by Sumida, Amy
Unfortunately, I'm not quite as gifted as my god friends when it comes to tracing. They can jump in and go anywhere they please(as long as it's not warded or they're made welcome) while I am limited to going in a straight line. By this I mean that I can only jump from here to the God Realm or from there to here and only with the proper chant. I can't jump in all willy-nilly and jump out wherever I please, like say Bermuda. Technically, I should be able to since I house a lot of god magic now but I've been hesitant to try. Mainly because if I screw up, I could be stuck in the Aether forever.
Now, the Aether is a pretty awesome place. It's basically pure magic. As a witch, I use it for manifesting spells. There's vast amounts of knowledge stored there, gathered up every time someone touches it. I feel it a little when I trace, since my body has to basically become a thought-form in order to flow through it. Now ask me if I want to be a thought forever. No, I don't. So I haven't tried it alone yet and don't plan on trying it anytime soon. It's a good thing I have a lot of god friends who can piggy back me. Yes, even riding along with a god can be risky but I still would have preferred it to riding that damn bike.
It was 6:48 pm and the club was already getting ready for the night. The bouncers were sitting at the bar, having a quick dinner, but the bartenders and waitresses were bustling about. TryggulfR was there too. He came walking up when he saw us.
“Hey, Brother,” he hugged Trevor fast and rubbed his face, cheek to cheek, a quick touch that came across as oddly masculine. It's a Froekn thing. “What happened to you the other night?”
“Long story,” Trevor rolled his eyes to me, “I’m better now.”
“Glad to hear-” Ty suddenly grabbed Trevor’s head and turned it to the side, so he could see the bite mark better. “Well it’s about fuckin’ time!” He looked over at me and I grimaced. “I thought you were never going to get around to it.”
“Is it really that big a deal?” I sighed as I rolled my eyes. I mean come on, what business was it of everyone else if I wanted to give my boyfriend a love nip or not?
“Ah, yeah,” Ty looked at Trevor like maybe he could explain why I didn’t get it.
“I told you guys she just didn’t understand,” Trevor’s smile was triumphant. “She’s human, she’s different.”
“She’s Froekn,” TryggulfR sniffed imperiously and frowned at Trevor like he’d just insulted me.
“I’m still human,” I patted Ty’s arm. “You guys need to remember that. You have to give me some guidance once in awhile if I’m going to be a good Rouva.”
“Of course, Rouva,” TryggulfR did a head bow. “I should also tell you that Odin is awaiting you upstairs.”
“Well you didn’t have to go all stiff on me,” I pouted.
“You just gave him a command, Minn Elska,” Trevor pulled a lock of my hair. “His reaction is normal.”
“Oh, sorry, sweetie,” I smiled apologetically and pushed at Ty’s arm. “I didn’t mean for it to be an order, just a request.”
“Okay then, Sis,” Ty was instantly back to his normal, easy going self. “Have fun with Odin,” he turned and sauntered off toward the bar, stopping to flirt with assorted waitresses along the way. That boy needed to find a mate. Or at least a steady girlfriend.
“Ty never found a mate either?” I remembered Trevor telling me about how the Froekn began with half-siblings mating. I was a little shocked but they were all they had. Trevor never found his mate though.
“No,” Trevor shrugged. “We're a lot alike. I'm not saying we didn't have our fun,” he smiled wolfishly, “we just never found the right girl to settle down with.”
“Huh,” I nodded. “What about UnnúlfR?”
“That's a whole different story,” his eyes shifted, looking away from mine. “UnnúlfR wasn't always so...”
“Bitter?” I prompted. “Shitty? Much of an asshole?”
“Withdrawn,” Trevor shook his head with a little grin. “Back when we still had to hide from our enemies, UnnúlfR met a goddess.”
“Ohhh, this is getting good,” I leaned back against the bar to get comfortable.
“Not really,” Trevor frowned. “Her name was Andrasta and she was the most beautiful thing any of us had ever seen.”
