Page 35 of Blood and War
“I do now.” She motioned toward the door and they left in a hurry. The street had been busier than the morning as people milled about. Kellan was nowhere in sight, and she knew that was more than likely the reason why. She wondered what he’d gotten up to all day in her absence. Had he stayed in the infirmary the entire time? Had he come looking for her?
She told herself she didn’t care. She’d spent the day with the one person in the world she truly loved, and that was the only thing on her mind. The Horsemen could do what he wanted. She would take her last day.Her last day free, because who knew what the hell was in store next. Even Kellan didn’t know anymore.
They reached the tavern in record time, stomachs rumbling in a course of growls with the lack of food. Upon seeing Jace, Mitchell, the man that ran it, had them seated in moments as he waved them toward an empty table in the back of the building. It was never busy enough to be waiting long, but it had been the fastest she’d ever gotten to a table. Her stomach thanked him for it.
She let her eyes wander around the room. At the residents seated all around them, laughing as if they hadn’t had a care in the world as they ate the meal being served, or sipped onwhatever brew Mitchell had chosen to serve. The drink hadn’t been high on their list of needs in Solis, but the man had been brewing before the Ascension as a hobby and thought that little bit of normalcy would boost the spirits of the residents. He’d been right, and since then the little tavern he’d created had patrons every day.
He returned a few minutes later with mugs filled to the brim with ale. Demitria hesitated, knowing she’d need her wits when she left tonight. She pondered it for a few moments, staring at the mug in front of her as she contemplated her next steps.
One wouldn’t hurt.
Demitria and Jace took a swig in unison, the bitter taste of the cold liquid biting at her taste buds. Mitchell brought out two small plates of food. It wasn’t a huge meal, but it was what they had. Root vegetables that Stella had grown in the greenhouse and a thin slice of meat. She didn’t know what it was, and she wouldn’t ask. They must have caught something last night. She swore to the gods, if he was feeding her a rat…
She didn’t eat the meat.
“Are you worried about the attacks?” Her voice hushed, Demitria pushed away the plate. She didn’t want anyone else to hear her question. Better to save them from going into a frenzy just yet.
Jace shook his head. “I think it’s inevitable that an attack will come.” He started, “But knowing that they’re becoming more frequent means we can prepare. Have more of us stationed outside. Arm some of those that are inside.” He shrugged. For what they’d been through he was oddly nonchalant about it all. It worried her, but she was glad to hear him taking the same necessary steps that she would have.
They thanked the owner and left, resuming the walk they’d started before the meal. Jace led their direction, and he turnedleft upon leaving the building, down the street toward her small home.
“Will it even make a difference?” She finally asked, now that they were out of earshot from the others.
“I’d like to think it would.” With a sigh, he looked up toward the stars. Neither one of them wanted to mention her departure. Her leaving meant one less able body to protect the ones who couldn’t fight. But maybe leaving would mean they didn’t have to fight at all.
Jace stopped in front of her door, waiting for her to make the next move. Waiting to be invited in. She couldn’t. Not this time. He’d spent the night with her numerous times in the house. As her safety net. Her best friend. The only family she had left. Demitria wanted nothing more than to spend her final night alongside him, reminiscing about the old days. About life before the Ascension. But her plan was to slip out in the middle of the night when Solis was fast asleep. She knew the guard rotations at the front gate and would only have minutes to get through unnoticed, and having him here would only complicate things more than they already needed to be.
She also didn’t even know how to say goodbye.
“I will be here before sun up. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you leave with him before I get to see you.”
As if realizing that she wouldn’t ask him in, he gave up. Demitria didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t answer. Jace wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, her fingers gripped hard into the fabric of his dark shirt. Unwilling to let him go.
It took every ounce of her self-control not to cry.
“I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
All she could do was nod. He wouldn’t. Reluctantly, he released his hold and took a step back into the street. Demitriastared at him for longer than she should before making her way inside. And when she closed the door, her heart cleaved in two.
She watched through a crack in the window as he stood outside for several minutes, his eyes fixed to the door. It didn’t make it any easier. She let the tears flow freely, releasing the gates that had barely held them back outside. When he finally walked away, the back of her head met the front door before her body slowly slid to the ground in a heap.
Demitria cried until the world was consumed in darkness. She wasn’t going to wait until tomorrow.
Twenty
DEMITRIA
Atlas waited patiently outside as she saddled him in the dark. Nothing moved around them, the cool evening air still, and she was confident that everyone had retired to their homes for the rest of the night.
It was for the best.
They stuck to the dirt paths, making sure to avoid the concrete so the sound of his hooves made no sound. They would only have one shot at this. A few moments were all she had.
They waited in the shadows as the Guardians changed out. One minute, and she counted it down. The second Demitria watched the t’ins' heads disappear around the corner she bolted, Atlas followed behind her on silent steps, as if he knew exactly what was at stake. Heaving with everything in her, she manually maneuvered the large gate, just enough for the both of them to get through. Her arms ached from the force needed, but she shook it off. Mounting swiftly, they shot into the night. Leaving behind the only thing in the world that had kept her grounded for the last ten years.
Demitria was aware of the soft whir of the motor off in the distance. She knew Cory was out patrolling, and between hereyes and the beast beneath her, she was confident of her ability to stay hidden.
Scanning the dark abyss around them, she pushed the mount into a slow canter, holding the edges of the cloak taut around her body until she was certain they were far enough away from Solis.
