Immortals (Runes book 2) (43 page)

As soon as Andris drove up, I raced downstairs and reached their garage before he closed the door. He was with Roger. Ingrid was missing. “Hi, Roger. Andris, we need to talk.”

“Really? Now? I have plans.”

“This won’t take long.” I waited while he opened the door for Roger. Then we went to my house. He made a beeline for the wet bar and poured a drink. “Did you know that Torin was supposed to reap my father’s soul?”

His eyes narrowed. “Who told you that?”

“It doesn’t matter how I know. My father is dying, and Torin’s been helping him manage the pain. The Norns told me he’s supposed to have died months ago.”

His eyes narrowed. “When did you talk to the Norns?”

“This afternoon in the band room.”

His eyes narrowed. “They were—”

“There when you guys arrived, yes. I offered them a deal. Put my father’s destiny in my hands and I’d willingly become a Norn.”

“Hel’s Mist, Raine!”

“I’m not going to let my father die if I can stop it, Andris. What’s the point of learning about runes and having abilities when I can’t help the people I love?”

Andris sighed. “We are in the business of the dead, sweetheart, while you want to keep your father alive. The two don’t mix. As for the deal, it won’t work. You can’t become a Norn. Torin won’t let you.”

I knew that. “The Norns mentioned sending my father to Hel’s Hall. Dad is an athlete. He runs and bikes. He belongs in Valhalla, not some cold hall in the middle of a mist.”

Andris drained his drink. “I think that’s Torin’s plan.”

I cocked my brow. “Plan? What plan?”

“Torin wasn’t supposed to reap your father, Raine. When he arrived at the hospital in Costa Rica, your father was dying and a Grimnir was waiting to take his soul. A very ornery and pain-in-the-ass Grimnir named Echo. Torin made a deal with him. I don’t know the details, and when we spoke he didn’t know either because of his scrambled memories.”

“Then how did you find out about it?”

“Echo bragged about it to me, the ass-hat.” He grimaced. “You have to meet him to understand why I can’t stand him. I told Torin about it when we spoke about you and your lovey-dovey past. According to Echo, Torin brought your father home to give him more time with you and your mother, and more time to prepare. If he’d died at that hospital, he would have gone straight to Hel’s Hall. Now…” He grinned.

Everything fell into place. If Dad died running or biking, Torin could take his soul to Valhalla. That had been his plan. That wasn’t the case anymore. The Norns knew Dad was alive. Nausea churned my insides.

“They know,” I whispered.

“Who?”

“The Norns know my father is alive and that Torin helped him. What’s the punishment for a Valkyrie changing a destiny?”

Andris shook his head. “I don’t know, but we must tell Torin what’s going on as soon as he gets back. Hey,” he gripped my shoulders, “it’s not bad. You could always say
you
spared your father.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You saved the lives of seven swimmers and changed their destiny. The Norns didn’t put you on Hel duty. Instead they only want you more.”

“They erased Torin’s memories.”

He scoffed. “Big deal. He got them back. Something about you scares them, Raine. Use that to your advantage. Do what you do best. Stick it to them.”

Maybe Andris was onto something. I jumped up and hugged him. “Thank you.”

“I could get used to this,” he mumbled, squeezing me.

Laughing, I wiggled out of his arms and stepped back. I also reached a decision. As we walked to his house, I told him about the origins of Eirik’s runes. “Torin said to trust you. So if I need you, will you be there?”

Andris made a face. “What do you think? You want my cell phone number?”

“You have a cell phone?”

“Of course. I’m not barbaric like some people we know.” He recited his phone number and made me repeat it.

Back at home, I texted him and got a snarky response. I texted Eirik next then got busy cooking. Nothing complicated, just chicken stir-fry and rice. The look on Dad’s face when they came home was worth it. Dinner that night was a sober affair. Despite everything, I was still angry with Mom for keeping Dad’s condition a secret. She’d made him keep the secret from me.

“Do you want to bike on Saturday, Dad?” I asked before heading upstairs.

He and Mom exchanged a glance, and then he nodded. “Sure, pumpkin.”

Once again, I felt their stares as I left the kitchen. Upstairs, I got ready for bed, occasionally glancing at Torin’s window. I wish he could come back already. I hated going to bed not sure of what was going to happen tomorrow. Would the Norns come looking for me? Would Torin come back before they got to him? I missed him so much.

I was almost asleep when the portal opened and a warm breeze drifted into the room. Torin. I sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. Eirik. Disappointment washed over me.

“Don’t mind me,” he said.

