Son of Thunder (Heavenly War Series) (2 page)

Lightning flashed again and almost immediately the building shook as thunder crashed. Meghan jumped.

“That seemed close,” she said with a nervous chuckle. She sure hoped the electricity wouldn’t go out. There was a flashlight around somewhere, but at that moment couldn’t recall where. Then again, being caught in the dark with sexy Professor Thorson wouldn’t be the worst of fates.

Jord went suddenly stiff. There was a change in the air around her—a tingling on her skin, a sinking feeling. Something wasn’t right. Jord reached into his coat pocket as he moved a few steps toward one of the high windows.

“Please get behind me, Dr. Larson.” Alarm rang in his voice.

Before Meghan could move an explosion of wood splinters and glass shards rained into the room. She spun to see a huge figure squeezing its way through the shattered window. The accessioning room had a twelve-foot high ceiling, yet the man-like creature’s head almost touched it. Meghan stood frozen—her legs refusing to move. Was she dreaming? This couldn’t be real.

Jord pulled a jackknife from his pocket and she wondered what good such a small weapon would be against the hulking behemoth advancing on them?

However as Jord opened the knife, Meghan saw it begin to grow and expand. Within seconds the knife became a large sword. The blade reached over four-feet-long in only seconds. Even in her fear and confusion, the inquisitive side of Meghan’s mind noted the Nordic rune on the sword’s pommel. This had to be a dream.

With his other hand, Jord reached back and grabbed her upper arm, jarring her out of her trance. “Get behind me!” His voice was rough as he pulled her back, placing his body between her and the giant creature.

There was a litheness about him. His movements were fluid, his stance confident. The creature standing before Jord was a huge, hulk of a man. The giant’s thick beard bristled and its archaic-looking steel and leather armor creaked, as it brought to bear the huge two-headed battle axe it wielded. It was like something out of a fantasy.

“Son of Thunder,” its voice reverberated throughout the room—low, guttural, almost a growl. “We knew you would come.”

Jord raised his sword in readiness.

The giant chuckled.

“You are no longer in the safety of your university, Jord Thorson.”

The giant raised its axe to strike.

“And you are no longer in Jotunheim,” Jord answered as he danced back from the giant’s swing, then countered with a swipe of his sword.

“There is no need to endanger the mortal. Surrender yourself and the belt to me,” the giant grunted, batting aside the sword with its axe.

The mortal?

Now Meghan knew she was dreaming. She’d probably laid her head on her desk for just a moment and fallen asleep. It had been a long, trying day. Any moment now she’d wake up and the real Jord Thorson, the old, gray-haired scholar, would stop by and tell her the strange belt was all just a hoax. It was too bad, she was becoming quite fond of the Fabio-like, sword-wielding college professor she’d dreamed up.

“I don’t think so,” Fabio-Jord said. He charged at the giant. The big creature swung its axe, but Jord’s sword deflected the blow. Meghan watched in fascination as the man and the giant fought their battle with archaic weapons in the accessioning room of her museum.

Well, if this was all a dream, she might as well enjoy it. The way Jord’s body moved—fluidly dodging and striking at the giant. Watching this man move was a slice of sensual heaven.

The giant picked up a heavy bronze bust and threw it at Jord. The professor ducked just in time and the bust landed right at Meghan’s feet, so close she felt the shock wave and saw splinters fly.

Nice effect.
This was turning out to be one hell of a dream.

“Get out of here,” Jord shouted at her, as he swung his sword at the giant. The creature was surprising nimble for its size and dodged the blow with a shift to the side. Meghan backed away as the two continued to exchange blows.

A window shattered behind her and Meghan turned to see another of the giants squeezing through the opening. The creature surprised her, grabbing Meghan’s arm. The giant’s grip was strong and it hurt. Were dreams supposed to hurt?

As it squeezed, Meghan felt her fingers going numb. In her hand, quickly slipping from her tingling fingers, was the old belt—the strange artifact hunky-man Jord recognized as something. What had he called it?

“Megingjörð!” The giant’s yes widened in recognition. Again, that word. What could it mean? She’d have to Google it when she woke up, if she could figure out how to spell it.

