Seeress: Book Three (Runes Series)

by Ednah Walters

  She laughed. “Looking, Raine. I’m in love, not blind, but I leave the puppy-dog drooling to you. And quit pretending you weren’t checking out my man, too. I saw you.”

  I laughed. “Let’s go before the bell rings. Torin can be late and get away with it.”

  “That’s because he has no problem runing teachers and anyone else to get his way, while you’re chicken.”

  “Cautious, smarty pants. Not the same thing.” We started across the street, but the guys ran to catch up.

  “We should let them walk in front of us for a better view,” Cora said.

  “Better view of what?” Torin asked, coming up behind me and putting an arm around my shoulders.

  “Your asses,” Cora said, slipping a hand inside Echo’s back pocket. “We happen to like them.”

  My face warmed. Did she have to be so loud? A few girls walking past us giggled.

  She threw Torin a glance. “She tries to be subtle, but I know my girl wants you something bad,” Cora added, and Echo laughed.

  I vowed to smother her when she was asleep and send her soul straight to Hel’s Hall. Unfortunately, that was her man’s home and he’d probably rescue her.

  “You’re not subtle, are you, luv?” Torin whispered. “Should I tell her how you—?”

  I covered his mouth, left Echo and Cora saying their goodbyes at the entrance, and went inside. A blushing Cora caught up with us in the hall, where Torin’s fans waited. He had made history when our football team won state and was considered the golden boy. The darling of Kayville high. I was basking in his glory. The stares from the other students didn’t bother me anymore.

  I’d never cared about being popular, but I’d be lying if I said I hated it. Now I understood why girls clawed their way to the top of the social ladder in high school. The attention was addictive. I didn’t even mind the adoring female fans with envious glances.

  Okay, that was a stretch. My fingers tightened on the back of Torin’s shirt, and I sunk against his side. His arm tightened around my shoulder.

  Yeah, back off, piranhas.

  We headed toward the lockers. Cora talked nonstop about the people she’d helped over the weekend, but she was careful not to mention the word “soul”. There were rules for Immortals and Valkyries, and number one was anonymity. Mortals were not supposed to know about our world.

  Now that the swim season was over, Cora was working a few times a week and Saturdays at hospitals and nursing homes. Six months ago, she’d insisted that working for the Habitat for Humanity was enough community services to impress any college application committees. Nursing homes and hospitals were going to write her glowing recommendations for the time she spent with patients.

  Me? I didn’t think any college admin would ever know I’d saved lives. I couldn’t explain the things I’d done.

  Torin disappeared in the direction of his locker, while Cora and I headed toward ours. I was putting my books away when a sliver of awareness shot up my spine. I associated that sizzle with the Norns, except this time it was different.

  Someone was humming a tune. The song was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Heart pounding, I turned and searched for the source. I couldn’t tell where it came from or explain why the hairs on my neck rose.

  Cora slammed the door of her locker and yanked my attention. I grabbed my folder and the books for my morning classes, and followed her. Torin met us in the middle of the hallway.

  One look at me and he asked, “What’s wrong?”

  I squeezed his hand. He knew what that meant: wait.

  “See you at lunch,” Cora said and took off toward her English class. Torin and I headed upstairs toward the math floor. His jock buddies followed us like he was a magnet. Someone was throwing a party on Friday. Another had a birthday party, or was it a dinner? One wanted him to join lacrosse.

  We lost them a door away from my math class, and I heard it again. The same song was being hummed again. This time I recognized the tune from last night during my vision, or whatever it was. I turned and searched the students hurrying past us. The sound rose above the conversations and the laughter. Was I the only one hearing it?

  Torin caught my hand. “Hey? What’s going on?”

  “Can’t you hear it?” The person was using words now. Not English.

  “Hear what?”

  “The song.” I didn’t understand the words, but the song was sweet and soothing, like a lullaby. I cocked my eyebrows at Torin. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Torin shook his head. “I, uh, can’t hear anything other than the noise from the students.” The first bell rang. “And the bell.”