Good Eirik—warm air. Evil Eirik—cold air. I’d have to remember that. “Where were you? I texted you about dinner.”

“I thought you might want to be alone with your parents. You know, to talk.”

I snorted. “What’s there to talk about? He’s dying, and she didn’t bother to tell me.”

“You’re angry with your mother?”

“What do you think?”

“That’s not fair.”

I pulled the covers over my head instead of answering him.

He yanked the covers down. “Who are you really angry with, Raine? Your father for becoming sick? Your mother for keeping his illness a secret? Torin for leaving when you need him the most? Or you for not noticing that your dad is sick?”

By the time he finished, I was crying again. I couldn’t come up with a snarky response or throw a pillow at him. He slid in beside me and, once again, held me while I cried. When I calmed down, I whispered, “All of the above.”

“I’m sorry for being brutally honest.”

“It’s okay.” I missed Torin’s arms. Eirik’s weren’t bad. They just weren’t Torin’s.

I fell into a fitful sleep. Hours later I shivered. Eirik. Had he turned evil again? I moved my arm to find him, but I was alone in bed. I lifted my head to check if he was in the pullout bed and then saw a movement from the corner of my eye. Eirik walked to the pullout bed and bent over. I smiled. He must have decided to move to his bed.

I opened my mouth to tell him goodnight, but the words froze in my throat. When had he changed into a hoodie? No, not a hoodie. A hooded robe, like a grim reaper’s. My stomach hollowed out as realization hit me, my heart pounding. This wasn’t a grim reaper. It was a Grimnir. And the only reason for a Grimnir to be in my house was to get my father’s soul. What was he doing in my room?

Anger slammed through me. Watching the Grimnir bend over Eirik, I carefully reached the bottom drawer where I’d hidden the dagger the Norns had given me. I opened it slowly and reached inside. My hand touched the bottom of the drawer.

The dagger was gone.

Starting to panic, I moved my fingers around, desperately searching for it. The Grimnir must have heard me because he froze. I froze too, heart pounding. Then a glow came from the bed. A familiar glow. The glow of fresh runes. I tried to use the glow to see his face, but because of the hood, I couldn’t. I saw the artavus in his hand. Why would a Grimnir etch runes on Eirik?

Instead of continuing to search for the dagger, I reached up and turned on the lights. Light flooded my room. I caught a glimpse of a face and blonde hair under the hood before the Grimnir leaped across the room at a super speed and disappeared through the mirror portal.

No, it couldn’t be.

I scrambled from my bed and knelt by Eirik’s side. The runes were gone, but his skin was still pink, showing the outline of the runes. As I watched, the pinkness disappeared, too. I stared at the mirror where the Grimnir had disappeared. Grief must be messing with my head because… I covered my mouth with trembling hands, reaction setting in.

There was no way the person poisoning Eirik and impersonating a Grimnir was Cora.

25.
 
WHY CORA?

“I got your texts,” Andris said walking toward me. “Ten of them. Where are we going at this ungodly hour?”

It was six thirty. First period didn’t start until seven forty. “To Cora’s. We’ll take my car.”

He didn’t move. “May I ask why we’re going to the home of the girl trying to turn your BFF into a monster?”

“I want to know who she’s working with.”

“Why? It doesn’t make her any less guilty.”

“I know. Let’s. Just. Go.”

He made a face. “Okay, but we’ll take the SUV.” He grabbed my backpack from the back of my car. I locked my car and followed him across the lawn. My parents were still asleep. Eirik had left early, but I hadn’t told him what I’d seen last night. He wouldn’t believe me. Cora could do no wrong in his eyes. If, and that was a big if, she was guilty, he’d need proof. I needed proof. I still couldn’t believe she was an Immortal. Was she always one or had Maliina done something to her and started the process? Were her parents Immortals, too?

I got in the front passenger seat and realized Ingrid was in the back.

“She knows everything,” Andris explained. “You can trust her.”

Looking into her eyes, a memory flitted through my head, but it disappeared before I could grasp it. I shook my head, trying to understand.

“Why are you shaking your head? You don’t trust me?” Ingrid asked, sounding insulted.

“No, that’s not it.”

“I am not my sister, Raine,” Ingrid said, her voice rising. “I’m not manipulative or mean, and I would never poison Eirik. And to clear the air, I don’t blame you for what happened to her. I might have at one time, but I don’t anymore. I know what she did to you and Cora, and how she manipulated Andris to turn me into an Immortal.”

I sighed. I had enough crap to deal with without this. “I didn’t
say
I don’t trust you, Ingrid. Okay?” I took a deep breath to calm down. There was no point taking out my frustration on her. I faced forward, more confused than last night. There was something about her and last night that was bugging me. When I glanced at Andris, he just shrugged.

