The Helicon Muses Omnibus: Books 1-4

by V. J. Chambers

  “But I didn’t,” said Hel. “I made that deal knowing full well that you would never allow Balder to leave. I knew that you would never weep at his passing.”

  Loki took another bite of pear.

  “So,” said Hel, “you see, I have never made an exception. There’s no precedent for people leaving Niflhel.”

  Loki set down the pear. “I could have wept for Balder.”

  “No, never,” said Hel.

  Loki shrugged. “Maybe I liked Balder. For a guy who was always dreaming about his death, he wasn’t a bad sort, you know. He liked to have a good time. And he made a great dart board.”

  “You hated him,” said Nora. “You killed him.”

  “Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Nora,” said Loki. “I don’t hate everyone that I kill. There are lots of people that I kill who I happen to be very fond of.”

  Nora furrowed her brow. “Then why kill them?”

  Loki clutched his head. “Oh, why, why, why! People won’t shut up with the incessant questioning.” The pitch of his voice grew higher and mocking, “Why do you always ruin everything, Loki? Why can’t you play nice with the other gods? Why do you kill people?” Loki picked up the pear again. “I just do, okay? It’s what I am. It’s what I do. I’m not a bad guy. But I have to be myself. And I’m chaos.”

  “I guess that you don’t know why Owen gave you the device that you used on the muses either,” muttered Nora.

  “Owen Asher?” said Loki. “You know maybe he didn’t really give it to me so much as trade with me.”

  “Trade?” said Nora. “For what?”

  “Safe passage,” said Loki. “I helped him get through Asgard and to his destination.”

  “What destination? Where is he?”

  Loki laughed. “Oh, I’ll never tell you that.”

  “Where’s Owen?”

  “I’ll never tell. I’ll never tell,” said Loki in a singsong voice. “Why don’t you simply be grateful that I’m trying rescue Sawyer here? You don’t need to push me for information about Owen.”

  “Father, really,” said Hel. “Does the dead boy Sawyer bother you that much?”

  “Lots of things bother me,” said Loki. “For instance, the death of Balder bothers me.” He squeezed his eyes closed, screwing up his face. And when he opened his eyes, a single tear ran down his cheek.

  Hel took a sharp breath. “No, you can’t do that.”

  There was the noise of a chair scooting over the floor.

  Nora turned to see a man standing up on the other side of the room. He was easily the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He was blond and broad shouldered. He had long, long hair that fell in golden waves down his back. He tilted up his perfect chin, his expression noble and sad at the same time.

  “Balder,” said Hel. “You’re up.”

  “You’re free,” said Loki. He turned to Hel. “Right?”

  She glared at him. “I am bound by the promise I gave, yes. He is now free from the bonds of Niflhel, and he may rejoin the living.”

  Balder looked down at his hands. “Free?”

  Loki grinned. “Yup. Not that it’s much fun up there, I tell you. Haven’t seen anyone in hundreds of years, you know. But welcome back to life.”

  Balder still seemed disoriented. “Life? But I have come down to Helheim, and here I must always remain.”

  “Not anymore,” said Loki. “Just shed a little tear for you, and now you can bust right out of this place.” He turned to Hel. “All right, sweetheart, now there’s a precedent. So, just let that little muse boy go too.”

  Nora held her breath hopefully.

  Hel crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

  Nora let her breath out. Damn it.

  “Be reasonable,” said Loki to Hel.

  “Why did you say that you hadn’t seen anyone in hundreds of years?” said Balder, looking concerned.

  “Because one day they all up and disappeared,” said Loki. “My wife Sigyn was holding a basin up over my head to catch the venom from the poisonous serpent that dripped on me all day. You know, as punishment for killing you? And then she vanished. One minute there. One minute gone. By the time I got free from that snake, everyone else was gone too. I looked everywhere.”

  “No,” said Balder. “It can’t be.”

  Loki shrugged. “It is.”

  “But if everything disappeared,” said Balder, “then why are you still here? And why are we still here?” He gestured to all the dead people in the hall. “And why is Hel still here?”

