When they hit the ground, Phobos had to focus on the teeth that were trying to rip his face apart. He grabbed at the wolf's jaws and held him at bay, but damn Skoll was strong in this form. The wolf tried to shake his grip loose, but Phobos would not let go.
Phobos rolled and tried to pin Skoll under him. But he kept kicking with his clawed feet, shredding parts of his flesh. So, Phobos rolled again to try to move the position more. In the shift, he finally knocked Skoll away.
But, in the blink of an eye, Skoll had changed into human form and grabbed Stef by the neck from behind her. Phobos froze.
"Don't move Greek." Skoll looked between Phobos and Stef. "Oh, this might be more fun than I expected. Maybe I will make you watch while I take her."
Stef was fighting the fear. She was not going to let him do this to her. Not now. Not ever. And she sure as hell was not about the let Kol use her to hurt Phobos.
This wolf needs to be neutered.
So, she gripped the dagger that she managed pulled off of Phobos's harness during the scuffle.
Remember what Zeth taught you. Just breath.
She, took a step back, into Kol while she slammed her elbow backward into his stomach and then dropped her fist straight into his groin as hard as she could, the blade still in hand, pointy side straight into Kol's most sensitive areas.
Stef felt Kol react behind her, but she never took her eyes off of Phobos. Her hand was warm and sticky. The sound that he made nearly emptied her stomach. But, she felt him fall away behind her.
Phobos could not believe what Stef just did. Shit, if it was any other man for any other reason, he would be furious. But, damn was that so fucking deserved. He was in shock at her courage and precision.
No. He was not the one in shock. Damn it. Stef's face was losing color and she was trembling.
"It's OK baby. I have you." He took the blade from her hand and cleaned her up before he folded her into his arms.
A woman shrieked as she came flying at them. It was the first point that Phobos had looked up to realize that they were no longer in The Holt compound. Where was everyone? Where in the hell where they?
The goddess went flying over to Skoll. "What have you done! I will kill you for your attack on my kin in my own world!"
Fucking hell! Phobos thought. But, shit, that is exactly where they were. The Norse underworld called Hel, named after its ruling goddess Hel. Who happens to be Skoll's aunt. And she had trapped them behind a shield so he couldn't get Stef out of there. They were so screwed.
"You have got to be kidding me." Phobos grumbled. But, there was nothing he could do.
Stef was in shock. She just stabbed a man. Or a wolf who was sometimes a man. Oh God. She stabbed the man that she grew up believing was her father. She had never hurt anyone physically before. What if he dies? How could she live with herself if she killed him?
Her mind was racing at all of the thoughts and concerns. Phobos helped to ground her, but they were still there. They were still there. Why were they still there? Why didn't Phobos take them somewhere? Then Stef tried to flash out and she couldn't. Oh no.
"Where are we?" Her voice trembled.
Phobos lowered his head to speak in her ear while he held her tightly to keep her from freaking out too much. "I think Kol dragged us into the Norse version of hell."
Stef's eyes widened. Her heart raced. "What do we do? She whispered.
"Just stay with me. I will think of something."
Then Stef looked around. They were in what looked to be some kind of Viking feast hall or something.
However, she was mostly drawn to Skoll, who was still collapsed on the floor, barely breathing. He no longer looked like the father she had known. He was in his wolf form as he bled. But, a tall beautiful woman that had to have been a goddess knelt down by his side. She had flowing walnut brown hair that hung loose in full waves to her waist. Her eyes were a grey that reminded Stef of storm clouds. And she wore a dress of the deepest blue.
The goddess laid her hands across Skoll. His breathing evened out and before long, he was crouched down and growling at them.
Well, so much for the idea that she had killed him. Though Stef was not sure this was the better option.
The goddess stood up once again and glared at the couple. Then turned on the wolf. "You are utterly worthless! Your father and grandfather are still imprisoned. Your brother is dead. And you had one task to take care of. All you had to do was get the girl pregnant and take the child. As much of a man whore as you are, that should have been easy Skoll."
The wolf once again returned to his human form. "Really, not all that easy when she ran off before she officially reached an age where I could take her. Then when she is found again, she has a protection detail of pantheon proportions! The bitch nearly castrated me a moment ago. Or hadn't you noticed? I am still in pain and not even sure that my seed is not affected."
Hel glowered at him. "How hard is it to just take a woman, throw her to the ground and give her a child?" Hel then used her powers to rip Stef out of Phobos's arms and pulled her into the goddesses grasp. "Here. Skoll. Make us a key." Then Hel started to throw Stef to the wolf.
But, instead, she stopped. Her face looked puzzled. She looked Stef up and down and then pulled her closer so that Hel could wrap her other arm around Stef's waist. Then with a growl, Hel tossed Stef back into the shield with Phobos who caught her.
"What game are you playing at?" Skoll questioned.
Hel gave him a droll stare. "Well, when you fuck up, you really fuck up. You are too late."
Skoll twisted his face. "Don't tell me she got some surgery or something."
"No you moron. She is already pregnant. I won't be able to remove the child for a few weeks and even then, her body will need time to heal and produce another egg for you to inseminate."
Phobos and Stef froze. She was pregnant.
Stef was not sure what to do. She wanted to melt into a giddy dance of joy at such news. But, oh shit. Phobos hated the whole baby thing. Would he be happy? Damn, she could not even ask him. She was still trapped in some invisible case in front of the man that wants to rape her and the goddess that pulls his strings.
