"Do you want to talk about what just happened?"
Tamsin glanced over at Bo's concerned face but continued to walk. She wasn't sure how to even begin telling the truth. It had been easier to change the story so that her friend's didn't see her for the monster she felt she was. But if they were going to move forward she knew she had to be honest with them and herself.
Hesitantly Tamsin began to speak. "I lied when I said that Mikael was the only one who changed over time. It was both of us. It was like we fed off of each other's rage."
"So you joined him when he was terrorizing people?"
"Not just joined him, I orchestrated much of it. We were unstoppable, able to take over lands and whatever or whomever we wanted," Tamsin said she continued to walk, refusing to look at Bo. "I reveled in it, loved how powerful we felt. It was different than being a Valkyrie, I think because I was able to do it without powers. It was just sheer will and desire. I felt like a..."
"God?" Bo finished her sentence. "Yeah, I know that feeling well. It's addictive."
Tamsin finally looked over at the succubus and nodded her head. "Yes, it was. Even more so for someone used to taking orders. Eventually I couldn't control myself, nor could he. We were mad with blood lust and this constant desire for more. But my undoing wasn't because of that but a woman, someone I loved. Yet now when I think about her I'm not sure I loved her so much as I wanted to possess her."
"That's a dangerous way to feel about someone," Bo said quietly.
"I know. It all ended when I stumbled upon them together. When I saw her..." Tamsin faltered for a moment. "When I saw her having sex with Mikael I felt as if I my heart was ripped out of my body. In the back of my mind I knew he had probably forced her, wanting to take away the one thing I kept for myself. To punish me for loving someone else but my anger was so irrational. I went to her later that night, I didn't know what I was going to do. But then we hugged and I could smell a trace of him still on her, I was disgusted. So I made love to her one last time and afterwards I...I...," Tamsin stopped speaking and leaned against a wall. Tears fell down her cheeks as she tried to keep from sobbing.
Bo placed her hand on her shoulder and laid her head against Tamsin. "You don't have to say anymore, I understand. You have to forgive yourself, that was long ago and you have suffered more than enough for your sins."
"I don't know that I have. Maybe this, us, was to punish me further," Tamsin said straightening up and wiping her face.
"I don't understand, what do you mean?"
Bo's question went unanswered as they both noticed a sudden gust of wind that billowed past their faces. They walked further up to investigate and discovered a door that seemed sealed but somehow was still letting air through.
"Help me with this," Tamsin said as she began pushing the door towards the right.
After several minutes they were finally able to push the door open enough that they could fit through. They both wandered around in awe as they stepped further into the room. It was completely covered in some kind black ice that caused it to glitter beneath the shafts of light that filtered in through various cracks. Bo wandered away from Tamsin and went over to one of the walls to touch it.
"Wow, its freezing cold. But it doesn't feel cold in here, how strange," Bo said running her hand over the surface.
Tamsin walked further in and indicated for Bo to follow. "Yeah well I've had enough of this place and its trickery. Let's find this item so we can get out of here."
They didn't have to walk far before seeing an altar ahead. On top of it sat a small square box made of onyx surrounded by candles that gave off an eerie blue flame.
"Okay, how are those candles still working? Does someone watch over this altar? Like more of those freaky ice guys," Bo said pulling out a blade and looking around.
"No, those candles are aeterna flamma, eternal flame in Latin. Candles made especially for gods and only another god can light or extinguish them."
"Sounds handy, can we take some? Would save tons on our electricity bill," Bo mumbled as they reached the altar.
"I'm guessing these were put by whoever placed the vessel here. Showing respect despite hiding it from the world. That's interesting..."
"How so?" Bo said brushing her hand against the box.
"Well it indicates that it may in fact be here for its own protection not because someone just wanted to hide it. Which means..."
"Means what?"
"Shit, Bo stop touching the box. Move away..."
Tamsin didn't get a chance to finish before both women turned to see more of the revenants appear from behind the altar. They pulled out their weapons and moved backwards away from the vessel. They backed up as far as they could and hit the entrance door they had opened which was closed again.
