Blood and War

Chapter 1

One

DEMITRIA

T en grueling years since the Ascension, and still, everything was burnt to ash. Demitria’s eyes spanned across the barren landscape that surrounded her. Scanning. Scouting ahead for anything out of place. Everywhere she looked was desolate. Lifeless. The charred remains off in the distance the only inclination that life had once been abundant here. Ten years since the world had become a living hell. Life never got easier .

She scanned again. Waiting. Always waiting for something to attack, but like this, without anywhere for them to use as cover and hide, it made her job that bit easier. Nothing, not even the creatures from the damned Underworld itself could get past her eyes in the clear conditions. It was a small reprieve, but one she was grateful for nonetheless. The earth beneath her boots was nothing more than dirt and the burnt remains of what life had once been. A constant reminder that everything she had once longed for now lay dead at her feet in a crushing heap.

“It’s clear.” Demitria’s body twisted swiftly around in the supple leather saddle, holding the beast underneath steady as she called back to her companion waiting behind. The loud hum of the motor from his bike increased as he neared. She sat silently as he caught up to her, wind blowing a crisp breeze, catching a lock of dark hair that had escaped the braid she’d quickly trapped it in hours before. Righting herself in the saddle, Demitria scanned once more to be sure. There was nowhere for the creatures to hide, but it never stopped them from coming. Nothing had moved, but she held her breath anyway.

Never let your guard down, no matter how safe you think you are. Do so, and you die.

Jace’s words from long ago echoed through her mind. He’d drilled those words into her, time and time again. Never to forget. A constant reminder of just how much things had changed.

“It doesn’t look like we were followed.” The whir of the motor quieted as he pulled up beside her. Jace rested his feet on the ground to keep the bike steady. “We’re clear to move ahead.”

With a nod, Demitria nudged the horse beneath her forward. The beast just as alert as she was swiveled his ears back and forth, always listening for anything Demitria’s eyes may have missed.

Up ahead, the traders’ large building came into view. She searched for anything out of place. When nothing moved, Demitria came to a halt a few feet from the entrance and Jace followed her lead. Freeing her feet from the stirrups, Demitria swung her leg behind her before her feet touched softly to the ground. She tied the worn braided reins in a loose loop around the hitching post in front of the door. Jace was already steadying his bike beside them.

The patchworked building had been constructed from fragments of timber and massive pieces of scrap metal. Anything that could be salvaged from the wreckage of the once prosperous cities that surrounded the area. None of the structures were much to look at, but they provided shelter and that was more than any of them could ask for.

Tall heavy metal doors sat open, beckoning them inside. She knew from years of coming here that the tin roof had been scavenged from some rubble pile miles away, the mismatched sheets torn and gouged in places that let in sunlight on the nicer days, but nearly flooded the place during a heavy rain.

“Let me do the talking today.” Jace looked down at her, eyes narrowing. She knew her place.

Stay still and keep your mouth shut .

It was the usual routine whenever she’d had the chance to accompany him on these outings.

“Whatever you say, Jace.” The corners of her lips curved up into a wicked grin. It wasn’t like she intentionally screwed these things up. Her mouth just tended to get the better of her at times. “I’ll do my best.”

“I knew I should have brought someone else.” Shaking his head, Jace let out a loud sigh as he fiddled with something in his jacket pocket. He hadn’t mentioned anything about the item they would use as trade, but it seemed small in comparison to what they were after.

“You and I both know you don’t mean that.” Her laughter was infectious, and soon his own soft chuckle echoed inside the building, signaling their arrival.

For weeks now, trading days had proved to be chaotic as neighboring communities became frantic for supplies, making hard to acquire items even more scarce. Demitria knew that the other settlements in the area had been running out for some time now, they all were. It would only be a matter of time before there was absolutely nothing left. She never asked how they came into their stock. Didn’t want to know for that matter. So long as her people had the supplies they needed, she didn’t care.

