“Don’t talk to her like that,” Blaine snapped.
“Stay out of this, Immortal,” Rhys snapped. “She’s Echo’s girl, so her loyalty lies with him.” The tension in the room shot up as the two men sized each other up. “Unless he’s changed since he met her,” Rhys added.
“He hasn’t,” I said, not liking his tone. I wanted to ask him what Goddess Hel had ever done to inspire such loyalty in her reapers, but the fight went out of me. These were Echo’s friends. Technically my guards. Antagonizing them was pointless. My beef was with Echo. He’d never said anything nice about Goddess Hel, yet he was completely devoted to her.
“You know, we have a few presidents, prime ministers, and CEOs of major corporations on Corpse Strand. Quite a number of them were Echo’s,” Nara chipped in with glee. I wasn’t sure whether she was trying to diffuse the situation or make it worse. Knowing her, worse.
Torin appeared through an air portal, and I sighed with relief. If he felt the tension in the room, he didn’t show it, but he’d taken time to pull on a T-shirt. What surprised me even more was the fact that Raine hadn’t followed him. She must have had quite a night.
“Cora has fifteen minutes before first period, so let’s make this quick. You there, Dev?”
“Yes, sir,” Dev’s voice floated from the side of my backpack. I fished my cell phone out.
“Good. You continue staying with Cora.” He glanced at Ingrid. “Maliina is back.”
Ingrid sucked in a breath. “Wha…? How?”
“From what Cora told me, she managed to escape from Hel.” He brought everyone up to speed on everything. I was surprised when Blaine moved closer to Ingrid and squeezed her shoulder. Rhys scowled, obviously not liking their closeness. There were no romantic vibes between Ingrid and Blaine, or Raine would have told me. Ingrid, Maliina, and Andris lived with Blaine’s family when they first arrived in Kayville, so they must be pretty close.
“Cora, leave your car here and use a portal to and from school. Raine swears the north bathroom on the second floor is usually empty.”
I nodded. “It is.”
“Second, see if your parents can let you stay here over the weekend. Tell them Raine needs you. Having you here should make things easier for all of us. There are three empty bedrooms here, which brings us to Rhys and Nara. I’m sure you have your own places, but until Echo comes back, you stay here.”
“All twelve of us?” Rhys asked.
“There are rooms at the mansion, too,” Ingrid said, and I could hear fear in her voice. “Let’s all stay there.”
Torin nodded. “Okay, Ingrid. We’ll find a way to accommodate everyone at the mansion.”
The rest of the meeting went smoothly. Torin outlined what he expected from everyone and how to get in touch with each other.
“I’m not reaping until after the funeral, but I might be otherwise engaged. If you can’t get a hold of me, find Blaine or Ingrid, and Lavania is always at the mansion. Raine and her mother are not to be disturbed with this unless absolutely necessary. I’ll talk to Hawk and Femi.” He made eye contact with Rhys and Nara. “You can meet them later.”
“And you should all come to the mansion for lunch,” Lavania said and smiled at Nara and Rhys. “All of you. I want to meet the remaining ten.”
***
The upstairs bathroom was empty. As soon as the portal closed, Nara rounded on her cousin. “You and the Immortal will never work.”
I stole a glance at Rhys. He didn’t seem bothered by her dire prediction. In fact, he wore such a smug smile I doubted anything Nara said would stop him from pursuing Ingrid. Andris was going to hate it.
“See you guys, later,” I threw over my shoulder and took off toward my locker. I ignored the stares. So I dressed differently for one day? Big freaking deal.
“Congrats, Cora,” a girl from my P.E. class said when I got downstairs.
For what? Dressing like a slob? “Um, thanks.”
“You have my vote,” another added when I got downstairs.
Vote for what? Near my locker, Kicker’s jaw dropped when she saw me.
“One word from you and I’ll bitch-slap you into next week,” I warned.
She pressed her lips tight and nodded, but she gave me a onceover. “You actually rock that look.”
I shot her a mean look. Of course, I did. My top was gorgeous and compensated for the ugly pants.
