Blood and War

Chapter 35

Thirty-Five

DEMITRIA

D emitria’s heart stopped, catching in her chest. Feet flying from the saddle, she was running before the others could even blink.

Warmth. Strong arms.

Through all the blood, dirt and sweat, mint . It overtook her. Overwhelmed her. He was alive.

Alive

Her brain screamed, over and over again. Alive. Alive. Alive.

Jace was alive.

“Jace.” Voice hoarse, her throat burned from lack of proper use. His hands tangled in her long, brown hair. “Oh God, Jace.” The sobs overtook her body. She couldn’t see, blinded by the tears that were once again falling as she clung to him. Afraid that if she let go, he’d disappear forever. This had to be real. She couldn’t survive it if it wasn’t. Jace was alive. He was here.

“I thought I’d never see you again.” Jace was crying as he grabbed her, touching her arms, her face, as if in disbelief.

And she was laughing. Gods, she was laughing, because he felt real .

“I thought you were dead.” Demitria buried her face into Jace’s chest. Pressing her body to him. Suffocating herself at their closeness. “I didn’t know what to do. Couldn’t breathe.” She was hyperventilating. Her entire body trembling. Alive. He was alive. “I’m so sorry for leaving. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She apologized over and over again as another wave of guilt crashed through her. She pictured the bodies lying on the ground. Limbs torn free or buried under rubble, and in her mind, suddenly it was Jace. Staring at her, eyes glazed over and lifeless. She held on to him tighter. “I thought you were dead, and I… I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” He whispered. “I’m right here.” Jace ran a hand through her hair in a soothing motion. “I’m right here.”

“You were dead.” Her brain was in overdrive. Couldn’t tell up from down. Everything stopped. Jace. The only thing that mattered was Jace.

“I’m here.” He soothed. “I’m not going anywhere. Never again. We’re together.” His hands roamed over her face. Her sides. He couldn’t stop touching her, like he couldn’t believe she was real.

“I thought I lost you.” Her knees buckled beneath her, and the two were sent crashing to the ground. Pulling her body into his lap, Jace embraced her tighter, unrelenting in his grip. Refusing to let her go. “I thought I lost you.” She repeated, voice no more than a whisper. Demitria closed her eyes, and all she could see were the flames that burned their homes. The bodies in the streets…

“I’m here.” He rocked the both of them gently and her body melted into him. Her fingers aching from the grip she had on him, but she couldn’t let go in fear that he’d disappear once more.

“How did you get out?” Kellan’s strained voice broke through her thoughts, and she pulled away from Jace to look at him. At all of them seated atop their mounts. Gabriel’s face hardened, jaw clenched as he looked at his sibling.

“Everything happened so fast.” Jace looked up, eyes meeting each of the Horsemen towering above him. “We didn’t even have a chance to react before they hit the gate.” He didn’t move from his spot on the ground. Content with Demitria safely back in his arms as she listened to the steady beat of his heart. “They slaughtered everything in their path. Set the city ablaze.” Shaking his head, the shudder worked through his body as he recalled the events.

“We knew you were on the front lines. How were you spared?” Kellan pried.

“I shouldn’t have survived.” Jace hung his head, almost as if he was ashamed. “I tried to get everyone out. Tried to hold off as many of those damned monsters as I could while the others escaped.” Demitria’s hand entwined with his own, willing her strength into him. He smiled down at her, and it didn't go unnoticed by Kellan. The Horseman turned from them. “Stella took a death blow for me. She shouldn’t have been fighting. I watched her leave with the first group that left.” Bringing his gaze back up to Kellan, he continued. “I didn’t even know what happened until it was too late. I didn’t know she came back. She shoved me out of the way with a strength I didn’t even know she possessed, and she took the blow that was supposed to be for me.” More tears ran down his fair cheeks

Something in her cracked at the news as she choked back a sob. Stella… Demitria had even dared to hope that she’d see the woman again. Her sweet, smiling face as she greeted her. As she taught her about plants and medicinal herbs in the greenhouse. How to grow food. So much of her knowledge was from the woman, like the mother she’d lost, and Demitria never got to say goodbye. She was grateful to the woman for saving Jace’s life, but at what cost?

