Demons (A Runes Companion Novel)

DEMONS

(A Runes Companion Novel)

Ednah Walters

Copyright © Ednah Walters 2015

Published by Firetrail Publishing at Smashwords

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This book is a work of fiction. The names of characters,

places, and incidents are products of the author’s

imagination and are not to be construed as real.

Any resemblance to any actual events or

persons, living or dead, locale,

or organizations is entirely coincidental.

§

Firetrail Publishing

P.O. Box 3444

Logan, UT 84323

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Copyright © Ednah Walters 2015

Published by Firetrail Publishing

ISBN: 1943053014

ISBN-13: 978-1-943053-01-8

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Edited by Kelly Hashway

Proofread by Sara Meadows

Cover Design by Cora Graphics.

© All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be used or

reproduced in any manner whatsoever without

permission, except in the case of brief quotations

embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Firetrail Publishing publication: December 2015

www.firetrailpublishing.com

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ALSO BY EDNAH WALTERS:

The Runes Series:

Runes (book 1)

Immortals (book 2)

Grimnirs (book 3)

Seeress (book 4)

Souls (book 5)

Witches (book 6)

Heroes (book 8)- March 2016

Gods (book 9) – June 2016

The Guardian Legacy Series:

Awakened (prequel)

Betrayed (book 1)

Hunted (book 2)

Forgotten (book 3)

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Writing as

E. B. WALTERS

The Fitzgerald Family series

Slow Burn (book 1-Free)

Mine Until Dawn (book 2)

Kiss Me Crazy (book 3)

Dangerous Love (book 4)

Forever Hers (book 5)

Surrender to Temptation (book 6)

The Infinitus Billionaires series

Impulse (book 1)

Indulge (book 2)

Intrigue (book 3, Coming soon)

DEDICATION

§

This one is for my Elite Valkyries.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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I want to thank my editor, Kelly Hashway.

You never fail to come through for me.

Thank you for locating the pesky missing periods

and quotation marks and cleaning this up.

To my personal assistant Carolina Silva, you rock!!!

You make my life much easier. You listen, scold, and support.

To my beta-readers Meghan S. Johnson, Carolina Silva, and

Melissa Haag, thank you for reading the raw version and

your honest feedback. I could not have polished

the book without your keen observation.

To my omega-readers/proof readers Sara Meadows

Leoni Purdy, and Jeanette Conkling. Thank you.

You are amazing at spotting missed letters and typos.

My Elite Valkyries: thanks for your support.

I love hanging out with you guys, sharing stories,

and brainstorming. Thank you for being so awesome.

If I could thank all of you individually, I would.

You know who you are. Love you, guys.

To husband and my wonderful children, thank you for

your unwavering love and support. You inspire me in

so many ways. Love you, guys.

TRADEMARK LIST:

Coca Cola

CWT

Ford

Grand Theft Auto

Herobrine

Hershey

History Channel

iPod

Jurassic Park

Marvel

Minecraft

Nikon

PayPal

Pedialyte

Poltergeist

Salvation Army

Sleeping Beauty

Snow White

Speedo

Star Trek

Subaru

Superman

Supernatural

The Last Call

GLOSSARY

Artavo: Plural of artavus

Artavus: Magical knife or dagger used to etch runes

Asgard: Home of the Aesir gods

Ástin mín: My darling

Dýrr: dear

Eljudnir: Hel’s Hall

Elskr mín: My beloved

Frigg: Odin’s wife, the patron of marriage and motherhood

Freya: The poetry-loving goddess of love and fertility;

the other half of the dead warriors/soldiers/athletes

go to her hall in Falkvang

Garm: Hel’s hound

Grimnirs: Reapers for Hel

Hel: The Goddess Hel in charge of the dead

Hel: Home of Goddess Hel, dead criminals, those dead from

Illness, and those dead from old age

Helheim: The realm where Hel’s Hall is located

Idun: Norse Goddess of Spring

Idun-Grimnir: A wise Grimnir given the power to recruit other Grimnirs

Idun-Valkyrie: A wise Valkyrie given the power to recruit other Valkyries

Immortals: Humans who stop aging and self-heal

Jötnar: Plural of giants in Norse Mythoology

Jötun/Jötunn: A giant in Norse Mythology

Jötunheim: Home of the giants in Norse Mythology

Midgard: Earth in Norse Mythology

Nastraad/Corpse Strand: The island in Hel for criminals

and evil Mortals, where their souls are tortured

Norns: Deities who control destinies of men and gods

Nornsgard: Norns’ Hall

Odin: An Aesir god, the father and ruler of all gods and men; half

of the dead soldiers/warriors/athletes go to live in his hall in Valhalla.

