Page 68 of Blood and War
“Tell me what you know about Lucifer.” Kellan demanded as his full lips pulled back into a scowl, eyes narrowing on the angel. “Tell me what you know.”
“Very well, Horseman.” With a nod of his head, Arakiel turned golden eyes away from her, focusing on the Horseman. “We’ve been hearing things for months. Rumors. Rumblings about Lucifer’s involvement in the war.” His eyes roved over the bodies around him. “Tracking him and his army, here. He’s been planning this. Waiting. Harvesting souls.” With a sigh, he continued. “In just over a few weeks’ time, when the moon turns red, he’ll make his move.”
“The blood moon.” It left her mouth before she could hold it back. How she even remembered was beyond her. Growing up, her mother had always referenced the red moon, but it didn’t make any sense. Not then, and not now. “When the sun falls to darkness, and the moon fills with blood, the seal will crack and he will come.” Demitria recited the words her mother had spoken time and time again. She could still hear her voice whispering the words as she held her in the rocking chair, smoothing the long, wavy hair down Demitria’s back.
“From the heavens they will fall, and the beasts reign free, Tartarus will soon be free.” Kellan turned to her, his face pale, azure eyes blown wide. “Where did you learn that?”
“I—” She stuttered. “It was this silly little rhyme my mother used to say.” Stumbling backward, she took a step away from him. From all the siblings as each one turned in her direction, their expressions mirroring one another.
“That was something our mothers used to tell us.” Eire took a step toward her, regaining the distance Demitria had put between them. “Why would your mother know that?”
“I don’t…I don’t know. It never meant anything back then, I just—”Whyhad she known it?
“What secrets have you been keeping.” Gabriel’s tone was hard. “That has been around since before our time.”
She didn’t know. Didn’t know anything, it seemed. For so many years, these stories about monsters, winged beings, and creatures from the underworld where nothing more than that. Stories that her parents told at night around the fire. Myths. Legends. How was she to know they were very real?
“The girl knows nothing of our world.” Arakiel waved a hand at the Horsemen. His large wings furled, folding neatly against his back. “Shall we resume?” Those liquid gold eyes roved across them all before settling them back on her. Always back to her. “The blood moon is in two weeks.” He nods. “Lucifer needs to be stopped before that happens.”
“We know of the prophecy.” Despite their reactions, Kellan took a step toward her. “What is he planning?” Kellan asked.
His siblings watched her with unease. “We were always told he would come for Eden, not here.”
Arakiel shook his head. “Lucifer will see you fall. He wants Earth and its resources for his creatures, and the blood moon is when he’s strongest. He’s been collecting souls to gain power, and if he isn’t stopped—If he succeeds, there won't be anything left.” The angel's words stung, and all she could think about was protecting those she loved. “He’ll use that power to bring forth a new empire. To bring Tartarus to Earth.”
Everyone broke out in a frenzy. Lucifer was raising Tartarus. Earth would be doomed. They didn’t stand a chance. Aaron, Lord of the shadow demons had mentioned harvesting souls. Now she knew why. It all made sense.
“We’ve had eyes on him for weeks. He was spotted in those mountains.” The angel on Laylah’s right pointed beyond the canyon, off in the distance. He bore an uncanny resemblance to her. The same high cheekbones, the structured face. It was almost like looking at a mirror image of the two. They had to be related.
Laylah nodded. “Oriel and I have been tracking him.”
Demitria’s brain was in overdrive. Planning. Working something out to get every soul as far away from those monsters as she could. No one was safe in the vicinity. Not with Lucifer so close. “We need to move. Now.” Her boots swiveled in the dirt as she stalked toward the others. Waiting, watching the exchange with curious eyes.
“The humans stay out of this!” Eire was before her, yanking Demitria’s body back before she even managed to walk ten feet away. The force was so hard, it was like running into a wall.
Demitria could feel her anger rising. Blood boiling as the Horseman grabbed her, the grip so tight she could feel her skin burning. Bruising under Eire’s harsh hand.
“They will only get in the way.” Steel gray eyes met hers. Eyes that spoke a thousand words. Hatred. Anger. Even sadness, but the fire in them was what broke through. “Leave them. They deserve their fate.”
The maneuver shocked Eire, and Demitria hadn’t even realized she’d done it until the female lay flat on her back, Demitria’s boot pressed firmly to her chest.
