I had one last glimpse of Ila’s valley. Sawyer raced toward us, his eyes gleaming red, blood dripping from his mouth. His shriek pierced the thousands of miles that separated us. And just as the hole blinked out, a shot of flames slammed into me, searing my hair and shirt. Tendrils of smoke wicked into the crisp air, floating upward through the starry sky above my head.
I hit the ground with a sickening jolt, and fell back into dewy grass.
I couldn’t stop the tears from rolling through the smudges on my cheeks.
Ila’s valley burned. And the rest of the world would soon follow.
Chapter 6
Ember
Waves. I heard the crashing of waves and felt warm sunshine on my face. I tried to lift my head, but my neck was sore and I dropped it back onto the soft surface and groaned.
“That’s enough sleep for you, don’ you think?”
The voice registered in my mind and I forced myself to sit up, pressing my hands down onto a rubbery substance. At first I could only squint, the light was so blinding, but I kept blinking and slowly I got used to the brightness.
“Is that you, Adria?” The words sputtered out of my dry mouth. I could taste salt on my tongue and I grimaced.
“Yes, your friend Adria is here. Mind you, I did not expect to be called on for help so soon.” She shrugged. “But I am in your debt for rescuing my beloved Vorago.”
The sound of splashing was followed by a loud humming noise. I swiveled and opened my eyes fully. The blurriness cleared and I could finally see clearly. My jaw dropped and I crawled to the edge, peering into the watery depths. My ride sliced through the waves and several dolphins dove alongside us. They jumped playfully, but I hardly paid attention to them. I was more interested in what I was sitting on—a whale.
I reached out with my Tempest and my Gaia, touching the enormous water beast. It was a blue whale, and she was beautiful. Her nearly adult-sized calf was streaming beside her and another whale swam below us. The trios’ hums filled my head in such a soothing way, I wanted to close my eyes and go back to sleep.
“I’m riding on a whale—a real whale.” I spread my fingers wide on her skin.
“Yes, and you are lucky she was close by, or you might not be gushing like an awestruck child.”
“I don’t understand. I never called you for help.”
Adria’s dark skin glistened in the sunshine and shells and seaweed leaves kept her from being naked. A long braid fell down her shoulder, and small conchs decorated her hair. She threw back her head and barked out a laugh. The whale mimicked the dolphin woman by blowing a squirt of water from her spout. It was like being sprayed by a hose and I squealed when the cold water struck me.
“You don’ even know your own talents. Still as ignorant as when you arrived on my shore, searching for a way to change your hooved friend into a human. Hah!” She eyed me with a broad grin. Your Tempest is what called me here. It’s a part of you, and when it feared your death, it sent a shock of power through the ocean.” She rubbed the whale. “This girl came to your aid, lifting you to the surface. I arrived soon after, but with the Angels in the sky, I didn’t dare show my true form.”
“Gabriel was trying to kill me…”
“That one is no good. He is stubborn and merciless. His grudges never die.” Adria sighed. “He would have succeeded, too, if the ocean hadn’t risen up to protect you.” She leaned over. “That angry Angel dove into my world and the waves tumbled him over and over. Schools of fish pelted him and orcas rammed into him. He fled the watery depths, joining a battle in the sky that was beyond comprehension. I never thought I would see the day when Angels would battle Angels. An’ I’m not talking about the fallen ones. These were the Celestial Host striking swords at each other.”
Memories came flooding back. “Insepth?” I whispered.
“What? That arrogant one? I never saw him.”
I scanned the horizon and as far as I could see was water. My heart stuttered and I dropped my head.
“Now don’ go getting all lovesick on me. This isn’t the time for such things.”
Anger brought my head up. “I’m not lovesick. He’s my teacher and my friend.”
She hooted and slapped the whale’s back. “Your lies don’ work on me, child. I am the water. I know your emotions and your heart. You have feelings for that Watcher, but you fight them. I don’ know why. He would be a fine mate. Better than the brooding Demon.”
