“Jaz, how can you stand it?” he asked.
Leo’s voice was so tight that I worried it would break. He dug his finger through his wet hair and into his scalp.
“Stand what?” I asked. “You look great.”
“Having that… thing… in your head,” Leo said. “How do you not lose your mind?”
I forgot all about the food, arguing with Uriel or even Leo’s near nakedness. My mouth went dry.
“Is Death talking to you?” I asked.
“Not exactly. Not with words,” Leo answered. “But I feel it inside me. It’s like… like this rage. And I can’t make it stop.”
I flinched. “Pestilence touched you. I mean, I felt weird when you came into the garage, but Uriel didn’t actually start talking until Gabriel grabbed me.”
“I wanted to kill that woman at the front desk,” Leo told me. “Tanvi. Just put her face right through that glass counter.”
He looked down at his hands. They were shaking. Hard. Leo clenched them into fists.
“But not as bad as I want to kill you, Jaz,” he said in a barely audible whisper. “I want your blood… It’s like the heroin all over again. I don’t know if I can do this…”
I wanted to give Leo a hug, or just rub his shoulder, but I was afraid to do anything that would make Death stronger.
It may, Uriel said. Touching him with your lips before was a terrible risk.
You mean kissing him back in Cibola? I asked.
“Enough!” Leo snarled suddenly, then looked down at me with a guilty expression. “Not you… Sorry, Jaz.”
I waved my hand as nonchalantly as I could manage under these messed-up circumstances.
“It’s okay,” I told Leo. “I get it. Really.”
Death will not speak to its vessel as you and I do, Uriel said. The horsemen are too wild.
I’m not leaving Leo, I answered at once, before they could start telling me to go find the other angels.
…I know that you will not abandon him, Jaz, Uriel said. But you must learn caution.
Leo was rubbing his head again, hard enough that I worried he was going to leave a bruise and throwing his freshly washed hair into utter disarray.
“The food came while you were washing up,” I said. “And it smells amazing. Let’s eat and get some sleep. The nightmares aren’t great, but at least we’re both used to those.”
We moved the saddlebags off the chairs and sat, then got to work devouring the food we had ordered. My steak was a little overcooked, but the protein felt good in my stomach. The pilaf was just as delicious as Tanvi promised, but the huge, caramel-topped brownie was even better. I licked the plate clean and hoped Uriel was paying attention.
When we were finished, I placed the empty dishes outside while Leo watched the hallway with suspiciously narrowed eyes. He closed the door and secured both locks after I came back inside. I replaced his gun on the nightstand.
“Now I just want some sleep,” Leo said, then gestured toward the bed. “There’s only the one, but I can take the chairs. They’re pretty soft.”
I shook my head. “That bed is huge. I think we should be able to share it without getting into much trouble. I don’t know the next time we’ll get to be anything like comfortable, so let’s both take advantage of it while we can.”
Leo looked like he wanted to argue, but then he nodded and headed for the bed. I raised my hand like a student in class.
“Um, are you planning on sleeping naked?” I asked, eyeing the towel around his waist.
Leo glanced down, turned and went back to the bathroom.
“Sorry,” he called from inside.
“I wasn’t actually complaining,” I muttered under my breath.
You’re thinking of some of those pleasant things, Uriel said. Is this… chocolate?
Close enough, Uriel.
Clothes were a good idea if we needed to run, so I went to bed in another one of Leo’s oversized t-shirts. At least, oversized on me – they seemed to fit Leo just fine.
It had been another long, screwed-up and exhausting day, and I expected to fall instantly down into apocalyptic dreams… But I laid in the huge king-sized bed, staring at the hotel room ceiling as Leo tossed and turned just a couple feet away. He mumbled in Spanish and I didn’t catch most of it. But no means no in any language, so I understood that much. Leo called out Carlos’ name a few times, too.
