10

Ikol's Revenge

Brenna woke to Thori licking her face and she groaned and opened her eyes to look into the puppy's amber ones. "Hey, silly dog! You wanna go out?"

"Yes! Then can we see Loki?" barked the hellhound, thumping his tail against the covers.

Brenna nodded. "Okay, come on! Before you have an accident in here." She got up and pulled on one of Loki's jackets and put the leash on Thori. They run out the closest exit, which happens to be the garden.

He pulled Brenna to a spot near a rosebush and quickly relieved himself. Brenna praised him and gave him a treat. She buried the poop in the dirt by the bush then washed her hands by the fountain.

"NOW can we see Loki?" Thori bayed.

"Yes. He should be awake now," she said happily.

Thori dragged her down the hall to the infirmary, almost pulling the leash from her hands. "Wait!" Brenna yelped as the puppy sprinted for the entrance to the hospital.

Thori yanked the leash from her hand and bolted inside.

Brenna chased the puppy past some patients in the waiting room.

An elderly man frowned at her. "What is this, a circus?"

"Yup! It's the Greatest Show on Asgard!' she quipped as she raced by. "Thori! C'mere!"

The elderly man watched as the girl ran past, and muttered, "Don't know what royalty is coming to these days. Princesses in their pajamas wearing coats and slippers running after puppies through the palace ! In my day . . ."

Brenna came to a stop when she arrived at Loki's room and was happy to see her best friend sitting up in bed, being fed by one of the healers.

"Food!" Thori yelped as he headed for the bed and Loki's eyes widened as he smiled.

"Sit!" Brenna told the dog.

"I'm hungry!" the hellhound woofed.

"Sit or no food!" the small girl ordered.

The gray puppy sat.

"Good boy!" she gave the dog some more treats. "How are you feeling, Loki?"

"Better," he replied, his voice soft. "But Father wants me to rest and not use my magic until I feel stronger. I'm kind of tired." He eyed her and grinned. "Are you—wearing my jacket?"

"Um . . . yeah. I had to take Thori out so I grabbed the closest thing and put it on over my pajamas." She indicated her cream pants and slippers. "It's a new fashion trend."

Loki laughed softly. "That's pretty funny. If my mother had seen you like that . . .she would have fainted."

"Really? Why?"

"Because Mother thought you should never leave your room until you were properly dressed," Loki told her.

Brenna shrugged. "Well, guess she never had a puppy that would pee on the carpet."

The Healer chuckled. "Not one like that. Queen Frigga had little dogs that were fluffy and would sit on your lap. Would you like some more eggs, Prince Loki?"

Loki shook his head. "No thank you. Minerva. But could you get breakfast for Princess Brenna and Thori, please?"

Minerva smiled. "Of course, My Prince. I will send an orderly in shortly." She curtsied and left the room.

Brenna came and perched on the bed, and she picked up Thori so Loki could pet him. The puppy growled playfully and pretended to bite Loki's hand.

Loki moved his hand under the covers and the puppy attacked it, making the two children giggle.

"So how long do you think you're going to be in here?" Brenna asked.

"Healer Eir is coming to check me sometime this morning so I guess whenever she says I can leave," Loki sighed.

Brenna looked guilty. "I'm sorry I hurt you. Maybe I should quit using my magic. I'm dangerous."

"No, Brenna. You aren't any more dangerous than any apprentice when they first learn. You just need to practice control," Loki murmured.

"Did you ever do something like that with your frost magic?" she queried.

"Yes. By mistake I froze Fandral," Loki replied, and they giggled.

"Was he mad?"

"Only until my brother told him that his hair looked wonderful all spiked with frost. Then he went and started admiring himself in the mirror," Loki chuckled.

"Loki, how do I control what I do with my aura?" his friend asked.

"Well, one of the things Idunn taught me is never cast when you're angry. Because strong emotion fuels magic. And it can overreact. Like what you did in the hall." The dark-haired boy explained. "And when I called a blizzard when Vidrun and his friends attacked us. Remember that?"