  “I don’t know,” said Loki. “You got any idea, Hel?”

  “It was a great tremor,” said Hel. “I remember it. It shook the nine realms. But it did not touch us here. It only shook the ground and was gone. And I felt the loss of the gods, of the frost giants, the dwarves. Of everyone. All gone.”

  Balder sat back down. “I won’t leave this place, Loki. There is no place for me in an empty world.” He reached for the woman sitting next to him. “And besides, I could never leave Nanna.”

  Slowly, the woman turned her head to look at him. She was nearly as beautiful as Balder. “Love is stronger than death, and the grave cannot destroy it,” she said in a grating voice like the one Sawyer used. “With Balder shall I ever remain.”

  Balder clasped her hand between both of his own. “With thee, Nanna, shall I ever remain.”

  The two gazed into each other’s eyes, and Nora could feel the intensity of their bond. It was profound.

  Loki had eaten the pear down to its core. He flung it on the table. “You’re not going to leave? I go to all the trouble of crying for you, and you want to stay here?”

  “I shall remain with my love,” said Balder.

  “You’re an idiot.” Loki turned to Nora and sighed. “Well, look, I tried. I really did. I’m sorry about Sawyer. It was an accident. But we’d better go now.”

  “Yes,” said Hel. “Your time here is almost over.”

  “No,” said Nora. “I can’t leave without him.”

  “You must,” said Hel.

  Nora took a deep breath. “If Balder could technically leave, but he chooses not to, then why can’t Sawyer go in his place?”

  Loki raised his eyebrows. “Good idea, Nora.”

  “Sawyer is not Balder,” said Hel.

  “But Balder could have left, couldn’t he?” said Nora.

  “I could still leave,” said Balder.

  “But you’re staying.” Hel smiled at him.

  “Give the life force you have returned to me to this boy instead,” said Balder. “He belongs among the living. Look how much he cares for the girl. It is cruel to keep him here while she lives.”

  “But I can’t just let people walk out of Niflhel,” said Hel. “It’s unprecedented. Odin charged me—”

  “Odin’s gone,” said Loki. “Who knows if he’ll ever come back. Come on. Be a good girl and release Sawyer. You’d make your daddy so proud.”

  “I don’t care about you,” said Hel.

  “Please,” said Nora. “Don’t do it for him. I don’t care about Loki. He took Sawyer from me. But please, if there’s any way you can let him come back with me, do it. Please.”

  Hel gave her a compassionate look. “You do care about him so deeply.”

  “I do,” said Nora.

  Hel sighed. “All right. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt anything too much. After all, Odin has disappeared, and Sawyer is the first new person in Niflhel in hundreds of years. Maybe he doesn’t even belong here.” She snapped her fingers.

  At once, Balder’s body became gray and still, and Sawyer’s body grew full of life. His eyes brightened. His hair grew golden and beautiful again. He got up from his chair.

  “Sawyer,” said Nora.

  “Nora,” he said. “My Nora.”

  And he was kissing her. And her soul was soaring.

  * * *

  Loki tried to come over the rainbow back into Helicon with them, but they told him they weren’t the slightest bit inter
ested in spending time with him. He sulked a little bit, but he stayed behind.

  “You muses are too serious,” he called after them as they climbed up the rainbow. “You’re no fun at all. I’m going to find someplace else to hang out. Maybe I’ll go visit Mt. Olympus. Maybe I’ll spray paint graffiti on Zeus’ throne.”

  “Go for it,” Nora called down to him wearily. She’d be happy if she never saw Loki ever again. Somehow, she had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen, however.

  At the top of the rainbow, she clasped hands with Sawyer, and the two of them slid down.

  They landed in a tumble on the grass of Helicon.

  It was bright and sunny outside. The warmth of the air wrapped around their bodies.

  “It’s summer again,” said Sawyer, looking around.

  And then he was knocked down by Roth, who’d been right behind them on the rainbow.

  Nora helped both of them to their feet. “Sorry, Sawyer. I should have warned you to move out of the way. I forgot you never traveled by rainbow before.”