I clutched the covers up under my chin. I wished that I could scoot over and wrap my arms around Leo. Not because having my hands all over the big, well-muscled biker sounded like fun – although it did – but because I remembered Pestilence’s horrible wasp-voice telling Leo that he was weak on his own. Was that true?
I didn’t know a whole lot about motorcycle gangs – I was more interested in the machines than the culture – but I knew that road captain wasn’t a position they handed out on a whim, especially to a guy as young as Leo. If the Knights of Hell had followed him, it was because they trusted Leo, because they could rely on him. I remembered how much Leo had wanted to get back to his friends, and how it crushed him to see what Pestilence had done to them.
For all of the big scary biker thing that Leo had going on, he didn’t seem to do particularly well on his own. Rather like the horsemen and archangels, actually. They were stronger together. But with the Knights dead, Leo was a wolf without a pack, and he was lost alone.
At least Leo still had his uncle. Even without me riding behind him and being an almost literal angel on his shoulder, I guessed that Leo would have driven straight for San Diego. He was desperate to reach Carlos.
In his sleep, Leo snarled something that I didn’t understand, and just about kicked the blankets off the bed. I wished that I could help him sleep better, but couldn’t think of any way to do that.
So I just waited. Eventually, Leo quieted and settled into a deeper slumber. I let out a long sigh of relief. Finally… We both needed rest and I hoped that after a good night of sleep in a big, comfortable bed, we would have the energy to deal with all of this shit tomorrow. I snuggled down into the covers beside Leo and fell quickly asleep.
And then woke up with Leo’s hands locked tight around my throat.
Uriel! I shouted frantically.
I couldn’t get the actual word out through Leo’s grip. He was on top of me in the bed, looming over me with his long fingers wrapped around my trachea. My vision was going swiftly gray at the edges and swam with little bursts of red light. But I could see Leo’s face, and his eyes were squeezed shut. He was still asleep, but I had the terrible feeling that under those closed lids were empty black sockets.
Death waited until Leo slept, Uriel said. And then overpowered its vessel while his guard was down.
Okay, useful information, but not really helpful right now. I thrashed in Leo-slash-Death’s grip, kicking the extra pillows across our hotel room as I clawed at the big hands crushing my throat. I swung my arm in a wild punch, but it glanced off Leo’s temple with a clang like hitting metal.
Uriel, help me!
Light flickered at the corners of my vision. Not red this time, but bright and incandescently white. It rippled down my body just like when I was fighting back in Zamora Canyon, and the pressure on my trachea eased.
I coughed, then grabbed Leo’s wrists and pulled. There was no way I could overpower a man of his size and build, but things can get weird when you ask an archangel for help. I pried Leo’s hands off of my throat, then planted my foot against his stomach and pushed. Leo flew up and off of me, through the air and then crashed down into the armchairs.
His eyes were still closed, but Leo rolled swiftly back to his feet. His eyelashes were thick and dark, almost long enough to brush his cheeks. It’s strange what you notice when you’re being murdered…
I tried to jump out of bed, but my legs tangled in the blankets and I fell back into the mattress. Leo advanced on me again and I could feel Death inside of him. It was cold and quiet, like falling through ice and deep into the f
rozen lake beneath.
“Leo!” I wheezed.
My throat was a bruised, aching mess and all I managed to get out was that single rasping word. Leo grabbed for me again, and I rolled across the bed away from him. I came up into a low crouch on top of my pillow and Uriel’s glowing aura flickered, concentrating around my fists until it looked like I was holding a pair of lit flares. Strange shadows danced and jumped, but I kept the burning blades of light lowered.
“Leo,” I gasped. “Leo, please wake up!”
He took another step and I raised Uriel’s weapons. But then Leo opened his eyes and blinked sleepily.
“Jaz…?” he asked.
Leo stared at the nimbus of angelic power surrounding me and whirled, suddenly awake as he searched the hotel room for threats. He grabbed the gun off the bedside table and swept it around in an arc.
“What the hell happened?” Leo asked. “Horseman?”
