Seeress: Book Three (Runes Series) (31 page)

“Did you know Eirik would signal with her?” he asked in a low voice.

Lavania shook her head, making the end of her ponytail sweep her back. Her eyes begged him for forgiveness, but all she said was, “No. I knew that Raine and two other
Völur
would give the signal, but I had no idea who the other two were. Even the fact that they wanted all them in Asgard is news to me.”

“The Norns know a lot more than we Valkyries do, Torin,” Mom said, leaning forward, legs crossed under her Bohemian skirt. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the gods themselves don’t know what the Norns have been plotting. Remember, the gods are going to be killed by the very monsters they’re keeping prisoners right now. They easily could have killed Loki to stop him from joining his children and the giants during Ragnarok. Loki’s son, the wolf
Fenrir, is bound by the gods instead of being killed, yet the prophecy says Fenrir will kill Odin and the people on earth by the millions. The gods know death is coming and are ready for it. They understand that the world must renew itself and their sons and grandsons will replace them in the new world. It takes courage to know that and not try to change it. The Norns are cowards for attempting it.
”

It was a long-winded speech, but Mom nailed it. “Does that mean they really knew about Torin’s f—” Torin’s eyes flashed and I went with, “the Earl?”

“Yes, and they let him start this foolhardy quest of his because he’d help them get what they want. The Earl gets them Torin, which gets them you and Eirik.”

“Then we should just kill him,” Andris said with relish.

Ingrid made a sound that drew everyone’s attention, but her eyes were on Andris. “Maybe you need to stop and look at the entire picture before you reach a conclusion.” The look she shot Andris said they were no longer talking about the Earl.

“What is there to look at? He made a bad decision and must live with the consequences.”

Ingrid jumped to her feet. “You’re an idiot. You kill him and his soul stays linked to his wife’s. I need a drink.” She stormed off.

Okay, that was unexpected. This could not be about Ingrid and New York. Andris watched her leave with hard eyes, but he didn’t go after her. Lavania did. Now I was really confused. Lavania barely tolerated Ingrid.

“Ingrid is right,” Femi said. “The two must be unlinked before the Earl is sent to Corpus Strand. You’ll need a powerful spell to do that.” She glanced at me.

Torin stiffened. “Raine doesn’t do spells. I don’t want her anywhere near the Earl.”

“Actually I was going to suggest using a certain powerful, young witch Raine helped. She was trained by one of the Earl’s friends.”

At least Torin stop glowering. “But the Norns said the witches might be on the Earl’s side.”

“Don’t believe anything those hags tell you,” Mom said. “Especially when they play Bad Cop slash Good Cop. You know they’ve anted up their attack when the nice one who always seems to fight the others takes the lead. That’s when your guard should go up. She lulls you into a false sense of security, and by the time you realize she was the leader all along, you are completely under her spell.”

Holy crap.
I’m such an idiot.

Torin had closed the space between us and was searching my face before I looked up. “What is it?”

“Catie, the nice Norn, did that to me this afternoon. She acted like she was usurping Marj’s position as their leader, and I bought it. I bet they planted those visions in my head too.” Worse, they’d even made me suspect Eirik. Horrified, I glanced at Mom. “What does this mean?”

“It means they probably lied to you so you would do exactly what they want,” Mom said. “They probably know who called the witches here and why.”

I shivered, still trying to wrap my head around what I was hearing. Those three hags played me. Torin rubbed my back. His warmth wrapped around me, slowly chasing away the shivers.

“There must be a reason they want her to focus on finding Eirik, and not the Earl,” he said.

“They’re probably whispering instructions in his ear,” Andris said. He looked toward the doorway as Lavania entered the room, her hand gripping Ingrid’s arm. She nodded briefly, and Andris responded with a brief smile.

I stopped trying to understand the drama playing out between the three of them. “So do we go after the Earl?”

“Yes, except I don’t want him dead,” Torin said.

I gaped at him. “What? After all he’s done—”

Torin shot me a brief smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Once we release my mother’s soul, I want him to spend eternity knowing that
I
deprived him of the one thing he desperately wants. If he chooses to kill himself, he’ll end up like all Immortals and Valkyries who choose death, a dark soul roaming this world until he dissipates into nothing.”

