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Hel looked unimpressed at my offering. “Here are my terms,” I said. “You agree to release Baldur—complete with his body—and allow the two of us to leave this realm unharmed. That’s it. It’s an easy deal to make.”
“I have no use for a valknut,” Hel spat. “I do not need protection in my own realm.”
“What do you think allowed me to change into a serpent? This valknut is special. It will let you glamour yourself.” Her expression only moderately shifted. I always hoped for a stronger reaction from Hel, but it never came. “It was given to me by Odin, via his agent. It’s made of powerful white elf magic. I will only release it to you if you agree to my terms.”
Hel tried to act unaffected. “I need not make any deals with you,” she declared. “I can simply take what I want.”
I shook my head. “Not this time. Don’t you think Odin would put protections in place for his daughter and his son?” I nodded at Vali.
“Magic has no master,” Hel claimed.
“I know for a fact it does,” I said. “I am in possession of Gundren. The swords have chosen me. They will not work to the same effect for another.” I’d been told that multiple times. Did that same rule apply to the valknut? I had no idea, but it sounded good. “Things crafted for Odin are one of a kind. Maybe you’re too secluded down here to know better?” I was trying to get under her skin.
“I know all there is to know about magic.” Hel crossed her arms haughtily.
“Then you know I speak the truth,” I said. “Listen, I’m running out of time. Your brother’s life is in jeopardy. Your father ambushed us and handed him over to Asgard. They will kill him if I don’t return with Baldur. All you have to do is agree to my terms, and the jewel and the valknut are yours. It’s a fair trade.”
Hel was about to respond when Vali stepped forward. “If you do not wish for me to remain in Helheim, I will gladly relinquish the crown and leave, in exchange for you honoring Phoebe’s request,” he said. “My destiny is to avenge my brother’s death. The god of light doesn’t belong here. He was killed wrongfully by the Norn Verdandi. If you let them go, Phoebe will do her best to seek justice for your brother.” Vali added, his voice turning to stone, “If you do not comply willingly with releasing the god of light, I will see it done one way or another.”
I smiled, wanting to cheer. But I kept my comments to myself.
We stood, waiting for Hel to respond. Instead of addressing us directly, she strolled toward the river. “I fear no one and nothing.”
“You mistake us if you think our objective is to make you fear us,” I said. “We are not questioning your power. This is simply a business transaction. Baldur was wrongfully killed, as Vali stated. He deserves to go back to Asgard, just as your brother deserves a life of his own. Fen has paid a steep price for being the son of Loki, just as you have as his daughter. But maybe—just maybe—the jewel and the valknut will make your life a little more tolerable down here. But it’s a worthy trade.”
She whipped around, rolling toward me. “You know nothing about tolerable. I do not rule this place by choice.”
“I can relate. Nothing that has happened to me recently has been my choice either. I’ve been thrown into all of this against my will, just as you have been. If anyone had bothered to ask, I would’ve chosen to stay where I was on Midgard, oblivious and living my life in New York City like an average, human girl. But that’s not the life I’ve been granted.” I gazed directly into both her eyes. “You could’ve requested anything from your father in exchange for my life, but you asked Loki for the ability to glamour yourself. I am handing that ability to you. All you have to do is grant my wish, and by doing so, you will also help your brother.”
“And if I don’t grant you this favor?” she said.
I shrugged. “Then the ability to glamour yourself is lost forever, and I will find another way out of here, just as Vali will continue to avenge his brother’s wrongful death. As you’ve already seen, Helheim can’t contain me. By agreeing to this deal, you get everything you want.”
“You will be punished by the gods if you leave this realm,” she countered.
“I’ll take my chances,” I said. “Without Fen, I don’t really care what happens to me. There are a million places I could hide on Midgard alone. It wouldn’t be much of a life, constantly running, but it would be better than being stuck in this place with you.” I glanced around, curling my lip. I hadn’t meant it to come out so blasé, but I spoke the truth.
If Fen was killed, then I didn’t really care what happened to me.
Hel narrowed her eye. “I want the valknut and the stone.”
“Do you agree to my demands?” I asked.
She abruptly made her way to her throne. Only once she’d sat did she confirm, “I do.”
I had to be sure. “Swear it.”
“I swear that I will let you and Baldur leave this place.”
