Mother’s eyebrows lifted. “Yes?”
“Until she is ready to go home. And she is my guest, not yours.”
She chuckled. “I don’t recall giving you permission to invite anyone to my home.”
“I didn’t think I had to ask. This is my home, too.” A look I couldn’t explain flashed in her eyes. I would say it was approval, but then she was difficult to read sometimes.
“Then by all means let’s give your guest a tour of the hall before she leaves us,” she said smoothly. “It’s been centuries since we received an uninvited visitor from Midgard.”
Celestia stiffened and my arms tightened around her. How long had my mother known about Celestia? And why hadn’t she said anything?
“I got you, always,” I whispered to Celestia and she relaxed. My mother continued to watch us. “Somehow, I knew you’d find out the truth.”
“Nothing happens in my hall without my knowledge, Eirik. Remember that. Would you like to join the tour?” she added.
“Why not?”
I tucked Celestia to my side as we crossed the bridge and entered a larger foyer in the next building. There were no chairs or tables. Just a plain room with one ancient-looking door marked with runes.
“This is called the Veil,” she said, pointing at the door. “It leads to an Eternal Hall for souls,” my mother said. “The hall is large, and time and space have no meaning inside. The souls rest or relive their memories. Each souls can recreate as many places, scenes, and moments as they want.”
She pointed her wand at the door. Runes appeared in the air like tendrils of smoke. They floated to the door and it absorbed them. The runes on the door glowed so brightly Celestia and I shaded our eyes.
Birdsong and insect chirps reached us first before a scenic creek with an old man fishing appeared. A mongrel dog wagged its tail at his feet. To his right, a woman around his age was knitting and laughing. We didn’t eavesdrop on their conversation, but they seemed happy.
“Most souls don’t intrude on each other’s memories. Young Trudy visits often to get ideas for her paintings, but she knows to never enter a soul’s mind because there’s no coming back. You enter one and you’ll get bounced around. You could spend eternity in there and never realize it.”
She pointed her wand again and different runes appeared. The scene faded and laughter and Christmas music reached us before we saw a lavishly decorated tree. Three boys and two girls crowded around the table playing a game. Grown-ups sat in stuffed chairs, drinking eggnog. From their hairstyles and clothes, the memory was from the sixties.
“I can smell freshly baked cookies and hot apple cider,” Celestia whispered. She was no longer shaking.
“And eggnog,” I added, and we exchanged a grin.
We became voyeurs of people’s memories as they celebrated important events with their friends, families, or tribesmen. Some were at clubs or parties. Others preferred more private memories, eliciting a chuckle from my mother and a blush from Celestia.
“The moment the souls go through this door, they enter their homes and their thoughts, wishes, and memories come alive. If they want to go to sleep, their bedroom appears. They can relive weddings, their children’s graduations, family gatherings, over and over again. If they have regrets, they can change things to suit them. It’s all about their peace of mind.” She turned and stared pointedly at Celestia. “No one has ever left an Eternal Hall and made it to my hall. And no soul has ever left the Sorting Hall either.”
No wonder she’d known about Celestia. “How about those in the east wing?”
“I allow them to join me whenever I require their presence, but their situation is no different from these other souls.”
“What do the runes mean?” Celestia asked. “I noticed they were all different.”
Mother didn’t hide her surprise when she glanced at Celestia. I grinned. I’d known curiosity would loosen her tongue.
“Brave after all, little Witch,” Mother said, and I knew she was referencing a conversation she and Celestia must have had when I wasn’t around.
Pink tinged Celestia’s cheeks. “I’m sorry I ended up in your realm, ma’am. It wasn’t my intention.”
Mother’s eyes volleyed between Celestia and me, and lingered on the arm I had around her shoulder. A chuckle escaped her. “Somehow, I doubt it. The runes are the name and birthday of a soul down to the fraction of a second he or she was born. Do you have relatives in my halls, little Witch?”
