by Ciara Graves
And stretching off into the shadows of the cavern and the tunnel were all the demons I’d killed in the line of duty. A false duty.
I flinched away from Mech’s arms.
“Lela?” He glanced over his shoulder, trying to follow my line of sight, but clearly, he saw nothing. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I whispered, then cleared my throat and said it louder, managing half a smile. “It’s nothing. I—uh, I should try to get back to sleep. That’s all.” As I said it, the faces of the dead continued to leer and snarl at me, as if they were going to come back from the dead and punish me for my sins. Mech’s hands tightened on my hips. “Really, I’m just tired.”
“You want me to walk you back to the alcove?”
“No, I’m sure you have more important things to take care of.”
“Not really.” He gently pushed my hair behind my shoulders and kissed me one more time. I shut my eyes, giving in to the sensation of his lips on mine. I hoped that when I opened my eyes, the dead would be gone.
Instead, they were nearer.
I bit back a startled cry and broke the kiss. I hopped off the shelf and backpedaled away from Mech and the dead right behind him. I edged around the pool as he watched me with a worried expression.
“Lela,” he said again.
A demon entered the cavern. He bowed at the sight of Mech then slid a curious glance my way.
“What is it?” Mech growled.
“Sorry to disturb you,” the demon said, but Mech waved him on. “We have reports of several packs of zombies and abominations leaving the encampment, sir. I thought you might want to speak to the scouts yourself.”
“I’ll be right there.”
The demon hurried back the way he came.
Mech came toward me, and the dead followed, always looking over his shoulder. “You sure you’re going to be alright?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I muttered, focusing solely on his face. “Wait. Did he say encampment?”
He hesitated, then quietly said, “Kexan and I found it. Looks like the evil that escaped from Hell is forming an army, and they appear to have found a leader. It’s where we were the night the safe house was attacked.” Guilt slipped back into his eyes.
“Stop it.”
“What? I didn’t do anything.”
“Stop feeling so damned guilty. I’m alive. They didn’t hurt me.”
“Didn’t they?”
I tugged on the long sleeves of the cardigan. “No, that was another asshole, but I’ll get over it. I don’t have a choice.” Without looking away from Mech, I noticed the dead were disappearing one by one. “What did you find at the encampment?” If I could keep him talking a little longer, maybe the dead would disappear altogether, and then I could get out of here.
“Zombies. A shit ton of zombies and a demonic figure I thought was Hadariel.”
I twitched at the sound of his name, then hated myself for it. “You sure it wasn’t?”
“If it was, I would’ve killed him.”
“Tried to,” I corrected. “You would’ve tried to kill him. And instead, probably gotten yourself killed in the process.”
“I can handle him,” he insisted with a fierce growl. “Hadariel will die.”
“Not at your hand.” If Hadariel was going to meet his end, I wanted to be the one to do it. He tried to destroy me, stole everything away from me that mattered. If anyone was going to have the privilege of ending his life, it was going to be me. Arguing with Mech on the matter seemed futile, so I let it go.
“I want to go with you,” I said.
He was shaking his head before I even finished speaking. “No reason to. If they tell me anything important, I’ll let you know.”
“Or I can just save you the trouble and go with you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not yet.”
“Are there going to be angels there?”
“No.”
“Then there’s no chance I’ll beat someone to death. I’m coming with you.”
“And I said no. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” I crossed my arms, mirroring him as he stared me down. “I can handle whatever they have to say.”
“And I’m saying you need to wait. Give it another few days.”
“That’s all I have, remember? Then the demon lords arrive. You can’t protect me forever,” I added quietly.
“I can damned well try.”
And he would too. I saw it on his face. He would do whatever necessary to keep me safe. We stared each other down until I gave in and sighed.
“You should go and speak to the scouts,” I said stiffly. “Don’t want to keep them waiting. I’m going to get back to bed, I’ll try to get some sleep.”
“I’ll walk you out,” he said and came toward me, but I held out my hand. He halted, a hurt look coming over his face.
“I just need some time to figure this out,” I told him. “What this means for us, I mean.”
“Right, sure. You do believe me then?”
How could I not? The idea of leaving Mech right then when I needed someone to lean on made my stomach hurt, but I needed time to process all he told me and all that I was feeling. Even if I was willing to give in to my emotions, did I want to be involved with Mech now? The war was only going to get worse. If we let ourselves get attached to the other and one of us died, I shuddered to think what that would mean.
“I do,” I said, unable to lie. “Or at least I believe there’s something between us, but I’m a mess right now, and they need you. So, I’m going to bed. We’ll talk about it later.”
That sounded pathetic. He accepted it though and smiled. “Look forward to it. If you need me later, come find me.”
“I will. I promise.”
I wanted to go with him and hear what the scouts had to say about this encampment. Mech would just keep arguing with me, then he’d throw me over his shoulder and take me back to the alcove. He’d probably sic a few guards on me, too. Stubborn bastard.
