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“The group therapy room,” he suggested and I nodded, gesturing to the doors leading inside.
“This way.” They didn’t protest as I turned and led the way inside, only pausing to call Kol forward with me. “My men stay with me.” These strangers would not get me alone, and would not separate me from my monsters.
The room had a class but the therapist stood at the sight of us and ushered his group out of the room. From the sweat and fear on his face, I could tell he was aware of what we were. He’d clearly been introduced to what lurked beyond the veil. And once they knew, you couldn’t unsee them.
Did all the staff know? Including the nurse who’d pretended to be oblivious to Monty from the moment I arrived?
That had me wondering what Drew knew about this place. It would explain better why she defended Vane so intently.
“So, am I actually going to get answers on how to close this portal?” I asked as I took a seat. The two newcomers didn’t sit, but they stood across from me as if I were a queen on her throne.
“That’s a bit complicated,” Gravik admitted with a slight dip in his tone. “I’m forbidden from telling you outright, but I’ll try to answer what I can so you come to it on your own. Hel was adamant it be you who finds your way there.”
“Of fucking course she did,” I growled. “Then this meeting is useless. What can you tell me that they have not?” I gestured to Monty, then Kol. Both now stood behind me, one on each side.
Gravik let out a dark chuckle and I could feel annoyance coming from both of them. They must have expected a meek human, but I would not bow down to Hel’s closest advisers. I no longer trusted her. She had lost control of her demons, let a rebellion happen, and broke her deal with Vane letting the demons kill humans. Her cryptic messages weren’t doing me any favors.
“That Hel is pleased with your progress so far. She also sends along a warning that you are following the wrong leads.” His words have my eyes narrowing.
“Wrong leads? So she wants us to just let this happen?” I scoffed. He gave a smirk that gave nothing away.
I pulled out my dagger and flipped it around in my hand, toying with it as I stared at them.
“Can I close it by sacrificing a demon or two with this?”
“That would likely do the opposite,” Gravik answered with a shrug. “That’s not what you’re supposed to do, though.” They had all the answers and weren’t giving me a single fucking thing to go on.
“You, then?” I cocked my head to the side, taunting them right back. Maybe if I threw them off enough they’d spill something. Plus it was easy to fire them up when I was protected.
The two new men tensed, and I felt Kol and Monty shift behind me in response. Kol leaned down, his tone sharper than it had been with me before.
“Watch your tone. These are not lowly demons, they’re the highest-ranking ones in Helheim, mate. I’d like to not die for you today,” he said.
“I disagree. Show them who the real boss is here, Harlow. You aren’t to be looked down on,” Monty said, earning a growl from Kol. It was like I was having the cartoon moment with a devil and angel on my shoulder, only mine were both monsters.
“I’m just asking a simple question. It was not a threat. I’m grasping at straws since everyone seems to think I’m just supposed to know about portals and their mechanics,” I countered as I tucked the dagger away.
Roman was in my periphery, his body so tense I could almost mistake him for one of Kol’s gargoyles. He hadn’t said a word, but I could tell he was watching, learning these new demons, and listening for unspoken signs. I was glad he was here and not Hiro. Roman would stand aside and not dive into the fray. Hiro... I wouldn’t put it past him lately. Especially not after diving onto a demon the day before.
“No. Sacrificing us would be unwise,” the warden answered. “This meeting is over for now as long as you are going to make a mockery of it.”
I laughed out loud at that. “Apologies, I didn’t know you’d be so fragile. I assure you that I am taking this seriously. My friends are dying in this place at the hands of your rebellious demons. Someone is sacrificing patients that look like me as an intimidation tactic. My patience with this smoke and mirrors is wearing very, very thin. So yes, let’s end this. You acquaint yourselves with these halls, and just know that you will not harm a single human during your stay.”
I half expected them to argue, but I stood and walked past them before they got a chance, dismissing them with not just words, but actions. This was now at a critical point where I had to hold the power. They needed me for this to play out the way Hel wants, and I doubted they’d do anything to jeopardize that. They were likely forbidden against it by Hel herself.
That alone was my saving grace.
Otherwise she might have ended me before now for not working fast enough. Yet she offered no way to move forward.
“That was so stupid,” Monty hissed at me the moment the door closed behind us. “But so fucking perfect.”
“You should be careful,” Kol countered. “Those two demons are not who you think they are.”
“No one is.” I laughed.
“I’m unsure what Hel is intending here, but I do not like this,” Kol said in a low voice. I half expected Monty to make fun of him, to snap at him, something. Instead he nodded in agreement. Though, he was reluctant about it. A tension still hung in the air between them, but the more Kol integrated himself into our fold, treated me with respect, and kept us safe, the easier it would be between them.
“Be vigilant. I have a feeling Harlow’s life depends on it.”
