“We both know it doesn’t work that way.” Oria crossed her arms. “The theater isn’t up for sale nor is it to be won in some foolish lotto given at the whim of a make-believe niece.”
The wind left my lungs. “Of course,” I breathed. “How stupid of me.”
I’d heard blues songs singing of selling your soul to the devil. How dare I think there were no strings? I wanted to curse my grandmother and her superstitious beliefs. Beliefs, nonetheless, that I discovered were true. Three months ago, I’d never imagined to be in this predicament. It was the stuff Hollywood was made of, not real life.
“What’s in it for you?” I asked.
Her response was instant. “Nothing.”
I winced. How well she lied to me. “You gain nothing by reaping my soul to Folkvangr? I find that hard to believe.”
She transformed into black apparel. Her wings opened and spanned the length of the space we occupied. I reached back and gripped the window sill, bracing my weight onto it. The sight of her made me quiver. Not in unmanly fear, but a fear that would bring warriors to their knees. How ignorant I’d been to think I could play this game. My soul for a desire that only lasted a lifetime? If only I could get past the attraction. Even when she was fierce, she intrigued me. She’d kept her hair lavender, but her eyes were the same. The shape of her face and the twist of her lips were familiar. She weakened something deep within me. I wanted to sign that contract if it meant I’d have an eternity where she was.
“I don’t need your soul to survive. I’ve been around for centuries and you…” she sneered. “You’re a baby on expendable time. How dare you think you call the shots?” She lifted one hand. “Either I reap you today,” she lifted her other hand, “or twenty years from now. Or perhaps, a Divine Reaper will swoop you up for Valhalla as it is meant to be, but one thing is for certain. You will die and that will be the end of you and your ambition.” She snapped her fingers and folded her arms. “Resting in the bosom of Odin.” Her nose crinkled. “Oh, what fun you’ll have. I hear the Valkyrie ride into his kingdom is worth dying for. You’ll attend fabulous, gluttonous parties, but you’ll have none of the individuality that you crave so much. You won’t have ambition as your ambition will be to please Odin for eternity. Gone will be your little tantrums of unfairness, but it will plague you evermore.” With a wave of her hand, she produced a book. “Here.” She tossed the book onto a chair. “My gift to you, so you can be prepared. Odin does enjoy those souls who think they know him. They are easier to torture.”
My head pounded in tune to my rapid heartbeat. “I don’t need your contract. I will live my life as I always have. I was fine before you, and I’ll be fine when you’re gone from my life.” I waved to the book. “How many people make it through life not knowing who Odin or Freya are? I don’t need to know where I’m going to live my afterlife. It’s not like I could even read what I’m signing anyway—how messed up is that? Yeah, no thank you. I’ll take my chances.”
Her eyes widened. “You have it all figured out.”
I nodded. “I’m like millions of others not privileged with immortality. Why should I take an easy way out? This is my chance to stand my ground and let things fall where they will. If I’m meant to own a theater one day, then it will happen and there is nothing you, Odin, or Freya can say about it.”
“Remember the nords.” Oria rolled her eyes. “Can’t forget about them. You only have as much chance as the nords will allow. But, fine. Use your small mortal brain to think things through. We’ll see how that goes. Once I retract this contract, you won’t have it back. It’ll be null and void.”
“I’ve made my decision. Now, get out and stay away from me. If I see you again, I’ll...I’ll..”
“Call the police?” she supplied.
“I’ll ignore you.” I never wanted to see her again. I’d do the best I could to forget the last months and any transactions I’d had with divine intervention. I glanced at the book. On second thought, I’d need as much information as possible. If I wanted to stay away from these beings, I needed to be smart about it. My only knowledge of Norse mythology was what my grandmother had filled my head with, and she’d been wrong on many levels. If Oria thought that book was one I should read, I should take heed.
“I’ll leave the book,” she said with a smirk. “You’re going to need it.”
And she was gone.
