The Runes Universe: Imperfect Souls (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  “Yeah, come by Longmont Park around 4:00 p.m. to hang with us,” Mack said. “We can use another player in the off season.”

  I nodded.

  “Cool. See ya,” Mack said.

  Liam’s girlfriend and friends stole glances at me while he ushered them to another table.

  “Who’s that?” Ashley asked. “He’s new. Does he play on your team?”

  “No, he’s a transfer student. I don’t think he’s too bright,” Liam said.

  “You should introduce us,” Ashley said. “Kayla likes them dumb.”

  “If they look like that, I do,” the other girl, whom I assumed to be Kayla, said.

  I blocked the rest of their conversation and headed toward the exit. Before leaving, I noticed a coffee concession. Reeve was tying on a light-brown smock. She replaced the woman who was finished serving one of the students.

  Stepping in line, I studied her. Her hair appeared lighter now with a soft red mixed into the ash-brown. Small shadows circled her eyes, but she covered it up well with a touch of purplish makeup that complemented her blouse. Her pale skin let me know she hadn’t spent much time outdoors.

  “What can I get…?” Her hazel eyes met mine. “What are you doing here?”

  “Nice to see you again, Reeve,” I said.

  “What are you doing in my school?” she asked again.

  “I’m a transfer,” I said. “I’m taking classes.”

  She pursed her lips together and exhaled a long breath. “What do you want?”

  “One of those.” I pointed to a picture of the frozen drinks. “Frozen cappuccino.”

  “You don’t look like that type of guy.” She started making the drink.

  “What type of guy is that?”

  “The type that’s more into the arts.” She handed me the drink in exchange for my debit card. “You don’t look like an art major.”

  “What do I look like?”

  She stared at me and clicked her tongue when she opened her mouth. “A dumb jock. Next!”

  Her hostility intrigued me. I left the line, wondering why this one female seemed to be the only one who was disgusted with me.

  The next class, The History of the Renaissance, flew by, as I rather enjoyed that more than the morning session of Intro to Greek Mythology, although the female teacher often paused mid-sentence when she looked in my direction. That was the expectation I had when dealing with woman, so why had Reeve treated me as if I was an imbecile?

  After spending the next two hours running through the forest, I decided to head to the Longmont Park to enjoy some cool air and see if the guys were any good at their chosen sport.

  The temperature never dipped this low in Asgard, but I enjoyed the change. It was much colder in Hel. Although I’d never been, I’d felt the icy chill each time someone opened a portal to and from that realm. Here, in Kayville, it was merely cool, not freezing by any means.

  I created a portal into an empty part of the park. Several men played Frisbee in an open field nearby. Mack and several other guys tossed the ball in another field. Some girls—including Liam’s girl, Ashley—sat in the bleachers off the side of the field, watching them.

  “Look who decided to join us.” Mack grinned and slapped Liam on his back.

  “Great.” Liam half-smiled. “He’s probably going to show us up, too.”

  “Bro, stop being so damn insecure,” Mack said.

  “Don’t worry over the issue,” I said. “I’m not here to find a consort.”

  Liam, Mack, and Tate stared at me and then busted out laughing.

  “See, bro, he’s not after a consort.” Mack tried to mimic my accent but failed miserably.

  “Who talks like that?” Tate asked.

  “Someone who probably gets more action than you,” Mack said. “Dude, let’s play.”

  Mack tossed the ball to me.

  “Let’s see what you’ve got.” Tate ran down the field.

  Once he reached the far end of the field, I tossed it directly to him with ease.

  “No fucking way.” Liam shook his head.

  We continued to toss the ball and skirmished with a few more guys. They hadn’t scored a single goal, but their skills weren’t on par with ours. Mack was a competent linebacker, as was Liam. Tate caught the ball a decent amount of the time but wasn’t quick enough for my taste. Then again, magic played a role in Asgard, so given the lack of it here, these guys were good enough.

  I even allowed the others to tackle me a few times. Now I know how Immortals and Valkyries felt trying to fit in with these people.