“Grams,” Celestia said, smiling. “I mean, my grandmother. I never knew my grandfather.”
“Would you like to see her again?”
I wanted to warn Celestia not to be fooled by my mother’s friendly demeanor. She didn’t do people favors unless she wanted something.
“No,” Celestia said. “I’m happy she’s at peace. She led a colorful life and has happy memories to draw from.”
“That’s too bad. I’m the only one who can retrieve a soul from an Eternal Hall. I could have summoned her back and the two of you would have spent a little time together before you left for home.” She led the way back to the bridge. Celestia frowned as though actually considering my mother’s words.
“Don’t even think it,” I whispered to her. “She doesn’t do favors.”
Her eyes were on my mother, who was standing in the middle of the bridge with her guards, watching the fighters below. “Trudy can do it.”
“No. The fact that my mother volunteered that little bit of information so casually is enough to make me suspect something. She doesn’t make a move without a reason. Everything she’s done since I arrived here has been calculated. Do not trust her.”
“I don’t.”
“Good. I’m happy you didn’t mention the cave and being lured here. I want to know why the person brought you here to help me.”
“I’ve been thinking about that too and I think they are our answer.” Celestia pointed at the fighters below. “Your mother wants you to fight them, and the only thing that can stop them is fire. So you need fire.”
If only I could confide in her, but some secrets were better left alone. “I’ve got fire.”
She laughed. “I’m talking about creating fire.”
I couldn’t wait to test my fire-breathing abilities. “I can wing it.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s pride talking. Those men down there won’t give you time to wing it. You need to master fire spells fast. We need a private room.”
I smirked.
She elbowed me. “Pervert. Put your cockiness aside and let me help you with something I’m good at before your mother learns you can’t do it yourself. You heard her. She hates liars and the weak. Imagine what she’ll do to you once she learns you have no ability to create something as simple as fire.”
I grinned. Her concern for me was sweet and misplaced. I loved it.
“This must be what you-know-who in the cave meant. Master fire spells and I might make it home. She must have the power of premonition or something and have seen this… this ridiculous plan of your mother’s. Who throws her son in that den of thieves and gangbangers?” Her voice rose with each word. “You are not invincible.”
“Okay, Dimples. You win. You can teach me fire magic. But first, we eat. I’m starving.”
“You are always starving,” she griped.
“Blame her. She starved me for a week.”
The spectators below finally saw my mother and went crazy, yelling and waving. Chances were they’d never met her, but no one could confuse her for anyone else but the goddess. It wasn’t just the guards, the runes, and the scepter. It was the way she carried herself. Now that they had her attention, the fighters tried to impress her.
Even though her eyes were on the fight below, Mother was aware of everything Celestia and I were doing. Our eyes met before we reached her side.
“Impressive, aren’t they?” she asked, smiling.
They were. “Do they have a trainer or a referee to regulate their fights
, or do they just kill each other until the last man or woman is left standing?”
“Of course, they have trainers.” She pointed them out. “Is tomorrow too soon for you to join them?”
Was she serious? I wasn’t ready. “Not soon enough. Did you say only fire could kill them?”
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t chance it.”
“Ah, but you are not me, Mother, are you? If I’m going against them, I’m using the arsenal at my disposal. Thanks for showing us around.”
She was frowning. Ten-to-one, she knew I meant to use my dragon. A portal opened and she disappeared through it, her guards following as though tethered to her. Celestia’s two stayed with us. Once again, my eyes were drawn to the ragtag warriors under the bridge.
Some of their moves were freaking awesome. Learning them was going to be fun. I made the mistake of looking at Celestia. She kept wincing as she watched the fighters, her expression horrified.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
“You’re not really going to fight these people, are you?” she asked, her eyes searching my face.
“Train with them, Dimples. Not the same thing.” Hoping to distract her, I went back and picked up her sketchbook. “So, what were you sketching earlier that you couldn’t watch me kick ass?”
