Blood and War

Chapter 42

Forty-Two

DEMITRIA

T he path ahead grew smaller and smaller as they climbed until they were walking single file. The wind had all but disappeared, and the air grew hot as they pushed on. Demitria watched as Kellan scanned their surroundings, listening for anything out of place. She watched his features harden, unnerved at whatever he did—or didn’t—hear.

Kellan had insisted that Demitria climb in front of him. Should anything go wrong, he would be there if she so much as faltered. She was glad for it. Her nerves had always made her clumsy, and the rugged path onward was growing steeper by the minute. Sharp rocks jutted out on either side as they advanced. Sharp enough that she knew they would maim should she fall. The ground beneath her was loose. Stones the size of her palm littered their path. Nothing about it was solid, and they broke free with each step, waiting to take one of them down. It would only be her people, that much she knew. If anyone should misstep, it would be one of them. Jace. Cory. Her. She at least had the protection of the Horsemen. The other two would be utterly helpless, unless someone else stepped up. Despite this trek, she doubted any of them would have. Eire especially. Demitria was glad she led the charge, far away from her own people. She wouldn’t have to watch the female stand there, grinning as one of them fell to their deaths, and Demitria wouldn’t have to try and kill her, despite being on the same side.

Because she would do it, she realized. She would kill Eire if the female pushed her hand. Wouldn’t even think twice before drawing her blade.

“Relax your body. You’re expending too much energy before the climb.” Kellan’s hand was soft on her arm, pulling her back from the blood thirsty thoughts that had taken over and plagued her. She hadn’t even realized how rigid she’d gone, or the fists that had been clenched tight. Demitria relaxed her hands, fingers already aching. “I will not let anything happen. To you or them.” He reassured her, and gods did she believe him.

With a smile, they pushed on. Over the rocky terrain as they climbed to the biggest obstacle of the trek, aside from whatever lay at the top. Whatever was waiting for them. The only sound she could hear was the drag of her boots across the path. The slipping as rock after rock broke free and she stumbled, only to be steadied with a solid hand at her back.

Much to her surprise, the angels had stayed on foot. Demitria had been sure they would have flown alongside as they hiked. To keep their bodies honed. Primed to fight whatever came at them. To save whatever strength they could, but they walked along with the rest of them. Like a team. Arakiel had said that together, they were the strongest. She just hadn’t realized that had included them as well.

Laylah kept pace with Eire. Meeting her step for step as the Horseman ascended at a godly pace. Her body effortlessly traversed along the rocks. Nimble. Graceful. Demitria hated it. Despised the way she carried herself, as if better than the rest of them. Like she deserved the world, and they were nothing but a smear among it.

Further down the line, Cory and Jace climbed close together. Leaning on the other for support. She was grateful for Cory. Once upon a time, that would have been her up there. Beside Jace. Fighting alongside him. They’d been glued ’o each other's hips for years. How different things had played out. The path she had chosen.

His foot slipped, and she felt herself lurching forward. Knowing that no matter how fast she moved, it still wouldn’t be fast enough. She wouldn’t get there in time. Demitria nearly screamed as Jace tumbled. It was Arakiel who reached him first. Wings carrying him swiftly toward her friend, grabbing hold of his arm before he could plunge down to his death.

Demitria nearly vomited, and was all too grateful for the lack of breakfast that morning. She was trembling as she watched the silent conversation. Jace’s face pale as the angel spoke, then nodded at whatever he'd said. Then he was looking at her. Seeking out her gaze, wanting to make sure she knew he was okay. Wanting nothing more than to embrace him, her body shook slightly.

Family.

Jace was her family, and she’d nearly just lost him. Again.

It reminded her why she was doing this. Why she was choosing to fight and not stay back like he and Kellan had begged her to do. Having lost nearly everyone she cared about, she had vowed to never let that happen again. They’d both made that promise, so many years ago, that they would never feel that pain again. Never know that feeling of truly being alone. Because they always had each other, and nothing would ever change that.

She would kill everything that threatened to break that. Every being that sought out her family. Every creature that so much as looked maliciously at anyone she cared for, she would slaughter them where they stood. Lucifer had played his cards. Had sent his army to eradicate the world.

It was her turn to play hers.

“I’m going ahead.” Eire had turned around, closing in on the rest of them that she’d wandered away from. “Can you feel it?”

“I feel nothing.” Kellan eyed her.

“That’s exactly it. Nothing.” She met the stares of her siblings. The angels. Eire didn’t bother to look at Demitria or her people. “There have been no demons. None of their creatures.”

“Something isn’t right.” Kane agreed.

“It’s a trap.” Kellan had suspected it. From the moment they’d stepped foot on the mountain, he’d known something wasn’t quite right, and told her as such. He’d hoped that his instincts were wrong, but that wasn’t proving to be the case. It had been why he’d been so quiet. So focused. Demitria let the shudder course through her as any hope she’d let herself feel dwindled.

