Dark Deceit

by Lauren Dawes

  ‘Well, sir, you’re at the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.’

  ‘New...Mexi—’ he began saying slowly, trying the words out.

  ‘New Mexico. The United States,’ the human repeated. He squatted down next to Loki, frowning under the large brim of his hat. ‘Are you alright, sir? You don’t look so good.’

  ‘I don’t know how I got here,’ he replied softly.

  The man took off his hat, wiping the sweat that beaded there away with the back of his hand. He glanced around as if looking for someone.

  ‘You got a car here, sir?’

  ‘Car?’ Loki asked. He frowned, searching his memories. When he’d taken the flesh of that snake into his body, knowledge had flooded into him. He didn’t know how, or why, but the word sounded familiar. ‘An automobile?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, an automobile,’ the man repeated with a strange expression on his face. ‘You got one of those here?’

  Loki shook his head.

  The guy blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Well, how’d you get here then? With a group? The last group left a few hours ago.’

  ‘I didn’t come with a group.’ Loki’s stomach growled angrily and he covered the offensive sound with his hands.

  ‘You hungry?’ the man asked. Loki nodded. The man looked around again, searching. ‘Look, I have to shut the front gates in ten minutes. The phones don’t work so good out here, so how about I take you back to my place, and you can call whoever it is you need to call so they can pick you up and take you home?’

  ‘Home,’ Loki said wistfully. He didn’t have a home anymore. The glory days of the Aesir were over.

  ‘Yeah, home,’ the human repeated. ‘I’m going to help you stand up now, okay?’

  ‘Okay.’

  The man hooked an arm under Loki’s armpit and lifted him up easily.

  ‘Dang it, you hardly weigh a thing. Where’d you say you were from again?’

  ‘I didn’t.’

  The man tipped his hat back, giving Loki the once over. He must have decided he was non-threatening enough because he began ushering him toward a large flat space with many lines painted onto the surface. It was called a...

  ‘Parking lot,’ Loki murmured, surprised at his ability to recall the information.

  ‘Yeah, a parking lot,’ the human muttered. ‘That’s my truck over there, you see it? The red one? We’ll just take it nice and easy and get you in the cab, okay?’

  Loki nodded, leaning on the man heavily. It was slow going, but eventually they made it. Loki sat in the front of the truck while the human walked around the hood and got into the other seat beside him.

  ‘My name’s Mike, by the way.’ Mike stuck his hand out in a peculiar way. Loki mirrored him and Mike took Loki’s hand in his, shaking it firmly.

  This new world was a strange one, indeed.

  ‘Well, let’s get home.’ Mike turned the key, the engine coming to life with a loud roar.

  Loki tried to relax into his seat, passing the time by watching the small clock on the dashboard change as they drove away from the cave. It had moved almost the whole way around when Mike slowed the truck and pulled into a driveway.

  Up ahead, there was a small house with a wrap-around porch. A woman appeared in the doorway, smiling at Mike through the windscreen.

  ‘That’s my wife, Nancy,’ Mike told him, unclipping the strap crossing his body and getting out. Loki followed, shivering with the drop in temperature when he slipped out of the cab.

  ‘Nancy, this is...ah, say what is your name?’ Mike asked. Loki approached the porch cautiously, unsure whether to give his real name or a false one. Did the humans still know of the gods? Even if they did, would they know who he was?

  ‘I am Loki,’ he answered, watching them both for any reaction.

  ‘It’s nice to meet you, Loki,’ Nancy said with a smile. ‘Won’t you come in?’

  Loki glanced at Mike who nodded. ‘Go on. You can make your phone call and have dinner while you wait for whoever is going to come and pick you up.’

  The house was warm inside. Loki looked around, able to name all the things contained within it. He still didn’t understand how it was possible, but that snake knew everything there was to know about this new world.

  ‘Would you like some coffee, Loki?’ Nancy asked.

  Loki looked at her, knowing his eyes must have been wide. He nodded. ‘Please.’

  Nancy smiled warmly and disappeared around a corner. Mike took his elbow then, turning him around. ‘The phone is right over there.’ He indicated to a small table near the door. ‘Call whoever you need to call.’

