Heroes (Eirik Book 2)

by Ednah Walters

  Zack was closing the freezer, a bag of frozen mixed vegetables in his hand. He pressed it to the back of his head.

  “The bastard clipped me,” he griped.

  If the Grimnir had hit him, his neck would be broken. I checked the bump. It didn’t look big. “You got that from falling on the driveway, Zack. Grimnirs don’t attack Mortals. It’s against their code.”

  “I’m talking about the Suit. I tried to come to your rescue.”

  Obviously, evil Immortals had no problem harming Mortals. The door opened and Eirik entered with Wes on his heels. Our eyes met, and I felt even worse. Poor Wes looked thoroughly confused. That was the second time he’d seen me making use of Eirik’s lap.

  “Whatever you’re cooking smells good, Dimples,” Eirik said.

  “Damn!” I ran to the stove and removed the chicken. The bacon was still brown, a sure sign I hadn’t botched the meal. Eirik appeared behind me, gripped the counter, and invaded my personal space. He was so close if I leaned back, our bodies would meet. I didn’t even try to fight it. I rested against him, welcoming his warmth and the intimacy.

  “It looks good,” he whispered, planted a kiss on my shoulder, and reached for a piece.

  I swatted his hand. “You eat like a starved convict, and that’s Dad’s dinner.” I turned and pressed on his chest to push him away, but he gave me a lost puppy look and I couldn’t do it. I wanted to kiss him instead. “I’m getting you something to wear, and then you’re going home, so Maera can feed you.” My eyes met Wes’, and I winced. His eyes were on us. I could just imagine what he was thinking. “We were by the water when he tripped and fell in,” I fibbed.

  “Where did you put my wet clothes, Dimples?” Eirik asked.

  I glared at him even as my body responded to his nearness. He leaned in. When his body pressed against mine, it took all my effort not to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. He was deliberately showing Wes I was his.

  “You must have hit your thick head harder than I thought.” My voice came out unsteady. “Remember? They’re in the dryer. Which reminds me, one of the guys must have pushed Zack.”

  He frowned. “My guys?”

  “No, one of the others. Punch him in the nose for that.” I pushed his arm out of the way, slipped under it, and headed toward Zack and Wes. I didn’t make eye contact with them.

  I entered my bedroom and stopped. Hayden had left her bag and car keys on my bed when we’d arrived. Anger surged again and gripped my chest. Bastard Immortals.

  “You okay?”

  I glanced over my shoulder at Eirik. He stood in the doorway as though waiting for an invitation.

  “Yeah. I have a shirt you can borrow.” I pulled out one of my oversize, sleeping T-shirts from my shelf and held it up. It had a picture of a Witch on a broom and the words, Ain’t a Harley, But it Gets You Places.

  “Cute, but I won’t need it. However, I must remember to get Torin one.” He removed an artavus from the pocket of his pants and glanced at me. “How will you explain my disappearance to Wus?”

  “You are one of our neighbors and you left through the back door.”

  “I don’t do back doors, Dimples.” He etched the runes in the air, and a portal opened, cold air rushing out. “Litr!”

  The Dwarf appeared in the visible area of the cave and peered at us. He was dressed like an Eskimo, his bulbous nose red and eyes watery. In his short arms was a bundle.

  “Sorry I dragged you out here.” Eirik went inside the cave and took the bundle. “Thank you. Did Karle arrive yet?”

  “No.”

  “Damn. Okay. Tell my parents I might be coming home late.”

  Litr nodded when our eyes met. “Miss Celestia.”

  “Sorry for all this, Litr.”

  “It’s not your fault.” The look he shot Eirik said he blamed him for his miserable state. “I’m going back to the hall now. Do you need anything else, Baldurson?”

  “Actually, if you could—”

  “Go, Litr,” I interrupted. “I’ll make sure he gets whatever he needs.”

  The Dwarf bowed. “Thank you, Miss Celestia.”

  He took off, and the portal closed. Eirik unrolled the bundle, which turned out to be his trench coat wrapped around his pants, boots, and a shirt.

