Maera chuckled. “Stubborn like her ma. Now I need to get everything ready for her. Her chambers, her…”
I tuned out their conversation and focused on my surroundings. The guards appeared to have doubled. Dressed in black pants, shirts, tabards, and cloaks, except for the green band around the sleeves of their shirts, they looked fierce. Most were taller than average, and none bothered to hide their interest as they stared at me. Weren’t guards supposed to be stiff or at least pretend not to see people? These might not smile with their mouths, but their eyes said they were happy to see me.
Starting to sweat, I removed my gloves and shrugged off my coat. The room was interesting. It had giant black slate pillars with snakes, dragons, and wolves etched along the column. The top of the pillar continued to the ceiling, the details breathtaking. The floor was also made of black slate with shades of gray striations. The stained glass windows, depicting various battle scenes with men in armor, giants, wolves, snakes, and dragons were done in black and shades of gray, too. Because the windows were closed, beautiful sconces on the walls bathed the room with golden light. There was an understated elegance to the décor. Despite the lack of color, the place was warm and welcoming.
I stopped when I saw the throne. The seat was wide and black with snake carvings along the arms and the high back. Semicircular steps led to it. Several black cushions and pillows covered the seat. It could seat more than one person. To the right was a smaller chair that was not as elaborately decorated. Did Baldur share the throne with the goddess, or did he sit on the smaller chair?
I still didn’t know what to call them. God and goddess seemed stiff and impersonal. Hel and Baldur were too presumptuous. And Mom and Dad were too personal. I already had those on Earth.
Maybe I should take my cues from Eirik. Poor Eirik. What he must be going through. I glanced back and realized I’d walked a lot farther than I’d thought. Echo and Maera were now talking to a male Dwarf with red hair and a bulbous nose. He grinned when our eyes met. The warm welcome from the staff made me feel a little less apprehensive. Were my parents going to be happy to see me, too?
I caught the eye of the nearest guard. I hoped they spoke English, too. “Where’s Eirik?”
“The Shining Star’s quarters are this way, young goddess,” he said and pointed to a hallway.
“Can you take me to him, please?”
He bowed. “It would be my honor.”
I followed him into a hallway with colorful murals and paintings of more battle scenes with giants, Dwarves, and Asgardians. I assumed the fighters with flowing robes were Elves. We reached the end of the hallway and entered a rotunda with huge marble statues and a gorgeous mural on the high ceiling. There were more guards in the room. Unlike the others, they wore green tabards and the inner lining of their cloaks was also green. They didn’t smile, and the confusion on their faces when they saw me said they hadn’t heard of my arrival. But something about me had them bowing.
“Don’t bow, please.”
“There you are,” Echo said from behind me, and I turned. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“The guard is taking me to Eirik. Is everything okay?”
“Maera wanted to know what you like to eat and drink, whether to put you in your parents’ quarters”—he indicated the widest hallway off the rotunda—“or your personal quarters, which are not ready, or Eirik’s.” He indicated the second hallway. Both had guards.
“Yours,” I said, and he scowled. Jeez, he needed to lighten up. “I don’t care where I sleep, Echo.”
“We need to wait for Maera and your parents in the Throne Hall.”
“No. I want to see Celestia first,” I said and started toward the hallway he’d indicated led to Eirik’s quarters. The guards stepped aside and bowed, letting me pass.
“Damn it, Cora. Stop.”
“We are already here, Echo. She would not be in a coma if it weren’t for me. I don’t care what anyone says. This happened because of Dev, and it’s my fault.”
“Tell them to let me pass,” he said, and I glanced back to find the guards blocking his path. Echo looked thoroughly annoyed.
Surprised by the guards’ actions, I walked back. “Let him through, please.” The guards didn’t hesitate. “Don’t ever do that to him. He is with me.” Confusion flashed in their eyes. Because of Echo’s stupid stance, I couldn’t tell them he was my boyfriend. “He is my personal bodyguard.” They frowned. Bet that confused them even more. They were the guards while Echo was a Grimnir. Frustrated, I added, “Don’t ever stop him when he comes looking for me, please.”
“These quarters are private to your family. For security purposes, the guards have every right to stop anyone from entering them,” Echo cut in before the guards could respond.
“I don’t care. You get a free pass.” I swept the guards’ faces. “He is my…” Soul mate. Love of my life. The other half of me who was refusing to claim me. “Friend,” I finished. Thoroughly annoyed I had to introduce him as a friend, I whipped around and marched to Eirik’s quarters. The door was slightly open.
“Cora!”
“Don’t! I hate that I can’t claim you, so don’t try to placate me with words. Allow me the right to be angry and frustrated with the situation.” I glanced over my shoulder at him and wished I hadn’t. There was so much frustration in his eyes I knew this wasn’t easy for him either.
Sighing, I pushed the door open and entered a room with another beautifully done mural on its walls. There was something familiar about the landscape. On the other side was a sunset over the ocean, the waves and sand on the beach so detailed I expected the waves to actually sweep into the room.
An arched doorway led to a dining room, and the murals covered several doors, seamlessly blending them with the wall. I only realized they were doors when I noticed the knobs. One was partially open, and a voice filtered through it. Echo indicated it with a nod, and I headed that way. No one responded when I knocked, so I pushed it open. The room was huge, and ahead was a giant, canopy bed. Celestia lay in the middle, the covers pulled up to her neck.
She looked so fragile and just as pale as the last time I’d seen her. Guilt weighed heavily over my heart. Eirik sat on a chair by the bed, his eyes locked on her face. It was his voice I’d heard. He was still talking to her but stopped when he realized they were not alone and looked up. My chest squeezed, my guilt shooting through the roof. His eyes were glazed as though he was in pain, and he must not have shaved since Sunday because he had a scruffy beard.
“Cora? What are you doing here?” He sounded like crap, but at least he was coherent.
I moved closer. “I’m here to help. How is she doing?”
“The same. Was I supposed to pick you up, or did I already do it and just forgot?”
“It’s okay. You are needed here.” I touched his hair and immediately moved to his shoulder. His hair was greasy, and he smelled awful. When was the last time he’d bathed? I moved to the other side of the bed and felt Celestia’s forehead. She was cool to the touch. Should they take her to the hospital? Was she getting enough fluids here?
“Eirik?”
“Father and Mother will be happy to see you,” he mumbled without looking up. He went back to what he’d been doing—watching Celestia. “Stj?rna mín,” he whispered, reaching out to touch her cheek. “Come back to me.”
Listening to him was heartbreaking. I sat on the lounge on the other side of the bed and took Celestia’s hand. I’d been around old and sickly people at the nursing home and could tell when someone was slipping away. Celestia was, and it was my fault. Her breathing was shallow and her heartbeat weak.
Echo slid beside me. Having him close steadied me, and I leaned against him. He rubbed my back, and for a moment, we stayed that way and listened to Eirik’s pleas. Tears filled my eyes. Saving Dev did this. Had it been worth it? To lose a life to save another?