by Ayer, T. G.
"Halbrook?" Aidan’s mother stared at me and then back at Aidan, confusion creasing her brow. "Halbook? Geoffrey's daughter?" Aidan nodded, and so did I, although I didn't think she'd seen me as her gaze remained focused on her son. "What does Stephen want with Geoffrey's daughter? Hasn't he done enough damage to her family?"
"Mom, maybe you need to sit down. I think you need to know the truth." Aidan held his mother by the shoulders and encouraged her to move to the nearest armchair.
She arched an eyebrow and sat. "Tell me what that wretched man has been up to." I wondered how she would react to Aidan's story and I hoped she'd take it well.
"Father sent me to find Bryn, but what I didn’t know was that he wanted to experiment on her."
"Why would he . . . ?" Aidan's mother asked, but her question trailed off and she had a faraway look in her eyes.
"Father believed that Dr. Halbrook used the DNA of a skeleton discovered years ago to create Bryn."
"Ah yes, that's what caused all the trouble with Irene." She nodded, a sad twist to her lips.
"What trouble was that, Mrs. Lee?" I asked as a spike of suspicion and fear ran through me. Had Dr. Lee influenced my mother’s opinion about me? Had he been the reason she'd shunned and then abandoned me?
"That was when Stephen told your mother this crazy story, hoping she would help get him access to you. You were quite little at the time. Maybe about two years old." Aidan's mom nodded, almost to herself. All the while my heart sank further and further. More blame to be laid at the feet of Aidan's father. "Yes, I didn't like what Stephen did, and I even said as much. That got me an interesting reaction for sure." She smiled sadly. What had been the repercussions for expressing herself with her husband? I imagined Dr. Lee didn't take kindly to his wife's disapproval.
I looked at Aidan, hoping he would be the one to tell her it wasn’t as crazy a story as she'd thought. And thankfully, he seemed to take the hint.
"Well, Mom, the thing is . . . father was right." Aidan paused and let that sink in, throwing me another look that I took to mean "Are you okay?" I just shrugged.
"He was right? About Geoffrey and the DNA thing? How do you know this, Aidan?" His mother frowned and rose to her feet.
"Mrs. Lee, we know he was right because we now know that my father had experimented with the DNA. We also know his experiments did have an effect on me."
"Oh, my dear, I am so sorry. It's not easy to live with health problems. Aidan and I know about that very well." Mrs. Lee wrung her hands and I didn't have the heart to tell her that my father’s machinations resulted in a Valkyrie and not in health problems. I wasn’t sure she could handle such a revelation.
I glanced at Aidan, sending him a questioning frown.
"Mom means my sister, Enya. She’s been ill since she was born. We still have no idea what's been making her so sick. She can't even stand the sunlight sometimes. And she can be very volatile too." Aidan was speaking for his mother’s benefit, but I knew exactly what he meant.
"Are you going to see her, Aidan? She'd like that." Mrs. Lee was already moving toward a second set of doors leading farther into the west wing. I paid scant attention to the large paintings on the wall, the mahogany dining set, or the marble fireplace. I followed Aidan, curious now to see what his sister was like. So far, I quite liked his mother. She seemed kind enough. She'd survived within the shadow of Dr. Lee and that was saying something.
She led us down a short passage, then stopped at the open door. I peeked over Aidan’s shoulder. Walls and bedding and carpet were all powder-blue and white, all the furniture was an antique French style with those little elegant-looking legs. At first, the room seemed empty, but Aidan stepped inside and walked toward the window, and I saw her.
A young girl, most of her face hidden by a fall of white-blond hair, sat in a white velvet armchair facing the window. She sat only a few inches from a swathe of sunlight that shone through the open drapes and onto the carpet before her.
"Enya, look who came to visit you," Aidan's mother called out and the girl’s gaze spun to her brother as her drew closer.
"Aidan," she squealed, joy evident in her eyes. Aidan leaned forward and squeezed her in a tight embrace. She laughed loudly, the sound echoing around the room. "How lovely to see you. You've been very naughty not visiting for so long." She admonished her brother and soon they were deep in conversation.
Words failed me.
I could barely think straight.
