.
The community would be an easy target, completely unaware of the incoming attack nearly at its gate. The female had been right, it seemed. The wretched demon that had threatened her home and those she loved had been telling the truth, and it killed her that they hadn’t put a plan into place before she’d gone out. That she’d spurred herself into action too quickly before getting any more information from the demon, and instead, had turned into a fight about where her loyalties lie. Now she fell defending those that questioned her, and the beast of a male would be unleashed on Solis. Demitria just hoped that with their numbers they’d be able to fend him off.
Her last thoughts shifted to Jace as she winced, readying herself for the pain of the blade that would soon cut across her throat, or the sword that would plunge into her chest. She hoped he’d be able to recover from this. To find the will to move on. There’d been so many things they’d never gotten to experience. So many memories they hadn’t gotten to share. Too many things left unsaid.
“Just get it over with.” Eyes narrowing into a stern glare, Demitria stared her attacker dead in the eyes.
Seven
KELLAN
“What are you?” His blade held firm at her throat.
She lay there, as still as if she’d given up already.
Pathetic.
“Shouldn’t you know that already?” Her words were laced with venom, eyes narrowed like a viper ready to strike. He’d expected more of a fight from someone with the reputation she had. For him to be dispatched, he’d expectedmore.
“Don’t make me ask you again.” His elbow pressed tighter into her throat and she winced as the weight of him nearly crushed her windpipe, cutting off the air she needed to breathe.
Good.
“Your little bitch henchmen seemed to know exactly who I was.” Beneath him she struggled again, but he’d put a stop to it quickly, pressing down even further. The council had been so keen to have her eliminated, yet how quickly the female had fallen.
“Henchmen?”
Her face paled, brows knit as confusion took over her face. “I don’t work with anyone.” Aside from his siblings, but that was a given. He had no followers. Didn’t need them.
“Shit.” The girl shifted once more, face laced with panic as her eyes darted into the darkness. “Shit.” She repeated, her lean body struggling beneath him.
Demitria Collins was their target. The only reason he and his siblings were sent to the god forsaken world. The fact that she’d thought he’d have underlings was alarming.
“Do you know who I am?”
“You’re no different from the other monsters that attacked my home. Why should I know who you are in particular. I don’t give a fuck what your name is.”
Her home?
