Going Thru Hell (8 page)

Chapter Twelve

Aki returned, the coffee handed out, and sat next to us for the
SpongeBob marathon. He turned, lifted me as if I weighed nothing and settled me in his lap. Despite several attempts to move, I gave up and snuggled into his chest instead. I heard a satisfied sigh.

Room service brought lunch and dinner. I ask
ed how long the hangover lasted and stared, speechless, when Aki calmly informed me a week. He'd called my boss and, without saying how, managed to convince them I was out of the country on a family emergency.

“A family emergency in France? Really?” I gave the look it deserved. He returned it with a wicked grin,
and pulled me tightly against him. Much to Bru's amusement.

I absently wondered how I would pay for the extra time in Nashville. I had nice and cushy credit card limits
, but that didn't mean they should be maxed out. The two informed me to stop worrying. Suspicions took root. Worse, the hard won emotions melted away, leaving me cold. The logical side of the gray matter ran through several sequences, tallying all actions to date.

Through our shared bond, Bru allowed a glimpse of her soul. I found her want
ing only the best for me, and hopes I could find a way to stop the constant harassment and peace, live my dreams. The gentle swell of emotions lapped at me, and I gave in, following Aki to bed, following asleep almost immediately.

I
woke and gently moved out of Aki's sleeping embrace, confused at how he'd moved into my bed so easily. We'd done nothing more than sleep, but I noticed the apple-y nightmare didn't return if I woke with his arm holding me tightly.

A shower and dressed, I decided go out. Bru took ownership of the couch's pull out bed and I stood over her a few moments. In
a matter of weeks, the vibrant Valkyrie could be counted as a best friend. We argued, laughed, teased, understood the girlie stuff, and the not-so-girlie things. We both loved a powerful vehicle, a good horse and eye candy.

Deciding to let her sleep, I grabbed my abused purse, truck keys and moved as silently as
possible towards the door, slumping when I smacked into Aki's hard body.

“Where are you going without an escort?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Don't know.” I tried to push him out of the way.

“Never happening again. Give me a minute. I'll stay silent and in the background.”

I snorted, waking Bru.

“What the hell are you trying to do, mortal Kylie?” Anger laced her sleep husky voice.
She sat on the thin mattress, her bedhead annoyingly adorable, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Trying to let you two sleep
. Going out for a bit.”

“Nope. Listen, let's go shopping. You need new pajamas. So far
, in the past month, you've ruined several pairs. And we need to replace the dress and boots.” Bru bounced off the couch, vaulting towards the bathroom.

I crossed my arms, one hip out and tapping a foot, thinking I should learn how to move with more stealth.
Then again, with their immortal hearing, I wouldn’t be able to fart in a strong wind without their noticing it.

Fifteen minutes later
, we drove to a big mall ten miles away. The plan was to shop for new clothes, lunch and back to the room. I made it clear I needed to know what should happen next. The living in limbo thing had gown old.

We hit Old Navy, Fossil, and several other outlets. I personally thought Bru wanted to see if my credit cards did have a limit. Lunch at On The Border
, and we drove for the hotel. True to his word, Aki remained in the background during the shopping, ate several plates of food during lunch and now snoozed in the backseat. I could see him in the rearview mirror, his face relaxed, making him appear younger. He must have frozen in his immortality around age thirty five.

“Bru? I thought Be
rserkers weren't immortal?”

“We're not. I stole mine.” A quick peek in the mirror showed Aki sitting up and scrubbing his face.

“It is why they hate us so.” Bru looked out the window, but not before I glimpsed the pain cross her features.

“I'm sorry. I'll stop prying.” I watched the road.

Aki sighed. “It has bearing on your life. Odin chose the best Berserkers, offering Valhalla without Ragnarok to worry about. In exchange, the chosen would be part of his personal entourage. I gladly accepted, happy to serve. I did not realize the sheer amount of battling he required. Always for more power, never for the righteous reasons spouted. Innocents plowed under like weeds, considered expendable for their petty grievances.”

Silence filled the cab, the scenery and history of Nashville forgotten. I didn't dare breathe, fearing he wouldn't continue. Bru remained still, watching the city pass.