Demitria quietly fell into step beside Jace, hand subtly resting atop the pommel of a blade she’d concealed beneath the dark fabric of the cloak billowing around her. Jace had no weapons hidden within the confines of his worn jacket, the deep brown of the leather faded in spots from years of wear.

“By the gods, I swear if you pull that thing out again today, Demi…” With a shake of his head, Jace raked a hand through his wheat-blond hair as he let loose another sigh. She didn’t say a word, but followed behind as they entered.

The same rules no longer applied, she reminded herself. There was no honor system, no safety in those walls anymore. Bad people took the things they wanted, whenever they wanted. And they didn’t care if they had to kill to get it. She wasn’t about to let Jace get attacked over supplies. The blade was needed, despite his protests every single time she’d brought it. Jace believed that making a show of weapons set a certain tone about them, but she wasn’t so sure that was a bad thing. Demitria thanked the gods she had never needed to use it here. Yet. She let her hand fall back loosely against her side.

The building was dimly lit with large candles placed precariously along the unpainted walls, the flames flickering as the breeze crept inside from the cracked front doors. At the counter, an oil lamp lit the counter area in a warm glow.

She counted five men with the clerk, each one older than her and Jace by many years. Each one with varying shades of gray peppered throughout their once dark hair. She recognized one of them, Augustus, the leader of Valencia, one of the largest communities around. Demitria found her hand hovering back toward the weapon at her hip, feeling the pommel warm in her hand. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone else in the building with the clerk. It was their time to trade.

“How nice of you to finally join us.”

The clerk narrowed his gaze, blue eyes fixed on them as they walked further in. Demitria’s grip tightened around the weapon as they stopped before the large counter in the center of the room. The man had been kind to them in all their encounters prior. Most times, anyway.

“We’re early.” Jace’s voice was loud, firm as he rested a strong hand on Demitria’s wrist.

She released the sword, only slightly, still feeling the edge of the blade at her fingertips. They had arrived earlier than their meeting had entailed, much earlier in fact, to avoid any overlap of time slots should their trades take longer. Jace pulled out the item he’d been toying with from his pocket. Her eyes caught on the intricately carved pocket watch that she’d recognize in a heartbeat. It had been his father’s, gifted to Jace on his last birthday, spent all together so many years ago. The engraving of his father’s name had been rubbed smooth in spots along the underside, his fingers always grazing across the cool metal as it lived in the pocket of his coat. She’d never seen him without it. Another constant reminder of what once was. Had he really come here to try and trade it today? One of the only pieces of his family he’d had left? She wouldn’t let him.

“Quite early, in fact.” Jace added.

“I can’t promise your resources will be available.” The clerk set his hands on the counter before clenching them into tight fists. Eyes roaming over the others before him.

And so, it begins.

She’d heard about other communities paying off a clerk to help with sales. Offering them goods or services to raise prices and greatly upping the revenue for both. It surprised her as this particular clerk had never done so in the past. The traders had their fair share of scum, but this was a new one. Their luck was due to run out at some point though, and today seemed to be that day.

The air left Jace’s lips in a rush as he stopped before the men. “We’re here for the medical supplies we were promised two weeks ago, nothing more.”

“So is everyone else, get in line.” To their left, what looked to be the oldest of the men, Augustus, chimed in. The corners of his eyes creased with age, lips set in a tight scowl as he gave them both a once over.

Demitria knew the type. They were the youngest there, and these men would use that to their advantage.

“My people are suffering. This is no place for petty teenagers to get their fix.” Augustus said. He carried himself with an air of importance that made Demitria’s blade hand twitch.

“Surely you aren’t that stupid.” Demitria couldn’t help as the words quietly slipped from her mouth. They hadn’t met often, but enough times that he knew exactly who they were. Knew they had a community to look after. Jace’s hard stare stopped her before she could say anything else.

“These are hard times, and the merchandise is in high demand.” The man standing within arm’s reach directly to her right piped up. “As if it wasn’t already.”

