The Descendants of Thor Trilogy Boxset: Forged in Blood and Lightning; Norns of Fate; Wrath of Aten

by S. A. Ashdown

  Michele paused to watch the jury nod their heads in agreement. ‘You may wonder how I have surmised this. I monitor the prisoner list very closely, have done for some years. What the Praetoriani does with its prisoners is of great concern to me, considering the nature of the charges they have maliciously brought against my client, and indeed, many of my previous clients.

  ‘By their own Code, the Praetoriani must declare all prisoners held on a public database, along with their release dates. Yet there have been no updates since the storm. Very odd, to use Miss Strand’s vernacular, very odd. So odd, in fact, one might declare this avenue a complete fabrication.’

  Michele stared Ella down for exactly ten seconds, then continued. ‘Oh yes, we’re still here. I believe that Menelaus Knight, long-term Guardian and respected professor, is allowed a day trip to the beach every now and then. As for his supposed passenger, why, I ask again, wasn’t a search warrant issued or accusations made at the time? Miss Strand is clutching at straws and wasting the court’s time with circumstantial evidence.’

  He summoned Espen to the stand again. The court remained tense and silent until Michele started his questioning. ‘Does your son summon lightning?’

  Father laughed. ‘He’s not Thor, despite the similarity of appearance.’

  ‘And why would he break out prisoners that he couldn’t possibly know about, who don’t even exist on the official detention list, right before a trial?’

  Espen shrugged, ‘He would do no such thing, of course.’

  Ella was frothing at the bit to question Father. ‘I’m sure Miss Strand wants to ask how you know what your son is up to, when you no longer live together.’

  ‘I take Theodore’s security very seriously,’ Father said. ‘I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that. I haven’t harboured official prisoners, like Miss Strand implies, and I have kept a discrete eye on my son’s activities.’

  ‘Glad you cleared that up for the jury. Please, how have you kept a “discrete eye” on my client?’

  I sat up a little straighter. Michele leaned against the witness stand, a crease in the bridge of his nose. He appeared to trust Espen not to land me into trouble, but his expression implied that he was curious to hear the answer.

  ‘His uncle, Nikolaj Clemensen, has been watching him.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘Covertly.’

  ‘Has he witnessed his nephew breaking the Code?’

  Espen shook his head. ‘No.’

  ‘No further questions.’ Michele relented to Ella, who immediately hammered Father with questions about Uncle Nikolaj and why he wasn’t here to act as a witness. Father’s answers remained vague, and Michele appeared content to let her attack Espen.

  It’s like he’s not even trying, I thought, as the old vampire stared at the gold-dripping ceiling.

  ‘…The same Uncle Nikolaj who was branded a Fornicator with the Fae in the Elven-Fae war?’

  What?

  ‘That’s totally irrelevant,’ Father scoffed. ‘It hardly concerns the children of Midgard.’

  ‘It proves he’s not a stickler for rules,’ she said, ‘and can hardly be trusted to enforce such sensibilities into his nephew. Without him available for questioning, we only have your word, and no evidence to back it up whatsoever. Perhaps he will appear to defend you, Espen Clemensen, after the Praetoriani search Hellingstead Hall for the missing prisoners.’

  ‘That sounds like a threat, Miss Strand,’ Father said, meeting her glare. ‘But you’re more than welcome to try. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Praetoriani organised the arrest of thirty-five undesirables to plant in my property during the search. You seem awfully keen to detain every last Clemensen on the planet. No wonder Nik has busied himself elsewhere.’

  ‘The Clemensens have a low opinion of the Praetoriani and the Code,’ Ella said, turning back to the jury. ‘Espen has proven that. No further questions, Your Honour.’

  As Father passed, I wondered about those prisoners. After the trick they’d pulled with Isis, I had informed him to be on high alert, to which he’d replied he’d been on critical alert since Isobel died. His paranoia was starting to make sense and I had little doubt he’d hidden them somewhere.

  Where? What about Nik?

  Odin, Thor, and Freyr. It hit me like a flying brick, as Ella announced her next witness. I whipped around on the bench and hissed at Father. ‘It’s Fenrir, isn’t it?’

  He winked and leaned forward. ‘You’ve always wanted a dog, did you not?’

  I clenched my jaw, ready to fire back, when the door swung open. ‘Oh Jörð, please no.’