“Anyway, I heard an old soothsayer in a recently decimated village wanted to speak with me. I snuck away to see her. The wood shack she lived in barely kept the elements from seeping into her body, various creatures occupying the thin shelter and keeping her company. She lay on a pallet of skins, and when I walked in, her head turned to me. She pointed and beckoned me closer. 'Berserker, heed my words. Steal the immortality from Odin's table and leave in the dark of winter. Wait for the new nation, when the bald eagle and stars merge. Strife will invade the immortal planes, and you must come out of hiding. The forsaken Valkyrie will lead you to the Braider.' I held her, thinking she'd lost her mind. I rocked her, comforted the old woman as best I could. I stayed until her last breath.”

Bru turned to face Aki and they exchanged a silent conversation.

She turned to me, eyes filled with emotion. “I found Aki thirty years ago, half-starved and mostly insane from lack of contact with others. I took him to an abandoned castle where I'd lived in hiding from Father. I remember when Aki stole the small vial of potion, filled with a brew made by Frigga to transform a human into an immortal. Aki didn't know the side effects, including temporary insanity. By the time I came upon him, the episodes were few and far between. Father searched for him, wanting vengeance. It was a one-time only potion and meant for someone else.”

I could see the hotel two miles away. Bru took several deep breaths, eyes closed, face going cold.

“Thor found us once. I handed him his ass on a silver platter with a laugh. Probably shouldn't have gloated or called him the names, he isn't a very bright bulb, because he brought Father to our little sanctuary. We barely escaped. I can't win against him
,
and Aki's too weak. We wandered, helping Aki heal, until he could tell me the old crone's words. I immediately moved us to America. Over the years
, we heard rumors until you were located just after the incident at the age of thirteen. Since that time, we've kept tabs. You fell off the radar two years ago. We think Annie weaved a spell to hide you and Tiamat doesn't talk to anyone unless she thinks it will help you.”

We'd been sitting in the parking lot of the hotel, air conditioning on high, facing each other as she spoke. I nodded, turned to meet Aki's gaze. I understood him on a deeper level. Turning off the truck and jumping out, I grabbed the room key, leading them to the room, needing to hear more.

Great claws wrapped around my torso as I reached a corner. Tiamat remained careful to ensure others didn't see me disappear as powerful wings thrust us into the air above the hotel. We landed on the roof without so much as a piece of dirt disturbed.

I faced Tiamat, searching her captivating black eyes. Her wings tucked tightly along her back, tail wrapped around her front claws. I hesitated before running to wrap my ar
ms around her as best I could, and broke into sobs.

Tiamat's voice rumbled low, almost beyond human hearing, “Come, child. Release the emotion and think again.”

A great claw gently patted my back as she purred in my ear, the vibrations running up and down my body. The patting and purring helped ease the pain, and my muscles relaxed.

“I should have seen her betrayal.” I moved out of her embrace, wiping my face.

“No. Anahita is a master of war, including the necessary infiltration. You could not have seen the outcome.”

“Why did you not say something? Why must I go through this?”

“Would you have listened, child?” She tilted her head.

I opened my mouth with an instant, “
Yes!” but a sound didn't escape. I clamped my jaw shut, thinking about the question. Tiamat deserved an honest answer. “No, I suppose I wouldn't have.”

“Some things, including betrayal of the highest sort, must be a hard lesson.”

“Do you always have to give me the truth?”

She laughed, smoke curling from her nostrils, wings stretching, great body shaking in her mirth. “Ah, child, I endeavor to bring you only the truth. You have another question burning in your breast, do you not?”

“Will you do the same?”

“No. It is up to you to decide if I tell the truth or not. Think actions, not words, when making decisions.”

I couldn't think of a response. I stared at her, memories flipping on the inner Rolodex, none of which I could twist into a hint of deceit. She'd never told me not to do something, always stood by my decisions even if she didn't agree. She helped soothe the heat and pain, at her own expense. Tiamat was indeed a great ally.

