Page 61

Harlow

Dark Haven Institute

“ G overnment officials are speculating that the economy is to blame for the downfall of society, but nearly every American citizen disagrees.”

“I’m not sure which officials are saying that or how they’ve come to that conclusion,” someone else scoffs. “This is clearly the work of a terrorist organization. Mark my words, we’ll hear the real reason and you all will finally see what I’ve been pointing out for years.”

The others shifted in their seats. Everyone was uncomfortable.

“No one wants to embrace that theory out of fear.” A woman tried to calm the man down. He looked ready to snap and she wasn’t taking changes.

“Fear is rampant in our streets!” he yelled back.

The panel of experts argued back and forth, speculating on things they would never truly understand. The one they all thought was crazy was more on par than the rest. This was no economic downfall, but the work of demons.

The camera panned out over New York City. How had the demons reached that far?!

Monty had explained that with the portal wide open, the tethers that kept them in Ridgefield were gone. I just hadn’t expected them to literally take over the country, and likely beyond, in mere weeks. The destruction was insane and people were terrified.

Rightly so.

“As long as the portal remains open, they can go as far as they want, as long as they want? No drain to their power or consequences?” I questioned my demon commander.

He nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. Or at least I’d assume. We don’t exactly have this happen every day in Helheim.”

“How would their power not drain regardless?” Hiro questioned. “That’s a lot of distance.”

“The rules of this world don’t exactly apply,” Kol pointed out. “Gargoyles are tied here to Dark Haven specifically. The demons are different and their magic is part of them as well.”

“Great.” I sighed. “Now we get to go see it firsthand.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just figure the portal out?” Roman questioned, likely because, as a gargoyle, he’d be left behind.

“Not if the city is now a threat to this building,” I said.

“My guess is that it’s literally Hell on Earth outside of Dark Haven,” Hiro guessed. “Every city they’ve shown on the news has been worse than the last.”

That was an understatement. Stores were broken into, desperate people trading for supplies, bodies lining the sidewalks, shootings, destruction, bombings, the list was endless. There wasn’t a single major city unaffected. They had yet to show us how the rural areas and suburbs were doing, but I could only imagine it was more of the same.

I already felt an urgency to close this portal, but now it was amplified.

“Then what are we waiting for?” I questioned as I stood from the couch. We’d reclaimed the common room and Drake fought with the old generators so the TV was working enough for us to tune into the news. Between that and turning water back on, Layne was already looking better.

The longer I spent in Dark Haven, the easier it was to call on my muted powers. Especially near the portal. I managed to conjure us some black clothing, hoping to give us an advantage when we were outside of these walls.

“I’m staying here with the gargoyles,” Layne said. I could see in her eyes she was afraid to leave Stravos’s side. It was probably for the best, especially if any confrontation with Crew occurred.

At least I knew she’d be safe here, Stravos would die protecting her.

We made our way to the front doors of Dark Haven. It was strange to see it so dark and empty in the halls. Even when the demons had flooded the building, it wasn’t this desolate.

Just like when we stepped out of the portal, the city was far too quiet. I’d expected screams, sirens… the works. Instead, it was pure silence, as if this portion of the city had been abandoned altogether.

From the debris and destruction out here, it likely was. Every car on the street was stripped for parts. There wasn’t a tire or door in sight. Fire barrels were set up on the street corners, but they’d long run cold.

The diner across the street was the only one that had boards over every entrance. It was likely Crew’s doing before he left. He may be an idiot but a small part of myself believed he’d drawn things away from Dark Haven for her.

The rest of the businesses were nearly gutted. Jagged pieces of glass hung in their window frames. Shelves and displays were left empty, and trash littered the floors. If they hadn’t boarded up the diner and protected it, then they’d have starved completely.

The city smelled of rotten food and garbage with a hint of smoke. I couldn’t quite see over the buildings, but I guessed somewhere else in the city smoke was rising into the air.

