Circus of The Darned (18 page)

"He's a god," Isleif said, yelling something and pointing in the direction of the last two Viking ghosts as Gils ran by. "Gods have a presence in both the spirit and mortal worlds. An

ungrounded ghost can touch him."

In the distance, a horn sounded.

"Oh, great, now what's that?" I asked, glaring at a ghost as he paused long enough to try to cut off my legs.

Isleif tipped his head to the side as he listened to the fading horn blast."More Vangarians."

"More? No! We have enough!"

"I'd best go help Eirik," Isleif said, spinning around. "Things could get ugly if everyone decides not to cooperate."

"All right, all of you,stop it," I yelled, clapping my hands together in hopes the ghosts would pay attention to me. It was a hopeless. "You there, in the leopard skin—knock it off! Stop stabbing people."

Desdemona burst out of her booth directly on front of me, her eyes wild. The leopard print ghost looked at her as she went racing off toward the trailers.

"Well, OK, you can stab her. But leave the tourists alone!"

The Viking grinned and dashed off after Desdemona.

Ben
! I yelled, desperate for some support.

He didn't answer for a couple of seconds.
What's wrong, Fran? Is your mother giving you

another lecture
?

She did that earlier. It's the Viking ghosts! They're running amok!

I'll talk to Eirik
, he said.

No, not those ghosts… these ones are friends of theirs. Or enemies, I'm not sure. They're not
grounded so they can't do anything physically; but they're running around the Faire trying to kill
everyone and attracting attention, and any minute now Absinthe is going to notice
—

"Francesca!" a familiar female voice tinged with a German accent bellowed. I twitched.

Too late.Where are you? What are you doing?

I was having dinner
, he said wryly. I had a moment of squirminess as I realized what that meant, but his choice of food wasn't of concern at the moment.
I'm on my way to help you
.

Thanks. We're going to need it.

"Vhat is going on vith your ghosts?" Absinthe demanded as she stormed toward me. "Did I not tell you to make them stop these behaviors? They are bothering the customers!"

"I'm sorry, these aren't really my ghosts,they're … uh… friends. We're trying to get them

contained, but—"

At that moment, a pack of women on motorcycles roared onto the fairgrounds. They didn't stop

at the parking area; they went right through it and into the center aisle.

"Fran!"A woman riding double on the first motorcycle leaned out and waved. Imogen wore a helmet, but I recognized her even through the smoky faceplate. She plucked the helmet off and

smiled broadly. "Look who I found for you!"

The first motorcycle came to a stop directly in front of Absinthe and me. The woman riding it

nodded at me. "I understand from Imogen that you need some help with lost warriors?"

"Er…" I looked from the blond woman—about six foot three inches tall, taller than me even!—

to Imogen.

"This is Gunn," Imogen said, introducing her friend. "She's a Valkyrie."

"Oh! Excellent! I was wondering how to get ahold of you guys."

Gunn nodded. "We were at a resort in San Tropez having a little retreat, but Imogen convinced us this was an emergency. Where are the warriors?"

"Valkyries?"Absinthe asked,looking as all the other ladies on motorcycles pulled up. "You bring to my Faire the Valkyries?"

Five Vikings chased a group of tourists past us.

"Valkyries," Gunn said, turning to her sisters in arms. She pointed to the tourist-chasing ghosts."Warriors!"

I won't say I'll never see a stranger sight than ancient female Nordic gods in leather jackets and spike-heeled boots riding motorcycles, chasing down equally ancient Nordic ghosts, but it was

something I won't forget in a very long time. The Valkyries didn't have any trouble grabbing the Viking ghosts as they zoomed in and out of the crowds, picking off the ghosts. They just reached out, grabbed, and did an odd little shake that dissolved the ghosts into nothing. Most of the

tourists were clumped together in groups watching, applauding and cheering every time one of

the ghosts was snagged.

"What are they doing?" I asked.

"Sending them toValhalla ," Gunn answered.

Imogen, who had taken Absinthe aside and was explaining to herwhat was going on, turned to

beam at me. "Am I not the cleverest person ever to find Gunn and the Valkyries to take care of the problem? Now you will not need Loki's help."