His words sent a chill down my spine. Choosing immortality did have some serious consequences. Ragnarok must definitely be a welcome event for them. No wonder the gods weren’t trying to stop it. They might live for thousands of years, but at least they died. Immortals didn’t, unless they offed themselves or stopped using runes. I wondered whether they needed permission to stop using runes and how long they lived afterwards.

“Let me see if I understand you,” Blaine said slowly. “You don’t plan to kill him?”

Torin shook his head. “No.”

“Damn, bro. That is very noble of you,” Andris said.

Noble? His plan was diabolical. Made me count myself lucky I wasn’t his enemy. What would he do to Eirik if he found out he was the one who might have projected images of us into my head? I’d omitted that part in my narration because of the Norns’ reaction. Now, I wasn’t so sure they hadn’t done it and just chosen to deny it. Bitter old hags.

Torin shrugged. “Death is too good for him. He deserves to suffer.”

There was no way his father would live for eternity in defeat knowing the person responsible was living his life to the fullest. “What if he comes after us again? He won’t accept this quietly.”

Mom nodded. “I agree. He’s not going to let this go.”

“Then I will defeat him again and again until he crawls under some rock to lick his wounds.”

“That’s bullshit.” Mom’s eyes widened at my choice of word, but I didn’t give her time to lecture me. “If he’s as stubborn as you are, he won’t give up. Are you willing to put me through this again and again, watching you suffer sleepless nights because of him?”

He glanced at me then away, his jaws clenched. “Stand down, Freckles.”

“I won’t. You know I’m right. He has to go.” The last two nights, he’d tossed and turned, messing with both our REM cycles.

“You want me to kill him?” he asked, shutting me up. “Because I have no problem whatsoever doing it.”

There was not a flicker of doubt in his eyes, but could he live with himself after killing him in the name of revenge? To protect me or Andris or someone he loved? Yes. In cold blood? I didn’t think so.

“And shit happens during a battle,” Andris said, earning him a glare from Mom. “Beggin’ your pardon, Mrs. Cooper,” he added with a perfect imitation of a southern accent. “Bad things hap’n to bad people, so maybe his goose is cooked this time.”

Mom smiled. “Okay, let’s take this one step at a time. What do we do first?”

Once again, everyone looked at Torin. What was wrong with them? He was struggling with some major, life-changing decisions here and they were heaping more stuff on his shoulders. I jumped in.

“I need Eirik’s camera to try to locate him and Torin’s seal to find the Earl. Andris, did you guys bring back the Seeresses’ personal items after our globetrotting evening?”

He looked at Torin before nodding.

“Good. I’ll need to get visions from them to see if I can locate Lady Adelaide’s soul and, if we’re lucky, hear some of the Earl’s plans. Femi, we’re going to need Rita and her mother. Whether they are part of the Earl’s death squad or not, they owe me and I’m collecting. We need a spell to break the bond the Earl used to tether the soul to him.”

Femi nodded.

“I’ll go with her to watch her back,” Blaine said.

“Good idea. Mom, you have no idea how clearly I can see the Norns’ motives because of you. I’m going to need your help with Eirik. He considers you his mother, too, and I know what happens to me when you use your Tiger Mom voice.”

She grinned. “Thank you.”

“It is your worst voice ever,” I reminded her. “It makes me feel this puny.” I indicated with my forefinger and thumb. Torin chuckled. The look in his eyes sent heat rushing to my face. “Sorry I kind of hijacked your meeting again. You ready to take over?”

He crossed his arms and leaned back against the sofa. “Oh, no. Don’t stop now.”

Femi, Blaine, and Mom had already left. Andris was staring at Ingrid and Lavania. The two were talking in whispers, but Lavania kept glancing at Torin.

“Make nice with her,” I whispered.

Torin shot me a warning glance.

“For me.” Maybe if I kept Ingrid busy, Torin could talk to Lavania. I left his side and joined the two women. “Sorry to intrude. Is everything okay?”

Ingrid gave me a wobbly smile. “I’m not going to New York yet.”

My eyes flew to Andris. What did he do? He got up and mumbled something about getting the Seeresses’ amulets. I focused on Ingrid. “Why not?”

Ingrid gave me a wobbly smile. “I’m not going to New York yet.”

My eyes flew to Andris. What did he do? He got up and mumbled something about getting the Seeresses’ amulets. I focused on Ingrid. “Why not?”

