Blood and War

Chapter 6

Six

DEMITRIA

A ll hell broke loose.

It had been expected, given the circumstances. After the outright threat from the demon, it was only a matter of time before panic ensued. As Demitria made her way through the streets she could hear the whispers around her. Several residents stood together outside the largest of the two housing complexes in Solis. More than half their people resided inside the rundown building, and she spied several of the families huddled around one another. As she neared, their voices quieted. She could feel each set of eyes on her as she passed. Could hear the wavering in their voices as word of the demon floated through the air. She could still smell the burning flesh of its corpse from this far back, and knew the others did too. They were no stranger to the putrid smell, and it heightened the panic that much more.

“Everything is going to be okay.” She tried to reassure them, but they did no more than look at her before disappearing into the building. To talk out of earshot, no doubt.

Demitria let out a heavy sigh, tilting her head back and letting the breath rush from her lungs for a brief moment before resuming her walk to another building midway through Solis.

Jace gathered the Guardians for a meeting to discuss their next course of action, how to move forward with their everyday life. The community was attacked before, but this seemed different. Every single one of them felt it, like a change in the air that gripped them by the throats. Despite wanting to believe that the demon’s threats were nothing but empty, Demitria had a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that refused to subside, roiling around and around as it grew.

Each of the Guardians filed into the room they’d chosen as headquarters. Like everything else around them, it wasn’t much, and truly only served the purpose of these meetings. On the smaller side, scuffed beige paint lined the walls as cracking white tiles lie beneath their feet. In the center of the room sat a large wooden table for them to sit around, fashioned from the wooden doors of a long-forgotten building that Evan had built for them a few years back. The paint peeled up in spots, exposing the red wood beneath.

Jace stood at the front of the table, one hand clenched tight into a fist as the other held firm on the bridge of his nose. She tried to smile at him as she passed, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She slipped into the empty seat beside him without a word. Cory slid in beside her, tapping his foot against the leg of the table in a nervous gesture. The twins exchanged a glance before sitting across from them. Braun, Tyler and Pieter seated themselves in the remainder of the seats. Each of their features held in a grim line.

The tension was high, each one of them refusing to be the first to talk. No one knew what came next. Did they take extra precautions? Carry on like normal?

“I know right now everyone is worried.” Jace started, meeting the gaze of each of the Guardians around the table. She could hear his own worry as his voice wavered for a moment before pushing it down. He refused to sit down, his hands now flat against the table as he leaned his weight into the surface.

Sam snickered in his seat, and it took every ounce of restraint Demitria possessed to not bark at him to shut the hell up and listen.

“Understatement of the year.” Will quipped from beside his brother.

“We are the only defense for the people here. This won’t be the first attack we’ve faced, and we are still standing.” Jace narrowed his gaze at the brothers with a pointed look.

“What about Andorra?” Will responded. “They were nearly wiped out and they’re twice the size we are, have at least double the Guardians.”

As much as she hated to admit it, Will was right. Andorra, Serenity, and Ashton were massive in comparison, and they’d been nearly annihilated. If they were up against whatever it was that had attacked Andorra, they didn’t stand a chance.

“We don’t even know if the threat is real.” Cory piped up in Jace’s defense. Always the voice of reason. “Even if it is, we don’t know that we would be facing the same threat as the others.”

“So we train the others. Anyone that can fight, we train.” Demitria said, her eyes fixed on Jace, “Put weapons in their hands, and make them fight. Even if the threat isn’t real, we train them anyway as backup.”

Jace smiled down at her from where he stood, nodding his head. “I think between all of us, we can figure out a training regimen. Put out a call to all the able bodies?—”

“Like hell they would,” From across the table, Demitria watched as Sam rolled his eyes, his muscled arms crossed over his chest. That same disinterested look clear as day painted on his face. “We all know not a single one of them will fight. That’s what we’re for. To bear the brunt of it all. To keep this town going.”

“How little faith you have in humanity.” Narrowing her eyes, Demitria glared at him. At Will too for good measure. “Faced with annihilation, you’d be surprised what people are capable of.” She’d been down that road before. Knew firsthand what it felt like to be front row to your own death sentence. She’d lived it too many times to count, and each time it made her stronger. Fight harder to survive .

“Since you’re so keen to push aside everything that bitch said, are we going to talk about the fact that she called her out?” Braun had never said much during the meetings, but when he did it was usually an opinion most didn’t want to hear. “The demon knew her.”

