by Ken Lange
Loki pulls air through his teeth and glances down at me. “Is he always like this?”
Most days, he’s worse. “Unfortunately.”
Leonard jumps to his feet. “Who in the hell do you think you are?”
I point at myself. “Me or him?”
Leonard picks up a trinket off the table next to the throne and hurls it at Loki. “Him.”
Loki catches it and smiles. “I’m a new player.” He glances back at me then at Leonard. “Out of respect for Viktor, I’m going to offer you a chance to surrender.”
I snort. “You don’t have to do that for me. I’d very much like to see him dead.”
Loki arches an eyebrow at me. “You’ve shown him mercy before.”
I knew that shit was going to come back and bite me in the ass one day. “Yeah, big mistake.” Glancing around the room at the battered faces of my friends, I sigh. “And I’m fresh out of second chances today.”
He shrugs. “Very well.”
Leonard slams his foot against the top of the dais. “Are you two idiots done? I don’t think you understand the situation here. There are only the two of you and hundreds of us.” He glowers at Loki. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
Loki reluctantly tears his gaze from mine before allowing it to settle on Leonard. In a bored tone, he says, “Does it look like I care?”
Leonard clenches his fists. “You’re gonna—”
Before he can utter another syllable, Loki is up the dais. In that moment, time stands still. Loki punches Leonard with such force that his hand breaks through the flesh and bone to disappear into his chest cavity. The feeds from the CCTV light up with dozens of Jörmungandr breaching the building, devouring every mutant wraith they encounter. Hundreds of others pour in behind them, moving so fast the cameras are unable to see exactly what they are. This, however, makes them no less deadly as they decimate the remaining wraiths. The building shakes from the sudden and violent display of power. Before I can blink, they’re gone, Leonard’s mutilated corpse hits the floor with a wet thwap, and time resumes its normal course.
Loki leans over and rips off a piece of Leonard’s shirt to wipe his hand. He turns to me and smiles. “All done.”
It takes a lot to impress me and even more to put the fear of god into me, but what I just witnessed has accomplished both those things. “Ah…okay. That’s disturbing.”
He shrugs. “You get used to it.”
Not sure how. “If you say so.”
He gestures at the door. “I’ll leave you to it.” As he passes, he leans in and whispers, “Fenrir will look after your vehicle until you’re finished here.”
Numbly, I nod. “Okay…sure. Thanks.”
And with that, Loki strolls out the door without another word. The moment the door clicks shut, the room explodes with questions.
Nathan walks over. “Who was that, and what took you so long to get here?”
I hold out my hands to stop everyone. “Okay, first off, I was out cold for two days. Secondly, no one at the office was alerted there was a problem here.”
Nathan glances over at Herbert. “Didn’t you say you talked to Kira?”
Herbert nods. “Yeah. Granted, she was in a rush about something, but I did speak with her.”
I blink and fall back into my seat. “Wait…really? She didn’t say anything to me…or the others, as far as I know.”
Nathan frowns. “Sorry for being upset. We’ve just been stuck here for a few days listening to that asshole rant.”
I gesture at his remains. “Well, that’s something you’ll never have to do again. He’s dead, as are his friends.”
Herbert leans in. “When did Leonard become friendly with the wraiths?”
I blow out a long breath. “That’s probably a much longer story than even I know. But the short answer is, he’s related.”
He cocks his head to the side. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Do you remember his father…Ethan?”
Herbert winces. “Unfortunately. Why do you ask?”
I pat him on the arm. “As it turns out, Ethan’s still alive. Not only that, but he’s one of the loa. Bakulu, to be precise. It appears he and the Álfheimr combined their forces to create the wraiths a long time ago.”
Nathan leans against the short wall in front of me. “That’s a fuck-ton of bad news in one breath.”
I glance up at him. “You know who Bakulu is?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I’m going to assume it’s bad because the rest of that sentence was awful.”