Her words echoed in my head and then the tears were falling. I pulled my knees up below my chin and covered my eyes with my hands. “Sawyer was taken away by Samael—the Devil,” I choked out.
“Nooo! Oh, poor child.” Her muscled arms slipped around me. “That is a fate I would only wish on my worst enemies.”
Adria hugged me and I clung to her, sobbing. Sawyer was gone and all my friends were far away. I’d probably never see my brother again or even meet my niece or nephew. Angels were trying to kill me and I couldn’t stop the world from ending. I pressed my head harder into Adria’s shoulder. I just wanted it to stop—I wanted the world to be normal again. I’d give anything to wake up in Ila’s cabin to the smells of her cooking breakfast, or go back even further still to my old bedroom in Ohio, when Mom and Dad were alive.
The water queen pulled back and gave me a gentle shake. “Now, stop it! You must be strong.”
I sniffed and rubbed my wet eyes. “Why? We’re all going to die anyway. It was shown to me. There will be fire and monsters and torture. I thought I could stop it. But I know now that I can’t—no one can.”
Adria pursed her lips and snorted. “I don’ know about all that, but I do know the Angels will make your lover suffer. And you might be able to save him from that.
“Insepth isn’t my lover. It’s Sawyer I want to save,” I said.
She shook her head and scowled. “There’s no saving that one. The Dark One was able to take him because he was soulless. From the moment he was turned Demon, it was his destiny to travel the path of evil.
“No. I won’t accept that. I can save him. I must!” I argued, standing on unsteady sea legs.
Adria followed me. “Then you will be throwing away not only your life, but the lives of your friends and family. You will fall, and all will perish.” She poked my chest with a long finger. “You were born Ila’s descendant, with all four elements coursing through your veins for a reason—and it wasn’t to save a Demon.”
I shook my head. “The Angels’ warding prevents me from using my powers. And even when I can draw on the elements, I’m weak compared to them.”
“You are stronger than you think.” Adria abruptly turned and spread her arms wide. “Look around you. If the Angels have their way, this will be gone. My home and all my friends will be gone.” Her eyes sparked when she looked back at me. “You must fight to the end, like Ila would have wanted.”
The thought of Ila made me stand straighter. What would she have wanted me to do? Deep down, I knew the answer.
And I knew what Gabriel and the other Angels would do to Insepth. I couldn’t leave him to that fate.
“Do you really think I can save Insepth?”
Adria nodded. “And together you can save the world.” Her voice lowered. “But they’ll be waiting for you. Your Watcher friend is the bait.”
“Then how can I possibly hope to succeed?”
“Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith.” She grinned.
Insepth had basically said the same thing to me more than once. And no matter what impossible jam we were in, we always pulled through. I took Adria’s words as a good sign.
“But where do I begin to look for him?”
Adria glanced up and I followed her gaze. And then I saw them.
“Angels. You’ll need Angels to show you the way.”
Chapter 7
Cricket
I lifted my head from the grass and watched the yearlings gallop across the pasture. A bright bay bucked and kicked out at another that tried to pass hi
m. They both threw their heads and whinnied. They didn’t stop until they reached the herd of other youngsters. There was some rearing and bucking before they settled down to graze once again.
It is a joy to see them frolic under the stars. War spoke in my mind. He reached out and nuzzled my neck. I trembled beneath his touch.
How did you know of this place? I looked past War to see Famine grazing along the creek. The palomino seemed quite content to relax among the real horses.
War eyed me. This region is known for its horses. There are many here. Most are bred for racing, but some serve other purposes. It is a place I always wanted to visit. And while we wait for Death and Conquest to learn our fates, why not?
It’s called Kentucky. I was foaled here. I remembered my dam’s bristly muzzle cleaning my wet hair while I laid in the tall grass. “Those months were far too fleeting.”
