Son of Thunder (Heavenly War Series) (20 page)

As it turned out there wasn’t another motel in the small town, but the motel manager was more than happy to rent them another room. The man must have pocketed the hundred Jord left on the nightstand, contacted the police about the unconscious men in his parking lot, and discovered there was a reward for the capture of those same men.

When Jord and Meghan walked back into his motel with Tyr and Nott, the motel manager was all smiles. Jord could almost see the dollar signs in his eyes. “I’m going to have to charge you a bit more, but sure, I’ve got a room.”

The motel manager charged them double what the previous night cost them. Tyr covered it without question, then went off carrying Nott toward the rented room.

Nott was not only the Goddess of the Night, she was also Loki’s granddaughter. The goddess had to be conflicted with her grandfather and uncle now free, and Jord didn’t fully trust her, but she had helped them by undoing Loki’s magic and dispelling the dragon. Jord was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Tyr settled Nott, then joined Jord and Meghan at the diner just down the street.

“Nott’s magic is so much weaker during the day.” Tyr’s gaze was wistful as he gazed out the diner window at the motel. “The darkness of your storm helped but it still took a lot out of her to undo Loki’s spell, especially with the sun up behind those clouds. She’ll probably sleep the day away.”

Jord could see the concern in Tyr’s eyes, and when Tyr had been supporting the weakened goddess, his hold seemed more than just supportive. It’d been almost possessive. Jord would never have put those two together. They seemed almost polar opposites.

Jord decided it was their business in any case, and let it go. As the Tyr took a seat across from them in the booth, he introduced Meghan to him. “Meghan, this is Tyr, the one-handed God of Courage. Tyr, Doctor Meghan Larson.”

Tyr held out his hand and Meghan took it.

Jord smiled at Meghan’s reaction, as they could both see the god had two hands.

“How is it a one-handed god has two hands?” Meghan wrinkled her brow, and Tyr laughed.

Jord sat back and let Tyr tell the story. “Back when we first bound Fenrir, two thousand years ago, the only way to get the wolf to trust us was if one of us put his right hand in the beast’s jaws. I volunteered, knowing we had no intention of letting the evil wolf free.”

“Snorri Sturluson, the guy who first wrote down most of our legends, just loved tragic endings, and never saw fit to write about my hand growing back, thanks to the healing power of Idun’s apples. So I became the one-handed god, and I never could live that down.”

Jord clapped Tyr on the shoulder. “So it really was no big deal.” He knew what was coming.

Tyr’s eyes went wide. “It hurt like hell and it took me almost two hundred years to get full use of my hand back. I had to learn to fight, eat, heck, do everything left-handed, but it was worth it in the end, at least until six months ago. If I ever find out who let Fenrir free . . .”

Tyr left that hanging.

Jord sighed. “It was Forseti.”

Tyr raised an eyebrow. “Forseti? That doesn’t make sense unless . . .”

Jord could see Tyr making the connections.

He waited a bit for Tyr to think it all through before continuing. “He’s the one who set Loki free too.”

“That little . . . just wait until I get my hands on . . .”

Tyr was sputtering. It was not something he did often.

Meghan chimed in. “He’s dead.”

Jord nodded at the shock he saw in Tyr’s eyes. “He did try to redeem himself at the end.”

Jord told Tyr about his capture and how Meghan rescued him.

“Not bad for a goddess,” Tyr remarked. “A rather incredible feat for a mortal. With her you probably didn’t really need our help with Loki’s dragon.”

“Well . . .” Jord had to say it, he just couldn’t help himself, “I’m glad you dropped in to give us a hand.” He stressed the last four words and smiled.

Tyr sneered. “Yeah, I’ve never heard that before.”

But then the god laughed goodheartedly, adding, “You’re as bad as your father.”

The three ordered breakfast. Jord could see Meghan smirking as the diner waitress all but threw herself at the two gods. When the waitress finally left to fill their order Jord turned his attention to Tyr.

“So how did you connect with Nott?”

Tyr took a sip of the coffee the waitress brought. “I’ve been out looking for your father. I thought maybe he might be hidden away in one of the other pantheons. Nott has access to the Aztec heaven. The war hit them pretty hard, and it would be a good place to stash something or someone the other side wanted to keep hidden.”

For the past few centuries most of the other mythic gods and pantheons were pulled into a conflict started by the Egyptian god Set, and the Greek Titans. But the Norse managed to stay out of it. With Ragnarok hanging over their heads, the Norse gods were in no hurry to enter any conflict. Jord still did not agree with his grandfather, who kept them isolated from the other gods, just to keep the balance.