  The song disappeared, drowned out by the bell—or the singer had decided to stop. “You didn’t hear that haunting music?”

  He frowned. “No. You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, or I’m hallucinating.” If I told him it was the song I’d heard last night during my vision, he’d start worrying. “Let’s go.”

  We entered the class just ahead of Mrs. Bates. Torin’s seat was right behind mine. When I glanced back, he was still frowning. I shouldn’t have mentioned the song.

  “I’m fine,” I mouthed.

  His expression said he didn’t believe me. For the rest of the class, my thoughts kept drifting to what I’d heard and what it meant.

  ***

  In-between classes, I cocked my ear to catch the song again. No such luck.

  At lunchtime, Torin was waiting outside my class, a group of girls hanging on his every word. One reached up and brushed his shirt. That was crossing the line. I staked my claim when I reached his side, sliding my hand into his. They took off. “Groupies?”

  He laughed. “No.”

  “Next time Leanna Finch touches your chest, I’ll break her fingers.”

  “Who’s Leanna?”

  I forgave him for not noticing. Girls were always pushing boundaries like damn predators checking for weaknesses. Someone needed to tell them Torin and I were tight. Fortified like Fort Knox. “Have you seen Ingrid?”

  “No.” He caressed my cheek with his knuckles. “Are we eating here or at home? I can make us something.”

  I wanted to stay there and let him stroke me. His touch was intoxicating. But first things first. “Okay, but I need to ask Ingrid something before we go.”

  He went still. “About?”

  “Something.” I reached up and kissed him. “Go. I’m right behind you.”

  He didn’t look happy leaving me behind, which was sweet.

  “I won’t take long,” I added.

  He nodded. With a fingertip brush across my cheek, he disappeared into the men’s room to find a portal. I shook my head. Sometimes he could be so possessive. He hadn’t had a relationship in centuries and was learning to adjust to ours, which hadn’t exactly been smooth. What mattered was we loved each other, knew it, and cherished our time together. Whatever bumps lay ahead—and I was sure the Norns weren’t done with us—I was determined to never let them destroy what we had.

  I turned the corner and saw Cora at the cafeteria entrance. Her lunch schedule depended on whether or not Echo was around. She waved.

  “Please tell me you’re eating here. Please. Echo will be gone most of today and this evening,” Cora explained. “There was a fire at some nursing home in Seattle.”

  “I’m heading home, but you can join us. Torin already left to make something.”

  She sighed melodramatically and looked around the cafeteria. “I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

  “You won’t be.”

  “Nah. Go enjoy your man.” She waved, and I turned to see three girls from the swim team, Kicker, Sondra, and Tess. “I’ll join the girls and catch up on the latest gossip. See you tonight.”

  “You want to come and watch The Originals online? I missed the last two episodes.”

  Her eyes widened. “Ohmigod, the poor, damaged, just-needs-to-be-loved Klaus. I have to get my Klaus fix every week. I’ve even gotten Echo to tolera
te him. Okay, I’ll watch with you, so we can hate on some witches. I also want your opinion on something.”

  “Okay.”

  Ingrid, her cheerleader friends, and their jock boyfriends walked in.

  Cora beamed at me and gave me a quick hug. “You’re the best.”

  Everyone at Ingrid’s table looked up questioningly when I stopped by. “What?”

  “Where’s Torin?” a girl asked.

  “Around. You know I can actually breathe without him. Ingrid.” I indicated outside with a nod and took off.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, sounding a bit worried.

  “I want to pick your brain.” Some of the students were hanging out on the deck. Others threw a football in the grassy area along the building. It was still cold, but the sun was up and diehards were already wearing shorts. I found an area away from the others and faced her.

  “You’re beginning to worry me,” Ingrid said. “If this is about Andris—”

  “No, this is about me. Do you remember I told you last night that I heard the woman sing during my vision?”

  She nodded. “Varðlokur.”

  “Varo-what?”

  “The warding or spirit-summoning song. We sing it before the Seeress goes into a trance. What about it?”