She glanced at Lavania and smiled. “When Andris runed me, he used his personal artavus. I’m aging fast. I have wrinkles…” She touched the corner of her eye, her chin trembling. There were hardly any wrinkles. “Lavania brought back artavo for me and Cora, so I must stay here until I bond with mine and have the right runes.”

“Oh. That’s terrible new. What about the Internship?”

“I’ll start in the fall.” She gripped my hand. “I’m so sorry about the way I attacked you a few days ago, Raine. I’d just found out that I was aging and I panicked. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. The things I said were terrible and not true.”

I grimaced. “Some were, so don’t feel bad about it. In fact, forget about it you. When are you going to start adding new runes?”

“Lavania said the sooner…” her eyes widened as they focused on something behind me.

I whipped around and blood drained from my face. Mom stood in the doorway with Eirik’s camera, but standing behind her with an artavus pressed across her throat was Eirik. Not just any artavus. It was the one the Norns had given me to kill Eirik with. It killed everything—Immortals, Valkyries, even the gods.

“Eirik, what…?” Tentacles of panic coiled around me. “What are you doing?”

“I’m here for you, Raine,” he said calmly. His voice had grown deeper and colder. “The Earl would like to see you.”

Torin shielded me before I could respond, his runes blazing. He had them all out: strength, speed, endurance, wisdom, protection… I engaged mine too, my heart pounding hard.

Torin’s runes seemed to glow brighter, like his rage fed their energy. “If you think for one moment I’d let her go anywhere with you, think again.” His voice was low, vicious, and so cold I shivered. “What in Hel’s Mist is wrong with you, man? She protected you. Fought the Norns for you.”

Eirik growled. “Don’t talk to me of Hel’s Mist. I lived there and survived it by means you couldn’t possibly understand. Andris, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Andris stood to his right with the amulets he’d gone to get, his runes engaged. Lavania and Ingrid also had their runes ablaze, Ingrid’s dimmer than everyone else’s. She definitely needed new runes. Such an inane thing to focus on, but I needed to slow down the wave of panic threatening to down me. My ears were beginning to ring.

“No one moves or she dies,” Eirik said. “I don’t even have to decapitate her. Just a nick will do the trick. This blade, specially forged by the dwarves, kills everything. Interestingly, the Norns are the ones who told me where I could find it, Torin. Hidden in your house. Were you hoping to use it on me after all?”

I tried to peer around Torin, but he shifted and blocked me. He used the movement to whip his artavo from the inner pockets of his jacket.

“Raine comes with me, Torin, or many people are going to die,” Eirik warned.

“The town is secure,” Torin snarled.

Eirik grinned. “We can draw the Mortals out. Mortals are naturally curious. All we have to do is give them a reason to come out. Then annihilate them.”

“Go ahead.” Torin’s body tensed. “You won’t hurt Mrs. Cooper despite your threat. I don’t care how much of the dark venom is flowing through your veins; you know her.”

“Yes, I do.” I could tell he was smiling. “Aren’t you wondering why she’s just standing here and letting me control the situation? I stopped by her house first before I came here, and the den is empty now.”

Gasps filled the room. Dad. I found my voice again. “Eirik, don’t. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. I’m here for you. We can fix whatever is going on.”

His lips curled into a sneer. “Don’t use that condescending tone with me, Raine. Do you really think I haven’t had time to control my demons? I have done nothing but. Your father is at our camp. Don’t worry, I’ll return him as soon as you join us. I will leave your
boyfriend
instructions.”

 
“Torin,” I whispered and tried to push him out of my way. He growled. Boulders had nothing on him when he had his runes going. Would I break my bones if I body slammed him?

“Walk around him and come to me, Raine. Slowly.”

“NO!” Torin growled.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and closed my eyes, focusing hard. I let the will to stop him fill me. I needed him to think of nothing but sleep and bed. He hadn’t slept properly in days, so this should be easy. Our runes touching also helped. I projected the images and thoughts into his head.

Sleep. Bed. You’re exhausted. This is just a bad dream. It is not happening.

“No, not real,” he whispered, his eyes closing.

Eirik is not here. It’s just a bad dream. I’m waiting for you. I need you to hold me while I sleep, Torin. Keep me safe.