  Having women watch us from the bleachers was intrusive. Most women in Asgard participated or spent their time elsewhere. The only time anyone observed us was during our combat training.

  “Man, you gotta get the coach to see this guy,” one of our opponents said.

  Mack smacked me on the back. “No shit.”

  “How about it, Vali?” Liam asked. “Want to play football with us this season?”

  “I’ll think on it,” I said. I had no interest in participating, but I didn’t want to hear their incessant banter about it.

  “Looks like the Fall Conquest can’t get enough of you, Tate.” Mack laughed.

  “What’s the matter? Can’t get rid of her?” Liam asked. “Maybe our boy Tate has given up playing the field after all.”

  Mack grabbed Tate around the neck. “Is that it? Are you getting ready to be whipped like our man Liam?”

  “I’m not whipped.” Liam rolled his eyes. “I have good taste.”

  “Fuck me.” Tate grunted and then ran off the field toward the bleachers.

  “What’s a Fall Conquest?” I asked.

  “I don’t know if you’re cool enough to be let in on our little game.” Mack tilted his head up, studying me. “I’m messing with you.”

  “If Vali gets let in on the deal, everyone will lose,” Liam said.

  “What do you care? You don’t even play anymore.” Mack shook his head. “You see, bro, each semester we choose a potential conquest as a type of competition between us players. A girl that hasn’t dated and seems like a total stuck-up bitch. We each contribute fifty dollars to the pot and the one who breaks that semester’s conquest wins.”

  “Breaks?” I asked.

  “The guy who gets her to have sex,” Mack said. “We haven’t picked the Spring Conquest yet, but we are planning to meet on Saturday to discuss it.”

  “You bet to see who can get the girl in bed?” They were more barbaric than I had thought.

  “Tate, there, won the Fall Conquest, but she can’t seem to get over him.” Mack looked toward Tate.

  The girl standing by him was Reeve.

  Chapter 3

  A minute into their heated discussion, Reeve slapped him. The guys all laughed, except for me, and Reeve glared at us. Our eyes met. Her face reddened, and she walked off. Curiosity filled me as to the content of their conversation. Perhaps she cared for him and found out he’d used her in their stupid game.

  “Tate got whacked good,” Mack said.

  “That is why I’m perfectly happy with Ashley,” Liam said.

  The girls on the bleachers giggled at the scene unfolding. Instead of going to aid a fellow woman, they had sat by and done nothing.

  Tate returned, rubbing his face. “Did you see that bitch?”

  “The entire park saw it.” Liam smiled. “She clocked you good.”

  “Of all the past conquests, I think she might be the feistiest.” Mack picked up his gear. “What’s up with her anyway? Didn’t you break it off clean?”

  “Yeah. I thought I did anyway.” Tate picked up his ball and sweatshirt. “She’s crazy.”

  “Was it worth the thousand dollars?” Liam asked.

  “Was it worth the new rims on my car?” Tate’s pensive face lit up. “Absolutely. Next time, I’m going for a new sound system.”

  “Aren’t you the confident one,” Mack said. “Are you in, Vali?”

  “Wh
at?” Tate asked. “You’re including Vali Almighty now?”

  “Scared of the competition, lover boy?” Mack asked. “So, what about it?”

  They waited for my answer.

  “No.” I walked off the field.

  Mack ran to catch up with me. “No, you’re not going to compete for the Spring Conquest? Come on by this Saturday and meet the rest of the guys.”

  “No.” I stopped. “Do you ever think about the girl?” I tried to appeal to his moral code, if he had one at all.

  “It’s not like that,” Mack said. “They feel great getting the attention. It’s a gift to be courted by the football team.”

  “I don’t play juvenile games.” I continued through the park, and Mack didn’t pursue me. From the look on Reeve’s face, she hadn’t enjoyed being the Fall Conquest one little bit.

  ***

  On the way to my first class on Tuesday, I received fewer stares than the previous day. Many pamphlets lined a corkboard near the entrance of the building. One caught my eye. Archery tryouts this afternoon. One walk-on opening available.