“Okay, enough about your wardrobe change. Did you see the list for the Junior Prom Court?” she asked, eyes sparkling with excitement. “You made it! I’m already rallying the troops.”
I smothered a groan. I had no intention of attending the junior prom and didn’t want to discuss it either. “Don’t bother. I’m not going.”
“What? Why not? You’re the most popular girl in school. Everyone reads your blog. You’ll definitely be crowned Junior Prom Queen.”
I highly doubted it. Students voted for the prom king and queen, and the most popular junior right now was Raine. I slammed my locker shut.
“I’ll stop by the office and tell them I’m out, so they can select someone else. Oh, and the funeral is eleven o’clock tomorrow morning at Grandview Cemetery.”
Kicker frowned. “Funeral? Whose?”
Seriously? Proms made people stupid. “Raine’s father.”
“Oh.”
“Well, I thought you’d want to go.” I brushed past her. “She should be crowned Junior Prom Queen.”
“What?” Kicker asked like I’d lost my mind.
I wanted to say something scathing, but… this was Kicker. Clueless. Sweet. Sometimes annoying because she didn’t know when to shut up.
“She lost her father, Kicker,” I threw over my shoulder. “It might make her feel a little better.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Kicker said, hurrying to keep up with me. “I mean, she doesn’t go to school here anymore, so she can’t be crowned. I didn’t even know the two of you were still in touch.”
What in Hel’s Mist…? I stopped and whipped around, my stomach dropping somewhere near the arch of my feet. Kicker bumped into me and apologized. I raised my hand and cut her off. “What did you say about Raine?”
She blinked and took a step back. “Uh, she doesn’t go to school here anymore and can’t be Junior Prom Queen. I mean, she and Eirik moved away right after the accident at the swim meet.”
No, no, no! This couldn’t be happening. I shook my head.
Kicker misunderstood. “What? You don’t believe me?”
“Who’s the QB?” I asked.
“Blaine Chapman. Cora, what’s—?”
“The one who led us to the championship,” I snapped. A few students walking by turned to stare at us. I glared back.
Kicker looked around uneasily then whispered, “Okay, Cora. You look totally wigged out. You’re not forgetting stuff again, are you?”
I blinked at her like the village idiot. I’d used that as an excuse when I couldn’t remember stuff Maliina did in my name and body while I was in the psyche ward. Finally, I found my voice. “No-ooo.”
“Uh, you forgot stuff before after you were hurt at the game.”
This wasn’t time to explain my confusion. I needed distance from her and the questions in her eyes. I took a deep breath, then another. “Yeah, I did, but I’m okay now. Let’s talk later.”
I took off and pushed past people. A few yelled congratulations while others stared at me strangely. I was beyond caring what anyone thought. The Norns were erasing memories, which meant the Valkyries were about to disappear. Did that include Grimnirs?
I careened around the corner, almost bumping into students. My first destination was the football wall of fame. My heart squeezed when I saw the photograph of Blaine and the football team. His name and face had replaced Torin’s. Obviously, Photoshop had nothing on the Norns.
“Cora,” Kicker whispered from behind me.
I took a deep breath and turned to face her. “Don’t ask. You mentioned Junior Prom Queen and I ha
d déjà vu. Remember, Blaine and Casey were crowned Junior Prom King and Queen last year, and everyone said they’d probably take the senior crowns this year too?”
I must have convinced her I wasn’t completely looney because she smiled. “He will. The teachers haven’t selected the court for the seniors, but everyone knows he’s the most popular guy at school. Too bad he’s not really dating anyone right now.” She gave me a pointed look I didn’t understand.
I scowled as I fell in step with her, my mind racing. Why were the Norns doing this now?
“Aw, come on, Cora.” Kicker turned and walked backwards, her expression annoying me. “You keep denying there’s anything between the two of you, but I don’t believe it. You two hang out a lot.”
“I’m dating…” What if she didn’t remember Echo?
“Who?”
My throat seized up. “No one.”
Kicker rolled her eyes. “I know. You’re still pining for Eirik,” she said.
