The Sword of Souls

by Karina Espinosa

  “I don’t have names. Only that this is in correlation with the fires. In other words, this is a human problem. Not ours,” he emphasized.

  My gaze went to Fen, who still wouldn’t look at me, and then at Odin again. I didn’t understand the emotions swirling within me. I felt anger, frustration, exhaustion, but most of all, sorrow. There had been a time when all Odin cared about were his humans.

  “When did you stop caring about them?” I whispered to Odin and flinched as he stared deep into my soul with his cold eyes.

  “When did you start?” he countered. “It’s in your best interest to behave like a valkyrie, Hrefna. This new … you is unbecoming and, quite frankly, it’s beneath us. If you ever wish to win your sisters over, you won’t do it like this.”

  It was like a slap in the face and being drenched in ice-cold water all at once. I knew I’d changed, but I didn’t realize it was so extreme. I was behaving …human.

  I shook my head. “You made me into a monster. I won’t apologize for realizing what I’d become and being better than I had been.”

  He huffed. “You think humans are better?”

  Did I?

  “They’re better than you.”

  He roared in laughter that made lightning strike. “First mistake you’ve made.” He straightened. “You have until the full moon, Hrefna. I’ll be waiting.”

  Within seconds, he disappeared.

  I turned to Fen who was crouched on the ground, touching what was left of the dead between his fingers.

  “What is it, Fen?”

  His gaze met mine. “Nothing,” he murmured.

  “That doesn’t look like nothing. I know when you’re hiding something.”

  He smirked. “Oh, Raven, you think you know me so well. Maybe in bed, but that’s about it.”

  “Whatever.” I rolled my eyes. I had to get back to the station to check on Will and Charlie and make sure none of these creatures made it to the station.

  “Where are you going?” Fen reached for my arm.

  “I’m leaving. What, did you think I was going to stick around and catch asthma with you? No thank you.” I stepped away from him.

  He sighed dryly. “Are you going to give him the sword?”

  I debated telling Fen the truth, but I couldn’t trust him. He might be there for me sometimes, but he’d also double-crossed me one too many times.

  “I told you once and I’ll tell you again, that sword is mine and always will be.”

  13

  Flashback

  A young girl, who couldn’t have been more than fifteen years old in human years, sobbed over the body on the ground. She placed her hand over the man’s face, the other on his stomach. She wailed into the night with so much melancholy, I thought she’d die right then and there. She peered up at me as I walked around to get a better look. Her pleading green eyes were like glass as tears glossed over them. Her bottom lip trembled, and I knelt opposite of her. There was something familiar about her. Slowly, I moved her hands and was stunned at what I saw.

  The man had a rune carved on his abdomen that meant mortality and pain. His face was worse—one of his eyes was missing. The girl only watched my reaction.

  “Kara!” I called to my sister. “What is this?”

  My sister’s eyes widened for a moment before she composed herself.

  “Mortals dabbling in things they should not is what this is,” she said as she grabbed the girl by her forearm and hauled her to a standing position. “Who is this man to you?”

  The girl never stopped staring at me. “My father.” She trembled. “They killed my father because of me. He wouldn’t give me up—”

  “Enough,” Kara grunted.

  “No!” the girl shrieked. “It was—”

  The girl raised her free arm to the night sky before Kara took hold of her head and shoulders, snapping her neck. She crumpled to the ground beside her father.

  “She was about to tell us something,” I said calmly, desensitized to Kara’s random killings.

  “I’d said enough. Just like her father, she doesn’t know how to follow directions. It doesn’t matter anyway. It is not why we’re here.”

  I raised a brow in question, but as the commander of the valkyries, she didn’t owe me an explanation.

  The squawking of birds behind me caught my attention. On a tree branch stood Hugin and Munin, watching the whole interaction.

  “Of course, you’re here.” I rolled my eyes. “You’re everywhere.”

  “That is their job, Hrefna. You’d best remember your place.”

  “Yes, sister.” I nodded stoically.