Another body. Just another body added to her list of people she couldn’t save. Of loved ones lost.

“She sacrificed her life for yours.” Kellan’s voice was quiet. Knowing. Demitria watched his features soften as his eyes met hers, and he bowed his head at her, as if in condolences.

“She told me I had unfinished business. That I wasn’t done yet.” Jace shook his head, a new wave of tears taking over. “I didn’t even get to thank her before Evan was dragging me away.” His fists clenched around the cloak at Demitria’s back. “Like a coward, I ran. I followed him out. I abandoned everything.”

“There was nothing more you could have done. You did what you could, Jace. Running doesn’t make you a coward. You would be dead and the community would still be burnt to the ground had you stayed.” Demitria squeezed his hand.

She’d run from them all, too, and felt exactly like the coward she’d claimed him not to be. Was she any different? Did that make her a coward?

“They came looking for you, and I panicked. It scared me to no end, but knowing you weren’t there—I should have saved them. Should have gotten them all out. I was their leader…” His voice trailed off into nothing, and she felt the tremble of his fingers as he spoke.

Her. They’d come looking for her. She wanted to scream. Wanted to let those emotions welling up inside consume her until she was nothing but unyielding rage.

“You got out as many people as you could. The attack wasn’t your fault.” It was hers. None of this was on Jace. She was the one responsible for it. And as a guardian, she should have been there. On the front lines with him, holding those creatures back until her arms couldn’t wield a weapon anymore or she was dead.

“How many people escaped?” Gabriel had been silently watching when he dismounted, striding over with an unearthly grace before holding a hand out toward them.

Jace watched it tentatively, unsure, but finally took it and Gabriel pulled them both to their feet. “Five others made it out with me. We lost contact with Pieter and Braun in the beginning of the raid.”

“Pieter didn’t make it.” The thought of him stirred something in her chest. Him lying in her arms, whispering to him softly as he took his last breath. Jace’s gaze met hers at the sound of another friend’s passing. She watched that guilt pass through him as silver lined his eyes, pooling down his cheeks as he cast his eyes downward. “I held him in my arms until he took his last breath. He wasn’t alone.”

“Thank you. For being there for him when no one else could.” He smiled softly. “What of Braun?”

“We never saw him.” Demitria wondered if he was one of the many bodies that littered the ground in Solis. She hadn’t been strong enough to check. Despite their quarrels, she wished she would have.

Jace nodded, his face sullen. “Cory, Tyler, Evan, and the twins made it out with me. I just…I can’t wrap my head around everyone else being gone.” Demitria felt a flutter in her chest at the names. Cory and Evan, Tyler. Hell, even the twins, she was happy about. She didn’t wish death upon anyone, not like that, no matter how much they hated one another.

“Great, now we have two fucking humans.” Eire spoke up from behind. One by one, everyone turned, all eyes focused on her. “I brought him back thinking we could ditch this one. She was already bad enough.” Eire motioned toward her, and she couldn’t help the roll of her eyes.

“Sounds like we’re about to have seven, actually.” Kane chuckled from behind, clapping his sibling on the back as his mount moved toward hers.

“Who is this lovely piece of work?” Jace whispered, his voice laced with a hint of amusement as he shrugged the comment off, stretching out his arms, rubbing the aches from the bind on his wrists. “I had a feeling she was one of them.” He motioned toward Kellan.

“Don’t even get me started.” She grumbled, the chuckle leaving her lips effortlessly. It amazed her how easily he pulled her from the depths of that darkness.

Demitria moved to look at Kellan, following that inexplicable pull seemingly dragging her gaze toward him. Kellan had been unexpectedly quiet, and she wondered what was going through his head as azure eyes anchored her to the spot. She felt that look deep within her, pooling in her, and had to force herself to look away.

