Gods

by Ednah Walters

“I won’t.” Our eyes connected when he hugged her again. Her eyes grew bright. She could be such a girl about hugs. She left his arms for mine and sunk into my side. “Let’s go home.”

  “Will you be home for dinner?” Einmyria asked before we left.

  “Nope. I’m joining Celestia’s family for dinner. Maera gave her all my favorite foods.” I took the basket from Trudy and peered inside. There were two apples in the top basket, then another cloth under it covering the pastries. I was happy I wasn’t the only one worried about Celestia getting hurt again. She needed her artavo and the sooner the better. “Dad, I’ll stop by for a chat when I return. I want to ask your opinion on something.”

  “Sure, Son. Celestia, pass our regards to your father. I promised him a rematch of our favorite game, and I’m ready this time.”

  “What game?” Celestia asked the moment we left my parents’ quarters.

  “Chess. Your father brought a board and taught Dad how to play. He caught on fast, but your father deliberately loses to him, and we both know it.”

  “And you are a terrible partner, so he needs her father,” Trudy added.

  “Let me guess. He let his father win, too.”

  “No. He trounced him every time. I’ll see you tomorrow, Celestia.” Trudy and she hugged then Trudy went her way.

  “Don’t listen to Trudy. Dad prefers it when I beat him because it helps him get better. He’s improved a lot the last week.” Echo and several young Grimnirs left the hall at the same time as us. He smiled at Celestia, shamelessly flirting with her, and completely ignored me. A few months ago, I would have been jealous. Not anymore.

  “Did you two fight?” she asked, after Echo and his trainees disappeared through a portal.

  “He fought with Rhys, and I put a stop to it.”

  “Oh. The two Grimnirs you mentioned. I thought you might have fought about Cora.”

  I chuckled. “Why? Cora is his problem now, not mine.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I opened a portal to her living room. Her father was home early. He was on a stool in the kitchen, reading the newspaper. “Cora is high maintenance. Comes from being an only child to an older couple. They made her the center of their attention, homeschooling her because they were educators, giving her whatever she wanted. She becomes impossible when she doesn’t get attention.”

  “She sounds a lot like you.”

  “Hey, I was deprived of attention, hugs, and kisses. Not the same thing.”

  She grabbed my chin and planted a kiss on me. “You’re a hoot and a half, but we both know Raine’s family made up for whatever your Immortal guardians didn’t give you.” She went through the portal. “We are home.”

  Panic flashed in Chief Deveraux’s eyes. His reaction didn’t make sense, until a woman we hadn’t seen entered our line of vision. I recognized her from a website Celestia had been scrutinizing a month ago. She was the city council woman her father dated. Rosalie Perkins.

  “I didn’t hear you drive up, Celestia,” Mrs. Perkins said and even glanced out the window before studying me, her eyes not missing my coat, Celestia’s cloak, or our gloves.

  “We came on a boat,” Celestia lied smoothly and rubbed her arm. “Brrr, it’s cold using jet skis so late in the day, but Eirik loves them. We brought dinner from Maera, Dad.” She placed the basket on the table, removed her gloves, and smiled at the woman as though she had nothing to hide. Her father looked like he’d swallowed a frog. Celestia introduced me as a friend from New Orleans without saying I was her boyfriend. We hadn’t discussed exactly what we were to each other, but I planned to remedy that.

  “Nice to meet you, Eirik. What is Maera? A new restaurant.”

  Celestia chuckled. “No, Eirik’s family chef. She makes the most amazing pastries. If she were to open a restaurant, I’d eat there every day. Try one of the buns.” She removed the top tray with the apples and lifted the cloth covering the pies and buns. “The bigger pies are filled with chicken and steak, but the smaller buns have cream and fruit.”

  How brilliant. Celestia had completely distracted the woman and saved the moment. No wonder I was crazy about her.

  “Hayden dropped off a pile of papers for you,” the chief said.

  “Those are my homework packets. Eirik and I will eat later, Dad. He’s going to help me with math.” She grabbed my hand. “With the door open, in case you were about to remind me.”