First the Jotunn downstairs that Aidan hadn't even reacted to, and now Aidan's sister. I should have been prepared with what Aidan had already confessed about his sister's condition, but I stared. Harder than I should have. Her skin shimmered like porcelain, a pale, almost-blinding white, but slashes of dark-blue veins marred the beauty of her pristine flesh. Her entire body seemed covered in the very same blue-veined, white skin. She seemed unreal, otherworldly, and yet I knew in that moment what she was. Aidan's sister was a frost giant. Or maybe part frost giant. I couldn't be entirely sure. She seemed to have woven glamor about her. Nothing strong, but enough to hide the worst of her affliction.
"Bryn? Bryn?" Aidan's voice punctured my thoughts and I became aware he was beckoning me to go to them. I went despite the hairs on my skin lifting in rebellion. "Come and meet my sister."
Aidan's face was a picture of happiness and I smiled back at him automatically, forgetting how he'd hurt me, forgetting his recent distance. He took my hand and drew me to him, and I allowed myself that brief moment of his closeness. I knew it wasn’t real, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. A fleeting end to a fleeting love.
"Enya, this is Bryn. Bryn, my sister, Enya." She smiled so brightly I tried to put what she was out of my head for the moment. She didn’t appear to be a threat to any one of us in the room, so I took her hand in mine and squeezed it.
I tried not to flinch.
Her fingers lay within my palm, icy cold and almost lifeless. I got an even brighter smile once she saw I wasn’t disgusted with skin-to-skin contact with her.
"How lovely to meet a friend of Aidan's," she said, her voice now soft and breathy. "You must tell me all about how you met."
Aidan broke in. "I'm sorry, Ens, but we have to go. We can't stay here. Maybe you and Bryn can talk after we have gotten away?"
"What do you mean?" Aidan’s mother stepped closer to her children.
"Mom, we have to leave. You need to pack a few things for you and Ens and we need to leave ASAP. I'm taking you two away from here and away from his control. I won’t allow him to manipulate us anymore."
I wanted to point out that with Dr. Lee was safely in the dungeons of Asgard, he wasn’t going to be doing any sort of manipulation in the foreseeable future.
"Where are we going, honey?" Aidan's mom asked as she hurried to the door. She paused in the doorway, waiting for an answer.
And got none. Aidan was stumped. "I . . . I guess I hadn't thought about where we could go. I was concentrating too much on the research." Aidan looked at me, and a blush of embarrassment stained his cheeks as he scrubbed his fingers through his hair. "Maybe we could take them to Craven. Father would never think to look for them there."
"No. Not Craven. We need to take them to Asgard," I said firmly.
"What? Why?" Aidan asked, his voice strained and almost confrontational. Of course, he wouldn’t like the idea. It would mean revealing a whole lot more to his mother and sister than he had ever been prepared to.
"Can you think of any other way that wouldn't endanger whomever they stayed with?" I asked. I stared straight at his face, refusing to give him the chance to look away.
And he caved. "Fine. Then we'd better be quick about it." Aidan looked at his mom, who still stood in the doorway, confusion and a little fear darkening her eyes. She hesitated then hurried off.
Meanwhile, Aidan began opening the built-in cupboards that lined one wall of the room. At last, he found a large gym bag, which he threw on the bed. "Ens, is there anything you want to take with you
in particular?"
"My violin," she answered, pointing at the case that sat on another chair near the door. I moved to fetch it when Enya let out a soft rush of laughter. "Aidan, are you packing my underwear? Oh dear. This is too funny."
Aidan and I both laughed with her. "Well, Ens, they won't pack themselves will they?" She stuck her tongue out at him and sat back as he stuffed clothes and toiletries into the bag.
It only took his mother a few minutes to return, and by that time, Enya's bag and violin were ready for the trip.
"Right, I'm all set too," his mom announced as she strode into the room. "Let's go then." With that, she strode to the open door, peeked behind it, and withdrew a wheelchair, which she rolled over to Enya. I watched, surprised, as mother and son helped Enya into the chair. I hadn’t realized she was that frail. It didn’t make any sense, either. Why would a Jotunn be so weak? What was wrong with her that her physical body seemed ready to fall apart?
