by S Lawrence
Laying back on the couch, I portray the insolent younger brother of the king to a tee. I appear seemingly lost in my drink and the women that gather around me so I pose no threat. Odin's eyes are on me though; he is always watching and his lap dogs are doing the same. Of course, Ragnhild is still angry about our one night together, hating that it led to Raven. Her disdain for our daughter should bother me, but honestly, I'm glad for it. Raven had a much better life with Freya. Her kind soul would have been crushed by Ragnhild and Odin if she had been subjected to them as a child.
I drink and play with the women, half heartedly, well into the night. My mind drifts back to Louisiana and the pixie covered in tattoos -- a seer. I caught her looking at me once, or rather, she caught me once. I had spent the entire wedding cautiously watching her. Her hint of magic, diluted but powerful, shone from her like a beacon, calling to me. When I met her gaze, it was cool and assessing. I felt judged. I didn't like the idea, didn't like maybe falling short in her eyes.
Raven had been right about my interest in the tiny woman, which makes no sense. I play, I fuck, but I don't do interested. I stand and run my fingers through my hair before striding out in to the blowing snow. Walking to Svadilfari, I pat his nose before vaulting upon his back. The enormous stallion has been with me since I stole him from the giant that bargained to build our walls. He is a glistening grey with a mane of silver and is stronger than twenty giants put together. He fathered Sleipnir, the foal Odin took from me when I returned from stealing Svadilfari. I led him away by shifting into a mare, so it is been believed I fathered the foal; I let them believe what they want. It serves me well, as do all the rumors cultivated over the years.
As Svadilfari trots through the deep snow to my home, just outside the walls of Asgard, I ponder the issue of Aphrodite. If there was ever one of us that truly belongs back amongst the wars of our home, it is she. She was always twisted and sick. She was but a young child when we fled, brought by her brother. Even then, her beauty was beyond compare, but if you could see past it, you would sense the darkness that lies within. She is like a perfectly red apple, ripened to perfection, but when you bite into it, you find nothing but rotten flesh.
We reach my home, and I wave the great doors open. We both go in, letting the warmth of the fire that is already burning warm us. I slide down, letting Svadilfari head to his stable. I sit and stare at the flames contemplating my next move. I find my mind wandering and I shift to just outside the human realm and watch. Three beautiful women, each so completely different from the other, lay on the bed, whispering and sharing secrets -- the Guardian's woman, Aislin, recovering still from her ordeal; Emma, she who sacrificed herself for the Hunter; Cora, the one who calls to a part of me I haven't thought of in a very long time. I stay for a long time, longer than I should. How do I know? Because she showed up.
"Uncle!" Morrigan scolds.
"I'm just watching while I ponder our problem."
"Which one?" she quips. Indeed, we seem to have a great deal at the moment. More and more every day, as a matter of fact.
"Aphrodite. If she is helping the humans, and possibly working with others of us, what does she wish to gain?" I say, thinking out loud.
"My greatest fear is the 'who' of that question. You are sure you haven't seen her in Valhalla?"
"I would tell you if I had. Well, not at the time maybe, but once we found out her part in the plot with Emma, then I would for certain. I know I keep secrets, but you also know why. I chose my sides long ago when I helped your daughter and her dragon. Since long before that day, I have had to play a part." I am weary of the games and schemes. I look back at the women. Sighing, I face my niece and make an observation. "I see you gave some gifts."
"Oh, not just me. True, I gave Aislin hers, but Emma got that from either Persephone or Hades. And Cora… Well, Yggdrasill boosted her." She grins at me.
"Yggdrasill." I turn and look back at Cora. "Why, I wonder?"
"Maybe you should go ask. You do have a special spot in her heart. Maybe she would tell you. I don't know if you noticed, but the girl's eyes are now silver like the Norns. Go ask. What could it hurt?" Morrigan sifts away, and I can just hear her tinkling laughter.
I have a feeling it could hurt a lot. I return to my home and reach out to the one they call Nestor. Summoning him, I need to ask for his aide. While I wait, I talk to Fenrir.
