Runes: Immortals - Runes: Immortals Part 28
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Runes: Immortals Part 28

"Yes?"

"Prove it," Marj said.

I blinked at her. "How?"

"You have a few weeks, maybe a month before the darkness consumes him. If you fail, show that you care by giving him a quick death." She gripped my hand, pulled out the wrapped blade from inside her jacket, and placed it in my hand. "This is a special weapon known to destroy his kind. Use it."

His kind? I tried to pull my hand from hers, but her hold was firm. Torin! I glanced over my shoulder, but he was already moving toward us.

"Stay back, Valkyrie," Marj snarled, but her eyes didn't leave me. "Are you confident you can help him?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you afraid to take the artavus?" She leaned closer. "Your fear proves you're not as confident as you claim. That you know you will fail and you'll have to use the knife. That means you don't believe he's good."

"He. Is. Good."

"Then take it," Marj snapped, her eyes glowing.

"Stop pressuring her," Torin snarled.

"I warn you, Valkyrie," Marj snapped, her eyes still not leaving me. "You interfere one more time and you'll be sorry."

"Leave him alone." My stomach churned, my hatred toward her threatening to overwhelm me. "I don't need to prove anything to you."

"How little you know, you silly girl. You should have joined us weeks ago when I asked you." She smiled, and it was the coldest, meanest smile I'd ever seen. "You'd be more powerful and better equipped to deal with this now. Take it. You'll need it."

Torin growled. I looked over my shoulder, silently warning him to stay back.

"Don't look at him. He cannot help you make this choice. He's merely a Valkyrie, someone beneath you and unworthy of your attention. You were born to be a Norn, Lorraine, and Eirik is your first charge. You can control his destiny now. If you need our help..." Her voice trailed off, and she angled her head, something flashing in her eyes. Fear perhaps. The same cold, stifling sensation I'd felt last night at Cliff House crawled up my chest.

A loud crash came from the front of the store, followed by someone yelling, "That's what you get for cutting the line."

"I did not, you son of a b-"

A thump and then a scream split the air. More voices rose, thuds and screams echoing around the store. Torin and I looked at each other.

"Eirik," we said at the same time and started toward the front of the store.

"We have to get him out of here before things get worse," Torin said.

Frantically, we searched each aisle we passed. The wave of violence hadn't reached the back of the store, but not for long. "Where did you leave him?

"In the Jeep. I knocked him out. He's a lot stronger than I thought."

"Of course he is stronger," Marj said from behind us. "He's the spawn of darkness, bringing out the most vile traits in others. Wives will turn against husbands, children against their parents. Then the violence will spread to neighbors. Before you know it, the whole town will be reduced to chaos. Town to town, state to state, country to country..."

Will she ever shut up? The gruesome picture she painted played in my head. No wonder they were scared of Eirik. Everywhere we passed, people pounded or screamed at each other. Someone crashed into a shelf and sent books flying across our path.

"You don't need to tell me what movie to pick," a woman yelled to our right.

"I'm not watching a stupid chick flick just to please you," a man retorted.

"You're such a jerk." She slapped him, and he retaliated. I winced.

"Let's split up," I said. "We'll find him faster."

"No." Torin blocked my path. "Stay by me. He might infect you, or worse, hurt you if you approach him."

"Look at me, Torin. I'm not affected like the others. That must mean he can't. Besides, he's more likely to listen to me than anyone."

"Take this." Marj thrust the wrapped artavus into my hand. "You're going to need it if everything else fails."

"I told you, I don't-"

"Over here!" Catie yelled from the end of an aisle and waved frantically. Jeannette appeared beside her. They both looked scared.

I tried to push the weapon into Marj's hand, but she was gone. She reappeared by her friends. Then, like cowards, they disappeared. I stared at the dagger like it was a snake.

"I can't," I whispered.

"You won't need to." Torin took the dagger from my hand and put it somewhere inside his coat.

"No." I tugged at his arm. "We must throw it away. Destroy it."