His body shuddered as he fought the images. His knees gave away. Body grew heavy. I supported it. I used my body and knee to break his fall and lower him to the ground.

“What are you doing to him, you bastard?” Andris bellowed. From the corner of my eyes, I saw him charge toward Eirik and Mom.

“Stay back, Andris.” I thrust my hand toward him. His body lifted off the floor as though hit by a gale. He slammed against the wall, leaving a huge dent. I wasn’t sure whether the force of my witch attack or his runes caused the damage, but the surprised look in his eyes mirrored mine. “
I’m
doing this to Torin, not Eirik.”

My focus returned to Torin, who was fast asleep at my feet, his body twisted at a weird angle. He started to snore. He was going to be in a murderous rage when he woke up.

Keeping an eye on Andris, who was staring at me as though I had gone crazy, I adjusted Torin’s arms and legs. Tears rushed to my eyes. Weird. The runes still glowed on his body. Must be how he’d remained hidden in the hospital while staying with me. The thought was random, but it helped me control my tears.

“I don’t know how long this will last, Andris. Move him somewhere comfortable.” Torin looked so vulnerable. I touched his cheek one last time and stepped back. “Tell him not to try to find me until Mom and Dad are safe. Tell him I had to do it and that I—”

“You’re wasting time, Raine,” Eirik snapped.

I ignored him and locked eyes with Andris. “Tell him I love him and will always love him. Forever.”

Andris nodded. I didn’t look at Lavania or Ingrid. Mom had tears in her eyes when I turned to face them. “Let her go, Eirik. I’ll go with you.”

“Move closer,” Eirik ordered.

I tried to catch his eyes, but he refused to look at me directly. “Look at me, Eirik. You’re better than this. This is not—”

“Shut up, Raine,” he snapped. “Andris come here and catch her.”

I didn’t understand, my mind still reeling from his harsh tone. He did something to Mom and her body dropped. I could have caught her if he hadn’t grabbed my arm. Andris caught her before she landed on the floor.

“You’re a dead man, golden boy,” Andris vowed. “You have no idea who you are messing with. As long as you have her, Torin won’t care that you are a god. He will tear this world apart to find her, and I’ll be right there with him.”

Eirik smirked, the blade now pressed against my throat. “I look forward to meeting both of you in the battlefield. Oh, make sure you bring the Grimnir, too. I owe him a one-way ticket to Corpus Strand. Let’s see how he likes it. The instructions on when and where you can get Mr. Cooper are in the wife’s pocket.” His runes flared and a portal appeared in the air.

I could see trees, lots of trees, and the sunrays slicing through the foliage. He pushed me ahead, the portal closing behind us. I caught a glimpse of the mansion’s foyer and Andris reading a piece of paper. He looked up just before the portal closed and grinned.

Why would he be so happy when moments ago he was ready to rip into Eirik? He couldn’t be relishing fighting Eirik. Andris hated to fight, and Eirik was the proud owner of a spiked flail, which was I sure he was hiding somewhere in his body, and now the Norns’ artavus.

The portal closed, cool mountain air rushing on my skin and replacing the warmth of the mansion. I shivered. Birds chirped, and animal sounds came from the thickets and the trees. I turned, expecting to see the Earl and his minions, but there was no one around except Eirik and me. A prickly feeling told me we were being watched.

 
Part of me expected Eirik to laugh and yell “Bazinga!” Another wanted to punch him and tell him to snap out of it. I wasn’t sure what had happened in Hel, but this couldn’t be the result. He couldn’t be this broken.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“Disengage your runes,” he ordered, not bothering to answer me.

I glanced around at the fir trees and the undergrowth. There was something familiar about the woods. Could we be in Tillamook Forest? The very same forest Torin and I used for speed and reflex training?

“Why did you bring me here? I don’t see the Earl or his followers.”

“Turn around and follow the trail behind you,” he barked.

Now I wanted to dig my heels in and refuse to obey him, but one look into his cold eyes and I turned and went down the narrow path. His amber eyes used to be warm and full of mischief. Ahead, I could see an opening in the trees. “What happened to you, Eirik?”

“You happened.”

Barbed tips of hurt spiked through me. “What did I ever…” my breath caught, “do to you?”

“Everything and nothing,” he mumbled.