What a glorious thing to be raised in this place. It’s what I imagine an equine heaven to be like. War pranced forward, nipping a few bites of grass.
I followed him to the creek, glancing around, expecting monsters and fire to arrive at any moment. Seeing Ila’s valley burning and being overrun by evil creatures had been too much to bear. I only hoped the charging clouds gave Ivan, Horas, and Angus enough time to escape. The wolf and the Demon had good hearts and they were my friends. I feared the bear and the little animals didn’t make it. The entire mountain had been aflame.
I shivered. It was only a matter of time before that happened here too. The yearlings would be so afraid.
I focused hard on the woman’s body that was a part of me now, and for once, I welcomed the change. I waited for War to follow suit. He hesitated and stomped his hoof.
“It’s hard for me to mind speak when talking about human things,” I admitted, swatting at a bee that buzzed near my ear.
I didn’t like the small, weak feeling in the woman’s body, but it was easier to have a conversation, and that’s what we needed right now.
Seeing that War was being stubborn, I walked away. A moment later, he jogged up to me on human legs. There was a glint in his eyes.
“Damn, mare, you’re a stubborn one.”
“As much as I want to graze on the thick grass and have a good roll, there’s more important things on my mind.”
War snatched up my hand, pulling me to a stop. “I cannot relieve your worries. My hope is when the time comes, our Creator will allow me to take you with us.”
“To live imprisoned in a stable made of rocks somewhere in the clouds?” I pulled away and crossed my arms. “I don’t want to live like that—and neither should you.”
War tossed his hands up. “I do not make the rules. I follow orders.”
“But no orders have been given.” I stepped closer, lifting my neck and hoping War caught my scent on the breeze. “Why can’t we help Ember?”
“What—and disobey the Creator? Do you know what might happen to us then? We’ll be as bad as the Angels who’ve rebelled.”
“No one’s been punished yet.”
“Are all females so frustrating or is it just the human ones?” The corner of War’s lips twitched.
“I have read that it is a common theme among females. They tend to be difficult by nature,” Famine said, leaning against a tree trunk, having changed silently into man form. I stared at him with narrowed eyes, and he returned my look with a furrowed brow. “You saw the beasts and the fire, the Fallen Angels, and their Demon leader. Now that the barriers are broken, more will flood into this land. Even we cannot stop it from happening.”
The starry sky darkened with clouds and the sudden wind bent the trees down. This was no ordinary storm and I looked up, waiting for something bad to happen. I was close to changing form when I spotted the black horse galloping across the sky. A white horse jumped to the lead and charged downward, bringing with him a gust so strong, branches snapped from the nearest trees.
There was a brilliant display of exploding colors, and Conquest and Death were striding in our direction. The hurricane died down by the time they reached us, and the moon peeked out once again.
“I see you’ve both fared well while we were battling Angels and scouring earth and Heaven, looking for our Creator.” Death’s face was harder than usual.
Conquest grasped War’s arm and murmured greetings before he did the same with Famine, and then he smiled at me. “I’m glad the exquisite mare is still with us.” His grin broadened. “You are a very welcome sight for tired eyes.”
I blushed and looked away.
“You were supposed to talk sense into this one,” Death jerked his thumb at War as he glared at Famine.
“The mare is one of us. I see no harm in her company,” Famine replied with a shrug.
“Agreed,” Conquest said, slapping the palomino on the back.
Death shook his head. “That is a discussion left for another day. We have work to do.”
War’s muscles tightened and he raised his head. I could smell his alertness.
“Did you find Him?” War’s voice was steady, but quiet.
Death’s mouth thinned and he turned away. “No, but we didn’t expect His greetings when we returned, either. The horn has sounded, and we must complete our task. Perhaps when it is over, we’ll find some peace.”
“You’ll kill everyone, including the horses of this world!” I said.
