Desolate (Desolation) (29 page)

“I love her. But I can’t go there.” Aaron gestured toward the image. “So I have to trust you to do this. Can you?” He stared at me, challenging me. I could help Desi—and I would. But before I could speak, he continued. “Remember who she really is. Remember she does
not
Remember. It’s up to you to save her.”

He stepped past me and joined Lucy. He put his arm around her. “One more thing,” he said, turning around and capturing my gaze in his. “She’s not responsible—for my death, I mean. She thinks she is, but she’s not. Lucifer told me I could save her, if I gave my life for her. I loved her. I still love her.” He dropped his arm from Lucy’s shoulders and faced me full-on.

“Do you love her enough to die for her?”

“I do. And I already did.” With a sigh I dropped my guard. I didn’t need to fight him. He loved Desi—that was what was important. “And I’d do it again—a thousand times I’d do it again.”

Aaron nodded. He reached forward and clasped my forearm. “If you get the chance, will you tell her? I am tired of being a burden she carries. She needs to know the truth.”

I gripped his arm and gave my word.

He held my gaze and my arm for a moment more, before letting the barest of smiles grace his face.

I looked at Heimdall. “Can you take me to her?”

“There is one thing,” he answered. “You will have to contend with Loki’s army—he will not allow you near her unless you go through them first.”

“Then I will go through them.” My eyes flicked to the horde of Shadows crouched around the humans at Desi’s feet.

“You cannot do it alone,” Heimdall said.

I bowed my head and curled my fists into tight hammers of frustration. “I will if I must. And I must. Now take me to her, my friend.” My eyes begged him to grant me concession. All these words while my love suffered—I was determined to get to her so she could be rid of this evil that consumed her.

“I said, I cannot allow you to go alone,” Heimdall restated.

“Nor can I.” Odin’s voice rang like thunder.

I whirled and fell to my knee in one movement. When I looked up, I saw my king—and a hundred Valkyrie behind him—standing on the Bifrost.

“And so you will not.” He smiled, but did not bid me stand. “My warrior daughters will be at your command. Lead them true and they will serve our purpose. However, once you remove the ring, Fahria is tasked with bringing it to me—and with her, the others will follow. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “I understand, my king.”

He reached out his hand then and pulled me to my feet. He clasped his right hand on my shoulder. In a near-whisper he said, “Desolation is my most precious child. Her path is clouded in mystery—even to me. Rescue her from Loki’s grasp.” His deep blue eyes filled with emotion and he swallowed hard against that same lump that plagued me. “And when you do, give her my love—the love of a father for his daughter.”

He squeezed my arm again and I choked on my own tears. “I will, my king. You have my word.”

“And your heart?” he asked as he stepped back and raised his voice for all to hear.

I shook my head, though I fell to my knee again. “Only she has my heart, my king.”

Odin smiled.

“As it should be.”

He turned then, and walked past his Valkyries until I lost sight of him.

Fahria stepped to the front of the warriors. “Let us go,” she said.

I did not move. I let my gaze linger on each of the hundred warriors before me. Desi belonged to them—their own queen, Desi’s mother, had given her life so that Desi could be the ultimate warrior, the ultimate weapon against Loki. Each Valkyrie shone with the golden glory of Asgard, from winged helm to winged boot, from golden armor to crisp white tunic. They held bows and quivers, swords and spears depending on their ability. Each wore a golden hilted dagger in her right boot. They were suited for war, as they always were.

I locked eyes with Fahria, sister to Desi’s mother. Yes—this battle was also hers, as it belonged to all of us.

“For Desolation,” I said quietly to Fahria. “For Midgard!” I shouted for all to hear, calling my sword from my Halo and raising it high.

Fahria turned to her army. “For Asgard!”

As one, the warriors raised their weapons and shouted their answering call. To my right a bridge appeared. I stepped toward it, but turned at the last moment.

“Thank you,” I told Lucy and Aaron. “I will bring her home to you.”

They smiled and nodded as they embraced the white brilliance of their eternal glory. I had to look away, but I heard them as they took their place in space.

“We will be watching,”
Aaron said in my mind.

“We will be with you,”
Lucy said.

I rose to my full height, nodded at first to Heimdall, and then Fahria. With my blade raised high, I ran onto the Bifrost.

chapter forty-seven

Michael

Fahria’s sisters plunged to Earth and dove into the gathering of dark creatures that covered the hillside near the Door. Fahria and I wished to meet with The Hallowed first, to better ascertain the shape of the battle. I led her around the cemetery to the back of the cathedral, and opened the door to the basement hallway. When we entered the room where The Hallowed met, Fahria stood in the doorway but would not cross the threshold. 

Cornelius looked up from his desk but did not lift his head from his hands. Longinus leaned against the wall. I did not know what he thought of seeing me there, nor of the Valkyrie who stood behind me, but Cornelius’ eyes grew wide and he stood from his chair.

“Lady,” he whispered, bowing his head low.

Fahria bowed her head in response, but said nothing.

