"Cheers man. I seem to be saying that a lot recently."
"Yeah, good job we're buddies eh?" Alex grinned and held out his hand to help Matt to his feet.
"Did you see that snake?" asked Becca. "It looked like a mini Gorvir."
The snake had regained consciousness and slipped under the water.
"Yeah, where's Grim? I thought he said he had our backs," said Alex, annoyed.
"I guess this water isn't deep enough for him," said Sasha. "Come on, we need to move. Keep away from the water guys," she said, looking at Matt in particular.
They carried on and walked for about an hour through the tall reeds, sticking to the path like glue. The reeds started to thin out and there was more water surrounding them now.
"Guys, be careful. I'm starting to tingle, said Alex, rubbing his chest.
"I take it you don't mean a good tingle," said Becca, reaching out for his hand.
"No, this is definitely not good," he said, scanning the water. "You know that Jaws movie where they think they dealt with the shark but it was just the baby? I have a horrible feeling we're about to meet baby snake's mama."
The water was parting in waves and he could see green spikes dipping up and down beneath the water.
"Quick, go back," he said, backing up.
"We can't," said Ellewen, pushing him forward.
"Look, we're done with this, we're going back," shouted Alex angrily.
He could feel static electricity jumping up and down his arms as his body reacted to the imminent danger.
"No, I meant that literally, we can't go back, we're trapped," said Ellewen, moving to the side so Alex could see.
The path had completely disappeared. It had been swallowed up by the water and they were now standing on a small island of mud. The water crept up the sides and was soon lapping at their shoes. Alex looked over at the water and could see the green spikes getting larger and larger. They were rearing out of the water and were bent over in a large arc.
They watched the semi circle of spikes lift up into the air. They went as high as a skyscraper and were attached to a green scaly body, which rippled and flexed as it rose up from the water. Then Alex saw the head of the beast. Its jaws were clamped around itself, as though it were eating its own tail. It opened its mouth and it's thick, scaly tail writhed out and flicked into the water, causing a wave to rear up and soak them all on their receding island.
"Jormungand," Ellewen whispered in awe, wiping water from her eyes.
"The, Jormungand?" asked Becca. "As in the Midgard Serpent, Loki's son?"
All the colour had drained from her face and she started to shake.
Ellewen nodded slowly, mesmerised by the glowing green eyes, which were staring at them curiously.
The serpent was massive; water cascaded from its green horns and spikes and fell into the water. It opened its mouth and a long tongue lashed out, tasting the air. They could see its deadly fangs, dripping with orange poison. Each drip which fell into the water, turned it black and smoke rose up from the surface.
"We should have expected this," said Sasha, staring at the snake. It was just hovering there, swaying from side to side hypnotically. "She's called in her brothers to deal with us. First Fenrir, then Jormungand."
"Sorry Alex, but your cousin sucks big time. Hasn't she had enough fun yet?" asked Matt, irritated.
"Yeah, I'll be having a few words with her when we finally meet," said Alex, rolling his shoulders and flexing his muscles.
This serpent was enormous. Alex recalled what Alan had said about it being so big it stretched around the whole world and ended up eating its own tail. He reached for the sword hanging from his hip and slowly drew it. Jormungand hissed, sending ripples of water towards them. It focussed its stare directly at Alex and flicked out its tongue again.
"I've got this," said Alex. "It's just Niddhogg in water," he tried to convince himself.
In reality Niddhogg looked like a newly hatched baby dragon compared to this monster. Jormungand started to move forward, his thick, muscular body pushed him through the water towards them. Alex shoved everyone behind him and held the sword in front of his body. His hands were slippery with sweat and he wiped each one on his trousers, never breaking eye contact with the serpent.
"Come on worm, have a taste of this," he shouted, waving the sword in sweeping arcs. Jormungand stared at him and cocked his head as though he were amused. His tongue flicked out and knocked into Becca, throwing her into the water.
"Becca!" Alex cried, holding the sword in one hand and reaching for her with the other.
"There's something around my leg," she cried, swallowing a mouthful of water.
