House of Flame and Shadow
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Ninety-Eight
Overview
Hunt refuses to let Bryce vanish into the black hole and uses a Fallen mech-suit and the Mask to pursue her through the portal into space. With Shahar and the Fallen guiding him, Hunt fires the suit’s final missile to knock Rigelus past the event horizon, then catches Bryce as she drifts toward destruction.
Aidas and Apollion, then Ruhn, Lidia, and their allies, hold the closing portal open long enough to pull Hunt and Bryce back to Midgard, sealing the black hole away. The Asteri are finally gone, but Hunt discovers Bryce has returned lifeless.
Summary
Hunt watches the expanding black hole in Lunathion, knowing Bryce has leapt into it with Rigelus. Aidas arrives and insists Hunt cannot reach her in space and that Bryce will die when the Horn is destroyed and the portal collapses, but Hunt refuses to accept it, believing Bryce left the portal open to come home.
As demons and the remaining Asterian Guard battle in the streets, a Fallen mech-suit approaches Hunt and offers its hand. Hunt realizes Shahar’s soul is inside; the other suits kneel as the Fallen gather. Hunt climbs into the suit, relying on its weapon propulsion to move in space, and charges straight through the portal after Bryce.
In space, the suit’s oxygen systems fail, so Hunt puts on the Mask, which rips at his soul but lets him endure. He spots Bryce and Rigelus struggling near the event horizon, with only one missile left and no safe shot. Guided by Shahar and the Fallen, Hunt fires; the missile strikes Rigelus and knocks him across the event horizon, taking Shahar with it.
With Rigelus pulled into the Void, Hunt uses the suit’s remaining power to reach Bryce and catches her, unconscious and frozen. The portal begins to close, but Aidas and Apollion seize its edges to hold it open. Hunt hurls a rope of lightning to Apollion, who drags them inward while Aidas fights the sealing force.
Ruhn and Lidia arrive to add their power, joined by Tharion, Holstrom, Flynn, Dec, a fire sprite, Isaiah, Naomi, and others from across the Houses. Their combined effort keeps the portal open long enough for Hunt and Bryce to crash back onto Midgard; the portal seals, trapping the black hole and space beyond. Hunt rips free of the suit and reaches Bryce—only to realize, with the Mask’s confirmation, that Bryce is dead.
Who Appears
- Hunt AthalarRefuses to abandon Bryce; dons the Mask, pilots a Fallen suit, rescues her, returns.
- Bryce QuinlanDrifts unconscious in space after separating from Rigelus; returns to Midgard dead.
- AidasWarns Hunt of futility; later holds the closing portal open with dark power.
- ShaharFallen Archangel soul in a mech-suit; guides Hunt and the decisive missile shot.
- RigelusStruggles with Bryce near the event horizon; knocked into the Void by Hunt’s missile.
- ApollionHel prince who grips the portal, catches Hunt’s lightning, and drags them through.
- Ruhn DanaanArrives with starlight to help force the portal open long enough for rescue.
- Lidia CervosJoins Ruhn at the portal, adding firepower to hold it open.
- Tharion KetosAdds his strength at the portal with the others to keep it from sealing.
- HolstromHelps maintain the portal with combined powers during Hunt and Bryce’s return.
- FlynnSupports the group effort at the portal, contributing power to keep it open.
- Declan (Dec)Joins Flynn and others, lending support to hold the portal against closure.
- Isaiah TiberianArrives to aid the portal effort, one of many allies from across the Houses.
- NaomiHelps at the portal alongside Isaiah and other allies to bring Hunt and Bryce through.
- Fire spriteSmall elemental ally whose flame contributes to the collective push holding the portal.
- The Fallen (souls)Gather around Hunt; empower Shahar’s act and symbolically end their long cause.