  “Archery is for losers.” Mack walked by and swung around to face me. “You should try a real man’s sport.”

  They continued down the hallway. During Ragnarok, they wouldn’t be throwing footballs at their enemies. Few Mortals came to Asgard with archery experience, but they all learned it there on the fields. It was part of their training. I was their instructor.

  “Hi,” a young Immortal woman with invisibility runes whispered in my ear. I jerked my head around and stared at her. “See, told you.”

  Another woman joined her but without her invisibility runes engaged. “So you did. I’m Maxie, and this is Evie. We’ve not seen you around here before. It’s good to see another Immortal in the halls during the day.”

  Evie disappeared around the corner and returned visible.

  “I transferred in,” I lied. “Started yesterday.”

  “We had a bet on whether you were an Immortal or not,” Evie said. “I said you were since you’re so gorgeous. Maxie didn’t think so.”

  I moved away from the doorway and walked down the hall toward my first class for the day. “You didn’t think I was Immortal or gorgeous?” I asked Maxie.

  She blushed. “Immortal. We saw you yesterday and you didn’t engage runes once, so I figured you weren’t one.”

  “I didn’t have a need,” I said.

  “Where are you from?” Evie asked. “We have a bet on that, too.”

  “I sure hope you’re not betting money.” I raised my eyebrow. “I’m from the Netherlands.”

  “Damn, we were both wrong,” Maxie said. “I guessed Germany, and she said Norway.”

  “He’s so tall,” Evie said. “I was close.”

  “Germany’s closer than Norway.” Maxine smiled.

  Evie shrugged. “So, what brings you to Kayville?”

  “It seems like a nice, quiet place to be,” I said. “Why wouldn’t anyone want to live here?”

  “Evie, we’re going to be late for class.” Maxie’s shoulders tensed.

  “Have lunch with us in the cafeteria so we can get to know each other.” Evie grinned and followed Maxie down another hallway.

  Although I knew Kayville to be active with Immortals, I hadn’t counted on encountering many along the way. I was hoping to avoid them, actually. The fewer who knew about me, the better.

  After my Economical Statistical Theory class, I headed to the cafeteria. I was going to get Eirik back one day. What happened to simple, quantifiable math classes? He couldn’t make it easy on me? Either I needed a tutor who knew this type of material, or I would have to rune the teacher to fix my grade at the end of the semester. Runing wouldn’t be challenging enough for me.

  Evie and Maxie waved me to their table once I got through the hectic food line. On my way, I peered toward the coffee corner, but Reeve wasn’t there.

  “How’s your second day so far?” Maxie asked. “What classes are you taking?”

  I passed her my schedule. They both read it together. Their lunches consisted of salads. Lettuce tasted too dull to me, so I never understood the appeal.

  “We’re not in any of those classes,” Evie said. “I can’t even fathom what Economical Statistical Theory is about.”

  “What’s your major?” Maxie asked.

  “History,” I said. “I’m fascinated with the past.”

  “Heck, you’ve lived it. How old are you anyway?” Evie asked.

  “I’m twenty-four,” I lied. These are questions I wasn’t expecting to be asked.

  “Your real age?” Maxie asked.

  “Old,” I said.

  “We aren’t that old, you know. Maxie is short for Maxine and Evie for Evelyn. We shortened them to fit in today,” Evie said. “We were witches turned in the ’50s. This is the first time either of us has ever attended college.”

  They both looked to be in their early twenties, so college suited them. “How come you haven’t attended before now?”

  “We were best friends growing up, and becoming Immortal gave us the opportunity to travel the world easily, once we mastered the portals.” Maxie winked at Evie. “We’ve taken our time seeing everything and helping Mortals along the way.”

  “Most other Immortals we’ve come across have been a pleasure to talk with,” Evie said. “We enjoy learning about their experiences and getting to see firsthand the things that actually happened in history. Much better than reading from a textbook, don’t you agree?”

