Souls (Runes series)

by Ednah Walters

  I was aware of my surrounding, and my vision and my hearing weren’t unimpaired. Raine burst through the doors. Her eyes darting around, tears racing down her face. She saw me and stopped, her eyes widening.

  “It’s okay,” I reassured her, then my eyes met Echo’s. He wore a bewildered expression. It turned furious fast.

  “Who did this to you?” he asked, closing the gap between us.

  “No one did.” I stuck out my arms, the runes now covering every inch of my body. I was sure I looked like Lady Gaga’s bestie, Zombie Boy. Not pretty. “These are the same medium runes Maliina etched on me. I just learned how to use them. Kinda,” I added with a shrug.

  “They don’t glow,” Echo said, studying my arms. “That can’t be good.”

  “Where’s my father?” Raine asked.

  I opened my mouth to answer, but Dev said, “He’s inside her.”

  Everyone’s attention shifted to the phone clenched in my hand, and I sighed.

  “Who’s that?” Ingrid asked.

  “Dev, the dark soul, who will be in trouble if he doesn’t shut up!” I focused on Raine. She stood in Torin’s arms, but she was no longer crying. I moved closer to her and expected her to cringe. The runes on my skin couldn’t be pretty. She didn’t cringe, a testament of our tightness.

  “Your father bonded with me, Raine,” I said. “He wants to talk to you, Torin, and your mother.”

  “Mother,” Raine whispered. “I have to tell her.”

  “Lavania went to get her,” Femi said. She looked at the others and indicated the door. They filed out, except Echo.

  “You can talk when possessed?” Echo asked.

  “Yeah. Weird, huh?” It was strange hearing my voice when I had a soul inside me. Usually I just listened to their thoughts while shivering and trying not to barf.

  “We don’t know anything about these medium runes,” he said. “They could have side-effects. They don’t even glow.”

  That was the second time he’d brought that up. “To us they don’t, but to souls—”

  “They’re like a thousand stars,” Dev said. “Don’t let him stay for too long, Cora. You need to let him take over, finish his business, and kick him out. Even the most loving souls get addicted to possession.”

  This time, I couldn’t tell Dev to shut up. “How do I let him take over?”

  “Talk to him. Don’t fight him when he wants control,” Dev explained.

  I gave Echo my cell phone. “Go. I’ll be out as soon as we’re done.” His expression said he didn’t want to leave. “I’ll be fine,” I reassured him. “The medium runes make a big difference. I’m in control. I’m talking in my normal voice. I’m not dizzy or nauseous. I can see and hear and feel, yet he’s inside me.”

  He only scowled harder.

  “Dev will explain. Please, go.” I pushed my cell phone into his hand.

  He nodded, still not looking happy. “Okay. If you need me, I’ll be outside the door.” I waited until the door closed behind him then turned and faced Raine and Torin. “Do you want to wait for your mom?”

  Raine shook her head. Then she moved away from Torin and took my hands. “I want to talk to him first.”

  “Okay.” I listened to her father’s thoughts and smiled. “He doesn’t want to wait either.”

  I didn’t know how to give him control when he asked if he could speak. Part of me was scared of what I might feel. I focused on what I knew about him, that I trusted him and he would never hurt me. Then I took a leap of faith.

  My mouth opened and words poured out, but it wasn’t my voice I heard. It was Mr. Cooper’s. He sounded weak. Tears filled my eyes as he talked to Raine. Raine was crying so hard, and I was an empathic crier. Or maybe it was his words.

  He loved her and was proud of the woman she was becoming. He reminded her of little things they’d done together, and how she’d reacted. He wanted her to hold on to those memories and not worry about him.

  His voice grew stronger. Raine cried harder. I cried even harder. Our arms were around each other. I knew she was really hugging her father, but I was in there, too, giving my best friend the comfort she needed.

  Then I realized something. I was fading, growing weaker as Mr. Cooper’s voice grew stronger. He was taking over my senses. His voice ebbed as he talked to Torin. One minute strong, the next so faint I strained to hear him.

  I started to panic. He was in the middle of telling Torin what he expected from him as Raine’s future husband and father to his grandchildren when my hearing disappeared.