“What are you trying to say, I’m one of them?” Demitria challenged, pivoting so easily from the topic before.

She’d tried to like Braun, truly. But his allegiance had always tended to fall with the twins, which was something she just couldn’t get behind.

“Who’s to say you aren’t?” Sam added, siding with the older man. “They took everything from me, and you dare say I’m one of them?” Demitria poured her focus into the unyielding grip she’d had on the table, knuckles turning white. It was the only thing she could do to not hit the stupid look on his face.

“Demitria is not one of them. This conversation ends now.” Jace commanded, his voice echoing throughout the room as his fist thumped down loudly on the table. He was good at that, commanding those around him, getting their attention when it tended to stray from the topic at hand. That was why he did so well as Solis’ leader.

“She may not be one of them, but we don’t know that she isn’t working for them.” Sam moved closer to the table, his arms clenched tight over his chest as he glared across the table at her, his mouth still curved up in that saccharine smile she hated so much.

She was seething under it. Her blood near boiling at the accusations he’d tossed out.

“How dare you.” She could be mean. Hell, she could be a monster if she so chose. She would use her own two hands to tear that fucking smirk off his face, but she reined her anger in. Sealing it within that ironclad wall where too many of her emotions went to die.

Across the table, Tyler sat stark still in the wooden chair. Refusing to meet the eyes of anyone in the room as his eyes darted around the small space, looking anywhere but at them. Demitria stole a glance, watching as he fiddled with his fingers. Gently drumming them along the table. He had something on his mind. Something that they sure as shit did not want to hear, she was sure. Waiting for the opportunity to interject. “Whose patrolling?” He whispered. Tyler may have intended to keep his voice quiet, but they’d all heard it as if he’d screamed it.

The room fell silent once more. No one wanted to patrol on a good day. It was dangerous and tiresome as you patrolled the outskirts of the wall alone. Beginning in the early hours of the morning and not ending until the sun rose the next day. Solis wasn’t big enough to station more than one Guardian outside, and together, they’d decided it better to have most bodies inside as the last defense. It’d do no good if they lost their numbers beyond the wall, before something even reached the community.

“Thanks for volunteering.” Sam said as he and his brother both sported matching looks, their lips turning up in a wicked grin as they stared Tyler down. How easy they must think this works. She felt bad for Tyler. The youngest out of all of them around the table, he trended on the quieter side. It made him an easy target for the twins, when it wasn’t her, anyway. Yet somehow, he’d still seemingly fallen into their grasp. Following along with whatever heinous thing they decided to do next.

“I didn’t volunteer.” Tyler’s eyes never left the floor, too uncomfortable to even look at the others after the question he’d posed.

“We’re not sending him out there.” Demitria drew the line at that. At fifteen, he was only five years younger than she was, and she couldn’t send a kid out there, alone, when he seemed afraid of his own shadow since the demon’s ultimatum. His parents would never forgive Jace if anything happened to him. She wouldn’t forgive herself, either. She owed that family far too much after Callum, the Guardian death on her watch a few years ago. Callum was a relative of Tyler’s they’d taken in during the early years of the Ascension after his own parents had died, and he’d quickly volunteered to be a Guardian upon his arrival to Solis. He hadn’t been much older than she was when he’d died. She still blamed herself for it every day, and she’d be damned if another member of that family died on her watch.

“Like you have any say in this.” Braun shot a warning look in her direction. He leaned back in his chair as it creaked in protest. She could feel the fire behind it, but refused to cower and back down like he wanted. She bowed for no one.

“You never even go out there.” He hissed, venom dripping from his voice as he made his true feelings known. “They seem to want you anyway. I say Demitria is patrolling.”

“Agreed!” Sam and Will shout in unison.

“NO!” Jace’s voice reverberated off the walls around them.

She could tell when Jace had hit his breaking point, shouting being the most obvious sign. He’d far surpassed that.

“She is not going out there!” He rounded the table in mere steps, hovering over the twins as he spoke, voice harsh. The favoritism he showed toward her was blatantly obvious, and Demitria knew they resented her for it. That was why Tyler wouldn’t look her in the eyes when he’d spoken. She was sure of it.

“What if it makes the difference in us being attacked? Her going out?—”

“I said no.” Jace didn’t give Braun the chance to finish.