I lifted my hands to her snout, pulling her gently downwards, placing a kiss on the leathery cheek. Slid my arms around her neck,
and hugged her tight, the feel of her skin soothing.

“I love you, Tiamat.”

Her claws pulled me close as she purred. “And I, you, child.”

I don't know how long we stood there, on the hotel roof, embracing. I pulled
away and intended to go through the door until realizing it was locked. “Yo, Ti? Think I can get a lift down?” I laughed in her direction.

She chortled and returned me to the ground.

I met Bru and Aki in the room. Both turned and studied my face, tension leaving their bodies after a few moments.

The rest of the night
, we spent throwing popcorn at bad movies, laughing at jokes, relaxing. Almost desperate to create good memories. The peace wouldn't last forever.

Chapter Thirteen

“Wake, Braider. Your time is up. Make decisions or we will force the issue.” A deep voice and Egyptian spices filled the room.

Aki tensed and I sat up. I sucked on my teeth, reined in my temper and opened my eyes to the mahogany ones above me. Amun's face held no emotions, only deadly intent.

I stood, bringing me a deep breath from his body, “Get the hell out of here. Do not believe you will force any decision from me. Or have you not yet heard what happened?”

“Oh, the story of Anahita is circulating among the pantheons. She was weak, we are not.”

Power t
rickled along my skin. I was shoved to the ground and heard a bellow of rage from Aki. The impact Amun lifted into the air, landing hard on his back and Aki pounding the Amun’s face in vicious punches. Bru joined the fight, Amun attempting to fight both. Bru landed several punches to his sides, and Aki managed to maneuver Amun into a headlock. Amun kicked Bru in the knee as Aki twisted and hit Amun's face several times. Amun grabbed Aki's knee and dropped him to the ground. The Berserker bounced to his feet and the three separated, breathing heavily.

“She cannot wait any longer! She is a weapon to be used, not an immortal to protect!” Amun's body bowed, falling into his thighs.

A bright blue grizzly flickered over Aki as a loud roar reverberated through the room. I covered my ears, squeezing my eyes closed. A loud crash, more grunting and a scream of pain made me jump, as I struggled to think of a way out. Amun was serious if he resorted to physical altercations in front of me.

Aki's body grew larger with anger
, the bright blue aura steady and pulsing. He grabbed Amun and did a few impressive Hulk body slams, cracking the floor, breaking the dresser and big screen TV. I heard a bloody wheeze from Amun as he lay on the floor, watching Aki in fear.

“Leave and never threaten the Braider again.” Aki's voice dropped several octaves, resembling a predatory growl.

“None of us will leave her alone.” Amun grabbed his chest and disappeared.

“Warmed you up for me.” Magdi's voice startled me and I turned.

“Shit.” I backed away, eyes wide.

Aki roared and Bru threw herself at him. He grabbed me painfully, refusing to let go as the Valkyrie's body hit him. He twisted, pulling me into a painful arm hold, powerful thighs gripping my hips, an arm snaking over my neck,
making it hard to breathe.

My palms heated,
and various colored threads of alternate timelines appeared. I tried to grab an arm and force him to release me. He grunted in pain, holding tightly as my body began to buck, a heel kicking his shin. Bru punched his kidney, Aki punching his face until Magdi hid in my hair.

“Let. Her. G
o!” Bru shrieked, the power of the Valkyrie behind it. I felt an ear begin to bleed as sharp pain ripped through my head. Both windows in the room shattered and fell out of their casing, letting in the hot summer breeze.

Magdi laughed, tightened his arm
, and I could no longer breathe. Black spots swam in my field of vision, and my thoughts grew sluggish.

On instinct, I pulled two strings together,
not seeing consequences or calculating the logical choices. I chose to go back only moments to avoid him. In the new timeline, I moved towards Amun at the last second and Magdi grabbed air, giving Bru the opportunity to beat the shit out of him.

I fell to my hands and knees on the carpet, ignoring the
fight. Pain wracked my body, bowling me over until I lay in a fetal position, the tiny piece of my soul ripped out. Tears tracked down my cheeks.

“It worked, Magdi!” Feminine hands grabbed me and I opened my eyes to see Carman, the Celtic goddess of evil magic. More strands
creating small changes.