“Baldur in his full body, both of us unharmed,” I amended. “And there’s one other matter to discuss. I encountered a spirit in the work camp who doesn’t belong here. He’s a demigod named Rory. I want him to go free as well. It was Rory who retrieved the jewel when your trusted flunky Matus stole it from me. Come to think of it, I didn’t see Matus running here to give it to you. No, he kept it for himself. Rory deserves to be rewarded for his help.”
“You ask too much,” she snarled. “I do not give souls back.”
“You’re giving Baldur back,” I pointed out.
“He is a god,” she said. “They are entirely different.”
“Rory said he’s a demigod,” I insisted. “Surely that counts. He also said he doesn’t belong here. Exactly how many souls arrive here who don’t belong?”
“Baldur is the first,” she said.
She’d just admitted that the god of light was in the wrong place.
“It’s possible,” I started, “that Rory was sent here to serve the fated purpose of helping me escape and getting the jewel back. Now that he’s done his duty, he should be set free.” For the first time, Hel looked unsure, so I prodded, “None of the other souls in that place could interact directly with me. Rory seemed to be the only one who knew that Matus had stolen the jewel. The demigod was successful in getting it back. For that alone, he deserves a second chance. Ask your foreman, he will back me up.”
Without answering, Hel shot off two whistles in quick succession.
In less than a minute, Matus appeared.
When the spirit set eyes on me, he became enraged, gliding angrily toward me, hoping for a chance to get his misty fists around my neck once again.
“Stop,” Hel ordered. Matus stood down immediately, facing his leader. She gestured at my hand. I unfurled my fingers, exposing the red jewel nestled inside. “Did you acquire this jewel from the Valkyrie?”
When Matus didn’t respond immediately, Hel flicked her wrist.
The spirit began to scream in agony. She flicked it again, and he quieted. “I’ll only ask one more time,” Hel said. “Did you acquire this jewel from this Valkyrie?”
“Yes,” he admitted. “But I was going to give it to you. I swear!”
“Bring me the demigod soul Rory,” she ordered. Matus began to speak. She held up her hand. “Bring him to me now.”
Matus swooped away.
“You’re doing the right thing,” I said, encouraging her.
Hel snapped her fingers, and Baldur began to solidify.
Once the god of light was back in his body, he blinked, glancing around, slowly coming out of his haze. When he spotted me, he smiled. “Phoebe! What are you doing here?”
He didn’t remember our previous interaction.
I strode forward, only to receive a stern look from Hel, stopping me in my tracks. “I’m here to take you home,” I said. “And look who else is here.” I gestured to Vali, who had been standing silently next to me.
Baldur appeared genuinely happy to see Vali. He shifted on his throne, looking unsure if he could stand or not, leaning down to rub his legs. “Vali, it’s nice to see you,” Baldur said. “It’s been too long, Brother. What brings you here?”
Vali moved to stand before his brother, bowing his head. “I have come to take your place.”
Baldur’s head shot up, surprise on his face. “Oh, I can’t let you do that. What kind of brother would I be if I let you languish here instead of me? This is my destiny.” Baldur glanced over at Hel, visibly flinching.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Vali said. “Avenging your death and taking your place is my destiny. You’re not supposed to be here. I am.”
Before Baldur could protest again, I interjected, “It’s settled. Vali has always dreamed of this place, he came willingly, it is his choice to remain if Hel will have him. We don’t have time to argue. Fen is in trouble. We have to get back to Asgard.”
“I don’t understand.” Baldur appeared genuinely confused. “How can I leave this place?”
“I have made a deal with Hel,” I answered. “In exchange for our freedom, I’m gifting her with two treasured objects. We are waiting for another soul to join us.” I glanced in the direction Matus had left. “I hope he comes quickly. If Fen dies, all is lost.”
Hel curled her good lip.
I was not her favorite person by a long shot. I was saved from any more talk by the reemergence of Matus, trailed by Rory.
When the demigod arrived, Hel stood.
“Present yourself,” she ordered the spirit. He did as she asked, floating in front of her. Hel snapped her fingers, and Rory began to solidify.
He was young, with a mass of curly blond hair. His clothing resembled what I’d seen in Asgard. He was clearly strong and capable.
“Nephew!” Baldur exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Nephew?
“Answer my questions correctly, and you may leave this place,” Hel ordered. “If you are indeed a demigod related to the god of light, how did you find your way into Helheim instead of Valhalla?”
Rory shrugged. “How am I to know? One minute I was in the middle of sparring with some friends, the next thing I know, I’m on your river.”
