Dead Silence

by T. G. Ayer

  I sniffed. "I want to say poor Loki, but I feel no pity for him. Not one iota." I spoke the words through gritted teeth, remembering the numerous building plans from the old house that I'd tied to my scabbard.

  Frigga sat forward, her glass dangling from her long lean fingers. "So, do you think Loki has freed the world serpent at last?" she asked Thor urgently.

  "As it was predicted, so shall it pass," Thor muttered, clearly unwilling to accept the reality of the situation. "As bad as Asgard has been affected, Midgard has been struck worse."

  "What do you mean?" I asked sliding to the edge of the sofa, leaning forward now desperately needing information about my home world.

  "Asgard received only a jolt by the current calculation. Unfortunately, Midgard has been hit much harder. World-wide volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. Your North American volcano, Yellowstone, has erupted, as well as Mt St Helens, and various volcanoes in the South Pacific including New Zealand and Japan." Each revelation rang in my ears as I absorbed the destruction that had run rampant across my world.

  "Crap," was all I could manage.

  But Thor didn't seem to hear me. "There is an ash cloud covering seventy percent of the surface of the earth, and the world's scientists are frantic. They believe crops will begin to fail because the cloud will restrict sunlight for at least two years. There have been tsunamis across most shorelines around the world, all due to ocean quakes. Everything is, as you say, 'crazy'."

  Shock coiled in the pit of my stomach, heavy and sickening. "Sounds unbelievable." My words were almost a whisper.

  As much as I wished to reject the news, I had to face reality. I wasn't one for living with blinkers and denying what was right in front of my eyes. In addition to Loki, things just seemed to be getting progressively worse.

  And there was more to tell them. "There is something else. I will be back in a moment." I got to my feet and tugged Gungnir from its sheath, glad it contracted to a short enough length that I could carry it wherever I went without much thought. I shook it out and waited as the golden rod lengthened into a spear in one smooth move. Then I tapped it on the ground three times and disappeared.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  In my room, I grabbed the maps which Turi had left on the large chest that contained my weapons and armor. In a flash, I was back with Frigga and Thor who were both frowning, impatient to have me return.

  I handed Thor the rolled up plans and said, "Take a look. These are plans for dozens of major locations around the world. I wish I had a way to tell what he's planning but just from these maps I have to accept that it's something very big and very bad."

  Thor nodded and unfurled the scrolls, smoothing the paper over his knees. He looked even more awkward now. Something Frigga noticed too. She got up and went to a small low table that sat at the foot of her bed.

  Bringing it over, she set it in front of Thor who gave her a grateful glance, then he scrunched up his forehead as he studied sheet after sheet.

  A few moments passed before he sat back, his spine stiff. "Are these not the plans to the house of the American President?" Thor pointed and as I grabbed it and turned it around, an iron band of fear tightened around my chest. How had I missed it?

  Blood drained from my face as I stared at the plans for the White House. Then I knelt beside the table and began to flip through the papers.

  The Vatican, Buckingham Palace, the UN headquarters in New York, and a host of other important locations around the world. I sucked in a harsh breath. "It must be a terror plot, against the whole world. We have to warn them," I whispered, relinquishing the plans to Thor as I began to pace.

  "What do you suggest we do?" Frigga asked as she rose and headed to the balcony. She moved her hands listlessly, as if she needed something but didn't know what it was. I suspected I knew what she really needed. Or who.

  I moved to her side reluctantly, unsure what to say to make her feel better. But we had to get down to business and maybe that business would get her mind off her absent husband.

  "I think we need to inform them. All the people Loki has targeted need to be told of the danger. We have to tell them what's going on and ask for their help."

  "And who is to say that Loki hasn't already infiltrated their defenses?" asked a voice from the doorway.

  Fenrir stood there, leaning against the threshold, arms folded, steel-gray eyes glittering. Had he overheard us talking about him? Then I banished the thought. In light of what had just happened to Asgard and to Midgard, the last thing Fen would be doing was indulging in self-pity.