  I nodded, chewing on my fifth taco. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Reeve taking up her post behind the coffee counter. “Do you know a lot about the students here?”

  They followed my gaze. “Some,” Maxie said. “We’ve been here for only one semester. This is our first year here.”

  “Who is she?” Evie asked.

  “I was hoping you could tell me,” I said.

  Evie shrugged. “I’ve got nothing.”

  “Do you have a crush already?” Maxie asked. “She’s pretty, but I think she has her eye on someone else.”

  Reeve threw her apron down and chased after Tate, who was exiting the cafeteria.

  “She utterly dislikes me.” The urge to follow her itched at me so much that I became irritated with the notion.

  “Now that I don’t believe at all,” Evie said. “Every girl in this cafeteria is staring at you.”

  “Love does strange things to Mortals,” I said, without realizing I’d said it aloud.

  “Yes, it does,” Evie said and smiled at Maxie.

  It dawned on me that they were lovers. “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  “It’s no big deal now, but back in the ’50s, it was awful,” Maxie said. “They took Evie away from me when she was sixteen and placed her in an asylum in order to correct her behavior. All because she told her parents she was in love with me.”

  Evie’s eyes glossed over, and a frown formed on her face.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “People can be cruel.”

  “They can. It’s all in the past and over now. Isn’t it, sweetie?” Maxie patted Evie’s hand.

  Evie shook her thoughts away and smiled. “Yes, it is.”

  “Now that you know a little about us, do you care to share something about you?” Maxie asked.

  “What do you want to know?” My stomach twisted, and it felt like knots formed.

  Maxie shrugged. “You haven’t smiled once since we’ve seen you. You seem sad.”

  “I’ve always tended to keep to myself. I didn’t have a great childhood.” I didn’t have any childhood—no friends to play with or trips to go on. “I had to grow up rather quickly.” From birth to adulthood took less than one day, so that wasn’t a lie at all.

  “That’s so sad.” Evie grabbed my hand and squeezed. It felt oddly comforting.

  Having two women to talk with who weren’t interested in my body was enjoyable. “We all experience the circumstances we’re supposed to.”
/>   We finished our lunches and threw away our trash. Evie and Maxie walked hand in hand, and I found myself experiencing a bit of jealousy. They seemed to have a true loving relationship, and had beaten the odds of a generation who hadn’t accepted them.

  “Maybe we can do this again soon,” Maxie said.

  “That’d be lovely.” I bowed before realizing what I’d done.

  “You are old, aren’t you?” Evie asked.

  “Sometimes I forget how old,” I said. “I’ll see you around.”

  We headed in opposite directions, as their class was in another building. English Literature after 1850 was my last class of the day. Unlike my other classes, this was held in a lecture hall where the seats were elevated to view the stage from all sides.

  I, again, gravitated toward the farthest from the lecture podium. Watching the other students pile in, I saw Reeve enter. She took a seat up front. Her eyes were red and puffy from having cried not long ago. Anger started boiling inside me.

  The male professor went over the syllabus and expectations for the class. He hadn’t taken the full time allotted, and I was overjoyed when he let us out early.

  Reeve dashed out the door...the first one to leave. I raced to catch up with her on the front lawn.

  “Reeve,” I called out to her.

  She stopped, turned around, and faced me.

  “What?” Her annoyed expression caught me off guard.

  “We are taking the same class. English Literature after 1850. I don’t think you noticed me since I sat in the back.” I studied the smooth lines outlining her pink, glossy lips. The tiniest scent of strawberries hit me when she opened her mouth.

  “I saw you yesterday. If you think I’ll give into their scare tactics, you’re wrong.” She stiffened and crossed her arms.

  “I—”

  “Don’t try to pretend you’re anything other than a worthless jock. Leave me alone.” She turned and walked away from me.

  That didn’t go well at all.

  Chapter 4

  “I’m Coach Klein. One of our archers broke his arm, and we are looking for his replacement.” Coach Klein paced in front of the metal bleachers. His school logoed polo shirt clung to his immense belly.