Ragnarok: The end of the world war between the gods and

the fire giants

Seidr: An old Norse term referring to a magical practice by Scandinavians;

It includes act of divination or prophecy performed while in a trance.

Stillo: A type of artavus

Svartelfheim: The realm of the Dwarves

Utgard: Famous city in Jötunheim

Valknut: The rune formed by three interlocked triangles

Valkyries: Immortals who collect fallen warriors/soldiers/

fighters/athletes and take them to Valhalla and Falkvang

Völur: A group of Seeresses

Völva: A powerful Seeress

because of the magical runes etched on their skin

Yggdrasil: The tree of life or tree of knowledge that connects

the nine realms of Norse cosmology

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1. WELCOME HOME, SON

CHAPTER 2. THE HARBINGER OF DEATH

CHAPTER 3. MY ROOM, MY KINGDOM

CHAPTER 4. IMMORTALS

CHAPTER 5. HE KNEW ABOUT ME

CHAPTER 6 DOCTOR B

CHAPTER 7. MEMORIES

CHAPTER 8. HEL'S HALL

CHAPTER 9. BED, BATH, AND HEARTACHE

CHAPTER 10. TELL THE TRUTH

CHAPTER 11. NOT AGAIN

CHAPTER 12. NOT MY TYPE

CHAPTER 13. FAMILY BONDING

CHAPTER 14. HUNGRY

CHAPTER 15. GOOD NEWS

CHAPTER 16. THE WOMAN IS CRAZY

CHAPTER 17. FIRE AND SNOW

CHAPTER 18. THE BURNS

CHAPTER 19. THINGS CHANGED

CHAPTER 20. BONDS THAT BIND

CHAPTER 21. THE DRAGON’S KISS

EPILOGUE

SNEAK PEEK of HEROES (EIRIK, BOOK 2)

PRE-ORDER HEROES

A MESSAGE FROM EDNAH

THE RUNES SERIES READING ORDER

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1. WELCOME HOME, SON

EIRIK

The cold hit me hard as the portal to Earth closed behind me. The mist wrapped around me like a cloak of misery, reminding me that this was where I belonged, and I welcomed it. Hel, a realm so cold and desolate that nothing grew on it, was my home. And Hel—a deity so powerful Odin gave her reign over the dead from nine realms—was my mother. She presided over their souls, including other deities’, and did as she pleased. So she’d slept with my father, Baldur, Odin’s beloved son, and had me—her one and only son.

The term Helboy had a whole new meaning.

I’d been curious about the woman who’d sent soul reapers to terrorize my friends just so I would come to her. I’d even wondered why she was desperate to have me with her when she hadn’t cared before. Now, I was indifferent to her and her reasons. I had my personal demons to deal with.

The Norns had kidnapped me from this realm when I was a child and taken me to Earth to live among Mortals, as they called humans. With all her powers and thousands of soul reapers at her disposal, my mother could have found me a long time ago. Instead, she’d left me to grow up believing I was normal, a Mortal, free to love and be loved back by whomever I chose. I was wrong. I wasn’t normal, and I sure as hell wasn’t free to love the girl of my choice.

Cora Jemison.

All I had to do was close my eyes to see the light dancing on the strands of her golden hair, her teasing smile daring me to kiss her, her sweet laughter and sparkling eyes sending need through me.

Thinking about her hurt so much each breath I took felt like a knife twisting in my gut. Cora was the girl I was meant to love. I would have worshipped the ground she walked on. I would have given her the world. Literally. I was slated to take Odin’s place after Ragnarok and lead the gods, and she would have been by my side.

But she hadn’t waited for me while I was visiting my grandparents in Asgard. Instead, she’d chosen another. Echo. A soul reaper. My mother’s reaper. Talk about being stabbed front, right, and center. I glared at his back, wishing I could make him disappear.

A blood-curdling growl rippled through the air and chunks of icicles fell around us, yet I felt no fear. The crunch of our boots on the frozen ground echoed inside the cave, and somewhere a gurgling sound I couldn’t explain reached my ears. Like I said, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about anything but my pain. I wanted to nurse it, feed it, and live it until I saw Cora again. Until I won her over.

