Children of the Apocalypse Complete Trilogy, page 46
part #1 of Children of the Apocalypse Series
I stood as well and took my cup to her sink. “I’m sure it will be. What do you plan on doing when they get the city back up and running?”
“I’m going to go back to school. I had just gotten to college when they shut it down because of the plague. I’m hoping that we’ll be cleared to go and I can get my degree in nursing.”
I smiled and leaned against the counter. “You’ll make a wonderful nurse.” I glanced out the window at the darkening sky. I saw several people making their way back into the housing, probably trying to make it in before curfew. “I should get back. Thank you so much for the coffee.”
“Come again? I like having company.”
I nodded. “Sure. I’ll come when I get a chance. We’ve got a lot going on.”
“Sins, Demons, and the Devil.” She winked at me. “I’m sure you really do have a lot going on. Try not to get yourself killed.”
So she had known about everything. I laughed. “I’ll do my best.” I closed my eyes and took myself back to Death’s Realm.
32
“Where on earth have you been?” Dad asked the moment I appeared.
I raised a brow. “I went to have some time alone. Famine pushed one of my buttons a little too far. I needed to be away for a few minutes.”
“You’ve been gone for a few hours.” He motioned to the house. “Pete has done nothing but panic non-stop about you being gone. Worried about you not coming back.”
I closed my eyes. “Some fearless leader he’s turning out to be.”
“Famine told me what happened, and though I don’t really agree with him, I think it was wise for you to step back for a bit and let Pete take the front, to get Famine off your back. Pete follows your lead which means he’ll be able to pull this off.” Dad sighed. “There should not be this much arguing between everyone, and you should not be disappearing.”
“Are you done?” I crossed my arms. “I have a question about prophets.”
He froze in his motions of waving about. I wasn’t even sure what he was motioning to.
“Prophets are rare, and normally they reveal themselves to us. Why?” He dropped his arms. “You’ve met one?”
“I’ve met someone claiming to be a prophet, but I don’t know enough to tell if she is one or not.”
“Tell me about her.”
I told him what Katie had told me and explained how I’d given her vague information and yet she knew what I was dealing with.
“And there was no sign of her being anything else?” He tapped his foot on the ground and looked up like he was thinking.
“Nothing, nothing in her eyes, no wings on her back. She wasn’t even like the janitor I saw who had stubs of wings. The others have met her too, but none of them said anything was unusual about her.”
Dad nodded. “She sounds like a prophet alright. She must have just been more comfortable around you to tell you. The boys are a bit more threatening. She said she saw the skulls in your eyes which means that she is more than human.” He hammed for a moment. “I suggest you don’t tell her a lot about what is going on, just to keep her mind untainted so that her natural abilities can flow.”
“I don’t really want to share too much information with her anyways. Just in case she’s being used by someone. But the female company was nice.”
He started to say something but shook his head. “Come on, let’s get back inside.”
The closer we got to the house the louder the exchanging words were. The walls still muffled them enough that we weren’t able to tell what they were saying, but the moment we approached the door, the words faded into silence.
I walked in and looked around. “So, Pete, have a plan yet?” I kept my voice even and looked only at Pete. He looked surprised and then cleared his throat.
“We do, but we couldn’t make the final decision without our last team member here.” He motioned to my empty chair, and I sat down.
Famine turned to me. “Did you have a nice pout?”
“I went for a wonderful walk and had some coffee. My head is a bit clearer now. For the record, I’m claustrophobic, and you had me trapped against the wall. You’re lucky I didn’t punch you.” I settled into my chair and folded my hands on the table. “Tell me about this plan.” I kept my body turned away from Famine.
Pete smiled. “You wanted to draw Greed out, and we decided that was a good move. She’s weaker in the human world. The last place we saw a Sin was the walled city, and that’s our starting point. They have a reason for clearing it out, and we think it might be to create another gateway since the City on Fire collapsed.”
Dad and I had just gotten in the gateway when the city finally gave into the fires that had burned for years underground. The area became unstable and collapsed. “Why would the city make a good gateway?”
“Because there are enough human emotions and evil gathered there that the veil between Hell and the human world is thinner.” War looked over his shoulder at me.
“Which means that it’ll be an easy access point. Greed will be guarding it because it’s not ready to be a full gateway, which means no sacrifices to enter. Just a gatekeeper is needed right now.” I put the pieces together. “So we go to the city and draw her out.”
Pete nodded. “Death and War want to come with us.”
“And Famine? I thought we decided that all of us against Greed would be the best.” I tried to keep the anger out of my voice.
Pete took a deep breath as he started to explain, but Famine moved behind me, and Pete lost his words.
I glanced over my shoulder to look at the Horseman. “It doesn’t matter; if Pete changed plans, then I’ll follow his lead. I’m just curious as to why you don’t want to face Greed. You chose not to come to Hell with us, and now you won’t face her on human ground.”
“It’s none of your business, child,” he growled.
He was right, it was none of my business, and I wouldn’t push. I turned back to face Pete. Now was not the time to fight with Famine. “Do we have a strategy for the attack?”
“War does.” Pete stepped to the side for War to take his place.
