Page 95 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

The modern clothes looked strange on a god but they only made his glowing, vivid green eyes stand out more.

“The other gods have taken notice of the strange events linked toyourdemons, and they’ve sent me on a little errand to find out just what you’re up to down here.”

He let out a string of maniacal laughter but his eyes sparked with anger. Loki was not happy about being forced to keep her in check. Or perhaps he didn’t like being questioned about his offspring in front of the gods.

No matter the reason, he was here now, and even I knew that wasn’t a good omen.

My body was still in front of hers and I kept it there as she turned her back on the god. A long inhale was the only sign she was regaining her composure.

Hel, to her credit, took her throne and watched him come closer with her head held high. She was a proud ruler and one who wouldn’t even let the gods get in her way. It was a reminder of why I’d followed her so closely all these years and why her allowing things to go to shit was so infuriating.

“How long do I have before they’re breathing down my neck?” she asked instead of giving an answer.

“Is she always this evasive?” He turned to me.

Despite my loyalty and resolve to not give him anything, I found the answer coming out against my will. His flex of power was impressive, but it wouldn’t gain him allies here.

“Yes.”

His lips curled into a playful smile.

“I do love making big, scary monsters become obedient,” he teased as he passed me, giving a little wave of his fingers.

“Don’t mess with my commander,” Hel warned him, but Loki pretended not to hear.

“Earthquakes? Feeding openly on humans at a rate even the gods can detect? Did you think the increase in their presence at Dark Haven wouldn’t be seen?” he asked as he reached her.

With a snap of his fingers, a throne bigger than Hel’s appeared across from hers and he sat down, the two facing off.

Though he didn’t have a commander and a demonic pet flanking him, his throne was a show of power on its own.

Hel merely shrugged. I felt a wave of annoyance fill the air from Loki and his power pulsed in the air. His green eyes simmered with malice at her lack of respect and his fingers tapped a staccato rhythm on the throne.

She was dancing across that line and I couldn’t save her if she took it too far.

Loki’s anger was wrapped in chaos and simmering under the surface. Hel didn’t hide hers, ice creeping over toward his throne already.

“Oh brr, there’s a draft in your castle, dear.” He made a show of shuddering before his laughter filled the air again.

Hel huffed in exasperation. “You know what is happening, Father. This is how the seer foretold it.”

“With a few sprinkles of changes, sure,” he called her out. “You know the rules, Hel. And the consequences. Odin would like me to remind you this realm could be taken as swiftly as it was gifted.”

“Then who would he deem unworthy enough to be thrown down here?” she taunted with enough venom to make the god before her laugh. It was no secret that our ruler did not like the cards she was dealt. What did she expect with a half skeletal form? She couldn’t exactly be the goddess of sunshine and rainbows.

Perhaps she was different before she created us. Helheim may have changed her.

Would the same happen to Harlow?

“Ah, Daughter, you underestimate the amount of enemies Odin has. However, you know that I’m no stranger to mischief. I’ll be staying to see how this unfolds. And unlike you, I have no restrictions in the human realm. Let’s go explore,Monty.”

My blood froze in my veins at his use of Harlow’s nickname for me. Before I could protest or even say a word, I was pulled from Helheim.

Soon we were both standing in the courtyard of Dark Haven Institute. Traveling with a god was much smoother than with my shadows. It helped to face off with a god I didn’t trust without the added frustration of being disoriented.

We stood apart from each other in the now-empty courtyard. The portal was silent which was... suspicious, but I’d take it as a win for now.

Two gargoyles stood vigil, waiting and watching in case it were to change.

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