Situating ourselves at a high top, I placed my elbows on the table and leaned forward. “So … this Venom. What is it?”
Charlie’s eyes fell, her chest deflating. “I was hoping you wouldn’t ask.”
“Well, I am.”
She took a swig of her fruity drink and winced from the hit of alcohol. “It’s the latest drug to hit the supernatural community. I didn’t want you to ask because I didn’t want you trying it.” She bit her lip nervously.
Typically, I would be upset because I didn’t like the idea of people controlling what I did, but there was more to this. Narrowing my eyes at her, she got the hint that I needed more details than that. She wasn’t getting off that easy.
“I know what’s in your Pez dispenser.”
My gaze traveled around the nightclub. I kept my cool, a stoic expression on my face, but on the inside, I was disappointed in myself.
“I shouldn’t have looked. I’m sorry!” she said. “But you’re always carrying it around. I was curious.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “So now you know. What does that have to do with Venom? You thought I’d come out with you and get high?”
She shook her head. “Venom is different. Dangerous. It’s killing us off by the dozen. No one has been able to stop it. I just didn’t want you to get wrapped up in it.”
I could be mad, but I wasn’t. The fact Charlie was trying to protect me was sweet. She bowed her head in shame, looking like a little girl who’d been reprimanded. I swallowed the rest of my whiskey and kicked off my seat. Extending a hand to her, I waited.
She looked up at me. “You’re not mad?”
“Nope.”
She placed her hand in mine, and I pulled her toward the dance floor. Charlie had been nothing but nice to me. There wasn’t a malicious bone in her body. With all that was going on, this was probably the last time we’d ever be able to enjoy ourselves. The least I could do was make sure she had a great night.
“Dancing’s not really my thing,” I screamed over the deep bass. “But tonight, I’ll make an exception.”
19
The next few days were quiet. Charlie went to work, and I hid in the apartment. No more nights out on the town, ravens didn’t visit us, and the police didn’t find any mutilated bodies. It was the calm before the storm, and my stomach churned waiting for the next shoe to drop. Nothing was sitting well with me. There were too many questions and not enough answers, so I did what I did best. I drank.
A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts and I left the comfort of the sofa. Muting the television, I looked through the peephole. Will stood outside the door, looking around to make sure no one was watching. I unlocked the apartment and let the detective inside.
“You weren’t answering any of my calls,” he said, barging in without an invitation.
I shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what? Watching soap operas?” He pointed to the muted television.
I shrugged and ate some crumbs that had fallen on the front of my shirt. “Why are you here, Will?” I wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. I pulled out my Pez dispenser and discreetly took a few pills.
“I need an explanation,” he said, plopping himself down on the sofa. Sitting on the edge, he put his elbows on his knees and waited for me.
“Explain what, exactly?”
“What the hell happened the other day? Who were those women, and how the hell did some birds completely mutilate them?” His eyes were wide, and his soul trembled a little when I felt it. He was afraid, and rightfully so. “That was something out of a Hitchcock movie.”
“They were the Norns. Really old witches that protect Yggdrasil—the great ash tree that stands at the center of the universe and holds the nine realms in its branches and roots. Your people call it the Tree of Life.”
Will scratched at his beard as he processed what I was saying. I worried this was too much for the human, but I wouldn’t deny him if he wanted to know. It was too late to hold back now.
“You only go to the Norns for information, but it’s never free. The answers you want always come at a price. We’d gone to see them that day to bargain, but we obviously didn’t have the opportunity. The birds are Odin’s calling card. After all, he’s known as The Raven God.”
“Isn’t Odin your father?”
I nodded. “Which is why I wanted to find out if Fen was right and my father truly is trying to set me up.”
The truth was a hard pill to swallow—no pun intended—and I wasn’t sure if I was prepared to hear it. As Odin’s favorite, I couldn’t think of a single reason he would want to hurt me. I did everything he’d ever asked of me—even more. I’d been the perfect valkyrie.
“How can you find out?” He patted the cushion next to him, and I accepted the offer, thoughts swirling through my head.
I’d been concocting a plan, and the perfect accomplice was by my side. “The only people who could have helped me were the Norns, but there might still be a way to get hold of them.”
“But they’re dead.” He raised a brow. “I know you’re all part of this supernatural world, but even I know dead is dead.”
“Well …” I winced. “That’s not necessarily true. Want to find out how?”
The detective rubbed his mouth, contemplating. If I told Fen, he’d try to talk me out of it, but this seemed like my best option. Dealing with the dead was never a good idea, but I’d do it anyway.
“You know, you never told me about your colorful past,” I said as I hopped on the help desk where Charlie was cataloging returned books.
She peered over her glasses. “Excuse me?”
“Your pot smoking days,” I whispered and wiggled my brows. Charlie’s eyes darted to Will.
“I didn’t hear anything.” He shrugged.