“We’re not in that war,” Jord stated flatly.

Tyr raised an eyebrow. “We are now. I know for a fact Loki has allied with Set and the Titans. So has Quetzalcoatl.”

“Quetzalcoatl? I thought the Aztecs were wiped out.”

“The old snake somehow survived, and has an entire pantheon to himself, which is why I thought maybe that’s where they might be hiding your father.”

That was troubling news. Loki and Fenrir were working with Set and the Titans.

Jord got a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach that had nothing to do with the diner’s terrible coffee but here, in public, was no place to discuss it, so he let it drop. “Dad’s fine, by the way.”

“You found Thor?”

Jord went on to explain how they’d rescued his father. By the end Tyr was beaming with respect at Meghan.

“Wow, you don’t seem to be able to do anything without this woman.”

Jord didn’t like where the conversation was going and decided to try and change the subject.

“So, you and Nott? What’s the story there?”

Meghan interrupted before Tyr could speak. “Who is Nott?”

Tyr paused, as if considering his next words. “Nott is the Goddess of the Night. That horse you saw us fly in on was her steed Hrimfaxi.”

Jord had to ask. “And you’re sure she’s on our side in this conflict?”

Tyr’s back stiffened.. There was a challenge in the man’s stance. “Yeah, I’m sure, and she’s in a bit of trouble right now so I’m trying to get her to Asgaard.”

Jord shook his head. “She won’t receive a very warm reception, you know.”

“She’s innocent. Always has been.” Tyr stated it so firmly Jord was taken a little aback.

Jord had known Tyr all his life. The God of Courage was honest and forthright. He was also a heck of a nice guy. “You know I’ll back you, Tyr. Dad and Mom have always felt Nott got a raw deal. We’ll be behind you. But right now? With her Grandfather and Uncle on the march against Asgaard?”

Tyr sighed. “I know. It’s not going to be easy. She’s even fighting it, but I just don’t like the idea of leaving her out here all alone.”

Their food came and they all dug in. Jord could have gone for days without food, but he knew Meghan was probably starving. She hadn’t complained though. He still found it hard to believe the woman was real. She was just so amazing, accepting everything in stride.

Tyr took a few bites of his breakfast, then turned a quizzical gaze on Jord. “I’ve been trying to contact Heimdall to send Bifrost, but he hasn’t been answering. When I felt your storm, I thought it was your father’s, so I came searching. We’ve all been searching for him for so long it was the natural thing to do.”

Jord went on to explain what happened to Heimdall. “I don’t know if anyone else has replaced Heimie since he’s been injured.”

Tyr shrugged. “Who could? We old gods have really not been good at allowing you youngsters to step up.”

Jord agreed, though Tyr certainly wasn’t one of the main gods standing in the way. “Ragnarok kept us all so locked to the past. You don’t plan for a future, if you don’t think you’ll have one.”

Tyr nodded. “Well, it looks like that’s all changed now.”

The waitress returned, asking if there was anything else she could do for them. Jord almost choked on his toast. The woman was so obviously throwing herself at Tyr. Jord jumped in to rescue his friend.

“So Ted, how are Jane and the kids?”

The waitress gave Tyr a sideways glance, then left in a huff. Tyr raised his eyes then chuckled. “Well played my friend, and thanks.”

While one of the oldest of the old gods, Tyr had never settled down with anyone. Jord wondered if Nott had something to do with that. He was intrigued, but they had more pressing issues. “Do you have any idea where we are?”

Tyr gazed out the window, at the motel. There was something wistful about him, but he answered solidly. “Somewhere in Georgia, I think. The south-eastern United States for sure. To tell you the truth, we’re a bit lost ourselves.”

“Georgia?” Jord searched his memory of the region. “Man, there are just no portals in this part of the world at all.”

Tyr nodded. “There’s still too much Greco-Roman influence down south as a whole. Even with all their problems the past couple of hundred years. Just like in the old country. We’re cold weather gods. We don’t belong down here.”

“Yet you’re down here.” Jord thought he’d take one last stab at the subject. He had a feeling Tyr was hiding something.

“Yeah, I am.” Tyre made it clear that was all the answer Jord was about to get. “You could probably catch a plane in Atlanta to Milwaukee. There’s that portal to Alfheim there. The elves should be able to get you to Asgaard pretty quickly after that.”

Jord shook his head. “Airports are out. Security’s too tight. Remember that thing a few years ago.”

