Urban Mythic: Thirteen Novels of Adventure and Romance, featuring Norse and Greek Gods, Demons and Djinn, Angels, Fairies, Vampires, and Werewolves in the Modern World

by C. Gockel

  “Nice to meet you too.” If that was what a goddess looked like, why on Earth was Ull dating me? It was hard not to feel inferior.

  “It’s so nice to finally get to go on a double date. Ull here has made himself quite the third wheel for way too long.”

  “You said it, doll.” Gunnar nodded.

  Ull glared at Inga, who shot him an angelic face.

  At her words, I was in a tastefully-decorated living room. The silver-framed photos on the mantel held pictures of Inga, Gunnar, and Ull in various states of amusement – laughing on top of a ski slope, straddling mountain bikes in a forest. Inga was coming out of a doorway I could only assume was a kitchen, carrying a square plate of delicious smelling pastries. She offered me one before curling up on the couch, tucking her long legs beneath her as she sat.

  My insecurities faded a little as I pulled myself out of my vision. Despite her celestial beauty, Inga and I were going to be good friends.

  “Oh, Inga. You have always been so patient to put up with me.” Ull rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he picked up his menu.

  “I have, haven’t I?” Inga winked at me. The discussion moved on to what to eat, then fell easily into the banter of old friends. When Gunnar and Inga rose to visit their respective powder rooms, I turned to Ull.

  “Sorry, I know this is tacky, but I have to ask. If that’s what goddesses look like what are you doing dating a human?”

  “Kristia.” His cool breath blew on my ear. “You are the loveliest creature I have ever laid eyes on. From the moment I saw you, nothing could have kept me from your side.” His finger slid from my ear down my neck, tickling it with a feather-light touch that made my eyes roll closed. He grazed my jaw with his teeth, sending shivers up and down my back. “To think I nearly missed out on this because I was stubborn.”

  “You stubborn?” I teased. “Never.”

  “Watch it.” Ull nipped at my ear and I let out a soft sigh.

  Yes, sir.

  Gunnar’s deliberate cough brought me back to reality. He and Inga slid into the booth. “Sorry to interrupt, but the food’s here.” Gunnar graciously steered the conversation towards our classes, asking Inga about a term paper she was working on.

  “It’s nearly finished,” her melodic voice paused, “I just need to talk to my professor about a formatting question.”

  “Is it Professor Krups?” Gunnar grimaced.

  “That’s right, you had him last term.” Inga tilted her head, her blonde hair shaking softly around her shoulders. “How could I forget?”

  “Great Odin, Inga. How could you forget?” Ull rolled his eyes.

  “Just about drove me mad,” Gunnar muttered. Turning to me he explained, “He marked me down half a grade on my final paper for using the wrong font. The wrong font. Who cares about a bloody font?”

  “Professor Krups.” Inga nodded knowingly. “I had the same thing happen on my first paper, so I want to make sure I’ve got all my I’s dotted and my T’s crossed.”

  “I’m sorry, who is this professor?”

  Ull turned to me. “I have not had the privilege of studying under Professor Krups. But I have heard an earful from these two over the past year, and apparently he is a stickler for the little things.”

  “Just jealous because he couldn’t have come up with anything so original,” Gunnar grumbled to Inga’s amusement.

  “Still sore, babe?”

  “A font,” was all he replied. It was reassuring to hear gods complain about grades and teachers. Maybe this was going to be easier than I’d thought.

  Though I wanted desperately to ask Ull’s friends about their life outside Cardiff, talk moved to plans for the winter holiday. We only got two weeks of vacation, and Gunnar and Inga were going skiing. I’d planned to stay in town to get a head start on my reading, but Ull proposed a different idea as we drove home.

  “I was wondering if you might join me at Ýdalir for Christmas. I was planning to leave after St. Lucia’s Day – are you familiar with the holiday?”

  “Of course.” Mormor had celebrated it every year. “The Scandinavian celebration of light.”

  “And strength.” Ull paused, no doubt thinking of the young saint. Her spirit had been so strong she overcame death.

  “And strength,” I agreed.

