James gazed out the window of the school bus at the forest sliding by. It was drizzling and cold, and he was glad to be inside the warm bus. Tyler was drumming his fingers on his saxophone case beside him. He was humming and waiting for his best friend James to say something. When he said nothing, he dreamily said, "Any girls you like?"

James shrugged. "Girls were never my type." James was not gay. He wasn't anything. He was not attracted to anyone.

Tyler giggled. "James Harrilson, you are a strange person."

They were both fifteen. They went to a school called St. Joseph Preparatory High School, and Tyler was James's only friend there. They met in fifth grade, when James was slightly more social. He still had no friends, but when Tyler came to the school, that changed. Tyler was the typical "new kid." No one knew him. He was slightly critical and antisocial. And he wasn't afraid to start a fight. James instantly knew they'd be friends.

James was born in Mexico. His name was Diego Cruz. But when he was seven, they moved to Boston, Massachusetts so they could start a new life without money problems. And it worked. But everything had to change. He got a new name. Learned a new language. Went to a new school. But he also learned a dark secret about his family history. Although both his parents were Mexican, his mother, who had assumed her whole life that her father was dead, was the daughter of a Norse God. And not a good one. He didn't want to believe it the first time he met his grandfather. He didn't want to believe anything at all. That they'd moved, that he couldn't understand anyone or anything, or that his grandfather was an evil Norse god of mischief with plans to destroy all nine worlds. He vividly remembered his first encounter with Loki.

"Quién eres?"

"¿todavía no lo sabes?"

"¿Debe?"

"Mira. ¿a quién parezco?"

At this point, James gasped. "¿Madre?"

"Sí, Diego. Soy Loki, Dios Nórdico de travesuras. Soy tu abuelo."

"Mi madre siempre me dijo que estaba muerto hace mucho tiempo."

"Mentiras."

"¿por qué mentiría mamá?"

"Ella no lo sabe, Diego."

James took a few steps back. "¿me vas a hacer daño?"

Loki laughed. "No. Estoy aquí para ayudarte."

"¿Cómo? ¿ayudarme con qué?"

"Pronto lo aprenderás."

Then, Loki vanished into thin air.

Tyler sook James's shoulder. "Buddy? Hey, you went into space for a while. You were blabbering in Spanish to yourself again."

James shrugged apologetically. "Sorry."

Tyler nodded and tried to think up a conversation. "What do you think about anteaters?" He asked eventually.

James snorted. "They're strange. But cool, I guess."

"Ah."

Silence.

"How're your parents?" Tyler asked.

"Good, I guess. Father still works constantly. Mother's same as ever."

"And what about him?"

Tyler knew about Loki. He didn't know he was a Norse god, but he knew he was James's abusive grandfather.

"Same as ever." James sighed gazed out the window again. Loki wasn't abusive like James had told Tyler he was. Actually, he was extremely good to James. Better than his parents, even. But he hated Loki more than anyone else he'd ever met.

Eventually, the school bus got to James's two-story house. As soon as he got off, he sprinted into the house, up the stairs, into his bedroom, and locked the door.

"Well?" He said to the air. "Gonna' come out or what?"

"I'll come out if I want to." A voice replied.

"Unless I tell you to. Then, you come out now."

"Fair enough."

The shape of his grandfather formed behind him. James looked at him from head to toe.

"I'm starting to think you look better in those Marvel Thor movies every time I see you."

Loki rolled his eyes. "Not looking much better yourself, kid."

"Not much better. Still better."

"You got me." Loki tapped his foot. "So you gonna' get me out of this cave or what?"

James pretended to consider the request. "No. Because I don't like you."

"Oh, here we go again. Your whole Ragnarok idea party again." Loki sat down, crossed his legs, and put his hands behind his head. "Begin when you please."

"It'll work, Loki. You wait and see. You'll burn below as I watch, laughing from the top of the world tree."

"Uh huh. And who have you recruited for that?"