Tyr laughed. “Oh yeah. I forgot about that. They really don’t like it when you go missing while the flight is in the air.”

Jord held up his hands defensively. “That was not my fault.” Okay, it had been his fault, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

Tyr chuckled. “Well, there’s always Nashville.”

Of course, why hadn’t he thought of that? Nashville. “Perfect. Thanks for the idea.”

“Jord.” Tyr held up his hands. “I was kidding. You can’t possibly think of going there. That way has to still be blocked, and in any case, there is no way they’d help you.”

Jord chuckled. Tyr wasn’t the only one with a secret. “Unless, of course, they owed me a favor.”

“What kind of favor did you do for them?” Tyr’s surprise seemed genuine.

Jord grinned. “You have your secrets. I have mine.”

Meghan finished eating.

“Come on, Meghan. We have to get going.”

Jord tossed forty dollars on the table. That was more than enough to cover the bill and tip.

He threw a last look at Tyr. “Are you guys going to be okay if Meghan and I take the truck? I’d hate to strand you.”

Tyr shook his head. “We’ve got Hrimfaxi after night falls, and Nott won’t be able to move out until then in any case, so we’ll be fine. But Jord. Think, man. You’re going to them? They’ll never let you in.”

Jord just shrugged. “It’s their world too, now more than ever. You know how I feel about this. In any case, if I can get through, it will certainly throw Loki off my trail.”

Jord left Tyr in the diner looking dumbfounded. He could see what the god was thinking, but Jord knew better. He was sure she would help him. She owed him and it was time for Jord to collect on that debt.

“Hey, you’re that man on the TV.”

The boy pointing at Jord could not have been more than ten years old.

“And you’re that lady they’re looking for.” The boy pointed at Meghan.

A woman rushed up, grabbing the little boy’s arm and pulling him back and away from Jord and Meghan. The woman was looking between them and Meghan saw fear in her eyes.

“What was that about?” A chill knotted Meghan’s stomach.

Jord shook his head. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was bustling, but Jord’s large size made it hard for the god to get lost in the crowd.

Meghan hadn’t been surprised when Jord told her he was putting her on a plane back to Minnesota. He’d worked some magic on the public-access computer at the motel, and produced a fake driver’s licence for her to replace the one she’d left behind when they’d fled the museum. She’d need the ID to get on the plane.

The document in her hand was perfect, right down to her real licence number. She didn’t even want to think about where Jord had picked up his forgery skills.

It was time for her to get home. She’d played her part, however small, but would just be in the way now. Jord had to concentrate on saving Asgaard. She was just a distraction he didn’t need, now that he had the belt and other artifacts.

She studied the waiting area. A plane was just letting passengers off and as the people left the exit ramp, they were met by others—friends, family. There was a lot of hugging going on. Meghan wondered what it would be like to have someone waiting for her. She couldn’t think of anyone she could even call that would meet her at the airport when she got off.

It felt great to be with Jord and his family. Sif, Thor, even his brothers and the other gods, they were such a close family. To have experienced that and now know she was losing it, made her heart ache a bit.

But Meghan accepted she couldn’t keep it. She couldn’t keep Jord. She didn’t belong in that world. She would always remember them, though—remember him. She looked again at the people hugging in the terminal. Would he even hug her goodbye? Jord had tried hard in the past few days to push her away, so she doubted it. She guessed he was doing it for both of them, to make the parting easier. He was a god, with big responsibilities now. She was just a mortal.

She had to look away—away from the hugs and the love in the airport terminal, away from him also. Her eyes sought out the most distracting thing she could find. A television monitor hung high on the wall of the reception area.

But to her surprise even there she saw Jord. It was a picture of him, obviously taken from the University faculty album, showing Jord sitting at his desk looking very professorial. But the headline over the picture read ‘University Professor Turned Kidnapper’. Then it was her picture on the screen, the one from the back of the museum pamphlet, her name and a phone number people could call if they spotted her.

“Jord!” She grabbed his arm and pointed to the screen.

“What the . . . ?”

Meghan saw, in the crowd around her, people looking, pointing, and backing away. One woman had her cell phone out, staring at the television and punching in a phone number.

“We’ve got to get out of here.” Jord grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowds. Meghan realized what it looked like, and people with camera phones were already snapping off pictures. When those pictures got out, it would look even more like Jord had kidnapped her.

“How could something like this happen?” Meghan weaved to avoid people as Jord pulled her through the crowds. “No one would have even checked on me, or cared I was missing.”

Jord led her through the milling crowds. Everywhere they went, people reacted–pointing, pulling out their cell phones.