  “Well, the mass at our church is beautiful. Inga is going to be this year’s Lucia of course. We could head to Bibury after the service, spend the holiday in the country. What do you say?”

  “Um, yes. Absolutely, yes.” Two weeks alone with Ull sounded very nice. Maybe I could even channel my bolder dream-self to make a move on him. I giggled. My life was so different than it had been a few months ago.

  “What is it?” Ull asked of my laugh.

  “I’m just happy. For someone who spent pretty much her whole life looking for a place to belong, this is pretty great. I mean… I didn’t have any siblings, I was always too shy to make a lot of friends, and as much as I like Nehalem, I didn’t exactly fit in.” Nothing prohibits assimilation like the whole hamlet thinking you’re a loon. “I spent eighteen years feeling like I was watching my life play out without ever really living it. But then I met you, and everything just clicked into place. It’s like I’m finally home.” I brought my hand to my mouth, embarrassed by my honesty. When we slowed for a stoplight Ull pulled it away.

  “Kristia, darling, in all my years, this is the first time I have felt I was where I was meant to be. I am so very lucky that I met you.” Blushing fiercely, I was the first to break eye contact. We drove the rest of the way home in silence, our intertwined fingers linking us together.

  “Hello Poppett.” Oh, jumping Jezebel. I’d know that voice anywhere, though I’d only heard it twice.

  “Goodbye, Elf Man.” I didn’t bother opening my eyes. My previous dream had been very enjoyable, and I wasn’t terribly pleased this new one interrupted it. “Kindly see yourself out of my head please.” No point in being rude, even to an imaginary creature.

  “As you wish.” The hissing voice was followed by a snap. I settled comfortably into my blankets, glad I hadn’t wasted any energy opening my eyes. The cold wind on my face gave me pause. Unless my window was open… oh, criminy. The dream wasn’t over. I wasn’t in my bedroom anymore. Based on the big tree to my right, I was pretty sure my bed was now in the garden at Ýdalir. I sat up.

  “Fine, I’ll play. But make it snappy Elfie, I’m really tired.” My brain was obviously more messed up than I thought.

  “Oh, I can be very fast.” The keening sound was to my right, and when I turned he was against me, wrapping a rope around my neck and pulling it taut. The rough fibers cut into my throat. I tried to breathe in, but the movement was painful and pointless.

  “I warned you I would come for you if you tried to join him.” The pointy-eared monster sneered. “I can’t have you spoiling my plan.” A kick to my stomach evicted what little breath I had left, and my lungs collapsed. I clawed at the rope but the crazed man was too strong. His cackling echoed through the fog that crept across my brain. I was slipping under – it would be death by strangulation this time.

  I swatted feebly at the rope, and as I did, my finger caught on Mormor’s necklace. I made a weak fist around it, something comforting to hold in my final moment. Suddenly, my hand was hot, and a bright light forced my eyelids closed. I sensed, rather than saw, that the radiance came from my hand – the silver hammer was exploding with luminosity. Beams shot directly into my attacker.

  He pulled back to save himself, dropping the rope as he did so. I gulped in cold air, filling my lungs over and over. He let out a sickening screech as he stumbled backwards, the light piercing his chest with a flood of arrows. He grabbed at the beams to pull them out, but I sensed he was losing the battle.

  I couldn’t know for sure, because in the next moment I was back in my room, covered in sweat and clinging to the necklace that had saved my life. When I opened my hand, the hammer was glowing.

  I didn’t see th
e Elf Man again while I was at Cardiff. I did, however, decide I needed to see Ull again. Right away. Something really strange was happening, and I didn’t want to deal with the visions on my own anymore. Ull had been forthcoming with me, and I had no reason not to trust him with my secret.

  “Kristia. Are you all right?” I thought I’d waited until a decent hour to call, but I guessed normal college students weren’t up at 7:00 a.m. on the weekend.

  “Um, yes. No. I don’t know. Can you come over?”

  “Of course. I will be right there.”

  “You don’t have to rush or anything…” I trailed off. Please, please rush. I needed to get this off my chest.