“I have what you’re looking for, but not for the price I know you’re willing to pay. Not anymore.” The clerk sighed, shaking his head.

Pain medicine, bandages, antibiotics. Demitria watched as the clerk set a small amount on top of the table. It was significantly less than last time, and she knew they’d ordered double—triple the amount to be here today, had stood beside Jace as he’d bartered for it.

“What’ll you do?”

“That’s not what we agreed upon.” Jace’s voice rose to meet the clerks. He would stand his ground for his people, unwilling to back down. They needed the supplies, no matter what it cost them.

“The recent attacks have sent everyone into a frenzy. What makes you think you get special treatment, boy?” Augustus snapped, his deep voice harsh.

“What do you mean attacks?” They’d all been suffering from various attacks since the Ascension. That was why they were in this mess in the first place, but it was the first she’d heard about anything new. Their community hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary, and due to their small numbers, they were usually one of the first ones hit during a raid. “What kind of attacks are we talking about?”

“Andorra, Serenity, and Ashton were all hit this week.”

The blood in her veins grew cold, turning to ice as her stomach tumbled to the floor. The clerk watched them with a sharp gaze, brow raised as her face paled, knowing Jace’s expression must have mirrored her own.

“A whole pack of demons. There’s hardly anything left.”

The bile rose to the back of her throat. Aside from Valencia, they had been three of the biggest communities. Just… gone.

“Those that survived came here, bought up most of my supplies. They need it more than the lot of you. This is all I got left.” The clerk held his arms out toward the product, showcasing that what was on the counter was all he had.

“How much?” through clenched teeth, Jace’s voice was quiet. “What do you need?”

“Who says it’s yours?” Augustus chirped. “We deserve it just as much as you, if not more.”

She clenched the hilt in her hands, fingers aching against the metal. “The influx of attacks isn’t something to take lightly. If we’re on their path, we need them.” Demitria said.

Jace ran a hand through his hair once more. Something she’d often caught him doing in an agitated state. “Our community cannot go without. My people need their supplies just as much as everyone else.”

The mention of the demon attacks had pulled her from the current situation, scattering her thoughts. She knew they needed the supplies, but the attacks took precedence. While the attacks had been common, this was too frequent. Too severe. Three communities obliterated in two weeks was terrifying. Horrific.

The men in the room were silent as they exchanged tensed glances. No one wanting to make the first move. Despite it being their time to trade, another community leader, Augustus, had shown up. And while she may not have cared enough to know who the others were, she could only guess they held similar positions. They were no longer playing fair. They now had to play the game their way, bidding for supplies.

She’d accompanied Jace for backup, but after ten minutes, Demitria lost track of the back-and-forth banter between the men around her. It could have easily been longer, but she needed to take a breath, her head spinning as the men argued over one another. She was useless during a trade, her demeanor too hostile to gain any favors.

The outside hadn’t changed since they’d gone in, and she made sure to walk just far enough out that she could still keep a watch on Jace, keeping him in her peripheral should anything go wrong. None of them seemed to be carrying any sort of weapon, and Jace was more than capable of taking care of himself, but she worried nonetheless. She inhaled a large breath, the breeze still crisp as it nipped her face despite the sun glaring high in the sky. It was early spring, but the landscape around them said otherwise. It had been years since the world was covered in an array of lush green foliage. She couldn’t remember what grass felt like beneath her bare feet. Only the cool dirt beneath her boots remained. Another thing the creatures had taken from her. From them all. Everywhere they went they left death in their wake.

Filling her lungs with one last cool breath, she returned to Jace.

In the dimly lit room Jace was rummaging through his pack before clipping the bag closed. He still hadn’t mentioned what he’d be trading for the supplies, and she wondered what it was he’d just given up. The medical supplies still sat on the counter and she didn’t know if they’d gotten what they came for. His eyes met hers for a brief moment where she caught the slight nod of his head, the only inclination that they’d succeeded. She didn’t let herself smile. If they truly did get the supplies, that meant several communities now went without them. She never wanted to take away from anyone, despite knowing it was going to happen no matter what, knowing they didn’t have a choice.