"Yes. I had to slap you back to yourself," Brenna reminded him.

"That's why you should always try to be calm when you cast," Loki reiterated.

"But how do you do that if you're afraid?"

"It's hard," he admitted. "So you have to practice summoning your magic when you are calm. A lot."

Before Brenna could respond to that, an orderly in a soft blue uniform came in with a wheeled cart. On the cart was a covered tray and two bowls, one filled with water and the other with meat scraps. "Here you are, my Prince, Princess. Breakfast for you and your dog."

"Food!" Thori barked and jumped off the bed.

He started eating the minute the man put the bowl on the floor.

"Thank you," Brenna said, and took the tray from him. She also accepted a glass of milk the orderly gave her.

Underneath the cover were scrambled eggs, bacon, toast with butter and jam and a ripe peach. Brenna inhaled the delicious aroma.

Then she began to eat, enjoying every bite.

Loki watched her, his green eyes glittering with amusement.

"Something funny?" she asked, pausing.

"It's just . . . you really enjoy your food," he smirked.

"That's because this is something to actually enjoy," she answered. "I used to dream about food like this before I came here." She happily crunched some bacon.

"I'm glad you're here," he asserted.

"I'm glad too. For more reasons than the food." She replied, smiling at her friend.

"You mean—me?"

She nodded. "You are my first real friend, Loki. And if I never came here, I never would have a family now either. I would still be the freak nobody wanted."

"You're not a freak," Loki frowned. "And you belong here. With people who want you and aren't afraid of you. Like me."

"I'm glad you aren't. Even after what I did." She smiled at him in relief.

"There are a lot more things for me to be afraid of than you, Brenna." He sighed forcefully. "Like Ikol."

"What exactly is Ikol? You said he was...," she said then realized something. "Whoa! Ikol is Loki spelled backwards!"

"Yes," he said with a nod. "I'm amazed no one else has figured it out."

"But we didn't even know he existed. If we had..."

"You would have killed me."

"Will you stop with the whole "people want to kill me" stuff?! No one wants to do that. Not now."

"I can't help it,"

"Ok," she said, stuffing a piece of bacon into his mouth. "You want proof?! What about Minerva?! If she was still thinking you were your evil self, would she be this concerned about you?"

"No." Loki said after taking the piece of bacon out of his mouth.

"What about Healer Eir? Would she have taken care about you or cared if you lived or died?"

"No."

"And the orderly?! Would he have been so happy to see you?"

"No," Loki thought as he nibbled on the bacon when he smiled and sipped on some milk.

"There! That's much better!" Brenna said and Thori yelped in agreement.

"Yeah, way better." Thori barked.

"I gave him that name," Loki continued. "Once I realized what he wanted from me. He expects me to become him again. He is the ghost that haunts me."

He told Brenna of how the magpie had led him to a secret room where the echo of his past self was waiting. "He planned to die so he could come back. Like a spider spinning a web. Only he never reckoned on me not wanting what he did. Or me being there at all. I think-I think he thought he would come back an adult and just take up where he left off."

"But that's not what happened," Brenna confirmed. "Because you are your own incarnation. And he is just a remnant of the old one."

Loki nodded. "I trapped him in the body of the magpie. Because I couldn't let him remain free. But once I did . . .I lost most of my magic. Or rather how to use my magic. And now I have to relearn it."

"That really sucks." Brenna said, looking down.

"Yes . . . and no. Much of the magic he knew was dark. I don't want to have that in my head anymore. I don't want to control and hurt people. Or set myself up as a king that is hated and feared. I'm not him. But he wants me to become him. And he keeps trying to make me hate people."

"I think he is using you. We gotta get rid of him, Loki. Before something really bad happens."

"How can we do that? Not like I can wave a wand and banish him." Her friend pointed out, eating the bacon in his hand.