“What happened after you left?” Gabriel prodded for more information; his arms crossed over his chest. The dark cloak billowed around him, caught in the breeze that swept through the canyon.

“We’ve been holed up in a nearby shallow cavern. We traveled on foot for days. Everything is gone…” Jace stared at the eldest horsemen. “Every community we’ve come across has been destroyed. Burned to the ground. There is nothing left but ash.”

Demitria looked up at Kellan again, his expression visibly hardening at the news they’d just received. He was aware of the being that was threatening the entire existence of this planet, but there was no way any of them anticipated just how quickly things were going downhill.

“They were taking me to Augustus.” Demitria nodded at the Horsemen. “For refuge while they investigated further.”

“It’s gone.”

Demitria’s breath caught in her throat.

“Valencia was burned to the ground shortly after you left.” Jace said.

Another community gone. Burned by the fucking monsters that were a plague on this planet. Demitria refused to cry.

“Just fucking great.” Eire threw her hands in the air.

“This cavern, will you take us?” Gabriel asked. “I said I would return you to your people.” Forest-green eyes turned on her. Hard. Final, as if she had no say in the matter.

“I told you I’m not—” He cut her off midsentence, hand raised to silence her.

“You will do as I say.” Gabriel took a step toward her. Demitria’s fists clenched at her sides. The Horseman held no sway over her, but his tone had been so stern. So…matter of fact. Law. “I mean you no disrespect, but things have been rather…difficult with your presence.” Her features dropped, hands falling limp at her sides as she shot quick glances at the siblings. Did they all think the same? Eire, she already knew. But the others?

She was an idiot.

“I-I apologize.” She turned away from those piercing eyes, her head hung in shame.

“Brother.” Kellan interjected, dismounting from his horse and moving toward her.

“I don’t want to hear it.” Gabriel barked, stopping him in his tracks. Demitria knew a rift had been created between the siblings over whatever it was going on between them. She hadn’t meant for that to happen, either. “Where are your people?”

Jace schooled his features as he glanced in her direction. She knew he would never give up the whereabouts of their people, especially after everything.

“We can trust him.” Gripping Jace’s arm in a reassuring gesture, she nodded toward Kellan. Deep down, she knew she could trust him. The others? She still wasn’t so sure.

“Mount up.” Was all Gabriel muttered before he turned away from them.

Kellan watched her move toward Atlas, as if waiting to speak with her. She wanted to say something, anything, to try and change their minds, but with Jace on her heels, all she could do was smile.

“What happened out there? How did she get ahold of you?” Demitria asked, climbing into the saddle. Jace scrambled up behind her, and she scooted as far into the pommel as she could to make room. His body seemed to mold around her as he anchored his arms around her waist for balance. They’d doubled on Atlas many times before, but never with the saddle. It made her seat awkward. Sloppy.

“I was out looking for survivors when I came across hoofprints.” He started, his breath ghosting across her ear. “I’d hoped it’d be you and Kellan, but it turns out I wasn’t so lucky.” He laughed, the sound rumbling through her.

“I’m glad you’re safe.” She whispered, the sigh heavy on her lips.

Demitria nudged Atlas in front of the group to let Jace lead the way. They passed Kellan, that tug forcing her gaze up, over the planes of his face. The softening of his features as he looked at her, smiled at her.

Shit.

She needed to get herself together. Had to stop thinking about the way those eyes seemingly roved across her body. The warmth of his lips against hers when she’d kissed him just days ago…

Forbidden. Every single one of her thoughts was forbidden. Demitria knew she shouldn’t—couldn’t feel it. Her fingers tightened around the pommel of the saddle, moving that tortuous look to the land ahead.

They all rode in silence in a slow procession, one after the other. Kellan rode directly behind her, followed by Eire, Kane, and then Gabriel took up the rear. She heard nothing but hoofbeats and the steady rhythm of her heart beating in her chest.

She should be happy more than anything. She was returning to her people. Keeping her life . Yet… why did she feel upset? She’d made a vow to end the Dark King, and had told the Horsemen just that. But the thought of not fulfilling what she’d now set out to do? That irked her.

