“You’re not getting rid of me that easy, blood sucker.”
I gave him my best evil smile. “Then you can sit here in the little black box all you want. I’ll just go to another room. Little cock sucker.” I stood and pushed away from the desk.
“You don’t want to do that.” I walked away and he yelled, “I have what you want!”
I hate to admit that he got my attention. I stood at the edge of the desk and cursed myself for allowing him to get to me. I stepped back into view and settled back in my chair. “I’m listening.”
He reached out of view and came back with what looked like a mason jar. There was a blue orb floating inside of it with the lid screwed tight. “Recognize yourself?”
I leaned closer and stared at the picture. “Looks like a lightening bug. Or a fairy.” I assumed it was my soul–its purest essence or some such. But it didn’t look like the souls I met in Valhalla.
“It’s your soul, dumbass.”
I felt my face twist into disbelief. “Bullshit. I saw the souls of my kin in Valhalla. None looked like that.”
He rolled his eyes and made a tsk sound. “Because we allow them corporeal bodies in Valhalla. This?” He waved the jar in front of my screen. “This is what a soul looks like when it’s free of the body.”
I leaned back and shook my head. “You’re so full of shit.”
He shrugged. “Hey. If you don’t want it back, I completely understand.” He licked at his lips and gave me an evil smile. “These things aren’t the tastiest, but man do they juice you up.” His eyes bulged at the idea and I knew then, he intended to devour it.
A few hundred thoughts ran through my mind all at once, but they all came back to the same conclusion. I couldn’t let him do it. Even if it wasn’t my soul, and it probably was, since the witches couldn’t track it down, I couldn’t allow Loki to destroy it.
I tried to remain calm as I leaned forward. “What do you want, Trickster?”
He smiled and placed the jar just on the edge of the screen so I could see it the whole time. “An even trade.” His smile vanished and he leaned so close that frost formed on the camera on the inside of my screen while he spoke. “My powers back for your soul. Period. No scams, no bullshit, no double crosses.”
I actually laughed out loud. “You? No double crosses? Right.” I shook my head. “Even the angels offered me ‘a’ soul. They claimed that it didn’t matter what soul as long as I had one. How can I know that you didn’t just pluck a warrior from Valhalla, shove him in a jar then wave it under my nose?” I leaned closer and scowled again. “How do I even know that thing is a soul?”
Loki sighed and shook his head at me. “You have a lot to consider then, don’t you?” He gave me a crooked smile and reached over the top of my screen. “I’ll be in touch. You decide if you want your soul back, or if I get a late afternoon snack. Ciao!”
The screen went dead and I was left shaking in my chair. Not with fear, but absolute rage. I wanted to reach through the screen and choke the life from him. Maybe another trip to Asgard? Surely I could track down the bastard and rip his gizzard out with my bare hands.
I slammed my fists down on the desk and actually jumped when the solid mahogany wood splintered and broke.
Laura threw open the doors of the office and stared at me. “What happened?”
I shook my head as I marched past her. “Order me another desk please.” I turned and glanced at the ruined furniture. “Maybe one made of stone?”
* * *
“You can’t trust him.”
“I know that!” I paced the kitchen, my hands still shaking with anger. “Trust me, I know better than most. Still…if nothing else, when he showed up to make the trade, I could wrap these hands around his frozen throat and squeeze until his eyes popped out of his head.”
Laura leaned against the island and watched me. “Or maybe you could tie him to a chair with an extension cord and cut his nuts off.”
I spun on her. “That’s actually not a bad idea. I could–”
“I was kidding, Sven.” She pushed off the island and reached up, grabbing the sides of my face with her hands. “You need to calm down.”
“I can’t.” I replied, through smooshed cheeks. I gently pulled her hands away and continued my pacing. It didn’t really help me think but it sure helped to wear the flooring out.
“Then tell him you need proof.” She hopped onto the counter and sat, her little legs swinging off the edge. “Make him prove to you that the soul he has is actually yours. If he can’t, then no deal.”
“And if it is?”
“Then make the stupid trade.” She seemed frustrated that I couldn’t follow her logic. “You’ve said since the beginning that you couldn’t care less if you lost these abilities. You’ve been on a mission to track down and reclaim your soul. Doesn’t this deal settle both of those accounts?”
I had to admit, she was right.
But if I were to be totally honest, I really liked the idea of being a god. Or rather, having god-like powers. Yeah, I was addicted to the power. I could “know” things just by concentrating on them. I could travel at the speed of thought. I could move faster during a battle, I was stronger than I’d ever been, and I could shave just by thinking about it. I really didn’t want to give all that up.
Ever.
I lowered my eyes and refused to look her in the face. “What if I could figure out a way to have both?”
She hiked a brow and cocked her head. “You want to double cross the double crosser?” I could hear the gears in her head. They were grinding. “I don’t know if that would be a smart move.”
I spun on her again. “Why not? We’re basically even now. I have the same strengths and abilities as he does–”
“That he’s had centuries to hone…”
Okay, there was that. “But I’ve been a hunter nearly my entire life. He’s had shit catered to him by others and–”
“And he’s had millennia to think of tricks and double crosses to pull on people. Sven, you are a good man; you come at your enemies head on, nothing up your sleeve. You’re not used to trying to be devious. Loki lives for that shit.”
