Authors: Katie Maxwell

Circus of The Darned (21 page)

She sighed.
"Are there any poodles on the island?" I asked Imogen under my breath.
"Not to mention way too much information." I smiled.
"I know that. I just hate that he's off doing probably really neat things without me."
She smiled. "I sense that your feelings for him are becoming deeper than perhaps you realize."
"Not going there," I said, sighing again. Sometimes life seemed so overwhelming.
"Yes. You wish to send them toValhalla , correct?"
"I do?" I got up slowly, not sure what she was getting at.
"Yes, you do. I shall summon the god Loki, and you will lay your case before him."
"But… you're not a witch.Or a priestess, for that matter."
"Shall we?"
"Have you done this much?" I asked, chewing my lip a little as she consulted her book.
I shook my head. "She just said it had his power in it."
"Um… I don't know what invocation to use for him."
"OK. I'm not very good at this, but anything is worth a shot to get the Vikings on their way."
"I'll help. How do invocations usually start?"
"Oh, that's very nice," Imogen said, looking impressed.
"Thanks. I do sometimes listen to my mother."
"Oooh,it's glowing! That must meanit's working."
"I hope. Let's see… 'aidme in my time of need, oh Loki whose power moves the universe.'"
"Appealing to his vanity—excellent choice," Imogen said, nodding.
"Um… what next?I'm drawing a blank."
"Eh… did you say Laufeyiarson?" I asked, wondering if that was a common name.
"Yes. Loki is the son of Farbauti and Laufrey, if I remember my mythology correct. Why?"
"Yes. Did it work? I can't see anything."
"You!"I yelled, gritting my teeth. "I want my horse back!"
"He is an offspring of mine."
Chapter Twelve
He shrugged. "People change with time. So have I."
He had a point there.
"Oh, you… gah!"I yelled.
"A date?"Loki asked, looking from Imogen to me. "You have a date with a Moravian?"
"Yes, Ben's a Dark One, but that isn't really important—"
"My brother does not lie!" Imogen said, outraged.
"You need some serious psychological counseling," Imogen told him with a sniff.
"I've told you my answer," he said, starting to walk away. "There is nothing left to discuss."
"No," Loki said, and took another step toward me.
The look he gave me made the cold in my heart turn to ice.
"Very well," he growled, his body starting to shimmer. "We shall do things the hard way."
Imogen moaned.
"You OK?" I asked her, kneeling next to her. "How do you feel?"
She rubbed her head. "Like someone struck me. What happened?Ew . I'm lying on seaweed."
She dumped the water from it and frowned at me. "That's different, and you know it."
"Actually, I have."
"Oh, I know that. And I'm not going to do nothing."
"What are you doing, then?" she asked.
"No, it's not a war—"
"Idag dörvi!" Finnvid shouted at the top of his lungs. "Nästa hallpats: Valhall!"
"Oh, great, just what I… no, no, put down the bow, Isleif."
"No! No battle!"
"You can say that again," I muttered under my breath.
Chapter Thirteen
"I will cut off his head," Gils said.
"And I will cut out his spleen." Ljot brandished a hunting knife with great pleasure.
Isleif's eyes lit up. "I will shoot him full of arrows that will pierce every major organ."
"The goddess Fran has a point," Finnvid said thoughtfully, looking at Eirik.
"The who?" I asked.
Instantly twelve Viking faces turned pouty.
"The big date," Gils said, pursing his lips. "The goddess should not miss that."
Isleif nodded. "It is important."
"No liver cutting!" I yelled.
"That's just what I'm afraid of."
"Be on your way, goddess," Eirik said with one last shove. "We havework to do."
My mother had other ideas.
What are you doing?
As good as ever.What were you talking to Tallulah about?
Fran, you can wake me up if you need me.
I know that. But we didn't need you. We were in control of everything.
It was Ben's turn to snort.That's why Imogen was struck with a sleeping spell ?
She wasn't hurt. I would have called you if she had been hurt.
You're changing the subject. Irritation seeped into my head with the words.
Ben was silent for a moment. Iwill see that it is .
Taking a shower.
Oh! For some bizarre reason, a little tiny blush warmed my cheeks.Right this second?
Yes. Why? Don't you believe me?
Sure. I just… it's kind of odd talking to someone while they're naked and soapy.
His slow smile stole across my mind.Would you like me to prove it ?
Prove it? What do you mean?
Oh man. You're… oooh.
Is this too much for you?he asked as he soaped himself up.If you want me to, I'll stop .
My mother entered the trailer, Davide at her heels. "Done already? That didn't take you long."
Just because I don't want to have sex with you doesn't mean I'm not… um…
Curious?