Demitria wanted her own answers, now. And if she returned with Jace and the others? She wouldn’t get them. She wanted to know why a price had been put on her head. For what reason? Had she been destined to do something so wrong? What if she still was? She wanted to know how to change that, because what if their council just sent someone else for her in a year’s time?

“We’re wasting time.” Eire groaned, and Demitria could all but picture her head leaned back, eyes to the sky in sheer agony at the sound.

“Don’t listen to a word she says.” She muttered, turning her head so Jace could hear her better. “She feels like she has some sort of entitlement to the world. Better than everyone.” With a roll of her eyes, she chuckled.

“I can hear you!” Eire shouted, a vulgar gesture on full display for her siblings to see. “Humans…” She growled.

She heard Kellan’s own laugh rumble through him, like a song to her ears. He’d told her how much his family meant to him, and yet, he seemed to enjoy the way Demitria all but taunted Eire, and that only made her smile grow. She was happy for the small distraction.

Jace lead them through the canyon, pointing around winding turns for what felt like hours before the large, rock walls opened up to the barren land.

“To the left, it’s just around this bend.” He motioned, and she steered Atlas in the direction he’d pointed. The horse moved on steady feet beneath them, despite the added weight. Demitria let her fingers trail down his soft neck, feeling the muscles beneath her hand, smoothing out the long, black mane. He deserved a long break.

Demitria spotted the opening some twenty feet away, large stalagmites jutting from the ground like an open maw, ready to devour them. As they approached the cavern, the others emerged, weapons drawn and ready in case of an incoming attack. She counted four bodies. The twins, Tyler, Cory, and Evan stood outside, like they’d all been waiting for Jace to return. Unaware that he’d been captured and held hostage by a Horseman. Aside from the twins, Demitria was happy to see the others. With a smile, she reigned Atlas to a halt before pulling her body free from the saddle and dismounting as she rushed to greet the other three.

Upon spotting her, Sam rushed them, grabbing Demitria in a choke hold before she could react. His hands enclosed around her throat, squeezing the air from her before she could muster the energy to evade his grasp.

“It was your fault!” Sam screamed, tears streaming down his face as his hands held her in an unrelenting grip. Demitria had never seen him cry. It all happened so fast, he had her pinned against the stone before she could blink. Her nails dug into his arms as she tried to break free of his hold, but the guilt consumed her once more, and she was unable to contain her sob as it broke. She knew. She already knew it was her fault.

“I left to prevent it, but they came anyway.” She cried, barely able to get the words out. The image of the fire burned her vision. Their home. The bodies. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“You’re the reason everyone is dead!” Flecks of black began to dot her vision. She couldn’t breathe, the panic setting in as new images replaced the burning inferno in her eyes. Reim and the Demon Lord exploded from her mind and she grew frantic. A wave of panic surged through her as the memory of the demon's hands flooded her thoughts. The unrelenting grip of his hold as he’d brought her closer and closer to death. She clawed at his arms. Face. Anything she could reach.

“They came looking for you. You! You killed every single one of them. I’ll kill you for what you did!” The air came rushing back as Sam lay splayed across the ground, the tip of a sword ever so slightly piercing through the flesh of his throat.

“Remove your hands if you wish to keep them.” Kellan snarled, his lips pulled back over his teeth. Murderous. “If you touch her again, I won’t hesitate to end your life where you stand. Your head will roll, you understand?” Rage . So much rage filled his entire body. He left Sam in a heap as a thin line trickled down his neck as a reminder.

She sat there, panting on the ground as Kellan made his way toward her, helping her sit up.

“Are you alright?” He steadied her as she caught her breath. His hand warm on her back as she leaned into his firm grip.

“Yes, thank you.” She coughed, finally able to find her voice once more.

“So help me God, Sam!” Jace had the man by his shirt as he shook him. “Are you insane? What is wrong with you!” He dropped the twin to the ground.