  I tried to tell Raine that I couldn’t hear anything, but the words coming from my mouth were directed at Torin. Mr. Cooper was in control. I tried to push Raine away and signal help, but I couldn’t control my arms. Medium runes weren’t all they were cracked up to be was my last thought before I blacked out.

  ***

  I opened my eyes slowly and the first face I saw was Echo’s. Was I dead?

  “No, you’re not dead, but you’re going to give me a heart attack, something I’ve never worried about.”

  I glanced around and frowned. Once again, I was on Raine’s bed. “What happened?”

  “Mr. Cooper finished talking to his wife, but as soon as he left your body, you dropped like a Raggedy Ann doll.”

  I narrowed my eyes. He sounded too dang pleased with himself. “I guess you plan to tell me ‘I told you so.’”

  He caressed my cheek. “No. I made it just in time to catch you.”

  “You did?”

  “Yep. I told you I always know when you need me. Felt it right here.” He pressed his hand to his left breast right where his heart was. “You were growing weaker the longer he stayed inside you. You’re lucky Mr. Cooper was not interested in taking over your body. If he had been a different soul…”

  I would be a suit. The thought that a soul could kick me out of the way and take over my body was scary.

  “No more medium runes,” I swore.

  “Finally, we agree on something.”

  “Until I learn everything about them,” I added.

  He made a face. “Somehow I knew you’d add that. Why don’t you ever listen to me? I’m older and wiser—”

  I laughed. “Yeah, I’ve seen your wisest moves.”

  “That’s insulting. I have wicked moves.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  A knock and Raine stepped into the room with a bag of Twizzlers. I sat up and caught it when she threw it my way. Switching to supersonic speed, I ripped open the bag and pulled out several of the surgery treats. For a moment, all I thought about was replenishing my energy, everything else forgotten.

  When I slowed down, Raine, Torin, and Echo were talking in low tones by the door while staring at me. She looked like crap now that I had a chance to study her. Her eyes were red from crying, and her hair was mussed.

  I slipped to the edge of the bed and stood, but a wave of dizziness washed over me and I plopped back on the bed. Echo appeared by my side, his hands steadying me.

  “Take it easy, doll-face. You’ve been out for nearly two hours.”

  “Two… I have to go home.” I jumped up, or tried to, but Echo pinned me down. Raine had left the room before I could ask her about her father. “Did I help?”

  He cupped my cheeks and peered at me. “You’re not making sense, sweetheart. You must still be loopy from the possession.”

  I pouted. “I’m not.”

  “Those medium runes are a game changer. Next time you want to give a soul a voice, I’m staying. I don’t care who the person is. About going home, your parents were fast asleep when I last checked on them. And no, don’t lecture me about runing them. I had to. Your mother wanted to talk to you about your prom dresses.” He rolled his eyes. “What’s with women and prom?”

  “It’s a rite of passage.” Prom wasn’t even important anymore. “Is Torin taking Raine’s father to Valhalla?”

  Echo’s expression changed. He stood and I thought I heard him swear, but I could have been mista
ken. Now, he was worrying me.

  “What is it?”

  “Mr. Cooper’s soul is not going to Valhalla.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because he’s bound for Hel.”

  I scoffed at the idea. “No, he’s not.”

  “Yes, he is, doll-face. I’ve always been meant to reap him. It doesn’t matter that I gave him a pass last year. He’s going to Hel.”

  I shook my head as though the simple act would make him take back his words. “You can’t take him. He has to go to Asgard. Raine and her mother are a big deal there.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ve gone through this with Raine and her mother. They were blindsided, but rules are rules, and no one breaks them. When Odin’s son didn’t die in battle, where did he go? Hel’s realm. Goddess Freya’s husband? Hel. I could name a few more gods and goddesses who are there. Their parents and spouses couldn’t stop the reapers. It’s the one time we have power over the gods.” He reached down and ran his knuckles down my cheek. “Sorry, doll-face, but Mr. Cooper’s soul is mine.”

  I jumped up and paced, imagining Raine’s reaction to this. She’d hate Echo. “What if you refused to reap him?”

