6. Fenrir

This felt really good. He’d been expecting ice cold water to wash with. It was what he’d always been given before. It hadn’t bothered him. With the state that his body was in, ice cold water didn’t sound good. Not to mention this body didn’t have the fur like his real body did. Here he was trapped in this human form, and it felt cramped. To small but he’d have to deal with it as long as the chains were still around him and the sword stuck in his mouth. Which as a human his chains appeared as tattoos. 

He couldn’t speak, couldn’t howl just make low sounds of whimpering or growls that were deeper in his throat. He couldn’t even talk mind to mind. All he could remember forever was the blackness, and what felt like sleep but wasn’t. Stuck in a tomb that he’d been forced into by Odin and others. His anger and hate were strong, but so was his depression and desperation. 

Fuck the Norns and their inscription of what he and his siblings would do. His other two siblings were sent to the farthest reaches. Banished for what was written and the end of times. Real nice, so he didn’t get to live because he was predestined to start the end? To kill the king of Asgard Odin. You know what, at this time he would like to kill that pompous asshole for what he’d done. What all of them had done even if it meant his death and it would. Anyone who knew about him or Ragnarok would probably attempt to kill him onsite now. Or worse, shove him back in that prison box.

Did he think it would all end? No, at least not all the worlds, but it would be an end of Asgard and a couple other of the nine worlds. But there were many more than their nine. He was angry at being punished for being who and what he was. Fenrir, and he wanted his wolf back. Could feel him there wanting to come out but his body was far to weak yet to change. Even if he could, he couldn’t become his large form, just a shadow of himself. One more thing he was stripped of. 

He was still starving, his body needed more calories to heal and regenerate. She’d had a lot but he needed more and had he been wolf, he might have just eaten her. He didn’t trust her. He didn’t trust any of them, they had tricked him into his chains. Then refused to remove them, going back on their word. Then he was shoved below the earth and a sword rammed into his mouth when he howled in protest and anger. Now his voice mental and physical was silenced until it was removed. The blade stuck in his tongue as a human ring at the moment. The chains part of his skin keeping his form small.

He scrubbed himself and felt more alive being clean but still angry and bitter inside. He glanced at the mortal woman. She was smart, she didn’t know what he was clearly by her questions. She kept talking about help. But he knew one thing about mortal humans, their help ended with his kind headless or burning. Like he’d allow that, and this world had changed greatly. He was part god so his mind assimilated what it needed to rather quickly like her language. He hadn’t understood it at first but now did. He didn’t know right away what this dwelling was. Then realized it was a home. This was far different than before. His other half was giant, technically he was still a god in the sense of the word but with a few differences. 

This woman, she knew something about things he could tell. But she wasn’t the people he’d ever seen or dealt with before. The language was far different than old. She dressed oddly and her looks and demeanors were far different. For one thing she was clearly a single female living alone in this dwelling. Last he remembered mortal females were kept at home until given to their husband. So that was odd too, was there something wrong with her?

He wanted to keep an eye on her, and he needed her at the moment. She pulled the first sword out to free him which meant he now had an obligation. So it was a good thing he wasn’t his other form and then ate her out of hunger. He would owe her for freeing him, seeing as it was done before his brother Jormungand shook the world to free him. Which he’d been sensing the quakes as of late and the cracks to his jail cell. However the first sword had been pulled loose not shook loose.

He’d see just what kind of mortal this woman was. Find out what it was she wanted to get their contract fulfilled for the help she gave freeing him. Perhaps she could remove the sword in his mouth. Two things he needed for it to be removed, trust and unselfishness. They had to reach in trusting he wasn’t going to harm them. He had to trust they weren’t going to use it on him or the world. Which led to the unselfish act, removing it not for gain. The only being that could take the sword out of his mouth without trust or selflessness was Surt. because the damn thing belonged to him. It was stolen from him and jammed into Fenrir’s mouth to silence him. Seeing it was the blade that would set the world on fire, what was in his mouth like a human tongue ring currently was like a nuclear weapon in magic standards. The gods made a good choice there as of where to place it. Just sucked it was in his freaking mouth.