  Loki’s gaze lingered on the phone, but he took no steps toward it.

  ‘I do not have anyone to call, Mike,’ he finally admitted.

  Mike gave him an uneasy smile. ‘And you don’t remember how you got to the caves today either?’ His voice had dropped in volume.

  Loki shook his head.

  Mike motioned to remove his hat, remembered he wasn’t wearing one anymore, and dropped his hand. ‘The police station won’t be open right now, and if you don’t have anywhere to go, I won’t turn you out. You can stay here tonight with us then tomorrow, I can drop you off at the police station in Carlsbad. The folks there will be able to help you out.’

  Loki nodded. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Mike?’ Nancy called from the other room. Mike looked over his shoulder then excused himself with a smile. Loki was left alone and his stomach twisted into a tight knot of anxiety. He had been alone for far too long already. To take his mind off the gnawing sensation, he wandered around the room looking at the photographs and trinkets lining the shelves of a bookcase.

  When Mike reappeared, Loki was sitting in one of the armchairs facing the television. He had been watching the news, learning about stories like the current government and war. He guessed not everything had changed then.

  ‘Here’s your coffee, Loki.’ Mike handed him a white mug. Loki peered over the rim, seeing his haggard reflection in the dark liquid. He knew all about coffee. He just had no idea what it tasted like. Bringing the mug to his lips, he took a shallow sip and forced himself to swallow it down.

  Mike laughed, taking the mug from Loki’s hand. ‘If you don’t like it, don’t drink it,’ he said. ‘Nancy isn’t well known for her ability to make a decent cup.’

  ‘I heard that!’ Nancy yelled from the kitchen. She sounded upset, but Mike was still grinning at him.

  Loki and Mike watched the rest of the news in silence, although the human made some strange noises while watching a story about a football team.

  ‘That’s my team,’ Mike announced proudly. ‘Cardinals, all the way. You got a favorite team?’

  Loki shook his head, but before Mike could say anything more, Nancy walked into the room, a dish towel in her hand. ‘Stop trying to convert him, Mike,’ she said, exasperated. ‘Anyway, dinner’s ready.’

  Loki followed Mike and Nancy out of the room and into another where a small square table was set up.

  ‘Take that seat right there,’ Mike said, pointing to the one directly ahead. Loki sat down and stared at the plate of food in front of him; a joint of chicken and some vegetables. At least that looked familiar. He was so hungry he could feel his mouth moisten as his eyes took in the feast he’d been presented with.

  ‘Loki, would you like to say grace?’ Mike asked, putting a piece of thin paper in his lap.

  Loki fingered his own piece of paper folded beside his plate idly. ‘Grace?’

  ‘You know–a prayer to God to thank him for this food.’

  Loki cocked his head to the side. ‘To one god only?’ he asked, confused.

  Nancy and Mike looked at each other. ‘Yeah. Just the one God for us,’ Mike replied with an unsteady smile. He shrugged. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll say grace for us.’

  Loki watched as Mike bowed his head, mumbling some words under his breath before both he and Nancy finished with ‘Amen.’

  ‘Is that all?’
Loki inquired, looking between Mike and Nancy.

  Mike smiled. ‘Yep, that’s it.’ Picking up his knife and fork he added, ‘You’d better get eating before it gets cold.’

  Loki stared at the cutlery and picked it up, watching how Mike used it before trying it himself. He found it much simpler than he thought it was going to be. How strange it was though that they prayed to only one god. Had they forgotten already?

  After dinner, Loki was shown into a bathroom where he could wash and change into some of Mike’s old clothes. He paused on the stairs coming back down when he heard Mike and Nancy talking together in hushed tones.

  ‘You just found him there?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘Yeah. In those rags he was wearing. It looked like he’d been abandoned there, but for a lot longer than just a few hours.’

  Nancy sighed. ‘Are you sure he’s safe?’

  There was a long pause before Mike spoke again. ‘He seems harmless to me, but I’ll stay awake tonight just to make sure. Would that make you feel better?’

  ‘Yes, darling, that would make me feel much better. Thank you.’