She dragged her eyes from the scene. “You had the whole gym rooting for…” Her voice trailed off when she realized I had her pad. She tried to snatch it from my fingers, but I lifted it out of her range. “Eirik.”
“Did you sketch me again?”
“No, I didn’t.” She grabbed my shirt and reached for it.
I caught her around her waist, lifted her off the floor, and smirked. I loved the feel of her against me. She was soft and tiny. I could carry her around the whole day and not break a sweat.
“That’s my personal property, and you need to respect my boundaries.”
I wiggled my eyebrows. “I’ll give it back if you give me a kiss.”
She froze, eyes like a deer caught in the headlights. For one brief moment, I thought she would accept the challenge. Then she stepped back and extended her right hand toward me, her mouth moving silently.
“What are you doing? Celestia?” The book flew from my hand.
She caught it with her left and grinned. “Don’t piss off a Witch who knows all your secrets, Eirik Baldurson. Your runes can’t save you from me. Sit!”
I didn’t realize what she meant until she lowered her hand and the ground rushed to meet me. I barely managed to engage my runes and twist before the impact. The runes cushioned my fall. I stayed on the floor, laughing.
“You are a mean Witch, Celestia Devereaux.”
“I learned that from Kagome,” she bragged. “Next time, your runes won’t save you. What are you doing?”
The panic in her voice had me glancing her way. The guards were pointing their weapons at her. “Hey. Back off! Get away from her.”
“But she—”
“Did nothing, Creed,” I snapped, engaging my speed runes and jumping to my feet. “Don’t ever point your weapons at her. Are you okay?”
“I am, but I don’t think they are.” She pointed at the guards.
I turned to find the two guards peeling themselves up from the floor. I must have pushed them aside without even realizing it. I waited until they were back on their feet.
“I don’t care what she does,” I told them. “You don’t touch her. You do and you answer to me.”
They bowed and said, “Yes, Baldurson.”
“Leave us,” I added. Uncertainty flickered in their eyes. They were caught between obeying Mother and obeying me. “We are going back to my quarters. Tell Litr we’ll need lunch.”
CHAPTER 17. FIRE AND SNOW
EIRIK
Food was waiting for us when we arrived back at my quarters. Steak sandwiches on croissant-like bread, soups, and a large platter of fruit. I took a quick shower, changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, then joined Celestia. She’d refused to start without me and was sketching. I might have said she was a mean Witch, but I couldn’t be farther from the truth. She was too tenderhearted and the sooner I sent her home the better.
“Come on. Let’s eat, so we can practice your fire spell and I can go home,” Celestia said.
“I still say you should possess me. It’s snowing too hard to brave it today. It would take days to scout the cave and outsmart the giantess at the gates and Garm,” I teased.
Her eyes narrowed. “What giantess? And what is Garm?”
“The fiercest giantess in all the realms. She doesn’t let anyone enter the gates of Hel and no one ever leaves without her permission.” That was an exaggeration. Modgie, Trudy’s older sister, was really nice. “And Garm is my mother’s hound. He has six eyes, dripping fangs, and swallows souls for fun. No one can control him except the giantess.” And me. “So yes, I’ll need to find a way to fool those two to make it to the portal. Or bribe them.” Celestia was chewing her lower lip by the time I finished and I felt bad for exaggerating, but her eagerness to leave bugged the crap out of me. “So we work on possession?”
“Ew, no. I will never possess you. I’m teaching you fire spells, mister, whether you like it or not. It is easier to master and I can be home in less than an hour.” She looked around. “It would be disastrous to do it here. Let’s use our old room.”
Our old room. I liked how she’d worded that. “Fine.”
“Or outside so I can see this giantess and the hound with six eyes.” The way she said it meant she hadn’t believed me.
“It’s still snowing.”
“Oh yeah. Forgot about that.” She went back to her food. After two bites of her sandwich, she looked up. “About Rhys—”
“Not another word. Eat.”
