Chapter 10
Ten
KELLAN
T he moment dawn broke, Kellan was awake. She’d tried to kill him on multiple accounts. It had been the first time a human had ever attempted to. If she wasn’t his target, he’d almost be impressed. The look in her green-gold eyes as she brought the dagger to his throat with such confidence, like a wolf silently stalking through the woods, waiting for that perfect moment to strike. For a human, she was fire. It raised his suspicions further. Had him asking himself more questions than he had answers to. Why was the council so invested in her death? Why this particular human? Why even a human? Why wouldn’t they answer him? He’d tried summoning them three more times after the girl had fallen asleep, and they hadn’t come, refusing every call or maybe ignoring him, there was no way to know for sure.
Despite his direct orders, Kellan fumbled the assignment. She was to be killed on sight. Instead, he’d found himself a prisoner. He needed to find out why the council had found her so… special. Killing her could always come later.
Kellan watched her sleeping for a moment. Her lean body curled around itself as she slept soundly, unaware of his presence above her. The curves of her chest rising and falling with each deep breath. He didn’t understand the council’s infatuation with her death. Didn’t understand the allure of the humans in general. Such fickle, frail creatures they were. But the girl had shown a fire that none of the others in his experience had, and that troubled him more than anything.
With each rhythmic breath, he found himself fascinated with the woman, and unable to look away. Enthralled with the way this fair skinned being seemed to raise so many questions within him. She groaned in her sleep, breaking him from the thoughts swarming in his mind. He shouldn’t be so curious. Kill the girl, that’s what the council had said.
“Get up.” His boot connected with her side. The audible crack loud as she yelped awake. Clutching her ribs, she staggered to her feet. “We’re leaving. Mount up.” Demitria stumbled toward the horses without a word spoken, face pale as she clutched the side he’d just wounded. The sight of her shying away, skittish, stroked something inside him and he delighted at the thought. Bloodshed was what he did. What he was known for. The Horseman War, revered for his innate ability to maim and kill things. A harbinger of war itself, and he smiled at the thought. She needed to fear him. All her kind did. It made his job a hell of a lot easier that way. Kellan strolled after her, determined to get out of the musty cave and on his way to reuniting with his siblings. He readied his mount quickly, tightening the cinch on his saddle before ushering the girl out the mouth of the cave where they mounted.
His eyes roamed the expanse of the landscape around them. Nothing but dirt and dust far beyond what his eyes could see. He’d been appalled the moment he’d returned to this planet. Kellan hadn’t been to Earth for many, many years, and the sight before him was disgusting. There was nothing outside. The world had been tossed into a state of chaos. Dead. Everything around was dead. So different from how he’d remembered it. Even if the war hadn’t happened, it was much different than he’d remembered. The cities grew vast, buildings stood taller than even the largest trees in Eden. All that remained now was nothing more than a shell of what it once was. Maybe that was for the best. Earth had once reminded him of his home. The lush greens and crystalline waters. That was what he remembered. Before they’d changed it. Ruined it with their structures of steel. Just another reason he hated them.
She continued her silence as they rode, never so much as glancing away from the path ahead of her. He didn’t care, let her drown in those emotions. He had bigger things to worry about. Reuniting with his siblings was the first task. Because he’d fucked the assignment up royally, failing the one task given to them, he needed the input of the other Horsemen on how to proceed. If it had just been him, killing her, while slightly delayed, would have been forgivable. But an Angel of Death showing up for their same assignment? Killing that Archangel? Kellan didn’t know if the council would punish him. It wouldn’t have been the first time. Not by a long shot. For the bloodlust that plagued him for so many years. But he always got the job done, sometimes just in an unorthodox way, and that was always cause for punishment. He knew they took pleasure in the torment. The High Council was savage and cruel on their best days.
They rode for hours under the warming sun, over an endless sea of dust. The last time Kellan had ridden through here Earth had been beautiful. Alive. He glanced over at the girl. Demitria’s face had changed, hardened into a stoic look as they eased their mounts into a slower gait. It caught him off guard when she finally spoke.
“I have something that might be of interest to you.” Voice no more than a whisper, she refused to look at him. Kellan heard her anyway.
“I doubt anything you say will be of interest,” The laughter couldn’t be helped. He took no pity on her. “But enlighten me anyway.”
“I need something in return.”
“You seem to think you have all the bargaining power here.” Pulling his mount to a halt, they both stopped. The girl turned in his direction then, the same narrowed gaze from earlier taking over the dainty features of her face. Waiting, ready to strike. She had proved to be interesting if nothing else. Intriguing—almost—by how easily she’d been able to control her emotions. Because anyone else would have broken down at his feet by now. Within minutes, really.