The farther we walked down the sidewalk, the worse it got. As we rounded the corner near what locals called downtown, I could finally see the fire, and hear the first sounds of life.

Smoke, thick and black, hung over this area like a cloud. From the hint of burning rubber in the air, we likely found where all the tires had gone.

Cries of anger and anguish hit our ears and I gripped the spear in my hand as if it could stave off what was coming.

“We all have our weapons, right?” I questioned. We didn’t know who or what was coming for us, but if the demons were now influencing humans, it wouldn’t be easy.

I had no doubt the demons would feel us coming and react accordingly. To them, I wasn’t their leader, I was an impostor, and that would make me a target.

If not for Crew and what he meant to my best friend, we wouldn’t even bother with going farther into the city. My job was in Dark Haven and the portal.

If I was being honest with myself, there was also a morbid curiosity. I wanted to know how far the demons had gone and see firsthand what the humans were experiencing.

Even worse, they were still following Hel’s last orders.

She offered them this freedom to gain her own and she knew exactly how they’d react. The gods would swoop in and clean up this mess. They couldn’t remain complacent. I doubted she had much faith in me closing it alone.

At least Odin was giving me a semblance of a chance.

She hadn’t anticipated how strongly he’d react to her betrayal. It wasn’t just a small lie left unnoticed. The widespread fear, destruction, and death, were all on her.

In reality, Odin was likely humoring me.

I may rule over the realm and have an insane amount of power, but I was not like the other gods and rulers.

Even in the afterlife I was an outcast, something that didn’t quite belong.

For the first time in my existence, I embraced it. There was a balance to the world and maybe this was my contribution and the reason the realm could heal.

Only time would tell.

The closer we reached the source of the fire, the more unsettling it became. Jeers and taunting screams were made from raspy demon voices but there were humans mixed in.

A fury that wasn’t just my own, but Helheim’s as well my mates’, filled me at the realization.

They’d openly defied their orders to not harm humans and were quickly ensuring the downfall of the human race.

Monty had been right. The demons that remained in Helheim were nothing like the demons who’d escaped.

The ones beyond Dark Haven had gone feral, lost their sense of reason and intelligence. Now they thrived on easy thrills and base needs.

“Let’s get a better view from above,” Hiro hissed as he walked to the fire station. He wound around the building until he found a roof-access ladder. It was chained off for safety, but Drake didn’t hesitate to pull it free, muscles flexing as he tore it apart.

If we weren’t in the middle of a spy mission I’d have taken more than a few moments to appreciate my alpha and his bulging muscles.

My heart hammered in my chest as I climbed the rungs. The cold metal did nothing to ground me. I knew whatever we saw below would be burned into my memory forever.

“Keep low,” Drake warned and crouched down to an almost crawl as he neared the edge of the building.

Of course, Monty didn’t bother. He stood above us, glaring down at his former soldiers.

In the town center, what used to be a memorial gazebo was now a large fire pit. They’d lined it with tires and threw pretty much anything on for kindling. There were doors, jagged wood planks, and random furniture poking out of it as more demons threw new fodder into the flames.

“They could be burning worse things,” Monty noted dryly.

“I expected it to be bodies if we’re being honest,” I agreed. All of our faces were marred with angry expressions as we watched them move below, humans following their lead like mindless zombies.

“There’s Crew,” Drake hissed. I followed his pointed finger to the steps of the former town hall. The entire top was gone, stone walls crumbling around it, and our former friend was standing front and center with two demons by his side.

They were merely observing the chaos but it was clear they were the ones in charge.

And Crew was their human puppet.

Crew looked like a character from a post-apocalyptic movie. White war paint etched sigils over his dark skin. His hair was covered by a red bandanna and strips of cloth held his tattered clothing together.

“Why give up Dark Haven for this?” I whispered to the others. I couldn’t wrap my head around him leaving Layne for this life. Even if the fire was every pyro’s dream. Outside of that, it was survival and nothing more out here.

