Page 26 of Outcast

As the second set of ashes fell, there was complete and utter silence in the ranks. The demons who remained, slipped back in line without being prompted. They may have forfeited their life for a fight but they would not anger their new queen. It was a smart move.

Their loyalty was laced in fear but as long as it was there, I had time to prove that it wasn’t misplaced. I’d be a better leader than Hel. I was already on my way since I didn’t resent the realm I was in, nor was I stuck here.

“Ivar, who do you trust the most?” It felt so strange to use his name but in front of the demons, it was a necessity, a show of respect. He let out a grunt of annoyance but didn’t argue, for once.

Instead of shadows throwing them around, Monty moved through the rows, inspecting every demon one by one. It had me questioning his mind-reading abilities again but now wasn’t the time to ask.

On Earth he always seemed to know when something was wrong with me. That wasn’t exactly a huge accomplishment or hard to do though. My life had been hell from the moment he met me until the day we all died.

When Monty returned, he had five more demons trailing behind them. Each bowed without being prompted and a sense of relief washed over me. The last thing I wanted to do was be the leader constantly killing her people or filling the prison, like Hel, anytime someone opposed or questioned me.

I’d rather be a fair leader and learn this realm without having to fight for my life or watch my back while doing it. We’d suffered enough on Earth, I refused to let this be a continuation.

The gargoyles, demons, and wraiths here all had a duty. All I expected and wanted from them was to continue doing it. We all existed for a purpose, and this was the time to remind them of that purpose.

“Everyone else is dismissed,” Monty called out. In another blink, the troops were gone and it was a ghost town, except for our little group.

Instead of giving him a chance to address them, I did.

“You’ll be coming back to the castle with me.” It wasn’t a question, and they all nodded an acknowledgment before I turned back to the commander. “We need weapons. I’m assuming you have some here. Will they be effective on the other side of the portal as well?”

“Any weapon from Helheim will do,” he promised. For a moment, I was almost offended that the weapon Hel gave me was a run-of-the-mill weapon she’d passed off as something special.

Pride had no place in this war. If the weapons would protect my men and end this madness, then I would gladly take it. I needed to make sure Layne, Crew, and Sarah were safe. Hell, the humans in the world too. Not only did my life now depend on closing it, thanks to Odin, but I knew how shitty the human world was. Too many humans had suffered enough and didn’t need the demons adding to the trauma.

“Then we need an arsenal,” I stated.

One demon stepped forward, a hand over his chest as he bowed his head.

“I’m the quartermaster here. Hel gave me the power to infuse weapons with the fires of Helheim,” he explained. “If you’ll allow me, my queen, we can gather what you need.”

“Thank you. Bring enough to arm yourselves as well. My group will need three and I’ll need something as well.”

“I’ve got something perfect,” he said with an unhinged giddiness. It was the first time I’d heard one of the lower demons infuse their voice with pride without something malicious tied in. Monty had chosen well.

“What about the demons remaining here?” I asked when it was just us again. Monty looked out over the barracks.

“They may have questioned you at first, but these demons know their duty. If they haven’t escaped the portal yet, then they won’t try now. That or the portal was blocked when we came back. It’s under the castle.” Yet another thing I didn’t know about Helheim.

“Is someone guarding it? Otherwise, I’d hardly call that blocked,” I pointed out. “Outside of the wraiths flitting silently in the halls and us, no one has been around.”

He shrugged.

That’s reassuring.

“There’s a second entrance to it as well, underground,” Monty added on.

“Of course there is.” I sighed. “And I’m not even surprised she built her castle over it so she could feed on the power like a dragon hoarding its treasures.”

“It also gave her a chance to escape at a moment’s notice,” he added fuel to the flame. “Hel did everything with intention and was far more sadistic than any of the beings she governed.”

The conversation was cut short as the demons returned with an armload of weapons. Except the quartermaster that held a long obsidian box. His grin was twice as wide as he stood in front of me, and I couldn’t help but return it.

For the first time since arriving in Helheim—not just my men or someone working in the castle—someone had accepted me as their queen. He respected me and ensured my safety. Maybe queens shouldn’t have a favorite, but this adorable, weapon-creating demon was now mine.

“You can present them at the castle,” Monty said as his shadows consumed us all, whisking us from the barracks and depositing us in the center of the throne room.

The demons moved to place their weapons in front of the throne, keeping their own in their hands as the quartermaster held out his box. I took it with steady eye contact, weighing the heavy box in my hand and wondering what weapon he chose for me.

---