  “I’ll let you change.”

  “How about what I need? You just interrupted my request for food.”

  “We have leftover pizza from lunch.”

  “And one of the bacon-wrapped spicy chicken pieces? Please?”

  “Fine.” I left him seated on my bed, closed the door, and went to join my cousin and Wes. They were talking in low voices in the living room. Hopefully, Zack wasn’t telling Wes things he didn’t need to know.

  “How’s your head?” I asked.

  “I’ll live. Later, bro,” Zack added, getting up. He and Wes bumped fists, then he followed me into the kitchen. “What is he doing about Hayden?”

  “He has people searching for her. He’s going to join the search.”

  “He’s the son of a god. Why can’t he do something godly and find her?”

  I glanced toward the living room to make sure Wes wasn’t eavesdropping on our conversation. “They don’t work like that. Think of Greek gods and goddesses, and how they’re in charge of different things. That’s how Norse gods are.”

  “Yeah, they sit in Asgard and party, and occasionally come to mess with our women’s heads. Should we call Uncle Richard?”

  “There’s nothing Dad can do about this, or Tammy’s disappearance.” I covered the chicken and placed it by the mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. “Just like there was nothing he could do for Eirik four months ago. Eirik will figure out what to do.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Changing in my room.”

  “Into what?”

  I sighed. Zack was pissed off about Hayden, but I wasn’t about to let him take it out on Eirik. “One of his people brought him clothes through a portal. Look, it’s not his fault this happened to Hayden, Zack.”

  “We don’t know that. Besides, it’s his fault you’re mixed up in this.” He started to leave the room.

  “No, Zack. I’m mixed up in this because of my gift. If I wasn’t gifted—”

  “You would not have landed in his castle in the first place if it weren’t for him. Don’t leave the house. I’ll be back.” He continued to the living room and said something to Wes. Then the door opened and closed.

  Men! I removed the leftover pizzas from the fridge, arranged them on a plate, covered it with a paper towel, and punched a few buttons on the microwave. I knew the moment Eirik entered the living room. He looked more like a reaper now than a god. The microwave dinged.

  “Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere until I come back,” he ordered Wes.

  “Why?” From Wes’ voice, Eirik didn’t intimidate him. I liked that.

  “Because I say so.”

  “Dude, who the hell are you? And why should I listen to you?”

  “Her life is in danger, Lyons,” Eirik snapped. “So no going to the meeting at her school without me.”

  “Eirik!” I piled the pizza slices back in one of the boxes, added chicken, and hurried to the living room. “I’m not in danger.”

  “This is not negotiable, Dimples. I’ll be back in a few to escort you to the meeting.”

  I searched his face. I couldn’t read him, yet I knew something had happened in the last few minutes. Had he talked to his people while he was changing? Portals only took seconds to create.

  “What’s going on? This meeting is important. Even you said I couldn’t leave with you to get Hayden because I had to go.”

  “I’ve changed my mind. Your life is more important. If the Mouton woman comes for you, Lyons will tell her to take a hike. Won’t you, Lyons?” Now he was condescending.

  Wes bristled. “Of course.”

  “Good boy.” Eirik crossed the space between us while I watched him warily and a little annoyed. Instead of
taking the plate, he took the piece of chicken and two slices. “Thanks, Dimples. I’ll eat the rest later. Do not leave without me. If anything happens to you, I will cause the kind of mayhem this town has never seen.”

  He was so melodramatic. The problem was he would do it and not lose sleep over it. “You talked to your people?”

  “Briefly. Wait for me.” He pressed a kiss on my forehead and headed for the door. The smug smile he flashed before he closed the door said he was so sure I’d obey him. When he didn’t pass the window, I knew he had gone invisible. Luckily, Wes was too busy looking at me and didn’t notice.

  “Do you want to come to the kitchen and keep me company?” I said.

  Wes got up, but instead of following me, he glanced out the window. “Where did he go?”