Matt grabbed her other hand and tried to pull her out with Alex but whatever had her was too strong. She slipped out of their grasp and sank out of sight with a splash.
"Becca!" they all screamed.
Jormungand hissed and struck out again, flicking Ellewen and Sasha into the water. They shouted out in alarm and were also suddenly pulled under the water. Alex looked around in alarm. He couldn't see the girls anywhere, all he could see were writhing green bodies surrounding the mud island.
"The girls!" he cried to Matt in dismay, looking into the water.
"What do we do?" shouted Matt, kicking out at a snake, which had slithered onto the island.
He made contact and it went flying through the air back into the water dazed. Jormungand hissed angrily and his tongue flicked out at Matt. Alex swiped at the tongue with the sword but just missed it. The tongue struck the mud and acrid smoke rose into the air, blinding Matt and Alex. Jormungand reared his head back, ready to strike at them. His mouth was wide open and his green eyes glared at them malevolently. Alex held the sword in both hands above his head and Matt crouched behind him, scanning the water for any sign of the girls. Jormungand struck, his head darted toward them but Alex held his ground. Jormungand stopped a fraction above the tip of the sword and pulled back quickly before Alex could strike at him. A loud chuckle reverberated in the sky and a female voice called out.
"Very brave. I look forward to meeting you cousin," she chuckled again and the sound died away.
Alex looked around but couldn't see anyone. It had to be Hel and he had a few choice words for that monster.
"Where are you? Show yourself," he called but there was silence, just the lapping of the waves by his feet.
Jormungand had been watching him closely. He pushed himself back away from the island, flicked his tail up and put it deep into his mouth. He sank beneath the water not breaking eye contact with Alex. Alex was sure he winked at him as the water sucked him down into the depths. Alex collapsed to his knees distraught. The girls were gone and it was entirely his fault.
Matt yelled, making Alex jerk his head up quickly. Matt was jumping up and down waving. Coming towards them was Grim, riding through the water on Gorvir. Becca, Sasha and Ellewen sat behind Grim on Gorvir's back. Becca had her arms clasped tightly around his naked torso and was grinning widely. Sasha and Ellewen were waving at them, grinning too.
Gorvir came to a stop in front of the island and Grim laughed.
"I saw these mermaids dancing in the water and thought I would give them a lift," he chuckled.
"Grim, you're the man! That's so awesome, we thought they were gone," shouted Matt, excited.
"Grim, you're a sight for sore eyes," Alex called up to him wearily. "Could have done with your help a bit sooner though."
"Sorry, I did my best, Gorvir's brothers and sisters were being a bit naughty and she had to sort them out," he explained, nodding to one of the snakes who slithered out of sight beneath the water.
"I'll have to leave you here," he said to the girls over his shoulder. "I think Hel's done with you now and you've proved yourself. I expect she'll let you pass over."
The girls looked a little disappointed as they swung their leg over Gorvir's back and slid back down onto the mud. Alex was sure Becca's hand ran over Grim's chest unnecessarily and h
e scowled.
"Grim, don't you own any clothes man?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as the girls giggled helplessly.
"Clothes? Would you wear clothes if you looked like this?" he laughed, flexing his muscles and flicking his long blonde hair back over his shoulder.
Alex shrugged, yeah, he had a point.
"Until we meet again friends." Grim waved and Gorvir pushed herself through the water away from the island. They watched him riding up and down through the water until they were out of sight.
Alex sighed and clasped Becca to his chest. "I thought I'd lost you," he murmured into her hair.
"Hey it takes more than a few snakes to keep me away from you," she smiled into his chest.
She lifted her head and he brushed his lips quickly across hers, sending shivers down her spine.
Matt looked at Ellewen and Sasha. They were both standing with their hands on their hips looking back at him. He shrugged and pulled them both in for a quick hug.
"Glad you're ok," he said.
"Yeah, you too," said Sasha, pulling away first. "So how do we get out of..."