  “I thought I heard it this morning.”

  Her frown deepened. “Where?”

  “Here at school. What does that mean?” I saw a movement from the corner of my eyes and turned to look. It was Blaine. He waved.

  “It means there’s a witch here at school,” Ingrid said, drawing my attention.

  I shook my head. “The Seeress was older. At least, she sounded older.”

  “Uh, I’m talking about the singer. A Seeress never does the singing.”

  Someone working with a Seeress was here at my school. “Is Blaine waiting for you?” He was talking to friends but he kept looking in our direction.

  Ingrid waved to him. “No. Do you want me to point her out when I recognize her?”

  “You can do that?”

  She shrugged. “Oh, yes. It’s like, uh, having witch radar. Why do you think Maliina hated you from the moment she saw you?”

  “Uh, because Andris was being a total douche?”

  She laughed. “That came second. My sister was a powerful Seidr witch, but in you, she saw something else. Something she’d never seen before, and she was jealous. Maliina always wanted to be important and, uh, revered. Back at home, they revered her, but it wasn’t enough. Then she met Andris and he turned her. She thought she’d be the most powerful woman in our land, but he took her away from home and her adoring fans. She stopped being important and she didn’t like it. That’s why she joined the Norns. She was very ambitious.”

  It didn’t excuse what she’d done, but it made sense. “So what did she see in me?”

  Ingrid shrugged. “A more powerful witch, I guess. I’m not as strong as Maliina, but I should be able to spot the witch here at school. I’ll let you know when I do.”

  “Thanks.” I really liked this new Ingrid. She stopped by the group with Blaine, said something to him, and disappeared inside the building. Blaine followed her. I went to the nearest restroom and headed home to Torin.

  ***

  I pushed the matter of the witch aside for the rest of the day. After school, Torin dropped me off at the back of our shop.

  “Text me when you’re done,” he said.

  The back door of the store dinged when I pushed it open. Mirage was our family shop. We did custom framing, but we also sold mirrors. Lots of mirrors. Big. Small. Runed and unruned frames.

  Mom had hired an assistant before she left. Hawk. An Immortal. If Dad knew about him, he’d hit the roof. He didn’t like Asgardians as he liked to call Immortals and Valkyries, yet he was married to Mom, a Valkyrie, and I was an Immortal. The irony was lost on him.

  Hawk didn’t seem to be around, but Jared, our regular employee, was with the one person I didn’t want to see, his wife Celine. His bubbly blonde wife could drive any sane person crazy with her smothering.

  “Raine,” Jared said, waving me over. “How’s school?”

  “Busy. Hey, Celine.”

  “Oh, you poor dear.” Her beefy arms looped around me in a hug. She came up only to my chin, and I had my backpack looped over my shoulder, which made our hug awkward. She stepped back and gripped my hands. “How’s your mother doing?”

  “Better. She’ll be home soon.” Mom had left six weeks ago, so we’d come up with a reason for her sudden disappearance. She was officially undergoing treatment at a private institution for a nervous breakdown. Dad’s illness had taken a toll on her.

  “How are you coping, dear? How is your father doing?”

  “Dad’s doing much better and, uh…” I tried to wiggle my hand from the woman’s, but her grip tightened. “I’m fine, too.”

  “Oh, how brave you are. First your father’s plane crash, then the cancer, and now your mother, it’s too much for someone so young to bear.” Tears rushed to her eyes.

  With my eyes I begged Jared to rescue me. I’d had to deal with her when Dad disappeared, then when she learned he was ill, and now.

  “I was just telling Jared we should visit your mother. She’s been so good to us. She’s at PMI, right?”

  “No, she’s at a private hospital in Portland and only family is allowed.” I finally freed my hands. “I’ll let her know you were asking about her.”

  “Oh, that’s nice. As for you, young lady,” she peered at me, “I want you to know you can come to the house any time, okay? If you need anything, anything at all, call us. Do you have Jared’s cell phone number?”