The morning blurred as over and over I braided to avoid capture. My palms left burn scars as I gripped myself,
the tiny losses of soul adding up.
Why couldn't I see who would come at me next?

I
dropped into an empty room. Disoriented, I rolled to my hands and knees, trying to understand where I landed. The walls were a dark taupe color, the curtains changed to maroon, a new TV, and lighter wood stained furniture. But the general layout of the room was the one I’d had for my so-called vacation.

Every breath a burning pain,
my body screamed in agony. With slow, deliberate movements, I stood and glanced around the room. The last few times I'd braided had been pure instinct, made of randomly grabbing strings and putting them together. I couldn't even be sure I'd stayed in the third dimension.

The burns from my palms stung and I looked at my shoulders. Two perfectly etch
ed scars of my hands. Months of healing.
Bugger, what have I done?

I walked slowly to the window,
searching the Nashville skyline.
What day is this
? I shivered. I walked out of the room after a thorough search for anything of mine and down the hallway. The front desk sat in a soft circle of light, a lone employee doing something on the computer.

“Excuse me?”

The young man looked up and gasped. His eyes widened painfully before composing himself. “Yes, ma'am?”

“Could you tell me, and I
know it's weird, what the date is?”

“It's November twenty
-first, ma'am. Please, wait while I contact the police. You have been missing for months.” He held a finger up, dialed and put the receiver to his ear. He spoke to the police and I started looking for a way out.

“It's okay. I'm fine. I just lost track of time is all. Don't bother anyone.” I back
ed away.

“No, ma'am, please wait.” He
held up a hand.

I turned, ran out of the hotel and towards the last place I'd parked the truck. The air outside shocked my system, a wet cold seep
ing into my bones. I shook myself, knowing the truck wasn't parked close by. Most likely repossessed sometime after my disappearance for missed payments. I didn't have a cell phone, clothes, or a purse, everything gone.

November, November, November
circled like vultures in my head. A stray thought hit me. If I'd done that much, I should be numb. Not in a panic.

The sound of wings
and a roar overhead let me know I wasn't alone. I looked up and smiled. I lifted my arms, welcoming the black, dagger like claws placed carefully around my waist. Pulled next to her heat and chest, I relaxed into the hold. We flew over downtown Nashville, past suburbs to a rundown shack on the outskirts.

My feet hit the ground followed by promptly being ambushed. Bru pulled me into a crushing embrace as Aki grabbed us both from behind. I could barely draw a
breath. I relaxed into the warm arms.

Bru stood back, a look of sympathy and fear in her face. “Listen, Kylie, I am happy to see you, but, um?” She stared at her feet.

Aki's arms turned me around, bringing me very close. “This is going to hurt, Braider. We can't hold it any longer.”

I frowned
before realization dawned. I'd been protected, Bru's shielding carefully keeping me sane. The shield dropped and I could almost hear the price barreling toward me. Aki shifted his hips and legs, preparing to keep me grounded.

It didn't work. The two of us flew into the air and he curled around me
, one hand on the back of my head, keeping me tight to his chest. I could see the shadow of the earth rushing toward us as chunks were ripped from my soul. I screamed. Our bodies bounced twice, his large hand on the back of my head keeping me from gaining a concussion.

The last landing rattled my teeth and we skidded into a tree. I couldn't stop screaming
from the torture of reckoning. Vaguely, I watched Aki mouth
I love you
before a fist slammed into my jaw. A starburst of light behind my lids with the beautiful black of unconsciousness on its heels.

The lone sound of a cricket created arrows through my eyes,
the ruthless migraine an ax to my head. Everything hurt, bones, muscles, skin. I moaned lightly on a breath, pushing all thoughts out of my head.

“I'm not going to touch you,” Bru whispered. Even her barely discernible voice made me flinch in pain.

Light footsteps, a cool cloth and the prick of a needle. The darkness overwhelmed me again.

The ritual of waking to pain, Bru's voice and the sting of a needle became my reality. I
was dead, empty, without purpose.

