Page 11 of Outcast

Gritting my jaw against the frustration, I let my thoughts wander for a moment. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Monty needed me. That he wasn’t simply regenerating, he was suffering. Hel knew his loyalty had switched, and now that I knew how little she cared for literally everyone and everything around her, I couldn’t help but fear for his eternal life.

Hate grew in my chest as I thought of my demon, and a shout from Drake was cut off as the warmth of the library was ripped away.

“What the fuck?” I gasped.

“Harlow?!” Monty’s voice had me spinning around. I couldn’t manifest a fucking hoodie, but I could instant travel my body across the realm. Clearly I was killing this goddess thing.

“You’re all right,” I breathed out, the relief hitting me like a punch to the gut. “Thank fuck.”

“How are you here?” he demanded, hands wrapping around the obsidian bars that separated us. Screams and yells echoed in the distance. This floor, however, was quiet enough the dripping of water and stench of wet earth were overwhelming.

“That’s a long story. The better question is how the fuck do I get you out?” I demanded as I reached though and gripped his arm. The touch alone had us dropping to our knees. I didn’t even care that the cold, wet cement floors cut at my flesh or that I was naked for anyone around me.

I had Monty.

And the hole that had taken over my chest started to fill. It was strange, like his presence alone was invading my being, yet I welcomed it openly.

“Only the warden had those powers. Or Hel herself.”

“Well, I’m the new Hel,” I growled, standing up and gripping the bars as I tried again to use my magic. A grunt behind me had me opening my eyes and spinning to find a frail demon splayed out on the floor.

“Oh, meet your father-in-law,” Monty said dryly.

“Drake’s dad?” I questioned with wide eyes. It was the only person I could think that would be locked away; Hel had told us that much herself.

“Is my boy okay?” the demon managed as he tried to get to his feet. I stepped forward to assist but Monty growled and yanked me back.

“You’re naked,” he reminded me. “Cover yourself.”

“About that.” I laughed. “I can’t. Getting here was an accident.”

“It’s your magic, Harlow, fucking use it,” Monty ordered me. I rolled my eyes at his demands. Screaming the orders at me or telling me calmly like Valgri did... it didn’t matter. The magic didn’t respond to me.

“Easier said than done.” Monty let out a sigh of exasperation and amusement. It almost felt like old times. Except I was still naked, we were still separated, and I was clueless.

“Allow me to offer guidance?” the demon on the floor asked.

“What’s your name?”

“Elkan, former adviser to Hel,” he said. “I was turned into a bodyguard, and I have a feeling you know the rest.”

“I do,” I confirmed as Monty continued to hold me in place. “What can you tell me about this magic?”

“It’s more than just simply doing it. Power is not something you can grasp and hold. Nor is it a weapon to be wielded. You have to put your emotion behind it until it’s second nature. Hel wasn’t a human when she arrived, but she was a novice at this.”

“That would explain how I got here,” I said. “The failing at clothing myself was pissing me off.”

“It doesn’t have to be anger,” he said gently. It was strange to have a demon be so calm and not be a dick.

“Alright,” I hedged as I closed my eyes, thinking of how relieved I was when I saw Monty. The moment I had that emotion, I imagined my favorite outfit on and the weight of it pressed against my skin.

“Well done, my queen,” Elkan praised me. Pride flushed me, and I didn’t hesitate to turn to the bars behind me and focus on all the frustration and fear Hel had forced me to bear. The bars didn’t just disappear, they literally melted before my eyes, falling to the ground in a black pool.

There was no time to celebrate or even pull in a breath before Monty had me wrapped in his arms.

But something was wrong.

He didn’t feel like my Monty. There were no shadows, no power, no presence. It was as if the demon commander was a shell of his former self.

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