  The three moved away from the rainbow just in time. Maddie and Agler landed on the ground, narrowly missing them.

  They scrambled to their feet.

  “Everything seems to be okay,” said Maddie.

  “I guess my dad used that device to cure everyone,” said Roth.

  “I guess so.” Nora turned in a circle, taking in the green grass and the leafy trees. She could smell something cooking from the food enclave. It smelled smoky and delicious. She could see the arch of the tweens and rebels enclave, and the pointed top of her tent.

  Home.

  “Nora Sparrow!” cried a sharp voice.

  Phoebe was making her way across the field to them. It was she who had spoken.

  “Phoebe,” said Nora, grinning.

  Phoebe pulled to a halt in front of them, her hands on her hips. “Nora, if you and Sawyer leave this dimension without warning anyone where you’re going one more time, I swear there will be very dire consequences.”

  “Oh.” Nora was taken aback. “Well, I’m sorry, Phoebe. Really, I am. But Sawyer was dead, you see, and we had to get him from Niflhel.”

  “Just like you were rescuing this one last time,” said Phoebe, pointing to Maddie. She turned to Agler. “And you? You’re still mixed up with these troublemakers?”

  “Phoebe, I couldn’t let them go alone,” said Agler.

  Phoebe eyed Roth. “You I understand, of course.”

  “What?” said Roth. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Phoebe shook her head at Nora. “All I know is that things never used to be this exciting in Helicon.”

  Nora hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

  And then Phoebe pulled her into a hug. “But I understand that I have all of you to thank for curing the sickness. And we’re happy that you’re home.”

  Surprised, it took Nora a moment to realize what Phoebe had said and to hug her back.

  Phoebe released her, laughing. “Had you going there, for a minute, didn’t I?”

  Nora managed a laugh as well. “You did. That wasn’t fair, Phoebe.”

  Phoebe embraced Sawyer. “Thank you so much.” She reached for Maddie next. “You saved Helicon. You kept everything going while we were sick. And you cured us.”

  “So everything’s back to normal?” said Nora.

  Phoebe hugged Agler. “As normal as it gets around here.”

  Roth held up his hand as she let go of Agler. “Seriously. What did you mean by what you said?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  By the time the Winter Solstice rolled around, everyone was back in the swing of things in Helicon. In fact, because they’d been out of commission for most of the year, the adult muses really went above and beyond with the Solstice celebration.

  Generally speaking, the Solstice was a feast, but this year it was a veritable smorgasbord of epic proportions. Instead of one table straining under the weight of the food that had been prepared, there were four. All were laden with roasted meats and herbed vegetables. With casseroles and cheeses and fruits. There were two entire tables reserved for desserts—pies and cakes and tarts and cookies galore.

  The drinks were similarly elaborate. There were mulled wines of various hues and tastes. There was hot chocolate spiked with peppermint liqueur, served in fancy glasses. There were ales made with cloves or cinnamon or cranberries.

  And the music.

  All of the musicians were out in force. The sound of them was so beautiful, it made Nora’s heart ache. They played songs that echoed their misery at being sick for months. They played songs that echoed the triumph of their recovery.

  And it wasn’t just that, of course. All of the enclaves were bursting with joy and activity. The Solstice was burgeoning with creativity and production. Everyone was part of it, and Nora felt wrapped up in a community of people who loved life and loved what they did. She was happy.

  After eating until she thought she might throw up and sampling all of the drinks from the wine and spirits enclave, she wanted to dance. But she couldn’t move. So she and Sawyer lounged next to the main fire pit. He sat behind her, and she rested against his chest. His body surrounded her. She loved his closeness.

  Catling was curled up in her lap. Normally, she wouldn’t bring the cat-duck out to gatherings like this. But she’d lost her pet for so long this year, and ever since getting her back, she’d been unable to let Catling out of her sight for very long. The cat-duck was still small, and she fit inside one of Nora’s pockets, so she was easy to transport. She could even come along when Nora danced if Nora wanted.

  Maddie and Agler were dancing in the lawn.