The giant released her arm and grabbed for the belt as it fell toward the floor, but the thing evaded the grasping hand. Like an eel swimming through water the belt flew through the giant’s fingers back toward Meghan. The medallion led, and the leather strap flapped behind it like a tail. Meghan grabbed the belt and wrapped it around her waist, thinking she could probably tie it there quickly to free up both hands, but as she brought the strap around the medallion/buckle gathered in the leather tail and sealed itself around Meghan’s waist with a loud click.

The giant again grabbed Meghan’s arm. “Give it to me,” the monster demanded. She felt the grip tighten. This time it really hurt. The creature seemed determined to crush her arm. In desperation she jerked her arm to the side. The giant tried to keep its grasp but was pulled from its feet and flung across the room.

The creature flew into the Native American display Meghan had been working on. The glass display case shattered and the big creature crushed the wigwam and stretched deer hide. Weeks of work were destroyed in seconds. The giant lay slumped on top of the shattered display. It didn’t move.

Meghan’s mind, however, was elsewhere. How had she been able to throw such a huge creature? It must have weighed a ton.

She glanced down at the belt, and ran her still tingling hand over the medallion.

“The belt has certain properties . . .” she remembered Jord saying. Super strength?

Cool.

She’d never had a dream this vivid before in her life. This was kind of fun.

Meghan scanned around for Hunky Man. She wasn’t about to wake up before she got another gawk at him. He towered over the fallen form of the giant he’d been fighting. Those sexy, expressive eyes were so intense. His massive shoulders were heaving as he stood over the still body of the creature. Jord flexed his shoulders then leaned on his sword while catching his breath. She was just starting to really enjoy the view when the window behind him shattered and yet a third giant stumbled through the opening.

Seriously? Two wasn’t enough already?

This giant wielded a huge wooden club, which it swung to attack. Jord ducked the blow and the club smacked into another display. Two weeks of work and five irreplaceable artifacts lay shattered and strewn across the accessioning room floor.

Meghan lost it. “Son of a bitch!”

She reached down for the bronze bust the first giant had thrown, remembering how it had taken five of her staff just to slide the heavy thing across the floor. Now she hefted it with no problem and hurled it at the advancing giant. There was a crunching sound as the creature went down under the massive weight of the bust. It wouldn’t be getting back up.

Jord stared down at the prone creature, then back up at Meghan. “How did you . . .”

His eyes scanned to her waist. “Oh, that explains it.”

He sighed and shook his head. “Well played, Doctor Larson. Well played.”

Suddenly, every other window in the room shattered. Meghan could make out a half dozen more giants pulling themselves into the room. In the gloom behind, she heard dozens of guttural voices. Jord grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the doorway.

“More are coming,” he said. “We have to get out of here.”

Meghan shook off his grip.

“Back off, Fabio. No one messes with my museum . . . even when I’m dreaming.”

She picked up a heavy oak worktable and lobbed it at the closest giant. Her heart thundered. She could feel the adrenaline pumping through her system. She’d take them all on. Dream
—
Meghan was a kick-ass superhero.

The dreamy-eyed professor stepped suddenly in front of her, his warm hands clutching her arms. Would a kiss be out of line? This was, after all, her dream. She leaned in, but Jord shook her.

“Meghan, this is no dream. You’re awake and very much in danger. You need to come with me, right now.”

Duh! Hunky Man is the hero. If I want the kiss, I need to let him save me.

Jord grabbed her hand and pulled her with him as he ran out the doorway and through the museum toward the service entrance. She could hear the grunting voices and the heavy footsteps of the creatures behind her. Glass shattered and wood splintered as the creatures pushed aside displays and forced their way through too-small doorways. The giants were in close pursuit.

Meghan found herself caught up in the thrill of the adventure. If this had all been actually happening, of course, she’d have been pissed at the amount of damage the museum was sustaining.

As they ran, Meghan saw the sword in Jord’s hands begin to shrink. They reached the door just as the sword was once again a jackknife. Jord folded it up and shoved it into his coat pocket as he wrenched the door open.

Outside, a chilly breeze shot through the thin material of Meghan’s blouse as the heaviness of the coming storm swirled around her. Thunder rumbled. Lightning danced among the clouds. Her coat was back in her office on the second floor, but did that really matter in a dream?

