Gods (43 page)

“I didn’t move,” I said when Marguerite glared at me.

“Go, Jeannie. Get out now.” Marguerite’s eyes didn’t leave mine.

“But—”

“Go! Take the clothes. The girls can use them.”

The last girl, Jeannie, grabbed the bags, but she didn’t get a chance to lift them. Celestia got her. Jeannie fell, landing on top of the bags. Marguerite finally figured it out.

“Where is she?” she snarled

“A little slow on the uptake, aren’t you?” I straightened. “Now that your girls are out of the way, let’s finish this. Dimples uncloak.”

Marguerite’s head twisted and her body slumped over the couch. Celestia lowered the hood of cloak and got rid of her runes. She pushed Marguerite off the couch and watched her fall on the floor. A thud followed as her head hit the floor.

“I was hoping we’d talk to her,” I said.

“Oh, we will. She thinks my powers are evil? I’ll show her. She wants to keep coming after me, good. I’ll give her a taste of my powers.” She looked furious, blue flames leaping in her eyes.

“What have you planned?”

“You’ll see. Please, can you rune them, so they don’t wake up in the next ten to thirty minutes?”

“Sure.” I removed my artavus and took care of the three girls, giving them sleep runes. I moved to add the same sleeping runes on Marguerite, but Celestia stopped me.

“Not her,” she said. Unlike her flashing eyes, her voice was calm. “Can we put them in the same cell as Crazy Granny?”

I was beginning to worry about her. “Marguerite, yes, for as long as you want. I was hoping to ask Paula to keep these three in the basement at Serenity House.”

“Okay, but after a week with Angrboda. Please, they have to experience the terror they put the students through this afternoon.”

“Okay, a few weeks.”

I went to open the windows in Celestia’s room and saw the senseless devastation. Rage threatened to consume me. They’d turned her room into a battle zone. The drawers were open and their contents spilled on the floor. Half of her closet was empty and some of her clothes were on the floor too. They’d probably stepped on them. Her beddings and mattress were in shreds.

Had Celestia seen this? She was right. Those three should spend a few
months
, not a week, staring at my grandmother before they got released to the crazy house.

I contained my anger and opened the windows in her bedroom. I heard Marguerite’s voice and headed back to the living room. She’d recovered fast.

“I’m a healer, so I brought you back, so I can do this,” Celestia said and snapped Marguerite’s neck again.

What the heck? “What are you doing?”

“I want her to feel the pain over and over again. I’ll snap her neck and bring her back only to do it again. I’m showing her I’m a healer, and giving her just enough of my life force, so she’ll spend the rest of her life feeling what I feel. I’m going to be happy, Eirik.
We
are going to be happy.” She glanced at me. “She’ll know it and it’s going to make her miserable.”

I’d more or less told my grandmother the same thing. I wasn’t sure whether to be proud of her or worry. Before I could react, Celestia pressed her hand on Marguerite’s chest, giving her some of her life force. Marguerite stirred.

“Why are you doing this?” she snarled, sitting up.

“Because I can. I give life, not take it, Marguerite. I can do this for hours. What did you say about Angrboda? You want her released or…?”

“We’ll keep coming—”

Celestia snapped her neck again and checked her watch. This was her closure, I kept telling myself, as I opened the windows in the den and the front entrance. Her father should be coming soon.

“I have a few questions for her before your father gets here, Dimples, so can you give me more time with her before you snap her neck again?”

“Okay.” She partially healed Marguerite and watched as the woman’s eyes opened. This time, she scooted from Celestia.

“Keep her away from me,” she begged. “She plans to torture me.”

That was another name for what Celestia was doing and I wondered when she’d get tired of it. I sat, determined to wait it out.

Marguerite’s hand shot up and Celestia slid across the living room. Her back connected with the wall, but she must have anticipated the attack. The next second, Marguerite was the one flying across the room. She slammed against the wall and dropped on the floor. Celestia was completely invisible again because Marguerite didn’t see her coming. She snapped her neck again and came and sat beside me.

“Are you done?”

“Actually, yes. She’s not worth it. I thought I’d enjoy torturing her, but no matter how many times I do it, it would be only a fraction of the pain she has caused me, and I have better things to do. Let’s dump them with your grandmother and go home.”

“Just a second.” I opened a portal, found several Grimnirs about to leave, and told them to follow me. They took Marguerite and the three girls. “Give them to Oskrud and tell him they’re bound for Corpse Strand.”