  The back of the bench crumbled under Michele’s powerful grip. He let the splintered wood drop to the floor as Magna Helen’s nephew, one of the servants I had released from Malachi’s thrall, took the witness stand. As he swore the oath, he looked at me, Michele, and Malachi, his dark eyes brimming with malice.

  ‘Adel Hackett,’ Ella began, ‘tell the jury your connection to Theodore Clemensen, and his coven.’

  The lad nodded and cradled his arms. ‘I suffered an ordeal, but I did it willingly. A few months ago, I was accepted into the Praetoriani’s UO programme.’

  ‘UO?’ asked Ella, her tone light.

  ‘Undercover Operations, Miss,’ he said, ‘and I was told to keep an eye on the De Laurentis folk, you see, and the Tuscan witches, on account of their history.’

  ‘Go on,’ Ella prompted.

  ‘I was given a little help, you see, in case the vampires ensnared me, and well, they did, Miss. Me and another boy I know, ‘cept he wasn’t undercover or nothing. Anyway, Malachi De Laurentis, Penny Nocenti, and her coven took us as hostages, because we have family high up in the Pnuema community, and they don’t like nobody looking into their business. I had to pretend I was under their thrall, Miss, acting as their slave, along with this other kid.’

  ‘A direct infringement of the Code,’ Ella said.

  ‘Yes, Miss, but I’m glad I stuck it out. Now I can tell you everything.’

  I risked a glance at Malachi and Penny, sitting together, an arms-width gap between them and Father. They kept their faces blank, but Penny had practically clawed her trousers to shreds, and the only part of Malachi that moved was his darting eyes.

  This can’t be happening. I saved him; he’s Magna’s Helen’s nephew, part of the Solem Umbra.

  Adel looked at the jury and paled. Didn’t he know Belle was present?

  Jörð, all the things he’s heard.

  ‘Yes, Adel, do tell the jury what you witnessed. There can be no doubt that Theodore Clemensen and his entire coven – as well as his advocate – are varmint once they hear your account.’

  That was probably the first statement Ella Strand had made that I agreed with; the things I had been involved in, the actions I intended to take, the people I had associated with…protecting the world drew me down a twisted path. The road to Hel is paved with good intentions – I imagined Lorenzo’s gravelly voice pelting me from behind. Straight to the Black Widow’s lair. Adel spoke, and I rubbed the back of my head, the spot that Hel had extracted my hair.

  ‘There’s so much,’ Adel said. ‘I shall begin with Theo’s Guardian, Menelaus Knight.’ He peered into the crowd. ‘I notice he’s not here today, Miss, and I can’t say I’m surprised. He came to dinner at the Old Vicarage, see, and never reported the Code violation, neither did he try and rescue us. Instead he stayed and drank wine and ate steak, Miss.’

  ‘What would you say to Michele De Laurentis, who claims that his client has complied with the court by selecting a Guardian before the end of the trial, as previously agreed?’ Ella strode over to our side of the court and pointed at us.

  ‘Not complying, Miss – forging an alliance, more like. You see, turns out that Menelaus Knight, who was adopted, is Theo’s cousin…’ he broke off as everyone started whispering. ‘…But that’s not all. He’s Michele’s son, half-vampire, half-witch, a violation in his own right.’

  Michele growled
, but it was lost in the noise as quarrels broke out across the courtroom. Julian jumped up, demanding that Adel retract his statement, but he sat down as two burly guards made for him.

  ‘Silence!’ Praetor Cullen slammed down his gavel, spittle flying from his mouth.

  ‘That explains his absence today,’ Ella said. ‘He is clearly afraid of the truth and too cowardly to admit it.’

  Michele turned bright red, his teeth grinding together. I prayed his comeback would be merciless, if only to exonerate his son. But Menelaus was a damphir, and he wasn’t here. Could he have known about Adel?

  ‘Where is he, Lorenzo?’ I whispered, his vampire ears able to hear.

  ‘Maybe Ella’s right. Maybe he’s afraid.’

  Michele trapped Lorenzo’s wrist, his voice thick with warning. ‘If you know something, boy,’ he hissed, ‘tell me now!’

  Of all people, Malachi broke them up.

  ‘That is bad enough, Miss,’ Adel continued, ‘but Theo and Penny’s coven regularly discussed the Praetoriani and their hatred for it. They spoke of destroying the Praetoriani – and the Praefecti – over breakfast.’