  “Yes, she does.” Jared practically dragged her out of the store. He came back with a sheepish expression. He ran his hand through his thinning hair. “Sorry about that. Celine has a big heart, but sometimes she gets carried away. So what can I do for you?”

  “Dad wants a copy of this month’s inventory and tax forms.”

  He chuckled. “The person to talk to is Hawk. Come on. He’s in the office.”

  Hawk got to his feet. He was a tall man with a coppery complexion, straight black hair, and brown eyes that seemed to never miss a thing. He also loved black suits. “Ms. Lorraine, this is a nice surprise.”

  “Dad sent me to get a few things, Mr. Hawk.”

  “Hawk. Sit, please.” He indicated the chair across from his. Jared excused himself.

  “How’s your father doing?” Hawk asked. He kept the pleasantries short and soon shifted to business. An hour later, he’d explained inventory while I tried to keep up.

  “Why are you telling me all this?” I finally asked.

  He studied me as though trying to figure me out. I stared right back. Most Immortals I’d met were centuries old, so I tried to figure out how old he was. He could pass for a fifty-something Native American man.

  “One day you’ll inherit this place, Ms. Cooper, so you should know how things are run. If you’d like, you could come to the shop and I can show you.”

  Mom never liked me working at the store before. She’d said something about my being clumsy because of a few broken mirrors. Now I knew it had something to do with her customers. She hadn’t wanted me around Immortals. Of course, she hadn’t known about the Norns’ agenda.

  “Okay. Until Mom comes back.” She’d be surprised. In a good away, I hoped.

  He nodded without cracking a smile. “Every day?”

  “No.” I laughed. “I have school and homework and… a life. Let’s start with three days a week. If I can stomach all the business jargons and whatnots, then I’ll add a day. If not, then I can say adios and convince myself I tried.” No, I wasn’t going to quit. I was broke. Mom had forgotten to put more money on my debit card before she left. “I get paid, right?”

  “Of course. Ten dollars an hour,” he said.

  Sweet. “When do I start?”

  “Tomorrow. I can show you what you’ll be doing now.”

&n
bsp; “Deal. And please call me Raine.” I leaned forward and offered him my hand, feeling more grownup than I’d felt an hour ago. I reached down for my backpack and got up. He stood, too. I put the folder with the tax forms and inventory in my backpack and left the office.

  My eyes met with Andris’.

  4. HATING WITCHES

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “Picking you up.” He bumped fists with Jared.

  Okay, that was new. Andris couldn’t stand Mortals, unless he was dating them. And Jared wasn’t his type. He loved them pretty. “Where’s Torin?”

  “Up and about.”

  He didn’t seem resentful. Usually Andris hated being saddled with playing bodyguard. Or babysitting me as he often he put it. “Give me a few minutes. Hawk is showing me the ropes.”

  Andris walked toward us. “The ropes?”

  “I start work tomorrow,” I said.

  “You? Working?”

  I made a face. “Why do you have to say it like that?”

  He shook his head. “Torin won’t like it.”

  I opened my eyes wide. “Really? Oh, I should have asked him first. I can’t make decisions without him. What am I going to do now?” Andris shot me a mean look. “Here. Make yourself useful.” I pushed my backpack into his arms.

  “Why do we need to work?” he asked, still following us.

  “There’s no we in me,” I said, hoping he’d take the hint and stay back.

  “Why?”

  I sighed. Hawk pretended not to hear us. “This is my family’s shop and one day I’ll own it. Now do you mind? Hawk is a busy man and you’re in the way. Go and admire yourself in the mirrors until I’m done.”

  He looked at Hawk, who was now staring at us with an unreadable expression. “Good afternoon, Hawk.”

  “Andris,” the Immortal said.

  “I’ll leave you two, but you,” he gave me a pointed look, “have some explaining to do. You’re supposed to work with us.”

  I didn’t want to remind him that souls bound for Asgard were cheating death. No matter what Torin said, I knew it was my fault. If Torin hadn’t stopped Echo from reaping my father’s soul, he would be dead and the world would be running smoothly. They’d messed with destiny for me.