“You’re not wrong.” Turning to Herbert, I say, “Before you ask, I have no idea why he’s all super wraith now and not last year when I tossed him out. It really doesn’t matter much anymore either, seeing how he’s dead.”
Herbert sits back in his chair. “You know Ethan’s going to think you killed his son.”
I blink. “Yeah, I guess he is.”
Well, that’s some shit. Loki came in, killed everyone, and I’m going to get the blame for it.
Nathan pats me on the shoulder as he gestures at the carnage. “We’ve got this. Want me to bag the body for you?”
The thought of having to deal with that asshole for one more second turns my stomach. “No, send it to Pete until I can find out what’s going on with Kira.”
He nods. “All right.” Turning on the spot, he issues several orders and those around us get to their feet and start cleaning up the mess.
Herbert glances over at me. “What’s bothering you?”
I run my hand over my face. “Nothing really. I’m just impressed with how well I’ve been played, is all.”
He snickers. “Don’t tell me this is the first time it’s happened to you?”
I shake my head. “No, but it is the first time it’s been done so eloquently.”
Loki did something I couldn’t do and did it literally in the blink of an eye. If I’d tried to free the MCC by force, a lot of people would’ve died. He displayed his power in such a way that it’s clear I’m truly outmatched, outgunned, and outmanned.
Chapter 13
It eventually dawns on me that I’m in the way and more of a distraction than an actual help. I make my rounds to shake everyone’s hands to apologize for being late to the party and say goodbye before making as graceful an exit as possible. On my way down the stairs, it hits me that the hole I’ve suddenly found myself in is way too deep for comfort.
I push the door, but it won’t budge. Putting one hand on the frame and the other on the bar, I try again, a bit more forcefully. The glass shatters, but it opens. It’s stuck there, but that’s beside the point. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the building was structurally unsound before the Jörmungandr tore massive holes through the place. Because of what happened today, the MCC will be forced to relocate. Not sure where, but hopefully, not in the Quarter. Being down here makes parking a bitch most of the time. Plus, you’ve got a ton of tourists. None of that really mixes well with this line of work.
Thick, warm droplets of water hit my face the moment I’m outside. Looking up at the black sky, I smile as the rain beats down on me. Today’s been a little all over the place, but a few good things have come of it. My friends and colleagues were spared a horrible death. Leonard’s out of the picture—permanently—and I’m being given the tools to deal with my enemies.
And all at the exceptionally fair price of being shown where I stand in the world. This is a trade I’ll happily make on a regular basis. I will say this, though: seeing the Loki’s proficiency for death and destruction with my own eyes is humbling. After this morning’s events, I understand why Mir fears them so much. It’s one thing to see his memories, which are tainted by his emotions, and another to witness it firsthand.
As I near the car, Fenrir makes his way over to rub his muzzle against my chest, which causes me to stumble back several inches. Regaining my footing, I grin and pat the side of his chest. “Thanks for looking after things. Sorry it took so long.”
/>
Fenrir huffs and shakes his head.
I scratch under his chin. “Have a great night. Hopefully, I’ll see you again.”
He rubs against me once more before trotting off into a nearby alley where I lose him in the darkness. I track him a bit further with my right eye but even it has its limits as he vanishes around a corner.
Glancing through the back window of the Kia, I find everything just where I left it. Which, I suppose, was the entire point of Fenrir standing guard. Now that Loki’s no longer riding shotgun, I can move the hammer. I pop open the back, grab the oddly shaped weapon by a handle that’s far too short for its head, and a jolt of energy surges through me.
Everything about the experience is exceptionally unpleasant. I’m betting this is why Ethan attached a chain to the damn thing. Loosening my grip, I let it slide down and catch hold of the chain. To my enormous joy, it stops trying to kill me.
Given how heavy it is, and that it comes with its own security system, it’s doubtful anyone’s ever going to steal it from me. I lean in through the driver’s side and place it on the passenger floorboard before climbing in myself. There’s something I’ve been meaning to do since this morning.