"Seriously, this magic shit is really starting to get on my fucking nerves," Tamsin said banging her hand on the door.
"Well, looks we have more than just magic to worry about, "Bo said pointing behind the altar.
A huge creature, at least 8 feet tall, appeared behind the others. He looked similar but with more armor and two huge weapons in each hand. It seemed he was the leader because the others parted to let him pass and stood still as if waiting for a command.
Tamsin slowly removed her gun from its holster and opened it to put more bullets inside. "I don't have much left Bo, so you're ax handling is going to have to be on point."
Bo looked over at her with a smirk, "When is it not?"
"Why have you come here?" The giant creature bellowed at them.
"They can talk? This just gets stranger and stranger."
Tamsin shushed Bo, "If they can talk then maybe we can reason with it instead of having to fight our way out of here."
The Valkyrie stepped forward and put her hands up to show she was putting her weapon away.
"We don't mean any harm. We were sent here to retrieve the vessel."
"No one can retrieve the vessel. The vessel is," the creature said as it stepped forward, its footsteps shaking the floor.
Tamsin wrinkled her brow, "What does that mean the vessel is?"
"That means that I cannot be removed from here as if I am a piece of luggage," a voice said from far into the room.
A woman who looked to be at least 6 feet tall entered the space. Her hair was blonde, almost white and her eyes glowed a blue the same as the creatures and the candles. She wore a white dress that flowed down to her bare feet. Her gait was slow as she made her way down a staircase neither woman had noticed.
"Who are you?" Tamsin asked.
"Child do not play the role of fool, it does not suit you. You know who I am as I know who you are. And you as well daughter of Odin."
"Well then if we're cutting through the pretext that means you also know why we're here."
"I do but I cannot help you. And I most certainly cannot let you remove my vessel."
Bo raised her hand, "Just to be clear we are talking about the box over there, correct?"
"Do you have any idea what it is capable of?" Vor asked ignoring Bo's question.
Tamsin shook her head, "No, but it would be safer in our hands than that of others who covet it."
"You think so," Vor said her eyes changing from their eerie color to a normal blue. "You say that with the daughter of your enemy right here?"
Tamsin glanced at Bo. "She may be his daughter but she's also a trusted friend."
Bo squeezed her hand and Tamsin smiled.
"Just a friend is she? Don't be so common Valkyrie to let love fool you as it has others," Vor said signaling the revenants. "As I said, I cannot allow you to take it."
The creatures began to walk menacingly towards them and Tamsin brought her gun out. She signaled for Bo to take out her axe and the succubus obliged bringing out two this time.
Tamsin raised an eyebrow and Bo shrugged. "Two is always better than one. This one may not be fitted with a rune but at least it will do some damage."
"Bo, look out," Tamsin yelled as a revenant leaped at the succubus.
Tamsin shot it in the chest and watched with satisfaction as it exploded. She didn't have much time to gloat as another sailed into her before she could get another shot off. She used every ounce of her strength to lift the creature off of her body as it attempted to stab her in the side. Her hand the gun was held in was crushed down by her side but she managed to bring it up enough to fire off a shot into its face. As soon as it broke apart she hurled herself forwards and away from the corner.
She frantically looked for Bo and saw her battling a group of three. Tamsin wanted to help her but she noticed the large one was simply standing amid the action. A thought occurred to her and she ran towards it only to be tackled from the side by another. It wrapped its arms around her and squeezed until she dropped her gun. The Valkyrie was losing her breath but managed to turn and head butt the creature which startled it enough that its grip loosened. That was all she needed as Tamsin broke free and grabbed her gun. She left off a shot then turned the weapon to the large one. It looked down as her with a curious glance then seemed to smirk as she pressed the trigger. It took a moment before she realized the gun hadn't fired.
"What the fuck," Tamsin yelled as she checked the weapon.
"Don't worry I got this," Bo said she ran over.
