Witches (Runes series Book 6) (34 page)

No, the big guy.
I hoped they knew which one I meant.

The roots changed direction and went after Ingrid’s bear. I went after mine, running circles around it at hyper-speed, hoping to confuse it. But their reflexes were not like those of regular black bears. They were fast like
Draugar
.

I pulled the move I’d seen Torin pull—I hopped on its back and wrapped my arms around its neck. I dug deeper and a spark flickered.

“Got one!” Ingrid yelled just as her bear came down. She was hanging on to its neck. “Squeeze their necks but not too hard to snap it.”

The bear growled and tried to shake me off its back. Black bears didn’t have the upper body strength like grizzlies. I squeezed my knees around its midsection and hung onto its neck while fighting to hold on to the spark. It was there, but very weak. Hoping for the best, I projected my thoughts into the bear’s head.

The bear’s body relaxed, the legs giving away. I jumped off its back as it crashed to the ground. Thank goodness. Now for the rest of them. A scream from Ingrid distracted me and I saw why.

Onyx had arrived in her glorious, shifted form. She looked like a panther.
 
Walking around, she bared her teeth and growled at the struggling bears, some close to breaking free from the vines and roots holding them down.

I took my dagger from between Onyx’s teeth. The spark became a surging wave so powerful my connection with the dagger was immediate. It shifted and elongated into a staff, the runes at the tip glowing. Now that my magic flowed clean and pure, I could help these poor bears. They were thrashing and trying to break free, probably going insane.

Turning slowly, I made eye contact with each, got inside their heads, and calmed them down. One by one, they fell asleep.

Ingrid wore a perplexed expression. “Did you…?”

“Yes.” I walked toward Onyx.

“Take care of the cat too,” she screeched.

Oh, so much drama. Didn’t you tell her?
Onyx asked.

“No. You look badass like this.” I extended my hand and stroked her head. Her fur was sleeker. The night we fought the
Draugar,
her fur had seemed glossy too, as though washed or brushed.
 

“Raine?”

“It’s okay, Ingrid. Come here. Don’t change,” I added softly to Onyx.

I’m not a pet you show off, meylar.

“That’s new. What does it mean?”

Little girl. You’re lucky I like looking like this.

“Ingrid, meet Onyx, my familiar.”

Muse.

“I thought she was a
cat
,” Ingrid said.

“She’s still a cat, just bigger. Lick her hand or something and reassure her, Onyx,” I said, walking toward the first bear while Onyx called me all sorts of nasty names. I stopped in front of the first bear, pointed my staff at it, and muttered, “Come out you vile and evil fiend.”

The soul slithered out of the bear. It was completely black with no features or form. Before I could react, the soul slithered into the glowing tip of my staff.

Okay, not sure whether it was sucked in or it dove in, but that couldn’t be good.

No time to worry about it now. I moved on to the next bear, then the next. When I was done, I stared at the staff. Now what? I dimmed my runes and pushed down the energy associated with it. The staff transformed back into a dagger, but coldness radiated from it. I even felt it in the handle. I shivered.

No, that cold wasn’t coming from the dagger.

I turned and growled. Ingrid was staring at me with rounded eyes, but she wasn’t the reason I was getting pissed. Standing near the trees were the three Norns.

Twice in one day? They must be getting desperate. Onyx growled and crouched low, ready to pounce.

“Onyx! Down!”

I walked to the cat and patted her head. The Norns moved closer. Ingrid turned, saw them, and gasped. She moved closer to us.

One of them pointed a staff at the unconscious bears. I’d never seen them carry staffs before. The vines and roots uncoiled from around the bears. They lumbered to their feet and trudged off.

I moved forward, so that Ingrid and Onyx were behind me. “So to what do I owe the pleasure of this little surprise?”

“We want the dagger,” one of them said.

Funny I couldn’t tell which one was doing the talking. I usually could distinguish between their voices. Maybe it was because she was pissed. No, she sounded constipated.

“Sorry, you can’t have it. We’ve bonded. See?” I raised the dagger and something weird happened. Runes appeared over my arm and the handle slowly bent as though the runes on the blade were responding to the ones on my skin. The blade touched me and goose bumps raced across the surface of my skin. It was that cold. The runes continued to blaze until I couldn’t see the blade anymore. Then they dimmed and my jaw dropped.
 
The outline glowed, then darkened. Just like Eirik’s mace, I was now the proud owner of a tattoo of my weapon.

Okay, not sure how that happened, but I liked it.

I looked at the Norns and showed them my new tattoo. “Sorry. Anything else?”

They looked at each other and grinned, which was something Norns shouldn’t do because it made them look quite grotesque and it meant I’d done something I shouldn’t have done. They disappeared and silence followed. Even the birds and the trees were quiet.

“Raine,” Ingrid whispered.

I glanced at her. She was shivering. “It’s okay. I can remove it.”

“Were those
Norns
?” she whispered.

I nodded.

