“No, I merely stunned it. Killing an elf carries a sentence in their world of death. It’s burdensome.”
“But they are the ones attacking us!” I pointed out. “It was self-defense.”
“Yes, but proving that to the court is almost impossible. Come on.” He gestured in front of him. “We need to find a way off this roof.”
I followed. Tyr carried Sam behind us.
“Where are you taking me?” I heard Sam ask weakly.
“Have no fear, maiden. We will get you to safety unharmed,” Tyr answered, his voice deep and calming.
“Did you just call me ‘maiden’? Like a princess in a fairy tale?” She giggled. “I think this shitty dream might be getting better.”
I chuckled. It seemed Sam would make a rebound quicker than I thought. No one could blame her for losing her sanity for a while. It wasn’t easy finding out that the mythology you were taught in school actually existed. She was taking it better than I had.
“I see something over there.” I pointed to an area on the roof that had two black rods coming up. It could be the top of a fire escape. Not every place had one that reached the roof, but some did.
Fen glanced over the side, shaking his head. “No, it’s just some reinforcement. But that building over there has one.” He nodded to the complex next to Sam’s. It was at least a story shorter than Sam’s building.
“How are we going to get there?” I asked, hoping beyond hope that Fen wouldn’t say what I knew he was going to say.
“We jump, naturally.”
“Um.” I walked to the edge and peered down. It seemed like a mile. “I’m not sure I can make that.”
“Yes, you can, Valkyrie. And even if you fell, which I won’t allow, you wouldn’t die.”
“That’s reassuring and everything,” I continued, “but you seem to forget I have no training for this. As of a week ago, I was human. Humans don’t leap buildings. Stuntmen with harnesses do. And won’t my crashing eight stories to the ground be detrimental to the mission? The dark elves will swarm me and take me hostage instantly.”
“That might be true, but you’re not going to fall,” he said. “All we need to do is take a running leap, and we’re clear. You’ve got more inside you than a typical human. You must remember that.”
I’m sure I would embrace my Valkyrie-ness at a later date, but right now jumping off a building sounded extreme. I tried to imagine how Ingrid would handle it. She wouldn’t need Fen egging her on, that was for certain. She’d likely be across already.
I glanced back at Tyr, who still held Sam. She gazed at him with pure adoration. He inclined his head to me no more than an inch, which basically told me I was going to have to jump.
“What about Sam?” I asked. “She can’t make it, and if she fell, she’d be dead.”
“I will get her across safely,” Tyr said, his tone confident.
Sam intertwined her arms around Tyr’s neck, a bright smile on her face as she turned to me. “I trust him.”
“You can’t be serious.” I had to keep my voice modulated so I didn’t yell. “This is not a fairy tale, Sam. It’s real life! What if you fall?”
She calmly stated, “I won’t fall. Have you seen the size of this guy? And I understand this is real life, Phoebe. But can’t a girl enjoy a surreal moment or two? Scary storybook creatures just broke into my apartment. My world has been rocked with the news that supernaturals do in fact exist. I’m happy to linger here, in fantasyland, for a while, because frankly, coming back down to earth now, in my pajamas, standing on my roof in the middle of winter, being held by a god, won’t be great for my fragile psyche. I prefer to come down more slowly, on my own terms, when I’m warm and snug in my own bed wondering if this all was a dream or just my youthful imagination playing tricks on me.”
I snorted. “Your fragile psyche, my—”
The door to the roof crashed open, and three dark elves ran out.
Fen grabbed my hand. “Time to go.” He pulled me backward a few feet and then took off at a run.
I had no choice but to follow, gripping his hand like it was an anchor for my own fragile psyche. We hit the edge at the same time, using it to propel us forward. I closed my eyes as I cried out, “This better work!”
“Open your eyes!” Fen called back.
I pried them apart a second before we landed. We’d managed to clear the expanse with more than enough room. I let go of Fen’s hand and dropped to the ground, somersaulting a few times until I skidded to a stop on the slippery rooftop. I recovered quickly, jumping up and brushing myself off. Just in time to see Tyr land effortlessly, Sam still in his arms.
The god of war made jumping between buildings look like a routine event, almost as easy as stepping over a curb after exiting a taxi.
I didn’t have time to comment, because sailing over after him were three dark elves, their teeth gnashing as they flew through the night, arms spread wide, cackling like devils.
30
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“Phoebe!” Fen yelled. “Take this.”
I turned in time to see Gram flying through the air. I snatched it as a dark elf barreled into me. The force of the impact sent us both flying. The thing landed on top of me, skidding us both along the roof. It was surprisingly meatier than it looked.
“You’re coming with us,” it chirped in its high singsong voice, its breath smelling like decaying earth. “We have plans for you that involve a lot of gold and untold riches.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I spat. “I’ve already been kidnapped once, and it’s not happening again.”
“You will come with us whether you choose to or not,” it asserted. “Because I have something here that will give you little choice in the matter.” It produced something out of its pocket. A black vial filled with something thick and sludgy. “You will ingest this now, and you will remember nothing.”
“The hell I will!” I thrashed. But the elf on my chest had me pinned with its powerful arms. They were a lot stronger than they appeared.