He started the car and left the cul-de-sac. “Okay, start talking. What do you think is going on?”

“I don’t know what to think. Cora etched Eirik with new runes and moved like an Immortal, yet the Cora I know would never hurt Eirik. Not willingly anyway. Someone is making her do this.”

“Did you tell Eirik what you saw?” Andris asked.

“No way. We can’t tell him yet. One, he won’t believe us. Two, if he thinks someone is out to hurt Cora, he’ll get pissed, and when he’s pissed—”

“His dark side takes over,” Andris finished.

“The only way to prove she’s the one is catch her in the act. Can you sketch runes around my bedroom to trap her in case she comes back?”

“Sure. Although Lavania used powerful bind runes I’ve never seen before.”

“I remember them,” Ingrid said. “If you like, I can sketch them.”

I turned and smiled. “Thanks, Ingrid. That would helpful.”

“So why are we going to Cora’s place?” she asked.

“To watch and follow her. I’ve dealt with Norns before, and this has their names written all over it. They are determined to make me join them. If she’s working with them, we’ll have the proof we need to confront them.” And leverage in case they came after us.

“Would they poison Odin’s grandson to get to you?” Andris asked. “That’s pretty extreme.”

I shook my head. “Like I said, I don’t know what’s going on. All I know is Cora cannot be doing this on her own. Remember the dagger I told you guys the Norns tried to force me to take?”

“The one meant to kill Eirik when he changes?” Ingrid asked.

“Yes. I took it.”

“What? Why?” Andris and Ingrid asked at the same time.

“I did it to stop whoever is poisoning him, not to use it on Eirik. The Norns told me it could kill her. It’s missing. My room wasn’t ransacked by whoever stole it, which means the person knew exactly where to look. The Norns are the only ones who saw me put it away.” Thinking about the crones only pissed me off. Cora must have taken it last night. “They probably never meant for me to use it. I bet it was all part of an elaborate scam to manipulate me into joining them. ”

“How?” Ingrid asked.

“For me to help Eirik, I had to accept him as my responsibility. To do that his life had to be in danger.”

“You do know this is all just an assumption,” Andris said. “You still have to prove it.”

“Or we could just trap Cora and force her to confess. We’ll have what we need to get rid of the Norns once and for all. I’m just surprised they are willing to turn Eirik into a monster. He will live with those runes forever.”

“Who told you that?” Andris asked.

“The Norns. They said Eirik will always have them in him and he must learn to suppress their effect.” My gaze swung between Andris and Ingrid. “What if they lied?”

Silence followed as we digested that piece of information. If they’d lied, Eirik would be okay. Please, let Eirik be okay.

I gave Andris directions, until we entered the road leading to Cora’s farm. He pulled up under a tree where we had a clear view of the farmhouse and the barn. Cora’s car was missing from the front of the house. I was so hoping it would be where Ingrid could etch it with trap runes.

The more I thought about Cora, the angrier I became. The girl I’d known all these years couldn’t hurt Eirik or me. Assuming she hadn’t always been an Immortal. Was she a willing participant in all this or a helpless pawn? Would she be willing to help me? Surely, our friendship meant something to her.

“Change of plans, drive to the house,” I instructed Andris.

“Raine—”

“I’m going to talk to her.”

Andris turned and faced me. “What are you going to tell her?”

“I don’t know. I’ll wing it.”

His brow shot up. “Wing it? How? ‘Hey, Cora, I know you’re an evil Immortal, but since we’re BFFs help me stop three of the most powerful beings in the world from ruining my life.’ FYI, the Norns want you. The rest of us are expendable as far as they’re concerned. They can erase our memories and screw up our destinies without losing sleep as long as they get what they want. And that’s you. Think very carefully what you plan to say to their little pawn because they’ll know about it.”

I swallowed, hating the thought that I might put him and Ingrid in danger. “When we get there, stay in the car, so she doesn’t see you.”

Andris grimaced. “What? Do I look like a coward to you? Torin left me in charge, so wherever you go, I go.”

“Seriously?” I glanced at Ingrid.

“Don’t look at me,” she said, her lips twitching. “He’s an annoying mass of contradictions.”

He gunned the engine, drove down the narrow road, and parked in front of the house. The barn door opened before he switched off the engine and Cora’s mother stepped outside. As usual, she wore dungarees, galoshes, and a heavy jacket. From the two baskets on her arms, she’d been collection eggs from the chicken coop. I got out of the car and waved.