“Yeah,” I wheezed. “You. Death.”
I wanted to stand down, but Uriel kept my fists blazing with light that shone like beacons.
Leo’s back in control, I told the angel. Let go of me!
I shook my hands out, trying to wave the light away.
Death is patient, Uriel said. And cunning. It will use any ploy, any tool at its command to secure victory in the coming battle. You cannot lower your guard, Jaz.
Leo stared down at his body, maybe expecting to see some dark aura of his own. He touched his chest and then his face, but didn’t seem to find anything amiss. Leo swallowed hard and put his gun down on the nightstand.
“What happened?” he asked quietly. “Did I hurt you?”
“Death took over while you were sleeping,” I answered with a cough. “It’s not strong enough to run the show when you’re awake yet, Uriel says. But when you’re asleep, your defenses are down. It can take control.”
Leo sank to his knees, with his elbows on the bed and hands covering his face like a little boy at prayer. His broad shoulders shook and I turned on one of the bedside lamps as Uriel’s light finally faded from around me. I still felt the archangel tense and watchful inside me, though.
“Is Uriel telling you to run away?” Leo asked me through his fingers.
“Not at this precise moment. Why?”
“Maybe you should listen,” Leo said. “You have to get away from me, Jaz. That’s twice I’ve hurt you. I’m dangerous.”
“Leo, I’m okay,” I told him.
Actually, my neck was sore as hell and my vision still swam with shimmering gray specks from lack of air. But now didn’t seem like a very good time to mention that and besides, I was recovering quickly.
I can heal your body, Jaz, Uriel told me. But not if Death kills you. Go.
“No, not a chance,” I told both the archangel and the biker. “Carlos says he has answers and I need them, too.”
Leo looked at me through his fingers. Tattooed flames shone red and orange along the back of his hands.
“I could call you after I make it to San Diego. Tell you everything Carlos has to say,” Leo offered. “But you don’t have to ride with me.”
“Hey, we’re staying off the phones for a reason,” I pointed out. “You might not be able to call me.”
“Jaz, it’s too dangerous for you to stay.” Leo pushed himself slowly upright. “What if I attack you again? What if I hurt you even worse?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No. I’m going with you, Leo. Stop trying to talk me out of it. You’re not doing this thing alone.”
I thought that Leo would argue, maybe get all blustery and macho about some girl half his size telling him off. But Leo closed his eyes and nodded.
“Alright, Jaz,” he said.
This is unwise, Uriel told me. But… I admit admiration for your loyalty.
Well, Uriel must have chosen me as a vessel for some reason. Leo opened his eyes and watched me with a hard expression on his face.
“What?” I asked.
“Alright. We can’t let Death ambush me again,” Leo said.
I blinked. “Um, how exactly can we stop a horseman?”
“Death was able to control my body because I was asleep, right?”
“Right…” I answered slowly.
“I’m not giving Death the chance,” Leo said. “I can’t sleep.”
“So you’re going to stay awake until we get to San Diego?” I asked.
“Yeah. It’s not that far,” Leo said. “I’ll need to tank up on a lot of caffeine, but it’s only two or three more days. I can make it work.”
Leo went to the minifridge and grabbed a pop from inside. He showed me the green can, pried up the tab and drained it in a few long gulps. Before I could quite process how fast the guy could drink, Leo had taken out another soda.
“Leo, do you really think this is a good idea?” I asked. “It’s not like I can drive the Packmaster if anything goes wrong. I’m pretty sure it would throw me into the nearest ditch. And then run me over for good measure.”
True, Uriel agreed.
“I’ve stayed awake for a night or two before,” Leo said. “It’s tough, yeah, but not impossible.”
He finished the second soda just as quickly as the first, then took a deep breath and pointed to the gun sitting beside the bed.
“But take that,” Leo said. “I shouldn’t be near it, in case I get sleepy. If Death had shot you…”
“Uh, no need to finish that sentence.” I approached the gun like it was a snarling dog and picked it up gingerly. “How do I unload it?”
