Odin

Chapter 12

“Enthrall! What a lovely surprise,” Kamilah said. “Please come in.”

“Thank you, Kamilah. I have to tell you again how much I admire your home. Brannaugh did a beautiful job building it for you.”

“I think so, too. I can’t imagine being happier anywhere else.”

“Speaking of Brannaugh, would you know where he is?”

“He should be here any moment. He feels whenever someone crosses the protections he placed on our home. May I offer you something to drink while you wait?”

“No, thank you. I shan’t be here long enough to enjoy it.”

True to her statement, Brannaugh appeared moments later.

“I wondered who’d arrived but hadn’t set my Kamilah on edge,” Brannaugh said, shaking Enthrall’s hand while pounding him on the shoulder.

“I wondered why you hadn’t rushed home.”

“I knew she was at ease with whoever she’d invited in,” Brannaugh explained.

“I won’t waste your time with pleasantries, Brannaugh. I came to look in on Odin.”

“Odin? He’s… as well as can be expected.”

“Because his friend died.”

Brannaugh watched Enthrall, his own expression shuttered. “Yes,” he answered, but his answer was somewhere between a statement and a question.

“I thought we were better friends than that,” Enthrall said.

“What do you mean?”

“You and I both know you’re holding something back.”

“It’s nothing of any consequence.”

“Then why withhold it?”

Brannaugh thought about it for a moment. “Because I, like you, am looking after my people. He’s struggling a bit, and I’m giving him the time to work through his issues before I press him on them. I’d appreciate the same from you.”

“Fair enough. But I’d still like to speak to him.”

“I’d prefer you didn’t.”

Enthrall smiled tightly. “Then perhaps you can explain to me why he’d claim a female only to abandon her at a convent, rather than return her to family. And why even claim her at all if he planned on rejecting her shortly after?”

Brannaugh was momentarily quiet. “I’d feared there was more to it than he’d said,” he finally said.

“Should I go find Odin, or are you feeling up to telling me?” Enthrall asked.

“I don’t know much, but I know enough,” Brannaugh said. “I doubt you’ll find him anyway. I was myself searching when I felt you arrive here.”

“Tell me what you know.”

“He mended things with his friend Marie. She asked him to find her descendants, specifically the females of her line and make sure whatever their circumstances in life, they were happy with them. That their circumstances were of their own choosing. He found a female that apparently caught his attention.”

“Simone,” Enthrall said.

“How do you know that?” Brannaugh asked.

“I heard from her family in Paris.”

“Is she well?”

“Physically, yes. Emotionally, obviously not, or they’d not have sought me out. Spiritually… I’ve not met the girl.”

“Spiritually I believe she may be battling her own demon,” Kamila said, trying not to laugh at her own funny.

Enthrall turned to look at her, surprised at her sense of humor.

“Forgive me. It’s the baby. I find myself so forward!” Kamilah exclaimed.

Enthrall grinned at her. “I think I like this new Kamilah.”

“What did her family say? Has Odin done anything unthinkable?” Brannaugh asked.

“Considering you’re a Dark Fey, unthinkable would be a tragedy. So, no, not to that level. But the head of her family thinks, as do I after speaking with you, that he claimed the woman, then abandoned her at a convent to deal with the bond and his absence on her own.”

“That is unforgivable,” Kamilah said sadly.

“Unless he felt he was saving her from him,” Brannaugh said. “He said that she is where she needs to be and that it’s what’s best for her. I sat with him during a dark time. He was hurting, grieving. I assumed it was for his Marie. But he said it was not. He was not happy or relieved in any way to be without this female. I think he believes he’s saving her from himself.”

“But he’s a good male,” Enthrall said.

Brannaugh pursed his lips and slightly tilted his head to the side. “He’s a Demon, Enthrall. Despite all the good he’s done, he struggles to believe he’s anything but evil. If he claimed this female, he loves her. If he claimed her and left her, he’s fighting his own demons, believing that he’s saving her from himself by abandoning her.”

“You have no idea where he is?” Enthrall asked.

“Not exactly. Last I saw him he was sitting in a sheet of ice that spanned a half mile in any direction. He was struggling to control himself and his control was close to breaking, hence the ice. I would think that if you sense the cold somewhere it shouldn’t be, he’s there, or at least has been there recently. Terrus said that he’s here still, and moves into the shadows when someone approaches so that we don’t know he’s there,” Brannaugh said.

“If you see him, tell him I wish to speak with him but give no indication that I may know what has happened,” Enthrall said.

