Souls (Runes series)

by Ednah Walters

  “Nara and Rhys are on our side. I want to talk to them. It’s time they knew the truth.”

  “You can’t trust them. They’re only after you so you can lead them to Maliina,” I said.

  “I figured as much, but you should trust them.”

  “Heck no.”

  “They’re Druids, Cora. Rhys claimed you as family when he introduced you to Mrs. J’s daughter. He meant it. Once a Druid accepts you as one of them, they stay loyal. Until you betray them, of course.”

  “Well, I don’t want their loyalty.”

  Dev chuckled. “Can you give them your phone?”

  “Do I have to? You must be tired after possessing Mrs. J for over an hour. Shouldn’t you rest and get your strength back first? It takes me hours to recover.”

  “I still suck energy out of things around me. In this case, your cell phone. Haven’t you noticed how often you’ve been recharging it? Please, let me talk to them. We helped Mrs. J find closure. Now help me find mine.”

  He didn’t play fair. “Fine.”

  I went to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, and walked to the window where I counted four glowing Grimnirs spread out under the apple trees. How many more were on the other side of our farm? Nara had said there were twelve. They must’ve had my house surrounded.

  Rhys saw me first and waved. Him I could take in small doses. Nara annoyed the crap out of me. I waved him over.

  One minute he was near the orchard, the next in my bedroom. He looked around with interest. “Seen enough?” I asked.

  His focus shifted to me. “You’re still angry?”

  “No, Rhys. This is my happy face. Dev wants to talk to you and Nara. For whatever reason, he trusts you. I don’t.” I slapped my cell phone in his palm. “Do not force him out of my cell. Bring him back when you’re done. I’ll be waiting.”

  He frowned. “You know why we want him.”

  “Bring him back, Rhys. If he agrees to help you, I want to hear it from his mouth, not yours. Yours spews lies.”

  He winced. “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. You still have to deal with Echo. I’m not going to tell him about Maliina. You will. As soon as he returns.”

  He nodded. “Don’t worry about her. We’ll get her. We might not have been honest about our reasons for getting close to you, but we all want the same thing—Maliina on Corpse Strand. I have Grimnirs stationed around town in case she appears, and we’ll still be guarding you.”

  I nodded, waited until he left, and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Instead of wearing one of my usual pjs, I pulled on sweatpants and a T-shirt, and dropped on top of my bed.

  They’d better bring back Dev or I swear…

  Fighting the urge to check on them, I went over everything I knew about Maliina. She never did anything by the book. She might be evil and vile, but she was smart. When Andris had showed an interest in her sister, Ingrid, she’d asked him to turn her into an Immortal. When he’d showed interest in Raine, she’d marked me. I hated that I still didn’t have the memory of that momentous occasion. Norns stole it from me. And when the Norns tried to use her, she’d turned around and betrayed them by making a deal with Goddess Hel. It took some serious guts to go against Norns.

  I was still trying to figure out her next move when Nara appeared in my bedroom. I sat up and extended my hand toward her without speaking. It was going to take me a long time to like her. She placed the phone in my hand.

  I sat cross-legged on my bed and glared at her as I brought the phone closer to my lips. “You there, Dev?”

  “I’m here, doll-face.”

  He was getting a free pass on the nickname tonight. “Is everyone cool with the past?”

  He chuckled. “We’re cool.”

  “Are you going to help them find Maliina?”

  “After Echo comes home. Right now, my priority is you. I gave him my word.”

  “That’s our priority, too,” Rhys said, appearing beside Nara.

  I studied the two Grimnirs, not sure I should help them. On the other hand, we all wanted Maliina gone. “You can’t predict Maliina’s behavior. She’s smart and ambitious. Everything she’s done since I met her, and even before that, says she’ll strike when you least expect it and in ways you haven’t thought about.”

  “What do you mean?” Rhys asked.

  I quickly explained what I knew about her. “If you want to learn more, talk to Ingrid.” Interest sparked in Rhys’ eyes. “Maliina might be her sister, but Ingrid is nothing like her. She’s on our side.”

  “Can you arrange a meeting with her?” Nara asked.