“We don’t break.” Gabriel’s voice was stern. Law. “We stay together. Especially now.”

“I respect you brother, I really do. But don’t force me to go against your will.” Eire’s voice nearly cracked at the thought of it. “If we are to end this here today, we need eyes up ahead. You know that.”

No one spoke as Gabriel debated what to say. What Eire’s next course of action was. They all knew she was right, but was he willing to split them? To send her off into the unknown, when they knew it was a trap?

“We have come too far to turn back now. Failure isn’t an option.” Demitria stepped forward. “At all costs, Lucifer cannot succeed. And if letting her go scout ahead makes the difference in us defeating him, trap or not, we take that chance. No questions asked.”

“Why don’t you send one of your own, before sending mine off to what could be her end.” Gabriel’s voice rumbled through the group, but she didn’t back down from his challenge. It was reassuring when Kellan took up beside her. Agreeing with her.

“I’d go myself if I knew it would help us, but we all know where those skills lie. Who would be an asset, and who would falter.”

“I’ll go.” Kellan stepped forward past her.

“No.” Demitria and Gabriel shouted in unison, but it was her arm that reached him first, hand gripped tight to his muscled forearm.

“Eire is the tracker. The scout. She will go.” Gabriel finished when she’d gone quiet. He faced his sister. “You make it up the cliff, and you wait. No farther. Scout the path. Only return if you find something.”

With a nod, she was gone. Disappearing up the path in a near sprint. Energy that she was shocked the female still possessed after the climb they’d already done today. Demitria hated to admit it, but she was jealous at the stamina the female possessed. The skills that made her such an asset to them. But she herself was human. The only thing she’d brought to the group so far had been her stubborn refusal to back down, and her innate pull for finding trouble.

“We should keep moving.” Gabriel spoke, his eyes never leaving the spot where his sibling had been. Watching. Waiting for anything out of the ordinary. Demitria knew what he was feeling right now. The worry. The fear as his family left into the unknown. Because it was exactly how she felt watching Jace make that trek.

He waited only a few moments before resuming his swift pace toward the cliff, the rest of their group keeping pace with him.

It felt like hours had passed before they reached the cliff side. Only then had they decided to take a moment to catch their breath and refuel. The angels handed out small amounts of dried fruits and meat before passing around a few canteens of water. She was grateful for it. That first climb had been brutal, her body was already running on near empty, and that hadn’t even been the worst of the climb. That part was next. She ate anyway. The exertion on her body was enough to chance the sickness that could follow the grueling climb.

The cliff was steep. More so than any of them had realized. Especially to her own people. They didn’t have inhuman strength or wings should they fall. The angels had agreed that flying was a last resort. It would give away whatever position they had, if that even mattered. Regardless, flying them up had been out of the question.

The smooth surface of the rock had little for foot and hand holds. They’d have to go slowly and carefully. But with the sun nearly peaking in the sky, she knew they couldn’t afford to dawdle. Didn’t have the luxury to take things slow. There would be no camping out on the mountain and fighting tomorrow. Once they emerged on the flat outcrop, they would engage. Regardless of how tired any of them were.

Craning her neck, she looked up. Up the sheer face of the cliff that taunted them. A few hundred feet to the top, then another small hike before they reached the outcrop. If they were to make it before nightfall they would have to leave any minute. The short reprieve not nearly enough for her aching body. Muscles near spasming as they strained.

She could do this .

Because if she didn’t, it meant the end of life as they knew it. If they didn’t make that climb before the sun fell, she knew it would be over. Regardless of the blood moon still days away. Lucifer and his army would find them, and eviscerate everything she knew. It had to end today, at all costs.

Eire had yet to return, and Demitria hoped that had been a good sign. That she hadn’t encountered anything, and was waiting for them at the top.

Or she was already dead.

“We need to move.” It was her turn to lead. Not because of Eire, but the fear that they had already downed a Horsemen. The fear of what losing one of them could mean for this entire fight. Could they even win? They had Arakiel and his angels. Kellan. Gabriel. Kane. Jace, and Cory… would it be enough? “If the sun falls before we get there, we’re done. We’ve lost.”

Demitria strapped the sword to her back before checking to make sure her remaining blades were tucked away in her clothing. Losing any weapons on the way up would be bad. Another thing they couldn’t afford.

Tightening her boots, she stepped up to the cliff. Heaving a breath before pulling her body up. No one made a sound as they followed behind her, and she could feel his presence directly beneath her. Like a shadow lying in wait. When she moved, he moved. When she faltered, he was the hand to steady her. To keep her from tumbling.

The muscles in her arms roared in protest as she pushed higher. Fingers bleeding at the tips, nails cracked and bloody as she grabbed for anything she could manage along the rocks surface. When even the smallest ledge could mean life or death for her. For any of them.

Gabriel and Kane had surpassed her within minutes. The angels, too. She knew Kellan would have easily, but he stayed behind with her. Warming something within her chest. He wouldn’t let her fall.