“I will.”

~~~

Carnage peeked over the railing encircling his home to see who waited below. “Trawl!” he exclaimed. “’Mon!” he said, waving Enthrall up onto the deck.

Enthrall transported himself onto the deck and was hugged in a tight embrace before he’d even completely materialized. He laughed. “It’s good to see you, too, my friend.”

“Eeet!” Carnage said, drawing out his words to force the pronunciation that was so difficult for him.

“No, thank you. I’m not hungry. I’ve come for another reason.”

Carnage’s brows bunched, and he looked intently at Enthrall, wondering what Enthrall could possibly want.

“Do you remember Malice?”

Carnage’s expression changed at once to one of surprise. “’Es! F’end,” he said with a smile.

“He’s living in Paris, now.”

“’Es. Leelee saaay.”

“Yes. That’s how he knew to come to me. Lily told him that I was there and would be approachable if he ever needed assistance.”

“’Kay?” Carnage asked, concerned for his friend.

“Yes, he’s okay. The problem is that he and those with him have found themselves in a tight spot. They’ve been in Paris for a long, long time, as far as I can tell. They’ve been helping those less fortunate. Feeding the hungry, protecting those who have no one else. Providing shelter to those who need it.”

Carnage nodded, grinning. “Maake goood.”

“Yes. They’ve been hiding in plain sight, pretending to be monks with big, dark cloaks hiding their wings and horns. And it’s worked for them. But now they’re in a situation that could be helped if they moved to another location. They don’t want to leave the city or the people they help, but they need another place to live. They have no money at all.”

Carnage lifted a hand and held up a finger. “’Mon,” he said, unfurling his wings and with one great flap lifting his large body off the deck.

As he moved away from his home, Enthrall called out to him. “Where are you going?”

“Old howsh,” Carnage shouted back.

Enthrall transported himself to the part of the swamp Carnage had called home before he’d found Carolena. As he materialized there, Carnage was already standing between the two trees he used to have a tarp strung between as a sort of shelter. He counted off a number of steps then started digging with his clawed hands. About three feet down he came to a wooden chest and flipped its lid open. He smiled to himself and waved Enthrall over.

Enthrall walked over and looked down into the hole Carnage had dug. His eyes widened as he looked from the wooden box that seemed to be at least two feet by two feet in diameter and just as deep, to Carnage.

Carnage swept a hand toward the open box. “Taake eeet.”

“Carnage, that’s a lot of gold and silver. And I’m fairly certain he doesn’t need the gemstones in it. I know he doesn’t need that much.”

“My noo neeed,” Carnage insisted, trying to get a grip on the muddy wooden box to lift it out of the ground.

“You might! What happens if you need money and you’ve given it all away? That’s what’s happened to Malice.”

“Mo’e,” Carnage said.

“How much more?” Enthrall asked.

Carnage shrugged. “Mo’e.”

“How many more?” Enthrall pressed.

Carnage held up his hand and folded down his thumb before holding his hand out for Enthrall to count.

“Four? Four more boxes like this?”

“’Es. Annnd goold’” he said, holding his hands higher than his own head.

“And silver that high, too?” Enthrall asked, trying to be sarcastic, but Carnage nodded enthusiastically.

Enthrall’s mouth hung open in shock. “Where did you get all this?”

“Mine pa’t.”

“Your part of what?”

“King t’easure.”

“Your king? When you overthrew him?”

“’Es. My taake all. Sha’e mo’e Genrls,” Carnage shrugged and gestured around the general vicinity they stood in. “Mine.”

“After sharing the King’s treasure with the rest of his Generals, this was your portion.”

Carnage grinned and nodded, pleased that Enthrall understood him, then he heaved the wooden box out of the hole and handed the entire thing to Enthrall. “Malish gold.”

“Carnage, if there was this much treasure for just your share, how much was there altogether?”

Carnage grinned. “My know mo’e hiiide.”

Enthrall thought about his words for a second before he realized what Carnage meant. “You knew where he had more hidden away.”

Carnage grinned. “Taake eeet Malish.”

“You take it to Malice. I’m afraid he wouldn’t take it from me, he’d see it as charity. But he might take it from you,” Enthrall said.

“Knoow ‘Trawl he’e,” Carnage asked.

“He has no idea I’m here. I had to come back for another reason and thought while I was here, I’d ask if you would like to add to the money I’m going to offer him so that he can find a better place to shelter for him and his males.”

Carnage waved his hand as though to dismiss Enthrall’s words. “Taake Malish,” he said, pointing at the box Enthrall now held.

“I will, but will you come give it to him?”

Carnage sighed and looked away before turning back to meet Enthrall’s gaze and pointed to the horns on top of his head, then the blue gray tone of his skin.

“I’ll take you directly to my house, and right back here after. I’ll find Malice and bring him to my house. You won’t have to go out in public.”

“’Ick!” Carnage said.

“I know you hate people because they can get sick. You’ll only be around my family, and Malice.”

Carnage thought about it for a moment. “Tell Leenah.”

“Let’s go tell her,” Enthrall agreed.

Enthrall began to transport himself to Carnage’s house, but hesitated when Carnage leaned over and started to fill in the hole he’d taken the treasure box out of. Once Carnage was done, Enthrall shifted the box he carried. “Want me to transport us?”

Carnage shook his head while wearing a big grin. He pointed to his own back. “Win’s!”