'My son, I'm going to need your help. I am assuming you are with your sister and she told you of Aphrodite's treachery. Come to my home tomorrow, and I will have a task for you.'
'As you wish, Father,’ he growls back.
A light knock sounds at my door, and I wave my hand, opening it for Nestor. He walks in, shivering in the cold. His Egyptian blood is unable to tolerate the cold. He crosses directly to the fire. Standing before the flames, he lets them warm him. I don't speak; instead I watch him, studying this little god that the others have drawn in to their circle. His gifts, at least the ones that are known, are few and not extremely helpful. Although they should come in very handy for what I'm about to ask him to do.
"Nestor, I have a task for you. I know you are aware that bitch Aphrodite has betrayed us. I want to know who she is working with. I want to know if it is someone here. I have a way to find out but I need you to get something of hers first. You must go to her home on Olympus and find something that smells of her." I don't tell him of Fenrir; I don't know this boy well enough to trust him with that information.
"I can do that. Should I bring it here to your home?" He is serious and determined.
I shake my head. "No. I'll meet you on the Vanishing Isle. I know you traveled there to the Tree of Life to leave things for the Druids." His eyes widen at my knowledge. "Morrigan is one of the few people that I truly love, and she knows where my loyalty lies."
"I will leave now. I have a friend in Olympus who will help me if I ask. I traveled there after we found out looking for Aphrodite. I agree we must find her first, but she is not alone in her treachery. She has hurt people I care about, and I want her to hurt in return." His dark eyes flash gold in his anger and I wonder about what other powers he might have, besides his traveler gifts.
Mist begins to form around him in his anger, and I watch fascinated. He might have more of his mother's powers than I first thought. He, obviously, has power in all realms like Hecate. Hades would be very interested in this unusual combination of genes. I have yet to find out just who his father is, as Hecate managed to keep it very quiet amongst the rest of the clans. I suddenly wonder if it is because her son is more powerful than we all would like. His eyes are still glowing gold as he steps through the portal he summoned. I think I need to go see Persephone soon to find out more about this boy who has managed to stay hidden for so long.
Staring into the fire, I sip a whiskey. Years of traveling to Scotland and Ireland to visit Danu and Morrigan gave me an acquired taste for the stuff. I wonder how many times I've spent a long night drinking with the humans, enjoying just being myself. No plots, no games. Just listening to music and drinking in peace. I grow tired of this game Odin and I play.
I raise my head as the doors open and my son walks in, shaking the snow from his fur. His tongue is hanging out and his sides are heaving, noting that he must have ran all the way here.
'I did not wish to wait until tomorrow, although the hour is late and technically, we are already there. Besides, I knew you would not be resting.' He lays at my feet and my hand moves to stroke along his side, fingers sinking deep in his black fur.
"No, no rest. This problem with Aphrodite has me worried. I don't think Odin would work with the humans. He sees them as so far below us, but I just can't shake the feeling of it going much deeper than we might think."
'What task do you have for me?' He speaks to my mind; very few have ever heard his voice.
"Nestor, the Egyptian that is traveling and helping the Guardians and your sister, is now in Olympus getting us something of Aphrodite's. I want you to track her; search ev
ery corner of this realm for her. If she is here, I want you to bring her to me. Alive." I pin him with a glare, making sure he is listening to the 'alive' part.
Fenrir growls, 'Yes, Father.'
"Rest now. It could be a long hunt, depending on if she has help here," I caution him before I move to my knees and wrap my arms as far as they will reach around his massive neck. "Be safe, my son. Now more than ever, those that would see you dead will be watching." I push up and walk away to my room. I hope to get some rest before I have to go back and face my brother. Odin will be looking for any hints that something is going on.
Hours have passed, and I've found no rest. My mind keeps returning to Cora and the questions I have for Yggdrasill. Why would she give Cora such a gift? I watched the girl at the wedding and she had the powers of the Norns coursing through her, so why add to it? What role does she have in all this?