“I saw the confusion on your face, Horseman. You and I both know there are some things you don’t know.” He hated that she’d read it on his face. How perceptive of her .
“You’re so sure I don’t already have this information?”
“Considering you had no idea who I was talking about earlier, yes. I’m fairly confident that I have the upper hand.” Her full lips curved in a wicked smirk. She had so carefully crafted the deadly look on her face, any sign of fear had ceased to exist. Surprising, for a human.
“What do you want?” Kellan decided to indulge her.
“I want the safety of my people.” Demitria’s green-gold gaze never left his own. Piercing through him as if doing so would gain his favor.
“We already agreed on that.”
“For you, not your siblings. If I tell you this information, you and your siblings do not touch my home. My people remain free and unharmed.”
Kellan had absolutely zero plans on coming back to the hell hole once they reunited, but she didn’t need to know that. It was an easy decision for him.
“You have my word, again, that your people will remain untouched.” With a nod, he urged her to continue.
Demitria nudged her horse foreword once more, Kellan quickly following behind. “The morning you showed up, we had a run in with a demon.” She started.
Given the current state of the world, this was not news. There were demons and angels everywhere. Opening his mouth to tell her as much, she cut him off with a raise of her hand.
“She knew who I was.”
That was news. It was uncommon for demons to know humans. Their only true aspirations were to feed and follow those in command. Their orders were never anything more than destruction. Demons fed on the flesh of humans. On their souls.
“What do you mean she knew you?” His own eyes narrowed in, searching. Looking for answers in her features.
“She said someone was coming for me. For us.” The human girl sighed again, tearing her gaze away from his as she looked across the horizon. Something in her face hardened once more, like she’d slipped into a mask, devoid of her emotions. “Threatening my home. Threatening J—” She stopped mid-sentence as if having said too much. Finally, she continued after another moment of silence. “She threatened everything. Everything that I have left, and said they would burn it to the ground.”
“Why did she know you?” Kellan repeated. He hadn’t expected her to have the answer. “Who was she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is she?”
“Dead.” Demitria met him head on. Serious. Coiled and ready to explode. “I killed her before she could say anything more.”
“You idiot.” Had the human not realized that could have been his only lead? She had been so swept up in the turmoil of her home, that she’d killed the only creature that could give her the information she’d wanted. That he now wanted.
Fucking useless.
A familiar rage began to bubble. With aching fingers, he gripped the pommel of the saddle. Willing it. Begging it to dissipate before he’d do something he would later regret. Killing the human would end most of his problems, but it wouldn’t answer any of the questions that had been brewing. In the years he had served the council there had never been a doubt in his mind about anything. Never a need to question the orders he’d been given, but there had never been a mission like this. Never had they sent a fucking Angel of Death to clean up after them. It had always been the other way around.
Kellan had been sent to kill something for the council more times than he could count, but never like this. The Horsemen weren’t the ones who failed. They were the ones who always did the job right.
The anger bubbled higher and higher the more he thought about it. Like a dam ready to burst.
“Shall I give you a moment, Horseman?” She pursed her lips, and he could hear the lilt in her voice. Could picture the gleam in her eyes as she stared in his direction. Every word that left her mouth, the angrier he got. Every breath she took. Killing her would have ended so many of his problems. Too many questions, not enough answers.
He dismounted. The charred tree feet away crumbled into nothing as his sword collided with its bark. Like the smoke from a fire, pieces of it drifted up into the air. He mindlessly hacked away at whatever was in front of him. Another tree, a bush, he didn’t care. But the anger at the unknown slowly left his body as he continued.
Kellan didn’t know how much time had passed when he returned to his mount. The human sat waiting astride the beast beneath her, watching the outburst he’d unleashed on the world around him.
“All that over a demon?” A smirk found its way to her lips and he very nearly lashed out at her. Could picture her head as it lolled to the side, blood dripping from a gaping wound that he’d inflicted. “I should have killed you.” He growled, “Could still kill you.”
She laughed then, calling his bluff as if she knew he was using her for nothing more than answers now.
“Move out.” He barked, pointing ahead. The smug grin never left her face.
By midafternoon, they had been riding for hours, the sun high in the sky as it scorched into their backs. The landscape around them hardly changed the further out they went. Nothing but that same barren terrain for miles. They’d passed through the remains of what he’d assume had been a town before the Ascension, but hardly anything remained. Buildings stripped and foraged for all possible resources while rock and stone lay in rubble heaps. He’d noticed the widening of the girl’s eyes as she’d tried not to look surprised, but the sudden change hadn’t gone unnoticed.
