Carved (The Road to Hell Series, Book 2) Read online

“We will stop him, no matter what it takes,” I said.

  “Should we turn back?” one of the humans asked, drawing my attention to the fact they’d all gathered around us as the church fire continued to grow and billow into the sky.

  I could feel the eyes of the demons boring into me. They would agree to whatever I said, but I knew they had already weighed our options too. Continue onward and still have a small chance of success, or turn back and face a turbulent future and near certain death.

  “There is no turning back,” I grated through my teeth.

  “We don’t know what’s out there!” I recognized the speaker as the same woman who had become hysterical over the gargoyles. “We’ve already lost half our numbers, and now you’re saying some of the worst of what resided in Hell is here and more of it could be set free any day now.”

  “There’s nothing worse than us,” Bale said with a flick of her red hair over her shoulder. “There is simply more mindless, but as you can see, we beat the gargoyles, the akalia vine is burning, and we leveled the revenirs. Keep your eyes open, stay alert, and you will survive.”

  “You beat the gargoyles,” the woman said. “We were decimated.”

  “Enough, Jackie,” Hawk said brusquely.

  “No, not enough! Don’t think everyone hasn’t noticed how you three have ingratiated yourself to them, earning extra protection and following her around.”

  The malicious glance she gave River caused the hair on my nape to rise and my lips to skim back.

  “Who picked this girl?” Bale demanded, her gaze scathing as it raked over the young woman.

  “I was picked because of my fighting skills,” Jackie said. “Skills I have no chance of using against monsters such as you and your kind, and whatever she is.”

  Again, her eyes burned into River. Releasing her, I stepped toward the girl. “I’d suggest you stop looking at her like that; otherwise, you’ll be making your way back to the wall. On your own.”

  “That would be death,” she whispered, her lower lip quivering.

  “I’m a monster. I don’t care.”

  “Kobal,” River said from behind me. Her hand encircled my wrist as she stepped beside me. “We’ll get through this,” she said to Jackie. “We all knew there would be casualties when we left the wall, but this has to be done. It’s the only hope any of us, or our loved ones, have of being able to survive. The wall isn’t going to hold out forever. If we turn back now, all will be lost.”

  “Of course you’re willing to keep going. You’re one of them, or whatever you are, and you’re sleeping with him, so he’s going to protect you more!” Jackie retorted.

  River’s hand tightened on my wrist, but she couldn’t stop me from advancing on the girl. “Not the head!” she gasped.

  Jackie took a step away from me, then another. Shax moved forward to stand between us before I could reach her. He lifted his hands in a conciliatory gesture.

  “I’m not going to kill her!” I snarled at him.

  “Frightening her isn’t helping,” Shax replied calmly.

  I focused my attention on Jackie again. “You can cry and carry on. You can think what you will of us, but you ever talk to her in such a way again, it won’t be your head I tear from your body in order to silence you.”

  Jackie’s jaw dropped open before she closed it again and slapped both of her hands over her mouth.

  “Nice,” Shax muttered. “Diplomacy is not your thing.”

  “Fuck diplomacy. We’re the only thing standing between her and certain death. If she doesn’t like it, then she can go back.” My gaze shifted to the rest of the humans gathered behind Jackie. “You may have as many as another five years before it ends or as little as tomorrow, but Lucifer’s followers will only gain in strength, and they will make it to the wall. Not only will most of you die when that happens, but so will most of the millions of other humans who have managed to survive for this long. The ones of you who are killed outright, will be the lucky ones. Those unfortunate enough to survive will be enslaved and tortured. There are more humans and demons making their way inland to help us. We will meet up with them at the gateway and find more protection.”

  At least, I hoped they were still coming. They most likely wouldn’t encounter gargoyles, but there were other obstacles out there now that the seals were collapsing so quickly.

  “Everything contained behind those seals won’t be in this area either. They would have spread out to claim their own territory, something they’ve never been allowed to do before. If we’re able to close Hell again, many of them will die,” I continued.

