Page 69 of Blood and War
“When did you decide to take over?” Sam finally questioned. The uneasiness on his face was clear. Unsure if he should be interrogating her or not.
“I don’t remember voting you in.” Will snapped, not as easily convinced as his brother. His eyes narrowed, brows furrowed.
“By all means, feel free to step up.” She smirked. There was a time when she’d let their words run her life. Feedingoff them. Letting them affect her to no end. Those days were gone. Something in her had snapped the night she’d found the community in flames. Neither one stepped up. “That’s what I thought.” She glanced around at the others. Waiting.
“I stand behind you.” Jace shot her a smile. “Always.” She could see the relief in his eyes. His position had burdened him for so long, and she knew it all too well. Jace hated being in charge of the community, and had voiced it many times before. He didn’t need to think twice before stepping down. Wouldn’t fight it.
“I’m with you.” Cory nodded, his expression mirroring the man beside him. It meant everything to her, having the both of them back her up. Their opinions meant the world. To see them stand behind her, no questions asked, was all she could have asked for.
“Me too.” Evan inclined his head toward her.
She looked again at the twins. At Tyler, who seemed to be standing even closer to them, but neither met her piercing gaze, their eyes trained to the dirt at their feet.
“So, it’s decided then?” Arakiel and his angels had been quiet. Watching the exchange in silence. His face held the thin lines of a knowing grin as he looked at her. Demitria wanted to know the thoughts swarming through his mind. He’d been staring at her with an expression she couldn’t quite figure out. Hope? She nearly scoffed at the thought. He held some form of knowledge. Both he and his group knew something that the others did not, and she was determined to figure it out.
Forty
DEMITRIA
For days they traveled toward the looming mountain beyond the canyon. Haunting each and every one of them with what could very well come to pass. Would they even be able to stop Lucifer? The way Kellan had spoken about his time with the Dark King scared Demitria more than anything. Her being nervous was one thing, but him? The Horseman, War? That was something else entirely.
They passed nothing during their journey. No life along the way. Lucifer’s army seeming to have decimated every community in their wake, beating them to every ounce of life that had been in their path. Demitria could tell that it bothered the others, Jace especially. Having lived through demon destruction once, seeing place after place burned to the ground was igniting a rage in him that she’d never seen until then. His once fluid movements now harsh, his stature hardened. Every time he spoke his answers were short. Never once had she seen him so tense. So filled with a rage, akin to the one she’d harbored. Gone were his carefree ways, and the simple smile he’d been known for around Solis.
For so many years they had hated all of their kind. Angels and demons alike. But things had changed since the Horsemen had come around—for her anyway.
Jace hadn’t bore witness to the gentle side of Kellan. The side that, despite every bone in her body telling her otherwise, she’d been drawn to inexplicably. Ensnared in a web that she couldn’t get out of. She wasn’t so sure she even wanted to anymore.
She still hadn’t been able to bring herself to tell Jace everything about Reim. About how she’d been captured and tortured to the brink of death by him, and other demons like him. By a Demon Lord. She couldn’t suppress the shudder that took hold. A wound still too fresh.She wouldn’t tell him.
“Are you alright?” Kellan rode beside her, close enough to rest a warm hand on her thigh. “You’ve been quiet all morning.” She honed in on that hand. The muscle beneath that touch. It nearly sent a shudder through her. After the way he’d held her in the mist she couldn’t get the thought of him out of her mind. The way he’d soothed her. Caressed her.
Fuck.
Demitria hadn’t been able to get the thoughts out of her head. Not since that early morning at the cavern, in fact. Filthy thoughts that she’d had no place to be thinking. Not now. Not when what loomed ahead. Maybe when they had a promise of another day. When a battle wasn’t days away.
If they made it out alive, she’d do more than just thinking those thoughts.
“Just thinking.” She replied, begging the heat in her body to simmer. It cooled considerably as she thought about the Dark King. “About everything. Reim… Lucifer.”
“That demon filth has paid for what he’s done. Don’t give him any more satisfaction by paying heed to what he’s done.” Kellan’s eyes were dark as he spoke, the topic striking a chord in him.
“It’s Lucifer.” She sighed. “I’m scared.” It was hard for her to admit it, and he respected her that much more for it.
“You have nothing to fear.” His smile was genuine. Kellan squeezed the leg his hand had still been resting on, driving his words true. “I will not let anything harm you.”
She believed him. Gods, did she ever.
They’d nearly reached the expanse of the mountain, now. The canyon days behind them as they rode for hours on end. Some of the angels went ahead to scout, only coming back the night before with word of a large homestead. They’d decided, as a group, to travel there. To take up residence before they made the trek to Lucifer.
She saw the large chain-link fence surrounding the land, first. Then the massive expanse of the house, with several outbuildings further back. An estate of some sorts it seemed, from many years ago. A winding, overgrown gravel road led toward the home. And from what they could see, it was mostly intact. From a time when wealth was power, and people collected more than they needed. Living in luxury, and owning lands the size of a small town. It could have been that, a community to many people. And yet… the estate lay barren. Overrun. As the mountain range drew closer with each passing hour, it was time to plan. To strategize how they’d kill Lucifer, and end the war that threatened their entire world.
A large stone and iron gate loomed overhead, nearly eight feet tall. She and Kellan spent nearly twenty minutes inspecting it, and found it to be in surprisingly good shape. A welcoming barrier from the demons she knew would be prowling the area. The yard was overgrown with weeds and bare trees. Not burnt. Possibly evenalive. She couldn’t let herself get excited at the possibility. Dry grass as high as her waist sprouted in places while muddy vines climbed their way over the brick and woodsiding of the massive house, eating its way through it like a disease.
Eire and Kane peeled off from the group to scout. Arakiel and his angels took to the skies for an overhead view while Kellan and Gabriel waited with the others. Watching should anything come after them.
“The house is empty.” Gabriel spoke. “Has been for some time.” Demitria knew he had abilities far greater than anyone here. It was why he’d been the unspoken leader of the Horsemen.
“We go inside.” Kellan nodded, motioning for Demitria to follow behind him. She did, the others followed suit in a tight line.