  I nodded. “I don’t think they’ll be at school tomorrow, but if they are, I’ll do it. If not, I can arrange for you guys to talk to her somewhere.”

  Rhys looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but Nara spoke first. “In case you were wondering, Syn reaped Mrs. J’s soul. He found a nice place for her. Her soul is at peace.”

  I shifted to the edge of the bed, my stomach shifting. “He already went to Hel and came back?”

  She nodded and looked away uneasily. The shift in my stomach became a churning vortex of dread. “Did he see Echo?”

  Nara shook her head. “No.”

  The vortex became a tsunami. I tried to swallow, but my mouth tasted like sandpaper. “Is that normal? For you guys to take that long placing a soul?”

  “No, but this is different,” Nara said.

  “How?”

  “He’s placing Mr. Cooper’s soul in the gods’ wing,” Rhys said. “So many things go on in that wing.”

  “Like what?” Nara and Rhys looked at each other. Argh, I hated it when people did that. “Don’t do that. Just tell me.”

  “The gods and goddess might like their privacy, but they get up a few times for Goddess Hel’s parties.” Rhys grimaced and rubbed his nape. “At times, she asks us to participate.”

  Their expression said it was something they didn’t enjoy. I didn’t want to speculate about the nature of the parties, but Eirik was born in Hel’s Hall and his father was a soul. I wanted them to leave before I had a complete meltdown.

  “Thanks for letting me know about Mrs. J. I’ll, uh...” My voice shook to a stop and I had to clear it before continuing. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow. I’ll, uh, text Ingrid about Maliina.”

  I waited until they left before crawling back to the bed. I fought tears. What if the goddess had caught Echo and Andris? What was the worst thing she could do to them? Lock them with the damned on Corpse Strand?

  Raine had said Eirik changed after staying with her. No one knew what she’d done to him. Andris and Echo weren’t her children. Who was to stop her from doing something really terrible? I couldn’t afford to lose Echo. Not now. Not ever. Tears filled my eyes.

  “He’ll be back,” Dev said.

  I wiped my cheeks, but the stupid tears kept flowing. Gah, I was such a girl.

  “You mean everything to him, Cora.”

  “I know.” I crawled under the covers and tried to control my stormy emotions. I knew the moment Dev left my phone. I watched him drift through the wall. A few moments later, he came back. Instead of entering the phone, he stayed by the window, keeping guard. His presence was reassuring.

  ***

  I was calmer and more optimistic the next morning. I searched the back of my closet for my ugly pants—cargo pants. I shuddered. Cargo pants were the most unflattering pants ever invented for women.

  I was a dresses-and-skirts girl. Jeggings, check. Leggings, oh yeah. Skinny jeans, bring them on. Regular jeans were for working around the farm, but Mom had bought the cargo pants online for herself—the first and last time she ever shopped online—and they’d turned out to be too small. To make her not feel bad, I’d offered to take them off her hands. I never had any intention of wearing them, until now.

  I studied my reflection and cringed again. It was a good thing Echo wasn’t around. I reached between my mattress and box spring, and retried
the pouch with my artavo. I removed two more of the runic knives, wrapped them nicely with scarves, and hid them in the pockets of my pants.

  Next was the fire poker, which didn’t fit in my backpack. I put it at an angle for a better fit and wrapped the handle with a scarf. We might not have metal detectors at our school, but you never know. Rallying up the troops came last. Not wanting to bother Raine, I texted Torin.

  He called back. “You okay?”

  Now that I was packing. “Yeah.”

  “Stop by my place on your way to school.”

  Mom stared at my pants but made no comment. She probably thought I was going through post traumatic stuff because of all the deaths. Her hug was longer, and she stood by the window and watched me drive away.

  Torin opened the door shirtless. At freaking seven in the morning. Raine was right about him. He was allergic to shirts. He cocked a questioning brow at my cargo pants. I doubted he’d ever seen me wear anything but girly clothes.

  “Don’t judge. I’m packing weapons of soul destruction. How’s Raine doing?”

  “Taking it hard.” His voice said he didn’t like to see her in pain. “She’s still asleep and the longer the better. Come in.”

  He sauntered toward the kitchen, sweatpants riding low on his hips and threatening to lose the battle to gravity. That would be interesting. Raine might not find it amusing.

