“It’s my duty to find corrupt young minds and enable them,” Andris said. “Do you know how many high schools and colleges we’ve attended? And how boring they are?”
“You really smoke weed with students? That is so…” I shook my head.
“Shameless is the word you’re looking for,” Ingrid said.
Andris smirked. “I know. Makes life interesting.”
“You really shouldn’t,” Ingrid added, talking in low tones.
“Why not. I’m here to collect souls, not save them.”
Listening to them, I realized Ingrid might not be so bad after all.
At school, Torin parked across from the building. The first person I saw was Eirik. Once again, he was with a group of girls. If he saw us, he didn’t show it.
“Do you want me to talk to him?” Torin asked.
“No. He’ll come around.” I tensed as we approached the lockers. I turned the corner, expecting to see Cora trapped by runes, but she wasn’t there. I sighed with relief. There were fresh runes on the floor and the lockers.
“Lavania added different runes,” I said.
Torin sighed. “I noticed. You shouldn’t take what she and Andris say about Cora seriously. Listen to your gut.”
Unfortunately, my gut was making me second-guess myself. I’d known Cora most of my life. She didn’t have a hateful bone in her body. There was no way she could be deliberately screwing with my head by vandalizing my locker. On the other hand, she’d been so scared of me after that horrific meet when our teammates had died. Yet when I’d come back from the cruise, she’d completely changed. In fact, she’d gotten a kick out of the fact that I had known about the swimmers’ imminent deaths. That didn’t mean she hated me or that she was evil. It just meant she was fickle.
***
The next day, I wondered if maybe Cora had a problem with me. She didn’t make it to my house as she’d promised. Something came up, her text said. Crappiest excuse ever, but I didn’t mind. I ended up shopping with Torin. He got a Dracula costume with a purple waistcoat, which matched my purple and black Dracula bride gown. We were being corny, but I didn’t care. Torin looked amazingly hot in his costume.
On Saturday, Cora bombarded me with text messages during the meet. They weren’t doing so well, and every message made me feel guilty for quitting the team. The texts stopped when the meet ended.
I had told Torin we might be going to a party and he seemed okay with it, but I might as well not have bothered. I didn’t hear from Cora again. I left her countless messages, which she didn’t return. Pissed off, I sent her a long, nasty text and ended up trick-or-treating with Torin, Andris, Roger, Ingrid, and two of her cheerleader friends. Then we stopped by Drew’s house.
I didn’t see Eirik, though I knew how much he liked Halloween. I was tempted to text him a few times, but I had to remind myself he was the one who’d cut me off. Still, that didn’t stop me from missing him and Cora. We’d celebrated Halloween together since junior high and often pigged out on candies afterwards. If Torin noticed how quiet I was, he didn’t show it. He focused on making our time together memorable.
“I’m so sorry about Halloween,” Cora told me Monday morning, hugging me tight. “Please say you forgive me. We totally bombed. I mean, we were fifth out of seven teams. Fifth! Even the Mustangs beat us. It was total humiliation.”
I tried not to wince even though she was being melodramatic. “I can imagine. And the guys?”
“They came in third. They could have won if Eirik had been there. At least that’s what they said. You want to hang out later in the week? Dinner will be on me since I missed our shopping and Halloween.”
“Sure.” But I wasn’t holding my breath. I knew she’d blow me off again. I had no idea what was happening to her. “Text me.”
The week rolled by. No one drew more graffiti on our lockers, which was a relief. I saw Cora between classes, sometimes in the mornings. She always acted the same—enthusiastic and funny—yet I felt a distance between us since trapping her with runes.
Eirik kept his distance during the day but sleepwalked right into my room practically every night and tucked the pullout bed back every morning. Sometimes runes covered him and a cold wave of frosty air followed him, but at times, he came in with a warm breeze. Either way, it didn’t bother me. It did bother Torin, who insisted on spending the night to keep an eye on him.
