Son of Thunder (Heavenly War Series) (25 page)

“You should go home.” It was the third time Jord had said it to her in the past half hour.

“I’m not leaving.” Meghan had seen the line of Asgaardians shuffling toward Bifrost. There weren’t many, which was a surprise, but Meghan wasn’t about to join them. She’d die here with the rest of them. Her friends. Her family? Yeah, they felt like her family, whether they liked it or not.

“At least stay here.” They were in Jord’s family home. Meghan smiled. Her family home.

“And wait to be the last one slain? No thanks. I’ll be invisible, but I’ll be on that wall.”

She’d tried to give the necklace back to Sif, but the goddess wouldn’t have it.

A loud knocking at the door drew everyone’s attention. It was Heimdall with his son Jack. They motioned Jord over and a very excited conversation ensued. When it was finished Jord turned to his family, a big smile on his face.

“Everything just changed.”

Jord couldn’t believe it, yet he could feel the movement in the city behind him. He stood in front of the smashed north gate of Asgaard with his father, his grandfather, and Freyr.

Loki approached, under the white flag of truce. With him were Set, Cronus the Titan, and Quetzalcoatl.

“Surrender the city to us, whole and unspoiled, and you can all leave alive.” It was easy to see Loki already felt he’d won.

“So your wolves can hunt us down one by one?” Jord scoffed.

Quetzalcoatl hissed. “Take it or leave it, Norseman.”

Jord shook his head. “Thanks, I’ll pass.”

Jord heard the rustle of wings as the full contingent of valkyries, all two hundred sixty four of them, led by his sister, Thrud, landed in the field to his right. Their job was over now. No more would the valkyries gather the dead from battlefields for Odin’s hall. Heimdall’s horn could be sounded only once. Yet the valkyries still had a calling to aid Asgaard, and they would fight today with him.

Cronus laughed. “We will tear your city down, stone by stone.”

Behind the evil leaders their forces stood, thousands strong. The army of Asgaard on the walls behind him seemed paltry in comparison.

“I don’t think so, Titan.” The low voice came from behind Jord, and it made him smile.

The chariot of Ares came out of the gatehouse. On it the Greek God of War stood with Artemis, the huntress, at his side. Athena, in full battle armor sat astride a white Pegasus on his right, and Stavros on a pure black Pegasus was on his left. Behind them, streaming out of the gate, came a battalion of Cyclopes, armed and ready for war.

“More to kill?” Loki chuckled. “Thank you, Jord.”

“Indeed, there are more to kill.” Another voice from behind. A flight of a thousand eagles flew up over the walls of Asgaard, as Ahsonnutli, Airsekui, Geyaguga, and the rest of the Native American Alliance took their place next to the Asgaardians before the walls.

Izanagi lead the Far Eastern contingent, which included a few dragons of their own. “Starting here, starting now, we take back the heavens,” the Japanese god said.

Bumba, Shango, and a host of African gods came next, and after that, well, Jord just sort of lost track. When Heimdall told him Jack was being bombarded by requests from all the ousted gods, wanting to help Asgaard, he’d been overwhelmed with joy.

In the end, hundreds of gods, from all the surviving pantheons, and thousands of mythological creatures of all types, lined the walls and filled the battle plain of Asgaard.

Loki and the other evil leaders hastily backed away as the field in front of Asgaard filled. There’d even been a group of dwarves from Nidavellir, and Jord could see what looked like a missile launcher being set up on the eastern tower. The dwarves, and their wonderful creations, had been ignored by the gods for far too long, it seemed.

And with all that, Jord still had one last surprise up his sleeve. He tapped his earpiece. “Are you ready Captain McCleary,” he asked into his head set.

“On our way, Jord,” he heard in response.

Captain McCleary had been one of the mortals rescued in Utgard, and also happened to be an Air Force pilot. Jord didn’t ask how, but earlier that morning Captain McCleary, and five other Air Force officers managed to make off with six Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors, and the fighter jets were at this moment making their way up the rainbow bridge.

Jord glanced back over the thousands of troops ready to fight, ready to die, for a chance at freedom, redemption, and revenge.

“What are we waiting for Jord?” Ares asked.

“Not a thing,” Jord answered and lifted Mjolnir to the sky. Lightning flashed, and the battle for the heavens began.

