Page 131 of Fallen Gods
“Nonsense, it’s tradition!” He claps Aric on the back. Aric doesn’t so much as flinch, even though it had to have hurt. “Be sure to let the staff know to grab an extra costume for Rey. I’m thinking…” He tilts his head. “Valkyrie. After all, weren’t they soldiers for Odin?”
Chapter Sixty-Six
Rey
When I get back from Aric’s, I knock on Ziva’s door to make sure she got home safely last night, only to be greeted with an empty coffee mug and a glare. “Do not come back unless you fill this.” The door slams in my face.
“Glad you’re alive!” I call and decide maybe I need coffee, too. Coffee, and to think, and maybe a miracle. I chew my bottom lip and finally make the call I don’t want to make. Better I tell Father first so I have time to plan.
He picks up on the first ring.
“Daughter.” His voice is deep. “Do you have good news for me?”
It’s honestly no use lying. “He’ll be awakened tonight, like I promised.”
I wish I didn’t have to tell Odin, that we didn’t have to do this at all, but we don’t have a choice. We need to finish this, no matter what may happen. I need to hope for the best.
There’s that stupid word again.Hope.
“Good.” His voice is clipped. “Then I won’t have to kill Laufey. I do enjoy her company. It would be useless and tragic to spill her blood solely because you took too long.”
I stare out at campus as a chill washes down my spine. “What do you plan on doing first?”
“Where are you?”
Weird question. “In my dorm.”
“Go outside. I’ll wait.”
I don’t hesitate. I take the stairs down to the main lobby and walk outside. “Okay, now what?”
“Do you see the basalt arch?”
“Yes.”
“Imagine a bridge protruding from it, leading to a different realm, aperfectrealm without war or pain, with ultimate power, where there is no more fighting, where I’m not forced to use people you love against you. My plan, daughter, is to regain what is owed us and then pay back those who dared steal from us.”
“Why—” My voice cracks. “Why did they steal the hammer in the first place if such a utopia existed?”
I think of the paintings, of Laufey’s stories. Of Aric’s.
“Did Thor betray the Giants?” I ask.
He is quiet.
“Father, did Thor betray them first?”
“Believe me when I say he had no choice. And leave it at that.”
Oh my Gods, didwestart the war?
“Get Mjölnir before I lose patience. I’ll see you tonight for the Wild Hunt. Insulting that he would attempt to steal my party, so I should at least make an appearance. Besides, Laufey loves a party. She misses you so much; rarely does she sleep without crying. Her soul breaks knowing you’re in danger, but don’t worry, I tell her daily—you’d do anything to save her. Right?”
Tears clog my throat. “Right.”
“See you this evening. I think I’ll dress…like a God.”
I turn and walk back in the building. Of course, Reeve’s at the front door to witness my mental breakdown. I can’t handle any more stress.
