Witches (Runes series Book 6) (41 page)

I turned and walked away, but I could hear them yelling. I wasn’t sure whether they were yelling at me or at each other. Lightning cracked. I didn’t look back, but the Norn’s
valknut
runes appeared on my arms. They were dim and kept disappearing. I laughed. I couldn’t believe those old hags were trying to reel me in. I engaged our runes by thinking of Torin. Our runes appeared and dominated theirs.

The Earl wasn’t alone when I reached the hill.

Torin, Mom, Ingrid, Femi, Lavania, Hawk, Blaine, and Andris stood with him. Torin was brushing off his pants and shirt as though removing dirt and looking furious. The anger left him when he saw me. He reached me in a fraction of a second and yanked me into his arms.

“I’m okay.”

“Mimicking me?” he whispered. “Facing the Norns on your own.
Evil Norns,
Raine. If they hadn’t stopped me…”

I squeezed him. “Sorry I worried you. I didn’t mean to.”

“Next time tell me. The hags blocked me again.”

The dagger probably contributed to that too. I left his arms and went to Mom. She looked like she’d aged. “I’m okay,” I reassured her when we hugged.

“Don’t do that again. I’ve already lost your father. Don’t make me bury you too.” My eyes welled.

“I won’t.” I moved from person to person, until I reached Andris. I searched his face. “Is Dad okay?”

He nodded. “We found him the best room, right next to Eirik’s father’s,” he whispered when we hugged.

I squeezed him hard. “Thank you.”

~*~

“You are the craziest woman I’ve ever known,” Ingrid said as she applied my makeup.

“I knew they wouldn’t touch me.” At least I’d hoped. I glanced at my phone, tempted to call Beau and confirm he was okay. The last several hours had been a nightmare worrying about him.

“You should have come for me,” Ingrid said, pouting. “I need adventure in my life too.”

“I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat if it meant keeping Torin. I’d give up everything except him.”

“You should have seen him when he couldn’t find you. They’d blocked you from him again. Like that day in the forest. Instead, he locked on Onyx. We had to hold him down when we got to the golf course.” She stepped back and studied the result. “You’re now officially a flapper girl.”

Tonight’s theme was All That Jazz and the outfits were supposed to represent that era. My dress was moss-green. Mom had gone all out on accessories—the heels, the gloves, beads, and frilled headpiece with real jewels. Ingrid managed to hold up most of my hair with it, which showed just how creative she was.

Her outfit was white, but the black gloves matched her feathered headpiece and mid-thigh tights. Her short, blond hair was perfect for that period too.

“I wonder what the boys are wearing,” Ingrid said.

I didn’t care. This evening was about stopping souls and sending them to Hel. I was still pissed the Norns hadn’t taken me seriously. “I’m just happy Andris is back.”

“Poor guy. He was frozen when they came back. Echo went straight to Cora’s. He’s pissed.”

Cora was resting after Maliina tried to possess her. Happened right after my meeting with the Norns. Her dark soul buddy, Dev, had to help Cora fight back in the only way he knew how—by possessing her. She was still recovering. Apparently, possession by a dark soul was worse than by a regular soul.

“She was supposed to do some girls’ hair this afternoon,” Ingrid added.

“Yeah, the swimmers, Kicker and Sonya.”

“I sent the ladies who do my hair to take care of them. They’re good with makeup too. Come on, let’s join the others.”

Lavania, Femi, and Mom were reminiscing about the twenties. They looked amazing in their outfits complete with long cigarette holders. I debated again whether to call Beau or not.

Then Torin arrived and distracted me.

He was dressed in all white except for the green vest, the bow tie, and a fedora. He looked amazing. Hawk and Andris looked dashing in three-piece suits, vests and bow-ties, though Andris opted for a sweater. Blaine was missing.

“You look amazing,” I told Torin.

He tilted his hat. “And you look miserable.”

I shot him a mean look.

