“Do you care for her?” Kara prodded.
“This isn’t the time to inquire as to my state of mind.”
“No, but it should be. We are here because we want answers, and maybe it is the chance to consider that there is more than Njord to ponder, but that of worthiness. Not if she is worthy of you, but if you are worthy of her.”
Thor pushed back those thoughts. He turned to focus on those near him. They struck as if it was guerrilla warfare, waiting for their chance to slip and catch a god or, now two.
This was akin to his being attacked earlier on, and his believers picked off one by one.
Upon arriving into the heart of their camp, with its graffiti-covered walls, they moved to where a bonfire grew. And there sat on a makeshift and gaudy-looking throne, a young redbone woman with Bantu knots and a gilded headdress. Her green eyes sparkled with understanding. With her face painted, wearing dark brown lipstick, an elaborate diamond ear cuff, and a piercing in her nose, she was unmistakable. She might have seemed human to those here, but he knew her for who and what she was: Sigyn.
When entering Midgard, he’d never expected to come face to face with Loki’s ex-wife. He shook his head at that news. What was her reasoning for entering Midgard?
“You don’t seem surprised to see me, Thor,” Sigyn said.
“This world is showing that all of the gods are closer than I thought. I’m guessing you know what happened to Njord?”
“Whoa, whoa, dear prince. It will take more than niceties before I reveal that which I know,” Sigyn cooed.
“I didn’t intend to end up in your hall.”
“No need to mock me, as I’m sure you’re aware of what has occurred between Loki and I. We couldn’t agree, and he is now free to find his happiness elsewhere.” He heard her words, but they did not agree with the longing in her voice.
“Let me guess: you’re hoping the ancient poems to be correct?”
“We are all running out of time, and Loki has to find his way.”
That implied something Thor didn’t want to consider. The situation between Sif and Loki could be just a dalliance, but nothing of the heart. Much like himself, they’d never found just one woman. But Thor knew Sif could be different. He surely liked her a lot more than any of the prior women he’d lusted after. But even more, he hated the idea of Loki intentionally hurting her.
“So, are you the one who arranged for Sif to be taken off of the boat?” Kara countered.
“Loki’s latest plaything? Don’t be idiotic. That was surely Vali. He likes to play those games between us all. You see, he still desires for his parents to be together, as any child would.”
“And where is Vali?” Kara asked.
“My son has taken it upon himself to visit his family. I am sure he is running around here in one of the realms, slipping in and out of the various portals for his own entertainment.” She buffed her nails on her tight black T-shirt with a vectored dragon emblazoned on the front. Thor could feel her fury rub up against him like an irritated cat.
“And why are your new children demanding death to the gods?” Kara asked. Thor watched her brace her feet as if gearing up for a fight.
“Simply put: it is the gods who caused this situation. I am only here to help them make amends and receive their due. After all, Asgard has done nothing good for me and my kind, as even the future predicts.”
“The future is not written in stone,” Kara countered.
“And I supposedly will not end up deep in the earth holding a bowl over Loki’s head as it fills with venom; nor will I lose my son to be sacrificed and his entrails be used to bind his father. No, I am surely overreacting by attempting to rewrite things,” Sigyn argued, snapped her fingers, and her guards, standing in the wings, approached.
“Before you go and make trouble. We are not here for you, but for Njord,” Thor stated.
Sigyn raised her hand, and the guards paused. “Yes, he was here, but if I help you, can you guarantee that you will take care of my people? After all, here I have attained a certain status. Gods rise and fall all the time, dear prince, and I am ready for my place.” She cocked her head to the side. “You’ve been worshipped, even more esteemed by those in Midgard than your father, and yet, still here you stand wondering if you are making the right move. You’ve allowed your time in Asgard to coddle you; to act like painkillers, as those who must live in this world are waiting for you to find them. Nothing has changed; the towns have morphed into cities with these towering buildings.”
He looked away, unable to continue to engage. “I’m sorry to bother you, but you don’t know what those here are experiencing; its more than just drinking mead, finding a partner to love, but before these streets ran over with water, they’d run red with blood. If you want to make a difference, then empower your people to accept their Viking spirit, and engage in the warfare to topple their oppressors, and rise to the blessing. Consecrate us with your hammer.”
She pushed up from her throne. “The reason you are here is because you are slipping in your duties. Your people don’t need just your hammer; that is but a tool. They need you to wake up, dear prince, and save them, as they are unable to save themselves.”
It was similar to what Sif had always told him. His people needed more than just hope, but also action, and empowerment.
She raised her hand to his face, and he frowned, then he felt Kara move closer to his side.
“Do not touch the prince,” Kara warned.
“Wouldn’t it be better to see that which you’ve ignored? The giants are surely bringing chaos, but what of those here who are already in Midgard?”
“What do you suppose will start a war between us all?” Thor countered.
“Dearest Prince, look around. We’re already at war, and this Sif; she is the key to it all.” She dropped her hand and turned away. “That’s enough of a delay. Come, follow me and I will show you Njord, but prepare yourself. He is not the Njord you know.”
