House Of Gods 9 - Samantha Snow Page 0,12

his chest and wrapping his arms around her like he always did, he just lay stiffly next to her with his hands folded over his ribcage. It was torture as she fought tears with every breath. When he looked at her memories playing above them, he watched them with empathy but not with recognition. Even as he watched himself through Brenna’s eyes as the moving images of her memories played out, he didn’t remember the thing he saw himself do. She had only been able to make it until late afternoon before needing to numb her senses with more drinks.

“Brenna stop,” Jerrik said again, this time grabbing her by the wrist so she would stop ignoring him.

“I can’t give up on him,” she cried.

“Looks like he’s already giving up on you,” Leif said as he walked into the kitchen and saw Brandt heading toward the elevator. “Also, I’d watch yourself Jerrik…you guys are getting kinda close.”

Jerrik saw Leif eyeing his hand on Brenna’s wrist and immediately removed it.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he barked at Leif. “I’m trying to help her.”

Leif shrugged it off. It wasn’t really any of his business anyway.

“Where are you going?” Brenna asked Brandt as she ran around to the other side of the counter and intercepted his path to the elevator.

“I just need to get out of the apartment for a bit. I’m gonna go for a walk in the city.”

“I’ll come too,” she said and reached for her shoes.

“No, thank you. I’d just like some time alone.”

“Oh.” Jerrik could feel the heartbreak in Brenna’s single-worded response. “Okay, have a nice walk then,” she said.

“Thanks,” Brandt smiled as he stepped into the elevator.

Jerrik looked at her. “You okay?” he asked.

“I can’t do this anymore. I just can’t.” Brenna turned and ran into his bedroom and slammed the door.

“Well, that went well,” Leif said sarcastically.

“Shut up,” Jerrik said as he walked to his room to check on Brenna.

When the elevator doors opened again after a few minutes, Leif figured Brandt had cut his walk short.

“Forget something?” he said as the doors started to open. But it wasn’t Brandt who stepped into the apartment. “Norna?”

“Hello, Leif,” she said to him, smiling.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I came to speak with Cai and Tara.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. I figured I would take the scenic route this time since I was by myself.” She motioned to the elevator. The other Fates liked to travel by magic only. But Norna enjoyed taking the subway and walking the streets. She found it to be grounding.

“Norna, we need to talk.”

“I agree. But first, I need to talk to Cai.”

“Okay, I’ll go get him.” Leif got up and then turned back around to her. “You’ll still be here, right?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “I promise.” She sat down on one of the bar stools at the counter to show him that she meant it.

Leif ran to the room where Cai, Celeste, and Tara were sitting and playing a game of checkers with Lopt.

“Norna is here,” he shouted breathlessly. “She needs to talk to you, Cai.”

All four of them got up and went into the living room to sit and speak with Norna.

“You’ve come to tell us of a destiny?” Lopt asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Tannin’s.”

“I’m afraid he and his parents are not here. They went to Valhalla in order to seek answers from the witch that hexed the child.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve come to speak with Cai.”

“Why me?” Cai asked.

“Because you are the closest thing Tara has to a parent, and Tannin’s fate is intertwined with hers.”

Tara looked up at Cai apprehensively. She held Button close to her chest, as she always did when something was making her nervous. Button was her salve.

“Is this why she can communicate with him?” Cai asked. “She was able to hear him and speak with him, even while he was still inside Kemma’s womb.”

“Yes. She and the boy are destined to be together,” Norna answered.

“Together? What does that mean?” Tara asked as she crinkled her nose, thinking about the evil little baby.

“Tara,” Norna said gently as she addressed the girl. “You are very, very special. And Tannin is very special too. When you are both adults, the two of you will join together.”

Tara already didn’t like the sound of that. She was eight years old, and Tannin was just a gross little baby and a mean one at that. “I don’t think I want to do that,” she said to Norna.

Norna smiled at her. “I know you feel that way