I woke to familiar body heat and large arms holding me close. I sat up, stretched my spine into place with a few loud cracks and stood. No stumbling or faceplant. The smell of coffee permeated the air
, but for the first time in memory, I didn't rush to find a cup.

The room of the old shack looked to be from the early twenties, the studs showing, clapboard the only thing between me and the outside elements. I sat on an
old-fashioned iron bed, covered by a faded quilt. The lone window was covered in dirt. The light was weak, although the position of shadows said it was early afternoon.

In one corner of the room stood a rusted cast iron stove, the fire inside keeping the chill away. I looked up, the ceiling covered in water stains, and watched a cockroach meander across the exposed beams.

“Tell me the date and my location.” I shook Aki hard, memory saying I should be nicer.

“Outside Nashville, December eighteenth.” He sat up, top half uncovered. He gave me the once over, sadness in his gaze.

“I am going home. Where is my truck?”

“Wait, Kylie. I need to show you something.” Bru's voice filtered through the doorway and her light footsteps creat
ed little creaks of noise from the old floorboards. She stopped a few feet away, holding a wood frame. Her arms came up to show the picture. The Rocky Mountains, tall, majestic and snowcapped, in the background, with bright blue sky dotted by a few fluffy white clouds over new spring grass. In the middle of the picture stood a small boy, caught in the carefree belly laugh of the very young. His face bright and shining, wearing jeans, cowboy boots, a t-shirt and holding the lead rope to a paint horse kissing his neck.

My son, Riot.

I'd taken the picture when he was four, learning to ride. Riot, for myriad reasons, currently lived with my parents. I used to visit often, at least four or five times a week. Then the harassment began about four years ago. For Riot's safety, I stopped contact, although it hurt him and caused a big hole in my heart. Mom knew the stakes and readily took the reins. My parents moved around from one property to another, so much I didn’t know where they were.

I stared at the picture, reaching slowly for the frame. I felt Aki behind me, wrapping around my body, head buried in my hair. I met Bru's unwavering gaze, her beautiful eyes unblinking, filled with empathy and hope. Deep in my chest
, something pushed forward, like a hand through Saran Wrap. The pressure built, backed off, built again.

“Reach for it, Kylie. Please, reach for it.” Aki's rumbling voice in my ear created goosebumps.

A strange stretching sensation and deep pressure, but it didn't break through. I stood still, not helping, but not hindering either. Logic said it was my emotional self, trying to fill the holes in my soul and heart. Relief waited on the other side, if it could rip through the unknown barrier.

Aki stepped back, spun me around, grabbed my face and kissed me, hard and bruising.
I allowed him to do as he wished without responding. The expanding sensation grew stronger. A groan of frustration and he pressed so hard I was forced to open my mouth. He took full advantage and explored with his tongue, a silky slide tasting slightly of cinnamon. Heat suffused part of me before being tamped down by an icy thought.

Logic ruled.

A strong grip on my shoulder ripped me from Aki's embrace, spun me and I watched coldly as Bru's face contorted in anger. It flowed through our bond, pouring into me as her fist met my left eye. I twisted from the impact, held up only by Aki's quick reflexes. My own anger cascaded, stretching the Saran Wrap barrier, forcing its way through.

Emotions of every kind annihilated the icy hold. I doubled over, unsure of my
ability to survive. I shrieked, released into the cold air of the shack, thoughts bouncing off feelings I couldn't yet sort.

A hand stroked my head gently, arms around me, gentle kisses on my cheek and soothing sounds brought me to reality in a slow climb. I opened my eyes and sat up slowly.

“I'm sorry.” I said the words, unsure of why.

“Survival isn't something you apologize for, Kylie
,” Bru whispered.

“I'm putting the both of you through too much. Let them have me. Choose a pantheon and hand me over, anything to stop this.” I moved away, sat
on the floor with my chin propped on my knees.

“Oh, now you are going to feel sorry for yourself? Really, Braider?”

I turned to frown at Aki's angry tone. “Why are you pissed off?”

“This isn't you. Why are you putting out the fire
in your soul?” He glared, bright eyes going dark with emotions.