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By the time we were finished, it smelled like smoke and blood, the shadows receding now that the slaughter was over.
“Are you all right, little human?” I demanded, rushing over to Harlow and letting my shadows fall away as I ran my hands over her. She was covered in blood, and I needed proof it wasn’t from her.
“I’m fine.” She smiled up at me. It was the same smile that had been my undoing. I may have protected her out of duty once. But ever since she discovered what I was and embraced it, things had changed. She was more to me than just a tool for Hel to use, or someone that belonged to me. In truth, she owned me more than I owned her. I haven’t told her yet but even feeding was no longer the same. She did that without trying, every time we fought, fucked, or spoke she was fueling me with power.
Even if I lost my command and the world descended into chaos, I wouldn’t change a fucking thing. I would fight by Harlow’s side.
Hel was raising the stakes and we would meet them blade for blade until this was over. Until we’d won. Losing was no longer an option. I might not have cared about anything but duty and power before.
Now I had everything to lose.
ChapterSeventeen
Harlow
Friday Morning
Dark Haven Cafeteria
The first wave of demons escaped during breakfast. Even from the cafeteria we could hear the roar of the gargoyles. It shook the building, plates and silverware rattling for a moment until the room fell into silence.
By the time Drake dragged Roman and me to the rooftops, it was pure chaos. Demons had spilled into the human world. Cars were crashing together, and smoke was billowing in the air from fires nearby. I couldn’t imagine the damage they would do in days if this was mere minutes.
“What do we do?” I asked, my voice breaking with tears. This meant the gargoyles had not only failed their post, but I had failed as well. Hel had told me it was my job to close the portal, and here I was witnessing what was likely the downfall of humanity. The fact more demons continued to pour out of the portal and into the outside world was not a good sign.
“There’s not much we can do. I have no idea what to tell you, Harlow. The gargoyles can’t leave the grounds, and Ivar and I can’t just go slaughtering these motherfuckers in the streets. Only Hel herself can drag them back to Helheim, and it seems she’s not willing to do that.” Drake was ranting now, pacing back and forth while he threw his hands up in frustration.
I froze at his words. “Is it really that easy?” I asked. Anger flared within me, and I clenched my fists so hard my nails were digging into the flesh. “She can just fucking drag them back and she’s allowing this?!”
Drake shrugged. “I don’t know but she sure as hell isn’t doing anything to stop it.” I can see the frustration on his face as clear as I feel mine.
Roman stood to the side, peering out into the chaos unfolding below. Even now, more smoke was flowing out of several more buildings in the distance. I had a strong feeling there would be riots by nightfall.
“Ivar’s here,” Drake said. The ground below filled with shadows, swallowing half of the demons and giving the power back to the gargoyles. They worked with impressive efficiency to take back control. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Even if they could do nothing about those that already escaped, at least we had Dark Haven back.
But if it happened once... that meant it could happen again.
“I should venture out, see how bad it is,” Drake said solemnly.
“Take me with you,” I begged. “There’s no one stopping us anymore. Roman can come too.” As soon as the words left my lips, Roman was shaking his head.
“No, I don’t want to leave,” he said with enough conviction I held my hands up.
“Okay,” I said. “But I do, please?”
Drake looked down at me like he was considering it. “Ivar and Kol have enough to deal with. They’re going to freak out if you’re not here.”
“Let them,” I said. “I can’t just stay here like fucking Rapunzel. They can deal with the grounds, and we can check the outside world.”
“Fine,” Drake relented. “But you have to stay close. I don’t know what we’re going to be dealing with out there.”
“Okay. I will,” I promised. Honestly, I’d agree to anything to get outside of Dark Haven even for an hour. “How do we get past security?”
“There’s no security anymore,” Drake admitted. “There’s very few staff members left at all outside of the kitchens and that’s only because they come in through the back entrance and leave the same way. Anyone left watching patients knows. There’s no way they don’t.”
“Perfect!” I grinned. “I’m going to go grab some shoes and a hoodie.” It felt selfish to be excited for an outing when the world literally depended on me. But if I didn’t reset myself like this… then all would truly be lost. I was barely holding on.
“Come on. We can’t do anything from the rooftop anyway,” Drake said, clapping Roman on the back as he headed for the door.
