by Unknown
“Ah, then yes, that sounds like her,” Thor nodded. “I wasn't sure how much of the past you remembered, since you seem so surprised about some of our appearances.”
“I remember Eztli, she's how this all began,” I said. “She had me kidnapped so she could drink Rian's blood.”
“Yes,” Thor sighed. “Blue helped free you but Eztli was his first love and he couldn't help pursuing her.”
“How did she kill him?” I asked as calmly as I could. “I need to know so that I can prevent it.”
“That would be helpful,” Sarasvati huffed. “Those damn vampires are out of control. But I'd like to know how you think you can prevent something that's already happened.”
“The vampires?” I asked pointedly.
“They're running amok in the Human Realm,” Thor sighed. “It's been chaos down there and we've been stretched thin trying to take care of it.”
“Amok, amok, amok,” I whispered under my breath.
“What's that?” Thor asked.
“Nothing,” I shook my head. “It wasn't appropriate. You say it's been chaotic in the Human Realm?”
“Near apocalyptic,” Torrent confirmed.
“So maybe I was brought forward to fix more than one mistake,” I mused.
“Brought forward?” Thor's eyes narrowed on me.
“Give me a minute,” I waved off his question. “Tell me first how Eztli managed to kill Blue.”
“The how is not as important as the why, I think,” Mrs E said gently and the room went quiet. Mrs. E never had to fight to be heard, she was a woman people listened to.
“I think they're probably both important,” I protested. “But go ahead and tell me the why of it first.”
“He gave up on her,” Mrs E said simply. “Huitzilopochtli first pursued her as a lover, trying to make amends for past wrongs, but then something happened to change his mind. Perhaps he just got tired of being rejected. Whatever it was, he began to hunt her as an assassin, seeking only her death. When he did that, she took measures to protect herself.”
“She was hellbent on killing him from the beginning,” I shook my head. “I don't think it would have mattered if Blue chased her as a lover or a killer.”
“Think as a woman, Vervain,” Mrs. E suggested. “What would you do if one of the men you loved abandoned you or did something horrible to you and then, years later, you were able to confront him? Would you not vow vengeance upon him?”
“Well, probably,” I grimaced as I thought of Odin. I did kind of have the urge to kick his ass.
“But if he apologized over and over,” she went on. “If he chased you and made you believe he was repentant, wouldn't you forgive him? Wouldn't you take him back?”
“I would,” I said immediately and my eyes widened. “He can't give up on her.”
“Exactly,” Mrs. E nodded. “That's what I would advise.”
“I'll see what I can do,” I assured her.
“Fantastic,” Horus grumbled. “And now that you have a plan to save the Vampire God, would you care to tell us how you could possibly manage to implement it?”
So I told them. I explained and answered their questions until we got tired of standing around and finally took seats at Thor's dining table. Then I explained some more.
“So here I am,” I finished. “Do any of you have any information that might help me figure this out?”
Pensive expressions settled over their faces. Then those expressions turned dismal.
“Oh please,” Horus finally drawled. “Look at all of you. Vervain has come into the future. If she can do that, I'm sure we untangle such a trivial matter as where she screwed it all up. It's not like she hasn't screwed up before.”
“Thanks, Horus,” I said sarcastically but he just shrugged and eased back into his chair, shaking out his jacket like a bird settling its feathers.
“You're right,” Teharon said to Horus. “We just need to carefully go over what we remember.”
“And while you do that, I may have a few questions for you,” I looked over to Sephy. “Like; is that your first child?”
“Yep,” she beamed and rubbed her belly. “It's a girl.”
“We're very excited,” Hades added.
“I'm so happy for you two,” I looked over to Lesya. “I hope she makes you as proud as my daughters make me.”
“I'm going to give her my mother's magic,” Persephone's smile turned bittersweet.
“That's a wonderful idea,” I said gently.
“Tobadzistsini has married,” Mrs E matched my tone.
“Yes, I heard,” I gave her a bright smile. “Please congratulate him for me.”