Her image is burned into my brain. The tattoos that covered her arms and the ring in her nose. Her rainbow colored hair makes me wonder what color it is naturally. Her skin is the color of cafe au lait, when it isn't colored by ink. Long slim fingers turned the cards at her table as she told her fortunes. Bright hazel eyes that turn up at the corners had connected with mine on more than one occasion. She is a beautiful mix of her ancestry -- petite and slender with small, pert breasts.
Shaking my head, I punch my pillow and try to eradicate her from my brain. She is a complication, a distraction when I can't afford one. I don't know what is going on but I can sense the shifting. Fimbulvetr is upon us. It has started. The long winter; snow, and ice will cover our lands. Three years without summer, the end to humans on this planet, if the prophecy is to be believed. I swing my legs over the side of the bed, sitting up, giving up on sleep. The sky has begun to lighten outside as I stand and walk to my bathroom. Passing up the shower, I head into the steam room. Stripping, I walk in and sit on the wooden bench, leaning my head back. Eyes closed, I let my imagination have its way. Immortal or not, I'm still a man, and she is the stuff of fantasies. Maybe it's her complete difference to those that surround me here. Whatever the cause, I let the images take over as I wrap myself in my hand. It is a long time before I exit and walk to the shower, sweat running down my body. Turning the cold water on, I let it stream over my flushed skin, washing away the desires that hold me in their grip.
I dress and stalk to my kitchen. I end up making coffee, leaning against the counter, and staring out at the falling snow.
'It's begun, hasn't it?' Fenrir's nails click on the stone floor, as he makes his way down the hall. I look over my shoulder at him as he joins me.
"I'm afraid so, my son." My eyes are sad, thinking of the rest of the prophecy. My son is destined to fight my brother. The human myths say he will kill the Allfather and then be killed by Odin's son, Vidar. We know this is only a story told by Odin's Vikings, who have been taught to hate Fenrir and myself. All we know is the battle is coming. All around the world, the clans are preparing for the battle between those of us that don't wish to turn this world into our old world and those who wish to rule over it.
'You didn't sleep last night. I heard you. What kept you from rest? Was it worry? Because I can take care of myself and I have a least a couple very powerful friends. Don't forget, Asger and Ylva will always fight with us.'
"It wasn't worry," I reply, my tone telling him that is all the answer he will get. I look at him when I hear his growling laugh and shake my head at the wolfy smile on his face. "Shut up, boy," I scold, without any heat in the words.
'Raven told me a certain seer with colorful skin and hair had caught your eye. Has she caught more than that?' He studies me like he studies the animals he hunts. I turn my back on him without answering. 'I see. Interesting.'
I'm saved from answering when my doors fly open and Nestor jogs in, his face is flushed, and rushes to my side. "Someone is following me. They followed through worlds, through portals, and through dimensions. I dare not linger. Be safe and watch your backs. Our enemies are greater in number than any of us first believed." He turns and disappears through a new portal. I see desert sands through it and can feel the heat upon my face.
Looking down, I see a pair of black leather pants. I can see the the darker stains of blood on them. Aphrodite. Long have I heard whispers of her twisted idea of what love means.
Fenrir growls as he smells the pants. 'I can smell the pain of those she has tortured; it is in their blood. She must be stopped.'
"You have to be very careful. If what Nestor said is true, those that fight against us are gathering and becoming more bold. I must warn Raven also. She has to go back to Odin, and we know we can't trust him. I don't know if he is part of this, but regardless, we can't trust him. He wouldn't want the humans to have our power but he isn't above using them to get what he wants."
I set my cup down and turn to leave. "Stay here, rest up for another day, and then start your search. Begin at Yggdrasill; she will know if Aphrodite came that way. I love you." I sift away to Raven's house, needing to get there as quickly as possible. I also don't want anyone who might be watching to see me leave or track me to her. She is sitting before the fire, legs drawn up under her, brows drawn down. Her head whips my way as I appear. Jumping to her feet, she is in my arms the next moment. I hold her close, we are both silent for a long time. She pulls back and stares up at me, with eyes as stormy as my own. It is the one thing she got from me, those grey eyes, although hers turn to frost in her anger, unlike my flames.