“Valkyrie, don’t swallow that!” Fen yelled.
“I’m trying not to,” I called, averting my face while trying to rock this burr off my chest. I glanced to my left and right. Fen and Tyr were both engaged with the other elves.
Sam stood a ways away, her mouth open, her eyes wide. At least she was safe for now.
The thing continued to press the vial against my lips. “Drink, drink, drink!” it chirped.
I finally knocked it off of me, but it scampered right back up quicker than I could react. “Get…off…of me!” I still had Gram in my hand, which made maneuvering difficult. I didn’t want to stab the thing unless I absolutely had to.
“If you will not drink this, I will have to hurt you,” it warned, clucking its tongue menacingly. “That won’t harm our reward in the least. Verdandi has been very clear about that. You are to be taken dead or alive.”
“I’m sure she made it clear as day,” I gritted. “But that doesn’t mean I plan on cooperating.”
It suddenly sat up, a grin forming on its wide, uneven features. Its hand went into its shirt, and then it brandished a long, skinny dagger. The thing looked like a cross between an ice pick and a kitchen knife with a very detailed handle carved in what could possibly be bone. It gleamed in the moonlight as the elf brought it down, the tip piercing the base of my throat. It happened so fast, it took me a moment to process what was happening.
“I think I will just take you dead—” The blade went into my neck a little farther.
My hand reacted before my brain had a chance to get on board. Lightning crackled down above us. I heard Fen yell, but Gram was already in motion. The dagger hit its mark, entering the side of the elf’s head with a sickening thunk. The thing slid off of me and toppled to the side, the ice pick falling out of its hand with a clatter to the rooftop.
I scampered up as Sam rushed over, helping me by grabbing my arm and
clutching me close. “Did you…did you just kill that thing?” she stammered. “I mean, I saw it, but I’m not sure I believe it.”
“I think so,” I answered. “It was a gut reaction. I didn’t plan on it. But it said it was going to kill me first, so I guess I…preempted it? I don’t know.” I bent down and picked up the ice pick, examining it. It hummed with magic. I placed my other hand on my neck where the tip had gone in, smearing the blood that still leaked from the wound onto my palm. The urge to take the weapon for myself overwhelmed me. I leaned down and pulled Gram out of the elf’s head, which made a sickening slicking sound.
I wiped the elf’s blood off on its own shirt as Sam’s voice lowered to a whisper as I stood. “Lightning lit up the sky when you did it,” she told me. “And now you’re kind of glowing.” There was a bit of humor in her voice. “But, honestly, it was cool to see you kick some ass, and that thing is beyond creepy. I’m not sorry you killed it, but I am sorry if you feel bad.”
I glanced down at my bloodied hand. I was emitting a soft white glow, but it was fading fast. I nodded to my friend, trying to regain my thoughts. My brain felt clouded. There was a noise, followed by a cry of anguish. We both turned to look.
Tyr and Fen both had their elves by the throat, each of them stalking to the edge of the building. In unison, they tossed the dark elves over the edge, but not before I saw the reaction to my kill in both elves’ eyes.
There was hatred there.
I glanced around, realizing my tussle with the elf had taken place much quicker than I’d thought. We hadn’t been on this roof very long.
Fen rushed toward me, his hands going around my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I answered. “I didn’t mean to kill it, but it was trying to kill me.” I lifted my hand to show him the blood.
He pulled me into an embrace, murmuring, “It was a just and fair kill.”
“Will the drop from the building kill yours?” I asked, pulling back, glancing at Tyr, who now stood by Sam, his arms crossed.
“No,” Fen said. “They will be stunned once they land, but they won’t die. It takes much to kill one. Come, we must leave now.” He grabbed my hand and led me toward the fire escape.
I glanced back at the dead elf’s body. “We can’t leave it up here for a human to find.”
“Its comrades will find it and take it home,” Tyr answered, ushering Sam in front of him, her slippers making no sound as she padded after us.
“Am I going to be in trouble for killing it?” I asked as Fen began to descend the ladder down the side of the building.
He glanced up. “Not if you stay out of their realm. As I said, it was a just kill. There will be no penalties in the other worlds.”
“But?” I almost shouted. “My mother is being held prisoner there. You heard that thing. We have to go get her. That means I will be traveling to their realm.”
“We can decide all that later,” Fen said, his voice stoic. “Come down the ladder. The elves will be occupied with their wounded, but not indefinitely. We must move.”
I followed him down the fire escape, Tyr and Sam behind me.
Once we all jumped down into the alley, Fen led us to the street, glancing both ways to make sure it was clear.
“Where are we going now?” I asked from behind his shoulder.
“We must get to the Valkyrie stronghold, as the raven told you,” Fen answered.
“How are we going to get there?” I asked.
“We can use my boat,” Tyr offered.
Fen’s eyebrows shot up as he glanced back over his shoulder. “Why would you accompany us on such a mission?”
“Because I have pledged myself to protect her,” he said. “I will see her safe. After that, I will leave if you so desire.”
“Do you happen to know where the Valkyrie stronghold is?” I asked Tyr. We needed exact directions.
