I put some distance between us as Odin’s prophecy rang in my head. I couldn’t get close to Fen. I would do everything possible to avoid what the future held. Every part of me believed I’d never stand beside the wolf.
My brows furrowed. “Will reached out to you?” That was odd. We hadn’t left things on the best of terms. I thought he’d be happy to have me out of his hair.
“He did. It seems the human has a soft spot for you. Cute.” He chuckled. I didn’t laugh.
“Odin was here. I know why he wants to kill me.”
“Why?”
I swallowed a few times and told Fen everything. His face never changed. He stood there, his expression neutral, just listening. I expected more. Shock, maybe even joy at possibly having a valkyrie on his side, but nothing.
Fen stepped closer and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Do you believe him?”
I didn’t answer right away. “The future is not set in stone.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said. “Do you believe you’ll be at my side during Ragnarök?”
“You once told me Ragnarök was a story told to scare children. Did you lie?”
He smirked. “As you said, the future is not set in stone.”
His answer made me unsteady, but I didn’t show it. There was a strong possibility he would ignite the end of the gods and kill Odin as prophesied. I was starting to believe it.
“He feared you, you know?” I said. My father had run at the mere mention of Fen coming our way. For someone who was invincible, I found it odd a wolf had scared him. The only logical explanation was Fenrir had something in his possession to defeat Odin. I wanted to ask, but it wasn’t the right time.
He gave me a small smile. “I have no idea why.”
“Sure you don’t.” I gave him a side glance but didn’t push it any further.
“Where did he go?” He looked around, scanning the clearing.
“Odin is gone, but he’ll be back.”
“And we’ll be ready.”
Those words right there … That was what I feared.
24
“Where the hell were you?” Will demanded as I walked into his apartment.
Fenrir dropped me off and didn’t bother going inside with me. The wolf didn’t care for the detective. I worried he would kill him one day if he ever got in his way.
“Didn’t know I had a curfew.”
“You don’t, but it would have been nice to know you’d be leaving so I wouldn’t be looking for you like a maniac.”
Dark rings circled his eyes, and I almost felt bad for worrying him. Almost. Although this was his home and I should show a modicum of respect, I didn’t feel the need to report my comings and goings.
“Did you think I’d been killed? Because no human can hurt me.”
“That’s not it and you know it,” he said, scanning my body with his eyes. “You’re hurt.” Will rushed to the bathroom and brought out his first aid kit.
“Bandages can’t fix this.”
“What did you get yourself into?”
I sighed. “I met with Odin.”
With gauze in hand, Will stood stock-still, eyes wide in shock. The elusive Odin they’d heard so much about but hadn’t seen. I bet he thought of him like a fairy tale.
Before he asked what happened, I shared all the glorious details. Typically, I’d be annoyed having to tell the story over and over again—I still had to share it with Charlie—but not this time. I couldn’t believe why Odin wanted to kill me. I needed to say it out loud to understand, to accept what had transpired.
“If he thinks that, he doesn’t know you at all,” Will said.
I cocked my head to the side. “You think you know me? For all you know, I could side with Fen in the end.”
“Do you truly believe that, Raven? Because I don’t.”
“You don’t know me.” I was a stranger to him, but I could hear it in his voice and see it in his soul that he truly believed I wouldn’t turn my back on my family. Maybe I should have the same amount of faith as Will.
“Anyway,” he started, “I was looking for you because I have good news.”
Will led me to his living room and turned on the television.
“Reporting live from Hazelwood, we’re at the home of Joseph Castellano, also known as ‘The Boss’, who is now the lead suspect in the vicious murders of Kendall Carter, Donnie Prosecco, and now Police Commissioner Chuck Carter. Authorities received an anonymous tip early this morning revealing the location of the notorious drug lord who has invaded the streets of Portland with the drug known as Venom. While Castellano still has not been found, the mutilated body of Police Commissioner Chuck Carter was found inside the drug dealer’s residence,” the reporter announced.
My mouth hung open as I continued to listen to the reporter give the details of the commissioner’s body that, besides the bullet wound to his head, was identical to the other murders.
“How?” I muttered.
“There was no way to dump the commissioner’s body, and since Castellano actually killed him, he could also take the wrap for the other deaths.”
I shook my head. “I thought you believed in doing the right thing. In finding the real criminals.”
Will diverted his eyes, and I could see the shame he felt in his soul. This wasn’t something he condoned, but he’d done it anyway.
“Do you think we would actually find Odin and bring him to justice? Did you think the world would believe a Norse god killed these people?”
He had a point. I would always be on the run if someone else didn’t take the fall. The Boss, who I’d now learned was named Joseph Castellano, wasn’t a good guy and had really killed the commissioner. It wasn’t such a bad idea.
The reporter continued, “The authorities led a manhunt for Raven Romero for weeks. She had initially been the lead suspect in the case due to her connection with both victims. Today’s events revealed Romero was a client of Castellano, and he was potentially using her to cover his tracks. A motive has not been found, but authorities are asking the public to contact the hotline down below for any information.”