  Loki cleared his throat loudly, giving them a warning before continuing down the stairs. When he appeared in the living room, Nancy was lying across the couch with her head in Mike’s lap. His fingers were brushing away her hair carefully, tucking it behind her ear in slow, languid movements.

  Loki found a place on the other small sofa. Breathing in a deep breath, Loki felt a faint vibration in his body. He had felt it while he was bathing also, but didn’t give it another thought. It seemed stronger this time though.

  ‘Mike, where is New Mexico in the United States?’

  Mike’s hand paused in stroking his wife’s hair for a moment. ‘New Mexico? Well, it’s in the south west of the country, right between Arizona, Texas and Colorado.’

  Loki nodded to show he understood. ‘And what is that way?’ He pointed over his shoulder.

  Mike frowned before he answered. ‘Ah, lots of states, Loki. There’s Oklahoma, Missouri, West Virginia, New York.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘I have an atlas here somewhere. I can show you if you like?’

  Loki nodded. ‘Yes. I would like that. Thank you.’

  Nancy sat up so her husband could go and get the atlas, smiling kindly at Loki.

  ‘You really don’t remember anything?’ she asked gently.

  Loki shook his head. ‘It is as if I’ve just been born into this world.’

  ‘Alright, here we go.’ Mike placed the open book on the coffee table in between them. Loki slid from the chair and looked at the map.

  ‘So, we’re here,’ Mike said, his finger coming down to stab New Mexico in the belly, ‘and here’s Oklahoma, that’s Tennessee, West Virginia, Philly...’ His fingers kept skimming over the different states, but Loki could hear only the vibration in his body, feel the pull in his blood.

  Odin was in the north east of this country.

  He was there.

  Loki could feel it.

  Chapter Eight

  Taer’s kick came in low, slamming into Adrian’s knee cap. A hiss escaped his lips, a throb climbing his leg where she’d struck. Adrian’s teeth ground together as he tried to breathe through the pain. He went down on one knee, grabbing Taer’s leg and slamming a full-knuckled punch into her shin bone. She winced and retreated a few steps. She paused, breathing heavily through her nose. Her guard dropped, and Adrian took the opening with a satisfied smile.

  Pushing off with his rear leg, he landed a flat-footed kick to her abdomen. The force of contact threw her off balance, swivelling her body around. She let out a string of obscenities as she fell in a heap on the floor, pain riding her body.

  It was over and she was the loser.

  His sister was good, but she had to be better.

  ‘Don’t let your guard down—you drop your hand when you kick. And keep your balance even on both feet,’ he said, offering her his hand and pulling her up off the padded floor. Taer dusted herself off, glaring at him.

  ‘Again,’ she said, still breathing heavily. Adrian smiled, flashing his fangs and stretching out the leg she had struck.

  ‘Enough for today.’ His stomach growled, reminding him of the time. ‘You need more practice.’

  Taer shrugged on a leather dagger holster that criss-crossed her small chest. ‘I know I do, but you’re working at the club all the time.’

  Adrian wiped the sweat from his brow using the end of his tee. ‘Yeah, well, that’s a necessity. I try to give you as much time as I can afford.’ Picking up an identical dagger holster, he slid it onto his shoulders before pushing his Barretta into the waistband at the small of his back.

  Taer pushed open the side door to the garage, stepping out into the cool breeze.

  ‘You know you could ask Korvain to teach me. I’m sure he’d make a great teacher,’ Taer said, going for nonchalance, but not pulling it off.

  Adrian ground his teeth together. ‘I don’t want you bothering him, Taer.’ She’d had that Walking Death Wish in her head ever since he’d moved in with them. ‘He’s no good for you.’

  She huffed. ‘You don’t think anyone is good for me.’ Taer opened the back door, her eyes scanning for threats just like he’d taught her to do.

  ‘That’s because it’s true.’ Sliding the holster off his shoulders, he placed it down onto the counter then took out his gun.

  Taer grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, tossing one to him. ‘You know, I’m not a little girl anymore.’ He caught the bottle and took a deep drink. Adrian glanced at his sister only able to see that fragile small child who had hidden in his shadow as they grew up.