Sighing, I dial Kira’s number.
Two rings later, she picks up. “Hello?”
“Hey there, I’m just checking in to see how you’re doing.”
Her voice is soft. “I’m better, thanks. Just stressed with you being injured again like that.”
Understanding floods me. “Sorry. It’s part of the job, though.”
She takes in a sharp breath. “I know… It’s just hard to see you so close to death.”
Fathers act tough, but we’re not…especially when it comes to our daughters. It’s like we have no defense against them. “Again, I’m very sorry about that.”
Kira’s voice trembles. “It’s okay…I understand that this…this is who you are.”
And there’s guilt coming in for the KO. “It is.” Clearing my throat, I say, “Hey, I have a question for you…do you remember talking to Nathan a few days ago?”
She’s quiet for several seconds. “Oh, yeah…with the surgery, I totally forgot. He said something about there being an issue at the MCC, but he wasn’t specific about what and I forgot to call him back to find out. Since he didn’t call again, I guess it wasn’t anything important. Was it?”
I frown. “It’s taken care of. Get some rest, and we’ll talk when you get back to the office. I know it’s been a stressful few days for you, so take as much time as you need to get yourself together.”
She sniffs. “I screwed up, didn’t I?”
I shake my head. “No, honey, it’s fine. You’ve been under a lot of pressure in the last year, and with me continually getting myself pounded into the ground, things haven’t been ideal for you. Especially where your mom’s concerned. So, I get it. Take a few days, get your head clear, and come back in. We’ll figure things out from there. Okay?”
Her tone is light but sad. “Thanks for understanding. You really are the greatest, you know.”
I chuckle. “Now I know you’re not feeling well. Get some sleep, spend time with Nora, and we’ll talk soon.”
She sniffles again. “Okay. Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too, honey.”
She ends the call, and I can’t help but feel that I’ve failed her somehow.
It takes me about twenty minutes to make it to the office. Careful to grab the chain, I haul the weapon up and drag it out the car behind me. I’m a good thirty feet from the front door when my right eye decides to lose its freaking mind. A glow emanates from my lobby that’s absolutely blinding.
Clamping my free hand over the eye, I continue through the front door where I’m greeted by Charlene and Alex. Taking my hand away, I’m forced to squint due to the pure white light coming off Charlene. “Ah…hi.”
Her bodyguard, Alex, is a youthful looking man about my height with dark skin, black hair, and a barrel chest. He’s dressed much like he always is—in cargo pants, a white shirt, and blue peacoat.
Charlene is several inches shorter, and a knockout to boot. Apparently, she’s grown tired of her natural color and dyed her hair a cobalt blue. Which, I have to admit, is absolutely stunning against her pale skin and the flowing emerald dress she’s wearing.
Ignoring my less than formal greeting, she points at the hammer. “You’ve really got it. I couldn’t be sure…but you’ve really got it.” Stopping short, she cocks her head to the side. “What happened to your eye?”
It’s been a shit day, and this isn’t helping. Sighing, I say, “That’s a long story. But what the hell are you two doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on the boat?”
Alex puffs out his chest. “See? Even he agrees. We shouldn’t be here.”
Charlene glares at him. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Either accept that or go.”
The skin below his eye twitches. “You know that isn’t going to happen. Where you go, I go.”
She folds her arms. “Then let me conduct my business and we can return to the Tempest that much faster.”
The twitch gets stronger. “Fine.”
Glancing between them, I sigh. “My week’s already been a complete and utter shit show, so please hurry up, do what you need to do, and go. The last thing I need is for your father to show up angry because you’re not safely at sea.”
At the mention of her father, Charlene’s lips form a tight line. “While I appreciate your concern for my welfare, it’s completely unwarranted.”
Alex snorts. “I beg to differ.”
She cuts her gaze at him. “Quiet.”