The succubus went to work pummeling the giant but unlike the others her hits never landed. He had his own sword which he wielded expertly. He knocked one of Bo's axes away and it landed at Tamsin's feet. She shoved the gun back in her holster and grabbed the axe. Just as she went to help Bo, Tamsin's hand which held the weapon was grabbed. She turned to see Vor holding onto her.
"Enough," she said, her voice echoing off the walls of the chamber.
Bo and the giant stopped fighting. Vor gripped Tamsin's wrist in her hand and forced her to drop the axe. The Valkyrie tried not to cry out at the surprising strength in the goddess's hand. She half expected her to break her wrist but instead she seemed to be having some type of vision as she still held on but looked off into the distance. Her eyes flashed and she looked down at Tamsin.
"How intriguing," the goddess said letting go of Tamsin's arm. "Your life has been an interesting one my little Valkyrie."
"Never a dull moment," Tamsin said rubbing her arm.
"The vessel was my creation. It has many uses and all of them very powerful. When I was banished I vowed that no one would benefit from it."
"Why not just destroy it?" Bo said making her way over to the pair.
"I could not, it had a purpose. It was something that once made had a destiny to be fulfilled."
"I thought you were the knower of all, don't you know how it will be used? "Tamsin asked.
"My powers do not work when it comes to me unfortunately and because it is tied to me I cannot know what will happen. "
Tamsin looked at her quizzically, "Were you the cause of the great war where so many of the Norse gods died? I was told so by someone."
"I was, I thought that if I could force a war that Odin would die. Alas my attempt to alter the future did not go as planned."
"But you knew that was a possibility?" Bo said.
"Yes, but it was worth a try."
"So what now, you kill us so that we won't remove it?"
"I will not kill either of you today. You both have an important role to play and I cannot stand in the way of your destinies. Take the vessel but I warn you, think carefully about who you entrust it to."
"You knew we were going to get it anyway so why make us fight for it?" Tamsin said as she took the box.
Vor smiled for the first time, "Why not?"
The goddess waved her hand towards the door that sealed the room. It opened and air once again rushed out. Tamsin felt herself being pulled and grabbed onto Bo's arm.
"Never enter my chambers again. Next time I will not be so forgiving," Vor said as she made a gesture with her hand that sent them hurtling back.
Once they got their bearings Tamsin realized that they were back near the entrance of the cave.
"Was it even as large as we thought," Bo said
"Probably not. Much in here is an illusion meant to confuse anyone who enters."
Tamsin stared at the box in her hand. While intricate in its design and beautifully made the object looked harmless which made it all the more disturbing.
"Creepy, I didn't notice it in there but it kind of looks like the puzzle box from that movie Hellraiser," Bo said with a look of distaste.
"It really does, but it doesn't appear to be a puzzle. It looks like if you just touch right here it will..."
The box latch released and opened, both of them jumped at the echo it made in the chamber. Tentatively they peered inside and looked at what appeared to be a black pearl.
"It's beautiful. I wonder how it works," Bo said reaching out.
"Bo, you can't touch it. Like you said we don't know how it works or what it can do. Let's just get this back home and see if we can figure that out," Tamsin said snapping it shut.
Bo shook her head as if coming out of a trance. "You're right, I just went out of my head for a minute there."
"It's just this place, fucks with your mind. I don't know about you but I am about ready to leave the rabbit hole," Tamsin said as they walked to the entrance.
The Valkyrie gripped the box and watched Bo out of the corner of her eye. She wasn't lying when she told Vor that the succubus was her friend but she knew in her heart she no longer trusted her, not like before. Now the question laid before her what to do now that the person she loved most was the most likely to betray her.
"You okay?" Bo asked stopping her before they exited.
Tamsin hesitated but then she watched the flecks of blue dancing in Bo's eyes.
"I'm good, never been better."
Tamsin followed behind Bo and contemplated her next move. She realized finally what she had to do and death was the only answer.
Hey everyone, so I'm back permanently to finish this story. The chapters will probably be shorter but I will be putting them up more frequently so that should balance it out. Thanks for being patient and still following my story. As always I love to hear feedback so let me know what you think! - Girlblue