A crazed laugh escaped my lips. This was totally effed up. It was as though the last several months hadn’t happened. Why now? Was it time for the Valkyries and Grimnirs to move on? Was that why the Norns had paired me with Blaine? He once told me Immortals stuck together. Maybe this was what he’d meant.
I didn’t want to be paired with Blaine. I wanted Echo. My stomach heaved. I was so going to throw up right there in the hallway.
I pointed at the bathroom door. “I gotta go.”
I didn’t wait to see if she left or not. The first bell went off, but being late was the least of my problems. I pulled out my cell phone and called Torin. The phone kept ringing. Was he gone? I engaged my runes and reached for my artavus.
Please, let Raine and Lavania be at home. I wasn’t ready to deal with dark souls and Immortal stuff without them or Echo.
“Cora?” Torin asked just before I started etching runes on the mirror, and relief washed over me.
“Thank goodness, you’re still here,” I said in a voice I didn’t recognize.
He chuckled. “Of course I’m here. Didn’t you get my—?”
“No one remembers you, your photographs are gone, and Raine…” My breathing grew raspy. “The Norns are wiping memories, Torin.”
“I know,” he said.
I blinked. “You know?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about it. You won’t be affected.”
Was he crazy? “How can I not worry? Why are they doing this now?” What if this was about Echo? Did he anger the Norns by not reaping Raine’s father months ago or escorting him to the luxurious wing of Hel’s Hall? “Is this about Echo?”
“Whoa! Easy, Cora. This has nothing to do with Echo.”
He answered way too quickly for my liking. “When did you find out, and why didn’t you tell me?” I yelled.
“I barely found out,” Torin said calmly. “And I did send you a text message. Blaine came to school as soon as we learned. If you need to cope, find him. He’s had enough practice with this sort of thing. Don’t talk to Mortals about us and try not to act differently.”
Try not…? It was easy for him to say that. He’d been a Valkyrie for what now? A thousand years? People forgetting him must be as normal as breathing.
“Cora?”
“Are you and Raine going to leave? Is that why no one remembers you two?”
He groaned. “You already talked to people. Damn it.” He mumbled something I didn’t get. “You are one of us now, Cora. The Norns won’t bother you, but you must learn to improvise. Don’t talk to anyone about us. If it’s too much for you to handle, come here.” He hung up.
How am I supposed to focus with this over my head? A quick look at my text messages and I found the one from Torin.
“Don’t panic if no one remembers us at school. Blaine will explain.”
“A little too late for that, pal.” I eyed the mirror and debated whether to just forget school and go to the mansion. I didn’t want to deal with this alone, and I didn’t trust Norns. They’d deleted Torin’s memories to punish Raine. What if they came after me?
“You okay?” Dev asked.
“No. You heard?”
“Yep. I’ve never had the pleasure of dealing with Norns, but I hear they’re powerful.”
“Raine is more powerful.” They would not dare mess with me with Raine around. She’d kicked their wrinkly asses often enough to make me want to stay glued to her side, but I couldn’t bother her now while she was in mourning.
Blowing out a breath, I left the bathroom. Nara and Rhys weren’t around. They were probably consulting with their people.
From the lack of students in the hallway, the second bell must have rung. I wished I was confident engaging my runes. I’d shift to hyper-speed, cloak, and slip into the class undetected.
“I had to use the restroom,” I said when I entered the class and Mrs. Bosnick looked up. She took one good look at me and grimaced. Maybe the pants did it, or maybe I looked like I felt, ready to barf.
“Do you need to see the nurse?” she asked.
“No.” I avoided looking at Kicker even though I felt her eyes on me. Thankfully, I didn’t get a tardy check.
Nara and Rhys sauntered into the classroom halfway through the class and stayed out of the students’ way at the front of the room. I preferred them in the back, where I didn’t have to see them. Worse, they stared at me and whispered the entire time. I’d bet they knew about the Norns and the deleted memories.
When the class ended, I took off before Kicker could catch up with me. She had the look in her eyes that said she was after information. She even called out my name, but I faked temporary deafness.