She had me. I stopped pacing and leaned against the counter, my eyes staring out the kitchen window at nothing in particular. “If I try to work an honest trade with him, there’s nothing to prevent him from trying to double cross me.”
She nodded. “True. But…”
“But what?”
She sighed and reached her tiny hand out to caress my own. “Sweetie, I just don’t think you could get the better of him in some kind of swindle. All you can do is force his hand to provide proof. Then hope that you both get what you want.”
I swallowed hard. “I need to talk to the master again.” I turned to her and pulled her into a hug. “He has always given me sage advice, when I can figure it out.”
She kissed my hand and gave me a soft smile. “Don’t be gone long. I’m making loaf of meat tonight.”
* * *
“You hesitated.”
How in the lowest levels of Elivdnir did he know I was behind him?
“How do you mean?” I leaned against the pear tree and watched him. He slowly rose and brushed the dirt from his hands.
“I told you not to hesitate, and yet you did.”
I shrugged. “You should have spoken more plainly. There’s a lot of stuff I hesitate about.”
He sighed and shook his finger at me. “The Valkyrie. You should have removed her head from her shoulders. All that you needed to know would have been yours and you could have left without facing the old wolf.”
I shook my head. “She yet lives and I found out what I needed to know. I see it as a win-win.”
He lowered his face and I could tell he was trying to think of a way to explain things without really explaining them. He finally turned and the expression on his face was staggering. “You should have killed her. Now your kin know that you are a vampire. They will never accept you
again.”
I shrugged. “If I get my soul back, what does it matter?”
He gave me a stern look. “Eventually you’d like to return to Valhalla, yes?”
I shook my head. “My gods will never allow that.”
It was his turn to give me that look. “Then what? Convert to another religion? After all of these centuries?” He sighed again and sat on the edge of the planter. “That is not who you are, Sven Ericson.”
I knew he was right, but one problem at a time. I was never good at chess. I couldn’t think five moves ahead. I could barely keep my head in the move I was currently making. “What should I do about Loki?”
He shrugged. “He is a persistently dangerous presence in your life; he has singled you out to torment.”
“You think I should kill him?” I was actually surprised to hear that possibility come from him. He was always speaking of inner peace and crap like that.
“Has he done something to wrong you?” There was that look again. I couldn’t think of a smart assed reply so I clamped my mouth shut. He stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Try to see things from his point of view. He was trying to blow off a little steam here in this plane. You came after him and tried twice to kill him. You stole some of his power and now he simply wants it back. He did offer you your soul in return, did he not?”
I nodded. “But how can I know if it’s really mine?”
He gave me a soft smile and patted my shoulder. “You’ll know.”
I shrugged. “But how will I know?”
He exhaled slowly and considered if he should even tell me. “It will ‘fit’. If it is not your soul, you’ll know.”
“By then it will be too late. He’ll have his power and I’d be stuck with a worn out, second hand soul from somebody else.” I ground my teeth together. “I want my soul.”
The master nodded and walked past me. “This is one decision you must make on your own.” He paused at the steps of the monastery. “Perhaps you should listen to your woman. It sounds as though she has a brighter mind than you.”
And then there was that. How the hell could he know what Laura may have said. I opened my mouth to ask him all of the questions that I had been working up when I found myself back in my office.
Dammit!
How does he do that? He must be more than he appears to be. Maybe he’s one of the ancient gods that the angels spoke of. One of the original zodiac? Come to Earth to live as a man? It made no sense and I really didn’t want to waste my limited mental capabilities pondering the master when I had to figure out how to deal with the trickster.
The door opened to the office and Laura nearly squealed. “When did you get back?”
“Just now.” I glanced over her shoulder and saw three men pushing a large cardboard box in on a wheeled cart. “What’s this?”
“Your new desk.” She waved her arms around the package like a game show cutie. “I hope you like it.”
The men brought the wheeled cart in and began cutting the straps. I was only joking when I told her to find me one made of stone. But here it was. Gleaming under the lights of the office was a beautiful black granite desk.
When I say granite, I don’t mean just the top. The entire desk was made of stone. With polished bullnose corners and flutes engraved into the sides, it was truly beautiful. I was afraid to touch it.
She leaned up and kissed my cheek. “Don’t break this one please.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but I think one of the men heard her.
“Uh, ma’am. Do you want us to remove this one?” He pointed to the broken wooden desk.
“Yes please. I’ve already emptied it.”
We stepped out of the office and allowed the men to do their jobs. I took one more glance at the polished black desk and pulled her into the kitchen. “Where in the world did you find that thing?”
“I know a guy. He knows a guy who knows a guy and…well…voila!”
I chuckled and pulled her close. “In other words, don’t ask, don’t tell?”
“Something like that.” She pulled back slightly. “What did the master say?”
I groaned. “He said I hesitated. I should have killed the Valkyrie.”
