"I don't know," she answered. "Probably Torin."
"Remember, you owe me a kiss," Drew reminded her, but I didn't hear her response. I was hurrying across the parking lot separating the sports complex from the school building when she grabbed my arm and forced me to stop.
"What is it? You're beginning to scare me."
"My father has a brain tumor and... and... he doesn't have long to live."
She put her arms around me and instinctively, I stiffened. If she noticed she didn't show it. "When did you find out? How come you didn't tell me?"
"I found out two days ago." How could she look and act like the real Cora, yet be so evil?
"Do you want me to drive you home?" she asked.
Yeah, like I'd ever let her in my house again. I wiggled out of her embrace, and her arms fell to her side. "No. You don't need to do that."
Her eyes narrowed. "You know, don't you?"
"Know what?"
"The truth. Who I really am." She laughed. "You have no idea how often I wanted to do this." Her eyes changed and became blue. Her hair lightened as her features shifted as though a sculptor was remolding her skin and bone structure. In seconds, I was staring at Maliina. "Being a Norn has its perks. I can take any form I want, do whatever I want, and wreak havoc and get away with it. Fun, right? This is just the beginning."
"You bitch!" I fisted my hand and raised it, but she grabbed my wrist.
"Watch it. Eirik will not approve of you hurting his precious Cora." Her features changed until she looked like Cora again, complete with gray eyes.
Now I understood why I'd taken one look at Ingrid and a memory had flashed in my head. Cora's eyes were gray. Last night, they'd appeared blue. Maliina and Ingrid had the same color of eyes. "I don't care what Eirik-"
"You should. Here he comes."
I turned to see him, Andris, and Roger walking toward us.
"What's going on?" Eirik asked.
"Her dad has a brain tumor," Fake Cora said, ignoring the others and focusing on Eirik. "Did you know?"
"Yes." Eirik studied me. "Do you want to go home? I can drive you. The pep rally is over anyway, except for the stupid kissing booths. With that lot back there, any girl dumb enough to kiss them will probably end up with mono."
Andris laughed. He wouldn't be laughing once he knew about Maliina. "I don't want to go home. The game starts soon, and we'll get crappy seats if we leave. Andris, could I talk to you?"
"Oh come on. Not now. I'm so sorry about your dad, Raine." Fake Cora put her arms around me and hissed in my ear, "If you tell him who I am and screw up my plans, I'll make your life a nightmare. Don't worry about seats, guys," she added louder. "Drew made sure we got the front bleachers."
We walked as a group toward the field. A few times I tried to catch Andris' eye, but Maliina made sure I didn't get close to him.
CHAPTER 26. NORNS' AGENDA.
The Crusaders were killing us, but I had zero interest in the game. Being humiliated on our field wasn't something new, but as usual, it didn't dampen the cheerleaders' enthusiasm, the band's tempo, or the students' spirits. If I didn't want to kill a certain Norn, I would have soaked it all in, from the shirtless guys baring their painted pasty chests and bellies to the screamers in the back bleachers.
To my far left, Eirik, Andris, and Roger sat on the other side of Kicker and Maliina's new friends while I was stuck by her side. I'd tried to move away from her, so I could sit by Eirik and Andris, but she'd yanked my arm, almost pulling it from its socket.
I waited until the noise level went down before asking, "Which Norn pretended to be Cora's mother when I went to her house last week?"
She grinned. "That was all me. Brilliant, wasn't I? You texted me that you were coming, so I rushed to the farm and made sure her parents were out of the way. I met you outside as her mother, used a portal, and made it to her room before you got there."
"So you're an evil Norn working with good Norns now?" I asked.
"Norns are Norns, Raine. Yours, theirs, good, or bad are just semantics. We all have one purpose."
"Screwing with people's lives?"
She chuckled with glee. "No, keep the balance. Make sure the circle of life continues. We all can't live forever. The Norns you've dealt with guide Mortals, so you can live your charmed lives while we, their badass counterparts, do what we can to make your lives more, uh, interesting. Life without misfortune and pain is boring." She blew Drew a kiss then glanced toward Eirik to see if he was watching. He wasn't. "Is Andris really dating that boy?"