He was right at the center of the exact beings he hated. He’d never been quiet about his feelings on the demons and supernatural. Hell, he refused to believe the truth until he couldn’t deny it any longer. Even then, he was ready to leave, though he had nowhere to go and no one to look out for him.

Had he sought a sense of family in the demons? But how could he justify the death and destruction here?

His face was screwed up in a deep scowl and his eyes, even from this far, appeared to be a deep red.

If not for my sharpened senses, I might not have noticed.

“His eyes are red, and his features are almost grotesque,” I whispered. My stomach churned at the realization I might not be able to save him.

How far was too far gone?

“He’s possessed,” Monty said. “They likely needed leaders among the humans as well and saw him as an easy target. It would have taken time and patience but if they’re locked on a goal, demons are relentless.”

“So, how the fuck do we get him back?” I questioned as we watched Crew yell out an order and everyone on the ground congregated in front of him.

“That’s not in my expertise,” Monty admitted. “If the demons have broken his mind, it’s likely over for Crew.”

“Well, I refuse to believe that,” I growled, rushing back to the ladder.

We were still close enough to Dark Haven I could feel Helheim reaching out for me. I pulled harder than before, focusing on the feel of it until it was buzzing along my skin.

“What are you planning?” Drake demanded as he dropped to the ground in front of me, foregoing the ladder altogether to stop me.

“Storming the demons. I thought that much was obvious,” I said.

There was no point in hanging back. I wasn’t a human anymore with no backup plan or ability to fight. My power could outlast theirs ten to one, even with the portal wide open.

“Do you think Loki had anything to do with this?” Hiro questioned as he joined us. Though, he used the ladder at least. “He is the God of Chaos. And there’s never been a more chaotic time in this fucking country.”

“No, he’s not careless. The gods are likely not happy with him for letting this all happen in the first place. Not to mention he’s working hard to save Hel’s ass,” I rushed out, looking for a way past the makeshift barricade.

“Harlow, stop,” Drake growled as I shifted things out of the way to get through. Of course I ignored him until he helped, clearing enough to get through with me.

I slipped through the crack in the barricade, spear jutting out in front of me as I stalked forward, eyes focused on the horde.

The closer we got, the more the demons filling the square reacted. Hisses and shouts filled the air as they parted for us.

Monty hung back, watching, and likely waiting to dive in and save me if I needed it while Hiro and Drake flanked me, weapons raised and ready.

For an extra level of protection, I wrapped my power around us like a barrier as I stopped at the base of the stairs, looking up at Crew with what I’d hoped was a look of disappointment.

The demons pushed at my barrier with their own powers, testing its strength, but it did nothing. That alone had the weaker demons retreating slightly and waiting for orders from their leaders.

“Harlow, you’re alive,” Crew called out from his spot at the top of the stairs.

It put him on higher ground and he seemed pleased about it. The smirk on his face was not one I’d ever seen him use. Now that we were close, I could really see the changes.

His once tight curls were now grown out and covered in ash. His eyes weren’t just red, veins of neon red fractured through his face and down his neck and arms, likely his chest, if it had been exposed.

I didn’t hide the fact I was studying him and found him lacking. He didn’t get to hold the power here.

“It’s strange, Crew, you became what you hated so fiercely. Did you not want to leave Dark Haven when you realized what lurked there? And here you are, doing their bidding and turning on your own people. You even left Layne behind.”

“She doesn’t need me,” he bit out. The bitterness in his tone meant that Crew was still in there somewhere. He had clearly not overcome his jealousy with Stravos, even though the gargoyle would never step over any lines unless Layne asked him to.

One thing gargoyles had over demons was respect for each other. He’d have formed a pack with them but Crew was too insecure.

“How the mighty have fallen,” Drake tsked as he stepped closer, bringing Crew’s attention to the now, full-blooded demon. His eyes narrowed even further like Drake’s presence was offensive.

What a fucking hypocrite.

