Chapter 38
High above the forest Kol and the others look at everything as it passes by them slowly, the forest is beautifully thick. Unfortunately the lush trees blocked the view of the ground. There was any number of spots a person could be without anyone seeing them.
Stopping the bubble so it just floats high above Kol turns to the others with a frown. “This isn’t working.”
“I know so far all I’ve seen are leaves and birds, I can’t even catch a glimpse of the ground.” Hallthor says staring at the foliage.
“I think we should keep flying, we’ll look from up here until we reach the ocean, then we land, spread out and walk back through the forest until we get to the village.” Suggests Curios.
“That’s better than what I had in mind.” Says Kol
“Why what plan did you have?”
“None.” He laughs forcing his magic bubble to fly again.
They all joke some more for a minute before a hushed silence falls over them as the forest slowly cruises by below them. Slowly the ocean comes into view stretching out before their eyes as each of them drink in the sight of the sunlight bouncing off the water they become calm and almost entranced until a voice startles them so much that Kol almost drops them.
“What are we looking for?” The man says appearing next to the others peering at the forest.
“A lost friend.” Kol says eyeing the man calmly. “Lord…?”
The man smiles, a genuine friendly smile that draws Curios and Hallthor in immediately, the second he spoke and smiled is the second that they trusted this man completely. Kol can see it in their eyes, he can feel that there’s been a change in them and more than anything he knows it has happened because he can feel the power trying to change him as well. Taking stock of the man Kol notes that he is about six foot tall with salt and pepper hair, his eyes are blue and he has a very skinny build making him look like he hasn’t eaten in a long time. He is clean shaven and has almost unnaturally white teeth beaming from between purplish looking lips.
“Pish posh, let us dispense with the pleasantries shall we? There’s no need for you to call me Lord, I’d rather you think of me as a friend.”
With the last word Kol can feel the magic double in force desperately trying to evade his mind and heart, the weird thing was that Kol wasn’t trying to stop the power, at least not consciously, but for some reason it couldn’t get through to him. It was like a strong wind trying to get through a window, you could see and hear its effects through the window but it couldn’t get to you.
“Are you in fact the one we’ve been looking for?” Questions Kol.
“That depends on who it is you have been looking for little demigod.” He answers.
“Kol don’t be rude to our new friend, it doesn’t matter who he is!” Chides Hallthor.
“Yeah Kol what’s with the third degree?” Says Curios pushing Kol a little bit.
“Now, now boys, don’t be too hard on Kol he didn’t mean any kind of disrespect.” He smiles.
“Yes sir.” They say in unison. “Sorry Kol.”
“You are powerful Kol there are not many demigods that could resist me, you are interesting.”
“Are we not interesting?” Frowns Hallthor on the verge of tears.
“Of course you are.” The man reassures him patting him on the back. “Now why don’t you two go and play for a little bit while I speak to Kol, don’t worry boys you’ll get to see me again and play with Kol.”
Abruptly the two of them disappear leaving Kol alone with the man.
“You know what pal, I don’t care who you are if you don’t bring my friends back right now and put them right you are going to be in a world of hurt.” Snarls Kol.
“Calm down Kol and listen to what I have to say, I’m betting you and your little friends were sent here by Odin acting on the behest of Freyja and that being the case I would be careful with your threats. By now I’m sure that you have figured out that I am Od god of summer. I was not lost nor was I stolen. I left, no longer do I care to be part of the Asgardians and no longer do I feel the love I once did for Freyja. So tell me son of Loki how do you think that you are going to make me come back to a place I don’t wish to go?”
“You wouldn’t be the first god I’ve fought.” Kol says simply. “So believe me when I say that one way or another I will be completing this quest with you willingly helping or not.”
“Impudent pup!” Yells Od blasting Kol backwards so it sends him falling to the forest.
Quickly Kol rights himself floating slowly back up towards Od who has now taken on his true form. Od has pure black hair and orange eyes, his beard is full and wild. He’s about ten feet tall and stocky built, his clothes are simple and made of cloth, his shirt is the color of teakwood bark and his pants are reddish pink with the vein look of leaves through them and his feet are bare as well as his hands.
“I have watched you since you arrived Kol and I have found that you have a weakness. You care about your friends too much, you have allowed them to become your family and they have done the same. Together you have become a force to be reckoned with, how would you fair without that advantage, how would you survive?”
“I am not without gifts of my own or power to defend myself.” Replies Kol nervously.
“Oh I know, were you put in the situation you would fight and even die if need be. I bet you would even kill at least that’s what it looked like when you fought Jor, but how would you fair when you couldn’t just pound on someone? How would you do if you the option to kill to even hurt wasn’t there? I don’t think you would survive.”
“There’s always another way.” He answers through gritted teeth.
