Guess what?! I finally wrote a thing. It’s been done for almost a month. But let’s say I waited until Fall weather made an appearance, and just ignore my terrible life-juggling skills, ‘kay? (Crud I just now realized I still have my winter theme from last year.)
I am also working on designing and monetizing a website for fairy tale retelling, so keep an eye out for that. (See? More specific than “I’m working on another blog”, so I’m making progress. :P) And writing for a Deadzone group, I might be doing that soon. Totally unrelated to the aforementioned website, but my brain is melting and I feel the need to jam everything I’m doing/going to be doing in one section.
Hurry, read the thing before I start rambling about my knitting projects!
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Part Thirteen
A day and a half later, Loki is well enough to attempt cleaning the house. Painstakingly, he goes through the rooms, one by one. He doesn’t leave, to try and find the woman or his brother. One reason was that, despite his rapid healing, and even with the aid of a few spells, he was still weak. He shudders to think of what would have happened had Thor not still retained a modicum of control. The other was that the woman had left her jacket. It had an inter dimensional pocket, and should she survive her encounter, she would likely return for it.
Stopping to rest every few hours, he manages to clean the house. Out of habit, he heads down into the basement. With a torch in hand [check previous parts, can’t recall if they use electricity or fire], he navigates the maze. At first, he goes along with his head lowered, eyes half closed.
As he nears the room, his head jerks up.
Is that...breathing?
He whispers a spell to enhance his hearing, lowers to a half-crouch, and readies a dagger. Both Thor and the woman Delilah are in the room; Delilah lay sprawled on the bed face-down, Thor is on the floor at the foot of the bed in a heap.
Loki scowls at the woman. While Thor undoubtedly gave her trouble, there was no need for her to toss him aside like that. He holds his fingers together and aims a spell at the air above the woman’s head.
An explosion sounds, and a few lights flicker about the room. Thor makes no move, though Delilah stirs.
She blearily looks around, then stalks over to Loki’s side, ignoring the illusion that he placed in the doorway.
In an instant, she’s at his side, hissing into his ear: “Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“You’ll have to be specific.”
Delilah’s fingers close around his throat. “That you’re from another @!#*& world.”
“Does that change anything?”
“Everything.” She winces and lowers herself to the floor—without relinquishing her hold on Loki’s neck. He awkwardly lowers himself to sit beside her. “Oh.” She releases her hold and runs her hands through her hair. “The rules of your world, the rules of this world—they’re fighting. I can neither cleanse nor kill your brother. Your magic won’t work much longer if you stay. I could help—provided you choose to remain here. Permanently. If you relinquish whatever—”
“Done.”
Delilah raises her brows.
A rueful smile tugs at his mouth. “Our family is dead, our home destroyed, and the universe is on track to be obliterated.”
“And you tried to drag that bedlam here.” She shakes her head. “I don’t like you.”
“Get in line.”
With a sigh, she leans back. “I need to rest. Maybe eat.”
“What blood do you require?” Loki stands and rubs his neck briefly.
She eyes him with disgust. “None. Do you have coconut water?”
“I could acquire some.” Before he leaves, he asks, “What artifacts are needed for the ritual?”
“What ritual?”
“Do you not need to perform a ritual to sever ties from my previous home?”
Delilah snorts. “I’m a vampire, not a Fae.” She yawns and uses the unconscious Thor as a pillow. Before he can object, Delilah raises a hand and points towards the ceiling. “My friend is upstairs. Go check on her.”