“Who are your parents?” Hel asked.
I held my breath.
“My father is Thor, my mother a patron of Asgard.”
A child of Thor’s!
That meant Rory was my nephew as well—or half nephew—if there was such a thing. I had yet to meet Thor, but I was incredibly happy I was able to help out my nephew.
“How long have you been here?” Hel asked. It was clear she didn’t keep track of her list of residents.
“Three days,” he said.
“Can you feel your limbs?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Has that always been the case?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Hel flicked her gaze to mine. “To release all three of you will cost you more.”
“I don’t have more to give,” I said. “This is it.”
“The cost is more.” Hel wasn’t going to dicker with me, and I was running out of time.
“The only other things of value I have”—I withdrew Gram from my waistband—“are Odin’s dagger and Gundren on my back.”
“I have no need for your weapons,” she spat.
“Then I have nothing more to offer you.”
“I will take your blood as payment.”
Baldur began to protest as Vali came to stand beside me. “Sister, please don’t do such a thing,” Baldur urged. “If you give your blood, it will bind you to this place forever.”
“I’ve already given my blood to the river.” That hadn’t worked out too well for me, since I was pretty sure it couldn’t have held me under and kept me a prisoner if it hadn’t first had a taste of my blood. “But if it means we can get out of here, I’m willing to give more.” Hel looked satisfied with my answer, which made me a little queasy.
Seeing no other choice, I readied to walk to the river and give it my sacrifice.
Before I could take a step, Vali settled the crown on top of his head. “I forbid this,” he announced. “The price Phoebe has agreed to pay is enough. We will not further bind her to this place. When she dies, her destiny lies in Valhalla, where she will be reunited with her parents. I know this to be true, as I’ve seen it. Even if she gives her blood, and you try to tether her here, it will not work. Just as Rory is not bound here. We are in a time of upheaval, and great change is coming to the realms. We will honor our roles, give all the gods back, and await Ragnarok.”
I held my breath as I watched Hel’s reaction, astounded and proud of Vali’s audacity.
To my utter surprise, her head inclined once.
With the valknut in one hand and the jewel in the other, I took a tentative step forward. Baldur and Rory were already in their solid forms. I hoped that was all we needed to get back to Asgard.
Baldur came off his throne, a little wobbly, gesturing for Vali to take his place.
Once Vali was seated, the crown still perched on his head, Hel addressed me. “You may present your offering,” she ordered.
Rory stepped aside as I moved to place the items in her outstretched hand.
Almost immediately, her visage began to flicker, her rotting side seamlessly morphing to match the other side. I drew in a breath.
She was beautiful. Two matching eyes would’ve been a huge improvement, but the entire package together was striking. Lush jet-black hair cascaded over both shoulders. Dark eyelashes elongated, perfectly framing a set of clear blue eyes. Porcelain, unblemished skin covered her entire body. Pink, bowed lips curved in an upturned smile.
She took in my reaction hungrily. “I’ve been waiting for this for almost a millennium. Now go. Leave this place before I change my mind and decide to keep you here.”
Grateful, I bowed my head, Baldur and Rory beside me.
I couldn’t leave without giving my thanks to Vali, so I walked up to his throne and threw my arms around him. “I will be forever grateful to you,” I murmured into his ear. “I don’t know if we’ll ever see each other again, but please know that I will always hold you in my heart. Thank you for helping us. I will make sure that all of Asgard knows the great sacrifice you’ve made.”
Vali patted my shoulder. “Take care, Sister. I will always remember you, too. But please know that this is where I belong, here with my queen. It is no sacrifice. Thank you for finally granting me my destiny.”
Without glancing at Hel, I grabbed Baldur’s and Rory’s hands. They both felt warm and strong. I didn’t know where a portal was, but I wasn’t going to stick around here and wait to be told. Hel’s voice echoed after us. “The beasts will lead you out.”
And just like that, the room was full of her pets. En masse, they led us out.
Seconds later, we stood in front of a large wall. I glanced at Baldur and then at Rory. “I’ve only traveled with one other person.”
“I’ve done it with up to five of my friends at a time,” Rory boasted. “But one of them got stuck in the tree for a while. Three is totally doable.”
I nodded. “Once I place my hand on here, it will open in a matter of seconds, so hold on to my waist.” My goal was to make it inside the courtroom. I had no idea if that was possible, but that’s what I was shooting for.
We were going to be late, but hopefully not too late.