Page 92 of Soul of Shadow
“Oh yes,” said Elias, noticing her alarm. “That’s what this chamber is. One of only a few places where one can travel from Asgard to the underworld, and vice versa.”
No, thought Charlie. This was worse than she could have imagined. Not only had she brought her friends and brother to face a mare and an enormous wolf beast, they were also standing right on Loki’s doorstep.
“You’re correct,” the Fenrir said at last. “I do have information on the location of the Seal. And I did make my home this cave with the intention of contacting Loki. Only, after a week of trying, I’m still no closer to figuring out how to reach him.” He turned his giant head to look over at the cavern’s entrance. “The creatures of the forest were of no help to me. They hid inside their rocks and trees, too terrified to even speak with me.” He spat on the floor, the saliva thick and dripping. “Pathetic things.”
“Well, they know what you’re after,” Elias said. “The destruction of their realm.”
“I am after the destruction of thegods,” the Fenrir snarled. “The same gods who tortured me, chained me to that rock, left me to suffer for all of eternity. The destruction of their puny realm is merely collateral damage.”
At last, Charlie managed to touch the knife’s blade to the cords wrapped around her wrists. Just as she was about to press it farther, making an actual incision in the shadows, she hesitated. Was this a good idea? She didn’t know exactly how Elias’s shadows worked. Would he feel the pain of one of thembeing sliced through? Even one that was fully detached from his body?
She could only hope the answer was no.
Breath held, she pressed the knife’s edge to the bonds, and—
Felt the cords pop loose.
She wanted to sag with relief.It worked. The Fenrir was right; Eliaswasn’tinvincible. Valkyrie steel could cut through his shadows. This was a huge revelation, and she wanted to celebrate it as such. But she couldn’t. Not yet. She waited, frozen, for Elias to whip around, having felt the knife’s incision.
One, one thousand.
Two, one thousand.
Three, one thousand …
“And just where do you plan to go once Asgard is destroyed?” Elias asked. “The dwarves’ realm? The elves’? These creatures fear you as greatly as the gods do. You really think they’ll protect you?”
He was still engaged in conversation with the Fenrir. He hadn’t felt a thing.
Thank every god in all eight realms.
“I am doing what is right for me,” the Fenrir said. “Revenge is what I seek, and Ragnarök is how I will obtain that revenge.”
“And what are you hoping to get in return?” Elias asked. “From your father, in exchange for the Seal’s location.”
“Protection,” the Fenrir said at once. “His assurance that the gods will never be able to entrap me again.”
Sophie was right. Charlie remembered the pouch of feathers still tucked into one of her pockets. If she could just take out Elias, she could offer the feathers to the Fenrir in exchange for everyone’s freedom.
It would work. It had to work.
As quietly as she could, Charlie inched her legs toward the hand holding the Valkyrie knife. If she could just free her legs and catch Elias by surprise…
“And if Loki gives you protection,” Elias asked, “you will cease your contact with Surtur? Cease trying to bring about the end of Asgard?”
The Fenrir bared his long, shining teeth. “Wolf’s honor.”
Liar, thought Charlie. She would never trust this beast. Not with anything. But the longer he kept Elias engaged, the more time she had to make her escape. Her knees were nearly close enough now, the shadowy cords only an inch away from the knife’s tip.
As Charlie slid the blade toward her knees, Elias studied the Fenrir, considering his promise. She wondered what he was thinking. Whether he truly couldn’t see the lie in the beast’s eyes, or if he was just pretending not to for the sake of some larger game.
The Valkyrie blade sliced into the first cord right as Elias nodded and said, “Very well.”
The Fenrir’s smile grew.
Elias pushed himself off the wall, skirted around Lou’s body, and stepped up onto the platform. At that height, he was nearly level with the chin of the Fenrir, his head well within chomping distance. He kept his eyes on the beast, watching for any sign of trickery.
With one last shift of her wrist, Charlie cut through the final cord around her legs.
