“She snuck on the roof again. But she was off, like something was forcing her up there,” Roman said. “Was it you?” The accusation had me letting out a warning growl. But I knew I couldn’t kill them where they stood. They were protected by Harlow. For some odd reason, her being displeased held me back. She’d clearly burrowed herself past my indifference.
“It was not me,” I said. “Possibly the gargoyles.”
“They’re asleep,” Drake countered.
“Wait, gargoyles?” Roman asked. It seemed we’d shaken him yet again.
“Yeah, another creature from Helheim,” Drake agreed.
“Good thing Hiro forced us to learn so much about mythology,” Roman deadpanned. He was handling it oddly well. But then again, that was the exact reason we chose this place. Their minds stretched beyond normal boundaries, and they were willing enough to see the unseen that it made this entire process easier.
“You have to go to her,” I said again. “He’s warded wherever she is.”
“Trail Vane, he’ll have to check on her. See if you can find anything and we’ll do the rest,” Drake agreed. “In the meantime, I’m going out.”
“Excuse me?” I seethed. Not only was this petulant hybrid telling me what to do, he was abandoning her.
“Calm your tits, Ivar. I’m getting her some Gatorade and snacks to process the withdrawal and lack of food she’s probably getting,” he said as he stood and sauntered back to his room.
Fury boiled in me at the dismissals I’d received today, and it pissed me off even more that Drake had been right. Only I could track Vane undetected.
“So, what’s Helheim like?” The voice that asked was softer than the other, and I glanced down at the curious eyes of the boy I assumed was now Hiro.
“Cold,” was all I offered before flashing out of the third floor in search of Vane. All I had to do was keep my composure and not kill him.
Easier said than done.
* * *
Drake
Tuesday Evening
Fifth Floor
Dark Haven had beenmy home my entire life. Yet as I delved further into the fifth floor, I realized this floor was still a mystery to me. I’d never considered that the offices only took up about half the floor and the rest was unseen.
I was in demon form to avoid getting caught, and I walked easily past the offices and toward the door Ivar had indicated. It said storage on it, but the moment I turned the knob and saw another hall, I knew it was Vane’s doing. He was keeping secrets. The question was, who else did he have except Harlow?
Demons lurked in this corridor, sticking to the shadows since the afternoon sun was still streaming in. They wouldn’t be hurt by the sun but they hated it. The fact they were here at all was unsettling. That wasn’t the agreement. As far as I knew, the demons were able to feed, after dark only, and never enough to kill or permanently harm. He was getting bold.
The doors were locked, so I continued to follow the hallway until I reached the nurses’ station. Demons saw me as well, but that couldn’t be helped, and I’d likely have Harlow back before they could do anything about it.
The fact he’d tucked her away here where no one could monitor him, was fucked up. Vane wasn’t just bold but stupid because my anger was building, and he would be my outlet. He’d pay for this... in blood.
Oldies were playing from a dated radio on the desk, but there was no activity in the empty common room or the station outside of one woman.
The old nurse was smoking with her head poking out of a window, so she didn’t notice the keys I’d taken from her desk.
It was too easy. Clearly, this floor was careless since it had gone all but unnoticed by everyone else up until now. Vane was planning something with the demons here. It was the only explanation for why they’d defy Hel. The human wouldn’t risk it without reason.
My heart pounded as I pushed the key into the first door and turned. The click was loud and I froze, hoping she wouldn’t hear. Thankfully, the music drowned it out. A small man was curled on his side, shaking. From the matted hair and smell, I had a feeling he hadn’t seen daylight in weeks... or a shower.
“No, don’t let them in,” he pleaded. I hated myself for backing out and locking the door. At least that way they couldn’t get in too, but I couldn’t save him. Not yet. That would have to wait.
The next three rooms were more barely functioning patients in various states of distress. One was crying, another babbling incoherently as she rocked back and forth, and the third was all but catatonic. I didn’t recognize them, and there were no names or charts to be found. Vane put these people here to be forgotten.
I’d kill him for this.