"Maybe we should ask for help." Brenna suggested. "Maybe your dad could—"

"No! He can't know about this!" Loki looked horrified.

"Why not?" She asked him, putting her hands on her hips. "Don't you think not telling him is worse?"

"How would that look? Oh by the way, a piece of the old me is still around trying to corrupt me or . . . or kill me or whatever? He'll be mad at me that I didn't tell him in the first place. He thinks I'm a good son now. He won't want me if he knows how messed up I am."

"And not telling him could be even worse." She groaned.

"Would you tell your father if it was you?" he whispered.

"Yeah. We are over our heads!"

Loki swallowed. "All right. But will you come with me?"

"With pleasure. We need help."

"I wish Thor were here. I don't know what he could do against a ghost but . . .it would make me feel better."

"Maybe telling your Dad will help you feel better."

"Tell me what?" Odin asked as he came into the room. "Loki, are you feeling sick?"

Loki almost fell out of the bed. "Father! I thought you had gone back to the Inbetween Place."

"Only to make sure it was undisturbed." Odin replied. "But I would never leave without making sure you were recovered. Minerva said you were feeling better."

Odin turned to see Brenna. "Good morning, Brenna." He lofted an eyebrow. "That's most unusual attire you have on."

"Uh yeah it's called Borrow Your BFF's Clothes Day," she giggled. "I had to get up and walk the dog so . . ."

Odin chuckled. "Perhaps we can make you a similar jacket." Then he pulled a chair up beside the bed and looked at his son.

Loki swallowed sharply and looked down at the blanket. Where to begin?

Odin eyed him with concern. "Loki, if you are unwell, please tell me."

"It's not me, Father . . . or rather it is . . ." he said, knowing he sounded like an idiot.

"What? You aren't making sense," his father said.

"When you hear the whole story it'll make sense, My King," Brenna said, and gave Loki's hand a squeeze. "Just do it!" she mouthed.

Loki took a deep breath. He was scared to death. But even though he was sure Odin was going to cast him off because of it, he somehow found the courage to explain what he meant. "I know what the shadow was in the hall, Father. It was Ikol."

"Ikol? What or who is that?"

"He was me . . ." Once Loki began talking, it was as if a dam had burst. He told Odin everything about the other self that he recalled. His father simply sat there and let him talk.

Afterwards Loki lay back against the pillows, feeling drained, yet apprehensive. He eyed his father warily, wondering when the shouting was going to start.

To his shock, Odin looked at him sorrowfully from his one blue eye and murmured, "Oh, Loki . . . why did you not tell me before?"

"Because you were busy fighting the Serpent . . . and I thought you wouldn't care," his son mumbled, blinking back tears.

"I am sorry if I ever gave you that impression," the AllFather said. "I . . . was not at my best after you returned. I was angry at my brother and trying to find a way out of an impossible situation but that does not mean I was not concerned for you. Why would you think that?"

"Because of what the Teller said!" Loki burst out.

"Who is that?" Odin asked.

So Loki told him about the Seer from another dimension that he had summoned using an old magical text. "He told me he could See what everyone thought about me and he Showed me certain people-the Warriors Three, Sif, you and Heimdall . . . and everyone except you wished I had stayed dead!"

"Not Thor!" Brenna objected.

"I didn't ask about Thor. I already knew what he thought of me," Loki answered, blotting his eyes with a napkin.

"How do you know this Teller guy was actually speaking the truth?" Brenna frowned. "Or Showing it?"

"He told me he could only speak the truth," Loki admitted.

"And you believed that?"

"The circle I cast was supposed to make sure of it."

"Maybe so, but Loki, I'M a Seer-well I See in Dreams, and even I can't always say with absolute certainty that what I See will come true. So who's to say this creature wasn't jerking you around?"

"Why would he lie?"

"Maybe he wasn't lying, but I bet my amulet he wasn't telling you the whole truth either," Brenna asserted. "It's like the fae. They can't tell a direct lie but they sure can tell you only half the truth. So what if this Teller was only showing you half of it? Unless he was bound to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God, then he wasn't including everything. And the price he wanted? That's just bizarre! Why would he want your fate?"