Except, of course, I wanted Loki in my power so I could force him to give me Tesla.

"Brilliant," I said, summoning a smile I didn't particularly feel. I wouldn't hurt Imogen's feelings for the world.

"Now," Gunn said, turning to me. "While they are taking care of the Vangarians, why don't you take me to the group Imogen told meabout. We'd like to get back to our resort as quickly as

possible. There's to be a wet T-shirt contest tonight that I just know my girls can win."

Gunn looked down at her chest fondly for a moment.

I blinked at her boobs."Um… yeah. My Vikings are on the beach, trying to control the others so they can trap Loki, but once they're done with that—"

"Trap Loki?"Gunn yelled.

"What can I do to help?" a deep, smooth, velvety soft voice asked behind me.

"Ben!" I whirled around, smiling with relief to see him."Nothing right now. Imogen brought the Valkyries to help with the ghosts."

He raised a dark eyebrow and looked at his sister. "I didn't know she knew how to call them."

She smiled back at him, winking. "You don't know what you can do until you try. Actually, Fran gave me the idea by summoning Freya. I called a few friends inItaly and managed to track her

down, and she gave me Gunn's mobile number. I called and told her you needed help, and

voilä!Instant backup!"

I opened my mouth to ask how on earth she knew that a Valkyrie would have a cell phone, but

decided not to. If my Vikings could be addicted to McDonald's and use a laptop to plan battle

strategy, what was so strange with Valkyries being summoned by a phone call rather than an

invocation?

"My Vikings are over there, beyond the main tent, down at the beach," I said, directing Gunn to the area where I'd last seen Eirik.

"Groovy. Let's go get them," she said, propping her bike up against the lightpole. She peeled off a pair of leather gloves and marched off, Imogen in tow. Absinthe blinked a couple times, shot

me a look, and hurried off in the other direction.

Ben looked at me, "Aren't you going as well?"

"Yeah, I am. It's just…" I bit my lower lip. Ben gently pulled it from between my teeth with a brush of his thumb. .

"It's just what?"

"I almost hate to see them go. They're nice. And they've tried to help."

Ben laughed and put his hand on my back, giving me a little push forward. "You have such a soft heart. It's one of the things I admire most about you."

I sighed as we made our way through the crowds toward the beach. I knew I was being

foolish—Eirik and his men
wanted
to go toValhalla . It was only right that they should get there.

"I'm glad you admire it, butit's annoying most of the time. Things matter so much… oh, no, now what?"

Ben and I started running when we heard three Viking horns go off simultaneously. It only took

us a few minutes to reach the area on the beach where I'd last seen Eirik. Just as we were leaping over a couple of downed trees that were on the fringe of the beach, the remaining Valkyries

roared up behind us, passing us and coming to a stop on the beach.

"Oh… bullfrogs!"I swore at the sight of the number of ungrounded ghosts milling around. The small stretch of beach was elbow-to-elbow with Viking long-ships, and there had to be at least a hundred ungrounded ghosts roaming around. In the center, a ring of Eirik's men stood, all of

them looking at a redheaded man who was swearing up a blue streak at Gunn.

"I will not be summoned this way! You have no right to call me here now, and for that, you will pay!"

"Oh, blow it out your butt," Gunn said.

Loki's mouth hung open for a moment.

Gunn turned to Imogen and said in a lower voice, "I've always wanted to tell him that, the self-aggrandized little twit."

Loki roared in anger.

"Get over yourself already, will you?" Gunn asked. "No one is impressed. Eirik asked me to summon you, so get a grip and do whatever it is he wants so I can get my girls back to the t-shirt contest."

"Wow. Tough chick," I said in an undertone to Ben.

"They have to be. They're warriors, too, remember."

"Yeah.I just wish she wasn't pissing off Loki. I'm going to have a hard enough time to get him to hand over Tesla as is."

I'm here with you
, he said, making me feel almost invincible.
Would you like me to deal with
Loki for you
?