We exited the cave and entered a snow-covered landscape. Fog hugged the ground, and moonbeams bounced off snowflakes on the hulking mountains rising above it.

Where are we? Viggo asked.

Hel, I retorted.

Viggo laughed. Viggo, son of Forseti, God of Justice, was around my age. Since Forseti and I had the same father, Viggo was also my nephew, a fact he often ignored. He’d followed me to Earth from Asgard, looking for adventure, and I’d given him a taste when we’d fought the bounty hunters my mother had sent after me. I didn’t know what awaited us in Hel’s Hall. In my misery, I’d completely forgotten about what could happen to Viggo. According to the Asgardian gods, my mother could keep him here indefinitely, and there was nothing they could do about it. She didn’t believe in letting go of people who ended up in her realm, and Viggo didn’t belong in Hel.

Leave, Viggo, I said, stopping.

He frowned and glanced around. There was nothing to see but fog and snow. Why?

Go back to Asgard.

There’s no way I am letting you have all the fun, Viggo said.

This is not fun, I snapped. This is real. I glanced around. The fog was lifting and revealing walls of ice. This is my home, not yours. One day we’ll have that adventure, my friend. Not today.

I’m not leaving you, Eirik, Viggo said stubbornly, his voice no longer teasing.

Ignoring him, I glanced at Echo—the soul reaper escorting us. He was dressed for the cold: heavy leather boots, gloves, and a leather-hooded duster. Everything about him bugged the crap out of me. If I’d known where we were headed, I would have told him to take a hike.

He had been quiet since we left Earth, but then he had every reason to be. He had stolen Cora from right under my nose. One word from him and I’d wrap my mace around his neck. He was a legendary soul reaper, a Grimnir, and thousands of years old, but that meant jack right now. Righteous anger and my magical mace would make me unstoppable.

Grimnir!

Echo stopped and looked back.

Create a portal to take my friend to Asgard, I ordered.

Echo studied me intently as though deciding his next move. I can’t. No one creates portals between realms. Because of the strong magic here, it can be redirected anywhere. Even the gods use horses or shape-shift into something that flies to move between the realms. Earth is different. The magic there is practically dead, so you get very little interference. He glanced at Viggo. The young deity should go back to Earth and access the Bifrost from there.

Viggo crossed his arms. I’m not going back to Asgard.

Why not? I ground out. Look at this place. There’s nothing here for you.

I promised Frigg I’d guard you, and I can’t go back on my word.

My grandmother had no business doing this. The gods, even young ones like Viggo, lived by a code. Vows were taken seriously. Breaking them brought not only shame to the oath breaker, it landed them in Hel, whether they’d died in battle or not. I touched the mace at my waist to make sure it was secure. I had promised Viggo’s father I’d watch his back, too.

Fine. Lead the way, Grimnir, I ordered.

Echo’s lips tightened. You know I’m doing you a favor.

You’ll get brownie points from Mommy Dearest for bringing me in, so screw you and your favor.

Echo studied me. I understand why you hate me.

No, you don’t, I snapped.

You’re angry.

Shut up, Grimnir, I warned, reaching for my mace.

He watched me pull out the weapon, but didn’t back down. I can put up with your anger and attitude, but you better watch it when you’re around Cora. You talk to her like that, and I’ll forget you are the son of my goddess. It’s not Cora’s fault she fell in love with me.

You didn’t give her a chance to do anything else, I shot back. You were all over her from the moment you met her. Pawing her. Treating her like you did Maliina. There’s a name for men like you.

Echo’s eyes glowed gold. "You watched us? There’s a name for men like you."

I was looking out for her, you jackass, I yelled and leaped at him, but Viggo jumped between us and gripped my arm. The chain of the mace wrapped around my arm and the spiked head stopped inches from my bicep when the sharp tips could have easily pierced the fabric and imbedded into my skin. My weapon knew better than to hurt me.

Let me do the honors, Viggo said, unsheathing his dagger.

Viggo would kill Echo for me, or die trying. I couldn’t face his mother or my half brother if that happened. No. He’s not worth it.

Let her go, Eirik. Echo sounded like he felt sorry for me, which only pissed me off all over again. I’m not asking. I’m telling you to let her go because she’s mine, and I will destroy anyone who tries to come between us, including you.

A large shadow materialized behind Echo, and the next second, he was dangling by his feet in midair, cursing.