  "Good point," I said nodding, giving him a small welcome smile.

  Fen pushed off the threshold and walked to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I heard about Joshua. Don't worry, he will recover. He is strong."

  I nodded and looked away, at once feeling both embarrassed and cared for. A strange combination of emotions.

  "Both Frigga and Eir have said he'll be fine," I said the words and yet I was afraid to believe them. And knowing how well Fen had grown to know me, I knew he could tell.

  At least he didn't say anything further on the topic. He cleared his throat and pointed at the stack of papers Thor had laid on the table. "Of those buildings, which are the most important?"

  "The White House. Without a doubt." The words popped out automatically.

  "Okay. Then my suggestion is we take a team to the White House, and speak to your President immediately, offer him protection, anything to get him to assist us in getting the rest of the likely targets on board."

  "I agree. I will take Jo-" I stopped speaking. What was I thinking? I couldn't take Joshua with me. "Okay, I'll take Suri for her fire power. I would take Aimee but I was hoping to take as small a team as possible since we've already had so many casualties."

  Fen grunted then nodded, his eyes still focused on the plans. "This is just what Loki would want." Fen sighed and scratched his head as he frowned. "But we have no choice. I would have suggested a larger team as well, but maybe for now small is the way to go. And I will join you to back you up."

  "So few?" asked Thor, frowning as if he'd expected us take an army into the President's house. "Shall I come with you?"

  His fingers flexed and I wondered if taking Thor would be good protection, especially if he brought Mjolnir with. That hammer can do some epic damage.

  But then I shook my head. "We don't want to put the President on the offensive by bombarding him with a huge battalion. I want to go straight into the Oval office, speak to him and get his response, and then leave immediately. A few minutes at the most."

  Thor scowled. "And if he refuses, or if he's already Loki's puppet?" he asked folding his arms. He wasn't happy to be left out of the visit.

  "Then we take him out of there, bring him to Asgard. If he's just guilty of making the wrong decision then we keep him safe until it's all over, or you and Frigga can work him over until he agrees to help us. If he's Loki's man possessed then we find a way to free him. And we all know what we'll do if he turns out to be a glamored Jotunn." And it was no joke by the expressions on the faces of all the occupants of the room. "Oh, and speaking of Jotunn. What did we do to the guy I brought back from Loki's little prison?"

  Thor shrugged, as if the well-being of a frost giant was none of his concern. "He couldn't provide us with any usable information. Seems Loki even keeps his thugs in the dark about his overall plans. We sent him straight down to the dungeon. He's keeping the good doctor company."

  Not physically, I hoped. I suppressed the comment and said, "Okay. And you've just reminded me of something else." I glanced at Frigga and then to Fen. "Have you heard anything about Aidan's funeral? I suppose with this disaster any plans would go out the window."

  Fen shook his head, his expression filled with worry. He'd been through his own world of grief not too long ago and Aidan's death was something he could empathize with. I hoped it didn't open too many of his wounds, and even if it did I'd probably never know. Fen was a very pri
vate man.

  "We had thought that you may want to speak with his mother. Also, the doctor has not been told. Neither the mother nor the sister have requested to see him. I was wondering if you planned on informing him?" I frowned, knowing very well why the doctor's wife and daughter were unwilling to see him. He'd been the one to put Aidan in danger one too many times. But Loki was Dr Lee's father, so I wasn't too sure I could expect the man to have any more feelings than his own father had displayed so far.

  "I thought we'd granted the doctor permission to spend a limited amount of time with his daughter?" I asked.

  Fen bent his head to look at me. "Bryn, it's only been a couple days."

  I sighed. I'd needed the reminder. "It feels like weeks." I sat a moment to think about my next steps. "Okay. Let me tell him. I'm wondering if Dr Lee might have something to offer in terms of information."

  Fen nodded. "That's a good idea."