"Brenna is right, my son," Odin agreed. "I can tell you from what you said, that he did not show you the whole conversation I had with Heimdall. Yes, I told Heimdall I would not harm you because you were my son, but I also told him that he was not to harm you either because you were an innocent child and I loved you. And Heimdall agreed. So you see, your friend is correct. You were shown a truth-not the whole truth."

He put his arm around Loki, hugging him.

"Where did you get that spellbook you summoned that Seer from anyway?" Brenna asked suspiciously.

"Ikol showed it to me," Loki admitted. "Then he told me not to use it-and that's why I did. Because I thought if he didn't want me to I should see why."

"Holy Hannah! You don't know about reverse psychology? He wanted you to use that book. So he told you not to-because then you would go and do it. I would guess that Ikol and this Teller guy were in cahoots with each other."

"But Ikol went and got Thor to come save me," Loki pointed out.

"Yeah because maybe this Teller tried to double cross him by hurting you or something. So he decided to get rid of him. Besides, from the way you described him, gray skin, pink hair and red eyes-he sounds like a reject from Little Shop of Horrors and not somebody I'd trust to tell me anything." Brenna declared. "And didn't you say Ikol disappeared after the Teller came?"

"He did. But I always assumed he was getting Thor."

"Whaddya wanna bet he left so the Teller couldn't recognize him and say something?"

"Now that I think about it . . . that does make sense," Loki agreed.

Ikol would try anything to get Loki despairing enough to agree to join him.

"But what do we do about Ikol?" Loki asked.

"We need a way to either destroy him completely or imprison him for all eternity."

"Is there a way to destroy me? I mean him?" Loki asked.

"That is a very good question, " Odin said as Healer Eir entered the room and they looked at her. "Morrow, Eir."

"Good morning, AllFather," she said with a nod then looked at Loki. "How are you feeling, My Prince?"

"I am feeling much better," Loki said.

"Can he get up now?" Brenna asked.

"Let's find out," Eir said then examined Loki. She stood back then walked to where his clothes had been placed and picked up the clothes and boots. She returned to the bed as she held the clothes and boots out and smiled. "You may get dressed."

"Yay!" Thori yipped and wagged his tail.

Brenna hopped down off the bed. "I'll wait out here." She walked out of the room and shut the door.

A few moments later, Loki poked his head out. "Come on back, Brenna."

"Thought we were gonna blow this popsicle stand," she said, coming back into the room.

"Not yet."

"Why would you want to blow up a popsicle stand?" Odin asked, puzzled.

"It means when are we leaving?" Loki explained. "Broxton slang, Father."

"We should go to my audience chamber to discuss this," Odin put in.

"Right, sir." Loki put the leash on Thori. "Come on, Thori. let's get while the getting's good."

The guards opened the doors to the audience chamber as Odin led Loki, Thori and Brenna toward the golden throne and Loki noticed the smiles the guards gave him before closing the doors.

"See?!" Brenna asked as she gently nudged him and Loki nodded.

Odin walked up the stairs when he sat down and Huginn and Muninn flew into the room, landing on the top of the golden throne.

Loki and Brenna led Thori closer when Odin nodded and they sat on the steps. Thori settled down next to Loki as Odin looked at them and Loki saw the serious look on his father's face.

"Father, do you have any ideas?" Loki asked, propping his chin on his hand.

Odin thought for long moments. "Perhaps . . .we could entrap his body in a crystal?"

"But what about his spirit?" Loki pondered.

"Maybe my dad could help us there," Brenna mused.

"How?" Loki asked.

"Well, my dad is the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares. And he has the Corinthian," Brenna told him. "When I went into the Dreaming last night to find you, I met him."

"You really were in my dream!" Loki exclaimed.