“That was a long time ago—”
“Hey,” I raised my hands, “I’m not judging. Out of curiosity, though, where did you meet such a fine fellow such as the traveler, hm?” When we’d gone to see the traveler, Charlie was a little too familiar with The Smoke Screen. She apparently thought I’d forgotten that little tidbit, but I remembered. That was one juicy secret I made sure I wouldn’t forget.
Charlie groaned. “Oh … Raven, please don’t make me …”
“C’mon, Charlie! You told me there was this whole supernatural underground right here in Portland. Show me.”
“I can tell you where it is, but don’t make me go.”
I gave her a mischievous look. “Oh, you’re definitely coming.”
Humans weren’t the only beings that resided in Midgard. My kind didn’t care much for the supernaturals. They were like the redheaded step-children—they were beneath us. I’d encountered a few during my time on this realm but never tried to become part of their community. Too much drama. But as much as I avoided it, I was now drowning in it.
What the supernaturals called the Underground was their version of a black market. Concealed in the shadows of the city, shabby stands, hidden alcoves, and tattered sheets covered the large area where different creatures sold goods or other services. The market was overflowing with people coming in and out. Individuals yelled across the way as they haggled items for a lower price or favor.
Charlie and I wandered in with ease. Will, on the other hand, stood out like a sore thumb. We’d convinced him to leave his gun and badge at home to avoid suspicion. If they saw the feds, the whole market would shut down. We couldn’t have that.
Charlie scanned a stand that sold rabbit's feet for luck. “What are you looking for?”
“A necromancer,” I said nonchalantly.
“Say what now?” Her head whipped in my direction.
“I need the Norns. At least one of them.”
“Bringing them back from the dead could have very serious repercussions. You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
She was right, I didn’t, but it seemed like my only option as far as I knew. Unless some con-artist fortuneteller could bestow so
me knowledge on me, this was the next-best thing.
“You have any other suggestions?”
She bit her lip, looking from me to Will, and finally relented. “Fine! Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Is a necromancer what I think it is?” Will grimaced, and I laughed.
“Tony is who we need to see. He’s not too far from here,” Charlie said.
We followed her through the market. It was loud and extremely packed. Every supernatural race you could think of and more roamed the streets. Some blended well as humans, while others had Will snuggling up a little closer to me. Seeing a vampire suck on a blood bag like a juice box made him squirm, but watching ghouls hunt for rats in the alleyways made him nearly pass out.
“Easy there, detective.” I chuckled. “Your human is showing.”
Will glared but kept quiet.
Charlie stopped at a small, dilapidated store. The windows had been broken, and black garbage bags with duct tape now covered them. I rolled my eyes at the skull spray painted on the door. Real original.
I tilted my head toward the store. “This it?”
Charlie nodded, and we followed her into the pitch-black store. Huddled close together, I didn’t blame Will for tensing beside me. The place really was creepy.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” a voice said from the darkness. “Is that Charlotte I see?”
“How can he see in this pit?” Will murmured.
“I see everything,” he responded. “Including the hand reaching for something on your hip. Funny, I don’t see anything there.”
“Tony,” Charlie sighed, “turn on the lights.”
The lights came on when Tony clapped two times. He leaned against a doorframe not too far from us. He was a scrawny guy with goggles over his head. He looked a little crazy with his wild hair sticking out of the bands.
He wiped his hands on his plastic apron. “Thinking about joining The Collectors again?”
“No, I’m done,” she said, lowering her head in shame. Charlie really did have a bit of a dark past. I couldn’t see the previous darkness in her soul. Typically, there would be at least a stain, even just a minor one, but she was spotless.
“Pity.” He sighed. “What can I do you for?”
“I need your services,” I answered for her.
“Oh? And you are …?”
“No names would be best.” I smiled. “I need you to bring someone back from the dead.”
“Of course you do,” Tony deadpanned. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”
The necromancer walked to a nearby bulletin board and snatched a paper from it.
“My prices have changed. Here you go,” he said, handing me the sheet.
Retrieval of body: $650
Ingredients: $275
Revival: $2,000
Upkeep: $100/month
My brows scrunched inward and I threw the paper to the ground. “Is this a joke?”
“Raven …” Charlie warned, trying to stop me.
“You can’t be serious?” I continued. “Upkeep? Do you think this is a car with a warranty?”
“You don’t truly believe they’ll stay that way forever once they’re revived, do you?” Tony’s mouth dropped in shock. “Honestly, have you ever dealt with the dead?”
I wanted to laugh. Cackle, really. Have I ever dealt with the dead? Funny.
“No. Enlighten me,” I said.
Tony bent to pick up the price list. “If you don’t have access to the body, we can retrieve it for a cost. It’s not easy sending my people out there, especially when it’s illegal. The ingredients needed for retrieving can sometimes be hard to find, and there are many. Not something you can buy at your local apothecary. As for the revival, that speaks for itself. If you want me to bring someone back to life, it ain’t cheap.”
“I don’t have two grand.”
“Then I can’t help you.”
I took a step forward, but Charlie caught me before I did anything stupid.
“I’ll work it off,” she offered. “We’ll get the body, you do the rest.”