  I focused on something else. The smell of bacon. My mouth approved. I loved bacon. It was one food item I could eat more of than Echo. My man might not cook, but he knew how to microwave. My heart ached. I missed him so much.

  We entered the kitchen and I went on a bacon hunt. A pan of southern-style potatoes sat on the stovetop. Yum. Another pan had eggs. A plate of bacon on paper towel sat on the side counter beside a bouquet of roses. Vases of flowers were everywhere, probably sent by people who’d known Raine’s father. I placed my backpack on the counter by the flowers and reached for a piece of bacon.

  “Want some breakfast?” Torin threw over his shoulder.

  I flashed a guilty smile. “I’ve actually eaten, but this looks good.” Chewing, I watched him set the tray. Orange juice. Two plates of potatoes, eggs, and bacon. So domesticated.

  Echo was right. We needed our own place. He could prepare breakfast for me in the morning, just like this. Burned or undercooked, I’d love anything he cooked and not complain. My eyes watered. I looked away and tried to control myself.

  “You’re worried about Echo,” Torin said. From the way he was studying me, it wasn’t the first time he’d spoken.

  “Nah.”

  Torin’s lips lifted in a smile, but it didn’t reach his blue eyes. He saw through my lie. “One thing about Echo, Cora, is his resourcefulness. He’ll be fine.” Torin walked toward me, and for one crazy second, I thought he planned to hug me. I was too fragile for hugs. If he did, I’d started crying like a baby.

  He didn’t hug me. Instead, he reached for a rose, turned, and placed it on the tray. He stepped back, hands on his hips, and studied his handiwork. “What do you think?”

  “Very romantic,” I said with a tinge of envy.

  He made a face. “I was going for cheerful. You know when I was on Hel duty, I learned a lot from watching Echo. He’s driven and unstoppable, a real-pain-in-the-ass when he doesn’t get his way, but I came to respect him. He will do what’s right. Do you know why?”

  “Because he promised Raine to place her father in the wing of the gods and he always keeps his word,” I said.

  Torin chuckled. “He does, but that’s not it. He plans to come home to you, and nothing will stop him from doing that.”

  My eyes teared. I lifted my chin and blinked rapidly. “Now I know whose shoulder to cry on if he ever goes missing.”

  He smirked. “I have two of them, and I know Raine won’t mind sharing. Do you want a hug?”

  I made a face. “No.”

  “You sure? I don’t want you going to school still worried about him, and my hugs, I’ve been told, are very comforting. I promise not to cop a feel,” he added.

  I laughed. From the grin on his face, that had been his intention. “No, I’m fine, but we have another problem.”

  Torin’s eyebrows arched in question.

  “Maliina is back.”

  His mood left relaxed, shot past shocked, and landed on furious in a fraction of a second. I expected him to curse, but that wasn’t Torin’s style. “I’m listening.”

  I told him everything, including Dev helping Mrs. J and what I learned from the Grimnirs.

  “Wait here.”

  Yeah, like that was going to happen. I followed him. He marched to the mirror in his living room, runes flaring. The portal responded and opened into the mansion’s foyer.

  He stepped through and called out, “Lavania! We have a situation. Blaine! Ingrid! My place pronto.”

  “What’s going on?” Lavania asked from somewhere on the second floor.

  “Someone crawled from the underbelly of Hel, and we need to send her back,” he practically snarled, turned, and came back to his place. Concern shimmered in the depth of his blue eyes. “You should skip school and stay here until we take care of this.”

  I was shaking my head before he finished talking. “No way. Remember your motto. ‘Act normal. Let your enemies think you’re unaware of them, and then surprise them when they attack.’ Raine told me.”

  “Sometimes I talk too much,” he mumbled, rubbing his forehead.

  I hid a grin. “Besides, I have Grimnirs watching my back, thanks to Echo. And I’m packing artavo and a fire poker courtesy of Sam and Dean.”

  “Two fictional characters who’ve never met a real dark soul,” he grumbled.

  “Don’t go disrespecting the Winchester boys,” I rounded on him. “They kick ass.”