“Maybe there is, I have an idea my young friend and if you win I will go back with you willingly. If you can make it from the ocean to the village before the sunsets on foot only, then I will go back with you, if not, you must serve me for the rest of your life, do you agree?”
“What’s the catch?” Questions Kol.
“You act like you have a choice, I was merely being polite. Do not forget I have your friends, either you will play my game or they will, what will it be?”
“I accept.”
“Your loyalty will be your downfall.” Od laughs. “As for the catch that’s simple turn around.”
Kol turns to find one of Hallthor’s hammers flying at his head, quickly he drops dodging it just in time, as he watches it flies back down to the far off beach into his brothers hand. Standing next to him is Curios who is calling the ocean to encase him completely.
“You will drop down to the beach in front of them, don’t worry they will not attack. Once you are there I will give you a one minute head start before they chase you, once they follow you they will be playing for keeps. They’re one goal right now is to catch you and kill you, feel free to defend yourself anyway you choose. Also, I will be sending in a few of the dark elves to keep you busy. And before you think about just avoiding everything know that they will be intent on killing each other as well. So now we will see if there is indeed another way Kol.” He laughs disappearing.
Kol looks to the horizon where the sun is dropping rapidly, his mind races trying to think of someway to break the hold Od has on his friends but in his heart he doubts that his power is any match for this god. Before he knows it he is standing on the beach with his two friend’s only feet away.
“Hallthor, Curios snap out of it.” Kol’s voice urgently pleads. “It’s me your brother Kol.”
“You now have one minute left to run traitor, one minute to live before we avenge Kol’s death!” Growls Hallthor.
“I look forward to tearing you apart for what you did to him.” Roars Curios.
“What are you talking about, it’s me you fruit cakes.” Kol says trying to place his hand on Hallthor’s shoulder only to receive a hammer to the face.
Before he can even hit the ground a rush of water shoots him into the forest till he hits a tree so hard the trunk cracks.
“So
much for the diplomatic approach.” He mutters getting to his feet. “Time to improvise.”
Kol concentrates and instantly over twenty of him appear in the forest spreading out and running along with him towards the city. “This should make it a little more difficult for them to find me and a little easier for me to make it.”
To his dismay dozens of water spouts pop out of the ground under several of the fake Kol’s turning them back into light, at the same moment Hallthor’s hammers fly through the forest taking out trees and fake Kol after Kol until he has to put up a shield to protect himself.
“Did you really think that you could hide from us in such a cowardly manner?” Asks Curios.
“Our brother had used that trick several times before, we know how to handle that.” Laughs Hallthor. “Try all you want, it makes no difference today is the day you die!” He finishes calling down a bolt of lightning that Kol is barely able to hold up against.
Before he can recover from the attack two giant fists made of water begin pommeling him so hard that he can feel the impacts through his shield.
Kol wants to attack but he’s worried about hurting his friends, the decision was taken out of his hands when arrows flying with deadly purpose sail through the forest towards all of them. Instantly Kol’s protective nature over the others wins over his intelligence, lowering his shield he turns his back on the others while he attacks the dark elves with his blasts of magic energy. Closing his eyes he braces for the attack he knows is coming.
As the hammers fly into his back Kol can’t help but wonder if this is how he’s going to die. Maybe the gods never really trusted him, maybe this was all a set up to get him here so the people he trusted could finish him off without him putting up a real fight.
“Being the center of the universe is so difficult isn’t it.” A voice whispers in his head. “Yes the gods both Greek and Norse put aside everything else on their plate so they could trick you into a fake quest all so they could have two demigods gain your trust and then betray you so you could be killed or permanently changed to Loki’s side against them. How arrogant are you?”
With a sigh Kol gets to his feet dodging a barrage of arrows, water and hammers after him. “What a nice way to kick me while I’m down, listen I get what you’re saying and all and I don’t want to be rude. But I don’t know who you are and frankly it’s a little hard to stay alive with someone else talking in my head.”
“I am here to help you Kol, I have watched you and protected you since you were born. You are not who you think you are, do not let Loki trick and corrupt you, you are so much more than just the powers you have discovered the same holds true for Vasos. You are greater than you know and more important than you have been told as is Vasos. Do not fault Floggen for his deception it was necessary and protected you more than you know. Now how can I help you child?”
“I have an idea.” He says out loud before making one of the trees come alive and attacking and capturing his two friends for a moment. Quickly he whispers to the voice what he would have done before turning his attention back to the elves.
“Are you sure that is all you desire from me? I could defeat and wipe out all the elves if you wish.” The voice asks.
“No, I must defeat and win this quest on my own. What I do want to know is who are you? Was I correct in assuming that you are the goddess Vasos and I owe a favor to?”
“WHAT!?” The voice yells in his head. “Where and how did this happen?”
“I really don’t have the time to explain fully, so real quick version, queen beholden to goddess in Melos, caught Vasos wanted favor in exchange for help needed and we agreed.” He answers quickly running through the forest freezing and knocking out elves left and right.
