Arthur Quinn and Hell's Keeper by Alan Early

… awful!’
    â€˜It’s all right, Drysi. You’re safe with me now. We’ll go away – away from all of this nonsense – just you and me.’
    â€˜But where?’
    Just then, a waitress came over. She was a squat and tubby woman, with crimson, curly hair. She was wearing a pair of thick glasses on her nose and had another pair on a gold chain around her neck. The apron she wore matched the tablecloths and she had a little notepad in hand, ready to take Fenrir’s order.
    â€˜Just a coffee, please,’ he said and waited until she returned to the kitchen to continue talking. He faced Drysi once more. ‘You have a new wheelchair,’ he noticed. ‘And new clothes.’
    â€˜We found them in an abandoned house. When I was still with him. He got sick of me soon after. He said–’ She stopped, choking on her words. ‘I was lucky, I guess. Lucky to get away.’
    â€˜You were. Last night, you spoke to me in a dream. You’ve never been able to do that before. How did you do it?’
    â€˜I don’t know, Father. I think I just needed to find you so much that you appeared in my dream. I hoped and prayed it was real.’
    â€˜And it was.’
    â€˜Yes.’
    The waitress returned with the mug of coffee. When she saw that the little jug of milk on the table was dry, she took it and promised to fill it up.
    â€˜I have a boat by the dock – we can leave now if you’re ready,’ Fenrir told Drysi as the waitress walked off.
    â€˜No, we can’t, Father. Not yet, anyway.’
    â€˜What? Why?’
    â€˜Loki was looking for Hel. It became an obsession. He’ll do anything to find her and if he does then it won’t matter where we go. It’ll never be far enough.’ She leaned forward over the tabletop and whispered conspiratorially. ‘You said you knew where Hel was. We need to get to her before Loki does.’
    â€˜But–’
    â€˜Please, Father. I’ve seen what Loki can do. I’ve seen the terrible things he does to humans. We have to stop him ever doing it again.’
    â€˜Drysi, I’m not sure–’
    â€˜We’re the only ones that can put an end to it, Father,’ she said, pleading now. ‘If we don’t, think of all the people Loki will kill using Hel’s power. Think of what he’ll do to the world.’
    Fenrir looked away from her, ashamed of himself. She was right. What kind of craven coward had he become? How could he think of just running away? But she didn’t understand. She didn’t know the full truth.
    â€˜You don’t need to worry, Drysi,’ he said, meeting her gaze once more.
    â€˜Of course I do! Hel–’
    â€˜Hel is of no danger to anyone.’
    â€˜What! What do you mean? Where is she, Father? Where is Hel?’
    And Fenrir told her. He told her the truth about Hel. He told her exactly where he’d hidden Hel all those years ago and exactly why she could never help Loki. When he was done, the waitress returned with the jug of milk. ‘Will you have anything else?’
    â€˜No thanks,’ Drysi replied, the corners of her lips slowly turning up in a satisfied grin. ‘I’ve got all I need.’
    â€˜Is that a fact?’ the waitress said, suddenly with Loki’s voice. She turned to smirk at Fenrir but he was staring with disbelief at Drysi.
    I should have known, a voice screamed inside his head. I should have known!
    He kicked back his chair and before it could hit the floor he had the flick-knife out and ready. But as he swung his arm towards the Loki-waitress, the steel of the blade turned bright red. Heat coursed through the handle, scorching the palm of his hand enough to make him drop it. By the time it landed on the ground, the blade had completely melted, resembling flowing magma, and flames licked all along the wooden handle.
    Before he could turn to run, the heel of the waitress’ hand