  “I am on my way.”

  Twenty minutes later, Ull knocked. “I would have been here sooner, but I figured you could use breakfast.”

  “Earl grey.” I took the cup gratefully.

  “And chocolate croissants.” Ull carried the bag to the coffee table and sat in the corner of the couch. I grabbed a thick blanket and curled up next to him.

  “You are up early for a Sunday.” Ull wasn’t very good at hiding his anxiety. Well that was okay – neither was I.

  “Do you remember when you told me about our Norn, Elsker?” I clutched my tea. This was scary for me. I’d never actually come out and admitted what I could do to anyone. Mormor had just always known, and she’d told Ardis for me when we were little. The rest of Nehalem could only guess at the weirdness in my head – I certainly wouldn’t spell it out for them.

  “I remember.”

  “And do you remember when you said the Norns could see things – like visions of the future and stuff?”

  “Yes.” Ull obviously had no idea where I was heading.

  “Um, well. You don’t think it’s weird that they can do that? Have visions? See things?”

  “No.” Ull looked surprised. “Why would that be weird?”

  “Because it’s not normal – at least, it’s not normal here.”

  Ull shrugged. “Things are different in Asgard, I suppose. We all have our gifts there – roles we were born to fill. I was born to be a warrior – the titled god thing just sort of happened. Norns are born with visions that will allow them to foresee the future. It is a useful gift.” He paused. “It is all very structured, but it is the Asgardian way. I suppose that sounds odd to a human.”

  “Not really.” I sipped at my tea to buy myself one more minute. Ull waited patiently, but I could see his foot jiggling under the blanket. Well, I was nervous too. “I mean, I don’t think it’s weird they can see things because…” I dropped my head and stared at my hands. “Because I can see things too.”

  Chapter 13

  “Pardon?” Ull gently lifted my chin with one finger, forcing me to look into his eyes.

  “I can see things.” I cringed. “The future. Sometimes the past. Apparently some deranged Elf Man who wants me dead. I see things all the time – it’s like my brain just shuts down and goes into this different world, and sometimes the world looks a whole lot like your world. Last night, this insane elf dragged me to Ýdalir and tried to kill me, but my necklace shot light at him. He just disappeared, and I don’t know what happened to him.

  “Another time, I was standing in this field with you, and I was ready to fight these awful monsters that were coming to kill us. Wait,” I added hurriedly when I saw the alarmed expression on Ull’s face. “I don’t just see bad stuff. Sometimes I see good things too – like this really pretty meadow and a pond with swans and a willow tree with silver leaves.” Ull forced a neutral expression, but only after I caught a glimpse of fear. I covered my face. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

  I expected him to say something right away, but the room was deafening in its silence. I peeked from between my fingers – Ull was sitting still as a statue, staring into the distance with that forced look of calm. “Oh my God. You’re going to dump me.” I knew I shouldn’t have told him.

  Ull shook himself. “Kristia, please. I am not going to dump you.” He gently tugged my hands away from my face and pulled me into his chest. “To answer your question, no. I do not think you are crazy. I think you have a very special gift – in Asgard, sight like yours would qualify you to become a Norn.”

  “I don’t want to be a Norn. I just want to be normal. I hate my visions – they’ve kept me outside of everything my whole life, and I just want them to stop.”

  “But they make you who you are. And who knows, maybe you were given this gift for a purpose.”

  “Yeah, right. So I could never fit in, anywhere?”

  “You fit with me.” Ull stroked my back gently. “I want you to tell me when you see these things. I do not like knowing that someone is frightening you, even if it is only in dreams. I am not entirely sure what to make of that...”

  “You could write me off as a fruitcake.”

  “I happen to like fruitcake.” Ull kissed the top of my head. I tilted my face up hopefully and he laughed. “Kristia, be good.”

  “Fine,” I harrumphed. “You’re really not going to dump me because you think I’m crazy?”

  “Who said I do not think you are crazy?” Ull ducked as I swatted at him. “No, darling, I am not going anywhere. I am afraid you are stuck with me for as long as you want me.”

