Page 151 of Fallen Gods

But one vision stands out among them all.

A simple note being passed from my father to my mother.

And finally, in secret, to Laufey.

They entrusted her with this message.

And in the end, Laufey entrusted me with Rey.

Power builds and snaps within me, constantly pushing against my restraints. I have to keep Rey safe—I have to control my emotions and figure out a way to get these new abilities calm.

The runes on my back now pulse in my head, repeating their names like a chant over and over again. My blood sings out the location of Mjölnir. It’s like now that the power is free, it’s screaming too much information all at once.

Will the ancients’ whispers inside my head stop once she finds Mjölnir? Would I want them to? I’m overwhelmed, drowning under the weight of so many memories, so many possible future paths, but at the same time,they’rethere. My heart strains at seeing them once again.

My parents.

They’re talking at the edge of a body of water. They stand still, holding each other, staring into water with trepidation, and it takes everything in me not to race over and pull them into my arms. I know this is just a memory, a vision. But it feels so real.

Slowly, they hold out their hands and squeeze drops of blood into the water. I can tell that there’s more, and I try to stay grounded in it, but my head aches, and I can’t calm the hum ofpower long enough to focus.

Suddenly, my vision clears. I know where we’re going next.

The mirror hitting Rey in the head was no accident. My blood sings the location like an ancient hymn on repeat. The Hall of Omrir—the water.

The lake.

Down.

Down.

Where the souls rest.

“Rey.” My voice echoes through the forest. “The Hall of Omrir, the water. It’s at the bottom.”

My eyes burn as my body remembers them. My parents’ last goodbye, their tears of sorrow and rage. It’s all Odin’s fault.

My mind screams for revenge.

I drop to my knees as anger starts to wrap itself around me, the power all-consuming. How easy it would be to kill Odin. Right now, right here.

The runes are disabled. He’s vulnerable.

I need to kill him.

Strength howls alive beneath my skin, demanding to be seen—to be used.

No. I press my hands to my temples, gritting my teeth as a roar escapes my mouth. The air around us shakes while the ground itself moans, and my body shudders under the weight of it all.

“Aric.” Rey’s voice is barely above a whisper. “I have to swim?”

Her fear nearly fills the area surrounding us; it’s thick with it. I can sense it, taste it. She doesn’t want to go into the water.

She’s never been more scared than this moment.

I reach for her, then snap my hand back. I can barely control my power, and the last thing I want to do is hurt her when I’m trying to comfort her. “You can do this.”

My body burns with awareness of the power surging inside it. I’m running out of time.