Demitria looked up at Kellan as the tip of a blade grazed his neck. She felt her breath hitch at the movement, but his face remained neutral. Unbothered as he didn’t dare break his gaze from her. It took every ounce of strength to pull her eyes away.

Will’s fingers curled around the knife’s handle.

“Back off, human.” Gabriel said, his voice calm. Smooth, as he stalked behind Will before coming to a stop behind him. Kane and Eire had arrows notched in their bows, the glint of Gabriel’s scythe shone in the sun as the Horsemen pulled their weapons on the brothers.

“One more step and it’s the last thing you will ever do.”

Will hesitantly took a step back, helping his brother to his feet after sheathing his own blade.

“Remind me again why I should be saving your people.” Amusement danced across Kellan’s face as he extended his hand, pulling her back to her feet. She shouldn’t have found it funny, but the laughter came easily, slipping free from her lips.

His hand lingered in hers for a moment longer than it should have, neither one quite willing to part first. With a sigh, Demitria finally dropped his, taking a step away from the warmth of the Horseman.

As quickly as it started, the fight was over. Satisfied, the other Horsemen sheathed their own weapons, moving away as the twins scrambled back to the mouth of the cavern.

“You’re alive?” Cory was the first to step forward, eyes wide. Demitria wrapped her arms around him in a friendly embrace. “I’m glad he found you.” He whispered, nodding toward Kellan still standing in close proximity.

“I sure hope so.” The playful tone returned to her voice. It came easy with him. Cory came to the community shortly after Jace had taken over, and had been a constant, brotherly figure in her life since. One she had surely missed. “And so am I.” Her voice lowered, feeling that pull between her and Kellan standing behind her. Demitria took a step back, moving to greet Evan. He gave her a sharp nod.

“Good to see you.”

“Glad to see you made it out.” It was a stretch of the truth. A half-truth, really. But she extended it all the same. “We should get inside. We need to talk.” Demitria moved past him and entered the cavern, Kellan on her heels.

Jace motioned the others inside. The other Horsemen hesitated for a moment, before entering between the gap of the stalagmites.

Demitria took in the darkness of the cavern. The musty smell that wafted through her senses. Little belongings littered the floor, but she could tell they’d been here for a few days at least. Toward the entrance, the soft glow of a fire illuminated the front of the room as flames danced along the walls. She shuddered at the sight as she drifted toward the cavern with Reim, and she pushed further away from the flames that haunted her. She could hear the footsteps as the others followed behind, but her mind was reeling.

She should be happy that some of them had made it out. Should be absolutely rejoicing that Jace and Cory and Evan were alive, but couldn’t shake the fact that this was it. That the Horsemen would leave her here, and stop whatever—whoever this Dark King was.

Demitria wanted her answers. She needed to find out why they all wanted her. She was afraid that when they left out of that cave for good, she would never know.

And she wanted to know why these beings sought her out. Why they wanted her dead. Why she felt this…pull between the male she had no business knowing, let alone having these thoughts about. He was a Horseman of the fucking Apocalypse, and she was supposed to hate everything about him. Like the way he carried himself. So confident and sure of himself. Or the soft, velvety laugh that rumbled through her. Or?—

Demitria ran a hand across her face and through her hair, turning on her people she looked from Jace to the others around her.

“There’s…something going on that I think you should know.” She didn’t know if she was ready to tell them why Solis had fallen, but they deserved to know. Sam had tried to kill her for it minutes ago, and he didn’t even know why. “Everything that happened, has been because of me.” Her gaze drifted toward Kellan. He was at the back of the group now, but his eyes never left hers. Behind him, his siblings hadn’t moved past the mouth of the cave. Whether they were listening or talking amongst themselves, she didn’t know.

“We know they came looking for you.” Sam glared, rubbing the side of his neck. The puncture in his throat had stopped bleeding but the faint outline of a bruise now graced his throat.

She didn’t bother answering him. “There’s a price on my head, and those creatures came looking for me. I don’t know why. I don’t know what they want with me, and I’m sorry for everything it caused.” Demitria swore she wouldn’t cry again, but she could feel the tears lining her eyes, desperately trying to break free.