“Hell no!” I shrugged Charlie off.
“I have to agree with Raven,” Will said, backing me up. “This is not a good idea.”
She huffed. “You said it yourself, we need the Norns. Let’s not waste more time and—”
“Did you say the Norns?” Tony interjected. “Because if you did, I surely can’t help you.”
The three of us whipped our gazes to the necromancer.
“Pardon?” I said.
“The Norns are a different kind of supernatural. If they’re dead, they’ll eventually be reborn again. The universe needs their gatekeepers. But once they’re gone, they’re gone until their rebirth.”
“Fuck!” I shrieked and kicked a garbage pail near the door.
“Hey!” Tony reprimanded. “Easy with my things. I might not be able to help you, but I know someone who might.”
Will stepped forward. “We’ll take it.”
“For a price,” Tony said with a sly smile. “A hundred bucks.”
The detective pulled out his wallet and took out a few bills.
“Don’t give him shit,” I said, but it was too late. The money had already been exchanged.
Tony brought the bills to the light and nodded after verifying they weren’t counterfeit.
“Good,” he said and grabbed a pen that was clipped to the strap of his apron. Placing the paper with his prices against the wall, he began to scribble on it. “You might not be able to resurrect them, but it doesn’t mean you can’t talk to them. Lana is a medium who can put you in touch with them. Here.” He handed me the paper and turned to Charlie. “You sure you don’t want to join The Collectors again?” he offered.
She shook her head. “Those days are over.”
“Your loss,” he said.
More like his loss, but I kept my mouth shut.
We walked out of the shop and saw Odin’s birds perched on a pole that held up a sheet over a stand. Without saying a word, I gave them the middle finger and kept walking. I couldn’t wait to kill those ravens.
The starless night put a black velvet blanket across the cemetery. It was already a strange place to visit, but the lack of lights intensified the creep factor. With a flashlight in hand, Will led the way until we stopped in the middle of the graveyard.
“What now?” he asked.
“We wait. She will make herself known. Until then, let’s get comfortable,” Charlie said as I laid out a blanket I’d taken from her linen closet.
I’d only dealt with a medium once in my life when I tried to speak with anyone who could get me back to Valhalla. It was long ago, but I was still hesitant to take this approach again.
We laid on the linen and stared at the dark sky. Clouds floated across as a slight breeze kissed our skin.
“Raven,” Will whispered and turned his head toward me, “why are you here?”
“Uh … I told you. I want to find out if—”
“No,” he shook his head, “I meant why are you here.”
Oh.
I faced the human, my eyes meeting his in the dark. Charlie shifted awkwardly before getting up and giving us some privacy.
“One time, long ago, I thought I could help you … mortals. But you were cruel animals that seemed to only get worse with time. Instead of learning from history, you made the same mistakes or worse. I tried, you know. I honestly did.”
“What happened?”
I turned away. “What always happens. Humans do things to destroy their earth and one another. It never ends, so I quit. I stopped trying to help you and decided to let you all kill each other off.”
There was an uncomfortable silence wafting around us, and Will fidgeted beside me. It was a nasty truth no one wanted to hear, but he’d asked for it. If I told him why I stayed in Midgard, he had to know the whole story about how his people were nothing but savages.
“We’re not all like that,” he said. “Som
e of us are fighting to preserve our land and stop hating each other. It’s not something that can go away overnight. It takes time. People are speaking up now more than ever before. Change is possible.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Something rustled behind us, sending us both jumping to our feet. My hand went to my sword sheathed at my side as Will went for the gun on his hip.
“Easy,” a woman said as she raised her hands. “You’re on my territory.”
“Are you the medium?” I asked.
“My name is Lana. I speak for the dead of these lands.” She waved a hand around her.
Lana was a short woman with long, black hair that reached below her hips. Her Native American features were distinctive, and I remembered there were still a few tribes over in Pendleton.
“What is a valkyrie doing on Earth?”
My jaw ticked. Gods, how does everyone know who I am? You’d think I’d rented a billboard on the highway or something. These people hadn’t seen a valkyrie in years, so how they remembered what we looked like baffled me.
“The dead speak,” she explained. “Now, why are you here?”
“I thought I’d take a vacation in Midgard, check out the attractions. I was most curious about Disney World. I hear it’s the most magical place on Earth,” I said, smiling when she crossed her arms.
Fishing for answers was pointless with me. I was keeping my cards close to my chest.
“What do you want, valkyrie?”
“We seek your aid, Lana. I’m in search of someone who recently died.”
“Hm, yes,” she hummed. “I believe I know who you speak of.”
The medium tilted her head and looked over to her side. She chuckled, and the idea of her having a private conversation without someone we couldn’t see was bizarre.
Will leaned back as if he was about to catch an airborne pathogen. “Is she—?”
I nodded.
“Right,” Will mumbled. “Of course.”
“The woman I wish to speak to is Verdandi.”
“Ah, yes,” Lana said. “It seems she’d like to speak with you as well.”
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