They had sealed him in that damn cave after silencing him and then using old magic to give him mortal form. They shoved him in that tomb of rock. To wait until Jormungand managed to shake the world and free him or mortals to find him. Mortals, they always ended up with the free choices. They always seemed to like to pick destruction of others. They had chosen this earth realm to chain him too because as they were mortal. They tended to care more about staying alive. Second his tomb was sealed off from all but mortals as they were under different set of rules with the higher power. So that would stop Surt from finding him and yanking the sword from his jaws and then being given control of him. 

“Are you almost finished?” She asked in a neutral tone, which brought him back to here and now. He’d been paying attention to her. She clearly wanted to clean or whatever, but she’d made the choice to open the lid. So she was his mortal until his debt was paid.

He looked down at the knobs there and remembered how she worked them and shut them off. The water that had come off of him had been filthy. Now he was clean and so was the hair on his head. He’d like it off. Not that he cared about fur, he clearly was covered in it in his other form. This one. It felt heavy and the stuff on his face was itchy. He’d seen others shave before with a blade, but she called it a razor. He wasn’t sure just what scissors were. 

He stepped out and she handed him a towel, it was rather fluffy. He knew what a towel was just never used one. Typically he shook himself dry. He rubbed it over his head and body, felt kind of nice. He liked the smell of it and inhaled. Smelled like her a bit, or whatever she used on her clothes, a nice smell. So much better then stone and wet earth. There was a sharp buzz and his body tensed and looked toward where it had come from.

“That would be more food, just stay here okay? I don’t think others should see you just yet. No offense but you’re kind of… unstable.” She seemed to think about her words and then just blurted it out. Yeah well, you be locked up for a couple millennia for simply being who you are. Fine he didn’t care if other mortals knew about him or not. He didn’t trust one of them. He was obligated to the one in front of him, and he watched her walk out of the room. Then followed, he wanted to keep an eye on her in case she was up to something. 

Tamara glanced back, and then went to the front door. She opened it and there were two people there carrying the pizzas and items she ordered. She had them bring it in, and when they saw her and just her they seemed a bit less tense. She didn’t exactly look like a crazy killer.

“We aren’t supposed to enter the house. Even if you’d been in our delivering area.” The first one said and she pointed to the table right inside the door. 

“Just set them there, clearly I can’t carry all of that.” They nodded and put it there. Then she darted to get her purse and gave them both an extra tip. She knew that they probably were already on alert and going to talk about the crazy lady in the middle of nowhere alone ordering pizzas claiming to have a party but no cars.

“Thanks!” They both said having a fifty shoved into both their hands.

“No thank you, you have no idea how much I needed the food.” She commented and they left going to their car seeming in good spirits. Probably hoping she called again. 

“Fenrir, I have food like I…” She started out shouting and turned around to him right there. “…promised.” Said in a quitter tone.

“Stop doing that.” She remarked. “You don’t have to come up behind me all creepy like. He ignored her however, grabbed the first box and opened it. Started to eat like the garbage disposal that he was. She grabbed a second box and he reached for it. She held it away from him and gripped his wrist when he would have taken it back.

“I got this food, and I am going to eat too.” She said in a stern tone. “I will only need a couple pieces, you ate everything I have and I got you more.” Tamara met his gaze solidly and he actually let his hand drop. She was surprised, she’d have thought he would just take it and she’d have to fight him on it.

She was hungry though and she took out a couple pieces. Ate them before getting water. She just watched in awe as he ate all of it. Drank nearly all the soda. But she shouldn’t be surprised he’d eaten her bag of sugar. He seemed like a bottomless pit. She was cleaning up the kitchen and looking at the mess. She just grabbed a garbage bag and filled it with all the items over her floor and counter. How he ate what he did and wasn’t sick she would never know. 