  “And those that don’t?” another human asked.

  “We’ll kill them.”

  “How long have these seals been open?” another asked.

  “Not long,” Corson answered. “The revenirs move quickly as they can spread through the dead, and the gargoyles can fly. The akalia vine is slower than they are, but still faster than some others, and we’re only a couple of days away from the gateway we seek. I’d say it’s been a month at most since the first one fell, but most likely only a couple of weeks.”

  The other humans shuffled uncomfortably from foot to foot. Captain Tresden finally stepped forward; I eyed the man, not at all liking his unwillingness to take control of his people. Sweat beaded across his forehead and trickled down his cheeks as he stared at the people gathered around him. He was keeping his slowly unraveling composure hidden better than Jackie, but it was only a matter of time before he cracked.

  We’d done our best to pick only those we believed would survive this journey with their minds still intact, but there had been no way to completely guard against picking someone who wouldn’t do well out here.

  My gaze slid to Erin, Hawk, and Vargas as they stood near Corson and Bale. All of their faces were composed of stone, their eyes unrelenting. One of them would be the best choice to take over for Tresden when it became necessary, maybe even before, but that discussion would be better to have someplace away from the burning building behind us.

  “We have to go, now,” I commanded brusquely as the fire snapped loudly in the air and a breeze pushed the smoke toward us. “The flames will only draw attention to this area.”

  Taking hold of River’s hand, I kept it clutched in mine as I hurried back to the truck and opened the door for her to slide inside. The others climbed into the back of the truck and settled in. Turning away from the church, I slid behind the wheel, started the vehicle, and shifted into drive as the sun lowered in the sky. We wouldn’t cover much distance before we had to stop again for the night, but we had to get as far from here as possible.

  CHAPTER 33

  River

  My knuckles ached as I leaned forward over the wheel, but I didn’t lessen my death grip as all around me screams echoed through the unnatural tunnel of akalia vine that had grown up to enshroud the road. A fresh burst of flame on my left didn’t tear my attention away from the rutted road. We’d encountered the tunnel about a half an hour after we’d left the burning church behind.

  I’d realized forty-five minutes ago why the vines hadn’t blocked off the road. The minute the last vehicle crossed into the tunnel, pieces of the vine descended in search of fresh meat. I shuddered as more fire burst free and eerie, hissing screams emanated from the writhing vine surrounding us.

  On the other side of the road, Corson sliced the bottoms of the vines with his talons and brushed them aside when they fell on him. Behind him Bale and Shax worked at slicing away the vines with machetes while on the other side of the road Morax and Verin did the same thing. The demons were covered in blood from the slices the hideous vines tore across their skin when it managed to get in a blow against them.

  All of the humans remained within the vehicles. Erin was sprawled inelegantly across Vargas and Hawk, looking as disgruntled as the two of them did. With little air flowing through the tunnel, the truck had become stiflingly hot with the four of us crammed into the cab, and I was finding it increasing
ly difficult to breathe. However, that had little to do with the heat and more to do with my concern for Kobal.

  The sun should still be in the sky, but the vines, smoke, and fire filling the air obscured any hint of remaining daylight. Kobal shot me a look over his shoulder when I cracked the window in an attempt to get some fresh air flowing through the cab. None of us smelled particularly great right now, but the air outside wasn’t any better as the cloying scent of smoke and the rancid garbage stench of dying akalia vine filled my nose.

  “Close the window,” Kobal commanded before releasing another blast of fire at the seeking vines.

  I ducked when one slapped against the glass, inches from the opening. “You should let me help you. It will go faster,” I offered for the hundredth time.

  “No. Close the window.”

  “Kobal, be reasonable about this.”

  The look he shot me left no room for reason as his eyes became their stunning, amber color. He’d been edgier ever since we’d left the church earlier. Now he was being completely obstinate. I knew he worried he wouldn’t be able to keep me safe, that there was far more danger out here than he’d expected, but he couldn’t keep me locked away either.