  “I wasn’t,” her father said with a straight face while Mrs. Perkins chuckled.

  “Yeah, right.”

  “My father would like a rematch, Chief,” I added. “He’s improved since your last game, so hopefully you won’t have to work hard at letting him win.”

  “Who said I let him win?”

  “He did, sir. After I beat him several times.”

  Just before we disappeared into the hallway leading to Celestia’s bedroom, we overheard Mrs. Perkins say, “What a nice young man.”

  “Did you hear that? I’m nice, so why didn’t you introduce me as your boyfriend?”

  Celestia grinned over her shoulder and caught me closing the door. “We promised to leave that open.”

  “I’m not that nice. About your intro…”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready to claim you yet.”

  I couldn’t tell whether she was serious or not. Then her dimples flashed and she started to laugh.

  “Take that back.”

  She hopped on the bed and tried to get to the other side but I was faster. I caught her, one apple slipping from her hand. I tried to forget the world outside her door, but it wasn’t easy with her father around. I wished she were staying at my place, so I didn’t have to sneak in and out of her room when he was asleep.

  She stopped playing, went to her desk, and opened her homework packet. I settled on her bed, propped my head, and watched her. I loved watching her. She had an expressive face and tended to show what she was feeling. I knew something was wrong when her eyebrows slanted downwards and she bit her lower lip. Instead of starting on her homework, she started drawing squiggly lines on a piece of paper. It was obvious something was bothering her.

  “Talk to me, Dimples,” I said. “What’s wrong?”

  She sighed. “Have you ever heard of homes where Immortals send their children when they have mental problems?”

  “No, but Rhys and Nara might know. They did extensive research on Immortals. Why?”

  “Marguerite runs one called Serenity House. I found out yesterday morning.”

  That woman again. She kept popping up in our conversations when I least expected it. “Are you planning on visiting her?”

  “No. I just want to know about it. What they do there. I searched online, but it doesn’t exist.”

  “Immortals have lived undetected for millennia, so I’m sure they’re also good at hiding their institutions from Mortals. I’ll ask Rhys.”

  She started with math, and I helped her whenever I could. Her need to find closure with her mother left me with a bad feeling. It left her vulnerable, and Marguerite might manipulate that.

  CHAPTER 8. SHOPPING SPREE

  CELESTIA

  Dad was gone when I woke up the next day. The feminine scent in the air and the rinsed breakfast utensils said Rosalie had spent the night. I really liked the woman. She was good for him.

  I changed and went grocery shopping. Most grocery stores were only ten minutes away, so I wasn’t worried about being late. I was headed to the checkout when the hairs in the back of my neck rose, and I turned to look over my shoulder. I didn’t see anyone familiar, yet I knew someone was watching me. I paid for the groceries and was walking to the car when someone called my name. I recognized Marguerite’s voice before I found her, my heart thumping.

  She was by a black SUV. I couldn’t see the driver, but she said something to the person and came to join me. “Let me help you with those.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Your father still likes his steak and rocky road ice cream?”
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br />   “Oh yes. I’ve tried to convince him to try other flavors with little results. The caramel cashew is mine.” Now why did I tell her that? We were in broad daylight, yet she made me nervous.

  “He is a creature of habit.” She listed some of the things Dad liked. “Who likes mint chocolate chip?”

  Eirik did, but I doubted she wanted to hear that. “I like variety. And I’ve a sweet tooth.”

  “I’ll have to remember that.” We finished putting the groceries away. She pushed the cart to the nearest allotted cart space. “Do you have time to grab a drink or frozen yogurt and talk?”

  It was only ten, yet the heat was already sweltering. “Maybe a few minutes. I don’t want the ice cream to melt.”

  “We could carry them inside. There’s Frogurt over there and a Tutti Frutti. They won’t mind keeping your ice cream in their freezer.”

  I’d never done anything like that, but since she seemed so confident, I removed the three tubs of ice cream and put them in one plastic bag. The Tutti Frutti salesgirl was nice and agreed to keep our ice cream in their freezer while we ate. I got mango/pineapple mixed with cheesecake, but skipped the toppings while Marguerite went all out.