  “Good,” she said. “Hugin, go tell Father what you saw.”

  Hugin squawked before he flew away, leaving Munin with us.

  “Are you sure this is humans meddling with things they shouldn’t?”

  Kara’s face tightened as if I were the one now meddling in things I shouldn’t, which I shouldn’t, but something bothered me about this interaction. It didn’t feel like a random killing. That girl knew something. Either way, it was my job to know.

  “I have no doubt. Stories of Norse gods are a favorite among men. Their imagination typically gets the best of them.”

  That much was true. If Kara believed it was nonsense, it was. Just another death on the battlefield. I went to reach for the man and the girl’s souls, but my sister stopped me.

  “Go on ahead. I’ll take these.”

  “Yes, sister.”

  It wasn’t unusual for a valkyrie to get territorial over certain souls. Without a second thought, I expanded my wings and shot into the night air—back to war.

  For the rest of the night, I couldn’t rest much less sleep as I thought about the girl and her father. The fact they’d died didn’t bother me; I was concerned with how the man had died. I wasn’t convinced a human had done it. While they were capable of such cruelty, I sensed an old magic lingering in the woods. I didn’t know if Kara did, but I smelled it. The girl knew it too and almost said it when Kara killed her. Had Kara known as well?

  Instead of returning to Valhalla as instructed, I went to Asgard. I had to tell Odin what we saw. It was a risk and against command to go over Kara’s head, but what I witnessed was too severe. Kara had dispatched Hugin to Odin, but I didn’t trust he would tell the whole truth.

  I crossed the Rainbow Gardens and stalked up the steps into the temple. Golden pillars held up the ceiling as the open layout let in the crisp spring air. Kara was already with Odin, whispering something I couldn’t hear. I slowed my steps, realizing I might have made a mistake.

  “Hrefna.” Kara’s eyes widened a fraction as she saw me. I was in full combat gear, my sword still slung across my back, and dry blood caked on my tan skin. “You were to report to Valhalla.”

  I stood tall, steeling myself for the wrath that was to come. “My apologies, Kara, but duty has brought me here.” This piqued their interest. “What we saw in the woods today was no ordinary human dealing. There was something old in the air. I felt it. That man did not die by a human’s hand.”

  Odin calmly stood by Kara, his hands clasped neatly one above the other over his front as he watched our exchange.

  Kara’s face turned grim, and her hand went to the hilt of her sword at her hip. Her hand tightened, her knuckles bone-white.

  “You dare undermine me, girl?” she growled, taking a menacing step toward me. “When I give you an order, you follow it. I don’t care what you smelled in those woods.”

  Odin took that moment to intercede. “You are right, Hrefna.”

  Kara and I whipped our gazes to our father.

  “Father, are you sure—” Kara said, but he raised a hand to stop her.

  “She has seen enough that we cannot lie.” He calmly walked to me. I stared at the golden eye patch on his right eye. “Those people have been marked for death. Their souls cannot enter Valhalla.”

  I frowned. “By whom? And why?”

  His face turned grave. “Your
job is not to ask questions, Hrefna,” his voice boomed through the open space of the temple.

  I bowed my head. “Apologies, Father.”

  “From now on, you will help Kara hunt those marked for death and bring their souls to me. Get rid of their families as well. Leave no trace,” Odin commanded, and I nodded.

  I remembered the girl’s words: They killed my father because of me. He wouldn’t give me up.

  I had so many questions, but a valkyrie had no business asking—they only followed orders—so I kept my mouth shut.

  “As for your punishment for your insubordination …” Odin continued, and my head whipped up as I swallowed the bile coming up my throat. “Fifty lashings. And I want to see those pretty wings.”

  14

  If it weren’t for the fact it was broad daylight and I feared humans seeing me, I would have flown to the station, but instead I ran like hellhounds were nipping at my heels. I pumped my arms and legs as fast as they could possibly take me with the limited amount of energy I had. I skidded to a stop when I turned the corner to the precinct, almost running into someone on a bike, and hurried inside. It was as if nothing had happened, as if a mob of the undead had not attacked the park, and I almost sighed a breath of relief until I realized I didn’t see Will or Charlie. Grabbing his desk phone, I punched in his cell number.