It was dark out now by the time she was finished cleaning and he ate everything. He was walking around her house smelling things. And then opened her front door, stepped outside and she was quick to follow him just to see. He started walking around the house in a circle making it wider and wider each time.

“What are you doing?” She asked and he just kept doing what he was, god he still didn’t have any clothes on. She needed to get him something, someone was bound to come over and see him. Or if she needed to go into town and he would have to come with. She went back inside because she doubted she was going to get him in on her own. He was tall and muscular now, looked healthy and alive. 

She checked her email and saw that Max had emailed her. It was very short and made her uneasy because he used their code if things looked unsavory. If there were unsavory people involved that might be watching.

Hope,

I meant to ask you about the birthday party. I might have a couple friends to bring along. Second should I get a gift or play it by ear? How about sky diving lessons? I know how you always wanted to do that. Lol

See you soon,

Max

“Shit.” She said, but at least he was okay. Using the name Hope meant that he was fine, but a sticky situation. His message was saying that what he sent her is clearly a hot item. Some dangerous people are looking for it. Which made her think some kind of cult. He must have been walled up in there to die as a sacrifice or something. How would anyone know about that room unless people regularly went down there? Must be another way in. She typed a message back so that he would know that she understood.

Max

Hey sorry I forgot to tell you I have to cancel/change the party date. And Sky diving? You know I’d rather have a spa date. Guess we will have to play it by ear. I’ll update you when I know the date will actually be. Tell your friends sorry!

Hope

To a normal person the message just read as it was. It wasn’t something you could just decipher. They had learned long ago that working with those that could manipulate energy and magic could just unscramble things. So they made up their own message that would let each other know the danger. Without someone understanding or getting it. Using the name Hope said that you were okay and didn’t see anything dire for yourself, but depending on the type of gift you asked about told you how dangerous the item might be that you had in your possession. Friends stated people looking for it and the risk they posed. 

She pretty much told him that she wasn’t going to let it out of her sight. She wouldn’t ask anyone to take a look at it. She’d play it safe and wait to hear from him, that they might not be able to see each other soon if he was going to be followed. So far it looked like no one knew she had it so that was good. She needed to get some information from Fenrir. She looked up and he was sitting at the other end of the table. Reminded her of that woman for some reason.

“Are there people after you?” She asked point blank, he just gave a kind of nod. She figured that meant yes but sort of. “Look, I deal with rare and special artifacts. I don’t typically work with people and I’m sorry if you were mixed up in something that I don’t get. Your sarcophagus I’d like to know more about, but I deal in neutralizing magic and energies on things. From what I gather  from my colleague, your particular case might be rather dangerous. Or some dangerous people looking. 

He nodded.

“If I ask that you stay here for a short while and have no contact with the outside world can you do that?”

Nod.

“Even if you have loved ones, you can’t contact them. They will be watched.”

Nod.

“I’ll try to figure out what’s going on so that you can be on your way but it might take time. You didn’t really answer before. Are you cursed?” He shook his head and then nodded.

“Sort of? How can you be sort of?” He just stared at her. Fenrir didn’t know how to tell her he wasn’t cursed he was fated to do what he was. Unless for some reason the Norns changed what was inscribed on the tree of life. Which he doubted. Besides he wasn’t going anywhere. Right here was safest while he recovered and he didn’t have anyone to contact at the moment. It was too dangerous right now to see his siblings but he wanted too. He could feel them reaching for him, and he felt another searching, but with the quick intake of food and strength coming back he could block them easily. Plus the sword added a mental block as well.

“Okay, and I need to leave this house.” He shook his head.

“Yes I do.” She said sternly. “I need a new phone and we can’t get food like that all the time. You need clothes and I still need to work to get paid. I might be doing very well for myself but I still work.” He just started at her. She pushed her rather straight blonde hair back away from her face. She was a pretty human he guessed, that was good. Pretty ones people didn’t ask to many questions of. They liked pretty ones more. 