“You've already done that yourself,” Mr. T said. “They would be here but they're a little busy with their son. He's a handful.”
“Another grandchild, congratulations.” I glanced at Teharon and he gave me a sweet smile.
“Karni and I have married as well,” Teharon took his wife's hand.
“We're thinking about having children too,” Karni's fully black eyes were warmed by her winsome expression.
“Yes, yes,” Horus rolled his eyes. “Everyone's breeding and blissful. Perhaps you shouldn't learn anymore about us, Vervain. It may disrupt the future.”
“Just one more thing,” I looked to Thor. “I heard you got married too. Where is she? Are you happy? Is she incredible? Is she the one I showed you?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Thor laughed. “She's the one and she's perfect. I just didn't think she'd be comfortable with this discussion, so I sent her shopping.”
“Ah,” I chuckled. “I'm glad you found her and I'm also kinda glad she isn't here. That might be awkward.”
“I'm glad too,” he smiled but then his eyes looked past me and his smile faded.
“What?” I followed his gaze over to Hades, who was frowning in a very disturbing way. “Hades?”
“Disrupt the future,” Hades repeated Horus' words. “If you change the past, you could very likely alter our present.”
“That's the idea,” I nodded.
“There are quite a few things about my present that I wouldn't wish changed,” Hades pointedly looked to Sephy's belly and Persephone inhaled sharply, her arms crossing over her child.
“Yes, there's a possibility things might change,” I admitted and the room grew quiet. “But I believe that some things are unchangeable. Like the discovery of your soul mate,” I turned back to Thor. “Or the birth of a child,” I returned my gaze to Hades. “If a soul is meant to be born, it will be. I don't think I can stop that.”
“But you're not certain,” Hades said grimly.
“No,” I said steadily. “But I have a strong feeling about it.”
“Excuse me if I don't want to stake my daughter's life on your feeling, Vervain,” Hades snapped. “No matter how strong it may be.”
“I'm staking the lives of both my daughters on it,” I said calmly and Hades stiffened. “As well as the lives of my sons. I wouldn't risk them all if I didn't believe they were meant to be born.”
Well spoken, Alaric's sudden interruption made me flinch.
“What was that?” Hades waved a hand at me. “What happened just now?”
“Al is speaking to me,” I frowned. “Hold on one sec. What do you mean, Al?”
We brought you here to save the future. Not just your future but everyone's, Alaric explained. Several paths have been twisted, resulting in calamity for innumerable souls. These souls will be born whether you change the past or not but their lives will only find fulfillment if you correct this imbalance.
“So my children?” I whispered.
Will of course be born, Al assured me. They're nearly as important as you are.
“You could have mentioned this the last time we spoke,” I grumbled.
And ruin the character building opportunity for you?
“Thanks,” I rolled my eyes. “So I can tell Hades his daughter will be born?”
Tell the Lord of the Underworld t
hat parents have little say in the choice of their children. There are wiser entities than he who determine which soul to put in a baby. Demetra's soul was chosen for Persephone and him long ago and your death has only postponed her conception. If you succeed, she will be born sooner.
“Seriously?” I asked and made a huffing sound.
“What is it, Godhunter?” Hades growled impatiently.
“You guys are naming her Demetra?” I shook my head. “Are you sure you want to do that? I mean, I get it; it's an homage to Demeter but does your daughter really need that association? Isn't it enough for her to have her grandmother's magic?” Hades and Persephone both gaped at me. “Okay, okay, not my business but Al said to tell you that her soul was chosen for you long ago and she's been waiting to be born. My death postponed it.”
“She's been waiting?” Persephone's hand rubbed her rounded stomach.
“In the Void,” I nodded. “Alaric said I caused some kind of imbalance which I need to correct. Our children will have better lives if I succeed.”
“Then we'd best ensure your success,” Hades removed his sunglasses and focused his burning brown eyes one me.
“Now that's more like it,” I nodded.