“You're right,” I frowned. “Not so good.”
“Vervain,” he glared at me and I shrugged before he continued. “She was a Celt. Their Goddess of War. She was strong, fierce, and cunning, things we as wolves, value greatly. Unfortunately, she was also fickle, cruel, and heartless. UnnúlfR couldn't see it though. He loved her and that's all he knew. So we tarried in her territory longer than we should have and our enemies caught up with us.”
I took his hand and pulled him closer to me, so he was leaning against my side. I didn't like the look in his eyes.
“Tyr had been hunting us for years,” he swallowed hard. “He found us camped around Andrasta's castle but even that would have been a small setback. We were fast, we could have outrun him easily, but UnnúlfR was with Andrasta. We got to them too late. Tyr had somehow found them first.”
“Oh crap.”
“Yes, exactly.” Trevor sighed and ran a hand over his face. “Andrasta had betrayed us. Tyr and twenty of his human followers were already there, with UnnúlfR in chains. My father went crazy. I've never seen him so furious. He went straight for Andrasta but she was quick, anticipating his attack and tracing away before he could reach her. Tyr, however, was not so lucky. He lost all of his men along with his right hand that day.”
“Whoa.”
“We have a saying,” Trevor grinned wickedly. “Reach out a hand to harm a Froekn and you shall lose it.”
“That's why Demeter will never be forgiven.”
“Precisely,” Trevor nodded. “She's sealed her fate.”
Persephone was one of my best friends, and I really didn't want the death of another friend's mother on my conscious, but her mother had tried to kill Trevor. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't stop the Froekn from hunting her. Demeter tried to kill their Prince. It was on.
“I almost feel sorry for her,” I smirked. No I didn't. “I better go greet Odin before he gets insulted but thank you for telling me about your brother. It helps me to understand him better.”
“Of course, I want you to love all of my family, so I'm glad this helps you see past his gruffness. Now go ahead and see Odin, Rouva,” Trevor did a mock salute and turned sharply on his heels to head for his office behind the bar.
I shook my head as I climbed the stairs. UnnúlfR made so much more sense to me now. It was too bad that he'd been betrayed by his first love but that had to have been centuries ago. He really needed to get over it. Then again, some people just love that deeply. Some people can never get over love.
I still had a small smile on my face when I found Odin around the corner, at a table along the wall. He had a mug and a sandwich in front of him. It looked like roast beef on rye and my stomach rumbled from the smell. Odin’s laugh rang out, warm and achingly familiar somehow, as he stood to greet me.
“Hello to you too, Vervain,” he kissed me on the cheek and I felt the tingles go all the way down my arm. “Would you like some of my sandwich?”
“I’ll just order my own, thanks,” I waved at one of the waitresses on the bottom floor as I tried to hide not only my embarrassment but my sudden attraction. “Jessica, can I have one of these too please?” I pointed back at Odin’s plate. She nodded and ran off to grab it for me.
“So you’ve made up with the wolf?” He tried to sound casual but I heard a note of tension in his voice.
“You sound disappointed,” I frowned. Things were getting stranger and stranger with him. “You were the one telling me that everything would be fine.”
“I know,” he sighed and put his sandwich down. “Pay no attention to my mood swings, misery loves company and all that. I apologize.”
“Okay,” I leaned my elbows on the table and looked at him steadily. “So what did you need to talk to me about, Mr. Miserab
le?”
“I want to make you an offer.”
“What could I possibly have that you’d want?”
For a second he looked like he was about to say something important, he had that expression the hero always wore right before he’s about to save the fair maiden. I half expected some dramatic music to start piping in. Then he swallowed hard and took a deep breath. The look was gone with a blink.
“Do you remember the card reading you gave me on Yule?”
“Sure, with the deck that belonged to Sabine.”
“I don’t believe I told you her name,” Odin had gone very still and it was making me very nervous.
