Page 191 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“Welcome home, My Queen!” a woman yelled out. The omega’s voice was timid and delicate, the small wisp of a girl bowing so low her hair obscured any view of her face.

It was long and strawberry blonde, standing out against all the white and silver. She was barely five feet, if that, her long, black gown hitting the ground and obscuring her feet completely. It gave her movements the effect of floating.

Unless she was.

That thought startled me. I had no clue what Helheim was like and I was going to have to learn fast.

“Oh god, please don’t bow to me.” I laughed as I waved for her to stand. The sound was unhinged and hollow, a shell of my former self.

Even my voice was different now, ringing with a slight raspiness I didn’t recognize.

She stood up, eyes wide, and panicked as if she were afraid I’d lash out in frustration. Delicate hands wringing as she glanced anxiously from side to side.

“Jesus, did Hel beat you or something?”

Her already white face paled further. She shook her head violently now, but she couldn’t form words to lie to me.

Her scent bloomed in the air with her high emotions, a strange floral scent mixing with the tang of her nerves and bitterness of lies.

“Okay, breathe. Please. Who are you?” I directed the conversation to something more comfortable. My voice was as sweet as I could manage.

Plus, I was going to be as nice as I could and try to get some answers from her. At the current moment, she was unaffected by my nakedness. In fact, most of the time her pale eyes were cast at the floor.

“I am called Zetta, My Queen. I’m your servant.”

I studied the girl. She was unlike any of the creatures I’d seen from Helheim so far. She resembled a human more than a demon or a ghost. Her skin was nearly translucent and eyes the color of the iridescent ice I’d seen jutting from the grounds outside.

Zetta was pretty in a haunting way.

She seemed to study me just as much as I studied her and I couldn’t keep my curiosity at bay any longer. I just hoped she was willing to talk. I needed answers. Real ones.

“Are you a soul, a spirit, or something else altogether?”

Zetta giggled softly, the sound like music. “They said our new Queen was coming from a different world. Forgive me, it took me by surprise. I’m a wraith. We’re simply spirits who were brought in to serve our Queen, infused with her magic so we can meet her needs.”

“There are more of you?” I questioned, looking around me pointedly. There wasn’t a sound in this large castle outside of my erratic breathing and the girl’s voice. “It’s so quiet here. So were the streets.”

“Oh, yes, My Queen. We’ve always been told to be invisible,” she admitted with another curious gaze sent my way. It was as if she were waiting for me to change that.

She was right, too. Fuck that. It’s creepy as fuck in here.

“If I’m in charge, I’m going to need noise in this castle. This silence is horrible, so feel free to spread the word,” I admitted. “But, Zetta, I have an important question before we get to all that.”

“Anything, My Queen,” she said quickly, eager to impress me. Good, that meant I wouldn’t have to fish for answers. I’d done enough of that to last both of my lifetimes.

“Did Loki bring anyone here? Are there strangers in the castle? My—” I paused, unsure which terms to use that she’d understand their significance. “Mates? They’re supposed to be here in Helheim. I have to find them.”

My voice bordered on desperation, and I did nothing to hide it. Hel might have ruled with a strong hand and at some point, I’d likely have to as well.

For now, I had a feeling I would benefit from my humanity, and I was clinging to it with every fiber of my undead soul. I didn’t want to lose my connection to my old self more than I already had.

As she processed my words I wondered if she had mates of her own in her past life. Did the souls lose all memories when they came here? Another reminder I knew next to nothing of this realm.

“I’ll ask around,” she promised before scurrying off, leaving me alone again.

I stepped toward the throne, unsure what else to do with myself as I waited for answers.

A low, menacing growl had me freezing in place as a creature walked out from behind it.

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