Demons (Eirik Book 1) (18 page)

“Tammy was right,” Celestia said.

“Who is Tammy and what was she right about?”

There was silence. “What’s the ETA on the rinse water?”

I sat up. “Why are you being cagey about answering my question?”

“I’m not being cagey, just processing. You talked about Mortals not knowing your world existed and sounded angry when you talked about your friend Cora being marked with runes by an evil Immortal, yet Idun-Valkyries and Grimnirs recruit new Immortals from among Witches or gifted people.”

She was avoiding my question. “Are you saying I’m confusing you?”

“Something like that.”

“Bull. You just don’t want to tell me about this Tammy woman. What was she right about?”

“First, tell me something. What do you do when Mortals learn about your existence? You mentioned your mother plugging the leak. What did you mean?”

She remembered that threat? I walked to the door and told the guard it was time to bring the rinse water. Back in the room, I moved closer to the partition.

“Actually, my mother won’t need to summon the Norns to tell them there’s a leak. The Norns will know. They are destiny deities who control the destiny of Mortals, Immortals, and the gods, and one thing they hate is Mortals knowing supernatural business. They will pay your little town a visit and erase memories.”

“Yeah, right.”

“One of these days, ask me to tell you about my friend Raine.”

“Another girlfriend?”

I frowned at the way she worded that. “No. Raine is more than a girlfriend.” She was one of my sisters. I tried not to think about my other sister. The poor girl was unaware of the storm that might be unleashed by Mother if she ever learned about her existence. “Raine is special. We grew up together. She’s been through a lot of crap at the hands of the Norns. They erased her boyfriend’s memories because she refused to join them, but she showed them. Then there was the crap at our high school. The students threatened her and hounded her when they found out she was a Witch. The two of you would get along. You could teach her not to care what people think about her powers and she could teach you all you need to know about kicking the asses of the Norns.”

“I like her already. Where does she live?”

“Kayville, Oregon.” Litr and his friend knocked. “You may want to hide under the water. They are here with more.” The men left the container by the partition. There was a pitcher hooked to the handle, presumably for scooping water. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”

“Eirik, wait,” she called just before I stepped outside.

I stopped and turned. One wet arm was visible as she scooped the rinse water. I stared at it, hoping to see more. Like I said, I was a sucker for punishment. “Yes?”

“Tammy is my mentor. Grams, my grandmother, taught me most of what I know until she passed away. Tammy took over my training. She’s also my best friend Hayden’s mother. They are both Witches. We are not part of a coven, but we are close and watch each other’s backs. They told me about Immortals who visit the gods after my first visit here, but I didn’t believe them. In fact, I didn’t believe I crossed realms until I came back here. This is my first time visiting another realm.”

She must be pretty powerful. “How old was your grandmother when she died?”

“Old. Eighty-nine. Why?”

“If you had a chance to see her again, would you take it?”

There was a loud splash like she’d fallen back into the tub. I was an ass. A total douchebag for putting the idea in her head, but I was willing to do anything to keep her here a little longer.

CELESTIA

Was he serious? To see Grams and talk to her? What would I say? Would she be mad I had astral projected to Hel? Proud?

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Think about it. I have to see my father about something, but I’ll be back. Don’t drain the water or disappear on me, okay?”

Where would I go?

“Celestia?”

“I heard you. Go.” I rinsed, dried, and got dressed without even realizing it. My mind was filled with the possibility of seeing Grams again. I missed my deodorant and lotion. There was nothing I could do about my wet hair, so I wrapped it with the towel and searched under the tub for the drainage. A tube snaked from the tub to a hole in the corner of the room.

The goddess was sadistic. Cold air must have drifted into this room through that hole. It was a wonder Eirik hadn’t frozen to death.

I stood in the middle of the room and studied the cart and the dirty utensils. Why hadn’t the Dwarves taken them? Or did they expect me to do it? Probably. Eirik was supposed to be my master. Yeah, right. That was the most ludicrous thing I’d ever heard. As soon as I found a way, I was going home.

Eirik didn’t come back right away and I grew restless. I made the bed before I realized what I was doing. Resigned to being a maid for a few more hours, I tidied the room. I was adjusting the rug when I saw the half-bag of chocolate under the bed. Grinning, I sat on the plush eggshell rug and demolished a few bars while eyeing the door.

What was taking him so long?

I scooped a handful of chocolate bars, got up, and pushed the cart to the door. Trudy had told me how to create portals, but I didn’t dare focus on her in case she was with the goddess. Her mother, on the other hand, had told me to go to her if I ever needed something.

I focused on her and let the need to see her fill my head. The door grew hazy, then dissolved into a portal. Nice. If I could do this, I’d never be late for school, or work, or anything. The kitchen staff was scurrying around. Did they cook all the time?