  Ella clasped her necklace, the sun with its grubby little hands, and groaned softly. ‘Why? Why would they talk of such things?’

  ‘They claim they’ve been persecuted, Miss, even though it’s them that’s been breaking the rules, way I see it. They seem to think our great Imperi Ducis is some devil incarnate.’

  No, just the Midgard Serpent.

  ‘Is there more?’

  ‘So much more, Miss. Theo knew that Penny and Malachi were keeping us as slaves before he joined the coven. He said he wanted to free us, if I’m fair, but he didn’t until right the last moment before the trial.’

  Ella shook her head at me as if I was a child to scorn. ‘From what you witnessed, Adel, do you believe Theo has intended to and committed acts of profane magic?’

  ‘Most certainly, Miss. He confessed that he has been to the Underworld, see, and met Hel, who they call Hecate and sometimes the Black Widow, and that he made a bargain with her to return. And we all know she’s Loki’s daughter.’

  Hel’s father. What was the goddess willing to do for him, the trickster who the Gatekeeper claimed helped to create the Midgard Serpent himself? My heart slammed against my chest, despite Michele’s training; if Adel remembered these conversations, that meant he knew about our plan to raise the Hordes.

  So why had no one stopped us?

  They were planning to, I realised. Fear had brought us time, perhaps, but the sandglass hadn’t merely run out – it had been smashed on the floor.

  Whoever, whatever was on its way to Hellingstead, the Praetoriani were eagerly awaiting it. That’s why they had delayed the trial – because they’d only just found out what we were up to.

  Perhaps, like Loki, Akhen was counting on us to take such drastic steps. Clearly, only one ruler could rise from the ashes after Ragnarök. Perhaps Loki felt it was his turn to claim dominion over the Nine Realms.

  And I’m helping him, I thought, shuddering.

  The ancestors whispered at the back of my head. It is long since they have tasted our true power, Theo. We are Yggdrasil. Járner Jörð Líf. Slay them both.

  If Akhen wanted a fight, what was stopping him? Now he knew what we were up to, he would need time to marshal his forces, which meant we had no choice but to go through with Plan B.

  Praetor Cullen adjusted his glasses and demanded silence again. Adel hesitated. ‘It gets worse,’ he said. ‘I was forced to assist Malachi, Penny, and Lorenzo during the Hellingstead Hair Raids.’

  ‘You’re saying that Theo’s coven was responsible for that?’

  ‘Yes, Miss. I believe they required the hair for…’ He glanced at Malachi, who was frozen death by this point, right on the edge of his seat. ‘…something terrible, Miss. A dark spell the likes Hellingstead has never seen.’

  ‘Tell the jury,’ Ella squeaked, unable to contain herself. ‘Hang on, wait. I forgot myself,’ she said as I sunk back onto the bench. ‘We must deal with another matter first.’

  Adel palmed his elbow, a bead of sweat trickling down his neck. ‘Miss?’

  ‘Stay there, Adel.’ Ella turned to the jury. ‘I stopped the witness short because the prosecution has something awful to inform you about. In recent weeks, the Praetoriani has been forced to heighten security. In Somerset alone, fifteen members of the Praetoriani and Praefecti have gone missing – praetors, overseers, representatives of the Consul – vanished.

  ‘Our extensive investigation has pieced together witness accounts, CCTV evidence, and careful forensics. Malachi De Laurentis, Penny Nocenti, and Lorenzo Angelucci, have all been implicated as murder suspects, and will find themselves facing charges. Together with Adel’s account, we know that Mr Clemensen’s coven are actively trying to disintegrate our great institution piece by piece. Now Adel, about that spell…’

  ‘Yes, Miss—’

  Michele vaulted over the desk in a blur. ‘Miss Strand, I must defend my client against these spurious accusations before you attempt to brainwash the jury entirely.’ He swung round and dared Praetor Cullen to object. Cullen looked at the golden sun-shaped clock on the glittering wall and tilted his head. Ella backed away from Michele, her focus fastened on him until she’d reached the safety of her seat.

  ‘Miss Strand, understanding her lack of evidence, has resorted to a trial by association. I don’t believe that my client can be punished for choosing a Guardian or expressing anger towards the Praetoriani for the way his family – and many other Pneuma – have been treated. As far as this supposed witness is concerned, where is his proof? Was the boy wired during his stay? No.