  “Good. Forever, then.” I snuggled in closer, practically wilting in relief.

  “Forever.”

  With each flip of my “Water Fowl Of The Week” desk calendar, I grew closer to Inga. I could go to her with just about anything, and she never judged me. Since I couldn’t exactly share Ull’s secret with my human friends, Inga was the only one I could talk to about dating a god. She didn’t completely understand – she’d fallen in love with Gunnar as a goddess in her own right – but she was a good listener. And at least she knew the whole truth.

  One afternoon, I showed up at Inga’s house with full hands. Ull planted a light kiss on my cheek before he and Gunnar darted out to the driving range to blow off some midterm-exam steam. As they ran out, I stared at their matching red and blue argyle golf pants.

  “Don’t ask.” Inga swept in, gracefully taking my contraband. “They say the pants are patriotic.”

  “I think they’re kind of cute.”

  “Young love is blind. Hello, mortal.” Her grin was infectious.

  “Hello, goddess,” I teased back.

  “Earl Grey and a Latte?” She nodded to the cups.

  “Correct.” I dug in my bag and pulled out a grease-spotted package. “And this…” Inga’s eyes lit up at the sinful smell.

  “Cupcakes!” Her squeal filled the room like a hundred bells. I could never get used to the ethereal sound. “Puff Pastries is my favorite bakery!”

  “I know. I figured we could use reinforcements.” Our boy-free afternoon involved a marathon of terrible reality shows. So long as we were rotting our minds, we might as well throw in our teeth for good measure.

  “Thanks!” Inga traveled to the kitchen so quickly, her gold tunic flew behind her thin frame. She returned in the same movement, with the cupcakes arranged on a square plate. Her trip had taken less than two seconds.

  “Inga? What was that?”

  “Oh. Are we still supposed to be acting human in front of you? Sorry.” Inga sat with deliberate slowness.

  I had to laugh. “So you guys are fast?”

  “Well I’m faster than most. Especially for a non-titled goddess. The Titleds get extra abilities.”

  “You don’t have a title?” I hoped it wasn’t tacky to ask.

  “Nope. Oversight on Odin’s part, I like to say.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because, Kristia. Obviously I’m supposed to have a title.”

  “And what title would that be?”

  “Domestic Goddess.”

  “Naturally.” I had to smile.

  We settled into the deep couch, sipping our drinks and eyeing the cakes. When I spotted a framed photo on the mantel, I realized I didn’t know how my new friends
had gotten together. “When did you know Gunnar was the one?”

  “No beating around the bush today. Forever on the brain?” I reddened – if she only knew. “Well,” Inga sipped at her latte, “I knew a lot earlier than he did, I think. We were best friends in school. He was the only one who was any sort of a challenge at fencing. ‘Course, I still beat him.” She smiled at the memory. “As we grew up, I fell for his naughty sense of humor. And it didn’t hurt that he became one of Asgard’s best warriors. So when that giant carried me off–” she waved a hand. “Oh honey, don’t look so freaked out. Happens all the time. So when the giant showed up, Gunnar came to my rescue. I think that’s when it clicked for him, and it wasn’t long before I was off the market.” Her expression was angelic.

  “What about Ull?”

  “Well he’s lovely, of course, but far too sensitive for me.”

  “No, I mean when did you meet Ull?”

  “Oh,” she laughed. “Sorry! He joined our class when his mom married Thor. Poor guy. It had to be hard to move in with the scariest god. And our classmates were tough on Ull because he was so different. He was bigger than the rest of us, and shy. Gunnar took Ull’s side, picked him for partners on school projects. Of course, Ull’s temper saved Gunnar from more fights than he wants to remember. So… our pair became a threesome, and we’ve been that way since.”

  “Ull has a temper?”

  “Oh, yes.” Inga nodded seriously. “It’s mostly under control now but in a fight he’s the last one you want to be pitted against.”

  I mulled that one over. “Thor is scary?”

  “At first. He’s actually pretty nice if you get to know him. When we were kids, we’d just see the giant hammer and run.” She eyed my necklace. “That’s Mjölnir at your neck, isn’t it?”