“You take my breath away, Freckles, but that’s not what you want to hear right now, is it?”

“Of course. I worked hard to get this look…” I sighed. “No, it’s not. I’m a mess.”

“Do you want me to check on him?” Torin asked.

I nodded. “I didn’t want to in case I jinxed it.”

He chuckled. “The most powerful woman I know is worried about bad luck. Oops, I forgot. You’re also a witch.” As soon as we were away from the others, he created a portal into Beau’s room. He was still in a coma, and his parents sat by his bed.

“There’s still time,” Torin said, trying to reassure me.

I shook my head. “No. Let’s go.”

While others created a portal to the Sports Complex, which was separate from the school’s main building, Torin and I headed to the cafeteria. It was decorated with All That Jazz paraphernalia—black and silver tulle with gold, red, and silver stars, and a city skyline draped the walls, lamp posts covered with black gossamer and silver cutouts of a jazz guy, flapper girls, and twenties cars. Jazz music played in the background.

We stayed invisible and watched couples saunter by in twenties fashion. Even the teachers stayed true to the theme. I spotted Sonya and Kicker. Sonya’s outfit was made by her mother, but I couldn’t tell by looking at her.

Reapers—an underground band made up of Grimnirs—had already set up their instruments in the cafeteria. According to Cora, Echo used to be a member until they kicked him out. Echo rubbed most people the wrong way.

Blaine was the opposite. He was charming. And thanks to the new memories, he was the QB who’d taken the Trojans to state and brought us home champions. Convincing the student council and teachers to change the venue of the prom must have been a piece of cake. Getting the band here was another story. I had no idea how he knew Reapers, but the guy kept surprising me. They weren’t just here for entertainment. They were to keep the students within the walls of the building tonight. Apparently, their music had that effect on people.

More students arrived. Still no Beau. Torin tried to keep me entertained by explaining what was wrong with the outfits. He had lived and breathed the twenties.

Then the band started to play. They weren’t bad. Couples moved to the floor. I’d never been to a prom, so I didn’t know whether it was normal to have so many seniors and sophomores attend it.

“Did you hear about Beau?” a girl to our right said, and I whipped around. They’d just arrived and were shouting to be heard above the band.

“Yes. I got a text from Amber.”

My stomach dropped. Amber had been at the hospital with Ellie. I exchanged a glance with Torin, and then strained to hear the rest of their conversation, but the music was too loud. All I got was, “Tonight.” And “Weird, right?” Then their dates joined them and they went to the dance floor.

I pulled out my artavus and created a portal straight to Beau’s room. It was empty and the nurses were stripping down the bed. They only did that when someone died.

“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Torin warned.

“I have a bad feeling…” my voice trailed off when I saw the three girls who’d just entered the cafeteria. I saw through their disguises. Norns mimicking teen girls—a blonde, a brunette, and an African-American. How dare they come here.

“What is it?” Torin asked, sensing my anger. His eyes followed mine to the three girls. “Are those—?”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter what race they choose. I always know them.”

“Okay, what do you want me to do?”

One hundred percent support. No wonder I was crazy about him. “Tell them I’m about to be their poster child.”

He frowned, concern flickering in his eyes. “How?”

“I’m going to broadcast what I am to these students and through technology to the world.”

Torin’s eyes narrowed. “You’re sure about this?”

“No, but they leave me no choice.”

He nodded. “Okay, luv. I got your back.”

He walked toward the Norns while I went in the opposite direction toward the band. The Grimnir behind the mic saw me coming and cocked an eyebrow.

“Can I have the mic, please?” I asked.

He covered it and said, “You are invisible, Raine.”

I blinked. “How do you know my name?”

“From Crypt.”

“Oh. The mic, please,” I said firmly. He shrugged and complied. I signaled the band to stop playing. “Can I have your attention, please?”

Students looked around curiously, some not too happy that the music had stopped, until they realized the mic was floating.