“Here,” Jord said, wrapping his leather duster around her. How gallant her hero was! She had just time to push her arms through the sleeves before he was once again dragging her along.

Out on the street sat a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle and he pulled her to it.

“You’re kidding me,” she said. “It’s November!”

Now she began to wonder what kind of idiot she’d dreamed up.

“Sorry.” He took a helmet off the back of the seat and jammed it onto her head.

Jord kicked the starter and the big machine roared to life, just as a hoard of the giant creatures burst through the museum doorway.

“Get on and hold tight,” he shouted over the roar of the engine. She jumped onto the back, settling behind him.

Meghan threw her arms around Jord’s waist and held on for dear life. The streets were all but deserted as the big Harley roared off into the night. This was all getting just a little too bizarre.

Meghan had a fleeting thought it would be okay to wake up now.

The sky opened up and a drenching rain fell as Jord and Meghan raced through the night. Trees were bending to the fierce winds and the torrential downpour saturated the landscape around her. Meghan could see the rain through the windscreen of the motorcycle helmet, but somehow none of it hit her. Even when the motorcycle splashed through deep puddles in the road they managed to somehow stay dry. It was a cold November rain that could easily turn to sleet and snow if the temperature dipped a few degrees lower. In fact, snow was predicted in the next few days.

Somehow, in the heart of the raging storm, Meghan remained warm and dry. She had a feeling it was more than just the leather coat and motorcycle helmet. It was as if they rode in a protective bubble. Her hands could feel the material of Jord Thorson’s T-shirt, which also remained dry in the face of the driving rain around them. Through the thin material she could feel the tense, corded muscle of Jord’s abs. Despite her growing sense of concern, there was a small section of her mind that remained intrigued. This guy had to be ripped. There was nothing soft or flabby about the body she was holding on to.

It was so surreal. What she’d seen was just not possible. Giants did not just crash through windows and attack people. Pocket-knives did not become swords. She was not strong enough to lift that bronze bust. Yet it all seemed so real. This just didn’t feel like a dream. Certainly it was like no dream she’d ever had before.

Jord turned into the campus of the University of Minnesota. Under most circumstances Meghan enjoyed any opportunity to visit the school. Now, however, she was not so sure. Maybe she’d wake up soon and laugh at all the strangeness she’d dreamed up.

Jord pulled in and parked by Pillsbury Hall. The stately old building was one of the oldest on campus and while Meghan had always admired it from the outside, she’d never had the opportunity to enter it.

“Come on,” he said. “We should be safe here for a bit.”

He guided her into the building, down hallways and up a flight of steps to a door with his name on it. Above the doorway she noted the design carved in the mantle. A passerby would have thought it just a bit of student vandalism, but Meghan recognized it immediately. To prepare for her work at the museum, Meghan had studied Nordic history somewhat extensively.

“That’s a Nordic rune,” she said as Jord unlocked the door. “Dalecarlian in origin, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yes it is, Doctor Larson, and it’s a big part of why we’ll be much safer here.”

Jord’s outer office had a desk for his administrative assistant, a comfortable looking couch and some chairs where students could wait to meet with the professor. The inner office held a large oak desk, a second couch, and walls lined with bookcases.

He pointed to a second doorway in his office. “There’s a bathroom through there, if you’d like to freshen up.”

Meghan plopped down on the couch. “Right now I’d just like some answers.”

The adrenalin started to drain from her system and exhaustion threatened to overtake her, but her mind would not let her rest until she found out what was going on.

“Yeah, I imagine you would.”

Jord began to pace. It seemed to Meghan he was hesitant—trying to figure out how to start.

“Sorry about the motorcycle,” he began. “I really don’t like being enclosed in a car so I drive the Harley as long as I can in the fall.”

She met his gaze. “That’s probably not the first answer I was looking for. But I guess it’s a start.”

He struggled a bit more, then sighed. “Look. You’re going to find most of this unbelievable and most likely think I’m crazy, but you’re involved now, so you need to know what’s going on.”

Meghan nodded. A chill was creeping up her spine. If this wasn’t a dream, and she was beginning to suspect it wasn’t, then something was definitely out of sync somewhere.

The intensity in Jord’s eyes was still there, but she also saw some reticence. Somehow she knew, as strange as this night had been, things were about to get even stranger.