“Who’s that?” Ingrid asked. I hadn’t realized she was out of the car until she spoke.

“Stay in the car.” But I might as well have been talking to myself. She and Andris were right behind me as I went to meet Cora’s mother. “You need help with those?”

“No.” Her grip tightened on the baskets. “What are you doing here, Lorraine.”

Her voice was cold. She was usually so nice and warm. “I came to pick up Cora. You know, save her the drive to school. We have playoffs today.”

“She’s not ready to come back to school yet.” She eyed Andris and Ingrid coldly. “So you and your friends just get going.” She brushed past us.

I exchanged a bewildered look with Andris and Ingrid. “Mrs. Jemison—”

“Lorraine,” she snapped and turned. “It’s going to take Cora a long time to fully recover, and when she does, she will be home-schooled. I thought I explained it in the text message I sent you on Thursday night when we got home.” She shook her head, gray eyes narrowed. “I told James there was no point in telling you Cora was home, but he insisted. He sees the good in people where there is none.”

I swallowed, not understanding her animosity or what she was taking about. “I didn’t get a text from you, Mrs. Jemison. And Cora and I are friends.”

She sighed and tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowing. “Then where have you been since she was admitted at PMI. I know you had to deal with a lot after you lost your friends during that meet, but so did Cora. She had nightmares about seeing glowing people, you and your mother walking through walls. It’s taken her weeks to accept that what she saw was induced by grief—that it was not real.” She sighed. “It broke my heart that you never called to ask us how she was doing or whether she was allowed visitors when you used to be so close. In the last couple of weeks, she asked about you every time we went to visit her.”

Panic slamming through me, I tried to keep up with the information she was throwing at me. Providence Mental Institute, or PMI, was a psychiatric hospital in Salem. If Cora had been committed, who was impersonating her at school?

“I swear I didn’t know Cora was at PMI,” I said.

“Really? I find that very hard to believe. I don’t understand you kids. You live for the moment and value your social status more than being there for a friend.” She sighed. “Please, go to school, Lorraine. Cora needs to be surrounded by her family and those who care about her. I will not have her recovery jeopardized by anyone.” She marched past us to the house.

I stared after her, my throat tight. A feeling that we were being watched washed over me, and I glanced up at Cora’s bedroom window. I thought I saw a face, but I could have been mistaken. “Let’s go.”

“What is PMI?” Andris asked as we pulled away.

“Providence Mental Institute. Whoever is pretending to be Cora must be a Norn.”

“Norn?” Ingrid asked.

“Yes. They can impersonate people. Catie, Marj, and Jeannette do it all the time. Funny how I can sense them, yet I couldn’t sense the fake Cora. Maybe I was emotionally too close to her. She acted just like Cora, her mannerism, her likes, dislikes… everything.” I grinned. “But this is great. Cora didn’t try to hurt Eirik. All this time it was…” I covered my mouth. “Oh God.”

“I was wondering when it would hit her,” Ingrid murmured.

“Me too,” Andris said.

“I’m the worst friend ever. She was in a mental hospital, and I never visited her. She probably thought I’d abandoned her, that I didn’t care.” I stared out the window and fought tears. “No wonder her mother was so cold and mean. I let Cora down.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself,” Andris said.

“No, I should have known she wasn’t Cora. She was too happy when I came back from the cruise, and she used a curling iron on her hair. Cora would never do that to her hair. She uses rollers and a heating cap. A big fat red flag. She also hates greasy-haired Jaden Granger. Another red flag I ignored. And she would not prefer to hang out with Kicker and her group of friends instead of me. We’ve always been tight.” She’d skipped shopping with me for Halloween when she loved nothing better than to force me to buy inappropriate, skanky costumes. Then there was trick-or-treating, a tradition she, Eirik, and I never missed. And Cora would never deliberately make Eirik jealous. No, she would, because she took no crap from anyone. “I should have known.”

***

At school, Andris found a place to park, and we started for the school building.

“So, what are you going to do?” Ingrid asked.

 
“I’m going to stay glued to fake Cora, but we must set up a trap for her at my place. If she comes near Eirik again…” Then I remembered something. “There will be kissing booths in the gym during the pep rally. Keep an eye on Eirik, Andris. Whenever Cora flirts with guys, he goes ballistic. We don’t want a repeat of what happened at Cliff House or The Hub.”

“Where’s Torin?” someone yelled as soon as we entered the front hall. Like yesterday Andris said something rude in return. I tried to explain.

“Is it true he won’t play?” someone asked from my right.

“I got a tweet that he’s gone,” another one called out from behind us.