Enthrall couldn’t help but laugh. Carnage had once had his wings ripped away by the very king he’d literally battled for the freedom of himself and his people. After having them restored he eagerly took every opportunity to fly. “I’ll meet you back at your house.”

Moments later they were both standing in Carolena’s kitchen while she stood at the stove, wooden cooking spoon in hand as she stared at the mud on her normally spotless kitchen floor.

“Why?” she asked her mate.

Carnage pointed to Enthrall.

“The mud in here is your fault?” Carolena asked.

“Not exactly.”

“What are you holding?”

“I’m holding gold and silver to take to one of the other Generals that served with Carnage. I came to ask Carnage if he wanted to add to the money I’m giving him to help him and his people, and Carnage gave me this.”

“I’m so confused,” Carolena said. “And I’m not happy that there’s mud and dirt all over my floor. I just cleaned it.”

Carnage again pointed at Enthrall.

“Will you stop trying to accuse Enthrall?” Carolena said, laughing at her mate’s antics. “I’m sure he’s not solely responsible.”

“Malish faauult,” Carnage said, nodding decisively.

“Malish… oh, Malice. Your friend that Lily met,” Carolena said.

“He and his males have spent their lives since serving with Carnage assisting those in need. They’ve given away all their money, and now they need a more secure place to live.”

“Why not just invite them here?”

“I have. They don’t want to leave the area. They have people who look to them for assistance.”

“So, you’re helping them,” Carolena said. “I think that’s wonderful.”

Carnage moved closer to Carolena and smiled happily at her. He adored her more now than he had when he mated her — she was his world. “My go!” he said excitedly.

“Where?” she asked.

“With me. To Paris. I’ll take him to my house, then bring Malice to my house so they can be reunited and Carnage can gift him this treasure. Then I’ll bring him right back,” Enthrall said.

“I think that’s lovely,” Carolena said. She went up on tip-toe and kissed Carnage’s lips quickly. “I think you’d better wash away the mud first, though.”

“’Es!” Carnage said excitedly, rushing off toward their bathroom to do just that.

“You may as well put that box down. He’ll be a little while,” Carolena said.

Enthrall nodded.

“You want something to drink? Dinner’s not ready yet, but you’re welcome to stay until it is,” Carolena invited.

“No, thank you, though. But, would you like to come with us? I know you wouldn’t get to go out in the city, but you’d get to see my home in Paris, and Felicity is there with Ezekiel. And you’d get to see Carnage united with some of his brethren.”

Carolena stopped stirring the pot of soup she was finishing up and slowly turned to face Enthrall. “You know? Boon is spending the night with Marauder. They’re camping behind Destroy’s home. I think I’d like to come with you and Carnage.”

“Then you should come.”

She looked down at her day dress and the apron she wore over it.

“Go change. It’ll only take us a second to get there once we’re ready,” Enthrall said.

“You’re sure?”

“I am.”

Carolena nodded and hurried off in the same direction Carnage had gone. “I’ll just be a second.” As she rushed past the bathroom she called out to Carnage. “I’m going, too!”

“Noo ick!” Carnage shouted back.

“I’m not getting sick!” she shouted back to him.

Enthrall lifted the lid on the pot of soup Carolena had been making and sniffed. It smelled divine, but that was no surprise since Carolena had always been a very good cook. He realized the stove was still hot. “Carolena? Do you want me to smother the flame on the stove?” he called out.

“Yes, please,” she called back.

It wasn’t that much longer that Carnage came back down the hallway all cleaned up and wearing clean trousers. No shoes, no shirt, but clean and at least wearing pants.

“Ready?” Enthrall asked.

“’Es!” Carnage said, smiling brightly. Which was actually a frightening sight unless you knew Carnage.

“You’re happy to be seeing your friends again,” Enthrall said.

Carnage nodded.

“I’m ready, too,” Carolena said, her heels clipping down the hallway as she hurried toward them.

Carnage’s smile faded to a total look of wonder as he watched his mate walking toward them. She was wearing a brown day suit, straight skirt, a matching jacket nipped in at the waist, and a soft ivory silk shirt with ruffles at the throat beneath the jacket. Her hair was brushed into a shining luster and pulled up and pinned in a loose twist at the back of her head. She’d rouged her cheeks and put on lipstick. Carnage knew without a doubt that she was the loveliest creature he’d ever seen in his entire life.

“Leenah,” he said, the wonder clear in his tone as he moved toward her with his arms outstretched. He enveloped her in a hug and held her close while he sniffed her hair.

“You look lovely, Carolena,” Enthrall said.

“Thank you. It’s a gift from Lily. I haven’t had much reason to wear it until now.”

“I forget sometimes that you had a completely different life before arriving here.”

“Me, too. And honestly, this life suits me so much better than the old one ever did, but I wanted to make a good impression on Carnage’s friends.”

Carnage smiled and kissed her. “Lub Leenah.”

“I love you, too.”

“Are we ready?” Enthrall asked.

“’Es!”

“Yes!” Carolena said.

Enthrall picked up the muddy box, Carolena placed her hand on Enthrall’s arm, and Carnage did the same on the other side.

“You’re cleaning the mud on my floor when we get home, Carnage,” Carolena said just before Enthrall transported them.

“’Trawl!” he insisted.

“It’s your box, you can clean the dirt.”

Carnage scowled as Enthrall transported them all to his home in Paris.