Chapter 27
Sif
We exited the warehouse toward a long dark corridor that led to a shiny elevator door illuminated by a bright overhead light. A tingling raced through my still-numbed feet. The adrenaline long gone, I limped forward with Vali, Hel, and Loki, who seemed to ignore me.
I tried to ignore the muted screams that I faintly heard, as well as the distant sound of feet pounding against the concrete.
“Don’t look to the left or right, dear Sif,” Lady Hel said. “but straight ahead, as that is where we are going.”
I attempted to follow her directions, to not allow my curiosity to be piqued, but the screams. Who could ignore such horrific screams?
“How much do you know about Alfheim, the land of the Light Elves?” Lady Hel asked.
“Absolutely nothing, besides it’s a realm,” I replied.
“It’s more than just a realm, but where the Vanir live,” Loki said. “Before the great war uniting the gods, the Vanir lived here, and the light elves as well. As you will see they are a race of beauty.”
Beauty existed with symmetry, usually. But unless we were talking about Lord of the Rings beauty with Legolas, well, what was a woman like me to fear? More swords and sorcery, for sure. Sharp swords, and weird peasant clothes.
“But don’t let their beauty deceive you. They can also be very maleficent,” Loki continued. Coming from Loki that meant a hell of a lot.
“Dance!” someone barked in the distance, then cracked a whip.
I attempted to turn around, again hearing something behind us.
“Don’t look back, Sif. We are here for a purpose. And not to be convoluted with what is transpiring here.”
“If someone is in trouble, aren’t we supposed to help them? Good does not serve a purpose,” I said. This was a slippery slope. If we refused to help, that would cause even more harm. “To save one could save us all.”
I turned around fully and saw the violence encasing us; children were forced to dance a ritual. Soldiers chased thos
e who ran, and young elven children yelled and cried to be pulled towards awaiting, hovering vehicles.
War, it seemed that this was valued in this world of the Viking gods. Each battle would cause more blood to be shed, all decreed by the Norns, who wove it together.
“Our goal must be more than just Harley,” I chastised. “For if everyone perishes, even the innocent, then we are no better than any other oppressor. Some things cannot be bought, sold or traded.”
Vali moved towards me. I climbed on his hairy back, and held on tightly, and I urged him toward the parlay.
We’d not arrived in a time of peace, but of havoc, at least here. This building—it seemed to be a holding station—as groups were formed and children separated. This reminded me too much of how things had occurred on Midgard—the problems that could have been quashed with a bit of revolution.
On one side, just above on the balcony overlooking the wide open area, it seemed to be celebratory, with dancing, guitar music playing and those oblivious to it all just a few feet away. Mayhem combined with screams, drowned out by happy music.
As I sought to strike the first guard, I suddenly froze, unwillingly, and a reddish glow held me in place.
Lady Hel began to clap. “Dear Sif, before you strike you should know what is going on.” My eyes darted left then right, and it was then I noticed how wrong I’d been. What I’d thought were children being herded and maybe taken to their deaths, were just children having tantrums as children do.
But now they truly cried, and my axe, fully in my hand, was only a second away from beheading one of the adults.
There wasn’t much I could say, but I could feel like a fool. “I hope now you have learned a powerful lesson. Not everything is as it seems; as you now know what we often see is through the lens of our own experiences. Those prejudices predict behavior, which varyingly comes to fruition with some travesty as you would surely cause.”
The adult elf scurried away, out of my reach, and Lady Hel unfroze us. Fenrir growled and panted.
“Pay him no mind. He is always after the chase.”
I nodded and lowered my axe to my side, creating the rune sign with my hands, I watched it decrease in size to snuggly fit in my palm, which I then stuck in my hair like a barrette.
This was not a warehouse under siege, but a parking garage where children and their parents created chaos. It was like the end of the day pick-up, with everyone in a rush, loud, crying, raised voices and some chasing.
Damn. Was I so ready to battle that I didn’t care where the battle took me? Or even who the victims would be?
Chapter 28
Sif
Many cultures associated elves with beauty and evil. I wondered which one we’d get a chance to meet first.
Holy crap! When we stepped through the gate, I expected we’d end up surrounded by nature, tall trees, bows and arrows, and platinum hair.
Instead of exiting in an open field, we stood on a sleek and shiny portico, which lead to the entrance way blocked by sliding glass doors.
The doors slid open, and we entered the small space, and like an elevator, the doors then closed behind us. A wide red laser beam scanned us from head to feet, and all around us, too.
“What are they doing?” I asked.
“Remain still,” Hel chided. “This is painless and will be over soon. It is how they know how to communicate with us. This world is quite diverse, accepting even.”
For a while on Earth, diversity seemed to be the buzzword of the day; sort of like nonfat yogurt, keto diet, and bae. Each word came with its camp of devotees, too, as change was never easy to accept. We either embraced it or attempted to force it away. Maybe this world had gotten it right and learned that change spawns the marvels of life.
