Dead Radiance(56)

"Take him away, Fenrir." Odin's voice boomed, more suited to his giant presence than the old stooped man. "I will deal with him later." A deep sadness filled his eyes as son led father out of the gigantic hall.



"Thank you." Aidan whispered the words into my ear, color slowly returning to his pale face. "For forgiving me. For saving me."

My heart sang, joyful at the prospect of our future, at grabbing the time we had together with both hands. We'd fought so hard for this—for the chance to be together again.

"You're not so bad yourself." I smiled back at him.

He reached out a hand, tenderly tracing my cheek—and then he groaned. His warm fingers slipped from my face and his shoulders hunched over. Agony streaked across his stricken face as he slumped slowly to the floor. I tried to grab him. But his dead weight pulled me along and I ended up kneeling beside him, struggling to prop him up.

Freya!

I glared up at her, unable to hide my hatred. Had she tricked us into believing that Aidan was cured? But the furrows of concern on her face forced me to stop and think, to temper my fury.

She rushed forward. "Lay him down, let me check him," she said.

I tilted Aidan onto his back, taking his weight on my hands, to lay him gently on the ground. His pallor had worsened so quickly. I couldn't understand why just moments ago he'd seemed to be recovering. I parted his coat to free him of his sword—and let out a small cry of horror.

His simple white t-shirt glistened bright red, still wet with fresh blood.

Freya knelt beside us, lifting Aidan's sodden shirt to inspect a vicious open wound. "How old is this wound?" she asked.

I shook my head, unable to answer, my voice choked off by vicious fingers of terror.

"Speak, girl! This is no time for hysterics."

Freya's voice brought me back from my hell, and I cleared my throat. "He didn't have any such injury when we arrived. And the only fighting he did was with Loki."

As I spoke the trickster's name, I turned to the doorway, slowly replaying the fight. Loki'd had so many opportunities to stab Aidan. My gaze followed as Fen and Loki reached the threshold. Then the trickster turned and met my eyes, an evil, triumphant gleam sparkling within those bright green orbs. He smirked at me.

I shivered and broke the gaze.

Freya still sat bent over Aidan, eyes closed as if in deep meditation. I risked disturbing her. "Can you make him better?" I pleaded with her, praying she could heal his wounds, even while dread filled my veins and entwined my soul like vicious creeping vines.

Freya shook her head and sighed. "No. I can do nothing for him. The wound is not the problem. It is the poison in his wound that is killing him."

"Poison?" My voice shattered as I spoke the word.

Odin had moved to Aidan's side. "It is the poison of Skadi's venomous serpent," he explained. "Loki has used this venom before, using the very means of punishment the goddess Skadi used on him."

I knew the myth of Loki's punishment, but couldn't squeeze out a drop of sympathy for whatever agony he may have undergone. I stroked Aidan's hair, my voice sinking to a whisper as I asked, "So . . . Aidan will die?"

"It is possible. But—" Odin and Freya shared a glance. At her tiny nod, he continued. "There is one place where the poison will cease to work."

I grasped at the hope in his words. "Where? We have to take him there if it will save him."

I rose to my knees, reaching again for Aidan, but Freya held my arm and said, "I will take him. There is nothing you can do for him. But I shall try to find a cure."

"Where are you taking him? Can I come and see him?"

"I will take him with me to Hel. Hel is the only place in the world where any poison, not of my creation, becomes useless. You may visit, of course. But I fear you may be rather occupied." Freya rose slowly, golden silk shimmering with her movements.

My heart sank. I knew then that I wouldn't see Aidan for a while, that I wouldn't be able to make him better after all.

What a viciously beautiful irony.

We'd come all this way, succeeded in returning Brisingamen to Freya, even succeeded in getting Loki incarcerated again, and it was all for nothing. Aidan was still going to die. I wasn't sure I believed that Hel was the best place for him. But I had to trust Odin's advice. It didn't mean I had to trust Freya, though. Not by a long shot.

Aidan now lay so still I could have sworn he was dead. His skin had turned alabaster, his lips so blue they appeared black. I touched his cheek and was relieved to find it still held a hint of warmth. The muscles in my jaw tightened. I will save you, whatever it takes, I thought. Turning my head, I brushed a tear from my cheek and sat up, away from him, stiff-backed and stiff-lipped.

Freya held my gaze, a silent question simmering in the golden depths of her eyes. I nodded.

She leaned over Aidan, touched the tip of her finger to his skin. They both disappeared, the shapes of their bodies shimmering, smoky and ethereal, until they were gone and Odin and I were alone.

"He will be well, Brynhildr. Freya will find a way to heal him. Do not fear. And do not grieve. There is much to do, child. You will have need of your strength and your courage." Odin's voice, though soft, echoed around the hall, and within my head. I nodded, unable to speak. If I so much as opened my mouth I knew I'd burst into tears.

The god retreated into the shadows of the Hall. Hugin fluttered after Odin as he walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I sat motionless on the cool marble, admiring the pure white tiles, admiring the bright red of Aidan's blood where grotesque color marred pristine beauty. A wash of grief flowed through me, tears filling my eyes, blurring my vision. I raised my hand to wipe the rivulets of moisture from my eyes and cheeks.

A strange, sticky warmth kissed the soft skin of my face.

I froze, snatching my hand away, my throat cutting off a gasp as I stared at my quivering palms.

Aidan's blood soaked my hands; deepest ruby covered every inch of skin. And, as I studied Aidan's blood on my palms, the sound of Loki's laughter drifted toward me from the open doorway.



---THE END---