“But they’re not souls,” one of the Grimnirs said.

“They’re evil Immortals. The older woman should share a room with Angrboda while the three girls can have the other cell. Oskrud should tell the guards I sent them.” The portal closed. I studied Celestia. Her eyes were closing.

“My poor
Stjärna mín
.” I picked her up and sat with her. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but I’ll be okay.”

“You gave her too much of your life force, didn’t you?”

“I might have.” She burrowed into my chest and sighed.

I pressed a kiss on her temple. “We’re leaving for Asgard as soon as we talk to Cora on Sunday. You need help, and even her situation won’t stop us from leaving.” The sound of an approaching car reached us. “I think your dad’s home.” She tried to get up, but I wouldn’t let her. “I’ll explain what happened. The gas is still in the air, but it’s not as strong.”

“He’s going to be angry we didn’t tell him about Marguerite and her scheming. And then there’s that mess in my room. The thought of wearing anything they’ve touched makes my skin crawl.”

Damn, she’d seen that. I lifted her chin and pressed a kiss on her lips. “We’ll replace all your clothes. I told you, my money is just sitting in the bank doing nothing. It’s yours. Buy whatever you need.”

Her father’s footsteps resounded on the porch, and then he was in the doorway. He smelled the gas right away. He wasn’t angry when we told him about what Celestia had gone through at Marguerite’s hands. Instead, he hugged her and then sent us packing.

“Don’t come back until she can control her new healing powers,” he warned. Before the portal closed, he was talking to the fire department.

EIRIK

Litr arrived in my room with a chest just when I stepped out of the bathroom. He tried to help me with my clothes, but I turned him down.

“I’ll pack.” He disappeared inside my closet. He whistled as he folded and added clothes inside the chest. He was in a happy mood. In fact, the entire hall was in a festive mood. I was counting the days when we’d get back, so I could talk to Cora.

“More formal and flying clothes,” Litr murmured.

I glanced at the chest. It was already halfway full and he hadn’t put in boots and shoes yet. “We’ll be back in a week, Litr. No need to take the entire content of my closet.”

“And
Gunnlögi
?”

Raine had warned me against bonding with it, but she didn’t understand. My weapon was not like her dagger. Hers belonged to the Norns while my mace was specifically created for me. Its magic didn’t hurt me. It empowered and protected me.

I bonded with it, changed into the courtly green and black outfit I’d worn to the ball weeks ago. Celestia’s bag had disappeared from my bedroom. I had a feeling her things were being transferred to a chest too. I went to check on Celestia, but Mother shooed me away. The waiting was killing me. I swear if she dressed up Celestia like some doll… I liked my Celestia in her lacey tops or dresses with boots, and witchy jewelry. It was her signature look.

Litr left, taking the chest with him, while I went to check on Daiku and Ranger. They were dressed in the finest black leather outfits with green and gold accents on their tabards. The two female Grimnirs—Kainani and Bree—were dressed in similar colors. I wondered where Rhys and Nara were. The last time I saw them was on Friday evening when I’d sent Garm to help them deal with the dark souls at Kayville High School. Nara had escorted Maliina to Corpse Strand afterwards. She was finally where she belonged and couldn’t mess with my sister anymore.

“When are we leaving?” Ranger asked.

“We are waiting for Celestia.” I glanced at my watch. “For as long as it takes, according to my mother.”

“Wow,” Kainani said ten minutes later and elbowed Bree. “She looks like a princess.”

I followed their gaze and my breath stalled in my throat. Damn! She looks amazing. Maera had taken Celestia’s style and improved on it. I didn’t know anything about materials or fashion, but I had heard the girls refer to her style as Boho. She was wearing a delicate, long white lace dress, with long sleeves. A front slit came to her mid-thighs, revealing white tights and matching fur-lined, high-heeled boots that reached her knees. Green gems colored her silver jewelry—charm bracelet, necklace, and a headpiece that looked like a chain crown and matched the accents in the fur lining of her royal cloak. She was a goddess.

She spread her arms and I noticed the white muff in her right hand. “What do you think? Too much?”

I laughed and closed the gap between us. “Never. But I’ve changed my mind.”

“About?” She lifted her chin to look into my eyes and I got lost in hers. She had the most mesmerizing blue eyes. My eyes drifted to her glossy lips. I stroked her cheek, wanting to steal a kiss.

“You. I didn’t think you could get any more beautiful. But you just took my breath away.”

