In the morning when Cleo woke up, War was actually asleep beside her, deep in a dream which was very rare for him. She slipped out from under his arm and went off to the bathroom to take a shower, feeling thankful she had one in her room. She stripped down of her old clothes and chunked the shirt since it was ripped, she had plenty more. She turned the water up as hot as it could go until it burned her skin and she scrubbed out her hair and washed. When she was done with that she just stood there relaxing and thinking about what might happen or what should happen.
When War woke up he heard the water running but wasn't quite sure what he was doing so he went in. She had just gotten out and luckily had herself wrapped in a towel and when she turned around her eyes grew wide. "War...get out." She didn't yell, since he didn't actually see anything but she used a firm voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he covered his eyes and stepped out, embarrassed. She fixed her hair and stepped out the bathroom with the towel still around her, needing to get some extra clothes. She squeezed the towel close but she couldn't hide her legs or arms and, being a man, War couldn't help but look. He had the urge to go up and hug her then just to touch her body but he didn't want to pass a boundary. She grabbed her clothes and threw a look in his direction, noticing that he was staring. "Um..." he studdered for a minute looking at her smooth legs and then made eye contact. "You're very beautiful."
"Thank you..." she smiled a little and then went past him to go back to the bathroom. When she couldn't see him anymore he shook his head and slapped his palm on his forehead. "I'm getting worse than Strife."
She saw herself blushing in the mirror and she quickly three her clothes on and brushed through her wet hair. She put on a white tank top and tight grey skinny jeans and threw on her knee high converses with red laces. To her they looked like wrestling shoes, only a little higher. When she stepped out War took another look at her and she pushed him towards the window. "Pretend like your weren't here last night."
"I'm pretty sure she knows I stayed here."
"Just do it please."
"Yes, Dear." He sighed and climbed down the building to simply walk around and pretend he wasn't there. Just as he knocked at the door, the familiar car of Cleo's so called "father" pulled up.
"What the f*** are you doing here boy?" He said getting out.
"Watching my mouth for one thing."
"You getting smart with me?" The man stumbled a bit to the door, obviously drunk and he shakily pulled out the keys to the house.
"No, I'm being honest."
"I don't need a smart ass boy around the house," he finally opened the door but paused. "You just look like trouble."
War stared at him with anger in his face and he bit his tongue so he wouldn't say something that was worse than a smart aleck tone. The man surprisingly let him in and stumbled off to his bedroom, probably to sleep off a hangover or get ready for one soon to come. Again, War smelt all kinds of foul things on him. Alcohol, drugs, sex, and sweat. He wanted to just puke.
Cleo came down and realized her father was there, instantly getting skittish. "Don't worry, I dare him to touch you while I'm here." War told her while wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
Cleo sighed and she went to tell her mom they were going outside. She reminded her daughter of her medication and said not to go into town. Cleo nodded, went to take her medicine, and walked with War out to the barn. They walked the middle of the clean barn and the horses snorted and jumped back from the Rider. "How about we just walk?" He asked.
"Are you sure? What if I...pass out or something?"
"I'll carry you."
She nodded with a shy smile and they walked out the back and started heading towards the woods. She studied the birds and the trees while he studied her, occasionally looking lower than the hair that reached her waist. After all, he was a man. One under the spell of the Council's skilled magic.
They made it to a big creek that cut through the thin woods. Cleo walked up and dropped to the sand, running her hand through the icy water. War got on his knees beside her and put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them as if he were giving a massage. She cocked her head and lifted her shoulders up, loving the way it felt. "Let's just stay here," he said in her ear.
She leaned back in approval. "Sounds good to me."
They layed curled together on the cold sand for a while and War was contemplating on whether or not to hint to her that he was not human. Sure, it was still a bit early but it would be better than telling her on the last day. "Cleo..."
"Hmm?"
"Can I tell you something important?"
"Anything," she turned to face him abd put her hand on his cheek, moving some of his hair out of his face.
"You may not believe me."
"Is it that crazy?"
"It's pretty damn crazy."
"Tell me anyway. Unfortunately..I'm to the point that I'd believe anything you'd say."
"I uh...I've told you some stuff that wasn't true..."
She looked confused and gave him a questioning look.
"I don't really have a dad and I don't live here. I live...very far away."
"Why didn't you tell me? Where were you staying before you started spending your nights with me?"
"Just...wherever."
"War I...why didn't you tell me?"
"There's something else," he scratched the back of his head and looked away from her. "I'm not...And your not...completely..."
"Completely what? Insane?"
"Human." He said simply.
She backed away from him a little. "What do you mean?"
"Look at yourself. Ourselves. Do we look normal?"
"Uh..." thoughts raced in her head and she started looking at all the tiny details. Especially the symbol on his forehead she was always curious about but never asked. A more stern looked formed on her face. "Prove it."
He looked at her for a moment and then stood up, pulling her with him. He looked to his left, over at empty space in the woods. Cleo looked too, too caught up in suspense to speak. Out of the ground, smoke steamed up as if pine straw had just been set on fire. Then flames exploded up and Ruin reared out of the ground, standing on his hind legs for a moment as he paused at the air. He was happy to have his look back. He walked up as Cleo stared and he snorted at them both, smoke coming out of his nostrils. He pawed the ground and bowed. War raised his hand in the air and in a spark of flames, a huge sword fell into his hand. Cleo's eyes grew even wider and and War put Caoseater behind her to push her closer to him. "Don't be upset." He lifted her chin up to him and she realised he had gotten a bit taller.