Maera planted herself in the opening, hands on her hip. She was the same height as the cart, but you couldn’t tell by looking at her. She carried herself with confidence. Heck, she’d married a giant. That took guts.

“Well? What can I do for you, Miss Celestia?”

“Are you busy?”

“I’m always busy, young soul. Come on through. No need focusing all that magic in the middle of my kitchen. The door might shift and lead to Muspelheim and where would we be?”

Yikes. Muspelheim was the land of the fire giants. Gripping the handle of the cart, I pushed it through the portal and turned to watch it close behind me. Man, I loved this. No walking through that dark tunnel again. She took the cart and rolled it to one of the staff members.

“Let me guess. The young god wants more food,” she said.

I shook my head. “No. I was wondering if you’ve seen the Grimnir with violet eyes.”

She chuckled. “Rhys. He’s become quite popular suddenly, hasn’t he? Going to beat Echo soon at this pace.”

I stared at her with confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“Yes, well, you will after being here for a few decades. The goddess has her favorites and the Golden One has his.” Maera laughed when I made a face. “I’m confusing you even more. Your young god was also here looking for Rhys. Is he in trouble? Is he the one who reaped you? The young god didn’t look too happy when he was here, and when the gods aren’t happy, things never go well for the rest of us.”

Eirik had already talked to her? Why hadn’t he said something? “No, Rhys didn’t reap me, and he’s not in trouble. This is actually about my friend. I don’t want him to reap her.”

“Oh, honey, when it’s someone’s time to go, there’s no stopping a reaper.”

“It’s not Hayden’s time. She’s my… She
was
my best friend, and she can’t die yet. Her mother needs her.” I needed her. My breath caught and I knew I had to leave before I gave myself away. “Please, just tell him not to reap Hayden Ferrand. Her mother Tammy owns Tammy’s Cauldron in Windfall, Louisiana.”

Maera patted my hand. “Okay, dear. I will tell him.”

“Thank you. And, uh, Eirik is nothing like his mother, Maera.”

She smiled. “I’m sure he’s not. Do you want to take some snacks with you?” She waved to one of the servers.

“Can I pick them up later? I was hoping to see Trudy first.”

“She’s at home now, probably resting. She just left the goddess’ chambers.” She created a portal to reveal a beautifully decorated room, but Trudy wasn’t resting. The giantess was painting a beautiful wall mural. She was finishing the top left corner of the piece and didn’t even need a ladder.

“Go visit with her,” her mother whispered, and Trudy glanced over her shoulder.

She didn’t say anything until the portal closed and I reached her side. She glanced down at me. “What do you want?”

“Rude much?”

She glared.

“I was hoping we could talk,” I said.

“You and I have nothing to talk about,” she retorted, enunciating her words.

Was she mad at me because I hadn’t tried to see her last night after her little fight with Eirik? I came to say goodbye, but since I couldn’t admit that, I removed the Hershey bars from the pockets of my sweater and placed them on the table. “I brought you chocolate.”

Trudy studied the chocolate. “Are you bribing me?”

“Of course. They also happen to be my favorite, so if you’re not going to bite, I will eat all of them while you watch.”

“Rude much?” she threw my words back at me, shrinking to a regular size.

I grinned. “I should have come to check on you after Eirik behaved like a douche.”

She shrugged. “I wasn’t spying on him. I saw him try to sneak out of his room. I didn’t know where he was going at the time, but the guards were there and they report everything he does to the goddess, so I distracted them.”

“So he owes you a big thank-you.”

“No, he doesn’t. He is the goddess’ son.” She ducked her head and focused on unwrapping the chocolate. She sighed blissfully as she ate the first piece and reached for a second. “These are so good.”

“I know. I love them. Smooth, no nuts or bits of caramel or fruit. I’ll bring you more.” I got up and studied the murals on the ceiling. Flowers and green grass, birds and butterflies. It looked so picturesque. Nothing like Hel. “Is this
Jötun
heim?”

“No. We don’t farm in
Jötun
heim.” She reached for another piece of chocolate. “We live off our lakes and rivers, and wild fruit and vegetables from our forests.” She glanced at the murals. “The paintings are inspired by Earth’s landscape. Do they look real?”

“Absolutely. The birds look ready to fly off the wall, and I can just see the wind sweeping the grass.”

She beamed and jumped up. “Come on. I’ll show you the others.”

She grabbed my arm and dragged me from room to room, showing off her beautiful paintings. Their quarters had four bedrooms with giant beds. Her parents had let her turn their home into a canvas because each wall in every room had a mural, all of them colorful and gorgeous. Some had pictures of her family. It was quite beautiful seeing her parents together. Her sister looked like Trudy, except she had their dad’s blond hair.