  Nora watched them, pressed close against each other.

  They both had their eyes closed. They looked blissful.

  And Nora was glad.

  Sawyer kissed her neck. “How does it feel to almost be eighteen?”

  In Helicon, after the Solstice, everyone was ceremonially a year older.

  “You know,” said Nora, “in the mundane world, eighteen is a big year.”

  “A big year?”

  “Yeah, it’s the year you officially become an adult. You can buy cigarettes and vote and be your own legal guardian.”

  “Huh,” said Sawyer. “Nothing exciting happens here until you’re twenty-five.”

  “Of course,” said Nora, “you still couldn’t drink alcohol. You have to be twenty-one to do that in the mundane world.”

  Sawyer raised his eyebrows. “Twenty-one? Seriously? Nobody drinks until they’re that old?”

  “Well,” said Nora, “just because you aren’t allowed to drink doesn’t mean that anyone actually follows the rules.”

  Sawyer nodded. “I see. So, why do they have that rule anyway?”

  Nora shrugged. “The mundane world is messed up. Way more messed up than Helicon.”

  Sawyer ran a lazy finger over her arm. “What other sorts of things are different there?”

  She thought about it. “Um… I had a birthday.”

  Since everyone changed age at the same time in Helicon, they didn’t celebrate individual birthdays. After the Solstice, they would all be considered a year older.

  “Really?”

  “Yup,” said Nora. “Everyone had them. You changed your age on the day you were born. Not at the same time as everyone else.”

  “That’s kind of a neat idea,” said Sawyer.

  Nora laced her fingers with his. “It was neat. You got an entire day for you. All you. Well, in theory, you did, anyway. I never did, not really. I had too many foster families to remember when my birthday was. And anyway, it wasn’t really my birthday, it was just a day that people made up to be my birthday. No one knew my birthday, because I didn’t have a mother.”

  “So, when was it?” said Sawyer. “Your birthday? Or the made-up one anyway?”

  “December tenth,” said Nora.

  “Then we missed it,” said Sawyer.

  “It’s okay,” said No
ra. “No one has birthdays here. And besides, it wasn’t my real birthday anyway.”

  “Do you want to have a birthday? Because if you want—”

  “I don’t want anything more than what I have right now,” said Nora. “You. Helicon healed and whole. Maddie happy. I think everything’s pretty damned perfect.”

  He smiled.

  She twisted in his arms and kissed him full on the mouth. “I never want to lose you like that again, Sawyer Snow.”

  He stroked her cheek. “I’ll do my best not to die again, then.”

  She poked him in the chest. “You do that.”

  Phoebe’s voice carried over the music. “It’s time for the coming-of-age ceremony. If everyone could please clear the dance floor.”

  The coming-of-age ceremony was for the tweens who were twenty-five and would become full-fledged muses in the coming year. It bestowed on them the ability to absorb power from the mundane world and to create inspiration threads.

  Agler and Maddie came back and sat down next to Nora and Sawyer. Their faces were both flushed from dancing.

  “You guys are coming out on the dance floor after the ceremony,” Maddie said. “The music is absolutely insane. I felt like my feet had wings.”

  “I was straining to keep up with her,” said Agler.

  Maddie kissed his cheek. “You were doing fine.”

  “Nah,” said Agler, pulling her close. “You just make me look good.”

  The sound of someone clearing his throat above them. They looked up.

  “Fifth wheel, reporting for duty,” said Roth, sitting down between the two couples.

  “You’re not a fifth wheel,” said Nora.

  “I am, and I take my job very seriously,” said Roth. “I’ve got to make sure that the cute quotient of the four of you combined does not choke the life out of everyone. You’ve got to tamp that down a little bit, you know.”

  “Well, we’ll do our best,” said Agler.

  “If you get out of line, I’m here to knock you back in,” said Roth.

  “When do you have to go back home?” Nora asked.

  “After the Solstice,” said Roth.

  “We’re going to miss you,” said Maddie. “I feel like we didn’t get a chance to know you very well.”

  “I’ll be back in three years,” said Roth.