My training grew intense. We moved from single to bind runes. It took me two days to decode a few bind runes—break them down into basic runes. Lavania refused to allow me to etch them on my skin until I did. I became better and earned a few. I could move faster. Not as fast as Torin, but faster than your average human. I could also engage my runes and fade—become invisible.
Dad continued to train, though he still looked emaciated. He and Mom kept disappearing through the portal to have private dinners at some fancy restaurant they’d visited before I was born. They’d come back in high moods. I didn’t mind. I got to spend more time with Torin, eat fancy takeout from places I couldn’t pronounce, and got plenty of souvenirs.
The excitement about the playoffs had started on Monday even though the game was on Friday. By Wednesday, the halls and classrooms were decorated with flags and school colors.
Torin and I turned the corner, and a sudden chill washed over me. I stopped and looked around. Behind us, Catie stood at the end of the hallway. Alone. Where were the other two Norns?
“What is it?” Torin asked.
“Don’t you see her?”
Torin followed my gaze and frowned. “Who?”
Catie was still there, which meant she was invisible. “The nicest of the crones. I’ll go see what she wants.” Torin shook his head, a frown crossing his face. “It’s okay. I’ll be careful.”
He followed me anyway.
Catie turned and walked away. I ran to catch up and saw her disappear inside one of the girls’ restrooms. The door opened, and a bunch of girls hurried out. I turned and grinned at Torin. “You can’t come inside.”
“I’m not leaving you alone with her,” he said.
“Torin.” I pushed my books into his hands. “Stop treating me like I’m fragile. I have runes now. Besides, you always know when I need you.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll stay right here.”
Shaking my head, I pushed opened the door and disappeared inside. Catie wasn’t alone. All three of them were there.
“Nice move, Catie.” I turned to leave and reached for the door.
“He’s getting worse,” Catie said.
I paused, remembering the runes. Argh, I hated depending on these three for anything, but I needed help with Eirik. Slowly, I turned. “Yes. The scars are back, too.”
They looked at each other and scowled.
“You do know about the scars he had when he was a child, don’t you?” I asked.
“Of course, we do,” Jeannette said sharply. “What color and shape are they?”
“Pink. Puffy.” I felt their sigh of relief. Someone tried to open the door and my eyes flew to it, but it didn’t open. The Norns must have changed the person’s mind for her. “What does their color have to do with anything?”
“They’re supposed to harden and become scaly as his dark side takes over,” Jeannette explained.
“She doesn’t need to know that,” Marj cut in and glared at Jeannette. “All she needs to know is their presence means the boy is close to reaching the point of no return.”
I ignored Marj. As usual, her voice alone irritated me. “How can scars he had as a child reappear?” I asked.
“They’re not scars,” Catie said. “They’re a disfigurement he inherited from his mother.”
Marj glared at Catie. “Another fact the girl doesn’t need to know.”
I shook my head. “Are you saying that Eirik has some kind of disfigurement that appears when his evil side takes over?”
Catie and Jeannette glanced at Marj first before they nodded. “You are not dealing
with a Mortal, Lorraine,” Catie said. “Therefore the laws of what you call science don’t apply to him.”
Okay, this was way out there. “So the runes have something to do with his disfigurement?”
“What runes?” Marj asked.
I wanted to ignore her, but something in her voice forced me to say, “The ones on his body. They are reversed.” They moved closer, forcing me to take a step back. “I wasn’t supposed to see them?”
“He’s not supposed to have runes!” Marj snapped.
“Catie was right,” Jeannette said triumphantly.
Catie nodded.
Marj sighed. “So it appears. I was too blinded by what he was becoming I couldn’t see the obvious.”
“Hey,” I said, drawing their attention back to me. “Catie was right about what? And what do you mean he’s not supposed to have runes? They’ve made him stronger, and he’s used them to create portals.”
“The boy is a god, Lorraine,” Marj snapped and glared at me as though I’d crossed the stupidity line with my comments. “He doesn’t need runes to create portals and acquire powers. They are within him. Like a child learning to walk, then run, these ability will come naturally to him when he comes of age.”