  “Home. He’s a neighbor from down the street.” I felt guilty for lying to him, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. He followed me to the kitchen and grabbed a stool while I removed a packet of gravy from the cupboard. I could feel Wes’ eyes on me. “Don’t worry about Eirik. He likes to boss me around, but I usually ignore him.”

  “Is he from your school?”

  In other words, was Eirik a Witch? “Yes.”

  “What did he mean when he said you’re in danger?”

  “He exaggerates. The Witches who died were doing séances, so he thinks everyone with clairvoyant abilities is in danger. I’m fine. As soon as Dad comes home, we’ll leave for the meeting.”

  CHAPTER 17. THE IMMORTALS

  EIRIK

  Focusing on Nara, I created a portal. It opened into the heavily paneled foyer with plush chairs and lavish décor I’d seen while in Celestia’s bedroom. It had a country club feel to it even though it appeared deserted, except for Nara flirting with the Immortal manning the desk by the entrance. Maybe not flirting. The man looked petrified, the courage runes on his skin obviously not helping.

  She must have felt the portal open because she was behind the guy before he could see me. She twisted his neck and dragged his body to the door behind him. I saw a pile of bodies before she closed the door.

  “You’ve been busy,” I said.

  “Damn Immortals keep wandering in here.” She straightened and grinned. “I’d forgotten how much fun it is to kick ass. This way.” She started toward the double doors on the other end of the foyer, her duster flying behind her.

  First Trudy, now Nara. I was surrounded by bloodthirsty women.

  “What’s going on?”

  “According to Liam, the front desk lackey, members of this club have been searching for the Norns to change their destinies for centuries,” she said. “They are ancient, pissed, and tired of living on Earth, yet they are unwilling to use the guillotine and self-decapitate.” She chuckled as though the thought pleased her. “Damn cowards. It’s simple really. If you think your life stinks, do something about it instead of hurting others.”

  Her reasoning was warped, but I understood what she meant.

  “Daiku and Ranger followed the bastards who’d kidnapped Hayden to this private club, which happens to be owned by one Lord Worthington.” She glanced at me. “They are holding a meeting tonight. Liam was kind enough to tell me where while the boys searched for Hayden and the rest of the orphans. These Immortals want to join the gods or move back and forth between the realms like we do. Idiots. What do they think we do when not reaping? Sit around and have tea with the goddess? They resent us without understanding or appreciating what we do.”

  I’d gone into a partial shift the moment she’d mentioned Lord Worthington. She entered the hallway ahead of me and groaned. Four Immortals were walking toward us.

  “Take out the ones on our right. I’ll deal with the two on the left. No killing. Just a clean neck twist.” Despite her warning, she wore a mean look in her eyes, like she couldn’t wait to gut the Immortals.

  “Hi,” she waved and headed left. “We are a bit lost.”

  “Then ask the front desk manager for directions,” one of the men snapped.

  “He’s not there right now. Could you direct us to the meeting hall?”

  “The meeting is for senior members.”

  “Good. Because I’m over a thousand years old,” Nara returned, and thuds followed. Since her people had been closer, she got hers first and the two guards walking toward me knew we were intruders. They engaged their runes and rushed me at high speed.

  I ran forward, feigned a left, jumped, and stepped on the right wall, catching the first guy on the side of his head with a downward punch. His head connected with the other wall and down he went. The second guard had been running too closely to him and nearly tripped over him. She spun, stopped, and leaped at me. I caught her on the side of her neck with the heel of my boot. She staggered backward, cursing, but recovered quickly and pulled out two daggers from the back of her pants. She pressed a button and two more blades separated from the first. She threw the first blade, hoping to distract me, then went into hyper speed and dropped on the floor, probably hoping to slice my legs from under me.

  I jumped high, the blade she’d thrown catching me in the gut. I ignored it, focused on her, and swung Gunnlögi. It missed her legs, but caught her on the hips and sent her flying across the hallway. She landed in a heap a few doors away. I looked down and winced from imagined pain. One of the three blades had found its way between scales and pierced my skin. The other two were broken.

