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“Come face your death like a real champion of Helheim.” A cold numbness took me over then and I bent down, brushing a kiss on Roman’s forehead before gently laying him on the ground.
I rose to my feet, walking toward the warden with my dagger clutched in my hand. I’d only taken a few steps when a flash of red hair caught my attention. Loki sat on top of the gazebo. I didn’t turn his way. He may help me yet, and I wasn’t going to draw attention to him.
“Someone needs to send my men’s bodies to Helheim, to give them back to me,” I ordered. A flash of red disappeared, and I prayed that Roman’s body went along with it. If anyone could change the tides of this war it would be Loki. He didn’t serve Hel, just himself. He peddled in favors and saving my men meant I’d owe him my entire soul. And for them, I’d give it willingly. I’d have to put my faith in the God of Chaos. Honestly it was fitting for the life I’d led.
“I never claimed to be a warrior. But if you want my life, then come and take it, I give it willingly. Face me, stand close to me and watch the life drain from my eyes like you’ve done to so many others. I want you to see the moment you realize you’ve fucked up.”
He smirked, every ounce of arrogance he possessed forcing him toward me. He held his weapon to his side, no long speeches in store for me. Just as he flexed his arm to strike, I slammed my dagger forward, burying it to the hilt. It sliced easily through his chest, but I was too slow, his weapon already in motion, stabbing me in the heart. Just as I intended, my sacrifice would take him with me. No one would be the victor today.
I expected an explosion of pain but there was no time. All I felt was an icy numbness that wrapped around me before I disappeared completely. Darkness pulled me under, saving me from the hell I found myself in.
Epilogue
Monty
When I was whisked away from that courtyard, I never expected to find myself in Hel’s prison. The obsidian walls were damp and it smelled of death and blood.
“Hello, Ivar.”
I looked up at the bars only to see Hel standing there. She’d lost the arrogance she’d held in the meeting just hours ago.
“I’m sorry I had to betray you. You were loyal.” It was strange but she almost sounded like she meant it. She was now contradicting everything she’d reinforced earlier.
“If you kill Harlow, then you better kill me. Otherwise I will spend every moment of eternity hunting you down and repaying the favor.”
“Harlow was always destined for Helheim, Ivar. There was nothing you or I could have done to stop it. This was how things were supposed to unfold. She was strong, fiery, throwing wrenches in every plan I had. But it’s still coming to pass.”
“You trust Gravik and Askaal to finish your plans?” I asked coldly. “They would just as soon betray you for power as they would slaughter Harlow for fun.”
“Oh, they will, but that was foretold as well, and they won’t be given a second chance,” she promised. “I’ve learned long ago that demons aren’t truly loyal to anyone but themselves. Look how easily you turned away from me.”
“I followed you until you put her life on the line,” I pointed out. It didn’t really matter anymore. She’d made her choices, put her plans into motion, there was no turning back. Whatever loyalty I had was long gone. “Let me out, Hel.”
“You would only stop me and ruin everything I’ve worked for, Ivar. I can’t do that. I can’t even promise that you’ll ever get out of here but at least you get to stay in here with the thought that Harlow will be alive again, in Helheim.”
“If she loses her humanity, then she won’t be the same person,” I protested. “You’ve taken everything good in Harlow and tossed it away.”
“Most of her humanity was torn away by a cruel world and an illness that has haunted her every waking moment since she became a teenager. She thinks I was oblivious to her struggles, but I watched every single one. Harlow means more to me than I ever meant for her to. I regret that this is how things had to end but I’ve served Helheim long enough. The time for change is here. Goodbye, Ivar.”
“The gods would never let you leave,” I protested. I’m not sure what she was trying to do but the fact that this was all for an escape filled me with even more disgust.
What once was blind loyalty and trust was now replaced with raw hate. It ebbed and grew with each new betrayal, and it would fester for years to come. One day I would hunt her down, kill her for what she’s done.
For now, I was forced to watch her walk away.
“There’s a replacement, why would they care?” she questioned, pausing before she was out of sight. “The gods have far bigger issues than ensuring that I’m here. As long as someone’s doing the job then that’s all that matters.”
Realization hit me like a fucking avalanche. “Harlow?” I questioned, putting the pieces together. “She’s your replacement.” It was no longer a question.
“She’s going to be magnificent one day, Ivar. I hope that you’ll be by her side, you’ve earned that position. You’ve done everything I’ve asked of you and more.”
I laughed bitterly. “You used us all just so you could run away. It’s cowardly, beneath you.”
“Apparently not.” She huffed out a laugh. “Goodbye, Ivar. I’m sorry.”
She disappeared then, leaving me once more in my quiet cell. I could feel Harlow calling for me, and I gripped the bars, crushing them between my fingers as I tried to go to her. But they were made to contain demons like me and refused to bend. I couldn’t go to her. She’d die without me, not knowing what happened or why.
Pain exploded in my chest, so sharp I stumbled backward. My hand gripped at it like it was something tangible. The bond I’d always shared with Harlow was ripped from me brutally. It was barbaric and left me writhing in a pain that ran soul deep. I already knew I’d have to feel her die, but this? This was indescribable. I’d never felt so torn or alone. Harlow had been in my life for so long I didn’t know how to live without her.