“Ah. I wondered if he’d ever explain that. But what about Loki?”
I shrugged. “He said I should listen to you.” I really hated to admit that. To her credit, she didn’t rub it in my face. “Sounds like he’s much wiser than you let on.” Okay, she didn’t rub it in much.
“So, I wait until Loki shows his ugly mug again and I tell him to show proof or no deal.” I sighed and stared out through the window again. The view hadn’t changed. “I will miss having these powers though.”
“That you rarely use. And don’t need. And don’t you think it a fair trade?” She wrapped her arms around me reassuringly. “This is what you want, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
But there was something inside me that kept screaming that it was a set up. That Loki would double cross and lie and cheat and…then I’d be forced to kill him. Even if I didn’t have the powers of a god, I had the anger of a Viking and the weapons of the angels.
Loki had better pray that he was on the up and up.
Chapter 15
The next few days left me nervous and anxious. I couldn’t concentrate on my duties and Laura could tell that I was on pins and needles. Every time I looked to my computer or the mirror or any other reflective surface, I half expected to see his ugly mug staring back at me.
I’ll admit, more than a few times I sat at my desk and stared at the black screen actually hoping the bastard would show. I wanted to get the terms laid out, get my proof, and get it over with.
I really had no idea what to expect once the deal was done and my soul was returned. What would I be once I was stripped of my powers? A vampire with a soul? Is that even possible?
I expressed my concern to Laura and she had no idea either. I didn’t know it at the time, but she called Helen. Helen may not be worth much as a witch…or she may be, I don’t know any other witches so I can’t really compare. But she does have one thing…a vast amount of resources. She contacted people who contacted people who contacted even more; a vast web of witches and their, friends, I guess. Anyway, she was able to patch together some information that she was more than eager to share.
I was actually surprised when Laura pushed open the doors to the office and the pair walked in. I had been staring at the black screen waiting for Loki to make his appearance and was somewhat startled when the pair walked in.
“Helen. I barely recognized you with your clothes on.” She didn’t rise to the bait.
“Nice to see you again, Sven. Too bad your clothes are on.” She flopped into the overstuffed leather chair across from me while Laura slid into the other chair.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?” I was really trying to be nice. Laura even grinned at me when I said it right. I think that as long as she’s around the days of my barking, “What the hell do you want?” are probably over.
“I come bearing gifts.” Helen looked like the cat that ate the canary.
“Cookies?” I tried to paint a sincere smile but I think I failed.
“Information, my dear.” She leaned forward and dug in her bag. “Laura tells me that you have no idea what to expect once you go through with this trade you have cooked up. She glanced up and gave me a confused look. “Why you’d want to give up being a god for a mere human soul is beyond me…but I may have found what you’re wanting to know.”
I raised a brow. “Which is?”
“I had to do some serious research with people far more ‘in the know’ than I am.” I fought the urge to ask her which class of first graders she’d polled for her answers. “We’ve come to a couple of conclusions.” She spread the papers out in front of me and they were covered in the wildest scribbles I had ever tried to comprehend.
“What is this?” I picked up a page and turned it sideways. Was that a horse drawn along
a border?
“My notes, silly god-man.” She plucked the page from my hand and settled into her chair. “Okay, according to the East Coast Wiccans, once your soul is returned to your body and the god powers are stripped from you, you’ll be a human, just like everyone else.” She gave me her best seductive look. “Well…as close to everyone else as you can be.”
“So I’ll be human. No hiding in the darkness and drinking blood.” I shrugged. “Well, that’s how I started this game. It might be cool to finish it that way.”
“Or…” she paused and plucked through the scattered pages, “you could end up a vampire again.” She gave me a pouty face and I tried to wave her on with my hand. “Oh. Yeah. Well, according to the Order of Mountain Wizards and Warlocks, the OMWW, they believe that vampirism is caused by a virus. Since you were a vampire for so long, that virus has literally eaten its way into every one of your cells. You may have your soul, but you’d be a vampire again. Just a vampire. No day walking, no eating human foods…just darkness and blood again. And since a vampire is technically dead, your soul can’t stay in your body, so…” She shook her head.
“So, what? You’re telling me I get my soul back but it can’t stay so…what? It goes back to Valhalla only to be tossed out on its ass again?” I pushed away from the desk and shook my head. “No fuckin’ way.”
Helen raised her hands to try to calm me. “That is only supposition, there’s no way anyone can know. And there’s more. If you want to hear it.”
I glanced to Laura. “This is all of the same shit I wondered. I was hoping she would come up with some kind of answers for me.”
“I’m working on it, sweetie. Just untwist your panties.” Helen sat back and rifled through more pages. Laura turned her head slightly and mouthed, “I’m sorry.” I just shrugged and tried to settle back in and calm myself.
“Okay. According to the Fairy Gossipers,” she gave me a look I couldn’t read, “they’re kind of ‘out there’ but damn if they don’t come up with some of the coolest spells. Of course it’s like working with a bunch of high school goth queens who accidentally discovered they could work magic. They’re weird as shit, but they’re very effective.”
Hunter 3 : Lost Souls Page 13