  I stopped the truck, but before I could grasp the handle, he slammed his hand against the door. “Listen to me and stay in there,” he said.

  “Kobal—”

  “I said no, River. If we need your help, I will tell you.”

  My eyes narrowed on him. “No, you won’t.”

  He didn’t deny it, but while he was holding the door shut, a vine slid down to slice across his bare chest. If I continued to sit here and argue with him, he would only allow the vines to keep doing that to him. I slid my fingers through the open window, seeking a connection with him no matter how brief. Sparks danced over my fingers when he touched them before pulling his hand away.

  “Don’t just stand there then, get back to work,” I said and rolled the window up.

  He glowered at me through the glass. I smiled sweetly in return, though I felt anything but sweet, and the smile was forced. I sighed in relief when he turned away from the door and focused on the vines whipping toward him once more.

  Hawk snorted and Erin giggled while Vargas shook his head. I shifted back into drive and eased my foot off the brake. There had to be an end to this tunnel somewhere. Hopefully, it was somewhere soon, but the vines canopied the road for as far as I could see.

  My gaze traveled over the hideous vines squirming over top of each other. Their palpable desire for blood made my stomach turn. Their screams and cries would haunt my nightmares for the rest of my days.

  “Before you came into camp, no one would have dared to stand up to him,” Erin said to me.

  “Most still wouldn’t,” Hawk pointed out.

  “True,” Erin admitted, “but I have to say, I’m not quite as terrified of him as I used to be. The other demons were at least somewhat approachable, well, most of them anyway. Bale’s about as friendly as a cactus, and I’m pretty sure Morax might want to eat us.”

  “I don’t think they actually eat humans,” I told her.

  “So far, no, but who knows,” Erin replied. “Kobal loves you.”

  Vargas and Hawk both scowled at her, obviously not in the mood to discuss anything in the least bit romantic. I bit on my lip to keep from laughing at the looks on their faces. They’d probably happily climb out of this cab right now and go play with the vines if it meant getting to avoid any talk of love.

  “He does,” I replied.

  Her brows drew together and her mouth pursed. “When he ripped off Eileen’s head, no one knew what to make of it.”

  “I did,” Hawk muttered and shifted in his seat. “The guy was pissed.”

  Erin rolled her eyes. “Obviously, but many didn’t think it was because of love.”

  I glanced at her before resuming my hunched-over-the-wheel position that made my back scream in protest. “Then what did they think it was?” I inquired.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Some crazy, demon possessiveness thing that made him think he owned you. Others assumed he was nuts.”

  “Not owned,” I murmured, “and not nuts.”

  “It’s not something we’d ever seen before,” Erin said. “He’d come across as distant and lethal the few times he’d been in camp before you arrived, but he’s not. At least not with you, and I think he cares for the other demons too.”

  “He does,” I said. “I don’t know how to explain any of it.”

  “You don’t have to,” Erin replied.

  “Thank God,” Hawk muttered.

  A small burst of laughter escaped me. It felt good, given the constant screaming and oppressive air surrounding us. I leaned further over the wheel, hoping to see some sign of a break in the tunnel, but all I saw was more darkness. A bead of sweat trickled down my temple and I hastily wiped it away. I glanced nervously at Kobal, hating the fact he was out there and bleeding and there was nothing he would let me do to help him.

  “Where are you from, Erin?” I asked as a way to distract myself from our surroundings and my anxiety over Kobal.

  “Me or my parents?” she inquired. “I know most have a hard time figuring out my heritage.”

  “Both.”

  “I was born and raised in Boston. My dad is first generation American from South Korea and my mom came over from Ireland when she was ten. She still has the faintest hint of an accent.” A wistful smile played over her lips before she turned to look out the window. “I volunteered to go to the wall so I could help them take care of my six younger siblings.”

  Hawk released a low whistle. “Seven kids.”

  “Yeah, our family really struggled after the war.”

  “I bet.”