“How can you talk to them like that? They were creepy with glowing eyes and gray, translucent skin and… and… I’m still shaking. They were so cold.”

I heard her, but I was busy staring at my tattoo. My arm felt different. Cold. Heavy. I covered the handle with my other hand and said, “Unbond.”

The dagger lifted from my skin, starting with the blade. The coldness and heaviness disappeared. That was going on the Never to be Repeated list.

“We need to take this to Echo,” I said.

“I know a club where Grimnirs hang out,” Ingrid said.

I didn’t mask my surprise, “Really? Let me guess, you’ve dated a Grimnir.”

She laughed. “Can you imagine how Andris would react to that? No, but we, Andris, Maliina, and I have been to a few clubs frequented by Grimnirs. Crypt in Los Angeles is very popular and most of the clubs are run by Immortals, so I know their owners.”

“The problem is that Echo doesn’t hang out with other Grimnirs.” Then an idea popped in my head and I went with it. “Actually, I owe a pair of Grimnirs some souls.”

“Who?”

“Rhys and Nara. I stole a soul that belonged to them and they weren’t too happy. Oh, no, Onyx. You’re not going home. You’re coming with us.”

Why? I hate Grimnirs. Just because you choose to associate with them doesn’t mean I have to.

“Oh, quit your whining. We need you to protect us. If you haven’t noticed, Torin didn’t run to our rescue today. We’re on our own.” Just like in my dreams. Was this how things were going to be when he was gone? I pushed the ugly thought aside. I needed to stop thinking our marriage wouldn’t last. “Lead the way, Ingrid.”

“Shouldn’t we go home and clean up first?”

“No way. I’m not taking a dagger with twelve evil souls to my house. We need to look badass, not dolled up. I have an idea.” I let the image from one of Mom’s favorite TV series fill my head. My tank top changed color and texture until I was wearing a laced up brown leather tank top and my Capris became a leather skirt with an uneven hem. My sneakers and socks shifted into knee-length leather boots, and a dagger sheath dangled on my waist.

I shoved my dagger into the holder and spread my arms. “What do you think?”

Ingrid laughed. “I love it. Do mine.” She was practically hopping. “Just make my top smaller and the skirt a little shorter. More skin the better. Oh, and give me arm braces with pockets to hide my artavo.”

Shaking my head, I took care of Ingrid’s outfit, making her top the same size as her sports bra and her skirt a little shorter than mine. She and I were about the same height. Her boots and arm brace matched her outfit. With her bob cut and pale skin against the dark leather, she looked striking.

“You look amazing. Well, Onyx?”

Make me wear something leather, meylar, and I’ll smother you with a pillow in your sleep,
she vowed.

“No, grumpy. I meant, how do we look?”

I’m not sure whether you’re supposed to be Phoebe or Piper, but Valkyries don’t dress like that.

I grinned. “Nice to have a cat that appreciates a good witch TV series.” I glanced at Ingrid, who was making sure her artavus fit inside the pouch on her arm brace. “Ready?”

She looked up and studied me. “You should bond with the dagger again.”

“I don’t know. I don’t like the way it feels.”

“That’s because you’re not used to it. We’ll be in and out of there in five minutes. A tattoo of the dagger makes you look badass. You’ll fit right in. No Grimnir will dare question our presence.”

I frowned. Grimnirs and Valkyries didn’t exactly get along. “So there will be no Valkyries?”

“There will be some. Oh, and you might want to send Onyx home.”

I love this girl,
the cat said.

“You’re sure we’ll be done in five minutes, because I really, really don’t like the way the dagger feels when I bond with it.”

It’s probably the dark souls trapped in the blade,
Onyx said.

Why hadn’t I thought of that? “You’re probably right, Nyxie.”

Not another nickname. Can I go now?

I stroked her head. “Okay, you big baby.”

Onyx’s runes glowed, and then she opened a portal large enough to accommodate her new size. She disappeared through it. I squatted and our eyes met.

“Get off my bed and change back to your normal size, Fur-ball.”

I hope you catch something while cavorting with Grimnirs,
she retorted.

I rolled my eyes, stood, and gripped the dagger. “Bond.”

~*~

The portal Ingrid opened led to the women’s restroom. It was huge with full-length mirrors covering the walls. There were runic writings on the frames. Portals. At the corner of the mirrors, I recognized the initials TC for Tristan Cooper, my father. Before he became ill, Dad had made the frames for our store.

Some of the reapers were leaving, while others were arriving using the portals. Most wore long coats with scarves, gloves, and heavy boots. Others dressed in leather pants with midriff tops under their leather jackets or coats. We were way underdressed in comparison. Somehow, I didn’t care. We almost bumped into two guys as we entered the room.

“Is there a
Charmed
convention in town?” we heard one ask.

Ingrid turned and said, “No, a Charmed-themed party, and you guys are welcome to join us.” She paused before adding, “If you can handle it.”

My jaw dropped. She was terrible. “What if they decide to join us?”

“I’d throw a party.”