“Alaric's right, your death caused an imbalance,” Morpheus mused. “But things went bad here long before you died, Vervain.”
“How long before?” I set my stare on Morph. “As in around the same time I started acting different?”
“Yes, exactly,” Morpheus nodded.
“Are you saying that this unknown incident affected my god hunting too?” I lifted a brow.
“It sure did,” he confirmed. “You stopped.”
“I stopped what?” I cocked my head at him.
“Hunting, Vervain,” Kirill took over. “I didn't zink to mention it but Morpheus is right. You stopped caring about a lot of zings.”
“And the God War was one of them,” Lesya added.
“But I would never stop caring about my family,” I vowed and then my eyes shot to Thor. “Vidar and Vali. Damn it all, I've forgotten about my first sons. How are they, Thor?”
“They're fine, Vervain,” Thor held up a consoling hand. “Vidar is running Valhalla now. Odin's power had to be transferred to him when Dad decided to become human.”
“I'm so sorry about Odin,” I whispered past the lump in my throat. “I can't believe he did that.”
“Me either,” Thor sighed. “But he made his choice.”
“What about Vali?” I moved past the sad subject of Odin.
“He's with Rind,” Thor said. “She took him home with her to Jotunheim.”
“I'm glad he still had one mother left,” I nodded. “And the wolves and ravens?”
“They mourned Odin but moved on,” Thor sighed. “They regressed into their wild natures and now live in the forest of Asgard.”
“The poor things,” I heaved a sigh. “So Vidar is in Valhalla?”
“Did you want to go over and see him?” Thor asked in a gentle tone. “I think it may be better if you don't.”
“Why?” I narrowed my eyes on Thor.
“He's had to deal with a lot of responsibility,” Thor's jaw clenched. “It's changed him.”
“Vidar can handle responsibility,” I protested. “What aren't you telling me?”
“The transfer was rough on him,” Teharon explained. “Gods are given magic only once in their life. Taking on more is difficult.”
“But I gave Persephone her mother's magic,” I argued as I a memory hit me; of when I'd taken the lion magic and Thor had been so worried that I wouldn't be strong enough to survive it.
“Mom's magic was kin to mine,” Persephone explained. “It was similar enough that it settled in beside mine easily. Vidar however, is the God of Vengeance and Silence. While Odin held power over the Occult, Wisdom, and-”
“Death,” I finished for her. “Vidar had to welcome Death into himself in order to keep the Viking souls alive.”
“Precisely,” Hades nodded.
“I need to see him,” I stood up.
“Tima,” Kirill laid a hand on my forearm. “Perhaps you should listen to Zor. You vill change zis anyvay. Vidar vill be fine.”
“I want to see my son,” I said firmly. “I need to keep searching for answers anyway,” I looked back to the others. “Can you go on brainstorming without me?”
“Of course, V,” Torrent said immediately. “We got you. Right, everyone?”
A chorus of supportive replies made me smile.
“Thank you,” I took one last look around the table. “I'll let you all know as soon as I find something.”
“Or you could just fix this and save us the trouble,” Horus grumbled and Hekate elbowed him in the stomach. He made a small grunt and then recanted. “What I meant to say was; good luck, Vervain.”
Hekate winked at me.
“Thank you, Horus,” I chuckled and left with Kirill and Lesya.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Valhalla was shockingly silent. Gone were the call of ravens and the howling of wolves. No harried footsteps shuffled across the stone floor and no happy voices resounded through the vast, central hall. The fireplaces were cold, with dusty logs stacked neatly within, and the chairs around them were shrouded in ghostly linen. The light was meager, a dim glow focused only in the very center of the room, leaving the golden-shield lined walls in shadow. I could hear the shouts of Vikings, fighting far off on the everlasting battlefield promised to them, but there, within the Hall itself, there was only silence.
“Vidar?” I called out and my voice echoed through the emptiness.
“Mother,” Lesya's hand went to my shoulder. “This doesn't feel right.”
“He's my son,” I gave her a hard look. “He's not going to hurt me.”