I looked around my room. The lights flickered eerily, giving me a chill. A drop of sweat ran down my temple. I caught my reflection in the mirror and saw I was pale. My breaths came fast and heavy as I made my way to the bathroom, where I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I knew my body was reacting to having been in the presence of an immortal. I’d laid eyes on something no human should. I slumped down onto the cold floor, trying to regain my breath.
Not only had I seen death, I’d kissed her, and then, I denied her.
***(Oria)
“Jord!”
“You don’t have to yell, darling,” Jord said as she walked into the room. “I felt you the moment you popped in.” She opened her arms. “How do you like my new abode?”
Jord had abandoned her place on the beach and returned to her nesting ground. She had chosen an upscale apartment close to the university. I was here to tell her to pack up and leave. Maxwell didn’t play into our hands as we’d hoped. She could kiss California good-bye.
“He won’t sign.”
Jord’s face fell. “Idiot. I was just on my way to Alfheim.”
“Then go,” I said. “Don’t let me stop you.” I walked to the sofa and threw myself down. My wings caught on the side table and upturned the lamp. “Just because he didn’t sign doesn’t mean we shouldn’t find out what he is. We can’t allow someone like him roam the earth without knowing what he’s up to. Whenever Odin goes so far as to mark someone, it can’t be good for us.”
Jord snapped her fingers and righted the lamp.
I sat forward and put my face into my hands. How did I romanticize this? I was the idiot. I’d allowed myself to go this long without a reap, so I took full responsibility for my lapse in judgement. I’d kissed a mortal and revealed my being. There would be swift punishment if it was discovered. I could only hope that no one would find out. Being that he hadn’t signed, there was a good chance this would all blow over.
“He is handsome,” Jord said.
I peeked through my fingers to see her grinning. I groaned. She knew.
“Are you spying on me?”
“I don’t like the term ‘spying.’ Let’s call it protecting my investment.”
I scoffed. “At least I can trust you won’t run to Freya with it.” Being in allegiance with one of Odin’s ex-paramours had its perks. Freya would fry Jord on sight if she were to flash into her presence. It wouldn’t matter what Jord had to divulge. Freya didn’t give second chances to the indiscretions of Odin.
She sat next to me. “Of that, you can be certain.”
My hands dropped into my lap. “I need to get a hold of myself. Instead of stalking this freak of Midgard, I need to get out there and reap. Do you know how many handmaidens rely on my reaps? They’re literally whittling away while I take on this ridiculous hobby of human watching. I’ll give myself away if I don’t get on it. Freya has to suspect something by now.” I sat back. “Magna is on my watch.”
“Er,” Jord grumbled. “That little witch is as slippery as Loki. If you don’t give yourself away, she will.”
“Don’t I know it.” My shoulders slumped. “I need to get back and see what’s on the board for me.”
“Want to flash into a mortal form and have dinner before you get back into the world of death?” Jord’s smile gleamed. “I found a bistro down the road that has the best pumpkin muffins. You need sustenance before returning to your den of wolves.”
“What is it with immortals and pumpkin?”
“Something about its orangey goodness.”
“Yeah, sure.” I changed into jeans and a s
ports shirt. Why not have a last meal while I still had taste buds of a human? “How do I look?”
“Awful,” Jord said. “I love it.” She leveled her stare. “While we eat, we can discuss our next plan of action.”
Chapter 9
Three reaps later, I was feeling stronger, the handmaidens didn’t appear as gaunt, and Freya was happy. No questions were asked when I attended the council meeting. My habitual lifestyle was back in full swing. All was ordinary, except my thoughts. It had been less than twenty-four mortal hours since I’d last seen Maxwell, and I was still peeved. Peeved and something else. My immortal tank was plentiful, so those nasty mortal feelings should’ve taken a back seat. Key word being ‘should’ve’.
“What do you want?” I asked Magna as she entered my room.
She shut the door carefully. “I didn’t knock,” she pointed out.
I stared out of the window onto the fields of the training battleground. Thor was here again, having a hissy fit of cosmic proportions.