~~~

“Uncle Carnage! Aunt Carolena!” Ezekiel exclaimed.

Carnage swept the boy up and tossed him gently in the air. “Goood Seeek!”

“Hello, sweetheart,” Carolena said, hugging Zeke once Carnage put him back down.

“Did I hear who I thought I heard?” Felicity asked, walking into the room.

“You did!” Carolena exclaimed as the two women hugged.

Carnage walked over to Felicity and gently patted the top of her head. The truth was he just didn’t like to touch any other female but Carolena.

Felicity started laughing, then so did everyone else.

Carnage grinned at Felicity and winked at her.

“You know, I’ve known a lot of men, and males, and none so obviously against touching any female in any way other than their mate. It’s very charming,” Felicity said.

Carolena smiled lovingly at Carnage. What Felicity didn’t realize is that Carnage patted everyone he was fond of on the head, but she was right in that he didn’t want to touch any female other than Carolena.

“Lici, I’ve brought Carnage and Carolena back because a friend of his came to visit me last night. I need to bring him back here and thought Carnage would like to see him.”

“You mean the male that stood outside for hours before finally coming in?” Felicity asked.

“The same. I’m thinking that his friends may come with him as well. Do you mind terribly?” Enthrall asked. He’d orchestrated this entire thing without asking her what she thought about it, and it was after all, her house, too.

“Not at all. I know you have a responsibility to our people. And if these males are friends of Carnage’s, they’re welcome here, too. Should I arrange for food and drink?”

“I’m not sure that they’ll want to stay and eat, but we best be prepared with a lot of food and drink, just in case,” Enthrall said.

“Choc’ate,” Carnage said, nodding.

“And chocolate,” Enthrall said.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask for iced cream,” Carolena said, hugging her mate to her side.

Carnage’s eyes widened. “Choc’ate ice c’eam.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Enthrall said. “I’m just going to store this box in the corner of the dining room, and I’ll be back momentarily with food and drink.”

~~~

After returning everything necessary to prepare for the small group of Gargoyles that may be descending on his home later that evening, and ensuring that Carnage and Carolena were comfortable and relaxing with Felicity and Ezekiel, Enthrall went out to look for Malice. It didn’t take him long to find him, or at least one of his males in the same square they usually frequented. Enthrall watched from a distance while the male finished a painting for a young couple and accepted a few coins in return. When he was finished, he turned and walked directly toward Enthrall. It wasn’t surprising to Enthrall at all, since the male had turned to glance at him several times as he finished painting the portrait for the couple.

“Do you need something?” the male asked. He wasn’t rude, but he wasn’t welcoming either.

“I am Enthrall. Malice came to my home last night. I told him that when I had information for him, I’d look for him here.”

“He’s not here today. Do you want me to give him a message?”

“I do. Tell him that he should return to my home tonight, and he should bring you and any others of your group, including Simone, with him.”

The male immediately went on alert. “What do you know of us and our group?”

“I know all there is to know. Just give him the message. Please. And be sure that you come as well. It will be worth your while.”

“Why should we trust you?” the male asked.

Enthrall smiled at the male. “Because Malice does.”

Enthrall turned and walked away, making a point of strolling comfortably, taking his time to go about his business. He transported himself back home only after he’d taken several turns and walked several blocks away, assured that he was not observed by anyone.