“I just don’t understand why she never goes on duty beyond the wall when the rest of us do.” Will challenged. He was aware of the family history between her and Jace. They all were. It shouldn’t have changed anything with her duties, but it had. Despite handing her a weapon and being the one to help her train, Jace had begged her not to commit to the roll of Guardian when he’d founded Solis. He’d wanted her to be able to defend herself, but nothing more. But she wasn’t able to sit back and not help. Not again.

“Because I said so! End of story.” His voice had escalated to the point of yelling, and she flinched at its intensity. It was hard to get his temper going like they had, but when you did… you needed to steer clear. Jace’s reason was pitiful, and laughter burst from the twins at the audacity.

She’d heard enough. “Oh, for crying out loud.” Throwing her hands in the air, the chair she’d been sitting on tipped backward and fell with a loud thud along the tile as she stood, turning toward the door in a rush. Fastening the cloak around her neck once more, hood pulled up over her head. “I’ll do the damn patrol.” Turning the knob, Demitria left. Already tightening the belt at her waist to better position her sword.

Atlas had been silently napping near the greenhouse, but at the sound of her footsteps had quickly roused, trotting over with a soft nicker. “Time to go, boy.” He closed his eyes, letting out a loud sigh as she scratched his forehead. It was always a favorite spot for him. “Come on.” Patting his neck, he followed her down the short path toward their home. His bridle hung outside on a hook at the blue painted front door, and it took only moments to get him ready as she slipped the leather over his head, feeding the bit into his mouth. When she did patrol, Demitria preferred to leave his saddle behind. It was easier to be conspicuous at night. Hoping he’d blend in, as if nothing more than a horse that had been left wild.

Heaving her body onto his back, they started toward the gate. Atlas already knowing their destination without needing direction.

She’d reached the gate by the time the others came rushing out after her. Whether they’d been too stunned or were fighting amongst themselves she didn’t know. Didn’t care, really. Jace was sprinting toward the gate after her, his eyes wild with a fear she felt in her chest. Cory walked behind him, his pace brisk as he caught up. None of the others dared to come forward. The twins took one look at her, and without so much as a wave, disappeared down the street toward the back of the community. Tyler gave her a sheepish nod before following behind them. She turned away before she could see Braun or Pieter.

“You aren’t going.” Jace’s hand was firm on the sword hanging by her thigh, refusing to let go. Like that alone would keep her grounded. Like his hand was the only thing she needed to stay. “I’m doing patrol.”

“Let go of me.” She demanded. Jace had it completely wrong. Like hell she’d let him go out those gates after everything. “You’re not going out there, Jace. I am.” Demitria knew he wouldn’t want to hear what she was about to say, but he needed to hear it. They all did. “You are somebody that we absolutely cannot lose. Look around you.” A few of the residents had left the housing complex and stood back from the gate, surely roused by the arguing they’d no doubt heard minutes earlier. Motioning to the others and the community, she continued. “You keep this place going. You give this community something to live for. We’re better off losing someone like me, not you.” Her gaze on him never wavered. Piercing.

“I can’t lose you.” He responded, hand slowly leaving the sword and resting on her leg. The other tightened around the bridle, clenching so hard she could see the blood draining from his fingers. “You’re all I have left.”

“It’s one shift. I’ll be ok.” She rested her own hand atop his, hoping the warmth from it was enough for him to let go. To see the bigger picture.

“You’re going to be the death of me.” With a sigh, Jace took a step back. Giving her hand a tight squeeze before he was out of arm’s reach. She could see the struggle on his face as the gates slowly opened to let her out.

Nudging Atlas into a smooth walk, Demitria tore her eyes away. They’d just passed through the gates and she knew they’d be closing behind her already. “I’ll be ok!” She called back as Atlas broke into a canter.

The thud of the iron clicking into place was loud, but she imagined him alone, still standing there, staring at the spot she’d just left.

She was alone too.

The air around her felt cooler as the horse’s pace quickened. The wind whipping her hair behind her. In her haste to leave she’d forgotten to tie it back, but it felt freeing, in a way.

Her hand never left the hilt of the sword. She never did patrol much beyond the wall, but she knew exactly what she was doing. It was a simple job, really. The task was to confront any incoming intruders—angel, demon, or human—and deter them from getting into the community. It was rare for another human to come this way, especially this time of day, but it did happen on occasion. Most had good intentions, but with the recent attacks and low supplies, one could never be so sure. Anything else that showed up was fair game. If she had to kill then so be it, and doing it alone was part of the job.