  I turned to the door then did an about face. "So I suppose we don't have any way to know for sure if Loki let his serpent son loose. What if the prophecy is unraveling as it was foretold. Maybe we're giving Loki too much credit?" I asked and watched Thor consider my words. "Would you be able to investigate the serpent's behavior a little further?" Something told me there was more to know than met the eye.

  Thor rose and paced a few feet. "Let me see what I can find out, although, even for a god, going under the sea may certainly be a one way trip."

  Frigga smiled. "I wish there was a way to get in touch with Odin." She sighed and wrapped her arms around her body tightly.

  "I don't think we need to," I said.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I think he already knows," I said softly. "Wherever he is I think he's able to watch what's going on in our world. But he needs his strength. I only hope that he has the good sense not to try and materialize in Asgard because he thinks he can be of some help."

  Frigga snorted, the inelegant sound drawing smiles from both the men in the room. "He is stubborn enough to do just that. But I too hope he restrains himself."

  "Right, I think I will be off to the dungeons for now." I headed for the door.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Despite my doubts I headed in the direction of the dungeon entrance. The deeper I went into the palace the more destruction I saw. Walls were cracked, some ceilings had fallen revealing openings into the corridors of the level above.

  As I walked, I found I needed to be particularly careful where I stepped as every so often the large blocks under my feet shifted and grated against each other. I resorted to flying the rest of the way, giving thanks that the hall ceilings were high enough to ensure I didn't keep knocking my head on rocks.

  When I got to the entrance to the stairs that led to the subterranean jail, there was only one guard on watch.

  A quick explanation had him opening the door but the strange look on his face was swiftly explained by the state of the stairwell. I was most grateful for the gift of flight.

  The entire staircase had collapsed. Some sections of stairs still remained intact but the whole staircase needed rebuilding.

  As I reached the debris-clogged base of the stairwell, I had to give thanks a second time. This time for the rather high thresholds that housed the doors to the dungeons. Broken rocks that had been stairs in a previous life, had fallen to the bottom of the stairwell and were now almost entirely blocking the doorway to the jail.

  I found a space that looked large enough for me to wiggle through, and pulled my wings in as tight as I could.

  Then I poked my head through the hole and squeezed myself through. At the other side I found another guard, Ross, from what I recalled, who looked a little piqued.

  "Are you feeling okay?" I asked.

  Ross nodded. "I just haven't seen anyone for a while. And without any communication from above I was getting a little worried."

  "I'll let them know when I get back up there." I glanced around knowing there was supposed to be a second guard who watched the entrance from the outside. "Where's your other guard?"

  The warrior nodded a head at the pile of rubble. "Bjorn is somewhere inside that mess." His jaw tightened. "I talked to him until he was gone. I think he was smashed quite badly by the falling stairs."

  I laid a hand on Ross's shoulder. The two men were likely good friends considering all the time they spent with each other down here. "I'm sorry." He nodded. "I need to see Dr Lee."

  Ross turned on his heel and led me down the corridor until we reached the doctor's outer cell door. Inside the inner guard sat twiddling his thumbs anxiously. The moment he saw us through the bars he shot to his feet and hurried over to open the door.

  "What happened up there?" he asked, his eyes snapping from my face to his fellow warrior's.

  "Bad earthquake." I didn't want to say much else about the cause of the quake. "A lot of damage. The palace is half destroyed, Valhalla is a pile of rubble. Lots of warriors killed and even more injured. It's mayhem."

  The einherjar took a small step toward me. "I need to get up there. They need our help." He glanced nervously at the stone ceiling as if he was able to see through it to the horror of what lay up on the surface.

  "No. You are needed here," I said keeping my tone soft and encouraging. "The last thing we need are dangerous prisoners creating more drama up top. You are doing an excellent job keeping the city safe and we need you to continue doing so."

  The warrior nodded, his brown eyes were pools of something between lukewarm relief and concentrated dedication. He grabbed the key on the chain at his belt and stepped toward the door to Dr Lee's cell.

  A metallic click and he swung the door inward. "Let me know when you are ready to leave." With that he closed and locked the door behind me.

