Page 180 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

The warden spoke. “Hel would like an audience with Harlow. Alone.”

“You see,” I said, stepping around my gargoyle, though he put a hand on my shoulder to keep me from going after the warden. “I no longer give a single fuck about what Hel wants from me. If she wants to see me, she sees us all.”

He smirked at that and there was a promise of pain in his voice. I should have stopped him right then, refused to goaltogether. But I knew it was useless to turn her down. She didn’t take no for an answer.

“As you wish.” The world faded and when it came back into focus, we were standing in the throne room. This time I could feel the smooth stone floor under my feet and an icy chill in the air. My body shivered uncontrollably against it, and Kol wrapped his wings around me.

“Holy fucking shit,” Roman breathed out. “Hiro is going to freak out when he reads about this.”

Heels clicking on the floor drew our attention to Hel as she stood and took a few steps away from her imperious throne.

“I knew you wouldn’t come alone,” she said. “It seems you don’t trust me anymore, Harlow, which hurts, seeing as how I chose you.”

My laugh was bitter. “Chose me for what? A life of suffering? I don’t care what you think you’ve done for me in my life, because it was literal hell on Earth until I came to Dark Haven and I refuse to have it ripped away from me now.”

We were about to go around in circles again, her demanding and me refusing. The whole dance was getting really fucking old.

“I see we’re still stubborn.” She sighed as if I were exasperating. “I’ve also heard that a seer of mine has decided to have another vision. Have you stopped giving her medicine, Drake?” There was so much in that statement she wasn’t saying and the implications had my mouth dropping open in horror.

Drake lurched forward but Monty pulled him back.

“Don’t be stupid, half breed,” he hissed.

“You knew what my mother was? You drugged her and hid her away in that place?” he seethed. I’d never seen my half demon angrier, his demon form taking over as fire burned in his hands.

“Your mother was important to me,” she argued, putting a hand to her chest like she was genuinely hurt by his accusations.“You see, I was in need of a seer and after I found her, she gave me a prophecy. Which I’m currently watching unfold.”

She glanced pointedly at me as if we were too stupid to keep up with what she was saying.

“I was afraid I might need her again and so I tucked her away. But it was too late, she had fallen for her bodyguard, the one I had so kindly sent to protect her. She was so deeply in love with him it clouded the visions. So, I did the only thing I could do, gave her medicine to dull her mind and formed Dark Haven to be a safe little sanctuary until I needed her again.”

“Safe little sanctuary?” I questioned. “You gave her medicine she didn’t even need, and you thought that was okay?”

“Oh, she needed it. I don’t know why you humans always jump to accuse me of giving you mental health issues. You guys have those all on your own. I just use your viable minds to my advantage.”

“That’s even more fucked up!” I yelled, throwing my hands up. She was like a petulant child, refusing to listen to reason or think past herself.

She laughed and waved me off like I was being funny. There was nothing amusing about the situation. Poor Drake had even lost his fight, looking more defeated than anything.

“Who is my father?” Drake asked. I’d never heard him sound so lost, and Roman and I moved over. When I wrapped my hand around his, he squeezed me hard enough it hurt. I would never protest. He needed me. “You let me believe all this time that he was some monster taking advantage of a sick woman. When, in fact, you’re the one who made her this sick.”

“I didn’t make her sick, I just made it a little worse. It kept her safely in her own mind. No harm, no foul, isn’t that the saying?” She was so narcissistic she couldn’t see past her selfish whims.

“The saying is that you’re a fucking monster,” Roman said. “Haven’t we all suffered enough? Humans are not here to just be used by you and your sick, twisted games.”

“Oh, but you are.” She laughed coldly. Now Monty and Kol were holding us all back. This bitch and all of her audacity needed to be knocked down several pegs.

“Who is my father?” Drake ground out again.

“I have a feeling you’ll find out soon enough. You don’t need me for that. Now. I believe Harlow came here with a question.”

Ice trailed down my spine, making me shiver even harder against the cold. There was no turning back now. This was my chance for final confirmation, to force her to admit what she’s asking of me.Not that she’d care.

“Am I supposed to sacrifice myself to close this portal?” Her smile stretched across her face. It was downright wicked, even contorting the skull side in a true show of emotion.

When she spoke again, there was a hint of relief in her voice.

“See, I knew you’d come to the conclusion eventually. I gave you a dagger for a reason, Harlow, it’s almost time for you to use it.”

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