“You didn’t,” I leaned back in my chair, away from him, “Thor told me. Anyway, I love that deck. It’s the only one I use now. It gives the most accurate readings. Thank you again for it.”
“It needed you,” he waved his hands dismissively. “The deck never worked right for me anyway. I think it wants to be with a human witch. So I’m glad you’ve given it a good home.”
“Did you want another reading?”
“Yes, but that’s not why I’m here,” he ran a hand through his hair. “You recall how you said I was surrounded by traitors?”
“Yes.”
“I need your help, Vervain,” his beautiful eye pleaded with me, shimmering from purple to blue and then green. “I’m too close to see who’s betraying me. They all look false. I’m jumping at shadows.”
“How can I possibly help?” I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going. I couldn’t help Odin; he was bad, plain and simple. It would be counterproductive to aid the enemy. Also, there was that whole thing in the woods with him and my shoulder.
“You could come to Valhalla and observe with not only your unbiased senses but with your magic as well,” Odin licked his lips, swallowed hard, then stared me in the eye. “I’m willing to switch sides for you. For your help, I mean.”
“Switch sides?” My heart was pounding so hard, I was sure he could hear it. What the hell was wrong with me?
“I’ll stop instigating war. I’ll even join with you against those who do.” When I just sat there in stunned silence, he pressed on quickly. “I’m a good god to have on your side. I can manipulate the minds of men and my spear can change the outcome of a battle when thrown. Fighting me can be very difficult… and you know I can shapeshift too, not just into a raven but into anything, just like Loki.”
I had a flash of the saber-toothed tiger Loki had shifted into when he kidnapped me. It was an impressive skill. He was probably a hit at parties. Although I doubt the bit about his barbed penis went over well. Don't ask, you don't want to know how I know.
“Vervain,” Odin took my hand and when his heat enveloped me, I realized I’d gone cold. “You’re a little pale. Did I say something to upset you?”
“No,” I swallowed hard. “I was just remembering something Loki said to me.” I hadn’t told anyone about Loki. I was strangely embarrassed by his threat. How stupid was that? Why should I be embarrassed over something he had done?
“Loki can be a real son of a bitch,” Odin squeezed my hand and I laughed a little. Usually I was the one providing the comic relief. It was nice to be on the receiving end for once. “You did say you owed me one, if you recall.”
“Yes I did,” I sighed. I had told him I owed him one for helping me with my shapeshifting. I guess I should be thankful he had offered me something in return for my help when he really didn't have to. “Okay, you’re offer is a good one but why would you want to betray all of your friends by switching sides?”
“That’s the whole point,” he let my hand go to make a helpless gesture in the air. “I don’t even know who my friends are anymore. Help me, Vervain and I can help you win this god war.”
“But how can I believe you?” I twisted my lips. “They call you the Oathbreaker. That doesn’t exactly instill trust.”
“There is that,” he smiled wryly. “Even Ull’s magic won’t hold me to an oath and he has the strongest oath magic around.”
“Hell, it’s probably not even safe to let you in my club, is it?”
“Your club is well supervised, I wouldn’t risk magic in here,” Odin looked down into the lower level and a wrinkle rolled into his forehead.
I followed his gaze to see Trevor staring up at us. They looked at each other with very odd expressions, I couldn’t figure out if they were weighing each others worth or making an unspoken challenge. Then Trevor noticed me and smiled before throwing me a kiss. I air-kissed him back. Yuck, I know, silly couple stuff, but it was fun on occasion.
Odin didn’t lose the frown.
“You wouldn’t risk it, doesn’t mean you couldn’t do it,” I tried to get us back on topic.
“No, it doesn’t,” his frown disappeared, his face smoothing into seriousness. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or yours, Vervain.”
“Why not?” I didn’t mean it to sound harsh but it did. I couldn’t help it; he was acting like we were old friends, when at the most we were uncomfortable acquaintances. Then again, after our heart-to-heart the other night we were a little closer.