“As you wish.” The voice says fading from his head.
Hallthor and Curios are hot on his trail attacking with everything they can, determined to extinguish his life. Kol tries to think of what magic he can use against them to capture and not wound or kill but nothing comes to mind, using his abilities to create ice would only fuel Curios weapons against him.
“If only I had more abilities.” He thinks.
A fearful yelp draws his attention turning him around to look at his brothers, surprising him is a door of light sucking Hallthor into it, Curios is ten feet away trying to use his powers to keep Hallthor in place but in the end he disappears into the door which abruptly changes forming a crossroad of light that begins spinning quickly until it stops with the roads ending at a tree each. Hallthor appears in the middle of the roads running at top speed until he hits a tree full force knocking him to the floor in a daze. Enraged Curios screams running to Hallthor’s side checking to make sure he’s fine.
“You did this!” He shrieks running at Kol with his trident.
As he watches his brother run at him Kol raises a shield but unexpectedly Curios shots water filled with ice daggers to the side of Kol. Then following it he performs a whole fight as if someone is attacking him while Kol watches confused at the sight. Finally after a sweep with the trident he buries it in the ground with glee like he just stabbed a monster.
“And so my brother Kol is finally avenged!” Curios shouts to the heavens before running back to Hallthor to help him up.
Kol just watches them for a second before running off towards the city at top speed, finally after a ten minute he reaches the edge of the woods just in time. Od is lazily laying underneath a tree eating some grapes and drinking some wine.
“You don’t disappoint Kol, you’re everything I expected you to be. Even being ignorant to so many things about yourself are found another way, in the end though it really doesn’t matter, that was the easy part for you, because if you think I’m actually going to go back without a fight you’re delusional and no matter how powerful you are there’s no way you can defeat me.”
“Lord Od, I never dreamt that you would come with me willingly. I know you left for a reason and would fight to keep the life and freedom you have made.”
“Then you accept that you will fail this quest, I will leave this place and find another to dwell upon. You will forever search.” He laughs.
“Not true my lord. My quest was to find you, not to bring you back or fight you and I have done so.” Smiles Kol.
“And how would you prove that you have found me?”
“I will let Freyja know you are here.”
“Not while I’m blocking any prayers from leaving this place.” He snaps summoning another bottle of wine.
“That’s not a problem after all I already got the message out.” Laughs Kol pointing behind Od.
With a look of absolute fear Od slowly turns to see Freyja standing behind him, instantly Od falls in love with her all over again. “I forgot just how beautiful you are, I was a fool to ever leave our life together! Please forgive me my lady and let me love you for the rest of our days!”
“So long I have wept and wished and searched for you my love, all I have wanted is to hear you say you wanted to be with me forever but now that I see you, I know that you are always going to be quick to change your mind being the capricious god you are. That doesn’t change the fact that I love you, so I will make this decision and decree here and now. From now on you will only have me to love you because anytime you try to talk to any other women you will hence forth change into a swamfisk, with your decaying skin and pungent smell no woman will be able to talk to you or even want you. I am all you will have for the rest of time.” She smiles evilly casting the enchantment.
Od shoots to his feet but it’s too late the deed is done, dejectedly he looks at Kol for a moment. “Help me Kol, convince Loki to help me and remove this enchantment and I will tell you the truth that has been hidden your entire life.”
Freyja’s eyes flare for a moment but she remains silent staring at Kol awaiting his decision.
Looking from her to Od with a smile Kol answers. “I’ve waited this long and done much without that knowledge Od, I think I can wait a little long
er. Enjoy your life with Lady Freyja Lord Od.”
“Thank you Kol for your help, yet another of your deeds will echo through the halls of Asgard.” Smiles Freyja disappearing along with Od.
Kol’s heart is overjoyed as he sees Hallthor and Curios stumbling out of the forest looking lost.
“Kol, can you ever forgive us?” Questions Curios looking at the ground.
“It wasn’t your fault Curios, you were under the influence of a rouge god.”
“It was terrible Kol, I was trapped in my own mind on a beautiful summer island with my only company being a giant vision of what was happening to you.” Sniffs Hallthor sadly.
“Don’t worry Hallthor, it’s over now. We have won and we will be the stronger for it. But first watch this.” Looking to the sky Kol raises his hands yelling. “I am Kol son of Loki and Thor as Lady Freyja as my witness I have completed my first quest!”
The sky opens with a massive boom of Odin’s voice. “I am Odin the all father, the gods of Asgard are proud of you Kol and delight in your progress and decisions continue on your way with our blessings!”
The sky closes with a rumble leaving everything seeming silent.
“Now my brothers let us find Floggen and send the message to Vasos about what we’ve done and where we are heading to next.”
Immortals Children Of The Gods Page 38