“You should keep it armed and ready,” Leo told me. “In case you need it.”
“I’m not going to shoot you,” I said.
Leo scowled, but then nodded. “Hold it by the grip, but don’t put your finger on the trigger. There’s a little round button near your right thumb. Push it.”
I found the button that Leo described and pressed it carefully. The magazine slipped out of the gun’s handle – or the grip or butt or whatever it was properly called – and thunked to the floor, almost smashing my bare toes. I yelped, then sighed and moved to drop the gun back onto the table.
“Stop,” Leo said, holding up his hand. “There’s still a bullet in the chamber.”
“Shit, what?” I asked.
I had no idea what that meant and held the gun away from me like a live spider. A really big, heavy one.
“Hold the grip again, but not the trigger,” Leo said. “Pull the slide. That’s the top part. Bring it all the way back, and the bullet will pop out.”
I did as Leo instructed and was ready this time when a bullet jumped from the gun. I wasn’t ready enough to catch it out of the air – which would have been badass – but at least I didn’t shriek again. The bullet bounced across the bed and I breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced up at Leo.
“It’s actually unloaded now, right?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Leo answered. “And the safety was on, anyway.”
“What? Then why did you let me get freaked out?”
“First rule of gun safety – a loaded weapon is always dangerous,” Leo said.
“Says the guy who carries one in his pocket or jammed down the front of his pants,” I grumbled.
“I’ve been shooting since I was eight years old,” Leo told me. “I know how to handle a gun safely.”
“Carlos taught you?”
Leo nodded. He picked up the loose bullet from the bed and pushed it back into the magazine, then I tucked the gun and its ammunition under my pillow. That was going to be lumpy as hell, but at least it would be nearby. In case I needed it.
“Go ahead and get some sleep,” Leo said. “One of us should be rested.”
I felt really guilty about it, but Leo had a point. When something inevitably went wrong, it might help if one of us was alert.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I asked.
“No,” Leo said. “But I’m sure that you won’t be if Death takes over again.”
He turned one
of the chairs, grabbed a third can of soda and sat facing the door. Reluctantly, I replaced the disheveled bed covers and slid beneath them. I pulled the blanket up under my chin, but left the light on. Darkness would only make it easier for Leo to fall asleep.
I didn’t like the idea of him staying awake for days… but I couldn’t think of anything better. I threw an arm across my face to block out the light, since it would keep me awake, too.
Hey, why didn’t you ever try taking control while I slept? I asked silently.
I am not certain that I would succeed. You are strong, Jaz, Uriel told me. Even in slumber. But Leo is emotionally compromised by the deaths of those close to him.
And what if I was that vulnerable? I asked. Would you take over then?
Uriel was quiet for so long that I wondered if I had fallen asleep.
Nothing is more important than victory, the angel answered at last.
That wasn’t very reassuring, but the sharp surge of adrenalin had faded and I was suddenly exhausted all over again. Finally, I fell asleep listening to Leo’s deep, even breathing.
The smell of coffee woke me in the morning. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Leo had opened the curtains a crack and sat in a slice of golden dawn light. He held a cup of coffee and the pot provided by the hotel was about half full on the minibar. Leo’s brown eyes were bloodshot.
“Gah, ugh… what time is it?” I asked him in a sleep-roughened voice.
“About seven thirty,” Leo answered. “I cancelled the wakeup call, since I was already up. Somebody from laundry dropped off your clothes, too.”
“You look tired.”
“As long as I still look like me, I can live with that,” Leo said. He yawned. “I got some maps from the lobby. I think we need to stay off Highway 44.”
“Huh? Why?” I asked.
I blinked and then stretched my arms up over my head until my spine popped. We had been following Highway 44 ever since we left Crayhill.
“Pestilence,” Leo answered. “It found the Knights and then us on 44. They’re expecting us to follow the highway.”
400 Horsepower of the Apocalypse Page 17