“That’s a lame and stupid answer,” I retorted.

He chuckled dryly. “You taught me it was okay to be vulnerable and let others in, to see the good in people and give them a second chance. You lied. People are selfish, and when they don’t get their way, they turn into monsters and screw you up good.” His voice was gruff, as though he was reliving something really awful.

My anger disappeared, my heart aching for him. I wanted to turn around and hug him. “I’m so sorry. Was it that bad?”

“Stop talking and keep walking,” he snarled.

I clammed up for about… two seconds. “Whatever happens here today, I love you, Eirik. I always have and always will. You are part of my family. Remember that.”

He gave a derisive chuckle. “And remember this, Raine Cooper. I always have a reason for everything I do.”

I stumbled on a root, and he reached out to steady me. When I touched his hand, he yanked it away from me. “Don’t,” he snarled.

I reigned in the anger and forced myself to focus on the positive. “There was a time you loved to hang out with me, Eirik. You held me when I cried and slayed imaginary monsters under my bed. Do you remember when we’d crawl under the blanket and read with flashlights until Mom or Dad—”

“Shut up, Raine. Just… shut it. I don’t remember any of that crap.”

Chuckles came from the bushes around us and my heart hurtled to my throat. My eyes darted around until I spied faces behind trees and bushes. My feet faltered. Eirik prodded me from behind with the dagger. I stumbled forward, almost twisting my ankle. This time he didn’t try to help me.

We entered the clearing. Now I recognized where we were. It was the same clearing Torin and I had used during our picnic. More people came from behind the trees. At first, I counted them, but they kept popping up all around us and I lost count.

Familiar faces appeared among them, the witches who’d come to my store in the name of friendship. They were back in their witchy robes and traditional shamanic hats and cloaks. Even the old man who’d wanted to thank me for helping his son stood there with his crooked stick.

Traitors.

Bash’s uncle didn’t seem too happy. Bet his sons and nephew were missing and he didn’t know why. Served him right. Gina and Rita didn’t smile when our eyes met.

I helped you, you ungrateful shitheads.

The next faces had me gasping. Femi and Blaine. They stared back at me without showing any emotions. Mom had trusted her.
I
had defended her to Torin. As for Blaine, he’d made it obvious ever since he came back that he hated Valkyries and he wanted to go to Asgard to be with his dead girlfriend. What better way to get there than by hitching his wagon to a psycho Immortal’s?

Their betrayal cut deep. I couldn’t look at them anymore without cursing them out.

Everyone’s eyes shifted to somewhere behind me, and I turned just as a tall guy with black hair and brilliant blue eyes entered the clearing. William de Clare, the original Earl of Worthington. Torin’s father. That he looked so much like Torin was bitter sweet.

I blew out a breath, nervous energy churning my stomach. Beside him was an equally tall woman with straight medium-brown hair. I recognized her from my vision. Madam Bosvilles. They could pass for forty-somethings.

I searched behind them for the soul of Torin’s mother.

How had Catie put it? I had to will it. That meant wanting it so much the need filled me. Should be easy. Freeing her was the only thing stopping me from engaging my runes and attacking the Earl.

“You delivered her, Eirik,” the Earl said, and my eyes flew to him.

He sounded so much like Torin a shiver shot up my spine. And not in a nice way. He was like an older version of Torin, except his eyes were cold, nothing like Torin’s warm ones.

Stupid tears rushed to my eyes, and I wanted to slap myself silly. This man should never see me in tears. I focused on seeing the soul attached to him.

“You’ve definitely impressed us,” I heard the woman say. “You can now join us in Asgard.”

“Thank you, my lady,” Eirik said.

Distracted, I glanced at Eirik. He did all this to get into Asgard? Were his memories partially gone or had going to Hel turned him into a pariah in Asgard? I tried to catch his eyes, but he kept staring down.
 

“And you, my dear,” the Earl of Worthington said, and I knew he was talking to me. “It is a pleasure to finally meet the girl who moves between the realms and talks to the Norns.”

“Want to switch places?” I almost snapped, but I couldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how I felt about my gifts, the very things he craved. Instead, I focused on the air behind him. Where was her soul?

I shifted to selective listening when the Earl started gabbing.

“My friends, we have fought and protected humanity for centuries without so much as a thank you or a handshake from the gods,” he started.