  “Then some other Grimnir will come for him.”

  “Tell them he’s under our protection.”

  He grabbed my wrist and stopped me mid-stride. “What do you think will happen if I don’t reap him? He’ll hang around doing nothing and slowly fading like Torin’s mother. Then he’ll start longing for what he had with his wife and start possessing electronics just so he can talk to her. Next, he’ll upgrade to animals so he can feel and feed. By then he’d lose whatever little humanity he still had left and go after Mortals. Before you know it, he’d become a dark mass of nothing we despise. Do you think Raine and her mother would like that?”

  The fight left me, and I rested my forehead on his chest. A tear escaped. Then another. Poor Raine. She had to lose her father twice. Echo pulled me into his arms and tucked my head under his chin.

  “Shh, don’t. I can’t stand it when you hurt.”

  “He was like a father to me. He’d challenge us to think deeper about things and current issues. Stupid rules! Someone as kind and smart as him deserves to go to Asgard.”

  “I know.”

  I clung to Echo until the tears stopped. “When do you leave?”

  “Soon.” He stroked my hair. “I gave her my word that I’d find him a comfortable, solitary room in case she wants to pay him a visit.” He rubbed my back and pressed a kiss on my temple. “Hel is not a bad place. It is the perfect resting place for sick and weary souls.”

  “It’s freezing,” I countered.

  “So are souls. The temperature is perfect for them. Most souls never want to leave once they settle into their rooms. They say most spend eternity reliving their happiest memories over and over.”

  I wasn’t sure whether he was serious or not, but I knew Raine. If she wanted her father in Asgard, nothing was going to stop her from finding a way to make it happen. She was stubborn like that. Maybe she’d find a way around this stupid rule.

  I saw the time on her dresser. It was almost ten. “Is everyone downstairs?”

  “Yes. Mrs. Cooper wanted time alone with her husband, but we’ll have to leave soon. I should be back by tomorrow sometime.”

  “Tomorrow? It takes that long to go to Hel and back?”

  Echo chuckled. “No. Seconds, but I need to find him a resting place closer to the deities. I’ll have to move through their wing and prepare one of the unused rooms undetected.”

  Finally, he was talking about Hel. “Unused rooms? Is Hel’s Hall like a hotel with many rooms?”

  “More like dorms with rows and columns of bunk beds. The gods and goddesses are pampered and have private rooms. Goddess Hel will never dream of looking for him there. The gods, especially dead ones, hate to be bothered from their resting places or they turn all nasty and vengeful.” He shuddered. “Hateful bastards. You’d think it’s everyone’s fault they ended up in Hel and not Asgard. Yet when they’re up, they want to be entertained. They’re lucky Goddess Hel accommodates them.”

  “I don’t get it. Why should the goddess care about Raine’s father?”

  “Eirik,” Echo said. “She hasn’t forgotten that the Norns placed Eirik close to Raine and her family so he’d be surrounded by love. Sure, it’s the Norns’ fault for bringing him here, but she has enough hatred to go around, and she’s spreading it.”

  I frowned. “Does she know about me, too?”

  Echo slanted me a glance, the corner of his lips lifting. “The girl her son loved so much he left Asgard to rescue her from me? Oh, yes.”

  I winced, and Echo chuckled. I punched his arm. He was such a jerk sometimes. “Quit playing. I’m serious.”

  He hugged me close. “No one touches what’s mine, and you, Cora-mio, are mine. According to her, you and Maliina are one and the same. Since she’s dead, you’re dead too. Since she’s seen Maliina’s soul, you ceased to matter. Come on.” He snatched my hand, and we walked toward the mirror portal, which responded to his runes.

  “Wait. Does Raine know how the goddess feels?” I whispered.

  “Of course not. She’s too impulsive and might decide to do something rash and anger the gods and the Norns. Only Torin knows.”

  And knowing him, he was keeping that secret from Raine. Probably best that way. I wouldn’t want to know either. The portal to the living room opened, and I could see the others seated around the wet bar and the couch. The silence was spooky.