Sasha never managed to finish the sentence. Suddenly there was a blinding light and they covered their faces with their hands. When they looked up they were standing in front of a large wrought iron gate, which was covered in runes. The gates were set between walls of grey marble, which stretched off into the distance as far as the eye could see and the runes engraved into the metal glowed a bright pulsating yellow as though they were advertising something.
"What do they say?" asked Alex.
"Welcome to Helheim," said Ellewen wryly.
Chapter Eight
The temperature suddenly dropped and thick tendrils of fog seeped under the metal gates as they swung open slowly.
"Something tells me we aren't about to be greeted by Willy Wonka," said Matt, backing up a step warily.
A blood-curdling growl sent shivers down their spines and they all took an involuntary step back. The ground vibrated and a huge dog's head poked through the gates and sniffed the air. Garm was back and he was not happy. He honed in on Alex and barked, snapping at the air in front of him angrily
"Now, now, Garm," said a voice behind Alex. "Play nice or I'll get my rope out again."
"Dvalin!" they all shouted, as they turned around.
"Great the Oompa Loompa has returned. Dvalin! You punk, you totally ditched us," said Matt angrily. "We nearly died getting through that, thanks for the help buddy."
"Good to see you too Matt. Looks like you all did ok without me, though you're filthy dirty," said Dvalin, looking at their torn, wet, ragged clothes. "I've been waiting here ages for you. What task did you have to complete? You look like you've been dragged through a bush backwards."
"Task? The task was to stay alive. Fenrir tried to eat us, a draugar tried to kill us and then Jormungand's babies nearly drowned the girls," snapped Matt. "As I said, a little help from you would have been useful."
"Tsk, I would have slowed you down," said Dvalin, secretly thinking he had used his pass wisely. "Come on let's go through I could see the root of the Yggdrasil tree through the gate. It’s just over there to the right."
"Slight problem," said Alex, eyeing up Garm.
The giant dog was panting heavily; its five golden, yellow eyes were all fixated on Alex. Blood dripped from its matted fur onto the ground and his breath was so rancid it made Alex's eyes water.
"Isn't he meant to stop people getting out, not in?" asked Ellewen.
Garm was blocking the gateway completely. His massive paws had razor sharp claws and they scratched at the ground, digging deep grooves into the earth.
"I don't suppose you could do another puppy spell?" asked Becca, eyeing the dog warily.
'No," said Matt. "You saw what that did to her last time."
"Garm!" shouted Dvalin sternly. "Let us through immediately or I'll tell Hel you have been a very, very naughty boy."
Garm barked loudly making the ground shudder. They staggered back trying to keep their balance and Garm lurched forward and snapped at Dvalin's head. Dvalin fell back onto his bottom with a thud and shuffled back out of reach of Garm's jaws.
"Nice one," smirked Alex.
"I read somewhere you had to be firm with dogs and use a commanding voice," said Dvalin, standing up and brushing dust off his trousers as Garm took a few steps back, growling fiercely.
"I'm not sure if you've noticed but this isn't a normal dog," said Sasha, looking at her phone. "Yes,” she cried. “He got my message.”
She moved to the side trying to see past Garm through the gates and a loud reverberating voice shook the air.
"Garm! Back down," it called.
Garm slunk back, growling and unblocked the gate, revealing a handsome, middle aged tall man with long blonde hair and a neat short beard. He was wearing a light blue heavily embroidered tunic, tied at the waist with a thick leather belt and a dark blue cloak was wrapped around his shoulders. He stood between the gates and grinned widely at Sasha.
"Daughter!" he cried, opening his arms as she flew at him, nearly knocking him over. He encased her in his muscly arms and hugged her tightly to his chest.
"Dad," she cried, tears pouring down her face.
This was the first time she had seen him since she was four years old and they had persuaded Hel to let them send her to Midgard to be brought up by a foster family. Helheim had been no place for a young girl who was full of life and whilst it had been a hard decision for them, Sasha knew it had been the right one.
"Where's mum?" she asked looking around his broad shoulders for her.
"Hel, wouldn't let her come as well. She has some strange notion that you have come to rescue us and take us back to Asgard," he said, raising an eyebrow. "She's at Hel's palace waiting for you."