I disappeared in the throng of students hurrying to their next classes. Despite the crowded hallways, I felt alone, miserable, and sick to my stomach. Last time I felt like this I’d just seen my first Valkyries escorting the dead. I imagined my life without Raine. She’d been my friend since forever and we often discussed the supernatural world.
Just before I entered my next class, I bumped into Blaine with a bunch of guys. I’d never been so happy to see him. I elbowed the guys around him and hugged him tight.
“That bad?” he whispered.
“You have no idea. How do you do it?” I whispered back.
“You adjust slowly. It gets easier with time.” He leaned back, looked into my eyes, and said, “You’ll be okay.”
“Do I get a hug, too?” Drew said from behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder. The cocky jock was back. Even his smile appeared genuine and relaxed. “I like your new style,” he added, giving me a onceover. The other two guys with them smirked.
“Um, thanks.” I gave him a wobbly smile. The Norns had deleted his memories too, which meant he didn’t remember my Doppelganger messing with his head or being ditched in the middle of his party for Echo. Hugging him was not the way to go, though.
“It has its perks,” Blaine added and squeezed my shoulder. “See you after school.”
“What has perks?” Drew asked as the four continued down the hallway. I understood what Blaine meant. The Norns had just taken care of my problems with Drew.
The Grimnirs trailed me the entire morning, but kept their distance as per Torin’s instruction. Juniors were excited about the prom and girls in my classes yapped about outfits and prom dates. Apparently, junior prom court had been posted yesterday afternoon and some of the nominees were doing their best to sway voters.
I walked past Sabrina ‘Bree’ Hinckley and her friends passing out Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and bags of Skittles with Vote for Bree stickers. Bree was an assistant head of the cheer squad. Caryn Jennings, the girl I’d locked out of the bathroom, turned out to be the captain of the basketball team and a nominee. She elbowed her friends and they gave me the evil eye as I walked by. They were handing out homemade cookies and complimentary tickets to Walkersville Girls Basketball Team games. She didn’t stand a chance against Bree or me.
Funny how I’d looked forward to attending the prom and now
I couldn’t be bothered. Raine and I would have rocked the All That Jazz theme with our outfits. Her mother had picked her a gorgeous dress.
I couldn’t wait to leave. I was collecting my backpack from the locker when Kicker stood right smack in front of me and blocked me, demanding my attention.
“What?” I asked.
“Do you want to have lunch with us?” she asked. Sonya and Naya flanked her, and I didn’t care for their this-is-an-intervention expressions.
“Can’t. I’m having lunch with Blaine.” I wedged my hands between Kicker and Sonya, pushed them aside, and walked past them. They turned and flanked me.
“Why can’t you admit you two are dating?” Kicker asked.
“Why are you interested? You want him?” I cocked my eyebrow, wishing they’d just disappear.
Kicker giggled. “Doesn’t every girl? He’s so hot, the most popular guy at school, and he hasn’t dated anyone since Casey.”
“And he’s staring at you right now,” Sonya added.
Sure enough, Blaine and the invisible Grimnirs were at the end of the hallway waiting for me. “Blaine and I are just friends, Kicker.”
“Is it true they finally found Raine’s father’s body?” Sonya asked.
“Are they burying him here?” Kicker asked.
My first instinct was to say, “Yes.” But then I remembered Torin and his lecture. I had to tread carefully. “What?”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to tell them, but it kind of slipped out,” Kicker whispered and twirled a lock of her hair. I couldn’t get mad at her when she just gave me the opportunity to fix this mess.
“That’s okay. I misunderstood her text.”
“Is it a memorial service then?” Sonya asked. “The plane crash was last year in April. Or was it May?”
“April,” Kicker said.
“May,” Sonya insisted. “First the crash, then the accident at the pool. No wonder her family moved.”
Twilight Zone anyone? These girls were at Raine’s yesterday, and now they couldn’t remember anything about it. Totally weird.
“I gotta go, guys.” I took off.
Souls (Runes series) Page 27