“Do you know each other?” I asked, referring to Fahria and Cornelius, but it was Longinus who spoke from directly beside me—I hadn’t even heard him move.

“I know you,” Longinus said. He stepped past me, never taking his eyes from Fahria’s face. He fell to one knee at her feet, a fist over his heart.

“Please, rise,” Fahria said, a blush rising to her cheeks. The Valkyrie had always been unflappable—and I had known her a very long time. This Fahria, blushing, flustered—was new to me.

“Lady, I am not worthy to stand before you,” Longinus said, talking to Fahria’s boots.

She bent then, and placed her hand on Longinus’ cheek. She drew his gaze upward and when their eyes met, she smiled. She traced her fingers downward, then lingered on the white crisscrossed scar around Longinus’ neck.

“I remember when you received this,” she said so quietly her voice barely formed the words. I backed up until my backside came into contact with Cornelius’ desk, suddenly feeling as though I intruded on a very private meeting.

“If I am not mistaken,” Cornelius whispered. “She is the warrior lady who gave Longinus his life—time and again, I believe.” I looked at Cornelius questioningly. “He has spoken of it in passing over the years—though I learn most from the words he speaks in his dreams.

“As you know, the Valkyrie accompany the greatest of Midgard’s warriors directly to Valhalla. Time and again Longinus died in battle, under the worthiest of circumstances. But of course, he was forbidden to enter the great halls of eternal rest. Instead, she gave him back his life. Many, many times.”

We watched them in silence, observing the great care and tenderness shared between them. When Fahria finally straightened, and successfully drew Longinus to his feet, I stepped forward.

Fahria stood tall, her hand on the hilt of the sword at her side. Longinus stood straighter than I’d ever seen him. His whole countenance seemed aglow with strength and determination.

“Let us fight,” he said.

chapter forty-eight

Michael

We exited the cathedral and found James and Miri arguing outside the door.

Before I’d had even a moment to take in the scene, Miri had thrown herself into my embrace and wrapped her arms around my neck. Immediately, the tears claimed her.

“What is it?” I asked, stroking her back and sending a questioning look to James. He shook his head and looked at his boots.

“She—” James shook his head again, obviously failing to find the words he felt would explain the emotions that hung in the air like heavy rainclouds. “It’s Desi,” he said.

“She’s with Lucifer again. She—she’s
in charge
of an army,” Miri said in a high, choked voice.

James looked up then, looked at all of us. “I know it looks bad. But she’s not beyond reaching—ya know? We can’t just give up on her.”

Before he’d finished speaking, I had stepped forward and placed my hand on his shoulder. I knew what he and Desi had been to each other. I knew they had only clung to one another in a desperate attempt to deny the good in them. I knew this, and so I held no animosity for this boy.

“You see true,” I said.

I stepped past James and turned to the group. “I am glad you are all here,” I said, indicating Miri, who now stood next to Cornelius, and James who had crossed his arms and stood apart. “There is something you must know.”

I made sure Miri looked at me before I continued.

“You may not know, but the first time Desi and I met on the beach—the time when I was,” I choked on the words, had to take a moment to swallow my pride and try again. “When she and I, as Loki’s tool, first fought, I nicked her with my blade.”

Miri gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. James’ complexion grew darker.

“For days before she rescued me—and I pierced her with the spear—Loki whispered to her, luring her to him. He worked through the creature you know as Eleon. And when I—” I swallowed, unwilling to show anymore weakness. “When I speared her, it allowed Loki’s poison to spread. The devil has invaded Desi’s soul. He has wrapped his spirit around the piece of Asgard that lives there. But she is not lost to us.” I paused, letting my words work their way through the barrier of sorrow Miri had erected around her heart. “She wears a ring that makes such a thing possible.

“I understand you know this ring,” I said to Longinus.

He bowed his head. “I do. King Solomon thought he could use the good genii only, but found the evil genii were also bound to the ring.”

I nodded, indicating he should continue.

Longinus looked at Miri and James. “The genii are the goddess Hel’s own children. Good or bad, they are all the same—all serve their own selfish whims and that of their queen’s.”

“Loki has bound the ring,” I added. “I do not know what this means—whether Helena is working with him or no, it is uncertain. But this I do know:” I let my Halo gradually take form behind me. Cornelius’s eyes grew bright and James and Miri looked at me in awe.

With great care I drew my blade and watched while its shining surface took on the look of gold as it reflected my spirit.

“Desolation will not be harmed.” I took the time to look in each face. To read in their eyes their understanding of my promise. “She is to be stripped of the ring—but that is all. Am I understood?”

Everyone nodded, but Miri cried.

My heart broke for this child of heaven, and I stepped forward while allowing my Halo to take on its full glory. Gone were the others. Gone was the cathedral, the cemetery, all of it. There was only Miri and me. I took her hands in mine and met her gaze.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she fell into my arms before I voiced my thoughts.

“I’m sorry,” she choked out between her sobs. “But—I’ve lost so much.”

And oh, I knew it.

With the tip of my fingers under her chin I begged her to look at me. Her eyes shone like blue diamonds in a pool of tears.