“Whatever it is, we’ll fix it. We’ll do what it takes.” Jace took a step forward, reaching a hand toward her.

“You saying you’re special or something?” Will scoffed. “Like they want you or something? Please, whatever it is can’t be that bad.” It took every effort not to shout back a retort. Not that bad? People had died because of it. They’d lost their homes. Everything. She settled on rolling her eyes, instead, unwilling to cause a rift with her own people.

“This is a bigger threat than you can even fathom, boy. I suggest you shut your mouth and let the adults speak.” Kellan glowered. “The destruction that you have witnessed is not something any of us should take lightly. The fact that it is happening this fast is… alarming.” He added.

“What do you mean? Is something coming?” Cory asked, turning from the conversation at hand, and back toward the other Horsemen, as if drawn to whatever it was they were saying. Demitria could see them talking quietly, but couldn’t make out what it was.

“This could mean the end of life as we know it.” Demitria’s voice hardened. “Something big is coming. Probably already here, and he wants nothing more than the destruction of every civilization here, and won’t stop until we’re all enslaved.”

Jace went silent. She knew she should have tried to explain it on the way here, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it.

“What is coming?” Like his brother, Sam glared at the Horsemen. At Demitria.

Kane spoke, moving from the entrance to join them. “A being that you don’t want to be anywhere near here if he succeeds. We could have used you over there.” He turned to Kellan.

“While you were wasting your time with the humans, Gabriel tried summoning the council again.” Eire stated, her arms crossing over her chest. Every part of the female looked deadly.

“And?” Kellan raised a brow.

“They didn’t answer.” Kane sighed, his pale blue eyes turning to the floor. Demitria watched the siblings, that curiosity spiking through her.

“We can’t let him succeed.” Gabriel said. Through his clenched hand, she could see the faint hint of red as it leaked past his fingers. “I will not allow it.”

“Who is he?” Tyler asked. Demitria turned toward the boy. The family she had vowed to never let another member fall, and she hated having him out here. One more body to protect with her life. One more she couldn’t let die.

“The Dark King is a power none of you will survive if we don’t stop him before he reaches his potential. Before he comes into the power he seeks.” Kellan’s eyes fell to Demitria. She knew he must have felt the same as her. The Dark King wanted her very soul, and they needed to know why

“They mentioned west.” Cory’s voice echoed off the walls. Loud, to ensure he was heard the first time. “I heard one of them tell the others to bring the bodies west.” He shook his head. “Wish I knew more. For all of our sakes.”

Bodies? Had they taken people from Solis? Did more survive?

“No one faults you. Any bit of information helps.” Kellan smiled at him. Surprise widened Jace and Tyler’s eyes.

“I was headed to the angel encampment when they found me. I wanted answers, and they were the only beings I could think of.” Demitria told them. She wouldn’t tell them about her capture, none of them needing to know the horrors she’d endured. Jace especially. “We were nearly there when Eire came across Jace.” When she’d captured him, really.

“The last report I received they were through the canyon. That was why you were there?” Jace asked her.

Demitria nodded, turning to face the Horsemen once more.

“I will still take you there. I meant what I said earlier.”

Eire opened her mouth to cut her off but Kellan silenced his sister. “Let her speak.” He barked.

“I want answers, just as much as you do.” She focused on Gabriel as she spoke. Willing her words to hit true. “This is my life at stake, and I deserve to have a say in what happens.”

“You’re just as stubborn as he is.” Gabriel groaned, rolling his eyes. He sighed. “You will show us the way, and I will make my decision then. For now, I will give you the opportunity to rest. We ride in a few hours.” Gabriel didn’t wait for any further comment before turning away from them and exiting the cave.

She was grateful for the reprieve, however short it may be. Despite the rest, she needed to figure out a way to make herself useful if she were to stick around.

Demitria had vowed to kill this Dark King. To find her answers and end the creatures that hunted her people for nothing more than sport.

She would find a way to accompany them on the rest of their journey.