“Welcome to Alfheim-Prime,” announced a female from the overhead speakers. “We are so happy to be one of the safest places in all of the nine realms, and for this to continue, all weapons must be checked at security.” An array of symbols, letters and eventually words flashed on the doors. However, instead of glass as I’d first assumed, they were a combination of glass and plastic that worked like touch screens.
Loki leaned forward, and while his hand hovered over the screen, the language shifted to runes, and he tapped in a message I couldn’t understand.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Just letting them know we are here. I know the override code, so this shouldn’t be much longer.”
For the briefest moment, I wondered if he had a problem with small tight spaces. It was the small movement of his clenching jaw, flexing his hand and panting.
I frowned at that. No one was taking my battle axe away. I quickly did my rune hand signs and watched it decrease in size back to that of a barrette, which I stuck in my hair.
Weird fog blew down on top of us. I yelped and clenched my eyes shut, opening them only when prompted. An orange light turned on, just like it did when I worked at the Ambulance Authority and had to disinfect the vehicles. This was somewhat the same.
“Obedience leads to prosperity and happiness,” the announcer continued, “And in Alfheim-Prime when you obey the laws, you are rewarded.” I glanced at Kara and Thor, but neither seemed concerned. “Additionally, please know that our rules require complete and utter obedience, failure to do so may result in death. Thank you for visiting Alfheim-Prime. May your light shine.” The speakers then began to chime, and the glass doors opened.
“I guess that was us being disinfected?” I questioned.
After entering Alfheim-Prime, I stood stock still and stared at the shiny city before me. A night sky littered with stars greeted us, like the one I‘d watched from Earth reflected back to me if there hadn’t been the three large moons that stood in the background. The noise of the city greeted us.
The city bustled with pedestrians—men, women and androgynous figures; some were humanoid in appearance, while others were surely alien. They ranged in pigment coloring, but it was the green, blue, red and walking gelatinous things shaped like a bratwurst, with legs on a leash that gave me pause. Who knew that the land of the elves was occupied by creatures that I’d never heard of or even imagined?
I didn’t want to stare, but both Hel and Loki must have noticed my frown, while Vali remained oblivious. “Don’t worry, that is his lunch,” Loki remarked.
“That jelly thing?” I wondered aloud.
“Yes, sort of like your hotdog, except it moves.”
That sure did not make me want to eat any sort of wiener.
“What Loki means is, it helps to keep their instincts sharp so that they will not have to continue to hunt—”
Loki cleared his throat. “You don’t need to go into their entire history. Know you are safe, and the inhabitants here are friendly and will not eat you.”
“Eat me?” That was the last thing I wanted to consider. I’d yet to see one of these elves up close, but you could always tell a predator by its teeth.
“Take it all in,” Hel said. “This place is not quite as Snorri described it to be. He’d only heard tales of it, himself. But, here is a world where magic and science fuse together. This is from whence the Wielders also receive their powers.”
The Wielders, like my friend Ola, who had shown herself to be quite powerful indeed.
As she spoke, I continued to eye the differences: From the natural, motorized electric and driverless vehicles in sleek metal, as we exited the modern day white skyscraper. I glanced left and right and found everything perfectly manicured.
The sidewalk moved of its own accord, like in the airport, and people walked or strolled by in their iridescent apparel that glowed as if LED lights were sewn into the seams. I squinted. The lights had different colors, that seemed to match the type of light of the clothing the wearer wore.
“Come, we must head toward the palace,” Hel said, and I noticed that our goth and dark clothes had also changed to a bleach white. White leather with white fluttering capes.
“It’s going to
be hard to get blood out of that,” I quipped, while Loki patted his pocket and winked. “Why the lack of color?” I asked
“As this is a peaceful mission, our goal is to peacefully get what is ours. As the mate of the Alder King, his remains belong to me.”
A slick white hovering car with turquoise illumination arrived. Midgard had a long way to go until we’d get to this point. Despite the fact that we had tons of high tech, and sleek concept cars, as of yet nothing like this had hit the streets.
“The energy here in Alfheim is different and requires different technology than that of Midgard. Here they have perfected an alternative resource, which fuels the city.”
Loki ushered me forward, and the sliding glass door automatically opened, then we all climbed in. “I insisted on this model so you could see this place, instead of a speed vehicle or spaceship, as to appreciate the beauty here, you must see it from the ground when it is not blurring.” Loki beamed. I guessed that was the extra he’d keyed in at the elevator.
The vehicle whooshed to life.
We moved through the city of glass, metal, and white stone, and the city was as busy as any street in New York City, as bullet trains crisscrossed overhead, vehicles cruised by and ships populated the sky.
Winding through the city, it seemed like everyone had a purpose. No one just meandered. No one was stuck staring at their phones, but instead, all walked with purpose; their gaits filled with urgency.
“Are we in the part of town where the government officials meet?” I wondered aloud.
Before he could answer an alarm went off, and a large boulder slammed into our car, knocking it on its side. “Please remain calm,” the automated driver spoke. “Your accident has been reported and help is on the way.”
A giant stepped forward and picked up the car, shaking it. “Where’s the mighty Thor?”
Chapter 29
Hellbound Page 11