Yeah.
"Fran?Are you all right? You have an odd expression on your face."
"Honey?What's wrong?"
"Yeah.I was just… uh… thinking of something."
For our date, you mean?
Yeah. Not anything else. I'm not ready for that yet.
Thank you.
Huh?
I think you're the right person for me, too.
Stop eavesdropping! I yelled, mortified.
Oh great, now I'm a radio station. Well, WFRAN is going off the air now. I'll see you in a bit.
"Fran?What is wrong with you today?"
Her lips thinned. "It's Ben, isn't it? You were thinking about him."
I decided whatcould work for Ben could work for me. I said nothing, just looked at my mother.
"As for your accusation that I don't trust you—" Mompaused a minute and frowned at me.
So much for not talking about the fight.
"Fran, it's for your own—"
Mom just stared.
Chapter Fourteen
"How bad is it?"
An arrow whizzed past us with an odd humming noise.
Or rather, he tried to.
"Top of the light poles," I lied, pointing to the nearest tall stand of lights that lit the aisle.
"Oh, for heaven's sake… what are we going to do?"
In the distance, a horn sounded.
Isleif tipped his head to the side as he listened to the fading horn blast."More Vangarians."
"More? No! We have enough!"
"Well, OK, you can stab her. But leave the tourists alone!"
The Viking grinned and dashed off after Desdemona.
Ben! I yelled, desperate for some support.
She did that earlier. It's the Viking ghosts! They're running amok!
I'll talk to Eirik, he said.
"Francesca!" a familiar female voice tinged with a German accent bellowed. I twitched.
Too late.Where are you? What are you doing?
Thanks. We're going to need it.
"This is Gunn," Imogen said, introducing her friend. "She's a Valkyrie."
"Oh! Excellent! I was wondering how to get ahold of you guys."
Five Vikings chased a group of tourists past us.
"What are they doing?" I asked.
"Sending them toValhalla ," Gunn answered.
Except, of course, I wanted Loki in my power so I could force him to give me Tesla.
Gunn looked down at her chest fondly for a moment.
"Trap Loki?"Gunn yelled.
"What can I do to help?" a deep, smooth, velvety soft voice asked behind me.
He raised a dark eyebrow and looked at his sister. "I didn't know she knew how to call them."
Ben looked at me, "Aren't you going as well?"
"It's just what?"
"I almost hate to see them go. They're nice. And they've tried to help."
"Oh, blow it out your butt," Gunn said.
Loki's mouth hung open for a moment.
Loki roared in anger.
"Wow. Tough chick," I said in an undertone to Ben.
"They have to be. They're warriors, too, remember."
Loki snarled when he saw me."You again?"
He sneered at them."A handful of long-dead warriors. They are no match for me."
The Valkyries stepped forward, joining the Viking ring.
You made him listen to you before, he answered.What did you do ?
If he wantsit, that means it has some power. Use it, Fran.
Useit how? I don't know how to do any of thatsort of magic. I'm just a psychometrist !
"You will have to go through me, first."
Loki laughed again."As if a Dark One could stop me? Prepare for annihilation."
I thought you were going to let me do things my own way? I asked, poking him on the shoulder.
There are limits to my patience. This is one of them.
I can't make him do what I want if you won't let me try, I pointed out.
And I cannot allow him to harm you. If you are dead, you won't help Tesla.
He had a point.OK, how about this —we do it together.
Deal.
Loki's hand dropped from smiting position, his eyes narrowing.
Good girl. Now you have his attention.
"You don't know how to use it," Loki said, suddenly relaxing.
"Give me Tesla," I shouted again, getting ready to slam Loki with another jolt of power.
"Tesla!"I tried to run forward to grab him, but Ben held me back.
"Wait until Loki is gone," he said softly. "He is the trickster. It might not really be Tesla."
"I have fulfilled your demand. Give me theVikingahärta ."
"Häxa!" he screamed, leaping back as I dropped it onto the sand. "You have enchanted it!"
Do I want to know what he called me?
Witch.
"You have done something to it to keep me from taking it."
"I haven't! I swear!" I held up my hands to show they were empty.
"No," he said, and for a second, I felt a wave of concern andworry come from him.
"What's wrong?"
"Fran!Benedikt! You must come! Something terrible has happened."
A chill rippled down my back and arms as I grabbed Tesla and urged the horse into a trot.
"What's wrong? Are there more Vikings? We can call the Valkyries back—"
"No, it is not them," Soren said, turning as we reached him. "It's the troll."
I stopped dead in my tracks."Thewhat ?"
I took a deep breath and shot a glance at Ben.

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