Ingrid was officially the craziest woman I’d ever met. We entered a long room packed with men and women. More leather trench coats and fingerless gloves. A long bar ran from wall-to-wall, with pool tables on one end of the room, and booths with chairs on the other end. Waitresses in tiny tops and shorts moved between the bar and the tables. The noise level made it impossible to hear a thing. And there was no way we were going to find Rhys and Nara in this mess.

Or maybe not. Those closest to us stopped and stared, then whispers followed. More turned to stare at us, but Ingrid seemed oblivious. She tapped the back of a black guy with dreadlocks and said, “May I borrow your stool?”

The Grimnir looked at her and then me, and gave us a slow smile. “Sure, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart, reaper,” Ingrid said. “But thanks for the stool.”

She climbed onto it and stepped up on the bar. The ceiling was high, so she stood, bold as you please. I expected her to start dancing or doing something else equally scandalous, but she just stood there, hands on her hips, until the room became quiet and all the attention was on her.

“My name is Ingrid. No last name necessary. I’m an Immortal. My sister would like to have a word, so please focus on her,” she said, then indicated me.

Eyes turned toward me and necks craned for a better look.

I sure hoped she didn’t expect me to climb on the counter. She extended her hand toward me. I shook my head. She and I were going to have a serious talk after this. But a new whisper started and I heard Norns mentioned. Someone recognized me. Just great!

“I’m looking for Rhys and Nara,” I said, my voice not projecting far.

The guy whose stool Ingrid had taken turned and yelled, “Rhys! Nara! Get your asses over here.”

I gave him a tiny smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Raine Cooper. Would you like a seat? Maybe a drink?”

I started to shake my head, but Ingrid said, “Yes. Absolutely.” She sat and stayed there on the counter, legs crossed. Like moths to a flame, the guys moved closer.

“Is it true you have the powers of a Norn?” a guy to my right asked.

“Did you really talk to real Norns?”

“We heard you fought Warlocks and won.”

The crowd grew. Ingrid answered the questions and offers of drinks followed.

“Give us room,” a familiar female voice said and the guys parted ways for Nara and Rhys. “What do you want, young Norn?” she asked rudely.

“It’s always nice to talk to you too, Nara,” I said. My eyes volleyed between her and Rhys. “I owe you guys a soul, but I’m bringing you a few more because I know our paths will cross again, and I will stop you from reaping souls I plan to save.” A few snickers followed. My eyes locked with Nara’s. She smirked. When I unbonded with the dagger and removed it from my arm, her eyes widened. She took a step back when the dagger shifted into a staff. The others followed.

“Do you want the souls or should I offer them to someone else?” I asked.

“We don’t need—”

“Yes, we’ll take them,” Rhys said, interrupting Nara, but I noticed his eyes kept going to Ingrid, who was flirting with several Grimnirs.

I pointed the staff.
Come out.

Nothing happened.

Crap. This could get embarrassing fast. Then I remembered how Andris had talked to them.

I took a deep breath then said, “Get out of my weapon you scums of the earth before I disperse you for eternity.”

The first soul shot out of the staff. By the time the last one left, I had the attention of the entire room. Most of the souls were dark with no features. A few were gray and I could see their fingers. I wondered what Dev, the soul Cora was protecting, looked like. Excitement swept the room, but my eyes returned to Rhys.

“Thank you,” he mouthed.

“Where did you get them?” someone asked and my focus shifted. While I explained our fight with the bears, without bringing up the Norns, someone put a drink in my hand. Ingrid. She was behind the bar, helping the bartenders. She must have been one sometime in the last several centuries. She looked too comfortable.

I took a few sips of my drink and realized it wasn’t my usual nonalcoholic drink. When I grimaced, Ingrid grinned and raised her glass. I saw the challenge in her eyes and rose to it. I raised my glass and the crowd cheered.

Time lost meaning as she served drinks and flirted with the men and bumped fists with others. Rhys and Nara returned from dropping off their bounties. I knew because Rhys joined the group of Grimnirs trying to catch Ingrid’s attention. Some of the women hugged Ingrid and she introduced them to me. I guess you couldn’t live for several centuries without knowing other Immortals.

Faces and names blended, but I could only tell the warmly dressed Grimnirs from the casual Immortals and the Valkyries among them. Some seemed hard-core with tattoos and piercings, and crazy hairstyles. Others were like Nara, very model-like. All were athletic and beautiful. One asked when I was getting married. She had silver and electric blue hair, and looked like a China doll.

Ingrid and I looked at each other, and I cringed. I’d forgotten to remove my ring. I hid my hand under the counter.

“That’s just for show so guys wouldn’t hit on her,” Ingrid improvised, then she changed the conversation by adding, “Raine, tell them how you fought
Draugar
last week.”

 
Even the men joined in the discussion, until they learned how we defeated them. I think I just gained a few more admirers and an open invitation to hunt with them. Then they wanted to know about how we fought the Warlocks.