  And for a moment I stared at the closed door. What would happen if Asgard was hit with another quake and I was trapped down here with this odious man?

  I shook the thought off and turned to face the man. He sat at his desk, his glasses low on his nose. He was straight-backed, proud of his etiquette or whatever it was. He took his time, completing his sentence and only when he made a show of pressing his pencil into the paper to mark the period, did he look up and remove his thin wire spectacles.

  "And to what do I owe the honor of your visit?" I could almost hear the word he hadn't uttered. The word he'd used to describe what I really was.

  Mutant.

  I faced the man who'd once worked alongside my own father. The man who'd coveted the accolades my father had earned, who'd been suspicious of everything he'd done, who'd investigated all my father's experiments, searching for something to use against him.

  And as they say, if you go looking, you find something.

  And Dr Lee found something indeed. He'd found me. Or rather my existence. He'd discovered that my father had used the DNA from the remains of the woman found in an ancient burial, a woman who'd been suspected to be a Valkyrie. But my father had quashed the hopes of the head archaeologist of the dig, and he'd lied to her. Lied because he'd wanted a child, lied because he'd wanted his science.

  And Dr Lee had discovered my father's secret. He'd conspired to ensure my mother found out what my father had done. And Mom could never accept it. In many ways Dr Lee was the reason I'd lost both my parents, the reason my life had been ruined, and the reason I'd spent years believing I was nothing when all along I'd been something more than just the outsider.

  Now I stared at him, unsure how to tell this man who I hated with a passion that his son was dead.

  He watched me, his lip curling in distaste. "Well, speak girl. I know that you have the gift of speech." He was always arrogant so his tone did nothing for the level of my anger. Just being in his presence was enough to rouse my fury.

  "It's about Aidan."

  Dr Lee smirked and got out of his chair. "What has Aidan done now?"

  "He hasn't done anything. He's dead." The words popped out of my mouth so fast I hadn't realized I'd said it until it was too late. I di
sliked the man but he might have loved his son. In his own way. And I hadn't intended to be cruel.

  I stared shocked at Dr Lee as he processed my words. Then his face whitened, the lines beside his eyes tightening. His eyes remained cold, and I fought the urge to rush over to him and shake him until he showed some emotion.

  My fingers curled into fists at my sides and I took a step toward him. He glanced up in time and took two steps back, coming up against the side of his bed. The momentum forced him backward and he ended up landing on the bed, but still with his spine ramrod straight, his expression unfathomable.

  Even Loki conveyed more emotion than this man. And again I asked myself how it was possible that he was actually Aidan's father.

  "I came to ask if you wish to attend the funeral." My tone was cold, probably as cold as his heart.

  He watched my face, wary, like he was watching a wild, unpredictable animal come too close. There, he still saw me as inhuman.

  Gritting my teeth, I said, "I don't have the time to sit around waiting for your answer. Too much is happening right now, so you really should tell me now." I remained as stiff-spined as he was, holding back the urge to scream at him.

  I knew why I was reacting this way. I hadn't had a real chance to grieve for Aidan, my friend and someone I'd thought I'd loved for a brief while a long time ago. Maybe I had loved him once but the romance had been short-lived and fraught with obstacles, especially the one I was currently looking at.

  The doctor lifted his chin and met my gaze. "What's happening up there?"

  I snorted. "The same thing I told your guard."

  He smirked, but I could see the vein in his temple twitch. He hadn't expected me to brush his question aside. But I'd come to get his answer, not to give him answers.

  "Since you don't seem to be interested, I'll be on my way." I turned and walked to the door. As the warrior unlocked it, I glanced at the doctor as he sat on his bed.

  "I feel sorry for you," I said, unable to hold my tongue this time. "Whatever it is you felt was your focus in life, it certainly wasn't your family. You have a grieving wife and daughter up there who can't be bothered to include you in the family mourning and it's entirely your own fault. And in case you didn't realize it, Aidan was an amazing person. He had compassion, and morals, and tenacity and he protected the people he loved. And you had him as a child and never once appreciated him."