“They are my people.” Eire had pushed her one too many times. “I refuse to leave them in the dark. To let them go on blindly, when such a threat looms overhead. Even bigger than I was led to believe.” Her boot pushed harder, inching slowly toward the Horseman’s throat. “You call yourself a warrior? A Horseman? You’re nothing.” She spat, venom lacing every word. “You don’t want balance. You only do what benefits you, most. You see those mountains? There is an entire community below them. They never asked for this. None of us did. Your kind came down, invadedmyhome. Waged a war against us, when all we wanted was to survive.” She’d never felt like this. The rage. The power behind her voice, it nearly froze her in her tracks, shocking those around her. She continued on. “Those are my people, and we refuse to back down without a fight.” Because they deserved to fight, now more than anything. When it had just been her life in question, she was fine with leaving. But raising an empire? Another war against humankind? Before doing something that she’d immediately regret—like pulling a weapon—Demitria stormed off. Gait faster, chin high as she left the Horseman on the ground.
Eire was too perplexed to move, stormy eyes blown wide. Dumbfounded at the strength Demitria had possessed. “You’ll regret that.” She spoke in no more than a whisper, but her voice held the ferociousness of a predator, gaze trained on the girl's receding figure.
“What happened?” Jace rushed her, sprinting away from the others as he met her halfway, hand held firmly on her forearm. Demitria looked him over. He wouldn’t be happy. This mess so much bigger than they’d ever imagined. Bigger than the both of them, and now he’d gotten caught in the middle of everything. And it was her fault. Again.
He’d made the choice, hadn’t he? Jace had chosen to follow her and the Horsemen since they'd been found. He could havestayed in the cavern, and looked for a community still standing, yet… she hadn’t actually given him much of a choice to begin with. Demitria had just assumed he would come along because she was there.
“Lucifer.” She told him, coming to a stop before the others. Her green-gold eyes met each one as she pulled away from Jace’s iron hold. The twins wouldn’t care. They already looked bored and uninterested in whatever it was that she’d had to say. It didn’t bother her. Not anymore. “He’s been planning this all along. For years, this was his plan.” A warm hand rested on her shoulder. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was Kellan. Could feel his presence cascading around her. That sweet woodsy scent enveloping her. “He’s been collecting souls. Harvesting them to harness their power. He’s been feeding off us!” Her eyes burned, but she wasn’t willing to let the tears fall. “He’s going to raise an empire.” Jace stared at her in shock, face paling at the news. Slowly looking from one Horseman to the next before settling on the Fallen.
“How do you know they’re telling the truth?” Cory stepped forward, taking a stance beside Jace. “How can we trust them?” The question had thrown her off. He was right. How did she know the whole thing wasn’t an ambush? Some sort of trap? They were Fallen, just like Lucifer. Demitria had been so engrossed with the news, so mad, that it hadn’t even crossed her mind that the angels could be lying. But the stupid little rhyme her mother had told her. The fact that the others seemed to know it, too. She knew they weren’t lying, something in her blood resonating with it. With them.
“I know Lucifer.” Kellan’s voice was meek. Whatever he was about to say burdened him. “Worked alongside him for a long time.” He shook his head before dropping his gaze to the ground below. Plagued by a guilt that Demitria couldn’t place. “I know the way his mind works. He wants power. Craves it. It’s thetruth.” She wanted to ask him about his time with the fallen angel. Talk to him about what it was that bothered him so much. Talk to him, and find a way to get him through it.
“And just like that, we’re supposed to believe you?” Tyler had been quiet for so long. He’d barely done so much as glance up at either of them since they’d returned. She noticed he’d been spending an alarming amount of time with the twins, and it unnerved her. “How do we know you haven’t been working for them all along?” He questioned Kellan. Questioned all the Horsemen, accusing them.
“Yes, you are.” She stepped up, planting herself in front of someone she once thought a friend. Someone she had vowed to keep safe so many years ago. Before the twins had corrupted his mind. “He’s on our side.” Demitria dared him to challenge her. Waited for him to make a move, and she’d strike. The hatred had gone on long enough. Determined now to put an end to it. “Anyone else have a problem, you come through me.” There was no more questioning where his loyalties lay. He’d proved himself time and time again. Even against his own siblings, he’d always pickedher. “I’m sick of your accusations. Your opinions.” She scowled at the twins. “This ends now.” Her words final. She wished one of them would step forward. Willing it with every fiber in her body. She should feel ashamed, but she didn’t. Every part of her wanted to end the brothers, but she wouldn’t stoop to their level. Wouldn’t give in to the craving that called out to her blood.