I laughed. I might not be going down for murder, but I could still be charged with drug possession.
“It was the best I could do.” Will grimaced. “I’ll try to get you off on probation since the department will most likely owe you an apology.”
“Oh, I can’t wait for Thompson.” I grinned.
“I’m sure he’s dying to see you.”
Fenrir always appeared at the most opportune time. When I wanted to speak to him, he always showed. As a free woman, I strolled through the streets of downtown Portland with ease.
“I heard the good news,” he said as he slid up beside me. “How does it feel?”
I shrugged. “Like any other day.”
“I doubt it.” He snorted. “With that mess is cleared up, I think it’s time you return the favor.”
I gave him a side glance. “The deal was if you helped me clear my name. It was all Will who did that.”
“No, no,” Fen said as he pulled me to a stop. “You’re not backing out on me now. A deal is a deal, and I intend to collect. I’ve done nothing but protect you, which was not part of our arrangement. Think of it as a bonus.”
As shady as it may sound, I never planned on going through with Fen’s plan. I’d hoped to skip town before he could find me, but that didn’t happen. Although Hel had been wrongfully imprisoned—the irony was not lost on me—I still didn’t believe she should be released. Loki’s children were not as innocent as they pretended to be, and Hel was the most dangerous of them all. She wasn’t the Goddess of Death for no reason.
“Fine,” I relented. If I ran, he would find me. After all, he knew my scent. “When do you want to leave?”
“Tomorrow, first thing in the morning.” He grinned, and my stomach dropped. I really was betraying my family.
I was hesitant to go back to Yggdrasil. Too many bad memories and t
he fear of finding Odin there terrified me since I was going with Fenrir. I didn’t want to prove him right.
I hadn’t left Midgard in decades—I never thought I would. The option to go to other realms and stop torturing myself by staying with the humans was always there. But I was a disgraced valkyrie who wouldn’t be accepted anywhere. I’d spent years trying to help the mortals change their ways to no avail. By the time I realized it was hopeless, the valkyries had been long gone and the world thought they were extinct.
“Come on now,” Fen urged as I stood before the tree. “We don’t have all day.” With the Sword of Souls sheathed across my back, I glared at the wolf for rushing me.
“You’ve waited years. A few minutes won’t hurt you.”
“I don’t want you changing your mind.”
I reached for the tree but stopped. “How do you plan on getting me to Valhalla?” That’d been the second part of our deal. Fen would get me back home to my sisters, where I had no qualms begging for forgiveness.
“My sister can get you in from the Underworld,” he smirked.
“How?”
“It’s the Underworld,” he deadpanned. “They both deal with death. There’s always a backdoor. She’ll give you the location once she’s freed.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed him. It would be a risk if I trusted what he said. A risk I had to take.
“If you’re lying, I will kill you.”
His smile widened. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
With shaky hands, I reached for the ancient tree and placed my palms on the rough bark. I shut my eyes and absorbed the energy that flowed inside. It was a familiar feeling. Now that the Norns were gone, the center of the universe was unprotected.
When the ground beneath us shook, I opened my eyes and saw the bark of Yggdrasil become translucent. With my hands still in place, I turned to Fen and nodded for him to pass through. Without a second thought, he ran inside the tree and disappeared. I could remove my hands and leave him. It would take him a while to find a traveler to get him out, giving me enough time to run as far away as possible. The urge was strong, but Fen had been right. He’d done more than we’d agreed on; it was only fair I did him this one favor.
I dove into the tree and was transported into what many called Limbo. It was a colorless place where lost souls remained and others traveled between realms. There were other entrances for specific realms, but this was the only way to get to the Underworld.
Fenrir stood there as I burst out of a cloud of gray smoke. Limbo was as I remembered—dreary and empty. There was nothing, absolutely nothing. Void of any true life, it made the remaining souls go mad. It was cruel what the valkyries had done by abandoning the realms—it was cruel what they had done to me.
“Where’s the entrance?”
“Over there.” I pointed to the black door with a silver doorknocker up ahead. Each realm had its own type of entrance, but only a valkyrie or traveler could open it. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Fenrir followed me down the winding pathway until we reached the end and stood in front of the entrance.
“Once I do this, we’re even. Don’t come looking for me ever again. Understood?”
“As you wish, Hrefna.”
I glared at him before reaching for the handle and opening the door.
“After you.” I waved him in, but he faltered. I could see the skepticism in his gaze as he wondered whether it was a trick. I wished it were.
We were enveloped in darkness. The smell of something burning was strong, and we could hear the screams of sinful souls in the far distance. The Underworld always changed. Sometimes its fiery depths melted the skin off your bones, or its soulless cold encompassed the realm, making your skin like ice.
“I got you here. Now, this is where we part ways.”
Fen grabbed my arm quickly and shook his pointer finger. “Not so fast, valkyrie. I need you to get back to Limbo. Let’s not try to find loopholes in our deal.”
My nostrils flared, and I regretted not having a drink. I feared little, but being caught in the Underworld was a new low.
We walked aimlessly through the darkness longer than I wanted. Time ran a different course here. It was dragging at the moment, so it felt endless and made this trek even worse.