  “Where are you from?” Erin asked me.

  “Bourne. I don’t know what my father was, but my mother was a mix of Italian, German, English, and Native American.”

  “And you?” she asked Hawk.

  “Falmouth,” he replied. “I’m a melting pot too, but one of my dad’s ancestors came over on the Mayflower. I volunteered so I could help support my family too.”

  Erin elbowed Vargas in the ribs. “What about you?”

  He grunted and rubbed at his stomach. “I was born in Peru. We moved to the U.S. when I was seven and settled in Worcester.”

  “Why did you volunteer?”

  Vargas shrugged. “This is my country and I’m going to fight for it.”

  “Good reason,” Erin said.

  I waited for them to ask me about what I was, but though they had to be wondering about it, they never issued the question. One of these days, they would get the answer, I would make sure of that, but for now, they were okay with what Kobal had told them. They were better than I was about such things.

  After a few more minutes, Erin spoke again. “I have got to pee so freaking bad right now.”

  “Please don’t,” Vargas said.

  “I won’t.” But they all winced when she shifted her weight again.

  Another hour passed before I saw the faintest rays of light at the end of the tunnel. I exhaled loudly before leaning further over the wheel as I tried to ascertain if it was really a break in the vines or if I had yearned for it so badly I was imagining it.

  “Is it really there?” I whispered.

  “I think it is,” Hawk said as he leaned forward beside me.

  I glanced toward the angel on the dash before focusing on the road once more until we broke free of the vines. The breath exploded from my lungs. I was pretty sure my muscles were never going to unknot, and the stink coming off of me would kill a goat, but we were finally free. I cracked open my window, and when Kobal didn’t tell me to close it again, I rolled it the rest of the way down. Erin did the same with the other side. I eagerly inhaled the fresh air flowing through the vehicle.

  Kobal and Corson continued to walk next to the truck, unwilling to stop until Kobal called for a halt almost half an hour later. Eri
n nearly fell out of the truck when I pulled to the side of the road. She bolted for the woods before anyone could stop her.

  “Wait!” Vargas called after her.

  She vanished from sight.

  “I’ll get her,” Corson said and loped away toward the woods.

  My legs quaked when I slid from the truck and my foot was cramped, but I somehow managed to remain standing. Kobal clasped my elbow when I took a stumbling step on my protesting foot. “I stink,” I murmured.

  “You do.”

  That was my man, never one to pull punches. It made me want to kick him almost as much as kiss him.

  “So do you!” I retorted.

  His full lips curled into an endearing smile that had me rethinking the kicking aspect. “I do,” he agreed.

  Corson and Erin reemerged from the woods. Corson shook his head as he walked. “Just piss on them next time,” Corson told her.

  Vargas and Hawk blanched and exchanged a nervous look. Erin grinned at Corson before giving Hawk and Vargas a devious smile.

  “Hopefully, we won’t have to go through that again,” Kobal said.

  “Let’s hope,” Vargas said and rubbed at the cross on his neck before releasing it.

  Tilting my head back, I stared at the darkening sky as the first star broke through. I turned to see tendrils of smoke rising over the land from where the vines had formed their tunnel. I didn’t like the idea of being so close to them or the smoke.

  “We’re going to take fifteen minutes to rest, eat, and then move on,” Kobal said, seeming to read my mind. He kissed the top of my head before releasing me and walking over to where Captain Tresden was directing everyone to start unpacking the trucks.

  The man stopped when he saw Kobal approach. I didn’t hear what was said, but few of them looked pleased when Kobal walked away.

  “They’re exhausted,” I said when he returned.

  “We all are,” he replied absently. “But we can’t stay here. We’re too close to those vines and the fire.”

  Erin dug into the supplies in search of food and water while the rest of us took turns going into the woods. Fifteen minutes later, we were all munching on trail mix and stale bread when Kobal pulled onto the road again. I’d been hoping for something more substantial, but I wasn’t going to complain, at least it was easing the rumbling in my belly.