Page 64 of Chaos Unleashed

“We’ll have time to get a closer look at them, but we need to get going,” Zev says.

“As in need to?” I ask, wanting clarification.

“Yeah, we need to head out. There’s an urgency to leave that we need to listen to.” He explains.

“Gotcha,” I reply as I put all of the bracelets in the same pocket of the Void; since I had to put Hiromu’s in there, it's probably going to have warned the god anyway, so putting in the rest won’t do anything apart from make sure that they’re safe. No one will be able to take them out of the Void except for me.

It doesn’t take us very long to pack up and get everything ready to go, but as I’m looking around to make sure that we haven’t left anything behind, I catch sight of Grey looking unsure.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him.

Everyone stops what they’re doing and turns to face Grey.

He frowns heavily, crossing his arms over his chest as he says, “I really should head up to the castle.”

The implications of that statement fly through my mind, and I feel my heartbeat pick up; as selfish as it sounds, I don’t want him to go; I don’t want to be separated from any of them, and I have a feeling that I’m going to feel that way for a long time. Before I can say anything or suggest that we head up to the castle with him because I refuse to be separated from any of them, Zev interrupts.

“No,” he replies, as his eyes flash white; this vision seems to last a lot longer than some of the flashes he’s had more recently, but it is nowhere near as dramatic as when he had the vision back at Black Onyx Academy, that seems like so long ago now.

Grey’s eyebrow raises, “No?”

“Sorry, I was trying to see if it would let me see any more,” Zev replies.

Reaper smirks, “You were arguing with your magic?”

Zev shrugs, “Well yeah, it’s frustrating as fuck that it won't let me see you guys.”

“What do you mean no?” Grey asks again, hope flaring in his eyes.

“You need to come with us, and we need to leave,” Zev replies. When we all look at him expectantly, he throws his hands up in the air in a very Loki move and adds, “I’m sorry guys, that’s literally all I’ve got. It didn’t show me anything else. I just know that you need to stay with us, and we all need to leave the Underworld; I think we’re coming back at some point. That was all muddled and honestly is only a guess right now.”

“But what about the realm, there’s no one running it now,” Grey asks with a heavy frown.

“Well, let's face it, the princes weren’t running it anyway, and besides, all Underworders are terrified of the princes and the armies that they think are at the castle; no one is going to go up there,” Khaos reminds him.

“He’s right; I mean, from what Farren told us, everyone is avoiding the place as much as possible, so it's going to be a while before anyone realises that the princes are dead,” Storm adds.

Khaos nods, “Exactly. Not only that, but the Underworld is going to be healing just by your presence in it, and we know that it can last a damn long time without your presence too. We’re going to have to trust Zev’s vision.”

Grey is quiet for a moment as he thinks about what the guys have said. “Yes, you're right; if the vision says I need to come with you, then I’m going to come with you. I just hope none of the Helliers from training go up to the castle, while I’m gone, we’re going to have to figure out a fix soon. I need to get my realm back on track.”

“While I agree with you about coming back here, we’re going to have to talk about that at some point because I’m not letting any of you out of my sight,” I start honestly, making all of them grin. I don’t allow them to comment as I move on, “I don’t think you need to worry about them sending Helliers up to the castle; it would be a suicide mission. I’m sure that they sent them up regularly at one point, but there were a lot of dead Helliers on the side of the castle that belonged to Grey. Your beast took care of them and he now has the run of the whole castle.”

Grey’s eyes widen, “He’s still there? After all this time?”

I nod, “Oh yeah, and he’s done an amazing job of protecting your vault, the Helliers’ last resting place in the throne room, and whatever else you’ve got back there.”

“Wow, I honestly thought he would’ve moved on by now,” Grey replies.

I don’t bother to reply to him because I can feel magic growing in the air. Someone is coming.

“Shit, do you guys feel that?” I ask.

It takes them a moment, but they’re quickly all nodding yes.

“We’re sitting ducks in here. We need to see what’s approaching.” Storm says and then orders, “Everyone grab your weapons and get outside.”

My axes are already in my hands as I stride toward the door; this is where I’m comfortable, attacking things that attack me. I’m a fighter, and it has been rather emotional in here, and while I’ve needed it, and it’s had its place, I’m done now.

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