"I can't wait," cried Sasha, jumping up and down in excitement.
"It's wonderful to see you sweetheart, but you shouldn't have come. This is no place for the living. You know she'll never let your mother and I leave here," he said cupping her cheeks in the palms of his hands.
"I had to try. If I can talk to her I might be able to persuade her," said Sasha, hope shining in her eyes.
"Sasha, no one can reason with her at the moment. She was so close to escaping here and she is livid with rage. That's why she made it so hard for you to get this far. You've been so brave, all of you," he said looking around at them all.
He caught Alex's eye.
"Nephew," he acknowledged him with a nod of the head. "You've done well. It was touch and go there for a while. You used the sword just in time to close the portal. I was struggling to keep the dead away from the henge. When Garm and Hraesvelg slipped past me I thought that was it. Imagine my surprise when Garm came crashing back through. You can see why he's not happy," he said, nodding at Garm.
The beast was eyeing them malevolently, swaying his huge head to and fro.
"Hey, I had a bit of help," Alex shrugged.
"Your duty is to destroy the sword. You shouldn't have come down here, no matter how noble the cause," Baldur said sternly draping his arm protectively around Sasha's shoulders.
"The sword is next on my to do list, don't worry, I'll deal with it. I couldn't leave Sven with Niddhogg any longer and I said I would go on my own but your daughter was pretty insistent," explained Alex.
"Hmm, that's my girl," grinned Baldur. "Your mother is not very happy though," he said to Sasha. "You're meant to be at school, this is an important year."
"Dad! Seriously? I'm about to come into my powers, I don't need qualifications," she huffed.
"Sasha, knowledge is power. You need to take your school work seriously," he frowned at her.
"Whatever Dad. I mean what use are quadratic equations anyway? I'm acing all my subjects, a few days won't hurt my grades."
"Hmm, we'll discuss this later, we can't do much about it now. Come on I'll take you to see your mother. She'll be wondering what's keeping us."
"Sasha, I
need to get Sven. We're so close," said Alex, placing his hand on her arm.
Sasha looked torn.
"No it's ok, you go with your dad. We'll find you once we have Sven," he said, squeezing her arm gently.
"Are you sure?" she asked, looking around at the group.
"Go, you need to see your mum," said Becca giving her a little push. "We'll be fine."
"Ok, but be careful. Make your way to the palace when you have him. I think we'll need to do some serious sucking up to Hel to get out of here."
Sasha held onto Baldur's arm and they made their way towards the palace which they could just see in the foggy distance. It was set high up on a hill and looked like a medieval stone fortress.
Suddenly a loud voice rang out behind them. "Dvalin, finally, I've been looking for you everywhere."
Dvalin span around on his heel and a look of irritation crossed his face as he saw Svafrlami standing there with his arms crossed.
"Svafrlami, give it up and rest in peace for goodness sake," he said exasperated.
"Er, who's this?" asked Alex, completely confused.
"I am the rightful owner of the Tyfing sword and I demand you return it to me," Svafrlami snarled at Alex.
"He's the one who tortured my brother and I to create the sword and the one who died from the curse first," explained Dvalin, glaring at the tall man with fiery red hair.
"It's mine. I want it back," said Svafrlami petulantly.
"No way man, it's dangerous. As soon as we get out of here I'm going to destroy it. Why on earth would you want it back, it just brings pain and death?" asked Alex.
"With that sword I will rule Midgard. No one will stand against me," he cried.
"Svafrlami, you're dead and unless Hel decides to release you, which I doubt, you'll be stuck here for an eternity," said Dvalin, sighing.
"Yeah and if you think you can conquer Midgard with a sword, well let's just say you might want to catch up on the last god knows how many hundred years before you try that," laughed Alex.
"You dare mock me?" shouted Svafrlami. "I demand justice. You and me boy, a fight to the death. When I win I'll take Tyrfing and claim what's rightfully mine."
Helheim (The Nine Worlds Trilogy Book 2) Page 10