“Enter again, then, the right way.” I felt Magna nearing, so I turned around. “Why are you here?” I thumbed over my shoulder. “Orum’s doing some great work out there; you should be watching.”
“I came to thank you.”
My eyes roved her form. “You’re welcome. You look like yourself again, instead of a stick.”
Magna’s head tipped. “I also came because I have information about that mortal.”
The apprehension that radiated from me caused Theta to fly from the room. “Go on.”
“Folkvangr had a visitor last night. Odin was here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Conjugal visits with Freya. Tell me something interesting.”
“I overheard one of the Divine Reapers speaking to a member of the Divine Council. Jord’s name was mentioned in the same sentence as your mortal.”
A shiver went through me when she called Maxwell my mortal. A mere aftershock of the stupid choice I’d made to kiss him. I frowned and crossed my arms over my stomach.
“Jord has nothing to do concerning reaps. You must have heard wrong.”
“I know what I heard,” Magna said. “They’re hiding something in Jotunheim, and Jord knows what it is. I couldn’t hear all the specifics, but I know it’s something tied to the fates.”
“Aren’t you the Folkvangr mouse, hiding about, eavesdropping on people.” I couldn’t allow my expression to give me away. This information caused great concern. If Jord was using me to get to Maxwell for a purpose of Jotunheim, I’d have her banished to the veil. Jotunheim was her homeland, the world of the giants. She hadn’t resided there for centuries, but loyalties ran deep between the giants. Having a child with a god was frowned upon among her people. Diluted bloodlines and all that.
“I made you a promise and I intend to keep it, just as you have honored yours.”
My chin lifted. “Did you tell any of this to Orum?”
She shook her head. “It would put him in danger.”
I extended my arm, and Theta came swooping in and landed there. “Take my cloak. Orum should be returning to his chamber shortly. If you wear my cloak, you will go undetected. Just be sure that it’s returned by sunrise.”
Magna clasped her hands. “Thank you. I won’t get caught. I promise.”
“See that you don’t,” I snapped. “And keep your mouth shut. Orum can know nothing of this. If I find out that you’ve broken your word, I will deliver you to the veil myself.”
Asgard was busy. It being market day, a day where giants, dwarfs, and elves roamed freely, I’d expected it. When I passed Bifrost, I saw a line of Divine Reapers filing into Asgard. Bifrost was the rainbow bridge that led into Midgard; they must have been coming in from a reap. My eyes were drawn to one in particular, a reaper with silver-blond hair that stood taller than his colleagues.
“Orianna,” Geriolf greeted me with a smile. “Looking beautifully gloomy today. Have you done something new?”
I didn’t slow my pace. “What do you want, Geriolf? I’m not here to fill my belly with victory ambrosia. I actually have a life outside of reaping.”
He laughed. Laughed. “I see your bite is back, so the ‘something new’ is you’re fully immortal. I don’t see any red aura above your heart. Congratulations.”
“Go play with your own kind,” I huffed. “I don’t have time for you this hour.”
The guard bowed his head as we entered the gates. Elves scurried about the marketplace, purchasing bits of bone and herbs for potions. Giants stomped the streets, ever watchful as we reapers neared. Dwarfs purchased iron from blacksmiths, everyone knowing they were the best in weaponry. The blinding presence of Odin illuminated the city. If I’d known Odin was in house, I’d have waited to run this errand. The last thing I needed was to run into him.
“Where are you headed?” Geriolf asked.
“You’re still here?” I picked up my pace. An elf ran into my outstretched wing. “Hey! I’m walking here!”
The elf giggled and ran off.
“That was rude,” Geriolf pointed out.
“She practically ran me over,” I replied. “The day when an elf can plow through a reaper should be that elf’s last day. And I’m rude?”
“It’s the only day of the week they are allowed into the city. She was in a hurry. I did hear her apologize.”
“Liar.” I turned down the street leading to the palace. The road was paved with false gold pebbles that irritated my feet. “Look,” I pointed. “There’s your friends. Go get your treat and leave me alone.”