"What's happened?" her voice trembles slightly.
"I'm only here to warn you. Nestor obtained something for me and in the process, found himself being followed. He was followed through the different worlds by one of us. I know you must go back to my brother and your mother, so I came to remind you to be very careful. We can not trust anyone, other than those you left in New Orleans. Fenrir is going to be searching for Aphrodite discreetly, but here we have only ourselves. Freya is our ally, but for now, we can't afford to tell her anything about what is happening. No one must know that we suspect others." I'm outraged by the thought of someone harming my children. I feel my powers rising with my rage, and Raven watches me carefully.
My power often takes over, shifting me into what it thinks is needed. Mine is an old and primal power with a mind of its own. Like Odin's, it came from those that lived long before our people on our home planet, a gift to those first members of the clans. Our family is descended from those that first received that gift. Ours is the first family that made up our clan. The first warrior, the first conqueror of the others. War and the power that comes from reigning calls to us. For thousands of years, I have fought against that siren's song. But recently, the call is stronger than ever before. I fight for control and fight the change.
She wraps me in her arms once again. "You must find something to help you, Father. You can no longer fight it alone. Maybe Ylva can help you." Her voice is pleading.
"Yes, maybe. I will travel to Morrigan's and see if Ylva and her Guardian will come to me there," I muse.
"He can not find out that your control is slipping or that your power is growing. Odin will attack if he thinks you will soon be more powerful than he," she reasons.
"I know. Again, be careful while you are in Valhalla. Stay here in our world. It will do you no good to seek out the Druids; they will make their way here. Use caution when trying to uncover the secrets that have been hidden for so long." I sift away from her after squeezing her tightly for a moment longer.
Chapter 11
MICHAEL
We are as prepared as we can be. Jason found us everything we asked for. We just hung up from talking to Patrick, glad that Nestor took him home right after the ceremony. Man, he hates that we are leaving him behind once more, but he was visited by some of the Guardians. Kai had sent out the call to them to watch over him late last night. Nothing like having huge fucking dragons land in your yard to let you know you are protected. We convinced him he needs to do what he does best -
- research the old lore for us. Our hope is that Nestor will be able to reach us no matter where we are.
Jason told us more about Nestor. Talk about hiding in plain sight. That man's parents are quite the surprise. While we are on our, dare I say, quest, the others will be looking in our world for more cells of Thorne, Inc., hopefully destroying as many as they can. We make our way downstairs in the tack room, dressing. I look at Sean as he pulls on his black tactical pants and fitted black t-shirt. Nestor just dropped off some last minute supplies, after traveling to the Norse realm. He said it was colder than fuck while he was there. So yeah, the Great Winter seems to have started. We each are packing coats and sweaters in our packs. We've even convinced Cora to cover up. I slide one of my knives in the sheath at my belt. My mind keeps wandering to what Yggdrasill said about everything we gone through making us strong enough to do what we must. All the while, Cora's words play over and over -- brother killing brother.
I glance at Sean, and he is glaring at me. "Just stop, we willnae kill each other. And if there is no other way, I must be the one to die. You promise me, Michael. Do ye hear me? I will be the one."
I shake my head, refusing to even consider it."Ye doona get to make that decision!" I bellow, and the horses stomp and shift in their stalls, startled by my outburst. I draw in a deep breath and stomp from the barn, unwilling to upset the animals anymore with my anger.
He doesn't follow me, knowing I need time. I pace out into the pasture and let my anger fade. I understand my brother's request, his need to protect. Yggdrasill showed him my secret, showed him how I was taken even when he offered himself in my place. He had suspected things, but I would never confirm them. Our bodies bare the scars from the time we spent locked in that dark room with those monsters. Our souls haven't healed; they are still covered with the bleeding wounds.