Page 49 of Outcast

“Crew, come back to us. Layne loves you, you’ve just been too blind to see it.”

“She doesn’t love me. If she did, she never would have looked twice at that gargoyle.” He spit the words out as the red seeped back in and he raised his weapons once again. His gaze, however, went over me to the battle as if he could find the gargoyle in question. The ashes and shadows made it nearly impossible to see so it was mere seconds before his terrifying red eyes were back on me.

He’d lost the battle again.

Something snapped within him. His body tensed and his face contorted further into something unrecognizable. He didn’t just raise his weapon this time, he lunged.

And that was the moment he signed his own death warrant.

Monty was there, unapologetic as he did what I couldn’t and sliced a shadowy sword straight through Crew’s heart. His eyes widened, the red draining way to reveal his eyes one last time, now fearful and terrified as he gasped for air.

I moved forward as if I could save him but there was nothing I could do. He was dead before he even hit the ground.

My brain and heart were at war. I didn’t want to believe he was gone.

“I was getting through,” I argued with teary eyes. Monty had no sympathy for me.

“No, you weren’t. It was a losing battle, only death could free him now. I saved you, you’re welcome,” he said, letting out a scream as another demon launched at me. There was no time to grieve, we had to end this.

Most of the demons had fallen at this point; the only ones remaining were the leaders that had been by Crew’s side.

They finally fought, meeting our weapons with ones of their own.

One of them launched in the air, landing behind Hiro as he fought with one of the remaining lower demons.

“Hiro!” I barely had time to yell his name before he got a sword to the chest, but Roman was there to save him, swiping a sharp claw across the demon’s throat, ending him before he could take out his brother.

We were wading in a literal river of ashes, making it hard to move. Kol was right, they wouldn’t regenerate here. They would fade away as the ashes were swept away, giving up immortality for frivolity and malice.

“Crew!” Layne’s broken scream echoed through the quiet lobby. We all turned to face her, my heart stopped in horror as a demon burst from the rubble, weapon raised before it sliced straight through my best friend.

She dropped midrun, body shaking as her hands hovered over the blade protruding from her chest.

Stravos’s scream was haunting as he lunged for the demon, tearing his head clean off of his body and letting the ashes join the rest of his brethren.

He dropped to his knees in front of Layne, but he could do little more than hold her in his arms as blood and life drained from her body.

Loki’s request no longer seemed so crazy, because I had even more motivation to work on saving souls. If I could save her, save Crew, then I would try it. I’d do anything for her. She deserved so much better than the hand she was dealt.

“Take them back to Helheim!” I yelled. Kol picked up Crew as he and Stravos ran for the portal.

I just hoped I wasn’t too late to save them.

ChapterNineteen

Harlow

My leg bounced with nervous energy as I sat between the two beds. I’d already kicked everyone else out of the room, ready to take the heat for my decisions when they awoke.

The fact I got Stravos out was an accomplishment on its own, if not for my role here in Helheim, I doubted I would have succeeded.

Crew stirred and I sat up straighter, staring him down and willing his eyes to open. He’d died long before Layne, and I was terrified I wasn’t fast enough. Bringing him here had been a risk. There was a chance the corruption could cause damage here or kill him completely.

This was also my first and only attempt reconnecting souls to bodies and creating wraiths. But with Helheim’s power accepting them, I was at least a little hopeful. It was as if the realm recognized what happened and knew he shouldn’t be punished for it.

“Layne?” Crew’s voice was rough as he struggled to sit up. I remembered waking up in the mists, confused, disoriented, and naked. At least I’d conjured them clothes and a bed.

“She’s still healing,” I said gently. His gaze found mine and from the look of horror and concern, he remembered everything that had happened the last few months... weeks, whatever it was. The time change was impossible to figure out.

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