People rushed to get out of his way as Jord approached. “It’s Loki, trying to keep us on the run and away from Asgaard. He’s not called the Great Deceiver for nothing, but I never dreamed he could set up a network on Midgaard so quickly. He’s only been free a couple of days.”

Meghan pulled her hand free and stopped. “Just leave me then, and go. I’ll tell them you didn’t kidnap me.”

The outside doors were only about fifty feet away, but there was already a group of six security guards there, waiting to stop them.

Jord grabbed her hand again and pulled her behind him. “No, that’s what Loki wants. I see that now. He wants to get to you. Remember the prophecy. Someone is going to die.”

Meghan suddenly realized just how small her part was in the whole scheme of things. “Then let it be me. What difference would it make in the long run? You need to get back to Asgaard. You, the hammer, the gloves, and belt need to be there for the battle or Asgaard is going to fall.”

Jord was stunned at the level of sacrifice Meghan had just shown. She couldn’t be serious, yet somehow Jord knew she was. She was actually willing to risk her life to save people she’d only met a few days ago.

He’d been a fool to think he could send her away. There had to be something Loki knew, or suspected, about the prophecy. Jord hadn’t been around before the evil god had been imprisoned, but from everything he’d heard Loki thrived on mischief and deception. In any case, now, sending Meghan away from him was not an option, though forcing them to stay together could also have been just what Loki wanted.

Jord turned to her. “No. Stay with me. This changes everything. We need to think this through before we act.”

Jord let go of Meghan’s hand, trusting she would follow him, and reached inside his coat to touch Mjolnir. He needed to draw on the power of the mystic hammer. The guards in front of him were drawing their guns, and people were starting to scream and scatter. There was just no way to salvage this.

Jord extended his other hand and called for the wind. The strong breeze shot forward then divided, shoving half of the guards to the right and the others to the left, opening up a way to the doors. Lightning flew from his fist, and the glass doors shattered. As the winds continued to keep the security guards busy, Jord and Meghan made their escape to the airport parking ramp.

“The truck is on the fifth level.” Meghan was puffing as she followed him. Jord stopped in front of a Chevy Malibu. A small burst of air pushed up the door lock, and a small spark of lightning in the ignition started the car without needing a key.

Jord unlocked the passenger door. “Get in.” Meghan stood dumbfounded for a moment, then just smiled and shook her head.

Their course out of the parking ramp took them right past the old red pickup, and the ten police officers who stood around it, but the officers never looked their way, and they hit the street without any further problems.

Jord didn’t see any sign of pursuit. “Hopefully whoever owns this car took a flight and won’t be back for a while.”

Meghan seemed absorbed in the busy traffic around them. “Well, I guess it was your turn to steal a vehicle. I did steal the last one. We’re becoming Bonnie and Clyde, you know.”

Jord chuckled as he got off the busy highway onto a lonely looking side street. He’d never felt he was above human laws. “Auto insurance will help me cope with the guilt. And they do have Triple-A, so they won’t be stranded.” He pointed to the sticker on the windshield.

Jord drove north and west when he could. He stayed off the main highways as much as possible. It would take longer, but the police, and probably a whole underworld network of bad guys, would now be looking for them for hundreds of miles around Atlanta.

“There.” Meghan pointed at a small grocery store as they drove through Sardis City, Alabama. She’d found an old pair of sunglasses in the car’s glove compartment, and tucked her hair up under the hood of her coat.

She’d had a good idea, Jord had to admit, and was all business on the drive so far. It looked like Jord had been able to at least cool their relationship, even though he burned inside every time he looked at her. As Meghan slipped from the car, and he watched her sexy behind head toward the store, he wondered how long he could keep up the charade.

His heart ached for her. His body was constantly on fire having her so close. Yet he couldn’t touch her, couldn’t have her. His carefully constructed walls would crumble, and she’d be in even more danger than she was right now.

“It is her fate to choose death, for love of you.”

Not if she didn’t love him.

He hoped to have been able to send her home safely. With her gone, at least he wouldn’t be constantly reminded of how much he cared for her. How much he wanted to hold her. Kiss her. His body hardened just thinking about her.

Now that Loki had targeted her specifically, and practically the whole nation looking for her, there was no way he could let her out of his sight. It was killing him, but he had to take her with him back to Asgaard. He just had to keep his distance from her emotionally, stay cold, but it was so hard, wanting her the way he did.

Meghan returned with a large shopping bag. “I think we’re okay. I got a few stares, but I think it was just because I was wearing the sunglasses in the store.”