“What do you want for the horse?”

The question caught her off guard, and she stared at Augustus, dumbfounded. Her lips thinned to a straight line. Had she heard him right?

“He’d sure feed a lot of my people.”

“He’s not for sale.” The words left her mouth in a rush as she shoved the hood on her cloak back, chin raised as she stared down the man before her despite their height difference. Feed his people? The thought made her sick. She was horrified that someone had even entertained the thought of eating him. Demitria’s gaze traveled up and down the older man. Waiting for the fight. Willing it to come. Augustus outweighed her by more than fifty pounds, but with her skill the take down would be easy.

His weathered eyes narrowed into a glare at her reaction before focusing his attention to Jace standing beside her. “Name your price. My people need their food.” He demanded, refusing to acknowledge the answer she’d already given him.

Demitria’s eyes roved to the clerk standing quietly behind the table. He’d known about the horse. Had seen her with him for years since she and Jace had been trading. He knew exactly what the horse meant to her, but watched anyway, brow raised in a curious look.

“I said he isn’t for sale.” She growled, her hand tightening so hard around the hilt of the sword her knuckles were white. The smooth metal warmed in her palm as the blood within her veins boiled. A rage built inside of her, ready to explode, when a strong hand upended her by the back of her cloak. In an attempt to regain her balance, her legs buckled at the knees. She fought to stay upright, unwilling to tumble down to the dusty floor. She would have hit Jace had he not caught her off guard.

“Enough, Demitria!” He bellowed. “Go wait outside with Atlas. I’ll finish this on my own.” His tone harsh, angry.

She could see that fire swirling within his gaze as he stared her down. It would be a useless battle to try and argue with him, that much she knew. Jace being angry with her was almost unheard of, the fact that he’d so openly looked ready to tear her to pieces was a telltale sign she needed to leave. Now.

“Fine.” Her eyes found their way to Augustus one last time, the warning in them clear before she began her retreat outside.

“It’s time for the adults to do their business.” Augustus quipped. The audible groan from Jace was the last thing she heard before her body turned back of its own accord, shutting out the room around them as she homed in on the man before her.

To hell with being complacent, and fuck letting it go.

Demitria swung. Her fist arched through the air in one rapid, glorious movement and connected with the older man’s jaw. Augustus stumbled backward into the counter as he nearly took out the rest of the men behind him when he fell. With glazed eyes, his body ricocheted from the wooden counter to the floor, blood dripping from his nose in a swift current, mixing with the dirt floor beneath him.

She didn’t stay to utter threats. Her movement fluid as she left, despite the anger that still roiled within. She had felt some release with the punch, but gods she was so ready to just lose herself to it. To let that rage take hold of her body and let it do with her as it willed.

Outside, Atlas stood patiently, waiting for their return. Dark ears flickered in Demitria’s direction, and his low nicker reverberated through her chest. A smile spread across her lips at the sound.

“Hi there, boy.” Holding out a hand, the horse nuzzled into her palm, letting out a long sigh of content. “I wasn’t gone that long.” Chuckling, she couldn’t help running her fingers down the soft fur of his muscled, sleek black neck. Atlas inhaled deeply before letting out another sigh as he attempted to nuzzle into her cloak. Each stroke of her hand brought wave after wave of calmness that tangled with her rage. Satiating it for the time being. A side the beast always seemed to bring out in her. They’d been inseparable for years now, owing each other their lives.

In the earlier days of their war forsaken planet, their community had been ravaged by a creature out for blood. An angel, so consumed with rage, had annihilated anything and everything in his path. Tearing through the homes of their community, tossing aside the Guardians like they were nothing more than fallen leaves on the wind. Demitria had been prepared to stand her ground in those moments. Prepared to lay down her life for those that couldn’t fight. In the end she’d stood alone, the others too injured to be of any use. But she fought back.

