The car glided through the streets, silent in the muffling snow. I could barely see anything through the tinted windows, but soon, we pulled into a parking lot next to a three-story stone building. The driver opened the doors for us, and motioned toward the building’s doors.
The first floor housed a medical clinic. Odd, I thought, because the first floor of the building the Wild Hunt was in also homed an urgent care clinic. We took the elevator to the second floor, stepping into the lobby of Mielikki’s Arrow, a sister organization to the Wild Hunt. The receptionist—a blond bombshell who reminded me of some Norwegian goddess—was sitting behind the counter. She smiled, and the entire room lit up.
“Welcome to Mielikki’s Arrow. Lord Kuippana, it’s so nice to see you again.”
I glanced at Kipa but he didn’t seem fazed by her beauty and ample assets, which were straining at her low-cut dress.
“Good evening, Katia. Will you let Lady Mielikki know we’re here?” he said.
She rose from her chair. It was then I realized she wasn’t just built, she was built. Her biceps and shoulder muscles were well toned and broad, and her calves looked like she was a professional body-builder. I knew she wasn’t one of the Fae, but I wasn’t sure what she was.
Kipa motioned to the sofa and chairs in the waiting area. The entire room was painted in a soft green, and two windows overlooked the street below, their shades a creamy ivory. As we settled in, Kipa draped his arm around me.
“You nervous?” he whispered.
I shrugged. “It’s not like I haven’t met the gods before—I know Herne, and Morgana and Cernunnos, and of course, Arawn and Cerridwen. But there’s a magical feel to this agency that I don’t think I’ve noticed in the Wild Hunt.”
“That’s probably because Mielikki works magic in a way that Herne never has. She’s a goddess of the Fae, and you’d probably notice this sort of magic more at—say—Morgana’s castle. She and Mielikki inhabit the same sphere and mirror each other in a number of ways.”
I was about to ask another question when Katia returned.
“Please follow me,” she said.
We followed her to a back room—it looked like a break room, with a microwave, a refrigerator, and a sink—very much the standard setup. Standing behind a long table was Mielikki. I recognized her immediately, though I had never met her.
Like most of the gods, Mielikki was tall—she stood probably about six-four and her black hair flowed in waves down to her ass. She was very pale, almost a pale green, and her eyes sparkled like pale amethysts. She was wearing a long violet gown, almost sheer so that at first I thought I could see her naked body beneath the material, but then, upon looking again, I realized I could see her curves, but not her actual body.
She was blinged out like nobody’s business—gold and silver chains around her neck and her wrists, rings on her fingers. A circlet of silver, with silver leaves and gemstones embedded within the leaves, surrounded her head, and in the very center over her forehead, the circlet contained a shimmering moonstone that radiated an icy blue from deep within. But despite the feminine gown and the jewelry, behind all of that, beat the heart of a huntress. I could feel her, ready to stalk and hunt and pounce. Instinctively, I knew that if Mielikki aimed an arrow at anyone, she would never miss.
She graciously motioned for us to be seated. Kipa inclined his head in a semi-bow and it suddenly hit me, they were both from Kalevala. They were both from the world of the gods. I was so used to Kipa my boyfriend that sometimes I forgot that he was also a god, and that he was wild and powerful beyond what I saw every day.
“Lord Kipa, introduce me to your companions.” Mielikki’s voice trilled over the words and I found myself enchanted. I could listen to her read a grocery list, if she always spoke like that.
“Lady, may I introduce my consort, Raven BoneTalker, and her mother, Phasmoria, Queen of the Bean Sidhe?”
If she was surprised, Mielikki didn’t show it. She turned to me and held out her hand. “Well met, Raven BoneTalker. You walk the roads of the dead, do you not?”
I took her hand, surprised by how strong and cool her fingers were, like a summer brook on a chilly night. “I’m a bone witch, yes.”
“Then we’ve traveled through the same lands at times. And this is your mother?” She bent her head, acknowledging my mother. “Queen Phasmoria, well met. I’ve heard of you and I’m grateful to be able to put a face to the name.” Again, she held out her hand.
My mother shook hands, though I could sense some sort of hesitation there. I wasn’t sure why, but then the energy vanished and we were all sitting down.
Mielikki motioned to Katia, who was still waiting. “Coffee, please.” She glanced at us. “What would you like to drink? We can make almost anything.”
I gave her a tentative smile. “A triple peppermint mocha?”
“’Tis the time of the year for good cheer,” Mielikki said, laughing. “Yes, we can make that happen. Phasmoria? Kipa?”
My mother asked for a black coffee, and Kipa asked for a caramel macchiato. Mielikki turned back to Katia. “Two peppermint mochas, one large black coffee, and a caramel macchiato.”
Katia headed over to the counter and began to fix our drinks. Mielikki leaned back in her chair and it struck me how incredibly beautiful she was. There was a magnetism about her and I began to understand why Kipa had made such a stupid move. I was mostly straight, but seeing Mielikki made me wonder about what it would be like to— Whoa, hold on there, cowgirl.
I stopped that train of thought the moment I realized I was thinking it. It wasn’t that I thought fantasy was wrong, but I wasn’t sure if she—or her assistant—could read minds.
“So,” the goddess said, “Kipa said you need to use our portal to Kalevala. What are your plans for your trip, if you can share?”
Katia brought over our drinks—she was quick and efficient—and then returned to stand near the sink, waiting for Mielikki’s orders.
I glanced at Kipa. “We’re going to Kalevala to talk to Väinämöinen. I need to learn a spell from him, if he’ll teach it to me.”
That was the first time Mielikki looked surprised. “Well, then, that’s an undertaking. What do you need to learn?”
I told her about the situation and what Dek had said about the aztrophyllia.
“Those are dangerous creatures—I know of them. I’d offer to come take care of it but I’m heavily involved in the war against the Dragonni and am on my way to a meeting in a few minutes. But if you can’t find the help you need, have Kipa contact me again.” She stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must fly. But Katia will take you to the portal. Merry meet, and good fortune to you all.”
As she started to leave the room, she paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Kipa, don’t lose this woman. She’s a match for you. I mean it.” And with that, she vanished out the door.
Half an hour later, after we’d had our coffee and the chill had dissipated, Katia returned to the break room to lead us down to the bottom floor, then out the door and around back of the building. There were two massive fir trees, and I could sense that there was a portal between them, but it was well cloaked.