Her mind couldn’t help but roam as they rode on. She didn’t know whether she could trust the threats the demon had spoken. If Solis was truly in danger. If Jace was in danger. Demitria couldn’t think of a single instance where she’d fucked up badly enough to have a price on her head. Was so sure that she hadn’t killed more than the next Guardian at any of the communities still standing. So why her?

Why her?

She’d made a vow to Jace all those years ago, standing in the forest at ten years old as the nightmares around them raged on. They would do anything in their power to keep the other safe, no matter the cost. A promise to be there for each other, even if things went sideways, and nothing was to come between that. And if those monsters threatened his life because of her? She’d damn well become just like them to keep her family safe.

She would train the other residents when she returned the next morning. Would instruct Evan to make any weapons he could for those strong enough to wield one. Would work with them every waking moment of the day if she had to. Because Solis was her home. Those were her people, and they needed to be prepared for whatever came their way.

The sound of Atlas’s hooves thudding along the hard, dusty ground was the only thing Demitria could distinctly hear for hours. The sun had fallen low in the sky once more, and the residents inside the wall would begin settling down for the night. The noise coming from the community was nearly non-existent, but she’d traveled far enough out that she could no longer see it, either. She knew if they slowed the sounds of tiny little creatures scurrying away from the thundering beast beneath her would be heard as she interrupted their nightly prowl for food. Rats, mice… whatever the hell was still out there.

The sky darkened, but Demitria had trained her eyes to focus over the years. She knew this landscape like the back of her hand and could easily tell when something was amiss.

Her feelings were the same as everyone else’s. No one ever wanted to be on patrol. It was the worst of the duties as a Guardian by far.

Sometimes it scared her. Sometimes it didn’t.

Demitria ventured off further away. Further into the darkness. She’d done more laps around the community than she could mentally keep track of. Nothing moved. If there was danger either she or Atlas would be sure to hear it. They pushed forward for hours. Even further into the dark abyss. The moon, high up in the sky, cast an ethereal glow along the ground, illuminating the world. She reined Atlas in, bringing him down to a walk as her eyes adjusted again.

It grew quieter.

Too quiet.

Not even the sounds of the rodents cut through the night. She heard nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Nothing but the sound of Atlas’s hooves and her own breathing. Demitria urged him into a slow canter once more, looking around at their surroundings. Eyes searching for anything out of place.

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the hooded figure up ahead. Large and broad shouldered in stature, Demitria could tell the being was male as he sat astride his mount. The fabric of his long, red cloak billowed behind him, a stark contrast against the moon’s glow. He seemed to wear little to no armor aside from a thick leather chest piece that she was sure would do little in a true fight, but he looked like a deadly warrior, regardless. It was as if his horse had materialized out of thin air, and suddenly, he was nearly upon them.

The rider closed in fast, his magnificent horse charging across the land. It was as if fire erupted from its hooves with each massive step it took, embers glistening in its wake with every stride. The horse’s coat was a sea of fiery red, like a flame dancing in the night.

She was irrevocably fucked.

Ambushed, she realized. The silence that had surrounded them. The creatures that had all but disappeared—She should have known the warning signs. Should have known that he had been baiting her further out. He’d set her up, and she’d fallen right into his trap.

She’d barely had the chance to watch him dismount, it all happened so fast. Her body left the warmth of the horse beneath her as the male was suddenly in front of her, his strong grasp hauling her body off Atlas as his arm wound around her middle, and Demitria found herself soaring through the air before crashing to the ground below. The air in her lungs escaped her in one short exhale, her back hitting the compact dirt hard. She landed nearly ten feet from her horse who’d kept pace a few strides more before finally skidding to a stop.

Couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t breathe. She lay there for what seemed like minutes, but it had been no more than a heartbeat.

Get up.

Get up. Get up. Get up.

She repeated the mantra over and over in her head until her body cooperated. She stood on shaking legs, taking all but a moment to find her balance, Demitria drew her sword, poising herself for battle as he stalked toward her. She could tell just by the way he moved that he was one of them . Not human in nature as he prowled toward her with a predatory stance, full lips curved up into a menacing snarl. He pushed the hood of his cloak off, his hair, as dark as the sky itself, cascaded into soft waves just above his shoulders, the top tied back into a loose knot. Demitria didn’t know what the hell he was, but she knew enough that his presence wasn’t good.