Scared of what she might do, I ignored her question. "What are you planning, Maliina?"
She laughed. "This is my first job as a Norn, and I'm going to make sure no one ever forgets."
I clenched my fist. "Is Eirik part of your first job? Is he going to die? Is that why you took my dagger?"
"You just left it there in your drawer. Such a powerful weapon." She cupped her mouth and yelled, "Go, Drew! Woo hoo!" Then she continued as though she never stopped, her eyes following the players. "I saw the dagger in your drawer two nights ago while you went to pay for pizza. I knew I had to take it before you did something stupid with it."
"I wasn't going to use it on Eirik," I retorted. "It was meant for you."
She smirked. "Then I'm happy I took it. It is one of the few weapons known to kill Valkyries, Norns, and gods. Very fascinating weapon." She jumped up and cheered with everyone again then sat. "As for Eirik," she added, "don't worry about him. No one is touching him tonight or any other night. He gets a free pass."
I didn't believe her. "What do you want with him then? Why are you always trying to make him jealous?"
She chuckled. "The Hub and Cliff House were nothing but test runs to see if my runes were working. You see, Eirik is the perfect pawn in the game between you and the Norns. Or should I say between you and anyone who wants you on their side?"
"Why would anyone want me?"
She studied me. "You can't be this nave. You must know why the Norns are after you."
"Yeah, I can stop them from doing their job," I said.
She laughed. "This is bigger than saving a few Mortals. You can see them, feel them, and probably hear them if you bothered to listen, and it's driving them crazy. Stupid crones."
"You don't seem bothered by it," I retorted.
"That's because I have a plan." She smirked again. "I don't plan to be one of them for long. I'm under the protection of someone much more powerful. That's why you couldn't see through my disguise or feel me. I don't plan to stick around so you can decide my fate either."
I shook my head. "What are you talking about? How am I going to decide your fate?"
"Not just mine, the Norns, the gods, the nine realms. You get to give the first signal that starts it all."
I stared at her, totally confused. "Start what?"
"You don't know anything, do you? Why do you think the Norns are so scared of you? You are a seeress, Raine. A powerful and unusual seeress. They even have a special name for you. You will be able to see the exact moment the battle of the gods begins. Whoever controls you will have an advantage over the others. Will it be the gods, the giants, Hel's army of murderous misfits, or the Norns? The Norns don't plan to leave things to fate. No, they intend to survive, continue running things when the new world begins, and you are going to help them."
A powerful seeress? I shook my head. "I don't believe anything you say."
"Why would I make up such an elaborate story?"
"Because you are an evil liar."
She laughed. "Oh, little, confused Mortal girl. Believe or don't believe. I don't care. The Norns own you. Without their protection, you'll not last a..." The rest of her words were swallowed by screaming students. We almost had a touchdown. The band started a tune. My mind went in circles, panic slamming through me. A powerful seeress who could foretell the day Ragnarok started? Me? No, I refused to believe it. Maliina was trying to manipulate me.
I thought I heard the sound of a Harley, but the music was too loud to tell for sure. I angled my head and listened. I couldn't hear anything, but I knew Torin was back. I felt him. My heart pounding, I started to get up.
Maliina's grip tightened on my arm, and she yelled in my ear, "SIT."
If she thought she'd stop me from going to the man I loved, she had another thing coming. I engaged strength and speed runes. Under my clothes, my skin felt like tiny electric currents skidded across it. I waited until tendrils appeared on the backs of my hands. Maliina didn't realize my intention until I gripped her arm and snapped it just above her wrist.
She smothered a cry. "How did you...?" She saw the runes on my hand. "You're not supposed to have those."
"You're not the only one with secrets, Maliina. And FYI, no one owns me." I jumped up and ran toward the stadium's parking. Behind me, a chant rose.
"Torin! Torin! Torin!"
The band started playing the "Hey Song."
I saw Torin as soon as I passed the bleachers. He was already in full football gear. Tears of relief rushed to my eyes. I ran, laughing and crying at the same time, and threw myself at him. He caught me, lifted me, and turned around, our lips meeting. Sensations coursed through me.