“Those creatures you saw were stone giants. How that many slipped into Midgaard without being detected is a complete mystery to me.”

It was probably her tiredness, but only one part of what Jord said made any sense to Meghan at all. “Midgaard?”

“Sorry.” He smiled sheepishly. “Earth . . . here. The mortal realm.”

He seemed so earnest. She would have thought him crazy if she hadn’t seen the giants with her own eyes. “Midgaard was the name given to Earth in old Norse mythology. Is that what you’re talking about?”

Jord was pacing now. “How much do you know of the old Nordic legends?”

Meghan could tell he was building up to something. “We regularly feature Nordic displays at the museum. I’ve read through some of the old mythology. Thor, Odin, Asgaard. I’m no expert though. What has mythology got to do with all this?”

Norse mythology had been her mother’s passion. Meghan enjoyed some of the stories, but her mother, right up to the end of her life, had devoured anything associated with Norse legend. Meghan still had her mother’s ratty, well-read copy of
the Prose Edda,
although she’d never sat down to actually read it.

“What if I told you those old myths are true—those people really exist?”

Where was Jord going with this? Meghan thought about what he’d said . . . and what he wasn’t saying.

“Most old legends have some basis in real events. It’s pretty much accepted there was a real king the Arthur legends are based around.”

Jord nodded, took a deep breath, started to speak, stopped, then started in again.

“The things you’ve seen . . . the things you are about to see . . . will seem fantastic, unbelievable. I would have preferred to try to protect you from them, but it appears Megingjörð has other plans.”

“Who or what is this Meg—Meging . . . whatever.” She just couldn’t get her tongue around the proper pronunciation.

“Megingjörð is an old Nordic word. Translated loosely it means ‘power belt’. You’re wearing Megingjörð.”

Meghan’s hand glided instantly to the old belt around her waist. She could almost feel it pulsing with some sort of energy.

“This thing? You said it had special properties.”

Jord nodded, his eyes drawing her in.

“And you asked if I meant it was magical.”

Meghan gazed deeply into Jord’s eyes, searching for any hint of dishonesty or lunacy. She saw none.

“It is magical. As I said earlier, it has been in my family for many years. My father would never voluntarily let it out of his sight. The belt belongs to him.”

He stopped pacing and confronted her. “Try to take it off.”

Meghan stood and tried once again to find a way to remove the belt. She could see no catch, no buckling mechanism. It was as if the belt were fused around her. She pulled on the metal, tugged on the leather, but it would not come apart. She tried to wiggle out of it, pushing it down, and though the belt fit comfortably, it gave her no slack and would not go over her hips.

You can stop any time. I’m not coming off, and he’s enjoying your wiggling far too much.

The voice spoke in her head. It was clear, distinct, and impossible to ignore. As if the voice filled the room. Jord had a strange smile on his face. She could tell he hadn’t heard the voice. She stopped her struggling and crossed her arms, glaring at him.

“It’s as I thought,” Jord said, ignoring her look. “The belt has chosen you. But why?”

We need you.

“I think the belt is talking to me.”

“Gee, it never spoke to me.” Sarcasm dripped from his words. He almost sounded hurt.

He’s not as pretty as you.

Meghan almost giggled.

We need to go see his mother.

It was the pinnacle of a most amazing night—a talking belt. Now Meghan was sure she was dreaming. She decided to just go with it and see where the dream led her.

“It says we need to see your mother.” As she considered Jord Thorson she wondered what his parents would look like. He was so gorgeous. She was really going to miss this sexy guy when she woke up.

He nodded. “We’ll go in the morning, after the storm lets up. Mom will put old Megingjörð in his place.”

I hardly think so. She likes me.

Jord went to a closet and pulled out a pillow and blanket, handing them to her. "Get some rest. You look about done in and I have a feeling we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Take the couch in here. I’ll take the one in the outer office. Goodnight.” Jord turned and strode from the room.

Meghan was completely exhausted. She lay down on the couch, wondering if she’d be able to sleep with so many questions still floating through her head. Her mind took a detour as drowsiness seeped in, centering on the sexy professor in the next room. She concluded the next time she dreamed up a guy that good looking . . . he’d be staying with her when she went to bed.