Her body ached from the impact, but she shoved it aside. Pain was something she couldn’t afford to feel, and she wouldn’t let it slow her down. Not right now. With clenched teeth, Demitria bit back the wince.

He swung, and her sword met his as she tried to block the blow. So hard, the clash of metal was almost deafening as it echoed through her ears. He swung at her again and again in an unrelenting rhythm, Demitria had killed demons and angels alike, but he was even stronger than she’d initially thought, and her blade wobbled beneath each one of his swings. Arms aching with the force of each impact. She’d hold her ground for as long as she could. Then? She didn’t know what she would do. Demitria dodged another of his strikes as she rolled away across the dusty ground, hand reaching to what should have been a small leather sheath at her hip, and her body nearly froze upon finding it not there.

Fuck.

She’d messed up so badly. In her haste to leave, Demitria had all but forgotten to grab the flare gun from within the Guardians’ building, and she had no way to signal Solis of the massive threat that was upon them.

She had to last the remaining few hours until morning. Jace would know something had happened, and the community would be up in arms. An impossible feat, but she had to last. Had to do whatever possible to give Solis their only chance of survival.

He dealt blow after blow and Demitria staggered to keep up. Her body was battered, but she was thankful he hadn’t managed to wound her more than a few minor cuts. She could feel him gaining the upper hand, faster than she would like. Her arms began to strain with each of his blows she’d blocked. Her movements grew slower with each heaving breath she took, her heart beating what felt like a million beats a minute. The male hadn’t faltered once with each of his swings. His body lithe. Graceful as he sidestepped each time her blade came for him. She’d given up on any sort of offense quickly, her movements slipping into a defensive position. It was the only way she knew to make herself last the longest. She couldn’t quit. Hold out. Sword up. Keep going. She refused to go down without a fight.

Demitria cursed. At this creature trying to kill her. The nightmarish world and barren landscape they barely survived in. She cursed at the fucking darkness that surrounded her, and at the moon that didn’t give off enough light for her to fight like she wanted. And she cursed herself for not pushing Jace to station more Guardians. Because someone had come for her, exactly like the demon said they would.

She didn’t know when he moved to her right. Losing track of him was her biggest mistake. Legs buckling as he kicked them out from beneath her, Demitria closed her eyes as she hit the ground hard. She wasn’t sure what hurt more, the fall from Atlas or this.

His body bore down on top of her as he pinned her to the ground, and she blinked up at him several times from the sudden weight on her hips. She could feel his breath, warm against her face as it slithered across her exposed neck. His smell, woodsy and almost sweet, felt suffocating with each strained breath. In one hand his sword held firm against her chest, the other clenched a dagger pressed against the pale flesh of her throat. She could feel the cool metal as it bit into her skin. Not hard enough to break through, but the blade hurt against her nonetheless. Full lips pulled back into a feral snarl as he leaned in closer, azure eyes narrowed into a piercing glare.

Her death was coming. She wasn’t one to pray, but gods she hoped it was quick. She didn’t want it to hurt. She knew better, though. Knew that the pain would be excruciating, and he’d drag it out. That’s what people like him did. Demons. Angels. Whatever the hell he was, because she was absolutely certain he could not be anything close to human.

An array of different, useless thoughts swarmed through her head as he pressed the dagger into her skin. Could feel the sting as the blade drew that first bead of blood from her throat. She’d done everything she could, and it still wasn’t enough. Had done everything in her power to gain the upper hand, but it was futile. He’d gotten through her so fast she’d barely had a chance to defend herself, let alone the community. There would be no saving Solis. Not this time.

The community would be an easy target, completely unaware of the incoming attack nearly at its gate. The female had been right, it seemed. The wretched demon that had threatened her home and those she loved had been telling the truth, and it killed her that they hadn’t put a plan into place before she’d gone out. That she’d spurred herself into action too quickly before getting any more information from the demon, and instead, had turned into a fight about where her loyalties lie. Now she fell defending those that questioned her, and the beast of a male would be unleashed on Solis. Demitria just hoped that with their numbers they’d be able to fend him off.

Her last thoughts shifted to Jace as she winced, readying herself for the pain of the blade that would soon cut across her throat, or the sword that would plunge into her chest. She hoped he’d be able to recover from this. To find the will to move on. There’d been so many things they’d never gotten to experience. So many memories they hadn’t gotten to share. Too many things left unsaid.

“Just get it over with.” Eyes narrowing into a stern glare, Demitria stared her attacker dead in the eyes.