Page 25 of Outcast

I hadn’t considered giving the wraith power, but I was willing to try. The moment I nodded, he called out to Zetta, and she appeared as quickly as she had every time, as if she were lurking around the corner.

For the first time, she lost her professionalism and stared at us all with wide eyes.

“My queen? Why am I suddenly terrified?”

ChapterEleven

Harlow

I’d tuned out Monty twenty minutes ago. He hasn’t stopped droning on about how I have to do a show of power for the demons to take me seriously.

He hadn’t noticed my eyes glazed over yet, but I had already accepted I would not win over demons by handing out cupcakes and high-fives. I told him as much, but Monty didn’t even stop to take a breath.

The longer I was in Helheim, the stronger I felt. Emotions were one thing, but I could easily differentiate what had to be done from my feelings on it. Plus, the demons would reform eventually even if I had to retaliate.

Even Gravik and the former warden would come back eventually.

“Can we just go?” I questioned. “I get it, Monty. I’m aware I have to be strong and unrelenting, use power to establish my dominance, whatever it takes. I’m not scared to face them, and I don’t appreciate you underestimating me. I’m not that scared, broken human.”

“I never said you had fear holding you back, you simply have too much remorse.” The condescending tone had me gritting my teeth and standing in front of him, staring him down.

“If you don’t want to turn to ash like the warden, then let’s go,” I growl out my annoyance. Instead of arguing, Monty let out a low sigh and swept the shadows around us. I could have traveled on my own, but I was still learning the layout of Helheim.

The barracks looked like I’d expected. There was a bloody arena in the front and some stone buildings surrounding it. Demons were milling in and out, screeching at each other, and several demons were standing in the arena, circling each other. The scent of blood and embers in the air meant they were not afraid to gamble their lives and fight to the death. Reforming wasn’t fun for me, and I couldn’t imagine doing it over a stupid sparring battle.

They didn’t notice us standing behind them, the energy the same until Monty had enough. He let out a loud whistle and everything came to a halt. In the blink of an eye, there were five rows of demons in front of him, arms rigid at their sides as they awaited orders. Even after being around the supernatural for this long, their quick movement was unsettling.

In mere seconds, they’d tripled in size. I was honestly shocked there were this many left in his ranks. After Hel had thrown open the portal, I figured only a few would be left here. If any.

“There’s more than I expected.” And they looked like they could hold their own. The demons I’d seen at Dark Haven were always controlled by hunger, almost feral.

Monty looked out at the crowd before responding.

“Our numbers used to be much more impressive. And they’re not changed by the feeding that the demons you’ve met. This is how demons are. Bloodthirsty and loyal, a dangerous combination to defend our realm.”

The question wasn’t one I asked out loud, yet he’d answered. It was moments like that I wondered if mind reading was one of his many skills and he’d failed to mention it. This wasn’t the first time he’d done this.

“All of these demons here are loyal?” The doubt was evident in my voice, and I purposefully pitched it louder so they could all hear me. Several demons let out a hiss that had Monty lashing out with his shadows and pulling them front and center until seven demons stood before us, each radiating annoyance and pride.

One demon stepped forward boldly, a wide taunting grin on his face.

“We aren’t loyal to you, we are loyal to Hel.”

“Hel is no longer in Helheim.” I strode forward to face off with the demon with a gleam in my eye. The power of Helheim thrummed through me, solidifying I was now its leader. “She turned her back on Helheim, on all of you. This is now my realm, and I won’t tolerate insubordination.”

He spit on the ground at my feet, the saliva sizzling on the ice. I glanced down at it, then back up at him, eyebrows raised but showing nothing else.

“You were a human. A plaything for the commander. Humans are cattle to weak demons, not queens or whatever you think you are.”

It was a bold move and reckless, especially in front of Monty. But this was what I’d prepared for, so I didn’t let any time pass after he uttered the last word before lashing out with my power, wrapping it around his neck in an icy swirl of blue fire. As I squeezed the life out of him, I raised him so the others could see. When it took too long, I snapped his neck and let his ashes rain down over the crowd before being swept away by the wind.

“Anyone else?”

Another of the demons in front of us stepped forward, his words sharp and angry.

“Are you just going to kill any of us that disagree?”

This time I didn’t dignify it with an answer before slamming power into his chest and letting Helheim reclaim him.

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