A man stood ahead in the distance, his back toward us, but I’d recognize him anywhere.
“We meet again, valkyrie,” he said and spun around. He hadn’t aged since we last saw each other, although the same could be said for me. “Odd to see you around these parts. Tell me, how did you escape Valhalla?”
“I didn’t.”
“Interesting.” The corner of his mouth quirked up, and he paled when his gaze went from me to my companion. “Gods above, what have you done, valkyrie?” he murmured.
I felt queasy. This deal was starting to feel like a colossal mistake.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, old man,” I whispered. “Step aside.”
He stood firm. “I cannot let you pass. Not with him.”
Fenrir shifted into a half-wolf. His canines protruded, and he snarled. I unsheathed my sword and spun my wrist, ready to fight if needed.
“Don’t make me hurt you.”
“You don’t understand,” he pleaded. “What you’re about to do will bring our world to an end.”
“Ragnarök is a lie!” Fen yelled.
“Ragnarök is the truth and you will be the end,” the old man said. He whistled, and the pounding of footsteps made the ground tremble with a half-dozen hellhounds barreling toward us and stopping just behind the old man.
Fen smirked. “Wrong move.” The wolf whistled, and the hounds’ ears perked up before they slowly came toward us, switching sides and growling at their previous master.
Fenrir stroked the fur of one of them, and I couldn’t believe what he’d done.
“They belong to me,” he said. “Now, move before they kill you.”
The old man pleaded with his eyes for me to rethink my decision, but I couldn’t turn back now. I shook my head, and he had no option but to move out of our way.
“This is the beginning of the end,” he warned.
I didn’t acknowledge him and kept moving forward, following Fen into the darkness. I tried to convince myself this wasn’t the prophecy and I was only reuniting him with his sister.
“Hel!” Fenrir yelled into the abyss. We passed cages full of the dead, trapped, and starved. Their small frames were beaten, their bones visible through their skin.
“Help,” one croaked. “Help us.”
I looked away, not feeling any remorse. The souls that lived below deserved to be here. No one was sent here by mistake. No one.
“Brother?” a voice called out. “Fenrir, is that you?”
The wolf ran. I could only see her frame because she was covered in black from head to toe. When Fen reached Hel, he engulfed her in a hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. The look of relief on Fen’s face once she was in his grasp was rare. He was always so flippant that I sometimes forgot he had emotions. If someone were to ask me what love meant, I think their reunion was the closest I’d ever been to it. The thought made my heart ache.
“You actually came for me,” she said as he set her down.
“I’m a few centuries late, but I’m here.” He laughed, his eyes glistening in the dark.
“Doesn’t matter now. Let’s go before they ring the alarms.”
Taking her hand in his, he dragged her toward me and to the exit. We headed back in the direction we’d come. Hellhounds surrounded us in a protective circle. I could feel Hel’s eyes on me, observing me. Her soul was black. I couldn’t get a read on it and that worried me. I was setting the purest of evils free. I would regret this decision—I was sure of it.
“Through here,” I said as we passed the old man. He stood aside, watching us go but not saying a word. We got to the door and I swung it open, getting out first.
When we
fell into Limbo, we were finally able to stop and catch our breaths. It’d be harder to get caught here with no one knowing we’d used the entrance from Midgard.
The siblings embraced one more time before pulling apart. Hel turned to me, her bright smile dimming as she sized me up, and I did the same. She wore a tight, leather corset with multiple chains across her body and neck and a hood over her head. She was deathly pale against her ink-like hair and obsidian eyes. Her leather pants accentuated her curves. I had to look away. She was darkness incarnate. The coldness from her soul could give me frostbite. I didn’t fear much, but she made me question myself.
“You’re a valkyrie,” she finally said.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
She cocked her head almost mechanically. Unnatural.
Fen came closer to me, ready to strike if I made one wrong move. The tides had changed. I felt it.
“Shouldn’t you be hiding in Valhalla?”
“I will be once Fen makes good on his deal,” I said, turning to the wolf.
Hel walked forward, putting barely a foot of distance between us. She reached for my short hair and tucked one side behind my ear. I held back a shiver. Even though she came from the hottest place in the universe, she was cold to the touch. Her fingers felt like stone.
“You’re so beautiful. What is your name?”
My gaze diverted to Fen who stood behind her, grinning. Something wasn’t right.
“Hrefna,” Fenrir answered for me. “She goes by Raven in Midgard.”
“Midgard, hm?” she purred, her long nails gliding softly on my cheek. I’d always been able to hide my emotions, but I sensed she knew how she was making me feel.
“I like you.” She smiled as her nails trailed down my chest, over my breast, and she pinched my nipple.
Reaching for the chains across her abdomen, I pulled her closer to me, my jaw ticking. “Play nice, Hel,” I whispered in her ear. “Unless you’re prepared to do something, don’t tease me.”
“Now, now, ladies,” Fen interrupted. “Leave the foreplay for another time.”
I released Hel, pushing her back, and the shit-eating grin on her face told me this was all a joke to her.
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