I’d known there were giants in other realms, but I never thought I’d meet one the moment I stepped in Hel. From the tiny waist, breasts, and the long blond hair, this one was a woman. A giantess. I tilted my head back to see her face, but the moon was behind her, making it impossible to see her features.

What are you doing, Grimnir? the giantess said in a soft voice that contradicted her size.

Nothing, Modgie, Echo said calmly, and despite my loathing for him, I was impressed. I’d be shitting bricks if I were in his shoes.

"Don’t Modgie me, you insufferable reaper, she said, her voice rising. My name is Modgud."

Insufferable? Now you hurt my feelings, Modgie. I thought we were friends.

You threatened the son of the goddess, the giantess snarled.

I’d never do that. You misunderstood, Echo said. Did I mention how radiant you look tonight? I brought you a gift. A golden hair clip. It matches the bracelet I brought you the other day.

I’m not interested in your trinkets or compliments, you scoundrel, she said, but she sounded pleased. This time you went too far. I heard what you told Baldurson, and if I did, the Golden One did.

He’s out here? Echo asked, his voice filling with concern.

He was at the gate the last time I saw him. He is behind the celebrations. So tonight you swim the Gjöll. The giantess looked down at me, then Viggo. She either recognized him or guessed who he was, because she bowed. Stay here, please. I’ll come for you when I’m done with him.

You can’t be serious, Echo said, his voice rising. Modgie, come on. I’ll never survive the river. If the needle sharp rocks don’t split my gut open, the snakes and their venom will finish me.

So you’ll lose a limb or two. It won’t be the end of the world. You can help Dad take the damned to the island. If you die, Mama will find you something to do in the kitchen.

Echo in the kitchen. That was funny. I liked this giantess. I followed them despite her instructions to stay put. Viggo took the rear, laughing at the entire scene. It was actually hilarious. And the thought of a dead Echo was appealing. With him out of the picture, I’d swoop in to console Cora and be there in her time of need. Women liked that. Just like Echo had helped her deal with the souls bothering her and she’d fallen in love with him. In time, she’d forget him.

Even as the thought crossed my mind, I knew that was pain and betrayal talking. I couldn’t let Echo die just to get Cora. My conscience couldn’t handle that.

Yes, Cora and I had something special. At least, we had before Echo came into the picture. It was my fault I’d spent way too much time in Asgard and missed the chance to show her it could lead to something more. There was still time to do it. No matter how long it took, I would show her I was hero material, make her see I was the better man. Echo was wrong for her in so many ways. She just needed someone to show her.

Then there was Raine, the girl I’d known since I was a child. Raine Cooper had been my playmate and was my best friend. She would never forgive me if she found out I’d let Echo die when I could have prevented it. Her love was the one constant thing I could always count on. Not having it would destroy my world.

We reached a covered bridge across a gorge. The wide, gurgling sounds I’d heard earlier came from the river rushing under it, the dark surface reflecting the moon as it meandered between the steep, snow-covered walls. Occasionally, sloshes broke the surface and something long reared its head, fangs bared and eyes glowing, before disappearing under the surface. I shivered, imagining thousands of snakes slithering in the water just waiting for some ignorant soul to fall in.

Stop!

The giantess paused and turned to stare at me.

Put him down.

But he threatened you, the giantess said.

We were joking around. Let him go and lead us to the castle.

She dropped Echo, who landed on the icy terrain with the agility of a cat. The giantess grunted and led the way through the bridge.

Thank you, Echo said as we passed him.

I didn’t do it for you, I said.

I know. You might not know this, but—

Just shut up, Echo, I said. I don’t care about what you have to say.

Our footsteps echoed on the bridge. It was made of black stones, the rail cold to the touch. The Bifrost—the bridge between Earth and Asgard—was made of a special marble that shimmered with colors of the rainbow. The only light from this bridge came from the flickering torches along the rail, which gave the roof a yellow glow. The roof appeared to be made of gold, but I could be wrong.

Souls, once they entered this realm, were no longer mere energies. They became solid, capable of doing anything a Mortal could. They wielded weapons like the ones in Asgard, took lovers like my father had, and felt pain like the ones tortured on Corpse Strand—the island where criminals and evil souls ended up. In fact, a large boat was moored on the bank of the river to our right, and I could see souls seated inside it. Standing beside it was another giant, probably Modgud’s father waiting to escort them to the island.

We seemed to walk forever before Modgud stopped and bent down. We were in front of a massive black gate. Flaming torches flickered alongside it, but the mist made it impossible to see how high it went.