The next foothold had been higher than she’d anticipated, and she stretched. Reaching with outstretched fingers as she dove for the small alcove. It had been nearly in her grasp when the stone beneath her crumbled. It took every ounce of control to hold back the scream that would give whatever advantage they might have away. She was silent as the world slipped out from under her.

“No!” It was Kellan who roared, making the leap for the foothold she’d missed, his hand digging into the sword strapped to her back as he slammed her body into the wall with him. Holding the both of them steady as the silent tears fell down her face in streams. “I will not let you fall.” He whispered. She couldn’t see his face, but knew he was staring at her. The warmth of his breath ghosted along her neck. The stone bit into her face, hard enough she knew it had drawn blood, but she didn’t care. She was alive. “I’m going to push you up to the next hold. Take a deep breath and calm your mind. Don’t rush this.” Demitria could only nod. The words had left her.

Kellan did as he said and gently pushed her up to the next divot on the surface. Grasping it with an iron grip, she pulled with everything she had. Ignoring the screaming fear in the back of her mind.

I’m not afraid.

Daring a glance upward she nearly sighed in relief. Gabriel and Kane were just cresting over the edge. She was close. She could make it. Jace was there too. He’d caught up to the angels and was staring down at her. Willing her to make it. Had he seen her nearly fall to her death? She’d never have been able to live with herself if this was where she met her end. Before the battle even began. Before she could even do anything to help her people. The world.

A slim hand reached for her at the top, and the offer shocked her. Eire stood, stone faced with her arm outstretched for her to hold on to. Demitria waited. Contemplated it. Would she let her go?

“Grab my hand you stupid girl.” Eire’s voice was harsh, demanding as she dangled out that tether toward her. Finally, she grasped it, the Horsemen hoisting her up the remaining feet of the cliff. “Don’t say I never had your back.” She huffed, spinning on her heel as her long, dark braid flipped over her shoulder, leaving Demitria wide eyed and mouth agape.

She didn’t dare look down at how far they’d climbed. Couldn’t stomach the thought, so she stood there, bent over with her hands on her knees as she panted to catch her breath. Kellan brought over a canteen filled with cool water and she drank it greedily. Lips dry from her labored breathing.

Eire gave the others a few moments to catch their breaths before reporting.

“It’s a trap,” She stated. “I found nothing. Literally nothing on my way up. Not a single demon. They know we’re here.”

“Fuck.” Kellan cursed. Each one of them had hoped for a different outcome, but it hadn’t surprised them one bit.

“What do we do now?” It was Cory that broke. Asking the question that neither she nor Jace couldn’t bring themselves to do. Fearing the answer that deep down, they all already knew.

“Our plans don’t change.” Kane glared at him. “We end him here. Trap or no trap. No matter what lives it costs.” He hadn’t said it, but she knew. Their lives. Her friends’ lives would be a sacrifice that he was willing to make. That all of his kind would be willing to make if it meant they’d succeed.

“They don’t have to continue, but I will.” She stepped up. “Jace and Cory can stay back. I will fight for them. I refuse to have them forfeit their lives.” She was responsible for them. They were all in this mess because of her. They could have all lived their lives, blissfully unaware of the mass destruction that threatened their world if she hadn’t gone back to Solis. And if they died, the blood would be on her hands. Demitria would never forgive herself.

“That isn’t your choice to make.” Jace grabbed hold of her shoulder. Hard enough to hurt, but she didn’t flinch. “Where you go, I go.” He whispered. “We do this as a team. Together.” It took everything in her to hold back a new set of tears. The sacrifice he was so willing to make to stay by her side.

She didn’t deserve him. Didn’t deserve the undying love and loyalty that he showed her, time and time again. She knew it would be the reason he died one day. It would be because of her.

Finally, she looked at him. Hoping. Praying to whatever gods were listening to keep him safe. Begging him to see the words in her eyes that she couldn’t say. The love she felt for him.

They didn’t have long to wait before needing to push on. They were so close to the top. So close to the end that would either break them or save the world. Demitria righted her blade, settling that familiar weight alongside her hip once more before she drew it.

The air around them was wrong. Eerie, and it set her on edge. Senses screaming at her to turn around. To come back the way she came, knowing that the climb down was the lesser of the two evils before her. But she pushed it down. Down, down, down until she felt nothing. Until that fear was replaced with an unyielding need for revenge.

They pushed on, weapons drawn, with a new wave of energy. Up the remaining rocky terrain that would lead them to Lucifer. To the battle that waited for them, and they emerged onto the outcrop together.

She wouldn’t say a goodbye to either of her friends. Because they would get through this together if she had her way. Each and every one of them would return from this fight. They’d trek back down that fucking mountain and go back to the estate. They’d reunite with Atlas, and cultivate the land around them. Build a community anew. Better than the last. Better than that she’d ever known, and she’d live.

Demitria would live. She’d love.

She’d be free.

“We’ve been expecting you.”