  “You are the one with a sweet tooth,” she said, urging me to add the toppings.

  “Next time.” I was too nervous to eat something that needed chewing. We found a table, and for a moment, we ate in silence.

  “How is your father doing?”

  “Fine. He’s busy.”

  “Is he seeing anyone?”

  From her expression, she already knew. Was this a test? “Yes, a lady who works for the city. He seems happier and relaxed.”

  “And how is Genevieve?”

  I smiled. I loved my aunt. “She’s good. Have you tried to contact her?”

  Marguerite sighed. “I’m still working up the nerve to try it. You are all I can handle right now. I missed so much when you were growing up that I don’t know where to start. Are you a good student? Do you like school? I know you missed school while you were healing. You stayed in, uh, Helheim?”

  Way to ease Helheim into the conversation. “I like school as much as any teenager, and I’m an okay student. I like most subjects, except math, yet I’m taking a college math class, thanks to Hayden and her tutoring skills. And yes, I stayed in Helheim while recovering. Father came to visit,” slipped out before I could stop it, and her lips tightened. She didn’t like that. Take a load of this too, mother dearest. “Zack and Hayden went with him, too. Hayden said they did twice or three times a week. Dad is pretty close to Baldur. They love to play chess.” Now, I was just being mean.

  “How nice.” Her voice was tight. A stretch of silence followed. “You are going to graduate this year, aren’t you?”

  I nodded.

  “Have you decided on where you want to go to college?”

  I couldn’t remember the last time college crossed my mind. I listed the schools I’d applied to and where I was accepted. “I haven’t decided on one. I might skip a year.”

  “I remember going to college. During high school, I couldn’t wait to get out of this town, yet after I graduated, I wanted to come back. Of course, meeting your father had something to do with it. He was dashing, and I’ve always liked a man in uniform.” Her smile was actually genuine. “College is a wonderful experience, Celestia. You’ll meet interesting people and get exposed to so many wonderful things. I don’t know why you’d want to take a year off. What does your father say?”

  “I haven’t discussed it with him, but he’ll respect my wishes. He’s always treated me like an adult.”

  “But you are a child. You need guidance.”

  Annoyance coursed through me. “This has been a tough year. First was the mess with Angrboda soul napping me and trapping me in Helheim, then the killing of Witches, and then the attack by Einmyria. If I want to take a break—”

  “Forgive me, my dear. I spoke out of turn. I shouldn’t have said that. I need to know you first and shouldn’t make assumptions about what you need or don’t need.”

  “Thank you. I saw the sketches on your wall. Where did you get them from?”

  “Mother sent them to me. I respected your father’s wishes and stayed away, but mother understood that I needed to stay connected with you and sent me the pictures and your artwork.”

  She pulled out a wallet and showed me photographs I didn’t recall ever taking. Some were shot at school and some in our backyard. Grams could have taken them. I hated being suspicious, but Grams wasn’t around to verify anything she said.

  “She was amazing,” I said. “I miss her.”

  “You know, she came to visit me whenever she could.”

  “She did? Where?”

  “At Serenity House, but that was toward the end before she died. She was very proud of me for working my way up to the directorship position. She’s the one who urged me to reach out to you. I’m sorry the first time I tried was a disaster. I was having an episode and seeing Angrboda’s grandson brought back false visions and bad memories. I really miss her.”

  Yet she hadn’t come to Grams’ wake or the funeral. If she was going to use lies to try and win me over, she was wasting her time. “I’ve watched her memories.”

  “What, dear?”

  “In the Resting Halls in Helheim, I can access Grandma’s memories and watch her relive every moment in her life as though it’s happening in real time. I can hear her thoughts and conversations she had.” Marguerite went pale. “That’s how they rest. They relive their memories over and over again. Maybe I’ll catch those moments of the two of you together.”

  “That must be wonderful,” she mumbled.