"I will. You never have to see it again. Now let's go stop this madness."

My insides shriveled and grew cold. "I'm a Norn. No matter what I say or do, I'm one of them."

"No, you're not. You saved Eirik's life before, and you will do it again. Not as a Norn or even an Immortal, but as you, Lorraine Cooper. You don't need anyone's help or a stupid special artavus."

I ended the pity fest and nodded. Torin was right. I could do this. "Thank you."

He threw me a grin that was part amused, part annoyed. "For what? Stating the obvious? Move your sweet ass and stop him, because I'll have no problem using my artavus if he doesn't stop."

"You wouldn't dare." I tried to glare at him as we sprinted to where we last saw the Norns.

"Try me. I don't have time for his bipolar, deity, psycho crap."

We ducked flying CDs, DVDs, and books people were hurling at each other. "How can you be so nice one second and a total jerk the next?" I said through clenched teeth.

"Practice, Freckles. It's all part of what makes me irresistible."

We turned a corner and almost bumped into Eirik. He stood in the middle of the chaos, his eyes glazed and a smile of pure delight curling his lips.

Torin backed up. "Talk calmly to him while I come from the other side."

"Don't hurt him," I whispered.

"I won't, unless he does something stupid."

I glared at him, but he was already moving around a rack. I focused on Eirik. "Eirik?"

He glanced at me with unfocussed eyes.

"It's Raine."

"Raine," he repeated, tilting his head to the side as he studied me. His eyes glowed briefly.

I extended my hand toward him. "Yes, Raine. Come with me, Eirik. Let's go home."

"Home," he repeated, then his head whipped to the other side as though he'd sensed Torin's presence. His eyes narrowed. "Valkyrie," he snarled, and lunged for Torin.

The force of his attack threw them across the aisle and into a shelf. The shelf dragged across the tiled floor, wobbled, and tipped over, starting a domino effect. Shelves toppled over, trapping people underneath them, but the close proximity of the shelves saved them from being completely flattened. Around us, the people punching each other didn't slow down.

"Snap out of it, damn it!" Torin yelled. He had Eirik pinned to the floor face down with his arm twisted upwards in a weird arm lock. They both had runes on their faces and hands. Maybe I could reach Eirik while Torin held him immobile. I ran to their side.

"No, Raine. Stay back," Torin warned.

Ignoring him, I dropped to my knees and peered at Eirik's face. "Eirik? Can you hear me? It's Raine. Please, listen to my voice. Look at me." Our gazes connected, but there was no recognition in his. "I know you're in there, Eirik. Listen to my voice. Come back to me. Please."

Once again, his eyes glowed, and I was sure he recognized me. Then they glazed over again. He heaved, almost pushing Torin off him, and swung with his free hand. I tried to scramble out of the way, but I was too late. His arm connected with my side and sent me flying across the floor.

I wrapped my arms around my head, leaving my side at the mercy of the impact I knew was coming. My ribs connected with the edge of a shelf, and pain radiated through my body. A cry filled the air, and a roar echoed it. The next second, someone plucked me from the floor.

I opened my eyes and stared into Torin's burning eyes. "Did you hit your head again?"

"No. Eirik..."

"Screw him," he snarled. "I told you I won't put up with his bullshit. He hurt you."

"He didn't know what he was doing. Put me do-"

A loud squeak split the air, cutting me off, the sound mingling with the screams and the thumps, which were now fever pitch. Then the shelf I'd hit tipped over and knocked the one behind it. They both went down, merchandize flying every which way. The store looked like it had been bit by a tornado. I turned to find Eirik, but Torin pulled one of his runes-enhanced moves. One second, I was searching the wreckage; the next, he was carrying me through a portal on the glass window.

"No, we can't leave Eirik. He's still affecting people." I tried to wiggle out of Torin's arms, but his hold tightened, putting pressure on my bruised ribs. I smothered a cry. He cursed.