Aidan's mom pushed his sister out the door and I was thankful I had a moment to talk to him in private. "We have a problem."
"What's that?"
"Getting them out of here isn't going to be as easy as you think."
"Why?" Aidan frowned and came to a stop.
I turned to him. "The guard outside? You know, the big muscled dude?"
"Yeah, that's Gus."
"Well, Gus the guard dog is also Gus the frost giant." I let that revelation settle on him, watching his features go from disbelief to shock to confusion then shock again.
"What? How do you know that?"
"I can see through his glamor."
"How come I can't see him then? I thought einherjar could see through glamor too?"
"I don't know. How long has he been with your father? Maybe there is some type of spell or something that prevents you from seeing it. I’m assuming humans can't see through glamor at all, but surely you should’ve been able to see it now that you’re a Warrior?" I couldn’t figure it out and regretted the words as soon as they were out.
"He's been here for a while. The last time I saw him was when I left Craven. And yes, you’re right. How come I can't see through the glamor? Maybe Loki fiddled with his glamor so I can’t see the real Gus? Loki is known for his magic, right?"
I nodded, not wanting to get into any deeper discussions. "So any suggestions on getting the guard away from the entrance?" I asked. "Unless you want me to fight him?" I offered but I didn't really want to fight him right now. I was still recovering and I still felt vulnerable without my wings. I had my weapons, but I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
"I have an idea," he said as we entered the main room and made for the doors. The two women waited at the top of the stairs beside an elevator I hadn’t noticed on my way upstairs earlier. "Let's get downstairs. Mom, you, Enya and Bryn wait in the study. I'll tell Gus he has a call from Father and to take it in the kitchen. As soon as he gets to the kitchen, you get out the door. I’ll bring the car around"
A car? Good plan. I’d forgotten for a moment this was his house.
We were about to enter the elevator when a high-pitched voice drifted to us from behind. Aidan and his mother both flinched. I was still carrying the bags and threw a quick glamor over them as I turned to face the oncoming woman.
A housekeeper. A Jotunn too. More of them? I flicked a glance at Aidan and raised an eyebrow, hoping he’d get my meaning. His eyebrows almost met his hairline in shock, his eyes asking "her too?" I nodded, then turned back to the woman and smiled. The woman’s face was red, almost angry. Guard dog almost failing to guard.
"Hello, Gretchen, I was about to ring you," said Aidan’s mom.
The housekeeper looked slightly startled having had her scolding halted. She took a breath and smoothed her hands down her apron. "How can I be of assistance, Mrs. Lee?"
"We need tea in the front room please, Gretchen. My son has come to visit and brought his delightful girlfriend with him." With both my hands occupied by glamored bags, Aidan had to settle for sliding an arm around me and kissing my temple most lovingly.
"Hello, Gretchen."
"Aidan." She sniffed. "You look far too thin. You have not been taking care of yourself." Beneath the glamor, the Jotunn’s eyes flitted from Aidan’s face to mine but seemed satisfied enough by our story. If they knew he’d died, then they would also know he was einherjar. And they’d also know about us. So as Aidan’s girlfriend went, I fit the bill. Perhaps she was looking for wings. But my gut told me it was safe. She wasn’t about to turn into a towering giant just yet.
"Okay. You go to the front room and I will make you something exquisitely delicious." She smiled although I wasn’t so sure it reached her eyes.
"Can I have some of your lovely butter biscuits?" Aidan asked.
"Then you can’t be rushing off anywhere. You know how long it takes to prepare."
"Not going anywhere in a hurry. I just got home to visit Mom and Enya." She seemed satisfied and waddled off down the stairs as Aidan led his mother and sister into the elevator.
When the doors closed we walked down to wait for them, then gathered just inside the entrance doors. So close but yet so far.
"Gretchen will be about forty-five minutes preparing that food," said Aidan.
"Good. Will she be in the kitchen at the same time as Gus takes your call?" I asked. Aidan nodded. "Maybe you should call, pretending to be your dad, to make it sound more real," I suggested.
"Yes, good idea. That should stall him a little longer and buy us some time." Aidan fished his cell phone from his pocket and pointed at the door nearest the entrance. "You guys had better get inside there."