“Get your cell phones out because part of tonight’s entertainment is magic. I’m going to reveal to you the world’s best kept secret.”

Some looked at each other. Others reached for their cell phones.

“Come on, people. I need this trending tonight,” I said, my eyes going to Torin. He appeared to be arguing with the three Norns.

“How many of you know about Norse mythology?” The students looked at each other, shrugged, or made faces. A few hands rose. “Other than Thor and Loki, that is.” Sputters of laughter filled the room, but their bewilderment was genuine.

“How are they doing this?” Allyson Pine, a girl from my history class asked her date.

“I will tell you how Allyson, as soon as you take out your phone.”

Her eyes widened, then she looked at her friend, Jessica Lauders.

“Come on, Jessica, tell her to get out her phone. You all know the password for the school’s Wi-Fi. Log in.” Some did. Others followed the floating mic, already taking pictures. Across the hall, Torin was no longer talking to the Norns. He wore a smile that said he was utterly proud of my crazy performance. And it was just that, a performance. I could never expose who and what I was. One of the Norns was missing and the other two were talking to each other. “Videotape this moment, guys. Take pictures and post them on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat… Tag your friends and share your pictures. Tell them to come here now because there will be more revelations tonight.”

Students moved closer, their cell phones raised high. Those closest to me swept their hands under the microphone to see if something was holding it up. I backed away.

“You don’t want to do that, Kaitlyn,” I told one of the girls. Torin had his arms crossed. He indicated with his finger that I should wind it up. The two Norns glowered. “I’m here to tell you that I am a deity. I can appear and disappear right before your eyes. Like Thor, I wield a magical weapon. Anyone want to see me appear and disappear?”

There was a sputtering yes.

“I didn’t hear that. Was that a yes?”

“YES!”

Beau entered the hall with Ellie. I sighed with relief. That was way too close.

“Maybe next time,” I said. “Thank you for giving me this chance to entertain you.” I pushed the mic into the guy’s hand. “Make up something about the mic,” I whispered to him.

“Are you kidding? You’ve just given me an idea for a new act,” he said.

“Really? Great.” I ran to where Torin stood. He opened his arms and I flew into them. “We did it!”

He laughed. “No, you did it. I don’t know how to deal with them. They were threatening to do all sorts of crazy stuff if I didn’t stop you. I actually believed them. They threatened to put me on Hel duty for eternity. I told them you’d only come with me.”

Yes, I would follow him to the darkest, coldest parts of any realm. I hugged him. The band was back to playing, and most of the students went back to dancing as though nothing had happened. A few were still staring at their phones, probably trying to figure out the microphone trick. As for Beau. He had Ellie in his arms and they looked so happy.

“I knew he was into her,” I said.

Torin pressed a kiss on my temple. “I hope he doesn’t disappoint you. You went through a lot for him.”

“I know.”

“If he screws up, can I straighten him out? I have an amazing method of dealing with Mortals that try my patience.”

“I know. You turn them into Immortals.”

Torin chuckled, twirled me around, caught me and dipped me over his arm. “How about a dance? We didn’t dance at our wedding.”

“I don’t think we have time for one now either. The dark souls will be here any minute. It’s time to do some reaping.”

“I’m not a Valkyrie anymore,” he protested. “I want to dance with my bride.”

I wanted to dance with him too. “We’ll have our dance, but right now, you have someone who expects you to be by his side.”

He faked ignorance. “You’re here.”

I pulled out an artavus and created a portal. We could see inside the gym. Not only were our people there, Grimnirs and souls in flapper outfits also stood around in groups. Regular souls ready to fight dark souls. It was surreal.

I had my support system—Immortals, Valkyries, and Witches, but I didn’t need the Witches tonight. Cora had hers—Grimnirs and the souls she helped. Word about how she helped souls find closure had spread fast and they often waited for days, even weeks, to see her. But tonight, they came to support her. They must have heard about the attack on her by a dark soul.