Page 147 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“You’ve finally figured it out, I see.” Vane taunted. The only satisfaction here was that the man looked tortured. His eyes were lined in dark circles, hair shaggy and ragged, even his clothes hung off him like he’d recently lost weight. He was a mess.

“You look like shit,” I said with a laugh. Even as I feigned calm, my eyes never left the knife that close to my man’s windpipe. “Let him go, Vane. This is between us.”

“Us, Hel, demons, gargoyles,” he mused. “Fate.” He shifted the knife away and twirled it around at the last word before putting it back in place.

He was bold, and reckless.

“What do you know about ‘fate?’” I snorted. “We’re fucking human.”

“I know that Hel saw your future. This is all because of that vision,” he said, loosening his grip again. Roman shifted and he was holding him tight again.

“You know as little as I do.” I realized at his vague words. “Just another pawn. You know she’s already phasing you out of the mix, right?”

“I’m too important,” he said with a dismissive laugh.

I shook my head, refusing to believe that for a second. If he was, would he be hiding and falling apart? The answer was absolutely not.

“No, you’re probably the one with the smallest amount of use. Who is directing your demons now, Vane?” I raised an eyebrow and waited.

How I was being this cocky and confident was beyond me, I felt like I was going to puke and cry at the same fucking time.

Hallucinations danced in my peripheral. Not just shadows, but figures. They felt different now, thanks to the demons. No cold accompanied them, no heaviness to the air, just figures and smoke my brain conjured.

“Me,” he said but the way his voice wavered wasn’t at all convincing. Vane was losing his grasp on reality and right now, his calm. I’d have to act fast if I wanted to save Roman.

Wait. Hiro. I could see the shift happening, the way his head lolled to the side, digging the blade deeper before he startled and Vane gripped him again.

Why Roman left me, left him to come out to this, I had no clue.

“No, you’re not. Is it the adviser or the warden?” I mused, tapping my chin as I pretended to think it over. “Or maybe Hel, herself?”

“I said it was me!” he thundered, slamming Hiro to the wall behind him. I couldn’t react, couldn’t move forward and help.

I should have known Hiro wasn’t down. He gripped the katana in his hand and pulled himself up from the ground as quietly as possible. I kept my gaze off of him, distracting Vane as he stepped forward.

He froze just as I thought he was going to strike. I knew a flashback when I saw one, but I’d diverted attention too long and Vane turned. I had to move fast, and I knew if I didn’t do something, it’d be lost.

“Is it Ivar?” I asked. The name of my personal monster had him turning back, face distorted in a true snarl. His yellow teeth bared and I couldn’t help but laugh at the reaction.

“That demon lost control of his troops and you think he has any power over me?!” he bellowed. “He thinks he is important. Ivar is nothing! Hel doesn’t even want him to know what she’s shared with me. I’m taking his place in Helheim!”

He jabbed a thumb angrily at his chest.

“You’re a human,” I argued. “You wouldn’t survive there. Unless you want me to send you there now?” I teased as I held up my dagger, letting it glint in the harsh lighting of the room.

He chuckled humorlessly at my threat. The man clearly had fallen down a rabbit hole of delusions. Hel was using him and had from the start.

If he was truly as powerful and important as he claimed, he wouldn’t be hiding from us specifically.

Hiro’s foot hit something behind him and Vane turned, laughing as Hiro held his katana out with a shaking hand.

He was no real threat. Not right now.

But I was.

That was my chance and I took it, striking him right in the back with every bit of strength I had.

My memories flooded back as his screams filled the air.

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