The days on earth had been hot, nights cold. Different, again, than he’d remembered. The last time he’d stepped foot on this planet the days had been less temperamental. The human remained quiet, but her mood had lightened slightly. At his expense no less, he was sure. His outburst hours earlier had surely caused a lapse in her fear toward him. Despite it, her face was sullen as her eyes grew dark. They had been traveling for nearly two days with little sleep in his quest to reunite with the others. She looked…exhausted.
“You look as if you’re about to keel over.” He noted aloud. Let her die. Make my life easier . Do the job he’d been sent to do. Would killing her make restoring the balance easier? Make it harder? Could one human really turn the tides that much? And why did a petty demon claim to know her?
She barely turned in his direction. Barely even acknowledged he’d spoken before answering.
“I haven’t had anything to eat or drink in two days.” She snapped, brows furrowed as her jaw tensed, her lips forming in a thin line. As if in answer, his own stomach grumbled at the mention of food and he silently cursed its utter betrayal. No matter how badly Kellan wanted to deny it, the human had a point.
“Why do you have no food?” He found himself saying, knowing he’d already sounded like an idiot the moment the words left his mouth.
“Because I had so much time to pack a bag of supplies before I was so kindly threatened then taken against my will.” She glowered, eyes meeting his in challenge as that same fiery gaze returned. One she knew she’d never win, but a challenge nonetheless. He shouldn’t have respected her for it, but he did.
She had a point… again.
“We’ll stop in a few hours. Find food and somewhere to sleep.” The human only nodded before pushing her mount forward once more.
They passed through a large canyon sometime later, the smooth edges of the red rock towering tall above them, higher than even his own eyes could see. Before the planet’s ruin, he’d wager some form of water system had once ran through it as evidence of a riverbed wound its way throughout. But in the distance, Kellan could faintly make out the trickle of water tucked somewhere in a shallow cavern. Aside from themselves, it was imperative their mounts got water if they wished to continue. He led them toward the sound, coming to a stop at the wide arched entrance in the canyon.
Dismounting, he held up a hand, listening. Waiting. Searching for anything that was inside. He heard nothing. Couldn’t sense anything more than small creatures scurrying about, and he knew it was safe. For now, at least. Inside, the sun bounced off the walls, illuminating the interior of the cavern. Stalactites of varying sizes hung from the roof. The drip of the water off the largest echoed throughout. They let their mounts drink first. Demitria was quick to cup her hands under the steady drip before slowly and carefully bringing it to the dark horse. Kellan watched as he slowly gulped the water in her palms, eyes never leaving those of its master’s. She repeated the process three more times before he finished, bringing a soft muzzle to her neck as he nuzzled into the girl. He wondered how she’d acquired such a mount, let alone formed a bond as strong as they had. He had an inclination on what the horse was, due to the heavy silver scarring marring both of the beast’s sides, and if his suspicions were correct, they only bonded once, and a human sure as hell wouldn’t have had one from a foal.
More questions.
Who the hell was this human? He couldn’t stop asking himself the question over and over, echoing through his mind. Balance, he had to keep reminding himself. The council said she’d thrown off the entire balance of his world, not to mention her own. But why? He couldn’t answer any of it. Might as well focus on the imminent task.
“We need food.” Kellan said, unsaddling his mount after he’d had his own fill of water.
“Shall I materialize it out of thin air?” The ever-knowing smirk returned to her face, lighting up her dainty features. He nearly backhanded it off of her, only stopping himself as he knew it wouldn’t change a thing. Kellan had always been known by his siblings to have a temper, but he’d done well at keeping it in check over the last several years. He couldn’t tell if it was her defiance, or that fire dancing through her eyes, but she’d managed to continuously have him teetering on that edge...
“Useless human.” Her kind were already loathsome. She’d proved to be absolutely infuriating, nearly making him reach his limit. It bothered him that she didn’t cower in his presence like so many humans had done before her. He was the predator and she was his prey, yet she acted as if she were his equal. Something he could not let continue. “You need to catch food.”
“Me? That’s funny, I think you meant to say we .” She put emphasis on the last word, arms crossing over the curves of her chest as she stared up at him. Her eyes narrowed. Kellan had lost track of how many times today alone she’d repeated that same gesture. “I sure as hell am not risking myself out there to get food. If you want it, you help.”
With a huff, he exited the cavern. “Fine. If you don’t catch it you don’t eat. Simple as that.”