A sinking feeling gripped my stomach. “But he showed me his runes last week, and they appear when he has night terrors.”
They looked at each other again, silently communicating.
“Did he say how he got them?” Jeannette asked.
“He doesn’t know. They appeared after the Valkyries reaped the souls of the swimmers at the meet.” They looked at each other again. I really hated it when they did that. “What are you not telling me now?”
“Someone has been drawing runes on Eirik,” Catie said. “He’s not turning evil by himself, Lorraine. Someone is forcing him to turn.”
“Poisoning him with evil runes,” Jeannette added.
Marj leaned closer. “And that’s something you should have known had you joined us like you were supposed to months ago.”
I swallowed, finding it hard to ignore her again. Only someone who knew runes could be doing this. His parents? Or one of the Valkyries?
“Find whoever is doing this and stop them before it is too late,” Catie said. She extended her hand toward Marj, who pulled out the sheathed artavus she’d tried to give me before from under her jacket. She offered it to me.
I stared at the weapon with revulsion. “I told you I will not hurt Eirik.”
“You need it for whoever is poisoning Eirik,” Catie explained. She took the dagger from Marj.
“If I stop this person, will Eirik become better? Is his condition reversible?”
The Norns exchanged another glance.
“I’m afraid not,” Marj said. “If he survives this—”
“He will survive,” I cut off Marj.
“You didn’t let me finish,” she said, eyes narrowed. “If he survives, he must learn to control that side of him.”
“The effects of runes cannot be removed once they are in your body,” Jeannette added. “How many runes did you see on him?”
“A lot.”
Jeannette glanced at the others. “He’s a lot stronger than we thought.”
“Do whatever you can to find the person responsible and stop them before you lose Eirik forever,” Catie added.
My mind raced with possibilities. His parents could be the ones doing this. They had the means and the motive. They’d wanted to go home months ago, but he’d forced them to stay. Or maybe they’d resented living here all these years. They sure acted like it. To catch them in the act, I had to watch Eirik all the time. Even at night. There was only one solution—get him away from his house, enlist Torin’s help, and take turns watching him.
I took the sheathed dagger, glanced at my watch, and groaned. First period was halfway over. “I can’t carry this around school.”
“Then put it away,” Catie said. A portal appeared where the mirror and the sink had been. Through it, I could see inside my bedroom.
“Hide it where no one can find it,” Jeannette added. “Not even your Valkyrie boyfriend.”
My eyes wide, I glanced at Catie to confirm her words.
She nodded. “She’s right, Lorraine. Whoever is poisoning Eirik could be a Valkyrie. You cannot trust anyone. Not even Torin.”
22. EIRIK
Torin was still outside, glowing runes covering his visible skin. He looked like some ancient warrior god. How much had he heard? Blue eyes sharpened. “What did she say?”
“More like what they said. The other two were waiting inside.”
Concern flickered in his eyes. “What did they want?”
“The usual.” I glanced up and down the empty hallway. “Let’s discuss it later. We’re not just going to get a tardy. Mrs. Bates will send both of us to the office for missing half her class.”
“Forget about math. This is more important. What did they say?”
I needed time to process what the Norns had said before talking to him. “Could you get rid of the runes, please? If anyone sees us, they’ll think I’m talking to myself. Again.”
He grinned and offered me his hand. “Then let’s go somewhere and talk.”
“I’m not ditching school. Can’t you just rune Mrs. Bates, so she doesn’t see us or remember we haven’t been in class?”
“Nope.” He stopped right there in the middle of the hallway and crossed his arms.
I groaned. “You know this your-way-or-the-highway attitude won’t work with me.”
He smirked. “You’ll get a tardy without me.”
“Argh, you’re so…” I growled, turned, and marched to the door.
I got a tardy and a warning—one more and it was Saturday class for me. Torin was already in the back of the class, smirking. I imagined several medieval tortures specifically modified for him.