I’d just act like I was going back to my bed. The dead I’d seen over his shoulder were gone now, and with a brief smile I knew he could tell was fake, I turned around and left the small cavern.
I’d find a quiet corner to duck into until he passed by then follow him to where the scouts waited.
Then I’d listen in and see what new horrors we were going to have to face down. If I really was Mech’s soul mate, and the reality was settling in that I probably was, the chances he’d let me fight were slim. I’d have to find a way to change his mind or go off on my own. No way was I finished with this war. I wouldn’t be. Not until Hadariel was a rotting hunk of flesh in the ground.
Chapter 7
Lela
I crept further around the curve in the tunnel.
Mech had taken the scouts as well as Kexan deeper into the cave. They followed a narrow path that twisted and turned until they stopped at a large, rectangular space. The walls were uneven, as was the ceiling. It sloped lower toward the rear wall that had another entrance. The opening was so tiny, I doubted any of the broad-shouldered demons would be able to fit through it.
Two braziers lit the space, and there was a rickety table in the center. From the way the demons hunched over it, I assumed there was a map.
“Four abominations left the encampment several hours ago,” a demon said. “They were heading southeast, and each had a patrol of zombies and hellhounds with them.”
“Are there any known settlements to the southeast?” Mech asked.
“None that we know of, but the last survey of human outposts or compounds was over a year ago. More could’ve cropped up that we don’t know about.”
“No other reason for them to head that direction.” Mech leaned over further, brow furrowing in fierce concentration and worry. To think I believed only a few weeks ago that demons couldn’t care for innocents as much as angels did. Shit, how wrong I was about them.
“We can call up mor
e demons,” Kexan told him. “Stay ahead of the evil that headed out, and maybe have a way to know what they’re after.”
“Are the other scouts following these groups?” Mech asked.
“Yeah, we’re keeping track of them with these.” A tall, blond haired demon pulled several glowing gold coins from his pocket. “Beacons. As long as these are glowing, they’re alive, and if you’re near a map, it’ll light up with their location.”
The demon laid the coins on the table, and a subtle glow rose from the map on the table. I was too far away to see the locations. If I moved any closer, I’d give myself away. I’d have to just hope one of them said something, so I had a better idea of what was going on.
“They’re moving further apart,” Mech pointed out.
“That’s a good thing, right?”
He shrugged at the question, probably thinking the same thing I was. “It could be. Or it means they’re splitting up to surround a location. We need to know where they’re headed.”
“I’ll send word to Hell,” Kexan said, then started to leave.
There was nowhere for me to hide. I’d have to sprint back down the tunnel. As I turned to go, Mech told him to wait.
“Any more word on the angels?” he asked.
I dug my fingers into the stone wall as I waited for someone to answer. When none of them did, I silently cursed Hadariel.
“After their attack on the outposts, they’ve gone quiet again.”
“Do you think they did it all just to go after her?” Kexan asked.
“I don’t know. Why would Hadariel throw her from the Heavens to watch the war, only to kill her a few weeks later?”
“If he thought she was suddenly a threat,” Kexan suggested, “he might not want her to live.”
“She’s a commander,” another demon said slowly. “Does she have intel on him?”
Mech’s eyes flicked toward the tunnel as if he knew I was there. Could he sense me? Was this part of that whole we’re destined to be together crap? As soon as I thought it, my gut twisted. It wasn’t crap. Deep down, there was a connection between us, and it was damned strong.
But I had to be stronger and not let it turn into anything beyond a few intense kisses. It’d only get us both killed in the end.
Mech was back to looking at the map, his eyes following the lights of the scouts, I assumed. “There has been a recent development,” he said slowly, and I tensed. “But from what I can tell, it doesn’t change what she knows about Hadariel’s defenses at their main fortress. We are still in search of a general to give us what we need.”
He hadn’t told them about my parents being murdered. I was grateful for that. No one else needed to know yet. I was still processing that Hadariel had erased my memory. What else had I forgotten? Was I the only one he’d done that to? There was no way to fly back to the Heavens and ask.
A shadow tugged at the edges of my mind, willing me to remember before that horrible moment. What else did I forget, courtesy of Hadariel?
What was worth taking my life? What made the high general change his mind?
“Then we’re going to call the new development a coincidence?” Kexan was asking.
“For the moment, but I want all defenses raised at any outpost or compound we are charged with protecting. Until we have a better understanding of what Hadariel’s up to, I don’t want anyone caught off guard. Ensure all locations have backup and escape plans in place.” Mech leaned on the table.
I noticed the worry lines etched into his forehead and down his tattoo-covered cheeks. Those hadn’t been there when I first met him. He hadn’t shaved and the stubble aged him.
He was the largest demon in the room, and he was the only one seemingly weighed down by the decisions he had to make. His hands curled around the edge of the table, knuckles turning white. Every inch of his muscled physique was tense, as if he expected another attack to come any second. When we first met, he’d been more on the sarcastic and snarky side. Not so stiff. Less disciplined.
