Destined (Desolation #3)

by Ali Cross

  “I dreamt that I was trapped somewhere dark. I couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. My wrists burned ice cold, and it felt like I was shackled to a wall or something. And there were these . . . these creatures that would kind of break off from the rock walls around me and look at me, bare their teeth and screech. Everything sounded muffled, like there wasn’t really any sound at all, like my ears were plugged or something.” She dropped her gaze to her lap and I felt her skin grow clammy and her hand tremble.

  “It was so dark, but I’d been there for a long time so I guess I could see a little bit, ya know? And it seemed like, after a while, those weird rock-creatures kind of became my friends. But then there was this other . . . presence. At first it felt like creepy crawlies tickling all over my body—as if a million spiders had been set loose on me. But then the sensation began to squeeze me, to tighten all around me like there was a boa constrictor on my chest or something. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t do anything. I was choking and while I died I heard this light tinkling laughter like my death was the funniest thing in the world.”

  I felt a tear drop onto my hand so I set my cup down, scooted over to sit beside her on the couch. Pulled her against me. “Shh, bright eyes. Shh.” I stroked her hair, felt her tears soak through my Offspring T-shirt. “You’re okay baby. No one’s going to hurt you.” I knew the words were stupid. Knew I couldn’t promise her that—not knowing what I did about how evil the world was and just how many bad guys would get their rocks off making any one of us hurt.

  Miri shook her head against my chest. “But that’s the thing. I wasn’t me.” She sniffed and sat up, swiping at the tears on her face. She looked at me, then shifted so she faced li’Morl. “I was Desi.”

  When I glanced at li’Morl, I saw him looking at his dog, doing that weird I-can-read-your-mind thing. I never knew with these people—none of what I thought about the world was true anymore. In the world of crazy dogs and strange über-tall and über-beautiful men, anything was possible.

  “Thank you for telling me.” li’Morl peered at Miri with such intensity I wondered how she could stand it. “It is as I expected. Michael will be pleased to hear this.”

  “You’ve talked with Michael?” Miri brightened like the sun bursting out of cloud cover and my heart lurched to see the hope and happiness shining in her eyes.

  “Of course.” li’Morl placed his hand on her knee and Miri’s face flushed. “He wanted to go in search of Desolation himself but—he has been detained.”

  “Detained?” Miri’s eyes grew wide and I knew she was picturing all sorts of horrible things because Michael wouldn’t ever let anything stand in his way of rescuing Desi.

  li’Morl chuckled. “It seems he did not agree with Lord Odin’s command that he not return to Helheimer. He is in love, that one! He gave no thought to himself, no thought to what Helheimer might do to him if he should return.”

  “Oh,” Miri said, her countenance darkening. “I hadn’t thought of that. It’s because of what Lucifer made him do, isn’t it? Odin doesn’t want him to turn into a Horseman of the Apocalypse again.”

  “You are most perceptive.” li’Morl leaned forward until Miri met his eyes. “And exactly right.” He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. “When the love-struck Gardian tried to sneak into the delegation that traveled to Helheimer, Heimdall pulled him right out and set him in a—well, I’m not sure what you might call it. A cell? Certainly, a detention room, if you will.”

  “Oh no!”

  “Oh don’t be sad, bright eyes,”

  I jabbed my hand forward and punched the guy in the shoulder. “Hey. You don’t get to call her that, man.”

  li’Morl had the good sense to look distraught. “My apologies. I merely—well, you do have stunning eyes.” Miri laughed. Laughed!

  I tugged her closer to me. “Whatever man, can you just get on with why you’re here?”

  “Certainly.” His tone sounded contrite enough, but I didn’t like the sparkle in his eye that told me he wasn’t sorry at all. “Your dream Miri, convinces me that we are on the right course. Except—” He looked at me and I had to lean away from the expression on his face. Because I knew that look. It was the look of a guy who was about to ask someone to do something really stupid and really scary that the someone could never say no to in a million years. And I think li’Morl saw that I knew something of what he’d be asking and that we both already knew I’d say yes, because he didn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t come right out and ask me to sacrifice my life for Desi.

