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)
Matthew’s expression grew somber, the momentary lightness fading from his face. He led us toward a raised observation platform at the edge of the cavern, where digital displays showed various aspects of the project in meticulous detail.
“The economic collapse has entered an unpredictable phase,” he said, his tone shifting to that of the analyst, the strategist, rather than the dominant male who had claimed shared ownership of my body. “Our models suggest things will eventually become very bad—worse than most people can imagine.”
He activated one of the displays with a wave of his hand, bringing up a map of North America overlaid with pulsing red zones and arrows indicating movement patterns.
“The United States as we know it will cease to exist,” he continued, his voice matter-of-fact though his words sounded frankly apocalyptic. “The country will fracture into territories governed by warlords—some corporate, some military, some religious. Through it all, even if we must abandon the New York Mithraeum, as it seems will be necessary, this facility will remain as a beacon of civilization’s highest aspirations, especially with the assistance of the new alliance between the Guard and the Sons of Odin.”
I studied the shifting patterns on the display, the reality of what we faced hitting me with renewed force. The virus that Georgy had planned to unleash on Paris’ power grid had been only the beginning—a test run for what would become widespread chaos as society’s foundations crumbled. Thanks to the information I’d provided, the Guard had been able to neutralize that specific threat, but the larger collapse remained inevitable.
“The Guard’s analysts estimate it will be between fifty and a hundred years before we can safely launch station Athena without interference from a government able to stop the effort,” Matthew continued, his fingers tracing the trajectory lines on another display. “In the meantime, we will work together to make life livable for as many people as we can.”
I nodded, understanding the enormity of what he was saying. The space station wouldn’t save everyone—couldn’t save everyone. But it represented hope, a seed of civilization that might one day blossom anew, either in orbit or upon a healed Earth. Until then, our task was to preserve what we could of humanity’s knowledge, its culture, its highest achievements.
“Mary,” Sven said, his voice drawing my attention away from the displays, “you have a special role to play as the possession both of me and of Matthew.”
I turned to face him, conscious of my nakedness before these fully clothed men. The leather collar around my neck felt suddenly heavier, the symbol of my submission to not one but two masters. In the week since our arrival at Athena base, I had been kept naked at all times, my Columba’s leathers tucked away in my suitcase to be used for discipline and pleasure by my masters as they chose, but the collar had remained.
“The Guard needs your völva skills,” Matthew explained, his dark eyes serious as they held mine. “You present a different view on events from that of our analysts. Your connection to Yggdrasil offers insights our most sophisticated models cannot provide.”
I swallowed hard, both humbled and terrified by the responsibility being placed upon my shoulders. My ability to navigate the branches of the world tree remained unpredictable, dependent on states of consciousness I couldn’t always control. Yet these men—these powerful, dominant men—were building their alliance partly around my visions.
“I understand that you will have childbearing and childrearing to do, as befits your role as Sven’s bed thrall, first and foremost,” Matthew continued, his tone softening slightly. His hand moved from my back to my belly, resting there with gentle possessiveness. “That is important work, essential to our long-term survival.”
The touch sent a shiver through me, a mixture of fear and anticipation at the thought of carrying a child—Sven’s child, for that represented a part of the arrangement. When the time came for my breeding, I would return to Rouen.
“Even through those circumstances, when the time comes,” Sven said, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that made my heart flutter, “Mary will be available when possible to assist in coordinating the efforts of our two groups.”
I nodded, accepting the weight of responsibility that had been placed upon my shoulders. In the span of mere weeks, I had transformed from a confused college student into something I still struggled to fully comprehend—a völva, a vessel, a connection between ancient powers and modern men who sought to preserve civilization through the coming darkness.
Matthew led us away from the observation platform, through a series of gleaming corridors that branched off from the main cavern. Despite being deep underground, there was no sense of claustrophobia, no hint of the crushing weight of earth above us. Instead, the space felt open, almost airy, as if the architects had somehow defied the very nature of the Arctic tundra above us—civilization in the face of nature’s wild challenges.