He was turning into a warrior of Hell. A soldier. He was turning into the demonic version of me, back when I gave a damn about orders and duty.
“Mech?” Kexan nudged him.
“Right. Sorry. Get word to Hell. Stay on this. I want to hear if more leave the encampment and where they’re headed.”
The demons all lowered their head in acquiescence, and one by one, they slipped out of the slim opening in the back wall. As they passed through, it erupted in flames. No wonder it had appeared so tiny. It wasn’t a doorway, but a portal.
When the last demon was through, Mech waved his hand, and the entrance shut, returning to a normal cave wall.
Mech remained at the table, hunched over, and studying the map. Alone, he appeared even more beat down. He’d been going non-stop, just like I’d been before we met. Then I came into his life and it’d been one incident after another. He was so worried about me, it was going to distract him and wear him down faster. Why couldn’t he see that?
“Are you going to keep watching me like a creeper? Or come out?” he said with a smirk.
I froze, not sure if he meant me or someone else.
He lifted his head, and his eyes landed on mine. “Lela. I’m not blind.”
“Never said you were.” I sighed as I stepped into the room.
“You do remember demons can see in the dark,” he said quietly with a wink.
I approached nodding. “I do. I just thought you’d be too distracted to see me.”
“Right. That’ll never happen.”
My cheeks grew warm as he came closer, but I backed away, wanting distance between us. He rumbled softly but stayed on the other side of the table.
“You heard everything.”
“Those groups. Any idea where they’re headed?” I leaned over the map and spotted the small stones that marked the abominations and their escorts. “Are they normal abominations?”
“From what the scouts said? Yeah. But after what we saw, who knows.”
I studied the terrain, noting where we were located. Dakota wasn’t too much further to the east. Several other compounds and cities I knew of were noted.
The abominations weren’t headed toward any of those.
If they were trying to surround one, they were doing it in a very indirect way. No, there had to be something else they were after.
I traced my fingers along several possible routes, mumbling under my breath about the mountain passes and old roads. I shifted around the table as I did it. Mech backed out of the way for me, not saying a word. His eyes were on me the whole time, and he was close enough to reach out and touch.
His presence was comforting and distracting. Both, at the same time. I needed to focus.
That same shadow that tugged at my mind earlier yanked harder now.
I tilted my head as I noted the old mining roads that led to a small ravine to the northeast of our current location. If the four abominations shifted their course to the roads closest to them, they would eventually end up in that ravine.
I tapped my finger on the location. Blood Falls Ravine.
Why did that name sound so familiar?
“What is it?” Mech asked, his deep voice bouncing off the stone walls.
“This place. I know it,” I told him. “I was there a long time ago.” Why couldn’t I remember? Had I been there with Nathaniel? No, it had been something else. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think.
The falls appeared in my memories. They were called Blood Falls for the red rock behind them that tinted the water to look like blood. The cliffs around them were steep, and there was only one safe path down. It was difficult to traverse. One wrong step and a person would end up falling and breaking his neck.
There was a pool at the bottom of the falls, and something was at its center. It was dark everywhere else, but that pool glowed—
I flinched when I heard my mother call my name.
“Lela?” Mech’s hand was on my shoulder as my eyes flew open
. “You still with me?”
“Yeah, just trying to remember, but I can’t.”
“You sure you’ve been there?”
“I am. Just wish I knew why.” I drew back, and his hand fell to his side. “Look. Whatever’s going on out there with the evil and the angels, I want in.”
“We’ve been through this. You are not leaving this cave.”
“I can fight. You’re the one who told me that, remember? You’re the one that told me people were relying on me. Well, guess what, sunshine. That means I’m going to have to fight.”
His mouth twisted in an annoyed grimace, as if he’d been hoping I forgot what he told me.
“And,” I said, not sure how this was going to go over with him, “until the war is over, I think it’d be a good idea if you and I kept our relationship less complicated.”
He stiffened, and I sighed inwardly. Nope, he didn’t like that at all.
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning whatever is going on between us is only going to distract us, and we can’t afford to be losing focus.”
His eye twitched, but it was clear the gears were turning. “And after the war?”
“After the war—if somehow we both miraculously survive—then I would like to see where this could go.” It was all I could give him for now. I silently begged him to understand where I was coming from, though a part of me screamed that I was being an idiot. I should embrace what we had now and be done with it.
Honestly, I was scared of getting too close. I was mortal now. I could die a hell of a lot easier. The angels at the safe house proved that. I’d gotten lucky, and if that fury hadn’t kicked in, I might already be dead and gone.
He paced away from the table, and when he turned around, leaning his shoulder against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes were filled with heat. A fluttering started in my chest, and I suddenly hated him for what he did to me with a single look.
“If that’s what you want, then fine.”
“Good. And whatever fight’s coming for us next, I’m going to be there.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for it?”