The kill had been something she never enjoyed. The smell of blood, or the sound of flesh being cleaved in two. It made her sick to her stomach. Even after years of bloodshed it never got easier, but the need to protect those she loved was too much. The need to protect Jace was what had been her driving force for so many years.

Demitria’s hands found the silver scars along Atlas’s back. The angel had flown in on a magnificent dark horse with wings that looked as if they’d been carved from obsidian. The creature had been injured in the crossfires of the battle and rendered useless. With his wings broken, the horse had been discarded by its master. Abandoned and left for dead.

Demitria had tried to end his suffering once the battle had been over, but looking into the creature’s deep brown eyes, she’d wavered, the blade falling from her hands and clattering to the ground at her feet. After so much killing… to take another life...

Despite the harsh comments from the other residents on housing—caring for one of the creatures, it had taken her months to slowly nurse him back to health. She’d spent excruciatingly long nights changing and washing bandages from scraps of fabric that she’d managed to get her hands on, and applying salves made from yarrow, one of the only plants she’d been readily able to find and that Stella, their community’s “healer,” had shown her how to make, to ward off the infection that threatened to settle in. His wings had been beyond repair, but he wasn’t broken. Others thought differently of the choice she’d made, but none of that had mattered to her. Atlas hadn’t left her side since.

Jace rounded the corner, reaching her in three large steps. “Get on the horse and go. Now.” He growled, eyes narrowed as his lips held in a thin line. “One job Demitria. One fucking job…”

Demitria met his glare, not wavered by his anger. “Don’t start with me, Jace.” What had he expected? She knew the punch had probably been a tad overboard, but she was not about to tuck tail and let Atlas go for food. Like hell she’d let that happen.

“You can’t go around threatening people with your sword, or punching them whenever you’re angry, Demitria. Especially a leader with a community as large as his.” He scolded, gripping the bridge of his nose before he quickly secured the pack around him. Jace drove his point across, as if hoping that she’d understand the ramifications of her actions. Demitria knew what she’d done was wrong, she just didn’t care. She’d fight for the things she cared about, regardless of the consequences on her or anyone else.

“You know he didn’t give a shit about what I had to say. I was communicating my feelings in the only way he seemed to understand.” She could feel the corners of her mouth tugging up into a grin. Untying the reins, she tossed them back over the horse’s head before easily swinging her foot into the stirrup and mounting.

“Are you mad?” Jace exclaimed. “We’ll be lucky if they don’t tear down our entire community. You could have started a war!” His hand raked through his hair once more. “You should have at least listened to what he had to say!”

“Excuse me?” Had Jace not seen an issue with the man demanding they sell Atlas? As food, nonetheless! “He is not yours to take from me. He’s one of the only things I have left.” Gods, she could feel the prick of tears in the corner of her eyes. Crying was something she hadn’t planned to do. It most certainly was not the first time Jace had seen her cry, but she sure as hell didn’t like when it happened.

Weakness. That was what crying was, and weakness got you killed. After everything they’d been through, she couldn’t afford to show it. To feel it. Not again. Pulling the hood over her head she nudged Atlas forward, away from her companion.

“That’s not what I meant, and you know that!” His voice carried easily over the whir of the motor as he kicked it started, pushing the throttle down as it jolted forward in a burst of speed. He met the horse’s gait easily. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m going home.” With another soft nudge Atlas exploded beneath her. His powerful legs thundering across the ground as they made their way back to the community. Jace would catch up within minutes, he always did. Atlas was running, but not nearly as fast as she knew he could. They were still too far away from home to not be in pairs. It was too dangerous to be out so far alone, and she wasn’t stupid. Mad yes, but that didn’t matter out here. Leaving anyone alone would be a death sentence, and Jace was the one person she couldn’t bear to ever lose.

Demitria could be many things. Angry. Sarcastic, even brash. But cruel was not one of them. Even in a petty rage.