He met my gaze. “Little Death is the only person who has been able to get close enough to Greed to take a body part. She’ll go in, and we’ll watch her back. For those of you who haven’t fought Greed before, she fights with gold thread; it is unbreakable.”
I forced myself not to cringe at the reminder. “She controls it with her fingers, and if you watch her movements then you can see where she’s going to stretch it. However, she can also use it to surround you. It would be best if we were all spread out.”
“You don’t get a say, remember?” Famine said.
I spun around. “My best friend and someone I loved was killed by this woman. My experience can help. So shut up.”
“Sammy is right; it’s best if we all spread out so that Greed can’t focus on us all.” Pete’s voice was a bit louder than it needed to be.
I turned back around and settled in my chair with my arms crossed. I bit my tongue to keep from lashing out at Famine again.
“She also controls souls of the damned and hellhounds,” Pete continued. “Death and War will be with Sammy, focusing on Greed. Once they get her sealed away, then the souls and hellhounds will disappear.”
It wasn’t so much of a plan as a warning that we had more to work with than Greed. Pete still gave me the lead without me acting as the leader.
“Turn in, get some rest, and tomorrow we face Greed.” Everyone stood. I stayed in my chair and watched as everyone made their way to their room.
Pete sat down in front of me. “Where’d you go?”
“I just went for a walk in the human realm. I felt trapped. I wouldn’t have left for good. You know that right?”
He nodded. “Famine pushed you too hard, and he seems so focused on pissing you off.” Pete looked at me. “Do you know why?”
“Dad says it’s because that’s the way Famine is.” I leaned back in the chair. “The way I see it, Famine is a coward and a bully. This is the second time that he has avoided facing Greed.”
“That’s because he and Greed were lovers once.”
I blinked a few times at him. “What?”
“Before she became a Sin.” Pete nodded. “None of us knew that until earlier. That’s why he doesn’t want to face her. It gives her more power over him.”
I snorted. “Then why all the fuss about facing her in Hell?”
“Because he was going to back out at the last moment anyway, claiming that Death, War, and you could handle her and that he didn’t need to go to Hell.”
I locked my jaw. He was a coward. “And had we not made it out?”
“I don’t know, I assume feel guilty.” Pete shrugged. “It doesn’t matter though because you didn’t run into her there. We’ll find her tomorrow, and we’ll get her sealed up. Without anyone else dying.”
That was my hope. I didn’t want any more blood on my hands. With me still being in the point, screwing up would mean someone’s death would be my fault again. “Why are you putting me in point?”
“Because you’re the only one that’s faced her. I know that you can get close enough to lead Death and War there. Just like Famine had said originally.” Pete put a hand on the one I was tapping the table with. “Why did you give up leadership to me?”
I looked down at our hands. “Because I didn’t want to be the one to make life or death choices anymore. I’m tired of having to be the one that makes the last minute calls on the battlefield. Zacharia once told me that I just took over when it came to the battles, that despite Aeron being difficult, he trusted me to make the calls on the field. You all did. That’s how Ruthie was killed. Looking back, that’s how my mother got killed, I was too focused on the battle, same with your grandfather.”
“You have to stop focusing on that.” He squeezed my hand. “You’re the reason we’ve taken down so many Sins and Demons.”
I looked at him. “What was it you said not long ago? We’ve been through a lot together?”
“Yeah, that we have. I think had we not found you, our death toll would be a lot higher. But you don’t need me to tell you that. You can just call up that number.”
I could, and I hadn’t thought of that. I closed my eyes to call up a number. Pete was right; the number just kept rising.
“I can tell from the look on your face that I’m right.” He moved his hand from mine. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a big day.” He stood and disappeared down the hall to his room.
I wasn’t ready for bed yet. It might have been the coffee I drank not even an hour ago, but either way, tea was needed. I went to get the teapot and found it already full.
“I figured you’d want tea before bed.” Dad just seemed to appear in the kitchen.
I set the teapot to boil and got in the cupboard for the sleepy-time tea. “You know me well.”
“You okay with Pete’s plan tomorrow?”
I nodded. “Nothing I’d like more than to get Greed sealed up. Killing her might be a great option, but we know that’s not possible.” I leaned against the counter while the water boiled. “Famine hates me. I don’t know what it is.”
“I told you, he’s just that way. He likes to think he can control everyone.” My dad handed me a teacup. “Don’t let it get to you.”
I raised a brow. “Don’t let it get to me? Were you in here when he was basically telling me to shut up?”
“As I recall, you turned around and actually told him that.” His lips twitched as he tried to hide his smile. “You have to remember that he’s centuries older than you.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’ll learn to get along, just like you did with Aeron.”
He had a point with that. Of course, it took me throwing Aeron to the ground in a spar for it to happen. I poured the boiling water over the tea bag. “I’ll do my best. As long as I can trust him when we’re fighting demons together, we’ll be okay.”
“You can trust me on that.” He motioned to my tea. “Enjoy.”
I planned on it, in silence and alone. I picked up my cup and went to my room. “Good night.”
“Night, Sammy. Rest well.”
I leaned against the creaking wall of the city. “I don’t sense any demons,” I muttered as I spun my scythe.