  “Hello?”

  “Where are you?” I said breathlessly.

  “In the basement with Charlie. What’s going on?”

  Flooded with relief, I hung up without so much as a goodbye and went straight to the basement, completely bypassing the elevators.

  “What the hell are you guys doing down here?” I said as I made my way through the maze and found my only friends. They sized me up and down, and I realized I was drenched in sweat—maybe a little stinky too.

  “Are you having withdrawals?” Charlie asked.

  “What? No,” I waved my hand, “I just fought a bunch of dead people. Now, what are you guys doing here?” I looked at each of them as if what I had said wasn’t a big deal, but I was beat and needed to sit down.

  “Charlie needed someplace quiet to think …” Will started. “Wait, did you say dead people?”

  I nodded. “I ran all the way over here thinking you guys were in trouble, but I guess not.” My eyes narrowed as I saw how close they were. The two of them were seated, hunched over together, practically nose to nose. I’d definitely interrupted something.

  Clearing my throat, I launched into everything that had happened from meeting with Odin, to Fen showing up, and then the dead. Their eyes widened at the right times, they gasped on cue, and of course, they had several questions when I finished. But I couldn’t concentrate on what they were saying because I couldn’t stop looking at their knees and how they touched. I didn’t care if something was going on between them, it’s just … when did it occur? How did I miss it? I knew they had been spending time together, but enough time for this to ensue? I shook the thoughts out of my head. It wasn’t important at the moment.

  “You made a deal with Odin?” Charlie asked. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  I shrugged. “Which is why I made sure to clarify he had to take me to Valhalla before I hand him the sword. Once he gives me what I want, we’ll already be in Limbo and can imprison him.”

  “That’s risky, Raven.” Will bit his lip and scratched at his beard. “Do you even know if Verdandi can build a cage that will hold him?”

  “I have to trust that she can. If not, we’ll cross that bridge when we—” I felt the blood drain from my face. “Shit, we have to go to Verdandi right now!”

  “What’s wrong?” Charlie asked.

  “Verdandi is in a cemetery,” I said as if that answer should have explained everything. “The dead would have resurrected right where she lives. We have to find her!”

  It took a second, but I saw the horror set in their eyes. Verdandi was the key to everything. If she died, the game was over.

  We got inside Will’s unmarked police car with the siren and lights on and blazed through the streets to get to the cemetery. We had completely forgotten about the Norn. She was in the literal epicenter of death and we didn’t think about the possibility of her being hurt. She’d patched me up after the fight with the ogres; I should have been there for her, and I wasn’t. Guilt weighed heavily in my chest.

  When we arrived, I was the first to jump out of the car and burst through the gates. The cemetery was a disaster. Graves looked as if they’d imploded and were empty, the headstones shattered from whatever force had awakened the dead. Remnants of ash from disintegrated bodies lay in piles everywhere.

  I zigzagged through the graveyard until I found the only living body splayed on the ground in unusual angles. I slid to the ground on my knees and stopped before her, cradling her head on my lap.

  “Verdandi?” I whispered. “You stupid hag, wake up!”

  The others finally reached us, but the Norn still wasn’t speaking. I lightly tapped her face and shook her shoulders, but she was out cold. If only I could look into her soul, but she was already dead and her soul long gone.

  “Is she—” Charlie started.

  I shook my head. “She’s still breathing, but I don’t know for how long.” She was the healer, not me. I didn’t know what to do or how to help her in this situation.

  Her body trembled in my hands and she released a small cough. Verdandi’s eyes fluttered open, just barely.

  “The dead—” she began.

  “We know.” Will nodded. “Raven was attacked as well. Can you tell us what happened?” He crouched down to eye level with her and spoke so softly I almost didn’t recognize his voice.