  “Grimnirs, huh?” Torin took off again. Runes still blazing, he opened the door and disappeared outside. Once again I followed, but I didn’t make it to the door. Lavania chose that moment to float into the living room in a flowing lavender gown. As usual, it was impossible to ignore her.

  “Cora! What’s going on?”

  “Uh, Ma…” Blaine and Ingrid walked in. “Let’s wait for Torin.”

  Ingrid was going to take it hard. She looked relaxed in silk pajamas and a matching robe while Blaine had flannel pants and a tank top. From their clothing, they weren’t planning on going to school. Today was a half-day and the junior prom was this evening.

  “Where’s Torin?” Lavania asked.

  “He just left without explaining.” We all headed to the kitchen. Blaine went straight for bacon and coffee. Ingrid grabbed the nearest chair. Lavania studied the tray Torin had arranged. I joined Ingrid. Soon, Lavania got busy serving herself breakfast while Blaine guzzled coffee like it was his lifeline. He handed Ingrid a cup. I told him I didn’t want any.

  My focus was on Ingrid. She wasn’t going to like my news. “Thanks for calling the school about mystery meat,” I whispered.

  A naughty grin lifted Ingrid’s lips. Then her eyes widened and her hand lifted to adjust the lapels of her robe. I turned to see what had caught her attention and groaned.

  Torin was back. Rhys and Nara were with him.

  20. THE NORNS STRIKE AGAIN

  Lavania studied the new arrivals and switched to being a gracious hostess. “I’m Lavania Celestina Ravilla. I never forget a face, and you two look familiar.”

  Torin picked up the tray and started out of the room.

  “Where are you going?” Lavania called out. “You didn’t introduce them.”

  “Cora can do the honors,” Torin said, starting upstairs. “Be back in a few.”

  Silence followed his departure. Blaine recognized Rhys and gave him a manly nod. He didn’t seem to be holding a grudge from their last meeting. Men were cool like that. Rhys didn’t bother to hide his interest this time either. His eyes stayed on Ingrid, whose cheeks were rosy. I’d bet she wished she’d dressed up and brushed her hair. Not that she didn’t loo
k beautiful.

  I made the necessary introductions. Rhys and Nara didn’t give out their second names and the others didn’t seem to care.

  “Coffee?” Blaine asked.

  “No, thanks,” Nara said.

  “I’ll have some,” Rhys said at the same time.

  Lavania offered them breakfast, which they declined. “I know where I’ve seen you two before,” she added, still studying them. “You were in Tyr’s Court with Echo during the sentencing.”

  Nara wore an expression that said “so what?”

  “It isn’t often we have mass sentencing, and you all wore such defiant expressions.” Lavania frowned. “If my memory serves me right, your sentences were completed a couple of centuries ago.”

  What? That was news to me. I studied Nara and Rhys, but they didn’t speak. Even Blaine paused in the process of pouring Rhys’ coffee and studied them.

  When it became obvious they had no intention of explaining, Blaine offered Rhys the cup of coffee. “Cream? Sugar?”

  “Black is good. May I?” Rhys indicated a chair near Ingrid, waited until she nodded, and sat. He was more interested in her than conversation about their service to Goddess Hel, but Lavania could not be stopped.

  “Why are you still Grimnirs?” she asked, using her teacher voice.

  “Why are you a Valkyrie?” Nara shot back. Guess she wasn’t ready to be schooled.

  Annoyance flashed across Lavania’s face. Then it disappeared quickly. She chuckled. “I get it.”

  I didn’t. “Get what?”

  “They’re Grimnirs because that’s what they want to be,” Lavania said. She sounded impressed. “Even though their sentence is over, they’ve chosen to stay.”

  That was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard. “Why? Hel’s Hall is cold and dangerous. The goddess is unpredictable and a nutcase.”

  “What’s a little cold and danger?” Rhys said, clearly showing off. It was paying off, too, because Ingrid stared at him with awe. “We’re the judge, jury, and executioners of those who’ve wronged humanity, and that includes those not held accountable while alive. We’re proud of who we are.” He glanced at me, and his violet eyes grew frosty. “Don’t ever call her that. Our goddess is many things, but crazy is not one of them.”