Bonds of the Fallen
Chapter 22

Bat stood frozen, the shock slowly morphing into revulsion. She stared at the lifeless form of her mother. Monster she might have been, but deep down, a small part of Bat grieved. Grieved for the mother she remembered, the dreams she’d held of replaceing her, and the harsh truth that some things were better left in the past.

Finally, her voice returned to her. “Why did you do that?” she demanded.

Val reached out to Bat, but she recoiled from him.

Her attention was snapped away as she heard Ace stir. Her heart soared, and she hurried to his side, urgency in every step. Bat dropped to her knees beside him, gently grasping his hand and locking eyes with him as they slowly fluttered open. Relief flooded her as she saw clarity return to his gaze.

“I knew you were trouble, my little Bat,” he teased, a small smile on his lips.

She grinned back, warmth spreading through her. “Don’t you dare do that again,” she warned, kissing his lips softly.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Val’s face darken.

Einar emerged from the trees, dragging a disheveled Hedda by the arm. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her eyes darted in panic. Bat noted the scratches on her arms and the dirt staining her clothes.

“She thought she could sneak away with the others,” Einar announced, shoving Hedda towards them. “We have most of the followers detained, but some evaded capture.” His gaze flitted to Val before settling on Bat. “What’s the plan?”

Val’s face was grim. “Burn the Draugr. The second death is a mercy to her. Then, see to the Volva,” he instructed.

Einar gave a nod, tossing Hedda’s staff aside with indifference. Bat watched as it clattered to the ground, the sound echoing back to her mother’s neck snapping. Her gaze hardened as she faced Val.

“You killed my mother,” she accused.

Val sighed. “That wasn’t your mother anymore. She was Draugr.”

Bat’s voice was resolute. “You won’t burn her. No more deaths today.”

Val stared at her, baffled. “She has blood on her hands.”

Hedda’s laughter filled the clearing, a twisted, manic sound that sent shivers down Bat’s spine. Her eyes gleamed with malice as her mouth twisted into a sinister grin, her finger accusingly pointing at Val. “You, Sire of the Fallen. Even you cannot challenge the Norn,” she cackled.

Her laughter was like a physical force, causing the hairs on the back of Bat’s neck to prickle in unease. Bat leveled a firm glare at Hedda. “I’m tired of everyone trying to tell me who or what I am,” she declared.

Beside her, Ace got to his feet, ready to stand by her side.

Hedda’s crooked finger now swung in Ace’s direction. “And what about him? Do you not want to know the truth?” she sneered.

Ace glanced around, uneasy. “Me? What are you talking about?” he questioned.

Val’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?” he demanded.

Hedda’s laughter died down to a cackle as she spoke. “The Norn has the power to see, but she might not understand the full extent of her abilities. She altered his fate, tying his life to this realm with a knotted thread. But you see, he has been made immortal.”

Ace’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Immortal?”

Bat’s gaze followed the golden thread that stretched between her and Ace. It pulsed with a powerful energy that she could feel resonating within her. It was as though the thread was a connection and a source of strength. She watched as it stretched out, seemingly endless, tying her and Ace together across the fabric of time and space.

But as she looked closer, she noticed Ace’s thread was different. It was thicker, more vibrant, and radiated a force beyond her understanding. Others were intricately woven within his thread, forming a complex tapestry of interconnected fates.

The joy vanished from Hedda’s face, replaced with an intensity that sent shivers down Bat’s spine. Her twisted finger aimed at Ace as her piercing gaze sought to delve into the depths of his soul. “A prophecy exists, known only to a privileged few. The birth of the third Norn not only heralds the collapse of the treaty and the end of the golden era of the gods but also the arrival of the Hand of Tyr.”

Ace glanced at his metallic arm and chuckled dryly. “Is this some kind of twisted joke?”

Hedda’s voice was solemn as she spoke, “Tyr, the god of war, sacrificed his arm to the mighty wolf Fenrir. The moment the Norn chose to save you, Tyr anointed you as his hand in our realm. While the gods can’t reverse the Norn’s decision, they might explore other avenues to reach the same conclusion.”

Bat’s eyes narrowed. “And what does that mean exactly?”

“The Hand of Tyr serves as the distributor of justice in our realm, upholding the law and maintaining order. His fate is irrevocably linked to the imminent war. Rest assured, the old god Odin will not be pleased with these developments.”

Ace rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. “Who said the gods lack a sense of humor?”

Val’s face grew taut, his eyes darting between Ace and Bat. “Einar, take them.”

Einar moved with a grim determination, nodding once in silent agreement. Two Harii advanced on Bat and Ace, hands ready to subdue them should they resist. Panic fluttered in Bat’s chest, her mind racing to process the sudden turn of events. She looked to Val, searching his face for some semblance of an explanation, but he remained stoic, his face an impenetrable mask of resolve.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Bat stammered as she instinctively moved closer to Ace’s side.

Val’s voice was laced with regret as he spoke, “I apologize, but we must heed the Volva’s words. The gods will demand an audience with you both.”

Hedda’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she added, “It seems it might be time for you to spread your wings, my dear.”

In a burst of unspoken synchronicity, Hedda released a blast of energy, throwing Bat against Ace propelling them off the cliff’s edge. Val made a desperate lunge for them, but the void had already claimed them. Bat and Ace were plummeting towards the jagged clutches of the rocks below. Time slowed as they descended, the roaring wind deafening Bat’s ears. Her hand found Ace’s in the void, their fingers intertwining as they fell in tandem.

On the cliff above, the Harii stood paralyzed, the shock etched into their faces as Bat and Ace inevitably descended toward the rocky abyss below.

Ace twisted his body mid-air, pulling Bat towards him in a fluid maneuver that defied the chaos around them. Their bodies aligned as they hurtled toward the unforgiving rock below.