“You’re going to the palace? Why? It isn’t a council day.”
“I’m going to the library,” I muttered and stopped. “Why are you still following me?”
“I’m not following you. I’m going to the library as well.” Geirolf greeted another Divine Reaper as he passed. “I need a book of potions for a gimp wing.” He lifted his right wing. “Got caught in the veil.”
I couldn’t help but wince. “What were you doing there?”
“I had a bone to pick with a giant.”
“Oh?”
“Even those within the veil need some sort of protection. A giant bent on demoralizing beings is not cool, no matter if they reside in a wasteland. I just added a bit of balance.”
“How very noble of you,” I said. “See where it got you?” I glanced at his wing. “Ginger root and seeds from the garden of the Valkyries is what you need. Any seed will do. They have a wicked compost. Who knows what they put in there?”
“I hear they grind their teeth,” Geirolf whispered conspiratorially.
I gave him a sideways look.
“And when they lose even one hair, they use that, too.”
I laughed. “The vainest creatures of all creation. Of course they use pieces of themselves. Perhaps you should just march up to them and demand they heal you. They like you well enough.” Jealousy erupted inside of me before I could stamp it down. A fleeting memory of him and a Valkyrie came into my mind unbidden. Sanngrid had been besotted with Geirolf. He hadn’t returned the sentiment, but still. He was favored among them to this day.
“I’ll take my chances with a potion,” he replied. “If I didn’t have two more reaps planned today, I’d let it heal in time.”
“It’s rather nasty,” I admitted. He was smart to use a potion. In the bend of the wing was never a good place to have an ailment. It would inhibit flight.
We took the steps to the east end of the palace. The royal residence loomed ahead, never failing to make me proud to be part of this pantheon. Even Odin’s light couldn’t dim my pride. All glass and pearl, the palace was stuff of legends.
“Why is Odin here?” I asked.
“There was an uprising last market day with giants. He’s here to support the city with his presence.”
I snorted.
“Say what you want, you know it’ll work. No giant would dare to cause trouble when Odin is within the gates.” He opened the golden door of the library. “Ladies first.”<
br />
I rolled my eyes and opened the adjoining door. “I can open a door for myself, thank you very much.”
He laughed. Again.
I stomped up to the front desk. A Valkyrie sat there, idly reading a novel. The royal library used retired Valkyries as monitors. No one could scream louder, so no alarms were needed. They were the perfect enforcers of library laws. I cleared my throat but she didn’t look up. Geirolf smirked and walked off to the potions section.
“Excuse me,” I said forcefully. “I need something in the restricted section.” I waved my hand and produced a card. “I have a pass from Freya.”
The novel she read was an earthly romance book and obviously, it was great entertainment. Valkyries never lost their beauty. It didn’t matter that she was thousands of years old, her long, blond hair and icy blue eyes were flawless. She rotated her wrist and unlocked the door to the restricted area, all the while never losing sight of a word from the sentence she was reading.
I didn’t bother thanking her, but left my pass on the desk. I hadn’t lied. The pass was from Freya and it was for the restricted section. It was just three thousand years old. Back when we’d reaped Jasper, Freya had given me the pass to do some research into halflings. I’d never used it because we made the reap before. I wasn’t making the mistake twice.
While the pass wouldn’t get me into the most restricted area, it would give me a start. The highly restricted books were guarded by another locked door and an even older Valkyrie. This one wasn’t reading, but keenly watchful as I entered. Her silver hair was pulled back into a severe tail and her green eyes snapped as I approached. She wore a pair of glasses perched on her nose that I assumed was for dramatic effect I knew her eyesight was supremely perfect.
I pointed to a stack of books and waved. She simpered and turned away, back to guarding her precious door.
The section of books related to halflings was small. I thumbed through the titles, but none called to me. I didn’t need an antidote for halflings. I knew how they were created. I also knew there were different classes and some, like Jasper, were more lethal than others.
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