She followed behind him.
It took an hour for him to track down the damned beast. An hour of painstakingly stalking through brush with thorns so large they managed to snag his clothing in the gaps between his armor. He’d curse if he hadn’t needed to be quiet. Up ahead, the human had advanced faster than him, her movements louder than a thundering horse. He could hear the crunch of her boots with each step she took. Each curse as her own clothing caught and tore.
Gods help him .
If they went hungry it would be because of this stupid human.
When she pounced, knife ready, Kellan felt his own body fly. Like hell she’d get it first. The boar squealed as it wrestled its way out from underneath her, fleeing in a frenzy into the thick brambles.
“Are you stupid?” He hollered, not bothering to look back as he instinctively followed the animal into the brush. His own blade left his hands with enough force to break bones. Embedding itself into the skull of the boar who skidded to a halt as it fell.
“You almost let it get away!” Still yelling, his feet carried him toward her as she sat on the ground panting for air. A crimson stream trickled down her forehead, indicating she’d been injured. The boar had nicked her with a tusk during the short tussle. She’d been lucky she hadn’t lost an eye. Or her life. Kellan nearly laughed at the thought.
“I would have had it if you didn’t come flying at me.” She grumbled, peeling her body out of the dirt, brushing it from her pants. “I played every part in that as you did.” Demitria was quick to add.
“Whose blade took it down.”
“That’s beside the point!” Tossing her hands in the air, she was shouting. If anything else was around she would draw unnecessary attention to them. “That takedown happened because of me! It only got away because you’re the idiot who nearly crushed me!”
Anger swelled but he squashed it. At least she’d tried.
“We’ll share it.” Through gritted teeth, he let a sigh slip through his lips. “Now would you keep your voice down?” Kellan had been equally as guilty of not keeping his own down, but she’d managed to push every single one of his buttons. He blamed it entirely on her.
Before she could make another remark he returned to the boar. Making quick work of the carcass as he cleaned and skinned the animal, a skill he’d learned back home from a very early age—taking with them only what they needed. He could sense the scavengers all around now. The smell of death and blood in the air having drawn them out from wherever they’d been hiding. Their near yelling match hadn’t helped much either, but Kellan was confident they’d stay away given his presence. The beings could take what they wouldn’t use, and he knew none of what the beast offered would go to waste.
“You’re bleeding.” He mentioned as they neared the cavern. Demitria touched a finger to her head, pulling it away to confirm.
“So I am.” She groaned. Inside, the girl returned to the dripping water. Cupping it in her hands and splashing it to the wound. Her face scrunched into a wince at the contact, but she continued anyway, flushing it out as best she could.
Useless. These creatures were useless . With his own groan, Kellan put the meat down and joined her. Washing the blood off his hands before tearing a small chunk of cloth from his cloak and soaking the fabric and stepping before her.
“Put pressure on it.” She didn’t protest as he placed the fabric against the wound, staunching the bleeding. “These beasts carry disease. You need to make sure it stays clean.”
“What I need are antiseptics.” She said, but didn’t move away.
“Just stop the bleeding. I’ll find you a medicinal plant.” He didn’t give her the chance to utter another word or stop him before he left the cavern. He’d spotted the fauna while they were out hunting the boar, and knew it wouldn’t take him long. He’d be back before she could even think about running away.
When he returned a few minutes later, the girl sat along a low edge, still clutching the fabric to her forehead. Kellan said nothing as he rinsed the plant under the steady drip before making his way toward her.
“Hand me the cloth.” He held out his hand and she did as he’d said, placing the bloodied fabric in his outstretched palm. He rinsed that too before returning to her side, laying the fabric on the smooth stone. Swiping a loose rock from the floor, he began grinding the plant into the fabric, mulching it up as best he could, given the materials at hand.
“This has medicinal properties that will help fight off infection.”
“Yarrow.” She nodded, her body relaxing as she watched him work.
“You know of it?”
The girl nodded again. “Someone back home taught me a few things. We make do with what we’ve got these days.” She gave him a sad smile.
“Where I’m from, you typically chew the plant before putting it on a wound. I’ll save you the horror.” Demitria made a choking noise, and he could have sworn she’d nearly laughed.
“I appreciate the gesture…I think.” She looked away from him as he picked the fabric up from the rock. Kellan said nothing as he dipped his finger into the green mixture, swiping it across her forehead as he packed it into the wound.
He was only keeping her alive to get his answers. She had to live long enough for him to reunite with his siblings, then figure out what the council wanted. After that, he didn’t care if she keeled over on the spot.