“I like you,” he shrugged like it was nothing but I felt the weight of his confession. I got the feeling he didn't form friendships easily.
“Alright,” I sighed and his eye filled with hope. “But if you fuck with me, I’ll kill you, Odin. I’ll do it while you're sleeping if I have to but I'll get it done,” I leaned forward. “Do you understand me?”
“I think we understand each other perfectly, Vervain,” he smiled tenderly, like I had just kissed him not threatened to kill him.
“When do you want to start?”
“How about right now?” he smiled.
I saw Jessica coming up the stairs with my sandwich and a large coke. I loved her, sweet Jessica with her lovely plate of food and cold tasty beverage. I guess I was kinda male in that regard. The straightest path to my heart was through my stomach.
“Let me eat my sandwich first.”
When my sandwich was nothing but crumbs, I left Odin to go tell Trevor the happy news but I was waylaid by Rain. He stepped right into my path and then stood there casually, as if he'd been there the whole time, just hanging out.
“Rain?” I frowned my deep confusion at him.
“Oh,” he pretended to just notice me. “Vervain, how are you?”
“Fine, thanks,” I started to step around him but he reached out and stopped me with a light touch on my arm.
“Ever think of having children?”
“What?” I gaped at him.
“Children, you know,” he smirked, “the result of all that sex you've been enjoying.”
“Is that your messed up way of asking if I'm pregnant?” I was horrified. What the hell was wrong with this guy?
“No,” he chuckled a little. “You're a grown woman, I'm sure you've taken precautions. I was just curious about how you felt about the idea of motherhood.”
“Seriously?” I blinked.
“Seriously.”
“Well, um, okay,” I sighed and gave it some thought. It was kind of odd he was asking when I'd pondered the thought of little werewolf babies not so long ago.
“I didn't ask you about the father,” he tapped my chin. “I asked what you thought about being a mother.”
“Did you just read my mind?” I was beginning to get angry and his laughing face wasn't helping.
“No, just your expression, Rouva,” he held up his hands in surrender. “It's obvious when you've got the wolf in your thoughts.”
“Huh,” I shook my head. “Okay, so you just want to know how I'd feel about being a mother. For no other reason than you're curious. Out of the blue. While I'm on my way to go talk to Trevor.”
“If you're in a rush,” he started to back up.
“No, it's fine, Rain,” I sighed. “I don't know. I guess I never thought I'd have the chance. This isn't exactly the kind of life I'd want to bring a child into.”
“If that weren't a problem?”
“You mean, if I was someone else?” I said in a cynical tone. Then I caught the first glimpse I'd ever had of Rain being surprised. I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”
“No, it's just,” he gave a short huff of a laugh and hung his head a second. “Yes, that's exactly what I meant. What if you were someone else when you had this child?”
“I guess I'd be happy then,” I shrugged. “Happy not hunting, not being hunted, not knowing anything about what gods really are.”
“Not knowing Trevor,” he rose an eyebrow at me.
“I'm not saying I'm unhappy,” I shook my head. “I just wonder sometimes what normal would feel like.”
“It's boring and uneventful.”
“Isn't that the same thing?”
“Not really,” he chuckled, “a boring life can have some major events in it but never mind about that. I'm glad you'd be happy in this other life, even if you're not happy in this one,” he smiled and I didn't like the way it looked on him, like he knew something I didn't. “That's very good.”
“I didn't say I wasn't happy,” I growled. “What the hell is this really about, Rain?”
“Your wolf is waiting,” he stepped back and faded into the fake foliage.
“Rain,” I grumbled but Trevor had already come up to meet me. Evidently word traveled fast when everyone had superhuman hearing.
“You’re going where with who?” Trevor was on the verge of going furry.
“It’s only for a couple of days. A week at the most,” I took his hand but he pulled away.
“I’m going with you,” he said firmly.
“Honey-eyes, you can’t,” I sighed. “You need to be here to take care of the club and Nicholas.”