No, it's my problem. Tibolt gave me the valknut, so I have to do this, but thank you for asking
and not just going ahead and doing it.

He smiled.
You are welcome. Imogen lectured me earlier about not allowing you to grow. I am
trying to give you the space you need to learn about your powers and abilities
.

Thanks. I really appreciate that. And I appreciate more you being here when I need you
. I stepped forward, pushing between Isleif and Gils to enter the ring of Vikings. Gunn looked at me curiously.

Loki snarled when he saw me."You again?"

"Yes, me again."I raised my chin and tried to look as tough as Gunn. "I want my horse back, Loki. I want him back now. In exchange, I will return to you this valknut."

Loki laughed, his voice booming back from the rocks in a horrible double echo."You foolish mortal. What do you think you can do to force me to give you my descendant?"

I gestured toward the ring of Vikings. "My friends are here to help me take you down if you won't cooperate."

He sneered at them."A handful of long-dead warriors. They are no match for me."

The Valkyries stepped forward, joining the Viking ring.

"Valkyries… bah.A bunch of women playing at being men," he snorted. Imogen grabbed Gunn as she spat out a curse and started toward Loki.

"There are also other Viking warriors here," I said, nodding at the groups of ghosts that Eirik had convinced to help him. They stood in clusters in a semi-circle around us, watching

everything silently.

Loki sent them a mocking glance. "I fear no man, dead or alive. Is this all you have, mortal?

You're wasting my time."

Uh oh.He doesn't seem to be worried at all
, I told Ben. I
thought seeing all those Vikings would
have him changing his mind
.

You made him listen to you before
, he answered.
What did you do
?

I showed him the valknut. But he just seemed mad I had it more than he feared it or anything
like that.

If he wants
it, that
means it has some power. Use it, Fran.

Use
it how? I don't know how to do any of that
sort
of magic. I'm just a psychometrist
!

It was given to you for a reason. It has power that you can use. You just have to figure out how
to access it.

I pulled the valknut from beneath my top, holding it in my hand for a moment. Ben was right—

it did have power. It tingled against my palm as if it was waiting to be used. "I have

the
Vikingahärta
."

Loki's smile got a whole lot nastier. "But you do not know how to use it. You have twice

engaged my anger, mortal. Now you will feel my wrath." He raised his hand like he was going to smite me, or do something equally godlike, but Ben stepped in front of me.

"You will have to go through me, first."

Loki laughed again."As if a Dark One could stop me? Prepare for annihilation."

I thought you were going to let me do things my own way
? I asked, poking him on the shoulder.

There are limits to my patience. This is one of them.

I can't make him do what I want if you won't let me try
, I pointed out.

And I cannot allow him to harm you. If you are dead, you won't help Tesla.

He had a point.
OK, how about this
—
we do it together
.

Ben didn't like that, I could feel the need within him to protect me, but he isn't my boyfriend for nothing. He pushed back that need and said simply,
Very well. We will do this together. You will
attempt to barter
—
if he refuses or attacks, then I will take over
.

Deal.

I moved around to his side, letting my arm brush his just because I liked the feeling. "Loki Laufeyiarson," I said in a loud voice, pulling the valknut over my head and laying the chain and pendant across my palm. The tingle changed in quality, becoming more intense until it buzzed on my hand like a joybuzzer. It also grew hot, very hot, almost too hot to hold. "Return to me the horse known as Tesla, or else I will unleash your own power against you."

Loki's hand dropped from smiting position, his eyes narrowing.

Good girl. Now you have his attention.

Yeah, but what should I do to prove to him I can use this darn thing? I have no idea how to use
power. I'm not a Wiccan like my mom.

Mold it
, Ben advised.
Hold it and shape it, making it take the form you want, then when you're
ready, fire it at Loki
.

"You don't know how to use it," Loki said, suddenly relaxing.

I looked at the pendant glowing on my hand, my arm starting to burn from the energy and heat it gave off. I gathered together all the feelings it gave me, added to it my own anger and frustration and worry about Tesla, and formed it into a giant glowing ball.