“No,” Tyr answered. “But if we use my boat, we can take magical routes. It’s not as fast as taking the tree, but it’s safer and will keep us mostly off the radar.”
I glanced at Fen to gauge his reaction.
He seemed torn. We needed to leave New York immediately, but taking a portal was out of the question. I wasn’t going to risk getting dropped into the Norns’ lair, or worse. Was there a worse? I didn’t want to know. “Let’s go with him,” I urged. “We don’t have a better solution right now, and he’s proven he’s on our side for now. Before I was snatched, Ingrid was taking me to Teterboro to take a private jet, but I don’t think it’s safe to fly, and I’d have no idea how to find out where the Valkyries keep their jet.” A plane crash sounded the least desirable option out there.
Fen nodded once, making his decision. “Fine. But once we arrive at the Valkyrie stronghold, you will disappear, is that clear?”
“Whatever you want,” Tyr agreed. “But the human must come with us. It’s unsafe for her to stay here. The dark elves will have her scent and will take her for questioning.”
Before I could add anything, Sam piped in, “You bet I’m coming with! I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Plus, you’re not leaving me here with those creepy things crawling all over my building. Did you say we’re going to a Valkyrie stronghold? That sounds amazing.”
We took off at a fast clip down the street, Fen leading the way. Once we reached the marina, we ran toward the place where Tyr’s boat had been docked.
It wasn’t there.
“Your boat better be cloaked from view,” Fen said as Tyr jogged up. Tyr was still shirtless, but he didn’t appear to be cold in the least. Weather must be much different on Asgard. Either that, or gods could regulate their body temperature much more efficiently.
“It seems to have left,” Tyr replied, glancing around.
“What do you mean it left?” I asked. “How can boats just pick up and leave?”
“If the boat senses a threat, it’s programmed to disappear,” he answered. “That’s what makes it safe.”
“Where did it go?” I asked. “The dark elves will be on our trail soon.”
“The boat will give me a signal when it resurfaces.”
“When will that be, master?” Fen asked, his voice full with sarcasm.
“My name rolls off your tongue so well, just like long ago,” Tyr replied, not missing a beat.
“Don’t you have some kind of key fob thingy?” Sam asked, her arms wrapped around her body, trying to keep warm. “Like cars have? We can’t be more advanced here than Asgard. I mean, come on!”
Tyr looked a little disgruntled. “The boat is spelled to protect itself and its inhabitants. That’s why I live on it. It will surface soon, likely in this same place once it assesses that the trouble has left.”
“But the trouble won’t be gone. The dark elves are on our trail. Can’t you call it back somehow?” I asked.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “If I call it back, I reveal myself.”
“Reveal? To who? And how?” I paced on the dock. We didn’t need any more sirens to let people know where we were.
“My father, for one,” he replied. “And any others who tune in to that kind of thing.” That had to include the Norns. “I have to send a ripple with my signature on it through the worlds to find it. The boat is keyed only to me, so it would get the message. But so would anyone else who’s listening.”
“It’s too risky,” Fen said.
I nodded my agreement.
“Though,” Tyr pondered, “no one knows I’m with you, and I’ve been gone a long time. Likely no one is going to notice if I call it, as they won’t know we’re together.”
“Can dark elves get messages easily from Midgard to their realm?” I asked. “Because they know we’re together.”
“Yes, in seconds,” Tyr answered. “They are always linked by magic. Their leader, Invaldi, will be keeping close tabs.”
“Then it’s too risky, just as I said,” Fen replied, crossing his arms. “The realms have to know I’ve escaped by now. Once the news
is out that we’re all together, it will be a massive hunt.”
There was a quiver under our feet as the dock moved.
“What was that?” Sam asked, fear stark in her voice.
The dock vibrated again.
It had to take a huge force to make concrete sway like that. The water in the river was agitated, lapping against the pilings violently.
My gaze landed squarely on Fen. “I think Tyr should call the boat back. This feels like something bigger than dark elves.”
Fen’s face hardened. “Tyr, call the boat.”
“Are you sure—” Tyr started.
“I’m sure. There is only one thing that can cause a tremor like this from below the sea,” Fen stated evenly.
“What?” I asked.
“Jormungand.”
“No way,” Sam breathed. “It really exists?”
“Who?” I asked as the dock tremored again, this time with more intensity. I glanced at Sam. It was strange that she knew more about my new world than I did.
“My brother,” Fen stated evenly.
“The Midgard Serpent,” Tyr finished. “I’m calling the boat now.”
31
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“Your brother is a serpent?” I tried to keep my voice steady. Serpent made sense, right? Like having a sibling who lived in the ocean was not totally out of the ordinary. “Why would he be after us?”
“The same reason I would hunt him.” Fen began to pace. “To free myself of my bondage. My brother is a shifter, like me. He’s been imprisoned by the sea longer than I’ve been incarcerated. He seeks freedom, and the Norns have likely offered it to him as his reward. He is here to claim it.”
I swallowed. “Like, how big of a serpent are we talking about?” Behind me, Tyr stood with his head bowed and his arms high in the air. I hoped the boat appeared quickly. Though, at the moment, a boat didn’t seem like exactly the right choice.
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