Apocalypse's Horsemen (Devil's Assistant Series - Book 3)

Apocalypse's Horsemen [2]

Chapter 2

The red eyes continued to haunt us through the worsening blizzard. Trembles wracked through my body but it was difficult to tell whether they were due to terror or the cold that permeated even the many layers encompassing me. The way that the wind battered us meant the thermals were about as effective as standing in the snow in only my birthday suit. The wind flew at us with intent, blowing so strong that each step forwards was a small battle.

“Lucius,” I gasped, squeezing his hand as tight as my gloves would allow while he relentlessly pulled us through the storm.

My words were swept away by the wind but the reassuring pressure of his hand around mine let me know that he was still there.

Thus we continued onwards and I hated it. Something about the unrelenting blindness set me on edge. We had been walking for what felt like hours and yet we had barely travelled anywhere at all. At least that’s what it felt like.

I stumbled forwards as my knees struggled to keep pushing my body forwards. Only the hands holding mine kept me upright. A second had barely passed before I tripped again but this time there was no catching my balance. My knees gave out and I tumbled onto the floor causing pain to course through my frozen body. My arms were wrenched in their sockets as I was painfully dragged a few feet across the frozen ground before the angels had even realised I wasn’t walking with them anymore.

In a second Lucius was sat beside me, using his thick gloves to brush the snow out of my face. It was pointless as within seconds flecks were sticking to my cheeks once more.  I tried to smile up at him but it wobbled and wavered before slipping off completely. I dropped my chin onto my chest and sighed.

“Come on Savannah, we can’t just sit here.” Lucius murmured in my ear, his hot breath creating painful tingles on my icy skin.

“But I’m tired Lucius and we are lost. You know that whatever is in that city it trying to keep us out.” I shouted back, my voice quickly getting swallowed by the wind’s howls.

 I hated that I was so weak. The entire situation just felt hopeless and bizarre which was a lot to take when I had only been living in this fantastical world for just over a year.

Lucius pressed his lips together and glanced over his shoulder at the impenetrable white beyond. When his eyes fell upon me once more, there was a glint in his gaze.  I knew the words before he had even spoken. The intent in his eyes told me enough. He would not leave me here to wallow in my own pity.

“I know Savannah but we have no choice. We HAVE to carry on.”

He pulled me to my feet and held me close to his side. His body warmth seeped through both of our clothes, warming me from the inside out. No doubt it was intentional but I revelled in the cosiness and distraction it provided. Nuzzling closer to him, I allowed him to pull me forwards.

And then it all stopped.

The sudden silence was unnerving. For so long we had been surrounded by the keening and howling of the blizzard, for too long the icy temperature had bitten at our skin and now it was gone. We all stilled, our feet halting our progress before we could even comprehend what was happening. Snow still whirled around us but we were in the eye of the storm, stuck in the quiet and stillness at the centre of the blizzard’s vortex.

Growls tore through the air then. They were terrifying, hitting us from all sides. Goosebumps formed over my flesh as those eyes which had been watching us for entire walk moved forwards, their predatory gleam growing brighter as the pack of hellish beasts surrounded us, drawing closer with each second.

Immediately the men and women of our group formed a circle, all of us back to back. Bright glowing angel blades shone brightly in the weak light that was filtering through the gaps of the storm clouds above.