"I hurt you." He stopped, his eyes searching my face.

"No," I fibbed. "I told you to put me down back there."

"And I told you not to get too close to him." Carefully, he lowered me to the ground and touched my arm. "Your arm is bleeding. How are your ribs?"

"I can handle a few bruises, Torin. Eirik needs us."

"I've already taken care of him." He pushed back the sleeve of my jacket, a white artavus in his hand. "Now it's your turn. How come you never listen to me?"

I tried to yank my arm free from his grip, but the sudden movement sent a spasm of pain across my chest. I ground my teeth. "What do you mean you've 'taken care of him'? If you hurt him, I'll scalp you."

He chuckled. "You'll have to catch me first. If you haven't noticed, I'm a lot faster than you, novice."

"Not for long." I tensed and braced myself for the sting. As soon as the blade touched my skin, I felt the heat. It was as though energy shot from the artavus and into my skin. He etched the runes so fast the sting was barely there. The runes, pink and puffy, darkened and coiled, leaving my skin inked. Then the edges started to glow.

"Look at that." He studied his work. "Beautiful, aren't they?"

"You have no modesty whatsoever." They did look beautiful, the glow intensifying before fading away along with the pain on my arm and side. My gaze connected with Torin's. His eyes grew intense.

"I've runed you with my blade," he said.

Just like the first time. "Yes, you have. Is that something special?" Then I remembered why were in the parking lot. "Eirik."

Torin looked beyond my shoulders, the light in his eyes dimming. "There he is."

I whipped around. Eirik was coming toward us. He staggered a little like a drunk, and his expression looked like he'd killed someone. I started toward him.

"Does he know how lucky he is to have your love and selfless devotion?" I heard Torin say behind me. I stopped and stared at Torin with wide eyes, shocked by his words. He sounded sad.

"Raine," Eirik called.

My heart squeezed. Both men needed me, but for different reasons. Torin needed my love, which he had, even if he didn't know it. Eirik was in trouble and desperately needed my help. Not sure who needed me more, I wavered. A prickly feeling of being watched washed over me. I turned my head and found them, the three Norns. Anger slammed through me. Cowards.

"I'm so sorry, Raine," Eirik said, his voice filled with remorse. "I didn't mean to hit you."

"I know. You were, uh, in a trance. How did you snap out of it?"

He rubbed his jaw, glanced at Torin, and shrugged. "I heard you cry out. I don't know what's happening to me. That's the second blackout in twenty-four hours. Did you see the mess back there?" He pointed at the video store.

I glanced toward the store, and my gaze connected with the Norns again. I turned, taking the necessary steps that brought me to Torin's side. Reaching up, I cupped his face and kissed him.

"I love you, Torin St. James. But if you ever doubt my feelings or compare them with what I feel for anyone else, you'd better be as fast as you bragged because when I catch up with you, you'll be very sorry." While he stared at me like I'd sprouted a second head, I pulled the dagger from his inner pocket, turned, and marched to where the Norns stood. People poured out of the store, some apologizing, others voicing their shock at what they'd done, but I didn't let them slow me down. For once, the fear of the Norns was no longer there.

Marching straight to Marj, I stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes. "Stay away from me, my friends, and my family. You had your chance to protect Eirik, and failed. Despite all your powers, there's one thing you are incapable of feeling and giving, and that is love. I have plenty of it. For him. For Torin. For anyone I wish to love. Eirik is now under my protection, and he'll be just fine without your help or your stupid artavus." I pushed the dagger into Marj's hand, turned, and marched back toward Torin and Eirik.

"You gave her the blade?" I heard Catie ask, but I didn't look back. I hoped our paths never crossed again.

"Can I talk to them now?" Eirik's gaze was on the Norns.

"You don't want to deal with them. They're nothing but trouble. I'll tell you everything you need to know."

CHAPTER 16. HEARTBREAK.

Torin settled behind the wheel, a frown on his face. He'd had that expression since I came back from talking to the Norns.