“Right now though it’s gotten late.” Tamara knew she was going to get frustrated with him quick if he was going to keep acting the way that he was.  She took pitty on him again.

“Do you want me to trim your hair?” She asked figuring trying to give an olive branch might make him a little more trusting. Just a nod. She got scissors and a comb and he followed her about and she was kind of annoyed. She told him to just sit and relax.

No.

“God you’re frustrating.” She grumbled. “Here.” She tossed some boxers at him that looked bigger. He needed to stop walking around naked. Though she had a feeling they were going to be tight on him. Max was built more like a runner. 

“Put those on, I need you to stop walking around my house naked.” Seriously she was getting tired of looking at the ceiling. He didn’t seem to care but she did. 

He looked at them and seemed to frown and then dropped them. She moved into the bathroom there as they were still in the spare room. She grabbed a towel and a safety pin, and didn’t even ask him just wrapped it around his hips and he stood there with his gaze narrowed but let her. She pined the towel around his hips.

“Wear that then because I said so.” She moved out of the room and to the kitchen. He was following her and it felt like she had some kind of lost angry dog following her about. “Sit here, so I can do your hair.” She commented and he was slow to do it but did it watching her.

“For crying out loud I’m not going to stab you, you said you wanted it.” She turned on the overhead light and came over to clip his hair. His gaze was unnerving again. So much for building trust. She combed out some of his hair in front and it was rather soft actually. She cut it at a downward angle and the sound of the scissor he suddenly leaned back and grabbed her wrist.

“Just hair, see?” She pointed to the floor and he let go of her. “You have to stay still okay?” She said patiently. Seriously he acted like a wild abused animal. She started cutting his hair and after a short while it was finished and still had some length to it. His hair was on the thicker side and looked much better now. He just stared at her the whole time and didn’t blink. She left the front of his hair with enough length that he could tuck it behind his ears. 

“I have a couple razors if you want to trim your beard and scissors.” She was curious as to what he looked like below it. He just nodded and pointed at her.

“You aren’t going to grab me if I start. It’s going to be close to your face.” She said and he watched her and shrugged. Tamara stood there for a minute meeting his gaze. “You grab me once and we are done understood?” She didn’t care if he had half a beard on his freaking face, she was tired of being grabbed. He nodded.

“Alright.” She started and trimmed it rather close the best she could, then took him to the bathroom and held up the razor.

“How about you do this yourself. Sorry all I have is tropical passion shaving cream. I know it’s not manly but it might help.” Tamara laughed a bit and he looked confused. “I use it for my legs, but it’ll work just as well on your face I think.” He looked down at her legs and frowned. She was wearing pants and he couldn’t see them. 

“Ever shave before?” Tamara said feeling humor. She found it funny putting girly shaving cream on a man’s face. He shook his head.

“Really, where you kept in a closet?” She asked and he shook his head. “Alright I’ll pity you again. Sit.” She pointed to the toilet and he did. She used some of the cream and he crinkled his nose at it but didn’t grab at her. As she shaved his face she thought that he was good looking. If only his gaze didn’t look so harsh, but he’d been through a lot that was easy to tell.

Fenrir watched her work. She didn’t give off anything that would say she was going to do something. That she was deceitful, and it made him just as tense as if she did smell that way. He memorized her scent, peach like and soft. He’d be able to pick her out of a crowd easily. He had a couple choices before him, and it all had to do with the removal of the sword in his mouth. Either he had her remove it and she would be the owner of it, holding the weapon that could bind him with the chains once more. Or he could wait for Surt to find him and that would be the start of the end. The question was how fast did he want to destroy the others and rush to his death? He doubted that she’d done enough research to know what ragnarok really was. If she did, she wouldn’t be standing here helping one of three beings who were going to end the world.