Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
So when Mor Astrid gave us the things she held in her arms, which turned out to be roomy hooded cloaks, I felt briefly reassured. As I pulled the soft fabric around my naked body, though, the relief mixed itself thoroughly with trepidation. The cloak offered a semblance of modesty, but it also signaled that we were about to venture beyond the familiar confines of the underground complex—where of course my modesty would once again be ripped away.
Mor Astrid’s weathered hands adjusted my hood, her touch surprisingly gentle. “Remember, child,” she murmured, her pale blue eyes holding mine, “you carry the wisdom of Yggdrasil within you now. Let it guide you.”
I nodded, gulping against the lump in my throat. The events of the past few days swirled in my mind—the intense pleasure, the searing pain, the mind-bending visions. It all seemed like a dream, yet the soreness in my body and the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders were undeniably real.
Sven and Erik led us through winding corridors I hadn’t seen before. The roughhewn stone walls gradually gave way to more finished surfaces, and I realized we were ascending. The air grew cooler, carrying a hint of diesel and rubber that seemed jarringly modern after days surrounded by ancient Viking aesthetics.
Finally, we emerged into what appeared to be an ordinary underground parking garage. The sudden shift in environment felt disorienting. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a harsh glow over rows of nondescript white vans. The concrete floor echoed with our footsteps, the sound bouncing off the low ceiling and blank walls.
“This garage,” Sven explained in a low voice, “ostensibly serves as storage for a multinational corporation’s spare vehicles. In reality, of course, it conceals the entrance to our sanctuary.”
I glanced around, trying to spot any sign of the hidden entrance we had just used. But the walls appeared seamless, offering no hint of the ancient wonders that lay beyond.
As we walked between the rows of vans, Sven’s large hand came to rest on the small of my back, a gesture both possessive and reassuring. “Listen carefully, my völur,” he said, his voice just loud enough for Camille and me to hear. “What I’m about to tell you is crucial.”
I nodded, focusing all my attention on his words despite the nervous flutter in my stomach.
“In order to ensure the Guard accepts your cover story,” Sven continued, “we must create a data trail that matches it perfectly. From the moment we leave this garage, you girls will be visible to the kind of surveillance satellites and drones the Guard has access to.”
My eyes widened at this revelation. The thought of being watched from above, our every move potentially scrutinized by unseen eyes, sent a chill down my spine.
“Furthermore,” Sven added, his tone growing even more serious, “it’s quite possible they’ll even be able to look and hear inside the van.”
Erik opened the back doors of one of the vans to reveal an empty compartment with benches along both sides. I saw that the benches featured webbing restraints with Velcro closures, and I swallowed hard.
“Take off your cloaks, then go ahead and get in,” Erik told us. “As long as we’re in the garage, the Guard can’t hear or see us. We’ll brief you further once we’ve got you properly restrained.”
I looked at Camille, my heart pounding. Her dark eyes had gone wide with fear and uncertainty, a match for my own emotions. We hesitated for a moment, clutching our cloaks tightly around our bodies.
“You didn’t tell us the mission would start so soon,” Camille accused Erik, her voice trembling slightly amid her attempt at defiance.
Erik’s expression softened slightly. “We wanted you girls to get a good night’s sleep,” he explained, his tone gentler than I had come to expect from him. “You’ll need your strength for what’s to come.”
Camille’s brow furrowed, and I could see the conflict playing out across her face. Part of her wanted to submit, to trust in Erik’s judgment, but another part—the rebellious spirit that had initially caught Erik’s eye—bristled at being kept in the dark.
“But we’re not ready,” Camille protested, her voice rising slightly. “We haven’t had enough training, we don’t know enough about—”
“Enough,” Erik cut her off, his tone sharpening. His eyes flashed dangerously as he regarded Camille. “Do you want a whipping before we even leave, girl?”
I saw Camille flinch at his words, her body instinctively curling in on itself. But beneath the fear in her eyes, I recognized something else—something I knew also stared out from my own gaze when I looked at Sven. Despite her protests, despite her fear and uncertainty, Camille loved Erik helplessly. Just as I loved Sven.
The realization hit me like a physical blow. We were utterly, hopelessly devoted to these men who had captured us, trained us, and were now sending us into danger. It defied all logic, went against everything I had ever believed about myself. Yet I couldn’t deny the truth of it.