When I woke up, I was, for once, too hot. I was tangled up in War and her blankets. Dallas was already awake, sitting next to the fire, hunched over and looking miserable. Carefully, I untangled myself and went to sit next to Dallas. Surprisingly, War slept on. Dallas ignored me as I sat there. Just as I was about to stand back up, he turns to look at me. "I want the necklace back," he says quietly. Silently I nod and reach up to unclasp it, dropping into his outstretched hand. "I'm going for a walk," I mumble, standing and escaping out the cave entrance. Bones stayed behind, curled up next to War. Even he was under her captivating spell.
I walked down towards the river. Ever since the temperatures had first dropped, the river had remained frozen. But standing on the banks, I was faced with a sight that I almost couldn't believe. The middle of the river had thawed and the water was sluggishly moving downstream. It was getting warmer. The winter had an end in sight. A smile grew on my face, even though I was unwilling to smile. I turned to go back and tell Dallas the news, but the second I turned around I was face-to-face with Jas. He startled me so badly that I almost screamed, letting out a soft yelp. He laughed, reached out and pushing my hair back.
"You brought War to your home, Ana," he said, sobering up immediately. "Wasn't I suppose to?" I ask, furrowing my brow. He had told me that I should befriend the horsemen. He shook his head. "No. War is different from the others. She's a seductress that pushes out all rational thought. I wasn't expecting her to find you, but now that she has, you aren't safe," he told me. My head began to whirl. Her being a seductress explained the captivating spell on me, and of course she was dangerous. Dallas and Jas were dangerous too. But I'd always been safe around them.
"So what am I to do?" I ask. He closes his eyes, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. "Choose which side you're on. My side, Hell. War's side, Heaven. Or Dallas's side, Purgatory. Everyone wants you, so before you ask, there's no way to please everyone," he tells me, opening his eyes examine me. "I'm not going with Dallas. He made me give the necklace back this morning, so he doesn't want me anymore. And you told me War isn't safe. I trust you. So I'm going to ignore everything I learned about Heaven and Hell. I'm casting my lot with yours," I say, with much more confidence than I feel. Inside, I'm scared. Terrified, even. I wish, in that moment more than any other time, that the job of savior had been given to someone else. Anyone else.
A slow smile crept across Jas's face and without realizing it he leaned closer. "Are you sure? This is your one and only chance to back out before it's too late," he offers, although I can hear the excitement in his voice. I don't know if it's because he's pleased I chose him, or if he likes me, or if it'll get him bonus points with whoever's in charge of Hell. "I'm sure," I say. "You've not lied to me yet."
Suddenly, he takes my head in his hands and leans down swiftly, kissing me. It's over just as quickly as it started, leaving me gasping with my head spinning. "Sorry. I got a little too excited," he apologized with a sheepish grin. I chuckle. "It's fine." We stand in silence together, one arm still around my waist.
"What happens now?" I ask a few minutes later, breaking the silence. "Now that you've chosen a side, you're unsafe anywhere but that side's base. So I should take you back to hell, which isn't as bad as it's been made out to be. It's actually quite nice. You could be very comfortable there, and you could do mostly anything you like. You can leave the base and go anywhere, provided you've got a protector with you as a safety precaution." I lean into his side, looking up at him. "Who would be my protector?" I ask, a hint of a smile curling my lips up. "I could. If you'll have me," he offers. I lean up and kiss his cheek swiftly, surprising both of us. "Well, I guess that means you will," he says, strangely breathless. I smile shyly and nod.
He takes my hand in his. "Let's go to hell," he says wryly. I can't help but laugh as he snaps his fingers and we enter a swirling vortex.