“Be patient, Little Death. She’ll come.” War leaned on his battle ax. The weapon came up to his chin while the blade was double-headed and as wide as he was. I wasn’t sure how he’d manage to wield it, but I’d seen Wrath wield a terrifying hammer about the same size.
Pete strummed the string on his bow and sighed. “Really, you’d think she’s be roaring to get us.”
I heard the faint sound of a coin jingle. My head perked up, and I looked around. War straightened and put a hand to his ear.
Aeron summoned a sword and stepped up next to Kaleb. I kept my gaze moving around the area as Pete stepped up and notched an arrow. Another jingle followed and soon grew into a chorus of coins chiming against each other.
A gust of wind swirled around us, and in a black and gold tornado, Greed appeared in front of us.
“Scatter,” Pete yelled.
I stayed where I was, the command was meant for everyone except me, Death, and War. I swirled my scythe as the gold strands made their way towards us.
The strands clinked against my scythe, but my speed kept them from getting through. The cloud and dust disappeared, and Greed stood there in all her glory. Her gold hair tumbled over her bare shoulder where her dress slid down her arms, barely leaving anything to the imagination.
“I see you’ve learned since our last fight.” She swayed towards us. “And you brought your father and War to help. That’s cute.” She flicked her wrist, and her nails lengthened into gold daggers. “I owe you for taking my hand.”
I caught my scythe in my other hand to stop the spinning. “Maybe this time I’ll take both of them.”
“Still sad that I killed that angel? You should have seen your face. The anger and the grief about took you out. Lucile almost had a grip on your soul.”
I took a breath to keep her from rattling me. I found a spot in my mind, one that calmed me in the heat of battle. My mind slipped into it, and all I could focus on was Greed and our mission to trap her. My muscles became fluid and moved smoothly through the tension of carrying the weapon.
I took a few strong steps forward. Her arms tensed to summon a string, but she waited for my attack. I started to circle her, and she followed me. She flicked one hand up, and hellhounds moved out of the shadows. With the other hand, she summoned damned souls, but neither was my problem. My focus was Greed. I had five other people at my back to take care of the hell creatures.
She smirked. “Not scared of my little pets anymore?” She crooked a finger, and I could hear the nails of the hellhound tap against the pathway.
I heard the whoosh of an arrow and the howl of the hound before it fell to the ground. “Nope.” I swung my scythe around the mid part of my body and caught her dress before she jumped back. A piece of fabric hung off my blade, and I flicked it off.
Death appeared behind her and brought his scythe down, but she held up her arms with a gold thread to stop his blade. I rushed forward and sliced diagonally across her body. She flipped away, narrowly missing my blade. War came around me wielding his big ax held sideways, one of his strides equaling three of mine.
He brought his ax around, and she blocked it with several threads. Her eyes grew wide as the ax struck and bent the threads. War’s ax was almost strong enough to get through them.
I ran up a pile of rubble and jumped towards her, bringing my scythe down. She dodged and my blade bit into the ground. She flicked her wrist and the gold strands whipped against my body. I held up my arm and hissed as they cut my skin.
Blood dripped down my arm, but I found myself grateful that they hadn’t cut my arm off. I flicked the blood off and gripped my scythe, all we needed was to get close enough.
I shot forward again, and a damned soul darted up. Kaleb’s sickle sliced through it. He nodded to me and then moved to the next one. I continued my path to Greed. She growled at me and flung both hands out. Gold thread surrounded me, and my heart skipped a few beats as my mind flashed back to hell.
My body froze up, and my gaze refused to focus. The world around me blurring into the memory. My lungs burned with the need to breathe but I forgot the simple action with the panic that climbed through me.
“Sammy!” I swore that I heard her voice in my ears, but Ruthie was nowhere to be found.
“Little Death.” War’s voice was misplaced in the memory, and my mind came back to me. I sucked in a breath that burned through my lungs and focused on Greed. I’d beaten her once; I could do it again. I tightened my grip on the scythe.
“Now,” I called out. She couldn’t defend herself from them and keep me in her trap. I rushed forward despite the closing threads. If I were going to die, I’d make sure they were able to lock her away, and my death would go to good use.
Threads pressed against my skin and locked around me. Blood coated the gold, and my scythe slipped from my hand. Pain etched itself in lines on my body. I closed my eyes waiting for the final pressure.
The slicing of the threads disappeared, and I fell to the ground. I opened my eyes and saw the crisscross of angry slices and cuts across my skin. Blood welled in them and spilled over my hands.
Pete ran to my side. “They cut that damn close.”
“I’m okay,” I promised and stood. My body resisted, but there was no way I was going to cave into the pain. The cuts were deep, but they’d heal quickly. It could have been much worse, but Greed was gone now.
Kaleb and Aeron came up. “Good going.” Aeron let his sword disappear. “You trapped her using her own weapon. She couldn’t kill you in time to defend herself from Death and War.”
“They took her to seal her away, hopefully for good.” Kaleb lifted my arms and looked at the lacerations. “I suppose I can mummy wrap you.”
I glared at him. “They are fine. Once they scab over, I’ll be okay.”