“Thank you, kind sir.” She stepped back and curtseyed, then spoiled the gesture by whispering, “I just learned that.”

Was that why Mother had needed an hour? To teach her how to act around the gods?

“Well, you were worth the wait.” I reached down to steal a kiss and she reached up to meet me.

“No time for that,” Mother yelled from somewhere to our left. She must have been right behind Celestia. “Get moving or you’ll be late.”

I ignored her and kissed my girl. “Late for what?”

“The welcome party they’re throwing for you.”

~*~

CELESTIA

The walk from the hall to the cave was a blur. I was excited and nervous. Eirik looked dashing, as usual. He said I took his breath away. He did more than that. He made me feel like the luckiest girl alive.

“Ready?” Eirik asked, looking at me.

I nodded. I glanced at Daiku and Ranger. They looked confident and unflappable. Kainani and Bree looked excited.

Eirik opened a portal and rainbow colors flashed and danced at the other end of the portal. I wasn’t sure where the lights came from, but the bridge between Asgard and Earth was supposed to be made of rainbow.

Ranger and Daiku led the way. Eirik and I followed them then Bree and Kainani, and the two guards took up the rear. We entered a cavernous hall with a vaulted, conical roof. The portal shimmered and closed. The room was like the Grimnirs’ cave, except it was ten times bigger, and the crystals on the walls were covered with runes of different colors, hence the rainbow. In the center of the room was a high chair, but it was presently empty. To our left was a massive gate. No one was in the room.

“Eight guests from Helheim,” a voice echoed around the dome. “Identify yourselves.”

I looked around, but didn’t see the person who’d spoken. I waited for Eirik to identify us, but he was busy grinning.

“You know who I am, Heimdall.”

“Is that you, son of Baldur?” A giant of a man with shaggy, palest of hair and a long beard materialized in front of the gate. Dressed in warrior clothes like the four men and woman flanking him, he grinned and gold, sparkling teeth flashed. Hanging across his chest was a horn.

He spread his arms as he closed the gap between him and Eirik. “Of course, I knew you were coming. Your mother sent word that you were on your way.” He grabbed Eirik, lifted him up, and laughed. “Look at you. You went and grew up, son of Baldur. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“You can put me down now, Heimdall. I want you to meet someone.”

The large man lowered Eirik to the ground and faced me. “I already know about your young Witch even though I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her. Welcome back, Ms. Celestia. Heimdall at your service.” He took my hand in his large one.

I stared at him with morbid fascination as he lowered his head to kiss my hand. His beard tickled. “Welcome back?”

He laughed heartily, baring his gold teeth. “Heimdall sees all and hears all. This way. Your carriage awaits.” He waved his hand and part of the wall moved to reveal a bridge. The room was actually under a mountain and a carriage drawn by four horses waited for us at its entrance. The guards stored our trunks inside the carriage and climbed in front with the driver. Ranger and Daiku took the rear seat while Bree and Kainani sat inside with us.

“Safe passage,” Heimdall said. “I’ll see both of you tonight.” He slapped the rump of the nearest horse and stepped back as we took off.

I looked over my shoulder at the god as we pulled away. The entrance to the camouflaged portal under the mountain closed. At the top of the mountain was a magnificent castle.

“Whose hall is that?”

“Heimdall’s,” Eirik said. “No one enters the cavern we just used without his permission. Next time we visit, we’ll use the Bifrost, the special portal from Earth. The colors are much brighter than the ones on this bridge.”

Whatever material used on the bridge scattered light from the sun and bathed the ground with rainbow colors. The water beneath it was pristine and reflected the blue sky above. Ahead, the silver towers of Asgard appeared to touch the fluffy clouds.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered in awe.

Eirik shrugged. Either the beauty was wasted on him or he’d seen enough of it. Bree and Kainani twisted in their seats to look. They were just as in awe as I was.

“Have you guys ever reaped people from Asgard?”

“No,” they said in unison.

We passed the first gates. The wall attached to them fanned to our left and right, and appeared to surround the city. After a few more minutes, we entered the second gate and headed right on a broad street with giant statues of the gods on one side and the innermost walls of the city on the other. Above the road was an arched ceiling. After a loop, the carriage stopped outside a gleaming palace.

“And this is Valaskialf, Odin’s palace. To the right is Valhalla. The field is not visible from here.”