  She was his apprentice now. She wanted to become a Walker—she wanted to become agarwaen—but the reality was she probably wasn’t going to make it until he made her harder to kill than the other apprentices out there.

  It was Darrion’s sick idea of sport to pit all the apprentices from the current quinary against each other at the conclusion of their training to see who would walk away unaided and who would be put back together and sent home in a pine box.

  Unfortunately, the idea had caught on. All the guilds subjected their apprentices to a Final Test in some way, shape or form, but Darrion’s was by far the most brutal. There could only be one winner. Even if an apprentice was only maimed in an attack, the winner would kill them to prove his loyalty to Darrion.

  They had all done it.

  And they all had the words inked onto their back to demonstrate their continued loyalty.

  The locks on the front door slid open then, shaking Adrian from his grim thoughts.

  ‘My brother.’

  Adrian glanced toward the hallway. Korvain was covered in sweat, his shirt sticking to his skin and highlighting the muscular planes of his abdomen.

  His broad shoulders filled the doorframe, dwarfing the rest of the room. The size of his biceps were like tree trunks, his thighs much the same, all twitching with brute power.

  Korvain was the last of the pure-blooded Mares. He truly was the best example of what their race had been. He was two hundred and fifty pounds of rippling muscle and impending death. He was a living, breathing dagger through the heart.

  ‘Hey.’

  Korvain pulled the tee over his head and threw it on the table beside the door. There was a choking sound, and when Adrian glanced over at Taer, she was having trouble swallowing the water she had in her mouth. She coughed, turning bright red.

  Korvain’s dark eyes ratcheted to her, a small smile that looked wrong on his harsh face turning up his lips in the corners. ‘You alright there, Little Fox?’

  She coughed again, a strangled sound following before she ran up the stairs. Korvain threw his head back and laughed; a deep, throaty sound. He parked it in the recently vacated stool, snagging the bottle of water in front of him. He swallowed the rest of the contents and crushed the bottle in his giant palm.

  ‘How’s her training going?’ he asked.

>   Adrian shrugged. ‘Not bad, but not great either. She’s getting to know the movements well, but her timing is still off. Reaction time is good, but she doesn’t think much beyond that.’ He took another sip from his water bottle, letting the cool liquid swirl around his mouth. ‘It makes her defensive, but vulnerable, too, because she’s not thinking ahead and planning the counters.’

  Korvain nodded as he spoke, but didn’t offer any advice. ‘I’m glad I don’t have an apprentice,’ he said under his breath. The truth was Adrian would have preferred not to have one either, but it was take Taer on, or let her become another concubine. ‘Alright, well, I’m going to crash,’ he announced, stretching out his nearly seven foot frame. The vertebrae in his back popped and he rolled his neck to loosen everything up.

  As he stalked away, Adrian got an eyeful of the tattoo that spanned the width of his best friend’s shoulders. In the old language were the words Death before dishonor. If Adrian had looked in the mirror, he would have seen exactly the same thing etched into his skin.

  The words were their contract to their guild master. Darrion’s blood had been bound with the ink, and contractually, if they failed in their objective, he could take their lives. It was like having a gun perpetually trained at their heart.

  The microwave chimed.

  ‘Tay?! Food!’ Adrian called up the stairs, pulling the hot bowl from the plate.

  ‘I’m not hungry!’ she shouted back a minute later. ‘I’m too busy dying of embarrassment.’

  Adrian didn’t need to be told twice. He shrugged and began shovelling the food into his mouth.

  * * *

  Odin didn’t know where he was going. He was just wandering around the streets of Boston, restless; the conversation with Verdandi and Skuld lapping his head. Gods, he needed a drink to calm him down. He kept on walking though, and when he lifted his head, he realized where he had inadvertently walked to.

  Odin’s Eye.

  Gunner’s eyes narrowed as he walked by, hands shoved in his coat pockets, his shoulders rolled forward. He glanced at her quickly then looked away. From the corner of his eye, he could see her mouth moving while her hand rested near the collar of her shirt. A few words were spoken quickly before she stood at ease again.