  “It is. I watched one when I was about eight, and she’d just had a premonition about me being a harbinger of death. You weren’t the only one who saw those visions. She saw them too. But it didn’t stop her from loving me and guiding me. She did everything in her power to be there for me and teach me, so that I would be a good Witch.” Pink colors dotted Marguerite’s cheeks. She stared at me with a look I couldn’t describe—part annoyance and part fascination—but she didn’t speak. “Every time I helped Dad or the police solve a crime, I thanked her for her guidance and love, her utter belief that what she saw in those premonitions shouldn’t define me. I help people, Marguerite. I promised myself that one day I’d tell you that. Not because I want you to be proud of me or prove you wrong, but because that’s who I am. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes because sometimes I take on more than I can handle, but I’m happy with who I am.” I smiled. “I should get going.”

  Marguerite grabbed my wrist. “Don’t leave yet. Please. There’s so much I want to ask you, I don’t know where to start. During your visits to Helheim, did you see…?”

  Her voice trailed off when she saw the anger in my eyes. I was livid. I’d really hoped her interest in me was genuine. It wasn’t. This was about Anne Marie.

  “Angrboda?” I improvised.

  “No. I’m not interested in her after her betrayal.”

  “Anne Marie?” Her eyes flew to mine, her grip tightening on my wrist. I wiggled it free. Maybe she really loved the girl. “Would you like to know how she’s doing?”

  “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s with her family now.”

  I waited. I knew she was dying to find out about her precious daughter, so I kept quiet. I hated her at this moment. Hated her for giving me a glimmer of hope and taking it away. I was a fool. I should have listened to Eirik. People like his grandmother never changed, and Marguerite was like Angrboda.

  “She is okay, isn’t she?” Her eyes narrowed, and her face grew taut with tension.

  I swallowed my disappointment. “Yes, Marguerite. She’s doing just great. She’s gotten close to her parents and Eirik. They care about her.” She visibly relaxed. “We are friends now since she is Eirik’s sister, and I’m always at the hall. Did you want me to pass her a message?”

  “No. Of course, not, I’m happy she’s okay.”
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  “She fits right in. Blond hair and gray eyes just like Eirik’s sister. Just like Angrboda saw in her vision. Gorgeous gray eyes.”

  She blinked, panic flashing in her eyes. “Of course she is.”

  Lies upon lies. “Okay, uh, I need to head home. It’s been nice talking to you. If you ever need me to pass a message to her, you let me know.” Annoyed with myself for letting her to get to me, I collected my ice cream. She walked me to my car even though I told her it was unnecessary.

  “We should do this again,” she said.

  I didn’t think so. “Sure.”

  I got in my car and took off. A block away, I noticed a black SUV following me. I tried to catch the number plate, but it stayed two cars behind me. Refusing to panic, I kept an eye on it. When I took a detour and it stayed on my tail, I called the police station and spoke briefly with Davies.

  Within minutes, he came blazing toward us. As though the black SUV realized what I’d done, they indicated a turn and took off down a side street. I still gave Davies the description of the vehicle, and then he escorted me home.

  I was still shaken and annoyed when I entered the house. I put the groceries away, changed, and did my hair and makeup. I planned to be in a good place when Eirik arrived. He didn’t need to know how stupid I felt.

  ~*~

  EIRIK

  We ate early and left for Celestia’s by eleven. Texas and Daiku joined us. Their job was keeping an eye on Trudy at all times. That was mine too, but Celestia had a knack of distracting me, and I didn’t want anything to go wrong, or Maera and Mother would never forgive me. I was relieved Einmyria had refused to join us. The tension between her and Trudy was still there despite Father’s intervention. I was losing patience with both of them.

  “Have you guys ever heard of an Immortal institution for women called Serenity House?” I asked, as we got closer to the cave.

  The two Grimnirs shook their heads.

  “Since Immortals don’t die, we don’t reap them. It’s easy to overlook a place when you’ve never reaped there.”

  That left Rhys and Nara, but they were busy searching for Maliina’s soul. I planned to track them down and get answers. Not just yet. Marguerite bothered me. Before she met with Celestia, she and I needed to have an understanding.