  Because I already knew that’s what he was asking.

  And he already knew I would.

  “I guess the first thing, would be to explain my friend, here,” li’Morl said, nodding toward the dog.

  And then the freakiest thing happened.

  The dog sat up on its haunches and, looking at me all the while, began to . . . change. I found myself standing, pulling Miri after me and putting the coffee table between it and us. I’m no chicken, but come on. Come. On. “What the hell?” I said, pointing out the obvious. “Is it like, a werewolf or something?”

  li’Morl chuckled. “No.”

  Miri watched, her fingers clenched around mine.

  The Doberman stretched and thickened, its hair disappearing. I stared, my mouth falling open, and I didn’t even care that I looked like an idiot, as the dog became a guy right before my eyes.

  “He can’t very well go around looking like that—” li’Morl said, indicating the white pleated skirt the dog-dude wore with a fancy “collar” and crown-thing. “And as yet, he has refused to wear anything more . . . modern.”

  “Well, what’s his name?” Miri asked. But she didn’t wait for li’Morl to answer. In typical Miri fashion, she stepped up to the dog-dude, sticking her hand out in front of her. “Hi. I’m Miri. What’s your name?” She added her trademark thousand-watt smile and I knew the guy would be powerless before her. Even with bed-head and ratty sweats, the girl shone like a diamond.

  Sure enough, Dog-dude bowed his head and muttered, “I am not worthy to take your hand, lady. But my name is Horonius, and I thank you for asking.”

  “Judging by your clothes, I kinda figured it would be something like that,” Miri said, patting him on the arm. When Horonius looked at her, his eyes bright with something like honor or awe, I realized he was really just a kid. A year younger than Miri, maybe. It was hard to tell because he was basically hairless—I couldn’t see a single one on his skin at all. And there was a lot of skin.

  Miri seemed to read my mind, because she said, “People really don’t go around dressed like that these days. I bet James’ clothes would fit you. If I got you some stuff, would you put them on?”

  Horonius shook his head the barest bit. “I could not, lady. It would not be right to do so.”

  Miri crossed her arms and got that look on her face I knew really well. There’d be no denying her. “Well, I don’t think I can talk to you while you’re dressed like a cabana boy in Vegas.”

  Horonius got this horrified look on his face, like the last thing in the world he wanted to do was offend her. “As you wish, lady.”

  Miri did this little head nod humph thing she did whenever she got her way, which way she was certain was the right way, and walked around the kid. She began raiding my drawers for clothing.

  “Not my Grateful Dead shirt, okay?”

  Miri looked up and rolled her eyes and my heart did this flip-flop thing it did whenever I got a jolt of love for the girl. She had me wrapped around her finger and I knew I’d strip the T-shirt right off my back and give it to whoever she wanted me to, even if it was my favorite band shirt. For Miri, I’d do anything. Even walk through Hell. Even go there on purpose to help save her best friend if she asked me.

  Ten minutes later, a very uncomfortable-looking Horonius sat beside me on the coffee table, dressed in my jeans and my vintage straight-from-their-last-concert Grateful Dead shirt. Miri sat across from us, wearing a very satisfied smile.
Her bright eyes gleamed at me and I decided that my Offspring shirt had suddenly become my favorite.

  “So what’s the deal?” Miri asked. “What are you, Horonius? And what are you guys doing here? And what does it all have to do with my dream?” She delivered her questions rapid-fire style and left Horonius looking a little stunned. It had no effect on me. Except that I beamed at her like the love-sick idiot I was.

  Horonius looked as if he might not ever speak again. Like maybe being a dog was better than wearing weird clothes and answering hard questions. But li’Morl didn’t have that problem. He answered all her questions without batting an eye.

