Page 46 of Outcast

“I want to go back to my grandma. Show her that she didn’t break me.”

There was silence after the words fell from my lips. “See, I told you it was stupid. And honestly what I’ve become is exactly what she feared.”

“Dead?” Hiro questioned.

I laughed. “She wishes. No, she thought I was a demon, or rather I was possessed by one. Little did she know I was going to give my soul to the demons and become their leader.”

Roman was the first to speak. “So you’re telling me you want to pop in on dear old grandma and scar her for life? I don’t think I’ve ever been more in love with you.”

A startled laugh escaped me, shocked they weren’t just laughing me off. But out of all the things in my life I couldn’t shake or move past, it was how shitty I was treated by the ones who were supposed to take care of me and love me.

Though, I suppose if anyone could relate, it would be Hiro and Roman.

“I’m here for it,” Hiro agreed. “I vote that we pop in at the dead of night, really shake the old woman.”

“Even better,” I agreed. The image was playing out in my head, and I could almost hear her terrified screams. Maybe it was wrong for that vision to satisfy me so much, but it settled something within me. It would honestly be the final bit of closure for my humanity.

But it would have to wait.

Our conversation was cut short by Loki popping in and sitting across from me. His legs were crossed like mine but there was no amusement on his lips. I was just glad he didn’t pop in an hour ago while I was being railed by a demon and gargoyle.

“We need to talk.”

ChapterEighteen

Harlow

“I’ve come to collect my favor.” Loki’s words fell in the room like bombs. Whatever he was about to demand couldn’t be good and it also couldn’t have come at a worse possible time.

Regardless, I owed him an insane debt for what he did.

“What do you need?” He almost seemed surprised by my answer, likely expecting me to beg for mercy or weasel my way out of it like most did. Gods probably didn’t like to repay debts; they were far too proud and selfish for that.

“The gods are closing in on Hel. I have no doubt she has mere days left. She’s being careless, apparently, she’s found a human she’s fond of and is risking it all,” he explained.

“How and where do I come in?” I asked. Nothing he said so far would include me. I’m barely figuring out my role and trying to close a portal. Hel wasn’t my problem, in fact, she is the cause of my issues.

“I need you to find her a soul.” He stared at me, letting those words process before continuing. “You have to find a way to not let her fade.”

“You do know that Odin outpowers me, correct? What you’re asking me could be suicide,” I argued. The last thing I wanted was to get myself on Odin’s bad side when I was already careening toward it on my own.

“What I did for you could have been the same. Do you think gods take kindly to turning humans?” he demanded. The desperation was dripping from him, and it was unsettling seeing him so unhinged.

“Yet I don’t think Odin blinked an eye at them when he visited. I’m not here to dispute whether your cause is worthy, I’m here to state the fact that this might be a failed mission before it starts. I can’t figure out how to close the portal, Loki. What you’re asking is something Hel didn’t bother to teach me, and believe me, that list is enormous. How am I supposed to create a soul?”

“I’m asking you to attempt it,” he clarified. He was calm again, giving me a moment to consider his words.

I ran a hand over my face, letting out an exasperated breath. How had I become the one every god needed something from?

“Is she in danger as we speak?”

“She’s a human in that world out there right now,” he pointed out.

My laughter startled him for a moment. “Hel is getting a big dose of consequences to her own actions.”

His eyes narrowed. I was clearly testing his boundaries but I wasn’t afraid of Loki. For one, I was no longer human. And another reason was that he simply needed me. I didn’t have to filter my words to appease him.

“It’s an apocalypse right now. Every god is working to do as much damage control as they can, but the moment one of them finds her? It’s over. It may not be today but it could be any day. You need to be ready.”

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