Phobos could not breath. A child. His child. Here? Now? They had only been together one time. Shit, it was only that morning. Yet, once Hel said it, he could sense it was true, ever so faintly, he could feel the connection. Gods, he needed to get Stef out of there now more than ever. What could he do?
The great doors of the hall burst open with a loud thud. "Well, isn't this place cozy?" Thorn asked as he walked into the hall.
Stef wanted to cry when she saw him.
Please be here to save us.
Thorn glared at Phobos and Stef. "What in the hell are you two doing in Hel?"
"Like you can't figure that one out on your own?" Phobos replied as he pounded on the shield to show they were trapped. "Where have you been?"
"Trekking my way here, duh. It is not exactly easy to reach if you have never been before. It takes a few days."
Hel blasted at Thorn with a god bolt who frowned and struck back. "Now see. I made the effort to come here in an attempt to negotiate, one underworld leader to another. But, if this is the hospitality that I get, then I can always invite my own friends for company." And with that, he flashed Savitar, Acheron, Effy and Styxx into the room.
"How are so many outsiders getting in?" She shrieked.
Thorn faked a look of embarrassment. "Oh, darn, I guess I killed your gate keeper. My bad. And these four can pretty much go wherever they want unless you want to take on not one, but four Chthonians? No? Didn't think so."
The only woman in the bunch stepped forward. She was short and petite. She looked to be around her late teens or early 20's, with light brown hair and golden brown eyes. "Now Hel, you have been a naughty girl."
Hel scowled when she saw the young woman. "Don't you dare come here, you slut!"
Effy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Your relationship problems are your problems. I have zero interest in your lover. I am more than happy enough with my own husband. Now get over it. We have business to attend to."
Savitar stepped forward. "So, here is what is going to happen Hel. The two Greeks and the wolf are coming with us. If you fight it, you die. Real simple. Then I can get back to my surfing."
"You don't have the authority to take a Norse god." Hel growled.
"See, that is where you are wrong." Acheron spoke. "Odin has already given us permission to kill Skoll without retaliation from the Norse pantheon. And as Savitar oversees the Were-hunters, Savitar gets jurisdiction. Unless you would prefer Effy to take jurisdiction since she is the Chthonian in charge of underworlds, including yours."
Skoll started to look panicked. He backed away. But, it did not help. Savitar snapped his fingers and Skoll disappeared.
Acheron then continued. "And just to make sure that this does not become an issue again in the future, I will take Morginne with me, as well as Wulf's soul."
She started to argue, but looked at the four Chthonians. If Odin did permit them to kill Skoll, then she was so screwed. They have already ruined the plans for Ragnarok. At least this way, if she didn't piss off anyone else, she can still have eternity with Baldr by her side here.
Hel nodded. She snapped her fingers and Morginne appeared in front of Ash. She was frail and filthy. She had been imprisoned for a long time. When Morginne saw Ash, her eyes widened in fear and she started to cry.
Ash was not happy with Morginne for her role in tricking Wulf into selling his soul to Loki, or her curse that she left Wulf with as a parting blow. But, he could see that she had been through a lot already as punishment for that choice. He used his powers to send her to a secure location until he could wrap this up. Then he would sort this out with Artemis.
"The soul?"
"Whose soul?"
Ash wasn't about to play games. His eyes turned red and his skin turned blue as he took on a demonic appearance with black flowing hair and horns.
Hel looked frightened. As she should be. "Oh, you mean the poor sap that Morginne tricked into trading places with."
"That one. Now hand it over." He roared.
Oh shit. Stef was floored by how Ash looked. Yeah, OK, he was seriously high on the list of men to be scared of.
Hel rolled her eyes and then the medallion appeared in her hand. He inspected it to make sure it was actually Wulf's. Then returned to his human appearance.
"It has to be willingly given Hel. And before you try to play dumb again, I already know that Loki willingly gave it to you."
"Fine. It is yours."
Styxx said that he would return to Minnesota to give everyone the news and give the medallion to Wulf and Cassandra.
As Wulf and Cassandra tied their lives together years earlier, it was unlikely that they would choose to return Wulf's soul. After all, the ceremony to do it would require Wulf to die first and then have the soul returned while it badly burned the person who was returning it. And, of course, in killing Wulf, it would kill Cassie. Too messy.
But, at least now, they have control over his soul themselves. And they can make that choice if they so choose.
Savitar looked at Ash. "Well, once again, you really know how to show a friend a good time. Next time, leave me on the beach." Ash chuckled while Savitar disappeared.
Effy approached Phobos. She smiled. "Well, you certainly look like a different man from the first time I met you."
"Well, it has been a few thousand years. But, all of the credit for any change in me, goes to this one here." He hugged Stef closer to him. "Speaking of men changed by the women they love… how is Achilles?"
The goddess laughed. "That is a story for another time." She hugged Phobos. "Congratulations you two." Then she left.
Stef looked at Phobos, her eyes wide. "The Achilles? She is married to the Achilles?"
"Should I be jealous?" He asked.
Stef chewed on her lip and caressed her stomach. "I think it is a little too late to change my mind."
When she looked in his face, he had a small cheesy smile. But, still she was not sure what he was thinking. "Are you happy baby?"
"I am terrified. But, I can't think of anything that could make me happier than starting a family with you." He kissed her softly, deeply. He wanted to revel in having her back in his arms.
Acheron then flashed Phobos and Stef back to their room in the New Orleans house.
"Congratulations. Now, can we now take a break from the end of the world crap for a while?" Ash shook his head and left.