Page 36 of Outcast

“Well, I refuse to believe that,” I growled, rushing back to the ladder. We were still close enough to Dark Haven I could feel Helheim reaching out for me. I pulled it closer, focusing on it, until it was buzzing along my skin.

“What are you planning?” Drake demanded as he dropped to the ground in front of me, foregoing the ladder altogether to stop me.

“Storming the demons, I thought that much was obvious,” I said. There was no point in hanging back. I wasn’t a human anymore with no backup plan or ability to fight. My power could outlast theirs ten to one, even with the portal wide open.

“Do you think Loki had anything to do with this?” Hiro questioned as he joined us. Though, he used the ladder at least. “He is the God of Chaos. And there’s never been a more chaotic time in this fucking country.”

“No, he’s not careless. The gods are likely not happy with him for letting this all happen in the first place. Not to mention he’s working hard to save Hel’s ass,” I rushed out, looking for a way past the makeshift barricade.

“Harlow, stop,” Drake growled as I shifted things out of the way to get through. Of course I ignored him until he helped, clearing enough to get through.

I slipped through the crack in the barricade, spear jutting out in front of me as I stalked forward.

The closer we got, the more the demons filling the square reacted. Hisses and shouts filled the air as they parted for us.

Monty hung back, watching, and likely waiting to dive in and save me if I needed it while Hiro and Drake flanked me, weapons raised and ready.

For an extra level of protection, I wrapped my power around us like a barrier as I stopped at the base of the stairs, looking up at Crew with what I’d hoped was a look of disappointment.

With the influx of power, I felt the demons pushing with their own at my barrier, but it did nothing to move it out of place. That had them retreating slightly and waiting for orders from their leaders.

“Harlow, you’re alive,” Crew called out from his spot at the top of the stairs. It put him on higher ground and he seemed pleased about it. The smirk on his face was not one I’d ever seen him use. Now that we were close, I could really see the changes.

His once tight curls were now grown out and covered in ash. His eyes weren’t just red, veins of neon red fractured through his face and down his neck and arms, likely his chest, if it had been exposed. I didn’t hide the fact I was studying him and found him lacking.

“It’s strange, Crew, you became what you hated so fiercely. Did you not want to leave Dark Haven when you realized what lurked there? And here you are, doing their bidding and turning on your own people. You became the monster you hated and even left Layne behind.”

“She doesn’t need me,” he bit out. The bitterness in his tone meant that Crew was still in there somewhere. He had clearly not overcome his jealousy with Stravos, even though the gargoyle would never step over any lines unless Layne asked him to. One thing gargoyles had over demons was respect for each other.

“How the mighty have fallen,” Drake tsked as he stepped closer, bringing Crew’s attention to the now, full-blooded demon. His eyes narrowed even further like Drake’s presence was offensive.

“And you’re one to talk.” He laughed. It was hollow and filled with hate. He was truly a shell of the person he used to be. If Hel thought this could be easily rectified, she was dead wrong. I’d seen mountains of casualties and Crew was just another one on the list.

“I’ve always been a half-demon,” Drake pointed out. “I just have less humanity in me now. But clearly more than you have currently.”

Crew’s face contorted even further in anger until he looked like someone else altogether.

“Well, good for you,” Crew said with a fakeness that made my skin crawl. “I’m glad life worked out for one of us.”

The pain, bitterness, and anger in him had to be festering for months for Crew to reach this level of hate and anger.

“Enough. Kill them,” the demon beside him hissed, moving closer and whispering into Crew’s ear until his eyes were glowing red. “You don’t need them. You’ve never needed anyone. Now you’re strong and unstoppable. Everyone will see it.”

Crew stood taller the longer they whispered. Whatever doubts we created were quickly washed away. His features contorted in a fit of rage as a battle cry tore from his lips. A shiver ran down my spine and I swallowed down the thought that Monty might have been right, that we were far too late to save him.

Our friend was officially gone.

Even when he spoke, it sounded strange. “You know, we’ve been waiting to take Dark Haven out of respect for Layne,” Crew called out. “But it seems that was a mistake.”

“To Dark Haven!” The battle cry arose from the crowd of demons, the energy building as they yelled out, firing each other up to the point the air buzzed with their agitation.

“Go, we’ll give you a thirty-second head start,” Crew yelled at us the moment I turned my attention back to him. He held two long swords in his hands. My only reassurance was that the glow in them was muted and fading. They may outnumber us by the hundreds, but we were far better equipped.

“Go,” I said to the others, and we turned and ran. Perhaps I shouldn’t have run, maybe it was viewed as cowardly, but I was a leader now and the portal and Dark Haven had to come first. The thought of killing Crew was heartbreaking but I’d do it to protect my realm and my friend.

My guys didn’t question me, even Monty gliding alongside us until we’d reached the gates of Dark Haven.

“Monty, go warn the gargoyles.” For the first time since I’d known Monty, there was no protest at my orders or maybe things have just officially changed. Hel was gone, I was the leader, and his orders came from me instead of the other way around. It was the first moment I felt like I could earn my title. My only thoughts were focused on saving my realm and my former home. No more death needed to happen, but it would if they left me no other choice.

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