  “Not here,” the Norn said. “Take me to the crypt.” Her gaze wandered around the cemetery. The graveyard had eyes and ears everywhere. Hugin and Munin could be anywhere, and although we’d made this deal with Odin, he was always hungry for knowledge.

  I lifted Verdandi with shaky arms, cradling her like a child. Her screams of pain as her legs twisted back in place echoed through the cemetery. Charlie winced at the damage done to Lana’s body.

  We made it inside the crypt where the candles were still burning. I placed Verdandi on top of the same tomb I’d laid on not too long ago. Will shut the gates to the crypt behind us. We huddled around the Norn and waited for her to catch her breath and speak.

  “It happened at the stroke of midnight. I was working on the prison when I first heard the groans. I was protected in the crypt, so I knew they could not come in here and I was safe. I watched in horror for the first few hours as they awoke and dug themselves out, leaving the cemetery to go gods know where.” She ran a shaky hand over her face and through her tangled hair.

  “Then how did you end up outside the crypt, Verdandi?” I whispered. “Why did you leave?”

  Sitting up, she groaned from the pain and effort it took. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “The sword, Hrefna. I had to get the sword. After you came here hurt, I couldn’t put it back in the trunk without your blood, so I buried it in the sheath since it was cloaked.”

  The world around me spun, and Will placed a hand on my back to steady me. “Where is the sword, Verdandi?”

  She swallowed loudly and frowned. “They took it. I could not get to it in time.”

  I slammed my hands onto the tomb to hold myself up and my breathing became heavy. We’d buried the sword in a grave and cloaked it so it couldn’t be found. Now it’d been taken and the very same cloaking spell would prevent us from finding it.

  “This can’t be happening,” I muttered to myself.

  All I could think about was the deal I’d just made with Odin. He’d expect to see that sword when he opened the gates to Valhalla. If he didn’t see it, the bargain would most likely be off. Everything was falling apart; I could feel it in my bones. With the Norn out of commission, there was no way she’d finish the prison on time.

  “It must be out there, Hrefna,” Verdandi said. “The dead de
teriorated when the sun came up. The sword is probably lying around somewhere.”

  “No,” I said. “Their master has it, I can guarantee it. This was no mere coincidence.”

  “Why do you say that?” Will asked.

  “Odin said the dead were tied to the fires, but what if this evil knows about the sword and has been watching us this whole time? While Odin, Fen, and I been fighting each other, they’ve been plotting.”

  “You’re stretching, Raven,” Charlie said. “It’s possible, but that sword was very well-guarded. There’s no way anyone would know. Just forget about the sword—”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I made a deal with Odin!” I roared into the night. Everyone froze. I’d never gotten angry with Charlie before, but I was on edge and couldn’t think straight. “I-I’m sorry,” was all I said before walking out of the crypt without looking back.

  15

  The bright sun in my eyes and the crowded streets overwhelmed my senses as I roamed downtown trying to figure out what the hell we were going to do. Not we, what I was going to do. Odin wasn’t going after them; he was coming after me. I’d done this to myself, and I didn’t need to bring anyone else down with me.

  Someone bumped into me and I twirled around, almost falling as I spun, my vision going in and out. Sweat pooled down my spine and my hands got clammy. I needed a drink.

  It was late morning, so all of the bars were closed and most restaurants weren’t serving alcohol yet, but I knew of one place. It was dangerous to walk without any direction in my current state, but I just needed one drink. Just one. I hurried to catch a taxi.

  Twenty minutes later, I was dropped off at the entrance of an abandoned industrial area—the Underground to supernaturals. I waited for the human driver to be a good distance away before I went inside and made my way to the Magic Den. I had tunnel vision; I couldn’t see anything around me but my destination. Hands brushed me, voices tried to stop me to sell me trinkets, but all I heard was the thrumming of my blood in my ears and pounding of my heart. I was desperate. This was what desperation looked like, but I didn’t care how low I’d fallen. The sword was gone, I’d struck a fool’s bargain with Odin, and I was an addict needing her next fix. I was useless to everyone.