Daughter of Odin
Page 6
“Let her go,” Eaton said. “I’ve got her.”
The other two cops backed off and went to check the building. Eaton led me to the parking lot. “What is going on? Where is Francesca?”
“She’s dead. Fenrir killed her. I couldn’t stop him,” I said.
Bob’s face crumpled. He turned away from me. He loved her.
When he faced me again, his eyes were teary, but he managed to keep it together. “Where is Fenrir?”
I pointed to the crater.
“You should get out of here. You could never explain all this.”
“I can’t just leave. What will you say?”
“Whatever I have to. I’ll do it for Francesca. Her only goal was keeping you safe.”
I could see that now and I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for her, learning about Gods, knowing I would never be safe. She died trying to make sure that Fenrir didn’t get me.
“I should have stopped him sooner. I should have saved her,” I said.
Eaton put a hand on my shoulder. “Kari you did everything you could. It’s not your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have come here. If I had stayed away, then she would still be alive.”
He hugged me. “You didn’t know about any of this. We made decisions for you.”
“I don’t know what to do now.”
“What did your mother want you to do?”
“She wanted me to try and find some of the other Gods, if they’re out there. That way I won’t be alone.”
“Then that is what you should do,” he said.
“Can’t I stay here?” I asked. I wanted to be where she was. I didn’t want to just drift through life.
“I don’t know. I guess you could,” Bob said, smiling at me.
“What the hell?” one of the cops shouted.
We turned to see him backing away from the crater as a wolf staggered free of it. It gave me a chilling glare, before limping off as fast as it could.
“I didn’t kill him,” I whispered. All that power and it wasn’t enough.
“Go,” Bob said. “Get as far away as you can.”
I headed for the car. I wanted to stay, but Fenrir would be back. I needed help.
Munin and Hugin were waiting for me on the hood of the car. “I need you to do something for me. Can you find me another God? Someone to help me?”
The birds cocked their heads at me, cawed loudly, then flew off. I just hoped that they understood me.
I glanced back at Bob. He gave me a sad smile. I forced myself to smile back and got into the car. I was on my own again.
***
Two Days Later
I had been driving almost non-stop for two days, trying to put as much distance as I could between myself and Redwood Cove. I still hadn’t seen Munin and Hugin. I expected them to show up when I would take pit stops so I could sleep for an hour before getting on the road again. Maybe I was being unrealistic. Maybe they couldn’t keep up with the car. Or they couldn’t find me, although they always had before.
As the sun was rising on the second day, I pulled into a gas station to fill up the tank. I grabbed myself some coffee and a granola bar too. I really wanted to find myself a bed and sleep for days, but not yet.
As I was heading back to the car, I saw them, Hugin and Munin were waiting on top of the car. I approached them. “Well? Did you find anything?”
I don’t know what I expected from them, they weren’t going to answer me. One of them cawed and nudged something lying at his feet.
I reached out and picked up a disc shaped object. It was a coaster. Written across it, were the words: MeadeWest.
“A bar?”
I turned it over to find an address on the back. The bar was a few hundred miles away. Would I find a God there? I was heading in the right direction, so I might as well check it out.
Putting the coaster in my pocket, I thanked the birds and got back into the car.
Please let me find someone who can help me. Don’t let all my family be psychotic assholes.
The odds weren’t in my favor.
About the Author:
S. K. Gregory writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance and horror novels. You can find out more about her work on her website:
www.skgregory.com