I jerked the wheel into a clearing at the topof a hill and put the truck into park. I’d planned to stop here forthe night anyway, but now I needed out of this vehicle. Riverlifted her head from Sue’s shoulder. She blinked at him beforejerking away. Her face flushed as she wiped at her mouth.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
Sue gave a brisk nod as his gaze wentlongingly toward the door. I thrust my door open and climbed out ofthe cramped vehicle. I’d rather lift it up and heave it onto itsside than get into it again, but unfortunately we needed it.
“What are we doing here?” River asked whenshe climbed out the other side of the truck.
As her eyes searched the horizon, a tremorran through her and she circled her arms around her waist. Iglanced over the burned out city below us. It was a half a miledown the hill, but close enough to see that it sat in ruins. Fromour vantage point, we’d be able to see anything that might come atus.
I’d seen the city before, but seeing itthrough her eyes, I realized it would be frightening and sad. Thenukes may not have been dropped in this area, but there had stillbeen bombs, fires, and battles waged throughout it. The fewbuildings still standing were crumpling beneath the years ofneglect and weather they’d endured.
What remained of the buildings was gray orblack with soot and fire damage, but in and around the roadways anddebris, grass had bloomed, trees had taken root again, and life wasreturning. Deer moved amid the rubble, munching on the grass asthey went. I knew other, more treacherous animals lurked amongstthe buildings too, but for now, the deer were safe to ventureout.
“Time to call it a day,” I told her.
“Will the revenirs be in that city?” sheinquired.
I pulled my attention away from the fadingsunlight glinting off some of the smoke-stained windows to look ather. “They could be, but I doubt it.”
“Why is that?” Sue inquired.
“The animals are still alive. The revenirswould have fed from them without humans present. Without a lifeforce to feed from, even revenirs die.”
“So does that mean there could be a bunch ofrotting, mummified animals out there looking for a life force tooif the revenirs fed on them?” River asked in a choked voice.
“No, only demons reanimated before and nowhumans. The animals of Hell, such as the madagans, simply diedafter the revenirs fed on them. They were not strong enough toreanimate.”
“Good news,” Sue muttered.
“Are we going through there tomorrow?” Riverasked and waved a hand at the city.
“We are,” I confirmed. I’d traveled this waythe last time I’d returned to the unnatural gateway years ago. Thistrip wouldn’t be easy, and I knew there would be more than a fewdetours, but this was the most direct route to the gateway rightnow.
Walking to the back of the truck, I pulledout a sleeping bag for River. “Follow me,” I said to her.
I could see her stubborn streak rising withher chin. She didn’t argue, but instead turned toward her newfriend. “I’ll see you later, Sue.”
“Call me Hawk, please, everyone elsedoes.”
My teeth ground together when she smiled athim, but I remained unmoving as she walked toward me. “I can findmy own place to sleep for the night,” she told me.
“I prefer you away from the humans.”
Hurt flickered through her eyes, but shewalked beside me toward the trees. “I’m human.”
“You know that’s not completely true.” Ididn’t know how I managed to keep making her madder, but the lookshe shot me said she would have gladly driven my nuts into mythroat.
Good thing she hasn’tcompletely mastered wielding the flow of life yet.
“I know I’m more human than not. I care, Ihave compassion, and I love,” she replied.
“Demons love too.”
“I don’t think it’s in the same way.”
“No,” I growled, “it’s deeper, more intense,and a bond created for eternity. Is that how humans love?”
“I’d like to think so, if they didn’t dieor…”