"Four fire lords from Muspelheim, a few giants from Jotunheim, a bunch of random dead guys in Helheim, and an ice giant from Niflheim."

"Oh, bravo, James, bravo. Only, I have everyone not in Valhalla, Folkvang, or Helheim."

"Oh, so a bunch of living dudes who'll be dead before Ragnarok even begins. I'm proud of you, Loki. Did you know Hel promised me every dead man and woman she had for my side in Ragnarok? I guess favorite cousin beats least favorite father any day and every day."

"Point taken." Loki nodded and held up his hands in surrender. "So you plan on living, what, another fifteen years? End up in a nice place in the afterlife?"

"One, this isn't relevant to our conversation, and two, no, I'm gonna' live my full life and get into Helheim."

"Right."

"What, you've got a problem with that?"

"No." He smiled evilly. "Later, kid." And then he vanished.

"Jerk." James mumbled to himself. He unlocked his door and went outside. The rain had cleared up, and the sun was peaking though the clouds. He walked down the sidewalk of the busy Boston streets. His black hair was blowing in the strong breeze and blowing into his eyes. He pushed it out of his face and put on a hat to keep it contained. He looked like a regular citizen. White t-shirt, tan pants, very little jewelry, and sneakers. Only he had a gun tucked into the sheath in his belt. He's had it for years. He'd never had to use it, luckily, but the city was a dangerous place, and you never knew what could happen. He looked to make sure no one was looking, then crept in an alley between a bar and a hotel, then pulled out his phone to call Tyler.

"Tyler get your butt over to the alley. I'm waiting."

"Alrighty, Diego."

"Cut it out."

"Stop being bossy."

"Fine."

"Alright. I'm on my way."

Beep, beep, beep!

He tucked his phone back into his pocket and patiently awaited Tyler's arrival. He started staring off into space, when Tyler jumped into the alley screaming, "Boo!" James yelped and fell backwards into the dumpster he was sitting on. Tyler was laughing hysterically when he resurfaced.

"I wish I recorded that!" He yelled.

"That's not funny, Tyler!"

"Yes, it is!"

James sighed. "Fine. Anyway, when I got home, he was there."

"Of course he was. What now?"

"He wasn't as bad today. Just sat back and criticized my plan for world domi-for, my science essay."

"Why does he do that?"

"I wish I knew."

"You think he has some grudge against-" He stopped, and his eyes widened at something behind them.

"Tyler?" James asked, turning. He slowly turned his head, and standing behind them was a beautiful but evil, snarling white wolf. There weren't even any sudden movements before it pounced. Without thinking, James pulled his gun and fired at it. But it kept coming and knocked him off his feet, breathing in his face. In one agonizing second, it sunk its claws into his heart. He screamed in pain and fired three more bullets, one hitting the dog in the eye. It whimpered then rolled over, dead. Tyler, who'd been watching from behind, ran over to his bleeding body. "James!"

"Tyler, I won't live. I'll see you again in an afterlife. Unless cousin Hel lets me visit."

Tyler's face asked a thousand questions, but he just cried, his trembling hands over his mouth.

"Help!" He screamed. "Someone! My friend is dying!" He tried dragging James out of the alley, but it was no use. James stared up at the sky, and that's when he saw it. A Valkyrie. NO! He thought. He opened his hand to drop his gun, but before he could turn it over, he was dead.

Darkness.

He looked down at a dark, swirly abyss, and started squirming for freedom. "Careful!" Cried the Valkyrie. "You'll fall!"

"I…know!" He struggled, but the Valkyrie sped up, and everything went black again. Through the darkness, he heard a laugh. A familiar one. "Loki!" He screamed. "You killed me! I'll kill you, Loki!" Then another voice came through his mind. A female.

"That's the spirit!" Said the jovial Valkyrie.

He then opened his eyes fully. He was at the Hotel Valhalla. Naturally. As he was angrily scanning his surroundings, a hand tapped his shoulder.

"Hello! Welcome to the Hotel Valhalla! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful stay!"

"I beg to differ." James mumbled.