Once again, Lavania was in class. She frowned when I walked in. Could she be the one? She hated Cora, and Eirik never liked her from their first meeting. Plus, she’d wanted to work with him and he’d rejected her. Maybe “work” meant something else. Maybe having refused her, she’d decided to teach Eirik a lesson.
Nah. I couldn’t see the Valkyrie I’d come to admire and respect sneaking into Eirik’s room to etch runes on him. Then there was Torin.
Our eyes connected. He winked, a smirk tugging his beautiful lips. I glared. Despite the fact that he made me want to use him for target practice, I knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. Hurting Eirik would do that. I’d give him a chance to tell me the truth about the favor he owed a friend before I grouped him with everyone else.
“Ready to tell me what they said now?” he asked as we walked to our next class.
“They couldn’t feel Eirik’s essence and knew he was getting worse.”
“And the runes?”
“They’re accelerating his transformation. The scars are part of it, too. As he embraces his dark side, the scars will harden and become scaly.”
Torin’s eyebrows shot up. “Scaly?”
“They are part of a disfigurement he inherited from his mother.” I wondered if she was a mermaid. “You don’t happen to know scaly beings in,” I waited for some students to pass us before whispering, “Asgard?”
“No, but I’ve heard of some that can shift into serpents and animals.” I didn’t know if he was serious or not, but he became very quiet. After history, I didn’t see him until lunchtime.
He was by the door with Drew and Keith, the jocks hanging on his words. Students passed and turned to smile or say something. Torin seemed so at ease, like he was a normal student. Why did he insist on keeping secrets from me? Maybe after centuries of getting close to people so he could reap their souls, lying came easily to him.
He pulled me closer when I joined them, the sexy grin I loved curling his lips.
“Later, guys,” he told his friends. Outside, instead of going to a restaurant, he headed east and away from the town square.
&nb
sp; “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Home. I want to do something special for you.”
“Something special” often involved decadent and mind-numbing things that could shock the pants off every girl, and guy, around my age. Having a boyfriend with centuries of experience under his belt had its perks. My imagination went into overdrive.
“Special?”
He chuckled. “You have a one-track mind, Freckles.”
He sounded pleased with himself. My face warmed. I hated that he could read me so well. “And whose fault is that?”
“I’m not taking all the blame. Your enthusiasm matches mine.” He put his arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer. “I do have other favorite pastimes, you know.”
“I hope it involves food because I’m starving.”
He laughed and was still laughing when we pulled up outside his place. Inside the house, he directed me to a stool, offered me a can of soda, and disappeared behind the fridge door. “Are you allergic to any vegetables?”
“No, but I hate mushrooms.”
He peeked at me from behind the fridge door. “How can you possibly hate mushrooms?”
“They taste funny.” I made a face.
Laughing, he came back to the counter with bags of frozen vegetables, including fresh shiitake mushrooms, and arranged them on the table. “You see this? It cures ulcers, high and low blood pressure, liver problems…” Still listing mushrooms’ healing powers, he dived in the fridge and came back with cooked pasta.
“It doesn’t matter what you say, mushrooms are disgusting. Uncooked they taste like… cardboard. Cooked, they are slimy.”
“I’ll make you change your mind.” He got a cutting board and knife.
I watched in awe as chopped up vegetables. Then he slowed down before he started cooking. I joined him. I had no idea what spices he added. It didn’t matter. He was poetry in motion, and the food smelled so good. Too bad I had no appetite and my insides churned with nervous tension.
Usually, I liked being alone with him, when nothing else mattered but us. Today I felt like a fraud. A traitor. Who in their right mind would suspect the guy she loved of doing something so evil? Part of me wanted to give him a pass, which was the right thing to do when you loved and trusted someone. No, loving him messed with my reasoning. I should at least get mad at him for keeping a secret from me. Unfortunately, all he had to do was smile and I forgave him for everything. Gah, I was so whipped.
Immortals (Runes book 2) Page 31
