“I do know that.” Her voice grew strained and raspy as all the moisture dried in her mouth. This was the one and only chance she had. “And what has already been done cannot be undone.” Humans would have to rely on their ingenuity to halt the spread of the plague Pestilence had already delivered. “But you have acted precipitously and must now pause.”
“You make demands of me?” If they were capable of emotion, Pestilence might have looked amused.
“I merely remind you of the full nature of your imperative,” she said. “Feel the seals, they are still unbroken.”
Pestilence stilled, their eyes distant.
Behind them, vehicles stopped and idled before moving away fully loaded. Horns honked, people chattered, Life continued as if it didn’t hang on the outcome of her conversation. Night insects had begun to chirp before Pestilence finally replied. “The seals hold, but not for long.”
“Therefore, it is not your time,” she said.
Pestilence nodded. “It is not yet my time, but soon it will be. I will go to the gathering place and await my siblings. Then together we will ride until our purpose is fulfilled.”
They replaced their helmet and straddled the bike. As Pestilence rode away, Belle started shaking. Her knees gave way, and she collapsed on the dusty sidewalk. She’d done it.
A woman cried out. Footsteps pattered over the dry ground.
“Are you all right?” A middle-aged woman crouched in front of her. “Lady, are you all right?”
Belle managed to nod. Now that it was over, her physical form was flooding with adrenalin and reacting to the terror of her conversation with Pestilence.
The woman turned and called something out to another passerby.
Belle was having trouble converting words into meaning.
A plastic water bottle was thrust into her hand. The woman cracked the seal. “Here, drink.”
Belle shook so badly water sloshed over her fist.
“Let me help.” The stranger steadied her hold. “Slowly now.”
Lukewarm water flooded her mouth, and Belle swallowed.
“Did he threaten you?” The woman glared after Pestilence’s retreating shape.
Another person joined the woman. “Is she okay?”
“Must we call the police?” The first woman made her take another sip of water.
Belle shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine in a minute.”
“I saw that one,” the newcomer said. “Sitting there and waiting. I knew he was no good.”
More voices agreed with her.
Belle had attracted a small crowd, all of them women discussing how they’d known all along the “man” on the bike was trouble.
Belle suppressed the hysterical laughter rising in her chest. They had no idea how much trouble that rider was.
But Pestilence was gone. The other horsemen would rise; that couldn’t be stopped, but until the seals broke, they would have to wait. She’d bought them all time.
Her rescuer leaned closer and lowered her voice. “If he hurts you, I know a place you can go. No police, but they can help you.”
“No.” Belle clambered to her feet and smiled at the woman. “Thank you, but it’s not like that.”
Supporting hands reached out and steadied her.
The woman gave her a world-weary look. “It never is like that”. She dusted off Belle’s knees and clicked her tongue. “But if it ever is, there are places that can help you. People who will keep you safe.”
Belle wanted to weep for the woman’s kindness. So many of her fellow hell princes dismissed humanity for their myriad sins, but in women like this one, lay all Belle would fight for.
“Thank you.” She squeezed the woman’s hand. “Your kindness means everything.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Bianca nursed her hangover along with a serious case of regret all through the next day. Relegated again to the backseat, she was happy to stay there.
Lucifer had almost kissed her last night, and she’d been happy to let him. If Raphael hadn’t woken up, she had no idea how last night would have ended. That was a rotten lie. She had a few interesting fantasies about where last night could have ended.
The most troubling thing was trying to decide if her morning after regrets were more that it had nearly happened or that they’d been interrupted before it could.
Lucifer had gone straight into business-as-usual. A brief argument had ended in Raphael on the couch and Lucifer in the bed beside hers.
This morning, he’d been back to his usual annoying self, and they’d gotten on the road. If he could pretend nothing had happened, then so could she.
And she’d been doing a great job until hours on the road had allowed her mind to wander.