Weighed down with the bags, I followed his mom as she shoved the front room door open and pushed the wheelchair inside. I closed the door behind me and placed an ear to the wood. Outside, the house-phone began to ring. He rushed off, his footsteps disappearing in the distance. Soon the phone ceased its ringing and Aidan returned to the door, opened it. "Hey, Gus. My father’s on the phone for you."
A pregnant pause. My heart jumped into my throat. What if he questioned Aidan? How did Dr. Lee usually communicate with Gus? I clenched my fists to calm myself down. Beside me, Aidan's mom and sister waited in equally strained silence.
"Thank you, Mr. Lee," Gus said as he stepped inside the house.
"You can take it in the kitchen," Aidan said.
"Thank you, sir." Gus's heavy footsteps thumped away from us and disappeared. As soon as the footsteps stopped, I flung open the study door. I rushed to open the front door and we all trooped outside. Aidan’s mom pushed the wheelchair straight out onto the ramp that ran beside the stairs. She pushed the chair across the gravel a few feet; not an easy ride for either the chair or its passenger. Enya endure the jostling in silence. Aidan drove up slowly, the black Jaguar humming a little too loudly for my own comfort. He jumped out and swung Enya from the chair into the back seat. I threw the bags in the trunk while he helped his mother with the wheelchair. I jumped in the passenger seat and shut my door just as Aidan and his mother closed theirs. It felt like an eternity as we drove off down the driveway. Within seconds, we came to a halt in front of the gates, which were slowly opening. I glanced at Aidan who pointed at the remote on his sun visor. We sped out the gates and down the road. I sighed, relieved they were all safe and we didn't have to fight off the Frost Giant duo.
We made it to the Bifrost without incident and dumped the car a block away from the park. My fears of whether the bridge could handle a wheelchair were unfounded as the chair and its very flushed occupant arrived safely in Asgard.
"Oh, my goodness," said Aidan's mother, taking in the fire blazing in the large pit in the middle of the Transport Room.
I smiled as I walked out of the room and headed for Odin's hall. Aidan had some explaining to do.
***
Chapter 11
Aidan spoke in hushed tones to his mom and sister behind me as we wound through the halls. I prayed Odin would be available to see us and heave
d a sigh of relief when I walked through the doorway to see Odin and Frigga both on their thrones. Their discussion must have been serious from the worried expressions on their faces.
I hurried to the dais, flicking a glance over my shoulder at the small family that trailed me. Aidan's mom was white-faced with shock, but Enya seemed to be taking it all in her stride as she stared around the hall and gaped at the gods on the dais.
"Valkyrie Brynhildr, where have you been?" Odin's voice shook the hall and I could have sworn I heard a ceiling beam creak dangerously above.
"I apologize, my lord. You were busy I didn't want to disturb you. I had promised to help Aidan fetch his mom and sister, so I returned to Midgard." I spoke fast, hoping I could get as much of the story out as possible and maybe Odin would forget how angry he was at my disappearance. "Aidan and I have brought his mom and sister with us. They are looking for refuge here as we think Midgard is too dangerous for them right now."
I moved aside so Odin could see Aidan and his family clearly, and from the god’s silence and Frigga's gasp, I knew they noticed Enya and knew what she was.
"Einmyria," Frigga whispered the name but we all managed to hear her well enough.
"What's Einmyria?" I asked Odin, although my gaze remained on Frigga's shocked expression.
"Einmyria is the daughter of Loki. She is the goddess of Ashes and she is supposed to have died ages ago."
"Daughter of Loki?" I echoed.
"Yes, Loki had two daughters with his Jotunn wife, Glut, goddess of fire. The first child was Eisa the goddess of Embers and the second was Einmyria, who commanded the ashes." Odin paused and I scowled, still confused as to what Loki's daughter had to do with us. "Eisa came to the side of the Aesir, and of course, Loki went into a rage. In his anger, he accidentally killed Einmyria, who was always the weaker of the two sisters. Eisa and Glut both have had nothing to do with Loki since then." Odin rose and walked past me toward Aidan and his family. He paused in front of Enya, who seemed in a trance as the god leaned over her and said, "And now I see what he has done."