  “The deal is,” li’Morl seemed amused at Miri’s choice of words, “we’re going to rescue Desolation. Horonius is a Hound of Hel—not the “hounds of hell” you hear about in your pop culture, but a creation of Helena’s, the goddess of Helheimer. I think—correct me if I’m wrong, Horonius—that he was a human boy in Amenhotep the Third’s court who, along with his twin brother Helonius, was captured by Helena and pressed into her service as personal servants-slash-guard-dogs-slash-bodyguards. But a short while ago, Helena had his brother killed in order to charm a potential ally into giving her something she wanted.”

  “Oh my gosh,” Miri said. She reached out and touched Horonius’ hand, but he didn’t move a muscle and continued to stare straight ahead. I figured he was like one of those guards at the queen’s palace in London—those guys tourists try to get a rise out of but are famous for, well, doing exactly what Horonius was doing right now. Which was absolutely nothing.

  “We’re here,” li’Morl said, continuing to answer Mir’s questions, “because we need your help—or rather, James’ help. And it has everything to do with your dream, Miri, because you answered the biggest question that no one on Asgard, or anywhere really, has been able to answer. Desolation is alive.”

  Miri threw herself into my arms, spontaneously bursting into tears and leaving all us guys, even li’Morl, looking seriously uncomfortable. As for me, I managed to keep the tears to a minimum and I think I hid most of them in Miri’s hair. When Miri leaned back to beam her sunshine smile at us, I noticed Horonius hadn’t gotten in on the smile-party.

  I slapped Horonius on the shoulder, appreciating the perfect worn-in softness of my T-shirt under my hand. “What’s got ya down, man?”

  He looked at me and I let my hand fall to my lap. “I do not understand,” he said.

  “Understand what? How you can look so good in a T-shirt and jeans? It’s called style, that’s what.”

  “I believe our friend here is anticipating the rescue. A most arduous task, I would imagine.” li’Morl’s words fell like a wet blanket on our celebration. “Horonius believes he knows where Desolation is—and now that you have dreamed it, Miri, I feel certain his information is correct.”

  He flicked an invisible something from his dark blue suit-vest (now this guy knew about style; he wasn’t wearing any designer I recognized, but man, I’d like to meet his tailor, that’s for sure), and let his gaze rest on me. “That is where you come in.”

  To my credit, I didn’t hesitate. I might not have known who this guy was, might not like the way his presence made me feel like I’d do whatever he asked me to do, but I knew what I’d do for Desi, for Miri. “Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”

  A sad-seeming smile flashed across li’Morl’s face. “Michael and Desolation are lucky to have such devoted friends. It’s fascinating, really. One day, I’d be most interested in speaking with you.” He took a breath and straightened his shoulders while I felt like maybe I’d be sick to my stomach. “You are entitled to say no, young James. You have Miri. I can see what you mean to each other. And you may feel differently about your offer to help once you know what needs to be done.”

  “Dude, you’re making me nervous. Just tell me.”

  li’Morl read my eyes, maybe read my mind for a second, before he nodded. “Desolation is being held in the darkest, most unreachable and dangerous place in all the worlds. No one knows of this place except for Loki, Helena, Desolation and the Hounds. Or, Horonius, rather.”

  I glanced at Horonius, but his expression—his whole body—remained unmoving, unchanged.

  “I suspect she’s shackled to the bottom of the rocks upon which Ygdrasyll was built, and that she hangs beneath all the worlds, her body suspended over space.”

  “Oh my gosh,” Miri said, covering her mouth with a trembling hand. I touched her knee, hoping to share some comfort with her, though my own stomach had flipped over and I’d become less confident about avoiding throwing up.

  I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. “Okay. So Horonius knows where this is, right? So why can’t you go get her?” Notice how I said you. I wasn’t stupid. Hell was the last place I wanted to go.

  “That is why we’re here, I’m afraid,” li’Morl said. I so did not like where this was going. “Where Desolation is, I cannot go. I am a being of Light, a creature of Alfheim—my kind cannot exist where there is no Light. I’m sure you understand.”

  I didn’t understand the whole Light creatures and bottom-of-the-worlds bit, but I got the gist of it. I’d be going to Hell. Literally. I always thought I’d go there—before Miri, anyway. Before her, I thought Hell was my inevitable destination. But since Miri, I pretty much figured I’d do everything to avoid going there.