Someone yelled his name. Our lips reluctantly parted ways, and we turned. Several players waved him over.
"Go. I'm happy you're back, but they need you out there."
"I couldn't miss this for anything," he said, grinning, wiping my tears.
"You've already missed over half of it."
"I'm not talking about the game. Us. Our beginning. Be there when I walk off the field, Freckles." He stole another kiss then took off.
Still laughing, I stared after him. Our beginning. I loved that and refused to let Maliina's revelations bother me. I heard a chuckle and whipped around, expecting Maliina. It was Lavania.
"Thank you for bringing him back," I said.
"The game was important to you, and he was determined not to disappoint you. Have you learned anything new while we were gone?"
I wondered where to start. "First, I, uh, I want to apologize for not telling you someone was writing runes on Eirik. We just didn't know who to trust."
Her eyes narrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Torin hadn't told her? I quickly explained what I'd failed to tell them at Eirik's house and why, then what we'd learned about Cora and Maliina. "You were right not to trust her, and I'm sorry for thinking you hated her because she's human."
Lavania took my arm. "No need to apologize. Mistakes are part of learning, and trust must be earned. I hope you can now trust me with anything."
"I do."
"Good. I'm also going to trust you with information you can never share with anyone." She searched my face. "Eirik will be going home. No, don't shake your head. He'll be back whenever he can, but Asgard will be his home from now on."
I was going to lose Dad and Eirik. It was unfair. I fought tears. "How long do I have?"
"A couple of hours." She nudged me toward the bleachers, where the crowd was screaming. "You see, it's only a matter of time before his mother finds him."
"Who is she?"
She grimaced. "That is another piece of information you can never share with anyone. Torin already knows because he was there when I was given the news." She paused then whispered, "Eirik is Loki's grandson. Hel's son."
Vertigo hit me hard. I stopped walking, bent over at the waist, and lowered my head. This explained everything-his evil side, the scar on his back. Goddess Hel had a face that was half mummified. Her siblings, the other sons and daughters of Loki, preferred their animal forms. Poor Eirik. What a terrible lineage.
Lavania patted my back. "Come on. Pull yourself together. Eirik needs you to be strong."
I wiped my cheeks as I straightened. Lavania studied my face and shook her head. "This will not do." She pulled an artavus from under her dress and sketched something on my cheek then smiled. "There. Much better. Now chin up."
"There's something I need to tell you, too," I said, then just dived in, telling her everything Maliina had told me. Her eyes kept widening as I spoke. When I finished, her grip was like a vice around my hands.
"Oh, you poor child. I should have known this had something to do with Ragnarok. It is the one event the gods fear the most. No wonder Freya sent me to help you." Her grip tightened. "Look at me."
I stared at her helplessly.
"You are not to worry about a thing. The Norns will not win. You have the gods on your side. Remember that."
I nodded, feeling relieved. A little.
"Good. Let's go and deal with this insufferable little Norn."
Maliina was gone when we arrived back at the field.
"Where's Cora?" I asked Kicker.
"She just left." Her eyes didn't leave the players. "I don't know why she'd want to miss this. We only have five minutes to go."
"She's gone," I whispered to Lavania.
She patted my hand. "Don't worry, we'll find her."
Feeling the burden lifted off my shoulders, I pushed thoughts of Maliina aside and focused on cheering for Torin. The crowd rose on its feet and grew eerily quiet, their eyes on the players. The scoreboards showed that we were tied with the Crusaders, and they had the ball. I didn't understand football. All I knew was the line of scrimmage was closer to their goal. The Crusaders could win. Beat us on our own field. That would be beyond humiliating.
From the line of scrimmage, Torin stole the ball and took off, running and dodging the Crusaders' players, our defense paving the way for him. The whole stadium erupted. My parents were watching the game at home because they'd chosen not to come, but I wished they had. Torin was amazing, and the last play was the most memorable in football history. Well, my pitiful and short football watching history.
When Torin scored the last touchdown, the crowd went wild and there was a mass exodus from the bleachers as everyone ran onto the field. I cheated with runes and met Torin before the other players.
"You were awesome!" I yelled.