“And you’re one to talk.” He laughed. It was hollow and filled with hate. He was truly a shell of the person he used to be. If Hel thought this could be easily rectified, she was dead wrong. I’d seen mountains of casualties and Crew was just another one on the list.

“I’ve always been a half-demon,” Drake pointed out. “I just have less humanity in me now. Clearly more than you have currently.”

Crew’s face contorted even further in anger until he looked like someone else altogether.

“Well, good for you,” Crew said with a dead tone that made my skin crawl. “I’m glad life worked out for one of us.”

The pain, bitterness, and anger in him had to be festering for months for Crew to reach this level of hate and anger. It was fueling the possession inside of him, eating away at our friend and stripping his humanity away.

“Enough. Kill them,” the demon beside him hissed, moving closer and whispering into Crew’s ear until his eyes were glowing red. “You don’t need them. You’ve never needed anyone. Now you’re strong and unstoppable. Everyone will see it.”

Crew stood taller the longer they whispered. Whatever doubts we created were quickly washed away. His features contorted in a fit of rage as a battle cry tore from his lips. A shiver ran down my spine and I swallowed down the thought that Monty might have been right, that we were far too late to save him.

Our friend was officially gone.

Even when he spoke, it sounded strange. “You know, we’ve been waiting to take Dark Haven out of respect for Layne,” Crew called out. “But it seems that was a mistake.”

“To Dark Haven!” The battle cry arose from the crowd of demons, the energy building as they yelled out, firing each other up to the point the air buzzed with their agitation and power.

“Go, we’ll give you a thirty-second head start,” Crew yelled at us the moment I turned my attention back to him.

He held two long swords in his hands now. My only reassurance was that the glow in them was muted and fading.

They may outnumber us by the hundreds, but we were far better equipped.

“Go,” I said to the others, and we turned and ran.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have run, maybe it was viewed as cowardly, but I was a leader now and the portal and Dark Haven had to come first.

The thought of killing Crew was heartbreaking but I’d do it to protect my realm and my friend.

My guys didn’t question me, even Monty gliding alongside us until we’d reached the gates of Dark Haven.

“Monty, go warn the gargoyles.” For the first time since I’d known Monty, there was no protest at my orders or maybe things had just officially changed.

Hel was gone, I was the leader, and his orders came from me instead of the other way around.

It was the first moment I felt like I could earn my title. My only thoughts were focused on saving my realm and my former home. No more death needed to happen, but it would if they left me no other choice.

If I failed, it could be the end for us all. The gods were depending on me. Failure was not an option.

“We can’t let them get inside,” I said. “Do not hesitate to end them.”

“How do we stop them?” Hiro asked. His voice wasn’t frantic, but determined. He’d come into his own and was ready to fight. “If we think we can fight them off, why didn’t we fight them there?”

“I’m stronger here,” I reminded him. “We all are.” To drive the point home, I pulled on Helheim even more, letting it fill my entire being.

With a quick swipe of my hand, the blue fires of Helheim lapped at the outer walls of Dark Haven, creating a barrier around the building but causing it no harm.

I’d never infused my magic with more intention than I did now. I was depending on Helheim to keep us safe as the blue inferno blazed between us.

Unlike Hel who fought the realm, I embraced it like a partnership. That would be the difference that mattered.

The demons who would harm this building were no longer a part of Helheim, and I needed it to recognize the difference.

Maybe my expectations were far too high, but I refused to think otherwise. Helheim was made by the gods and run by them, it was sentient in its own ways and our connection was growing stronger each time I used it.

A thump from above had rocks falling into the fires below. A smile spread across my face at the sight that greeted me.

A full army of gargoyles stood ready to fight. They’d apparently pieced themselves together and were rejoining the fight.

“Let’s join them,” I told the others. They didn’t question me as we walked through the flames again and to the rooftops above.

When we arrived, a black fog had rolled in, deepening by the second until it was too opaque to see through.

The demons were coming, but we were ready.