  “Heimdall, the god of the Bifrost, can get you into Helheimer, but not to the bottom of Ygdrasyll, not to the roots of the world tree. Horonius could go alone, but he cannot break the shackles around Desolation’s wrists. Loki created them to resist the Hounds’ abilities—else they would have released Helena when he imprisoned her there. That is why the goddess remained trapped until Desolation released her.”

  I suddenly felt like an insect trapped beneath glass. My legs and wings pinned aside, my guts exposed. I tore my eyes away from li’Morl to look at Miri. Would she want me to go? And maybe never come back?

  But she kept her eyes on her hands in her lap, giving up none of her secret thoughts to me.

  “Heimdall will get you in as close as he can. Horonius will be with you every step of the way. I’m sure he knows every nook and cranny of Helheimer, including how to cross the river without the soul eaters getting you.”

  “Soul eaters? What?” My hands felt as if I’d stuck them in a bucket of ice water.

  “Do not fear. He will get you to Desolation. All you have to do is release her, and get her out. As I said, Horonius will be with you.”

  I glanced at Horonius. His stony expression did not comfort me. “But what if she . . . what if she’s, you know, the bad Desi? What if she doesn’t want to escape? What if she kills me the second I release her?”

  “She’s not bad,” Miri said at the exact moment li’Morl said,

  “She is not bad.”

  “I felt it in my dream, Jamie,” Miri said, using her nickname for me that I claimed to hate but secretly loved. “She was full of remorse. Full of regret. That’s partly why the dream was so awful—because I felt so, so sad.”

  “But what about those rock-creatures you saw? If Desi’s scared of them, I sure as heck don’t want to run into any.”

  “They are the genii,” li’Morl said. Totally unhelpful. “You probably saw them at the battle in Desert Peak—Odin briefed me on your . . . adventures. The genii are the small dwarf-looking rock creatures you fought. Do you remember?”

  My face blanched. “Yeah, I remember.” It was possible to kill them—sort of. Mostly it was like knocking their rocks apart. So weird.

  “But the genii will cause you no harm,” li’Morl said. “At least, I believe they will not. As I understand it, they have become as un-enamored of their queen as Horonius.”

  I stared at him. “Well, as you understand it. Great. Let’s go then!” I jumped up and grabbed my coat, standing at the door like, Well, let’s get a move on. I knew I was being childish. I could see myself reflected in each of their faces—even Horonius looked disappointed.r />
  Miri stood and came up to me. She took my jacket from my hand and tossed it at the coat rack near the door. It missed and fell to the floor.

  “Look,” she said, wrapping her warm fingers around mine. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I copied her. “I know you’re scared. I’m scared too. The last thing I want is to lose you.” She stepped closer, our toes touching. “You do know that, right?”

  I looked at her, this girl I’d totally changed my life for, and I knew; if I didn’t rescue Desi, if I didn’t at least try, she would feel it as acutely as if I’d abandoned her. She owed her life to Desi, and I owed my life to Miri. I could see how in Miri’s heart, there couldn’t be one without the other. Saving Desi would be a way for Miri to know that I got it. That I knew what made her tick. That I knew how hard her challenges had been.

  Not that Miri needed me to prove that I loved her, but this would prove it. Seriously prove it.

  And the truth was, I loved Desi too. In my heart of hearts I knew I couldn’t know where she was, couldn’t know I had a chance to save her, and not at least try. And I’d had a run-in with Hell before. Akaros hadn’t managed to kill me then and he was the biggest bad Hell had to offer—aside from Loki himself and Desi, of course. If li’Morl said I could do this, and Miri believed it, well, maybe I could.

  So I squeezed Miri’s hands and then let one of them drop as I faced the dog-dude and li’Morl, the guy I inexplicably loved and hated.

  “So what’s the plan?”

  Through the funhouse sound system that is Hell, I hear singing.

  At first I believe it to be my imagination. There are no people here. There are no voices here.

  There is no singing.