  ‘Perhaps the Praetoriani have pressured him to spout such lies. I alone will give you the truth. Adel stayed with us willingly enough but was disappointed when we refused to turn him into one of our kind. He is bitter and ashamed, that’s all. He wouldn’t be the first lamb cajoled to the slaughter house by the Praetoriani. Just last night a member of the jury had a family member kidnapped.’

  Michele walked up to the jury. ‘How many of you have been threatened?’

  They met him with silence.

  ‘And how many of you have been threatened by me, Malachi, Penny, or Theo? You can stay silent but that doesn’t matter. You alone decide Theo’s fate and you all know the truth of what I say.’

  Belle’s eyes burned like blue fire.

  ‘Adel,’ he said, twisting around. ‘I pity your delusions.’

  ‘They’re not delusions,’ he said. ‘I know Miss Strand speaks the truth. I’ve seen Lorenzo return from his night-time excursions with Malachi and Penny, covered in blood. And when I was finally freed from that prison, I took those clothes and that death-soaked athamé and handed it in to the authorities.’

  Praetor Cullen ushered Ella to her feet. ‘Is this true, Miss Strand?’

  ‘Yes,’ Ella said, ‘and so far, the DNA of three of the missing victims have been found on Lorenzo Angelucci’s clothing.’

  Michele waved her statement away. ‘And how do we know that Adel didn’t plant this evidence himself?’

  ‘Your old mind has melted in that pressure cooker of conspiracy theories,’ snarled Ella.

  Lorenzo was groaning, his head buried in his hands. ‘No, no, no.’

  ‘Lorenzo…’ I pulled his hands away from his face, which under the gold had taken on a greenish hue. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked, wanting to ask instead if it were true, sensing that it was; it made sense, those missing nights where no one could find him, the day he vomited a necklace just like Ella’s. Malachi and Penny had been sacrificing people; Menelaus had seen it himself. ‘Malachi,’ I hissed softly, and the vampire smiled at me and slipped his hand into Penny’s.

  ‘I think it’s time you called Lorenzo Angelucci to the stand, De Laurentis.’ Praetor Cullen thrust a finger at Michele. ‘No objections. If he is guilty of murder, this implicates your client and his coven.’

  ‘And i
f I refuse?’ said Michele.

  ‘Then I’ll be forced to allow Adel to discuss the nature of this dark spell he hinted at, and send the jury out to deliberate.’

  ‘Lorenzo, the prophecy,’ I warned, clamping his arm. It was shaking. ‘You can’t go up.’

  ‘If I don’t, they’ll arrest me,’ he said, gesturing to the guards.

  ‘You didn’t have a choice, did you?’

  Lorenzo stared at me. ‘I don’t remember, Theo, I don’t—’

  ‘I call Lorenzo Angelucci as the defence’s next witness.’

  ‘Tell them the truth,’ I said, standing up with Lorenzo.

  Malachi slipped into the aisle and grabbed me from behind. ‘I’ve got him,’ he smiled to the guards, who approached, hands on…what were they, tasers? I sent my own zap into his stomach and he shoved me back onto the bench, squishing me in.

  I felt something sharp press into my thigh.

  My limbs went numb. Father, I screamed in my head, but he was listening as Michele began his questions, Lorenzo inspecting his hands, his eyes glazed over. He could’ve been a leaf in a breeze instead of a vampire.

  What had Malachi injected me with? My mind flashed back to the basement where I had been medicated, my powers sedated, as my torturers had got to work. All this time I had suspected Julian, though why he wanted the amulet was anyone’s guess. Despite my frozen limbs, my thoughts cleared. Of course, I realised, if Malachi had the amulet he could control the Syphon. If he could control the Syphon, he could achieve whatever he wanted. The only thing I couldn’t guarantee was that Malachi understood that I was the Syphon.

  They didn’t come to Hellingstead just for the HQ; they could’ve attacked Akhen in Cairo. They came here for me. Penny suspected, she knows I’m the Gatekeeper. She’s letting this happen.

  The betrayal sank like a dagger. I hated her, and was glad of it, because it meant the spell was working, for hate is love’s dark twin.

  And hate wouldn’t stand in my way.

  Malachi rested his elbow on the backrest, catching my hair in his fingers and giving it a tug. ‘I hope you enjoy the show,’ he whispered. ‘It’s in your honour. It has to be done.’ He cupped his hand around his mouth, then shouted. ‘Lorenzo, be a good boy.’