Page 236 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“And he was still the same,” I said, coming to the same realization. “You can’t just get rid of impulses and mental health disorders without dying. Sarah was different. Hel admitted to essentially making her crazier for her own gain.”

“Of course, she did. What a bitch,” Layne muttered. “I haven’t seen him since. I don’t know if he’s alive or not. The city has been really quiet but the news is terrifying.”

“How are you watching the news?”

“The diner across the street. It still has power and a freezer of food. We go there for meals. Or at least Sarah and I do while Stravos watches from Dark Haven freaking out that he can’t join us,” she admitted. “I’d leave the owner money if I had it, but I haven’t seen another soul in weeks.”

“How long were we gone?” I gasped. Weeks? It felt like we just woke up in Helheim.

“Remember, time is different between worlds,” Monty stated.

“It’s been months,” Layne told me. “How long did you think it was?”

“Maybe a few short days,” I said with a shake of my head. “This whole new life thing is fucked up.”

“Why are you back? Why come here?” she asked.

“You. Sarah. And I have a portal to close. Somehow,” I admitted. She sagged in relief that we’d come back for her, and I hated that she’d been so alone.

“Harlow!” The urgency in Drake’s voice had the rest of us piling in the small room.

Sarah looked different. Less haggard and more aware. But the moment I saw the pure whites of her eyes, I knew she was having a vision or whatever it was.

“An even exchange is the only answer. They loom on the sidelines waiting for their chance. Gods are angry. You are the hope.”

Sarah’s prophecies were always choppy and disjoined, but I’d assumed it was her mental health. Now I was realizing it was how her powers worked.

“An even exchange?” I muttered. “I can’t exchange my life again, it’s gone.” The frustration had me growling, and I stepped away from Sarah so I didn’t freak her out.

Dark Haven had always been surrounded in riddles and now was no different.

The gods being angry was not news to me. But I didn’t know who was on the sidelines and how I could exchange anything to close the portal.

At least, I assumed she was referring to the portal.

Always more questions than answers.

“Well, we have to go see the damage in the city,” Roman said. “Or rather I need to see how bad it is.”

“I’d like to as well,” Hiro admitted. “I feel responsible in some ways and it’s going to give us the urgency.”

“Doesn’t matter how urgent it is out there. Closing the portal is priority and I have no fucking clue how to do it. Nor do I know how we get back home if I do,” I argued.

“It’s never truly closed,” Monty explained. “Kol was here when it was technically closed. I’ve been going back and forth for years. If you’re tied to both realms, by orders or in your case, your humanity, then traveling isn’t an issue.”

“How do I close it, then?” I asked, throwing up my hands. “Why can no one ever fucking tell me that?”

“Because we don’t know,” Monty said dryly. “You’re the leader now. No one else can help you but apparently, you need an exchange.”

“Again, I’m already dead and soulless,” I pointed out.

“Have you tried just manifesting like you do in Helheim?” Drake’s question seemed so simple I felt stupid for not trying.

My connection here was smaller. It wasn’t as easy using magic here.

“No,” I admitted. “I could barely get the gargoyles’ remains through. Odin made it so I can come through the portal, but not so I can fully function here. He’s likely waiting on the sidelines to see if I fuck this up.”

“I don’t think so,” Stravos said. “Things down there are quiet, but not empty. The demons are converting humans to their side. There’s a literal militia out there of demons and humans. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they likely made them demons somehow. They’re changed.”

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