The Unleashing
Page 109

Tell me who you fight for! Chloe bellowed over the Maras screech of pain.
Gullveigggggggggg!
Vig froze, shocked by that answer.
Gullveig? Of the Vanir?
Gullveig was the first of the Vanir to cross from Vanaheim to Asgard. She was so detested by the Aesir gods, they killed and burned her three times, but they couldnt destroy her. It was because of Gullveigs treatment that the great war between the Aesir and the Vanir raged for eons until a truce was set.
Its lying, Rolf argued.
Vig shook his head. I dont think it is.
Kill it! Siggy screamed at Kera. Kill it now!
Kera yanked the hammer out of the Maras chest and lifted it high, about to bring the weapon down onto the bitchs head.
No, Kera! Rolf yelled, quickly cutting across the room. Dont kill it. We need to prove
The front door to the tea shop slammed open, startling them all. And the Mara was yanked away again, dragged across the floor.
Brodie went after it, but this time she wasnt able to grab the thing and ended up running headfirst into the wall, nearly knocking herself out.
Frieda and the remainder of the L.A. Killers moved into the room. Their gazes swept from one corner to another, from their dead comrades and friends . . . to the Crows and Ravens who stood before them. Covered in blood and panting. Appearing, for all intents and purposes, like theyd just finished murdering all these people.
Rolf immediately tried to calm things down, as was his way. He stepped forward, his bloody hands raised, and began, Wait. You dont under
But the Killers werent big on waiting. They werent big on listening. They werent big on being reasonable. Odin and Skuld were thinkers, which meant those they chose for their human clans were thinkers as well. But Thor . . . hed never been much of a thinker. He was a violent rager who enjoyed killing. And his Clan was no different.
Vig reached over and yanked Rolf to his side as a ridiculously oversized hammer cracked the floor where the Raven had just been standing.
Go! Vig yelled. Now!
Thered be no reasoning with the Killers right now, so why bother?
Seeing the Crows and Ravens trying to make their escape, Frieda hysterically screamed, Kill them all!
Freida, Rolf tried again as Frieda raised her hammer. Frieda, no!
Forget it, Vig said, grabbing Rolf and trying for the exit. We have to was all Vig got out before that hammer came down toward them. Yet it stopped in midswing because Kera had grabbed it by the handle and held it tight.
She looked into Friedas eyes, which were mad with grief and pain.
You have to know we didnt do this, Kera said. Think, woman. Would we still be here if we had?
It wasnt us, Frieda, Rolf desperately tried to explain. You know wed never do something like this to you guys. Friedas gaze cut to Rolf and he amended that statement to, You know the Ravens would never do this. Nor would we ever let it happen.
And if the Crows did do something like this, Josef said, theyd admit it.
Happily, Chloe added.
Then who? Frieda asked and Vig was glad to hear her speak. When Giant Killers became silent with rage, they could wipe out entire cities. And, in fact, had in the past.
The Mardrm, Vig said.
Bullshit.
Its true.
Bullshit.
It was the Mara, Frieda, Rolf argued. They did this.
Why?
They took something from here. For Gullveig.
Youre lying, Frieda sneered.
Were not. The Mara have been trying to raise her. Working with other cults. Performing multiple human sacrifices. Giving up gold and jewels. All for Gullveig.
That witch. With her hammer, Kera pointed to a dead witch on the floor. She told me her coven had stolen things from the Clans. I guess to prevent the Mara from raising this . . . gull-whatever. God knows why they needed your stuff, but they have it now.
Frieda yanked her hammer from Keras grip, but she lowered the head to the ground.
Where did they go?
We dont know.
Brodie, a small voice said, and they all looked over at quiet Jace. She swallowed past her fear. I bet Brodie can hunt them down.
That dog can track, Annalisa agreed. Especially when shes pissed off.
You want to try it? Chloe asked Frieda.
Frieda looked down at the bodies of the Slain. Go, she told Chloe. Shut it all down. She took a shaky breath. We have to take care of our friends.
Chloe placed her hand on Friedas shoulder and looked her right in the eyes. Well kill the ones who did this. Well kill them all.
Im holding you to that.
The Crows and Ravens left the shop from the rear exit, stopping in the parking lot.
Kera crouched down in front of Brodie. Think you can track those
Before Kera could even finish, Brodie unfurled her wings and took to the air.
Stieg watched the dog and asked, So your dog flies now?