  I tugged Echo’s hand and stopped him. Once we joined the others, he’d be leaving to escort Raine’s father to Hel. That in itself didn’t bother me. His plans to find a special room under the goddess’ very nose bothered me more. What if she found out what he was doing? What if her guards busted him? He could end up on Corpse Strand with the damned souls.

  “Does Goddess Hel have lots of guards?”

  “Three main ones, but I know their routine. Talking of guards, you need this.” He fished my cell phone from his back pocket and pressed it in my hand.

  Crap! I’d completely forgotten about Dev. “Did you talk to him?”

  “Not really. Once he answered my question, I figured the rest could wait until I return.”

  “What question?”

  “We’ll talk when I come back,” he whispered, gripped my hand, and pulled me through the portal. Most of the people in the room had a glass of something, except Raine and Torin. She was curled up beside him, her eyes glassy and red-rimmed. Torin’s expression said he was hurting for her. She looked worse than before, possibly the result of accepting the fact that her father was heading for Hel’s realm. If she knew about the goddess’ hatred for her family, she’d probably go over the edge.

  Femi’s eyes were red, too. She always looked like nothing fazed her, but she was a softy inside. Blaine, Ingrid, and Andris stared into their drinks with gloomy expressions. Since they were at least several centuries old, I’d bet they were drinking alcohol.

  Svana, Raine’s mother, was missing. I wondered if she knew about the goddess’ hatred. Knowing her, she probably did. Maybe she’d taken off with her husband’s soul and stashed him some place in Asgard where Goddess Hel would never look. On the other hand, she’d just gotten re-instated as a Valkyrie and wouldn’t jeopardize that.

  Torin saw us first. “Ready?”

  Echo nodded. “I just need to get my coat and gloves.”

  “And me. I’m going with you,” Andris said, standing.

  “No, you’re not.” Echo said. “Hel is my realm, and I decide who travels with me.”

  “Raine needs Torin,” Andris said, speaking firmly and, for once, not baiting Echo. “Even you don’t know how long you’ll be gone.”

  I was surprised when Echo nodded grudgingly. If Raine heard their exchange, she didn’t show it. She didn’t even look up when the study door opened and her mother walked out with her father’s soul trailing her. Mrs. Cooper loo
ked as bad as Raine. Mr. Cooper looked calm. Since he was married to a Valkyrie, he must have been mentally prepared for all this. Most souls were often confused by the presence of Valkyries.

  Raine’s mother hugged me. “How are you doing?”

  “Better.” I stole a glance at the soul and read gratitude on his face. He smiled. “I’m sorry I blacked out.”

  “No, no, sweetheart. Don’t ever apologize for that. What you did was very brave. Because of you,” her chin trembled and tears filled her eyes, “I heard Tristan’s voice once again. I don’t want you to worry about these medium runes, because Lavania will find out what’s going on and help you master their use.” She kissed my cheeks then focused her attention on Echo. He stiffened.

  “Find a good place for him,” she whispered.

  “I will, Mrs. Cooper,” Echo said quickly, but he wasn’t escaping Raine’s mother that easily.

  “Thank you.” She kissed his cheeks and hugged him.

  Echo gave me his rescue-me eyes, but I just shrugged. He’d better get used to it. Mothers smothered. Raine’s mother and Lavania hugged. My mother cooked and plied you with food.

  I only got a brief moment with Echo before they left. He cupped my face and rubbed my cheeks with his thumb.

  “Dev stays with you at all times until I come back,” he whispered.

  I wasn’t expecting that. “Um, okay. Why?”

  “Because Torin and Raine won’t be at school for the rest of the week, and even though I know Blaine and Ingrid are Immortals, they have no experience dealing with souls. Dev does.”

  He trusted his old buddy now. My job was done. “Okay.”

  His eyebrows flattened. “You’re not going to argue with me?”

  “Nope. What did he say to make you change your mind?”

  “It’s not what he said. He rescued you. I’ll always be indebted to anyone who takes care of you.” He planted a kiss on my lips and started to walk away, but I grabbed his shirt and pulled him back. I wasn’t ready to let him go yet.

  “Did he tell you who attacked me?”

  “Yes. I’ll take care of her when I come back,” he vowed. “Can I go now?”