~*~

EIRIK

I found Father in his quarters, sipping tea while Litr arranged pastries on a plate by his chair. The Dwarf’s devotion to my father was praised in Asgard. Some claimed he’d jumped on the burning ship carrying my father’s body just so he could join him in Hel. Viggo insisted Thor had pushed Litr in a fit of anger because he couldn’t push the ship into the water while a
Jötun
could. The gods could be so self-centered. Rumor also had it that my father’s first wife, Nanna—Viggo’s grandmother—had also died of grief the same day and had traveled to Hel with him. So far I hadn’t heard anything about her since I arrived in Hel.

“Sit, Son.” My father didn’t wait for me to sit down before adding, “You disobeyed me. Why?”

“I couldn’t do it to her. She would have been devastated had I disappeared again.” Then she would have sent Grimnirs after me.

My father studied me intently and then spread a brown paste on a slice of bread, cut into two, and offered me half. Instead of eating his half, he watched me intently as though mentally arguing with himself.

“That was a brave and selfless thing you did, Son,” he said. “Brave, but at the same time foolish. The danger to you still remains, just lurking under the surface.”

“What is this danger you keep mentioning?”

“An old enemy.” He didn’t elaborate. “You’ve turned out to be a son any man would be proud of, Eirik. Viggo is safe in Asgard because of you. Your mother is more alive than I’ve ever seen her. Having you here…” He choked and drank some of his tea to buy time while he regained control of his emotions. “Having you here means a lot to us, and I can now admit that I was wrong to send you away. We would have strived to keep you safe.” He reached and gripped my arm, regret shimmering in the depth of his eyes. “I should have trusted your mother more. I didn’t think she could keep you safe while doing her duties. She might have unorthodox ways of doing things and tends to explain her reasons after the deed is done, but her intentions are always good. Will you forgive me, Son?”

It turned into our first meeting all over again. Too choked to speak, I nodded.

“I know going without food and water must not have been easy, but trust that she had her reasons.”

Well, those reasons were fucked up. “She said something about toughening me up.”

My father chuckled. “What about your sister? The Norns might move her now that they know you are here. Rhys was still looking for leads and has offered to be at your service when you start the search. Have you had time to think about how you are going to find her?”

I hadn’t. “She will be my priority the moment I leave here, sir.”

“No, not
sir
. I’m your father.” The self-mocking laugh that followed made me smile. “I know I rushed to get in bed with the Norns, but one day, when you are a father, you’ll understand there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to protect your child. Nothing.” A weird expression crossed his face and made me wonder what he’d done. “I hope that one day you can forgive me and consider me—”

“It’s okay, Father.” Father sounded too formal, yet I couldn’t see myself calling him Dad. “I know you are my father and there’s nothing to forgive. It’s in the past.” The words slipped past my lips and even though I knew it would take a while before we had the kind of father-son relationship I’d always wanted, I knew I’d eventually forgive him. In Asgard, he was painted as a wise and fair man, a trait he’d passed down to my half brother Forseti, the God of Justice. The more I interacted with him, the more I saw that they were right. He had made a mistake and was not ashamed to own it

“You know your mother expects you to deliver the Norns to her first. And I’m not talking about capturing them and bringing them here. She expects you to wipe them out, so she can get her hands on their souls.”

He didn’t sugarcoat Mother’s intentions and even seemed amused by her vengefulness. I wasn’t. I was worried about how my mother would react when she learned he’d colluded with the Norns. On the other hand, the hags had stolen my sister and lied about her death, a worse crime in my book. My mother might forgive my father now that I was back, but forgiving the Norns? I didn’t think so, unless I intervened. I just didn’t know how or what I could do to accomplish that.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said.

“She won’t be satisfied with less, Son. Your mother does not forgive easily. If you need my help with your plans against the Norns, I’m always here.” He finished the piece of pastry on his plate before changing topics. “So, your mother tells me you have your grandfather’s magical gifts.”

Staring into his eyes, I decided to be honest. “Grandmother said I had the gift but we never got a chance to work on it. She thought we had time to learn how to connect with it.”

“But the fire…” he started to say, then a thoughtful expression settled on his face. “The girl under your protection started the fire in your dungeon?”

“Yes.”

My father chuckled. “A soul who can do magic here. Very unusual.”

“Celestia is unusual.”

“I don’t think you understand, Son. The Norns often take the souls of Witches before they are reaped. At times, they recruit them just before they die.”

The way they’d tried with Raine and failed. And now she knew about them.

My father’s expression became serious. “Listen, when dealing with your mother, honesty is the best policy. She will get angry and make threats, but she always comes around. Tell her the truth about your powers.”

Says the guy who is keeping a secret from her.
Let him tell her he’d worked with the Norns first. “I’m not ready, sir.”

“Do you know how long it took me to talk after I died? How long it takes any soul to overcome the shock of knowing they are dead and re-master speech?”