Justine walks up just as he opens his mouth. “Hey! I’m going to guess this isn’t a discussion best had in public, so let’s take this upstairs.”
“Agreed.” Gesturing at the elevator, I say, “You guys go ahead, I’m taking the stairs.”
Charlene points at the hammer. “I’ll take that.”
The absurdity of her “request” makes me laugh. I’m not sure why, but I’ve become very attached to the thing over the last half hour. “Ah, no. Meet me upstairs, and we’ll chat about why you’re really here.”
Before anyone can say anything else, I spin on my heel and stroll over to the stairwell.
When I step into the apartment, the others are already there, waiting on me. In the living room, I set the hammer at my feet and wave at the couch. “Please, have a seat and tell me what’s on your mind.”
Charlene points at the weapon. “I came for Mjölnir.” She squints at me. “But I’ve got a feeling that fate has intervened to bring me here in your time of need.”
I’ve never put much stock in destiny or prophecy or anything of the sort, and that’s very unlikely to change now. “Ah…okay. Let’s put the whole fate thing on hold while you explain to me what Mjölnir is and why you want it so badly.”
Something akin to irritation flashes in her eyes. “Fine.” As she sits on the couch, she points at my feet. “The weapon you hold is something that should never have been allowed to fall into mortal hands…or in your case, near immortal.”
Oh, that was enlightening. Hear the sarcasm there?
I massage my temples. “Okay, care to try again? Less vague this time.”
She leans forward and places her elbows on her knees. “Is that necessary?”
Placing my heel against the hammer, I push it slightly behind me. “I’m going to say yes.”
Her gaze falls on the weapon and her voice drops. “It’s a long and unpleasant story.”
“As you’ve just pointed out, I’ve got time.”
Reluctantly, she nods and begins. Mjölnir was the Telchines first attempt at creating the ultimate weapon. This was well before they were turned into the evil, murdering shitbags they became…well, all of them except Charlene.
The reason the thing is a bit off is due to some sort of interference in the form of static or a buzzing during its…construction or manifest
ation—I’m not sure which since I don’t truly understand the process. Whatever the case, Mjölnir appeared in a flash of lightning, and two of her kin were struck dead when they tried to lift the thing.
To keep anyone else from being killed, Simon constructed a chain that he attached to the deformed handle. After which, he moved it into a special storage unit to be kept away from anyone who might misuse the weapon. Of course, the moment Simon and the others turned to the dark side, it was one of the first things he pilfered from their ruined island home. Charlene had believed the weapon lost until half an hour ago. Apparently, that jolt of energy earlier rippled through the aether and alerted her to its presence.
Shifting on the spot, I ask, “How the hell does that even work anyway?”
Charlene leans back in her chair. “I’m not entirely sure myself. If I have to guess, it has something to do with the genetic code my father gifted you with. Like it or not, our families are forever linked in ways none of us can predict.”
This shit gives me a headache, but honestly, there probably isn’t a safer place on the planet than aboard her ship.
I step back and gesture at it. “Fine, you can have it.”
Satisfaction works its way onto her face. “Now, about the eye…where’s the crystal that’s been living there?”
That’s a weird but accurate way of putting it.
I point at Mjölnir. “Ethan, the man who had this all these years, smacked the hell out of me and my eye shattered. Simple as that. It’s gone.”
She gets to her feet and walks over. “May I take a look?”
I glance over at Justine, who shrugs. “Sure, go ahead.”
Putting her thumb and index finger on either side of my eyelid, she opens it. “It’s a clean break, and the Idunn have done wonders to keep you safe.”
She steps back, and a brilliant golden light engulfs her. It’s so bright we’re all forced to shield our eyes. Several seconds later, it fades, and she’s standing there with her fist clenched.
Leaning over, she opens my eye again and shoves something into the empty socket. There’s a stinging sensation, and I let out a little yelp of surprise. “What the hell?”