Meghan stood in wonder and horror as the two great forces clashed in the field in front of her. Gods and creatures, most of them she’d never heard of or read about, used unbelievable weapons and powers. It was a war of epic proportions, but it was war all the same. People and creatures died on both sides.

Meghan watched in awe as the six fighter jets were joined by a group of large eagles, to attack the flight of dragons. Missiles launched and exploded amongst the dragons, just before the eagles dove in with their claws extended. Dragons dropped from the air like rain.

She saw Jord and Ares exchanging words above the battlefield in their chariots for just a moment, then Jord turned east, and Ares veered west, to direct their forces.

There was too much going on to keep track of it all, so Meghan contented herself with watching Jord all she could. He was down amongst the fiercest fighting most of the time, and Meghan’s heart leapt to her throat each time she lost sight of him. Usually it was a bolt of lightning that caught her eye and brought him back into her line of sight. But there was so much lightning flying on the battlefield it was hard to distinguish, at times, who was throwing it.

Stavros flew above the fight, launching bolt after bolt at the enemy. The young god was showing his mettle, and should have no problem impressing one of the many goddesses on the field with him, if he survived the battle.

Meghan saw Jord drop down into an incredibly nasty battle, and when his chariot rose again he had someone else with him. Jord flew toward the walls and landed right next to her and Sif.

“Damn it, Jord!” Thor was wiggling in his grasp, “Just put me on something and get me back out there.”

Jord set his father gently down on the floor. “Dad, you can’t even stand.” Jord threw down his backpack. He grabbed out a roll of bandages and tossed them to his mother.

Thor had a gaping wound on his left leg, and his right arm was hanging limply at his side.

“See what you can do with him, Mom.” Jord jumped back on his chariot. “Sit on him if you have to. I’ll leave the pack. There are more bandages in there if you need them.”

The chariot lifted off and flew back toward the battle.

Sif went to work on Thor, cleaning his wounds as best she could before wrapping bandages around it. “Quit wiggling, you old fool.” She held him down as she tied off the bandage.

“Damn that Quetzalcoatl!” Thor spat. “I had Loki in my sights, and would have reached him too, if that damn snake hadn’t interfered.”

Sif scrutinized his arm.

“It’s just numb.” Thor pushed her hands away. “One of those Middle Eastern who-da-whatzits cast something on it.”

Sif shook her head. “Well I don’t think it needs an apple, and I know Idun is saving those for the worst injuries. I wonder if they work on the other gods?”

“I think so.” Thor finally started to settle down. “I dragged Tangata-Manu in to her an hour ago, and it didn’t look like the old bird was gonna make it, but I saw him back out there fighting just a few minutes ago.”

Meghan watched the two of them banter for a bit and could only smile to herself. Then it occurred to her. Thor had been wrong when he’d talked to her in Utgard. It wasn’t her, Meghan, that would make Jord a hero, it was them. His family. All the love and support Sif and Thor gave Jord. They were his rock. They were his foundation. As long as he had them, Jord would keep on fighting. Keep on winning, even when the going got the toughest. It was his family who made Jord a hero.

It really didn’t matter that he didn’t love her. Jord was larger than life, larger than love. Meghan considered the battle below. He soared over it all. They would win. She knew they would. And it was Jord who would make that possible. It was he who’d pulled victory from defeat.

She heard what the other gods said as they marched up Bifrost into Asgaard earlier that morning. Jord had been working tirelessly to help so many of them over the past two hundred years. He was a hero, and that’s what heroes do. They help people who need help.

The battle continued to push away from the walls of Asgaard. Meghan could barely hear the sounds of the battle, everything was so distant. It got quiet, peaceful, on the wall, and Meghan took a deep breath, breathing in the crisp, fresh air.

Then she heard the flapping of wings above her. A shadow passed over her. A sudden fear gripped her.

“Meghan run!” Sif’s whispered command took her by surprise. She turned just in time to see the great raven land and became the evil that was Loki.

Sif was struggling to stand and draw her sword, but Loki was faster. With one swift motion the dagger he held slipped past Sif’s defenses and into her stomach.

“Your son has robbed me of my victory.” Loki’s eyes blazed with hatred as the goddess slipped to the floor, her life’s blood draining from the wound. “It is only fair I take something from him as well.”

