Page 139 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“What are you doing, Hel? What are you planning?”

She smirked, and I knew I’d guessed right, that there was something unfurling behind the scenes. She was playing puppet master and I’d be damned if I’d be her puppet.

“That’s not for you to know, Ivar. For now you will learn your place and do your job. Keeping your demons in line. Stay in Dark Haven and keep the peace,” she ordered.

“You’re allowing a rebellion? Do you wish to look weak?” I asked in a tone that had her lashing out. My mask never faltered as I simply took the fiery blow. It burned, my skin cracking asa vein of lava tore it apart, sizzling and corrupting but never dwindling.

It wasn’t my first, and I knew it wouldn’t be my last.

I’d endure it all for Harlow. She was mine and I would allow no one, even Hel, to take that away from me.

Every time Harlow’s purpose was brought up, it felt more and more like a death sentence. I would not lose what was mine for the greed of others.

“I’ve said my piece. I know you will not be giving me more information; I just need you to know that you are losing support in Dark Haven, and fast.”

“Gods. Dark Haven. Humans? You think I care about any of that?” she mused as she took her throne once more. The human half of her face tipped up in an arrogant smile.

She was no longer the righteous ruler of Helheim, the one who kept her souls, demons, and gargoyles in line with a firm and just hand.

She was now corrupt and plotting something I knew would shake this realm to its core.

I just hope we all fucking survived.

She was ruining the balance we’ve worked years to keep.

The gods took notice and so had her commander.

Would she have anyone left if it all fell apart?

Drake

Blood and ashwhirled around me as I ended another wave of demons trying to escape the grounds. Working side by side with a group of gargoyles was now my new normal. We’d created a quiet, unspoken camaraderie I respected.

It had been clear for a while now it was us against the demon rebellion. There was no energy left for petty rivalries. This had escalated well beyond that.

“Drake.”

Something in Ivar’s voice had me holding my tongue and going to him, letting the gargoyles keep the demons at bay for now.

“What’s wrong, now?” I asked, letting my exhaustion show for a moment. If Ivar was coming to me it likely wasn’t a good thing.

In answer, I was covered in shadows. He deposited me in the same basement room he had before, though this time there was light and he stood in front of me.

“The dinner was a trap to taunt Harlow. A power play.”

His words had my blood boiling. I told them it likely was, but she was determined to not show weakness. How she equated compliance to weakness, I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t forcing her to not go.

“What happened?”

“Gravik lashed out when she called him on his bullshit,” he revealed. “Then he told her failure wasn’t an option, got angry, and lashed out at me.”

“Is she hurt?” My words were barely audible through clenched teeth.

“I took him back to Helheim before he could hurt her.” Ivar glanced down at his arm, and I saw fractures in his skin, the surface smoking still, and knew something had escalated.

“What happened to you?”

He let out a dark chuckle. “I don’t trust Hel anymore,” he admitted. For a demon who was given his position by Hel, this was a big jump from when we first met.

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