Chapter Two: Into Shadowfjord

The house was quiet when Ajax and I walked in, but it didn't feel peaceful. There was a heaviness in the air, like the calm before a storm. I kicked off my shoes and headed toward the bathroom, my mind already focused on the relief of running water and a moment to myself. But as I passed the kitchen, voices stopped me in my tracks.

"You didn't tell me he was adopted!" Nyx's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. "You expect me to take care of some kid that isn't even mine?"

I froze, my hand hovering over the bathroom door handle. My chest tightened, and I felt like the walls were closing in around me. I'd heard Nyx yell before—plenty of times—but this was different. This was about me.

"Daggs, just go to your room," Ajax said, his voice low as he appeared behind me. His expression was tight, his jaw clenched. He must've heard it too.

"I just need to use the bathroom," I muttered, brushing past him before he could stop me. I didn't want to go to my room. I didn't want to hide. I just wanted to pretend, for a few minutes, that I hadn't heard anything.

The argument continued as I closed the bathroom door behind me. Their voices were muffled now, but I could still make out the words. Nyx was relentless, her anger spilling over like a dam that had finally burst. "Why do you even care about him? It's not like he's your actual kid, Diablo!"

I didn't hear Diablo's response, but whatever he said must've hit a nerve, because Nyx's voice rose even higher, shrill and venomous. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to block it out. But the words stuck, echoing in my head like a bad song on repeat.

When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, the house felt even heavier than before. I didn't dare look toward the kitchen as I made my way to my room. Once inside, I shut the door and collapsed onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. My mind was a mess, tangled with thoughts I didn't want to have. Why did Nyx hate me so much? Why did Diablo even bother keeping me around if it caused this much trouble?

I didn't have answers, and the more I thought about it, the more exhausted I felt. Eventually, the weight of it all pulled me under, and I drifted off to sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was the faint hum of an engine. The second was the seat belt cutting across my chest. I blinked, disoriented, as the shadows of passing trees danced across the car's interior.

Nyx was in the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice groggy and thick with sleep.

"Go back to sleep," she snapped without even glancing in my direction. Her knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and her jaw was set so tight I thought it might crack.

"But—"

"Daggs," she cut me off, her tone sharp enough to make me flinch. "Just shut up and go back to sleep."

I wanted to argue, but something in her voice warned me not to push. Instead, I slumped back in my seat and closed my eyes, though sleep didn't come easy. My mind was racing, trying to piece together how I'd ended up here. The last thing I remembered was falling asleep in my room, the argument between Nyx and Diablo still echoing in my head. Now, I was in a car heading... where?

Eventually, exhaustion won out, and I drifted off again.

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the smell—thick, damp, and earthy, with a hint of decay. It wrapped around me, heavy and suffocating, like the air itself didn't want me there. When I opened my eyes, I realized why. The world around me was dark, lit only by the faint green glow of swamp water pooling at my feet. Twisted trees loomed overhead, their branches clawing at the sky like bony fingers.

The Shadowfjord.

Memories hit me all at once, like the floodgates of my mind had been kicked open. The last time I was here, Amdis had tried to kill me. Her laughter still echoed in my head, sharp and cruel, like a knife scraping against glass. But that was also the day I met Ghost and Zion—the day they saved my life.

I shook off the memory and looked around, trying to make sense of where I was. There was no sign of Nyx, the car, or anything familiar. Just endless swamp stretching out in every direction. My chest tightened with panic as I realized how alone I was. Alone... and vulnerable.

I thought about Cain and Jager. They'd know their way around here—they always did. But Cain was Amdis's older brother, and the thought of running into her again made my stomach churn. I couldn't risk it. That left only two options: Zion or Ghost.

Zion was a world away, back in the Skallheimen with his brother. Even if I somehow found a way to reach him, there was no guarantee he'd be able to help. That left Ghost. Unpredictable, dangerous, and maybe my best shot at getting out of this alive.

Admitting it to myself was like ripping off a bandage. I liked Ghost. Not just as a friend—I liked him. And now, here I was, lost in the Shadowfjord, counting on him to save me. Again.

I took a deep breath and started walking, hoping I'd run into him before something else ran into me. The swamp was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves feel like a threat. My nerves were fraying with every step, my heart racing faster with each passing minute.

"Boo."

The voice came from directly behind me. I jumped so hard I nearly lost my footing, whipping around to find Ghost standing there with a grin that could only be described as wicked.

"Relax, Daggs," he said, laughing. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Very funny," I muttered, my heart still pounding. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

Ghost chuckled, stepping closer. "What are you doing out here? Didn't we have a deal about you staying alive?"

The concern in his voice caught me off guard, and for a moment, I forgot about the swamp, about Nyx, about everything except the way he was looking at me. "It's a long story," I said finally. "But I need your help."

Ghost's grin faded as he studied me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Alright, Daggs. Spill. What's going on?"

I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the murky ground beneath my feet. I could still hear Nyx's words echoing in my head, the venom in her voice as she argued with Diablo. It made my stomach twist, but I forced myself to speak. "It's Nyx," I said quietly. "She... she brought me here. I don't know why, but when I woke up, I was in the car with her. And then I woke up again, and—" I gestured around me, the swampy darkness pressing in from all sides. "Here I am."

Ghost's expression darkened, his easygoing demeanor replaced by something sharper, more serious. "She left you here? Alone? In the Shadowfjord?" His voice was low, dangerous.

I nodded, feeling a lump rise in my throat. "I don't know what she's thinking, but I don't think it's good."

Ghost let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "Of course it's not good. The Shadowfjord isn't exactly a vacation spot, Daggs. You shouldn't be here."

"I know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "That's why I need your help."

For a moment, Ghost didn't say anything. He just stared at me, his eyes scanning my face like he was looking for something he couldn't quite name. Then, without a word, he reached out and ruffled my hair.

"Hey!" I said, stepping back and swatting his hand away. "What was that for?"

He shrugged, his smirk returning. "Just making sure you're still you."

I frowned, trying to figure out what he meant, but Ghost didn't offer any further explanation. Instead, he turned and started walking. "Come on," he said over his shoulder. "Let's get you out of here."

I followed him, my steps quickening to match his pace. "You really think we can make it back?" I asked, glancing around nervously. The Shadowfjord were as eerie as I remembered, and I didn't want to stick around long enough to find out what might be lurking in the shadows.

Ghost snorted. "Please. You're with me, Daggs. If there's one thing I know how to do, it's breaking the rules. We'll get out of here, no problem."

There was something comforting about the way he said it, so sure and confident, like nothing in the world could stop him. For the first time since I woke up in the swamp, I felt a flicker of hope.

Ghost glanced back at me, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. "You know," he said, his tone light, "when I said you should come with me, I didn't mean like this. But hey, at least you're finally seeing things my way."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, let's just say this wasn't exactly how I imagined it." I said as I followed him.