The haze of awakening lay heavy on Meghan as she snuggled into the warmth of the blanket. What a strange dream. The man with the long reddish-blond hair. The magic belt. Giants with big axes. Okay, no more ice cream before bed. But the man had been gorgeous. Yeah, she could dream about him again. That would be okay.

Then he was there, gently shaking her. “It’s almost light. We have to get going.”

Meghan opened her eyes and stared into the intense, gray eyes of Jord Thorson as the previous day rushed in on her.

It hadn’t been a dream.

He rose from where he’d been kneeling beside the couch. “I’ll give you some time to wake up. I’ve got a pot of coffee brewing in the other room and some breakfast on the way. There’s an extra toothbrush and some other toiletries in the bathroom. Help yourself to anything you need.”

He left her, closing the door to the outer office to give her some privacy. Meghan lay there for just a few moments to collect her thoughts . . . and what a strange collection of thoughts they were.

At last she rose. Whatever was going on, she might as well face it.

A new toothbrush, still wrapped in plastic, was laid out for her on the small sink in the bathroom. Rummaging around, she found toothpaste and antiperspirant. She wondered if Jord entertained people overnight in his office often. Well, his personal life was really none of her concern. She hurriedly pushed her hair into place and finished up. The smell of fresh coffee coming from the other room was tantalizing.

She entered the outer office just as Jord was pouring a cup of coffee. His back was to her, and Meghan couldn’t help but admire his broad shoulders and trim waist line. She couldn’t remember the last time she'd been alone in a room with a man that looked this good. Oh wait, never.

“How do you take your coffee?” His voice was deep, almost hypnotic.

“Just black is fine.”

He turned and offered her the steaming cup. Meghan was drawn into those intense, gray eyes again, wanting to melt into them. What was wrong with her? She hardly knew this man.

A knock came from the outer door.

“Ah, breakfast is here,” Jord said, opening the door.

A woman stood there holding a red and white bag with golden arches prominently displayed. The woman was tall, very blond, and extremely beautiful.

“More trouble, handsome?” she asked in a rich, full voice as she handed the bag to Jord.

“Come on in, Val.” Jord ushered the woman inside. “I want you to meet Doctor Meghan Larson.”

The tall woman looked Meghan up and down, sizing her up. It was clear Val didn’t like what she saw.

“Meghan,” Jord continued, “this is my friend Valerie Halla.”

The ice in Valerie’s gaze could freeze Hawaii.

“Hi,” Meghan said. The woman continued to glare at her without saying a word.

Jord was unwrapping and laying out a selection of fast-food breakfast sandwiches, while Valerie took up a position behind him. She was almost like a guard, on watch duty.

Then her eyes widened. “She’s wearing your father’s belt.”

“I know.” Jord took a bite from his chosen sandwich. “It’s okay. You can stand down.”

She never moved. Jord smiled and gave Meghan a sly wink as he polished off his first sandwich.

“We’ve got a lot of food here, Val. You want to join us?”

Val jerked, her frown intensifying. “You know I don’t eat that stuff. It was a trial just buying it for you.”

Valerie Halla appeared to be in top physical shape. Probably on some strict diet and exercise regime. She looked tough.

We could take her.

Meghan had almost forgotten about the belt. Somehow, in the morning light, the voice felt comforting.

Jord had his back to Val, but he made a waving motion with his left hand as he picked up a second sandwich with his right.

“If you’re going to be a stick-in-the-mud, you can leave. Meghan, eat up, we have a big day.”

Meghan’s stomach rumbled as she reached for one of the sandwiches.

“Bigger than you know,” Val shot back as she headed for the door. “Your grandfather wants to see you.”

Jord hastily swallowed the bite he’d been chewing.

“Well, we have to see mom first. Gramps will just have to wait.”

Val waved her hand dismissively as she left them. “Brash child.” She slammed the door.

“Don’t let Val’s manner put you off,” Jord said, after the door closed. “She’s great, but she tends to take my protection very seriously.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. “Is she your bodyguard?”

Jord chuckled. “Yes and no. It depends on who you ask.”

He continued to be evasive as they ate breakfast and in the end Meghan still had more questions than she had answers. A sword-wielding college professor with an Amazon bodyguard? Who was this man?