Instead of freaking out or backing up she took a breath and relaxed. "And so I'm guessing...Judging by the horse and the name...You're a Horseman?"
He nodded, still holding her chin, and he leaned down to kiss her and then pulled back. "And my job was to come and find you because you aren't fully human." He kissed her again. "I'm supposed to spend time with you and see if you're a danger and then take you back to the Council but..." he kissed her once again. "They aren't going to hurt you."
She closed her eyes and put her head on his chest. "This is impossible."
"Nothing is impossible." He pressed Caoseater's flat end into her back so that she was pressed against him and he kissed her passionately. Ruin fell back into the ground and Caoseater disappeared so he grabbed her waist.
"So...I have to come with you?" She asked when she pulled back hesitantly.
"Soon."
"Where will we go?"
"Wherever you want. Just...not on Earth."
"Wait...then where?"
"There's many realms out there. Angels, demons, you name it."
She put her hands on his chest and looked down in thought. "And...I would stay with you?"
"Everyday. I promise. I won't ever let you wake up out of my arms. And if you get tired of me, send me away but I'll never abandon you."
"You say that now. What about when you get tired of me?"
"I'm not human. I don't just get tired of my mate."
"I'm your mate now?" She asked with a smile.
He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him. "You've got no choice now,"he teased.
"Well, just so you don't seem so forceful...I accept." This time she leant down to kiss him since he was holding her up.
"And since you're my mate now," he paused while biting at her lip. He gently layed her on the sand and moved her hair from her face. He layed over her, one leg in between hers.
"War I...I just told my mom that I wouldn't..."
He kissed her neck and then sat up to look down at her. "If you don't want to I don't mind waiting. But I'm yours now, you're mine. I'm going to be with you forever." He started to speak again and she put a finger on his lip.
"Here?"
He smirked and rubbed some sand on her waist. "Yep."
She bit her lip and blushed, looking away. "And what about..."
"Don't worry, I can't get you pregnant."
She raised an eyebrow but then when he leaned down to kiss more on her neck and various parts of her body she just let it drop.
He controlled himself more than he normally did but after he had taken her on the sand there were bruises and bites covering her body. She didn't complain, she loved it. Their breathing was heavy and they were sweaty but War continued to please her, mostly by caressing her body with strokes and kisses.
He couldn't seem to get enough and took her again and again until it was pitch black outside. Finally, Cleo knew it was time to stop even though she wanted so much more. She kissed his neck and hugged his naked body tightly. "I think it's time to go, War" she whispered in his ear.
He kissed her in protest but eventually sighed, sitting up. She found her way to the creek in the dark and washed herself off and War came up behind her and put her clothes on her, still wanting to touch her body. He threw his on and summoned Ruin who returned as a normal looking horse who winked at his Rider. War could see in the dark and he just shook his head.
This time, they both climbed up the back of the house to her window, not wanting to get caught out so late. Everyone had already gone to sleep luckily and Cleo hoped her mother hadn't checked upstairs and knew they were outside.
It was already 12 O' clock and they both climbed into bed, Cleo being exhausted and War impatient. But he knew she needed sleep and contained himself for now, he had plenty of time for bonding later. She huddled up to him, closer than ever and kept her head under his chin and legs tangled together.
The next day he did the same thing with pretending he didn't stay the night. This time Mrs. Monroe answered the door this time and welcomed him in with a warm smile. He was a bit nervous around her now and pulled up his clothing to hide the mark on his neck that her own daughter had made. Of course, he was much more worried of the several she probably had on hers. "You can't stay long today, we're going somewhere."
"May I ask where?"
"Family reunion," she rolled her eyes. "Not my family."
"Oh...That doesn't sound fun. Don't knkw if I'd want to meet the people he came from."
"Tell me about it. I hate Cleo having to go but...He's uh..." she didn't want to finish her sentence.
"Forcing her to go?" Mrs. Monroe only looked at the ground and War got angry at this. "If you don't mind me saying, why would you put up with that!? Beating your daughter and forcing her to do things. That doesn't sound like a father. And you know what else? He's been cheating on you."
"I already know that, War."
"Well," he threw his hands in the air. "Why are you with him?"
"Because he beats me too. I can't leave. I just...I just want to or Cleo grow up and leave from here. As far as she can go."
"You can leave. You just need to do something about it."
"It's not that simple. Look, fine. Cleo can stay here. I'll just get hit for it."
"I don't want you getting hurt either."
"Thank you but...I'm more worried about my daughter."
With that she left the room and then about an hour later left with an angry man. War felt bad for her but it wouldn't be much longer that she'd have to put up with him. For the first half of the day with Cleo he was too upset to do anything. He felt bad for her mom and felt it was a bit of his fault if she got hit this time. But Cleo came first to him. She didn't know why he was upset but she got a bit naughty and sat on his lap to rub his chest. The concern wiped from his face after a minute and he sighed, shaking his head. Then he just warmed her up on the couch and carried her up to her bedroom.
AN: Soooo...I have no idea where I went with this chapter. Anyways, if you like it, great! If not, well I can't help you there. Only one or two more chapters until the next Horseman! Vote on who next! Cuz I have no idea who to do next. I'm thinking Death because everybody seems to like him the most. But then again, they're all awesome and I wanna write about them all! XD