Death turned back. He hesitated before his face softened, along with his tone. “Terrible things are already unraveling. The chaos will cause more suffering to the inhabitants of this realm, than our destruction of it. The balance has been thrown off. Angels are behaving irrationally.” His volume rose. “They are at war with each other. Beasts break free from their bonds in Hell. We are the only ones who can restore order to this forsaken world.”
I faced Death. I could see the yearlings in the upper pasture, and beyond them were the pregnant mares with their tall foals still by their sides. Pristine white barns dotted the landscape. Their cupolas pointed toward Heaven. Somewhere north of here, I envisioned Rhondo lying beneath the old oak tree, enjoying the cooler evening air. I would not let these horses destroy it all. Somewhere was Ember and she needed me.
In a burst of colors, I was a black horse once again. I tossed my head, and dug my hooves into the dirt. Death had only an instant to change before I struck out at him. I crashed into his larger, hardened body, and bit at his neck. He whirled and kicked out at me, but I cut to the side, avoiding his striking hooves.
Stop this madness or I will kill you! Death shouted into my mind.
He knocked into me, sending me to the ground. I rolled into a standing position and charged at him with teeth bared and neck arched.
I will not allow you to kill this mare, Death. War’s voice rattled in my mind. All I saw was a flash of his chestnut coat in the moonlight as he shoved me aside. He rose on his hind legs and came down on Death. Sparks flew and their screams were answered by concerned nickers from across the pasture.
Death got a hold of the crest of War’s neck and bit down, causing blood to spurt. But War didn’t show any pain, turning and planting both his hind hooves into Death’s side. The kick separated the stallions and gave Conquest and Famine the space to plunge in between the two in their horse forms. Conquest pushed against War, while Famine turned his rump to Death, trying to get the black horse to stand down.
A blinding explosion of colors and all the horses were men again. I followed suit, and ran over to War, who had a gash running down the back of his neck.
“Are you all bloody insane?” Death growled. Famine stayed in front of him, not allowing the older man to pass.
“You bit me!” War thundered.
I felt around War’s neck for a gaping wound, but there was none. I could only guess that since they were immortal beings, the wound healed quickly, but the blood remained.
Conquest held up his hands. “Calm yourselves, brothers. We will not fight among ourselves the way the humans and Angels do. We are the first herd
. Don’t ever forget it!”
Death tilted his head and exhaled. “I wouldn’t have bitten you if you hadn’t attacked me.
“You threatened my mare!”
Conquest’s brows lifted, and my cheeks burned.
“That’s because she was attacking me as well.” Death grunted and strode forward.
Conquest remained firmly in front of War, but he allowed Death to lean in and place his forehead close to War’s. In man form the gesture looked strange, but if they’d been horses, it would have been easily understood as a sign of submission. Death didn’t want to fight War.
War leaned over and inhaled deeply, a low sound erupting from his lips. When the three men stepped back, the tension was gone from the group. I was still very angry, though.
“Please don’t do it,” I pleaded.
“And what is the alternative if we don’t?” Death asked, sounding worn out. “Let Samael rule this land? It would be far worse.”
War looked at the other Horsemen, and then at me. “Until we hear directly from the Creator, we fight. We fight anyone who desires to destroy this” —he spread his hands wide, motioning to the surrounding fields filled with horses— “beautiful land for their own selfish desires.”
Conquest nodded first, followed by Famine, and finally Death.
I slipped my arms around War and hugged him. He kissed the top of my head and whispered, “All will be well.”
I didn’t really believe him. But it didn’t matter. I’d bought Ember some more time, and gained four new allies for the war to come.
Chapter 8
Horas
Angus nipped my hand and I pushed up into a sitting position. Dim light spread on the horizon, casting long shadows down the mountainside. It was early morning in Romania. The terrain and forest were similar to the Smokies, but even wilder. I’d spent some time in this land in my early Demon days. They weren’t bad memories.
A groan drew my gaze from the snow-capped mountain scenery to Sir Austin and Youmi, who were both stretched out on the damp grass. The air was cold and still.