“Loki, you bastard.” Thor was struggling to stand, but there was no strength in him. His sword arm still hung limp and powerless at his side.

“Goodbye, Thor.” Loki slammed the dagger into Thor’s chest. “You’ve been good to me, in your way. All my best stories involved my conflict with you. But I’ve a new foe now. I no longer need you.”

“No!” Meghan cried out, pulling Prudr and swinging with all her might. Loki fell back in surprise.

“An invisible foe? Ah, the mortal.”

Loki backed away, glancing this way and that. Meghan charged, swinging Prudr and striking at the evil god again and again.

But Loki was only laughing. “I don’t need to kill you. Your fate is already sealed. The golden city is being saved.”

In a flash he was the raven again, flying up and out of her reach. Back toward the battle he flew, but Meghan didn’t watch.

“Sif. Thor.” She knelt by the fallen gods. She saw Sif reach out with the last of her strength, and Thor grasped her hand with the one good hand he had left to him.

Tears came to her eyes, and her gut wrenched at the loss these two would bring to her, to Jord, to all of Asgaard.

Then through her tears she saw the backpack. Jord’s pack, where he’d dropped it. The front pocket still bulged.

There were no gloves around, nothing to protect her hands. And there was no time to search for something. It didn’t matter, she told herself. Jord didn’t love her—didn’t need her. But he did need them. He needed his family.

She didn’t hesitate, but went straight to the pack and unzipped the front pocket. There lay the golden apple. As her hand closed around it she felt the chill in her fingers. She didn’t have a knife, so she dug her fingers into the moist fruit, gouging out a chunk.

She was closest to Thor, so she ran to him and shoved the chunk of apple into his mouth. “Chew, damn it!” Thor’s eyes opened.

“Meghan, no,” Thor whispered, but he chewed on the apple bit.

Meghan slid over to Sif, pulling the goddess’s head into her lap. The feeling was almost gone in her hands as she pulled out another chunk of the apple and slid it into Sif’s mouth.

At first there was no movement, the tears welled up on Meghan’s eyes. “Live, Sif. You have to live!” The chill reached her elbows. As the last feeling in her hands left, Meghan deactivated and took off the necklace, putting it around the goddess’s neck.

“I guess I won’t need this anymore.” A tear dropped onto Sif’s forehead. Then she saw Sif’s jaw move, just slightly at first, but as she chewed the wound in her stomach began to close.

“Yes!” Meghan smiled through her tears. Her arms were now all but useless as she felt the chill spread into her shoulders.

Thor was struggling to his feet just as she felt the strength flow out of her and began to slump. The old god knelt beside her, supporting her. There were tears in his eyes, and he was shaking his head.

“A life freely given.” It was all she had strength to say before the darkness closed around her.

Jord soared over the battle. They were winning. Pushing the evil gods back away from Asgaard. Already some were fleeing toward the portal. Jord spent most of his time now defending and protecting the troops on the ground. So many of the gods and creatures below wanted vengeance for what the evil gods had done to them and their pantheons. Vengeance was a powerful force, to be sure, but it did you no good if it got you killed.

There’d been too many losses already, and it didn’t make sense to lose anyone else now that victory was assured.

“Captain McCleary,” Jord said into his headset. “You can report back to your base, and thank you.”

“Roger that, Jord. If you ever need air support again, just call.”

Five of the six F-22’s survived the battle, and as the jets roared away, Jord took a moment to ponder. Midgaard advanced so fast. While the ageless Asgaardians were still using swords and hammers, the mortals had jets, missiles, and guns.

Well, that would change now. New pantheons would be built. Asgaard would be rebuilt. No, what had Athena said? Built anew. The younger gods would be included in decision-making, and new ideas would be incorporated.

Jord scanned the battlefield below him. All through the fight Loki eluded him. Where could the evil one have gone?

The red-brown fur of the great wolf caught his attention. Fenrir. That was another one Jord wanted to deal with personally.

Jord directed the goats to dive as lightning shot from Mjolnir directly at the great wolf. Fenrir roared as the lightning struck. Knowing the goats would stay close, Jord jumped from the back of the chariot to land directly in front of the great beast.