  The first guard was up and came after me. I ducked and blocked the punch, catching him on the side of his head. I didn’t give him breathing space this time. I grabbed his head and twisted. He dropped like a log. I looked up and caught Nara staring at me. She was alone in her side of the hallway.

  “Are you done goofing around?” Nara asked.

  “I wasn’t goofing,” I snapped.

  “I’ve watched you fight. You could have taken them out in half that time. They don’t deserve your sympathy. They’re a part of this club. Dump them in one of the rooms.”

  I went into super speed, grabbed the guy by his shirt, and threw him inside a storage closet with cleaning supplies. The woman must have snapped her neck when I’d hit her with Gunnlögi. I confirmed it before picking her up and dropping her next to the guy. Hopefully, no one would notice the blood in the hallway. The color blended with the pattern on the carpet runner. I threw the blades inside, closed the door, and runed it shut.

  I caught up with Nara as she entered a heavily paneled hallway, her duster slapping the wall. It was deserted, except for paintings of Immortal men and women on the walls. They appeared to be in their prime with no gray hair or triple chins, but their eyes didn’t smile. This building must be where they plotted mayhem.

  “Where’s Rhys?”

  “Searching with the others. I’m taking out the staff, or members stupid enough to wander away from the meeting, and you can attend the meeting and find out what’s going on. We’ll join you once the building is secure.” She slowed down. “Someone is coming.”

  I angled my head, but I couldn’t hear a thing. She lowered her voice as she continued.

  “When it comes to people hurting little ones, I will kick ass from here to Hel and back. I can’t believe we missed it all these years. Erased memories. No one talking to us. Getting close and then losing the trail.” She pointed at a door, flattened herself against the one opposite it, and touched her lips.

  I slid into place and waited. I could hear them now. Two men were talking and chuckling, their voices coming closer. We were at the end of the hallway, and I could see winding stairs ahead and a ramp going down.

  The men didn’t expect us. The moment they entered the hallway, we were on them. I twisted the neck of mine before his fist left his side. He went out without a sound. Nara was scary fast and hers didn’t see her coming either. We dragged them inside the room behind me.

  Nara peered into what appeared to be a second, inner foyer. She pointed at the ramp, and I nodded. We moved forward, staying close to the wall and keeping our eyes open.
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  “Where was I when we were rudely interrupted?”

  She wanted to talk now? “Don’t worry about it.”

  “No, you need to understand that the Immortals have been searching for a way into the other realms for centuries. Now they’ve found one. The orphans. The poor, helpless kids have been on the run from them while we thought they were hiding from us. Someone somewhere told Immortals about the orphans. It’s only a matter of time before they learn about Celestia and her open invitation to Helheim.”

  Something cold settled in my chest. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “What if they have Tammy? It could happen.”

  She’d never heard the way Celestia talked about Tammy. There was no way the woman would betray her.

  “Not happening.”

  “A person would do anything to save those she loves. Even turn against her people. Betrayal often comes from those you least suspect.” A haunted look entered her eyes. Somehow, I knew that last part was personal.

  “Where are we?” I asked, hoping to get her off her soapbox.

  “An exclusive country club in New England. You can’t open a portal in and out of any room below the floor we just left. This ramp winds to the basement, where they have their secret conference room.”

  “Hey,” someone called from behind us. I glanced over my shoulder at the buff guy. I had no time for this. I threw Gunnlögi without whipping it and directed it to his neck.

  The man tried to duck, but the mace followed him. It wrapped around his massive neck and tightened. I redirected the mace back to my hand and it dragged the guard along. When I unwrapped it, the man’s head lolled to the side.

  “Now, that’s what I’m talking about,” Nara said.

  I wasn’t sure I knew this Nara. She always seemed so calm and cold. She was busy admiring my handiwork, and she didn’t see the second guard enter the hallway from behind her. He threw a dagger.

  “Duck!”

  She turned, caught the blade, and flipped it back at the guy. She used her speed runes and was right behind him when the blade sank into his chest. In seconds, the man was at her feet with a broken neck. The women had moves. I was sparring with her next time I visited the gym.