Jord pulled out of the parking lot, back onto the highway. “Okay, let’s head to the next town before we look for a motel, just to be on the safe side.” He hated the delay. They could have made Nashville easily before sundown, even taking the back roads. But they needed to lay low and hide out for a bit, and let the media cool down. Jord hoped by sticking to the back roads and smaller communities, they could escape recognition.

He was the big problem, and he knew it. His large frame, bright red-blond hair, and distinctive features made him easy to pick out in a crowd. Meghan had just shown how much easier it was for her to blend in. He’d never call her average, by any means, but with the sunglasses and her hair hidden in the hood, even he wouldn’t have recognized her right away. His body’s reaction betrayed that lie. Okay, he would instantly know if she was anywhere in his vicinity, but no one else would have recognized her.

It would have to be another motel room—another night of her so close, yet so untouchable. He’d need all his strength just to keep his walls up, his defenses in place. She could so easily tear it all down with just a look.

They found a small, out-of-the-way motel and checked in. Jord hated staying in the car and letting Meghan go to check in, but they both agreed that would be safest, all things considered. After they’d gotten to the room Jord sat in the desk chair as Meghan unpacked the paper bag on the bed.

“Take off your shirt.” Meghan still seemed all business but Jord knew this was going to be trouble. As the scissors snipped she moved around the chair he sat on. Her cool hands touched his back, his chest. At times he could feel her breasts rub up against him. It was agony to just sit there. Every nerve fiber in his body rebelled. He had to constantly adjust to ease the strain in his jeans.

“I just hate cutting this off.” Meghan ran her fingers through his hair as she continued to snip strands. Jord felt the coolness on his neck.

“I’m trying to remember the last time I had short hair.” He tried to keep the conversation light, anything to keep from thinking of her. “It was 1967 I think. I was living in Madison, Wisconsin, in the eighth or ninth year of my bachelor’s degree at the U.W. there.”

He chuckled at the memory. “I wasn’t in a really big hurry to finish. I embraced the hippie movement, and never looked back. It reminded me so much of the Renaissance.”

“Well, Renaissance man.” Meghan chuckled. “Your hippie days just ended.”

She brushed off the back of his neck with a towel, and came around to look at him from the front.

“Yeah, that’s a real change. Now for the color. You are about to become tall, dark, and boring.”

As she worked the hair dye into his hair, Meghan kept up the light conversation. She was so easy to talk to. Jord found her intelligent grasp of so many different topics to be refreshing, fun. He realized just how much he enjoyed being with her. There was nothing sexual, nothing overt, just friendly, spirited conversation. Even those topics they disagreed on were kept light and friendly. Jord couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself so much just talking.

“Okay.” She stepped back away from him. “Time to wash it out. Just shower and shampoo like you normally would, and then we’ll see what you look like.”

Jord stood in the shower a long time, just letting the water cascade off of him, knowing if he got out he’d want to touch her. He’d want to hold her. This night would be agony. When he finally got out he pulled his jeans back on. Just wrapping a towel around wouldn’t be enough to keep his real feelings from showing.

He ran a comb through his hair and looked at himself in the mirror. Short, wavy, black hair. Yes it would be enough, with the sunglasses. Tomorrow they’d make it to Nashville and put this all behind them, but he still had to face tonight.

“Can I see.” Meghan knocked on the bathroom door. He opened it and faced her. She stood before him wrapped only in a towel, her hair also wrapped. The upper parts of her breasts drew his gaze. Her shapely legs exposed below the towel. His jeans could barely contain his reaction.

“Oh!” She stood in the doorway just staring at him. “Wow, that is a change. I don’t think anyone will mistake you for that notorious kidnapper.”

She grinned at him, those delicious lips just inches from his. How he wanted to taste them, just one more time.

“I decided to color my hair too, just to be on the safe side. I need to jump in the shower to rinse it out. Are you done in here?”

He saw her make her way to the shower, readying to drop the towel before she stepped in. It was so tempting, made him so hard. He needed to get out of there. In his mind he saw himself joining her in the shower, running his hands over those curves. What would she do if he did? How would she react after he’d spent so much time pushing her away? Would she accept him? Would she take him back? Would he doom her?

It was wrong, selfish of him to think that way. Meghan deserved a full life. Something he couldn’t offer. All he could bring to the table was death. If she loved him it would kill her. Literally.

He closed the door as he left, but the image remained in his mind. Taunting him. Torturing him. He sat on the bed and tried to get her out of his head. Tried to think of anything except her. He had to get control.