Right in front of the gate was a huge rock. Was the giantess talking to it? It moved and growled. Then the rock stood, and I was staring at a massive dog with one… two… six eyes. It towered above us. Even in the dim lighting, its dripping fangs were visible underneath the fur covering its face.

Hel’s hound. Garm.

Come here, boy, Modgud said and patted her knee. I took a step back as he wagged his tail and moved to the giantess. She laughed, rubbed his neck, and buried her face in his fur. Good boy. We have visitors, so behave. If you are nice, you can meet them tomorrow. Sit, she ordered.

Garm sat, his tail slapping the ground, a small tremor following on the earth.

Modgud looked at us. He is harmless and loves attention. Come on. As soon as she went to open the gates, Garm stood and moved toward us, blocking our path. A growl escaped his colossal jaws.

Echo cursed and stopped walking.

Chicken, Viggo said.

I dare you to tell him to move! Echo shot back.

You know what, if you don’t learn your place and start showing us some respect, I’ll teach you how. Eirik might be squeamish about seeing you brave the Gjöll, but I have no problem whatsoever.

Silence followed, and I grimaced. Viggo’s loyalty might prove to be a problem. Being a pampered son of a powerful god, he treated Mortals, Immortals, and soul reapers the same. They were beneath him. For the first time since I met Echo, I smelled fear from him, but I doubted he feared Viggo and his dagger. Echo was scared of the dog.

Leave him alone, Viggo.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and kept going until I was at the hound’s front paws. They were as huge as my head, which meant one could crush my skull with a swipe. Swallowing, I looked up. Maybe I had a death wish, or maybe in the inner recesses of my mind, I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Animals feared me for reasons I’d never understood. Whenever Raine and I would go to the animal shelter to look for a pet, cats would hiss or dogs would shuffle backward with their tails between their legs. Since that had often happened when Raine wasn’t around, too, I had known I was the cause.

The hound lowered his head until his warm, foul breath bathed my face. Sit, I ordered. The growl became a whiny mewling sound, but he sat and watched me with unblinking eyes.

Stay.

He lowered his head onto his paws.

Good boy.

I’ll be damned, Echo said.

I ignored him, and walked past Garm to the gate. Modgud opened it to reveal a dark castle with walls that disappeared to our left and right. There was no indication of a celebration. No welcoming lights at the window. No music. Maybe they celebrated differently here in Hel. In Asgard, there were always lights. Music. Food. Mead. Things appeared to be the opposite here.

The doors swung open and a man stood in the doorway before we reached the entrance. I couldn’t see his face properly until he stepped forward and the moon fell on his blond hair. The tall, slender build with white pants, tunic, and cloak were familiar. I’d seen his portraits and a mural chronicling his untimely death on the walls in Asgard.

Father, I whispered.

Grandpa, Viggo said at the same time.

My son has arrived, he yelled. Let the celebrations begin.

Lights turned on inside the castle, lighting up the stained glass windows running along the right side of the building. The left wall had tiny windows high up, typical of castles. A second set of doors led to that side of the castle. Music started and voices rose and mingled with it, but my focus was on my father. He stepped back and the light fell on his face.

Our resemblance was uncanny. I could be looking at an older version of me.

Son, he said. Finally.

He pulled me into his arms in a warm hug, pressing my face against his shirt. I didn’t consider myself an emotional person, but my chest tightened when he cupped the back of my head.

For a dead man, he was warm and smelled nice, which were odd observations to make, but the laws of nature didn’t work in the magical realm of the gods. My father had probably showered and changed his shirt for the occasion. My arms tightened around him as my throat seized up. I hadn’t expected this. After growing up with cold and distant Immortal guardians, his warmth was a welcome change.

The Norns should not have taken me from here. No matter how cold and desolate it was or how terrible my mother might be, I would have traded all earthly luxuries to live with my father. This was my home.

What in Hel’s Mist are you doing here, Eirik? he hissed into my ear.

I tried to take a step back from his arms, but they tightened.

I didn’t sneak you out of this realm to have you stroll back here now that your grandfather has confirmed you are to inherit his throne, he continued. You do not want to be here. Not now. Not ever. It’s not safe. As soon as the feast is over, leave. He leaned back, slapped me on the back, and yelled, Welcome, Son. We’ve been waiting a long time for you to find your way home.