“Thorson!” Fenrir growled at Jord, The wolf’s great jaws snapping. Jord just had time to launch the hammer toward Fenrir, then roll to the side to avoid the gaping maw. A swipe of the great wolf’s claws caught him, gashing his left arm and throwing him back.

Blood flowed freely down his arm, but Jord never felt any pain, caught up in the fury of the battle. Extending his right hand he pushed with the wind, aiming a strong gust at the beast’s eyes, as Mjolnir returned to his grasp. Fenrir’s eyes glaze over and the beast began to blink fiercely to clear its vision.

“Death, Fenrir. Do you feel it? For all those you’ve sent to her, has your sister prepared a special place for you in Hel?”

Fenrir roared, and snapped at the air, but with his vision clouded he couldn’t find Jord. As the jaws opened Jord threw Mjolnir right into the gaping maw of the wolf. He saw the beast swallow the hammer and then, with all his might, he willed Mjolnir back to his hand.

The great hammer burst from the stomach of Fenrir. Thunder rumbled and lightning struck the beast, singeing its fur and driving the beast to its knees. Fenrir fell, mortally wounded. His black blood staining the ground as the light went out in the evil god’s eyes.

“So you’ve killed my son.”

Loki’s voice was in his mind. High above him he saw the raven flying toward him from the south, from Asgaard.

“But even in defeat, I win. For as you’ve decreased my family by one, I have decreased yours by two.”

Jord’s gaze pivoted toward the walls of Asgaard, to the place he’d left his father with his mother.

“Another day, Thunder God. Another day.”

Jord saw the raven fly off toward the portal. But his mind was on his parents. Calling for his chariot, he leapt aboard, and flew as fast as he could to the walls of Asgaard.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his parents. His mother was seated on the ground, his father kneeling beside her. Kneeling over something . . . someone. As he came closer he realized his mother had someone’s head in her lap. She was smoothing back the thick, brunette hair and crying. His father was holding the hand of the person, a woman. His father was also crying. His father never cried.

He landed as fast as he could and rushed to his parents. He knew. Somehow he knew before he even saw her.

“No!” It couldn’t be. He’d done everything he could to save her. She had to be alive. He needed her alive. He couldn’t continue without her.

“She’s gone, Jord.” His father sniffed. “She saved us, but we couldn’t save her.”

“Damn them!” His cry echoed in the skies as pain and rage consumed him. Dark clouds plunged the lands around into sudden darkness. “Damn them all. Damn all the gods, and powers beyond gods, who play with the lives of mortals. Damn prophecies and fates, and all the barriers that stand in the way of love.”

On the battlefield below the combatants felt the wind change, as the clouds above darkened the skies and rolled with thunder.

A cry rang out. A primal, gut-wrenching, howl carried across the battlefield. Jord leapt once again into the chariot, commanding the goats to fly toward the battle, taking the power of the storm with him.

Jord poured his anguish and sorrow, his passion and even his own life-force, into the storm. His life held no meaning. If she couldn’t be with him in life, he would join her in death, and he’d be taking as many of the enemy with him as he could.

He flew toward the back of the enemy lines, where the most deadly of the evil gods stood protected by their armies. While still high above the enemy he dove from the chariot, commanding it back to his father. Jord would have no more need of it, he wouldn’t be returning from this battlefield.

Jord rode the wind, around him hail formed in the chill, and he sculpted the ice into long, sharp daggers. He shot lightning ahead of him. As he fell, death fell with him from the sky.

He struck the ground leaving a crater, and a circle of dead gods. But he rose in the midst of the dead—an avenger demanding justice. He flung Mjolnir striking the nearest enemy. Behind the hammer came the wind and the hail of the great storm.

“Death to you all.” Jord screamed his rage as tears flooded down his face. The skies opened, and lightning pounded the earth.

The enemy turned and fled the field, toward the portal. Many didn’t make it. Of those that did escape, none were left unscathed. The fury of the storm covered the entire northern sky, and continued to rain down until the last of them disappeared and the portal ceased to be.

He’d drained himself. But what did it matter? There was nothing for him here now. As the darkness closed in around him he thought of Meghan. Her lifeless body lay on the walls of Asgaard. The golden city had been saved, but it would never shine for Jord again. The light in his life had been extinguished. He embraced the darkness and the chill of death.