Page 33 of Blood and War
“I’m in here!” Stella called. A mop of gray hair popped out from behind a wall, so she entered. Proving her suspicions right, the large wooden table was littered with plants of all different varieties. Herbs, flowers, and an arrangement of seeds. She must have been rearranging and transplanting. “I’ve been preparing these for you.” Stella motioned with an old withered hand toward a pile in the corner and began to expertly wrap them in a dark cloth before handing the bundle over.
“What for?” Demitria asked.
“For your journey.” Her eyes met her own in a sad smile.How did she know?
“What do you?—”
“When you’ve been around as long as I have you pick up on these things.” Stella winked, quick to return back to her work. Pocketing the seeds she’d been given, Demitria watched the woman work for some time.
“I still don’t…” Demitria’s voice carried off.
"It’s best not to question these things.” Stella’s laughter fluttered through the greenhouse, the sound filling her with a profound sadness at the thought of never hearing it again. “An old woman’s mind works in funny ways. Knows many things.”
Demitria toyed with the bundle in her pocket. She may not have had a ton of experience with the agricultural side of Solis, the woman had still taught her many things. Stella’s knowledge on the subject was vast, and she loved watching the older woman work. She herself had spent many hours with her hands in thedirt, following the woman’s instruction. Demitria firmly believed the only reason Solis thrived was because of her.
It wasn’t long before Stella shooed her out the door with a knowing look. Right. She had others that she needed to say goodbye to.
With one last lingering wave, Demitria left through the large greenhouse doors, back into the cool morning air. The sun was higher now, still ascending into the bright sky above. She didn’t let herself linger in front of the doors. It would be harder if she did.
She found herself slowly walking down the street, watching as the town slowly began to come alive. Residents exiting out of the housing building to her left, nodding in her direction once, but never saying a word. She knew their distance was because of the Horseman, but she shook it off anyway. She had her reasons for bringing him, and even if they couldn’t see it, she still didn’t regret that choice.
She found Cory sitting outside the tavern, sipping on some of Stella’s brew.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes this morning.” Waving her over, he shot her a charming grin. She took a seat in the cool iron chair, pushing it up to the table. “You seem awfully busy this morning.”
“Couldn’t sleep.” She lied, shrugging her shoulders. Watching as a few residents entered the building.
“Where’s that friend of yours?” He nearly laughed, but caught himself as her eyes narrowed. Demitria bit her tongue. They weren’t friends. At least… she didn’t think they were, anyway.
“Not sure.” She shrugged, “Probably sleeping.” She highly doubted it, but whatever. Kellan was more than likely planning for the morning somewhere. Whatever he had in mind now she had no idea. She could feel it last night, that change in hisbeliefs. Demitria knew he was still adamant on reuniting with his siblings, but after that? Regardless, he wouldn’t be happy to find her gone tomorrow.
Cory nodded. “I wish you would have stopped in sooner. I’m due for patrol soon.” He sighed, downing the rest of the steaming liquid in the mug he cradled in his hands.
“Oh, okay.” With a sigh she pushed to her feet. She’d been up for over an hour already, and her list was very nearly complete. A list that had been positively pitiful, she’d realized. And clearly hadn’t let nearly enough people in. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing, or just downright depressing.
“See you around?” He called, on his feet and already yards away. Demitria could only nod. She didn’t have it in her to truly lie to him. With one last wave, she watched as the redhead disappeared behind a building.
Alone again.
Demitria wandered aimlessly around the community for a while to kill time. Jace usually had meetings in the mornings, and he was the last on her list. She’d been dreading this one the most. It was why she’d saved him for last, knowing his would be the hardest. Leaving Jace behind would very nearly break her.
After another ten minutes of walking she gave up, making her way toward the large building he’d taken residence in.
It had to have been a small office building at one point, but when they’d founded Solis, Jace had knocked down several walls, creating a fairly open floorplan with a few larger than normal rooms she’d spent far too many nights in. His place had fared better than others around the community. The large wooden front door sat unlocked—as usual—and she casually let herself in. Jace wasn’t one for decorating, and he only displayed a few trinkets from their childhood. A single photograph of their families on a camping trip hung on the wall.
She stared at it for some time. They were smiling. Genuinely smiling. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d been that carefree. They’d hugged each other in close as another camper had snapped the shot. She could see the flames of their fire in the distance. The trees around them were exuberant andgreen. So alive.
Her mother’s eyes were happy. Demitria liked seeing them like that. Happy and so full of life. The image of her burned into her mind was from her very last memory. Her mother broken. Bleeding everywhere. Those once hopeful eyes silenced. Dull.
Gods, she couldn’t look at this anymore. With a deep breath, Demitria tore herself from the photo, begging the tears to withhold their siege.
She let herself into his bedroom. It was much larger than her own. The ever-familiar scent, another one of Stella’s wonderful creations of scented soap, of mint wafting over her. Through her. Closing her eyes, she let her body fall onto the soft mattress. Would she really be able to leave him behind?
She didn’t have a choice.
She was leaving for him. To protect him. The High Council wanted her dead, and by the sounds of it, someone else did too. Being in Solis only put him in danger. Leaving was for the best. It had to be.
Before long, the door shoved open, a weathered looking Jace slowly sauntering in. Dark circles were prominent under his eyes much like when she’d returned. Or maybe they had never left? His skin paler than normal, that soft glow from long hours in the sun had all but vanished. He ran a hand through his hair, a sigh passing through his lips before noticing her on the bed. Despite the fatigue plaguing his features, his eyes lit up at the sight of her.