While the palace had silver steeples, long towers with runes and gold molding, and an open space before the grand entrance, the warrior’s hall was hidden behind a gated wall of what looked like giant spear shafts. All I could see were dome roofs made of shields.

My focus shifted to the gathered deities in fancy clothes and cloaks. There were so many, but most appeared young, like they were in their teens and twenties and a few children. I stopped gawking when I saw a familiar face among them—Syn. He must be the one the goddess had sent to alert the Asgardians of our arrival.

The gods and goddesses descended on us the moment Eirik stepped out of the carriage and helped me down.

“Viggo,” Eirik said, and embraced a man around his age. Eirik introduced him as the son of Forseti, God of Justice.

Viggo bowed and leaned in to kiss the back of my hand, then appeared to change his mind and planted a kiss on my cheek and hugged me.

“Thank you for bringing him back,” he whispered.

I didn’t have a chance to ask why he thought I’d brought back Eirik because the others were demanding to be introduced. Faces and names blended as Viggo introduced sons and daughters of gods and goddesses. I met Eirik’s cousins, second cousins, cousins twice removed. They treated him like he was their long lost brother. Some even said they’d thought he’d never come back until Ragnarok.

“Are you kidding? How else am I going to annoy you guys?” Laughter followed. “Mother insisted I come and visit.”

Most of the listeners didn’t mask their surprise. Others looked uneasy. Obviously the topic of a generous goddess was one they weren’t ready for. Then we entered the hall and my jaw dropped. One could fit several football fields into Odin’s hall. The floor gleamed and reflected the gold ceiling and the pillars. While arches separated Eljudnir halls, Odin’s vast hall had a continuous floor pattern and so many pillars. The entrance was at one end, the walls disappearing to the right and left, and directly ahead, in its place of prominence, was the throne atop semi-circular stairs. While both Eljudnir and Odin’ hall had runes on the floor, the pillars, the ceiling, and the walls, gold was the main color here, not gray. Outside was all silver while inside was golden.

The second set of introductions started with Eirik taking over from Viggo. These were older gods and goddesses, parents and grandparents of the younger generation following in our wake like the tail of a comet. Some were amazed Eirik remembered their names and titles from his previous visit.

“My father insisted I learn,” he said and they praised Baldur. “And Mother made sure I did. She is a perfectionist.”

They clammed up and looked uneasy, but their reaction didn’t seem to bother Eirik. I was ticked off. What had Goddess Hel ever done to make them dislike her? I knew she’d lived in Asgard as a child before Odin gave her a realm to rule. But whatever she’d told Eirik must have been interesting, because he shared anecdotes about her interaction with some of the gods and goddesses as they were introduced.

I realized what he was doing: making his mother relevant when the gathered deities wanted to ignore her existence. Whenever they asked about Baldur, he mentioned both his parents. Halfway down the hall, his strategy paid off when a goddess acknowledged teaching his mother something when she’d lived in Asgard. Another asked how she was doing before mentioning Baldur. 

I squeezed Eirik’s hand. He was my hero in so many ways. He was loving, protective, and fair. He never let anything or anyone stop him from doing the right thing.

Gathered in this hall were some of the most powerful beings in the universe. The males were huge and fierce-looking in their tabards and cloaks of different colors. All of them had beards. Baldur was always clean-shaven, yet I could easily see him at home among these gods, even eclipsing them. The goddesses came in all shapes and sizes with auras of power and unforgettable faces. Yet Eirik had them by the time we reached the front.

Finally, we stopped at the foot of the steps leading to the throne, and I looked up at the one-eyed, gray haired and bearded, Odin—also known as Alfadir by the gods—and his wife, my guardian. She was just as I remembered her and described her to the goddess.

“I’ll introduce you.”

My grip tightened on his hand as he pulled me closer, my knees quaking at finally meeting the woman who’d rescued me from drowning, crocodiles, and a burning house before finding me wandering in the astral plane. My heart pounded with excitement and gratitude. Should I hug her? Kiss her? Curtsey?

“Alfadir, allow me to introduce…”

I didn’t hear the rest of his introduction because the goddess stood and gave me a hug. It was surreal. I tried to speak, but emotions made that impossible.

“It’s okay,” she whispered and pressed a perfumed handkerchief to my cheeks. Only then did I realize I was making a fool of myself. I reined in the waterworks. Keeping an arm around my shoulder, she hugged Eirik with the other. “I knew she’d bring you back.”

Eirik looked thoroughly confused. “Bring me back? From where?”