“That's not what I meant,” she looked around warily.
“Vidar!” I shouted more firmly.
“I don't think he's here, Mom,” Lesya frowned. “Why don't we try Valaskjálf?”
“Yeah, maybe you're right,” I sighed and did an about face, heading back to the tracing room.
Minutes later, we walked into Valaskjálf, Odin's-correction- Vidar's silver hall. It was a little more hospitable there; with enough light to shine off the silver shields lining the walls, and one fireplace lit around the sitting area Odin had always preferred. There was the usual pot of mead hanging over the cheery flames. The scent of apples and honey tantalized my nose. I felt some of the tension seep out of my shoulders with the comforting aroma. At least my old home wasn't abandoned.
“Vidar!” I tried again.
A thud filtered down the stairs at the back of the hall and then came the distinctive sound of running footsteps. Vidar came stumbling down the stairs into the dining hall, eyes wide and arms flung out. He stopped before us and looked me over as I did the same to him.
His hair had been cut to shoulder length and he'd grown a short beard, making him look more like Odin. But his sapphire eyes were so different from his father's. They were Sabine's eyes, my eyes once, and they were the only thing I recognized about him.
His once muscular body had withered and twisted, becoming almost skeletal. His tall frame was hunched and his cheeks were hollow. His skin used to glow with health but now it was pale as a ghost. His arm lifted, a claw-like hand extending to me, and a raspy voice escaped his throat.
“Mother?”
“Vidar,” I sobbed and pulled him into my arms. We crumpled together, him falling into my lap.
It was like holding a child, there was barely any weight to him, and I ended up rocking him and cooing to him like he really was a traumatized toddler. I stroked his hair soothingly and kissed his forehead as we cried together. Then his arms wrapped around my waist in a desperate grip.
“I didn't believe him,” he finally said. “Thor told me he felt you come back to us but I didn't believe him. I couldn't. If I had believed and then found it to be untrue, it would have destroyed me.”
“It's go
ing to be okay now,” I laid my forehead to his. “I'm going to change everything. I promise.” And I rocked him as I told him what had happened and how I intended to fix it.
His tears dried and he calmed as he listened to me. He didn't ask any questions, just stared up at me and listened intently. Finally, he took a deep breath and nodded. Quiet acceptance, that had always been his way.
“I have become death, Mother,” he confessed.
“My darling, I love death, remember?” I took his hand. “But that is not what you are. You have become a hero and a leader. To shoulder all of this horror despite your grief, is unbelievably valiant. You are courage and honor and nobility but not death. Death is your burden, not your heart.”
“I couldn't let them fade away,” he sighed. “It would be unfair and cruel. They've served us for so long.”
“The Norsemen?” I asked and he nodded. “Your father would be proud of you.”
“My father is dead,” he sighed. “He died long before his body did.”
“Yes, he changed,” I whispered. “But the old Odin would have appreciated what you've done for his people.”
“The old Odin wouldn't have given me his magic,” Vidar huffed and sat up. “I can't bear this anymore. Do you really think you can fix this?”
“She can,” Lesya vowed.
Vidar looked up at her and nodded, then got to his feet and held a hand down to me. “Then let's think this through.”
I took his hand and followed him over to the fur-covered chairs. He moved as an old man does, like every step was a struggle, and it was hard to watch. How could Odin have done this to our son? How could he cast him into the abyss without a thought for what awaited him there? It was cruel and cold and not at all like Odin.
Vidar let go of my hand so he could fill some mugs with mead and pass them out. I took the wooden mug he offered me and let its warmth seep into me, settling my turbulent thoughts. We all found seats in the U shaped arrangement; Vidar taking one angled in next to my left and Kirill sitting on my right. Lesya sat beside her father.
“What leads do you have?” Vidar asked.
“Nothing really,” I glanced into the fireplace, seeking comfort among the flames. “I know only that something terrible happened, something I didn't want to speak of, which made me almost entirely apathetic to everything else.”