~*~

Had my mother known I’d take over Odin’s throne before she sent her reapers after me? If so, what did she hope to achieve? By the time I took over the throne, she and all the major gods and goddesses would be dead. She had nothing to gain by having me here. In fact, she should be happy her son would be the chief god.

I lost track of time, my mind going in circles as my father’s words echoed in my head. By the time I focused on my surroundings, my father, Viggo, and I were seated at a round table for four in front of the room. One chair was empty.

Servants piled food on plates and filled our tumblers with mead. I ate without tasting the food, even though it looked and smelled good. Viggo dug in like a starved convict, but then he had a ferocious appetite. He sat to my left while my father was across from me. The seat beside me was the empty one. My mother would soon sit there. The thought sent both dread and anticipation through me.

I studied my father slyly. He must have been young when he’d died because he could pass for someone in his early thirties.

I glanced around at the rest of the guests and sighed, wondering what I’d be doing if I weren’t here. I’d probably be at Raine’s place watching Supernatural and pigging out on pizza. Instead, I was having a five-course meal with dead royals. I recognized a few from online pictures, textbooks, and the History Channel. They occupied about half a dozen long tables and came from all walks of life—men and women of various sizes and races, some young, some old. Mixed with them were deities like my father, Asgardian and Vanir gods. The gods were recognizable by their unique clothes, cloaks, and colorful brooches. The Elves’ pointed ears were a dead giveaway. And I had to be blind not to recognize the Dwarf kings. They might be short and stubby, but they were a boisterous lot with larger-than-life personalities.

Men and women in black dusters occupied the rest of the tables. They had Grimnir written all over them and seemed to come and go as the evening progressed. Probably leaving to reap. They seemed to enjoy a friendly relationship with the deities and the royals, and from their laughter and easy camaraderie, this wasn’t the first time they had mingled. Performers moved between tables, some playing instruments while others danced.

Things were definitely different from Asgard. Even their servants and performers were different. Asgard had Immortals, humans, and light Elves, while Goddess Hel, it appeared, employed Dwarves and giants—Jötun.

Where did I fit here? My mother was still missing and my father didn’t seem to care. I glanced at him and found his eyes on me.

How are you enjoying the food, Son? he asked, playing the part of a perfect father and host for the sakes of his guests.

It’s good. My appetite had long disappeared.

He pushed a loaf of bread toward me and nodded as though urging me to eat. I took the loaf, broke a piece, and dunked it in the meat stew. The food wasn’t bad. I just couldn’t eat while on edge.

Where is she? I asked.

My father raised his tumbler. Your mother will join us when she’s ready. More drink?

I shook my head and went back to chewing the hard bread and studying my surroundings. The hall wasn’t dark or cold as I’d been led to believe by Asgardians. The floor and the columns were made of black slate with etches of snakes, dragons, and wolves. The tables had granite tops and the chairs were cushioned. Torches lit the hall, and semi-circular steps led to the throne, which was all black with snake carvings along the arms and the high back. It was wide enough to lie on. Black cushions and pillows covered the seat. The chair to its right was smaller and not as fancy. That was probably my father’s chair. The room was black and gray, yet it was welcoming. Even the stained glass windows depicting various scenes were done in shades of gray.

Silence swept the room, and one by one, the people stood. I stumbled to my feet and tried to see what had caught their eyes. Was my mother finally making an appearance?

No, she was making an entrance. Flanked by two guards, everything about her commanded the attention of the entire room. Half her face was pitch black and the other pale and flawless. Half-black and half-white silky hair flowed down her back. Her hair and skin were mismatched, black with white. Her long-sleeved, white dress hugged her body to her hips and fell to her feet, leaving both legs bare from the hips down. The neckline of the dress dipped so low at the front heat crawled up my face. The cloak, also white as snow with satin lining, trailed several feet behind her.

Like her face and hands, one leg was dark and the other pale and smooth. A simple white hairpiece held down her hair like a Gypsy and a matching choker was around her neck. The long scepter she held had a large clear crystal at the top and etches of snakes coiled along its length. She was both scary-looking and fascinating to watch.

As she came closer, I noticed several interesting things. Glowing runes covered the left, normal side of her face, highlighting her brilliant blue eye, pert nose, and lips painted black. Her skin on that side was unblemished.