She ignored me. “I’m going home soon and I don’t want to forget anything. Tell him the truth because next time I see him, I don’t want to explain.”
The idea that she would be seeing Rhys annoyed me. “He doesn’t need to know anything. If you ever see him again, ignore him.”
She laughed. “Yeah, right. He’s kind of hard to ignore.”
“Why?” Man, I couldn’t believe I was jealous of that walking ad for tattoos. Her faceless boyfriend, yes. Rhys, no freaking way. She studied me intently, then went back to her food. Now I felt like an idiot. “Fine. I’ll tell him. Are you going to see Trudy before you leave?”
“Yes, or she’ll never forgive me.”
“Are you going to tell her the truth?”
“No.” Then she sighed. “Maybe. She already suspected anyway.”
My mother already knew, so Trudy was bound to find out. We ate the meal in silence. I tried to imagine Hel’s Hall without Celestia and couldn’t. I rubbed my chest, trying to ease the tension there. Maybe I’d visit her in Windfall, Louisiana.
“How far is Windfall from New Orleans?”
Celestia smiled as though I’d said something funny. Her eyes grew luminous and that dimpled smile packed quite a punch.
“We are right across the lake from New Orleans. On the other side of Twin Span bridge. Why?”
“It’s nothing.” I stole a piece of sandwich from her plate. I loved watching her eat. She held a sandwich with both hands and took dainty bites. It was cute. She pushed her plate toward me and I demolished the rest of her lunch.
She piled the plates on a tray and stacked them on the cart. “Do you want more food?”
“Yeah. No. I don’t know.” I was restless and I couldn’t explain why. “Do you want something else to drink or eat?” The pitcher with apple juice was still half-full. “Do you want me to get Trudy?”
“You don’t have to. She’s a portal away. Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” No, I wasn’t. I jumped up. “I’ll get her. I need to walk off lunch. Meet me downstairs in an hour. No, two hours.”
“I thought we were doing the spells now.”
“They can wait,” I growled. Her expression showed confusion, and I cou
ldn’t explain what was bugging me because I had no idea.
Thoroughly annoyed, I left the room and headed to my parents’ quarters. It was weird that Celestia had no problem creating portals while I was uncomfortable with it. Maybe it was the fact that magic was pretty new to me. My parents were having lunch. Same sandwiches and soup. My mother lifted her eyebrows in question, but didn’t speak.
“What’s going on, Son?” Father asked.
“Where’s Trudy?”
“I assume with her mother. Join us.” He pointed at a chair. “Litr can find her.”
The Dwarf entered the room.
“No, Litr. I’ll find her myself.” I needed to clear my head.
“What’s wrong with him?” I heard Father ask, but I didn’t catch Mother’s response. I was already leaving the room.
I left for the rotunda and turned left. I was halfway to the kitchen when it hit me. I didn’t want Celestia to leave. I knew she had to, but I didn’t want her to go. Every time she left, I’d felt terrible, bereft, like some vital part of me was missing, and the feeling had only gotten worse. She’d become part of my life here. A crucial part, whatever that meant.
I entered Grimnirs Hall. As usual it was packed. I knew they worked twenty-four seven and came from all over the realms, so the kitchen must have been open all the time and the staff cooked in shifts.
I stopped in front of the long, service window when I realized silence had replaced the voices. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Rhys and his partner, Nara, standing. They started to clap. The rest of the Grimnirs banged their tumblers on the table and stomped their feet. I had no idea what was going on.
Rhys joined me and slapped my back. “Congratulations. You passed the initiation.”
“What initiation?”
“Everyone who joins us must survive a beat down by older members. You managed to snap Sergio’s neck”—he waved toward the Russian, who bowed—“and almost got the best of Jeff. He is our best fighter.”
At one time I would have cared because Jeff was a mean fighter, but I just wanted to talk to Rhys privately. “Do you have a moment?”
Demons (Eirik Book 1) Page 26