The right, black side wasn’t dead or mummified like the pictures I’d seen online. They’d gotten it wrong. It was regular skin covered with black runes. They coiled under her skin like layers of tattoos, covering every inch of it and giving the illusion of dead skin. Occasional glowing runes mingled with the black ones. No wonder some Mortals drew her with a half-skeleton body. The glowing runes could be mistaken for bones. Her right eye was nearly all black and oddly shaped. I’d bet the dark core was made up of runes too.

Sighs came from around the room, and I stole a glance at the others. She mesmerized them. Warmth crept up my face at the naked lust in the men’s eyes and the envy in the women’s.

Seriously? That was my mother they were lusting after.

My father hurried to her side and escorted her up the steps to her throne, instead of our table, where she reclined in the cushioned seat. A pale, red-haired girl I hadn’t noticed arranged her cloak around her, covering her exposed legs and sandaled feet. The servant brought my mother a drink and a tray of fruit, which she placed on the wide arm of her throne. My father took the chair to her right and stayed, talking to her in a low voice.

Viggo dragged his chair, so he sat facing the throne, his expression dopey like the village’s idiot. Hot damn, he said. She is—

My mother, I said, trying to scold him, but my words lacked the heat.

Glorious, Viggo corrected. Gorgeous. And she hasn’t aged since Alfadir sent her here. I’d heard stories about her, but I didn’t believe them, until now.

I almost asked Viggo about the stories, but decided against it. Better to learn by watching and listening than by accepting rumors as facts. I’d wondered about how my parents hooked up. Asgardians had insinuated that she’d seduced my father. They were wrong. Going by his expression, my father adored my mother. The people in the hall, Grimnirs included, wore the same expression.

I also reached another conclusion. Odin hadn’t given my mother this realm to rule because she was evil. He’d done it to keep peace in Asgard because my mother was the type of woman who could cause riots. Men would want her, and women would plot her demise. Even Goddess Freya, who was a renowned beauty, could not compare to my mother. Or maybe I was just biased.

She lifted her hand, and I was sure she was going to summon me. I tensed, but she indicated to everyone to sit down. They did and went back to their food. I played with mine, my nervousness increasing with each second that passed.

In Asgard, Valkyries stayed in Valhalla, a vast hall built specifically for slain warriors. They trained, ate, and lived together. Not once had I seen Valkyries socialize with the gods. Here, the Grimnirs were treated like the gods. The entertainers didn’t just focus on the deities and royalties. Of course, the fact that they were dead and their souls were the ones being entertained might have something to do with it. Or maybe it was how my mother ran things. Might explain why they adored her.

Then, my father’s words returned to haunt me. I wasn’t safe here. Why? Was I not safe from her? She hadn’t even looked at me, her long-lost son. I didn’t want to believe she could harm me. She was my mother for crying out loud.

As though she’d heard my thoughts, my mother lifted her head and stared straight at me. My heart started to pound with dread and excitement. She cocked her head as she continued to listen to my father, but her gaze didn’t waver from mine.

Let’s go, Viggo whispered. I want to meet her.

I ignored him. My mother’s gaze wasn’t inviting, which was beginning to worry me. What did she see when she looked at me? Was I as she’d imagined or was I a disappointment? Even though I tried to act indifferent, sipping my drink and swallowing with difficulty, I felt a little sick to my stomach. Soon that changed as annoyance crept in. She’d made a big deal about wanting me, and all she could do now was watch me?

My eyes went to the Grimnirs, and I found Echo. He sat apart from the others, like an island. Funny, I hadn’t seen him earlier. He must have come in when my mother did. Maybe she’d summoned him to her chambers. Rumor had it he was her favorite.

Come on. Let’s go!

I turned to tell Viggo to cut it out when I noticed the stares. Everyone was looking at me, including my father. He waved me over. I rose on unsteady legs and wished I hadn’t tasted the mead. The drink was potent. I started up the stairs. By the time I reached their side, I was sweating.

Goddess Hel created room on her wide seat and patted it. Sit down and let me look at you, Son.

Her voice was smooth and low, yet glum. Her eyes were also sad. Despite feeling out of place, I wondered why. We studied each other without speaking.

What did the black runes covering her right side do? Cora had black runes that attracted souls. They were like nothing I’d ever seen and no one, not even the Valkyries, knew how they worked. My mother’s were equally strange.

Up close, she could easily pass for someone in her mid-twenties, which made perfect sense. Odin had put her in charge of this realm when she was young. The gods of Asgard ate golden apples from a special orchard to stop aging. But thousands of years ago, Loki had tricked Idun, the goddess in charge of the orchard, into