Brenna nodded. "Yup. I went there to find you so you could wake up," she said softly. "Well, anyway, while I was in Dad's castle, he introduced me to a bunch of my relatives and people who work for him. One of them was the Corinthian. He's a nightmare. A really scary one! And he's also clairvoyant. He told me that he could help with Ikol."

Odin gave Brenna an approving look. "That is sound advice, young Brenna. Morpheus is a powerful ally."

"Do you want me to ask him tonight?" she asked.

"I think it's best if you rest tonight," Odin said. "I don't want you exhausting yourself, child, and then you will be in the infirmary."

"Yes, one of us collapsing was enough," Loki added.

"Okay. We can wait one night." Brenna agreed.

"Once you have asked him, come and tell me what he said," Odin requested.

"I will, My King," Brenna said. Then she looked down at herself. "I guess I need to get dressed."

"You should. I need my jacket back," Loki teased.

Brenna rolled her eyes at him. "I know . . . because you can't wear the ten others you have."

Loki smirked. "That's my favorite."

"And since I am your BFF you generously shared it with me," Brenna smiled.

"Share is the operational word there," Loki reminded her. "That doesn't mean keep."

"C'mon. Mr. Clothes Horse. Let me get dressed before I create a scandal."

"I think we already did that," Loki laughed. He followed Brenna out of the throne room.

"It's a good thing you don't have newspapers here," she remarked as they entered Loki's room. "Otherwise I'd be the front-page news."

"And I would be LMAO-ing!" Loki giggled.

"Loki, don't be a dork!" she scolded. She took off his jacket and handed it to him. "Happy now?"

He grinned at her and took it and put it on. She went to her trunk and found her white trousers and pink and white tunic. Then she went behind the screen to change. When she emerged in her Asgardian attire and pulled on her gray boots, Loki held out a different jacket. This one was gray with green facings.

"Here. You can have this one until Father's tailor makes you your own."

"Thanks, Loki." she put it on. It smelled of cedar and slightly of peppermint and Loki.

She gazed up at him then asked, "Do you feel well enough to go into town? We could go to the bookshop! And drink a latte and read some humor books."

"That sounds fun," Loki agreed.

"Can I come?" The gray puppy barked.

"Uh they don't let dogs in the bookstore," Brenna said regretfully.

"Why?"

"Cause they could chew stuff or pee on the floor. The only way you could come in is if you were a service dog."

"What's that?"

"It's a dog trained to help a person. Like if they are blind or deaf or have problems with diabetes."

"Can we tell them he is a Service Dog?"

"I can help you!" Thori wagged his tail.

"He would need a special vest which says he is a Service Dog."

Loki thought. "What does it look like exactly?"

Brenna remembered the man who lived down the street he had a shepherd service dog. She recalled the green vest the dog wore.

"It should be green with Service on the sides." Brenna said.

Nodding, Loki waved his hands and Thori was now wearing a green plastic vest with Velcro straps and Service was on the sides in white letters.

"Does it say that I help?" He asked, turning circles to try and see the vest.

"Perfect!" Brenna said. "Now we need to figure out what sort of illness he helps with. Diabetes is one that you can't tell someone has unless you know about it. That's when you have high and low blood sugar. It can make you dizzy and tired. The dog would alert you so you could eat something."

"I like that idea. Which one of us should have it?" Loki asked.

"Seeing how you were recently ill, I think it should be you."

"Do I look that sick?"

"Well, you do look a little tired and paler than normal."

"Gee. Thanks."

"Besides, you are better at tricking people than I am," she admitted. "O God of Mischief!"

Loki laughed as he nodded his head and went to place the leash on Thori.

"Let's go," Brenna said and they left the room.

Soon they reached the bookstore, which was patterned after the large Barnes and Noble store, complete with a cafe. As they entered, Brenna whispered to Thori, "Remember, no biting, no jumping, and especially no talking! Just behave, Lucifer!"

Thori wagged his tail.

They entered the store and a girl in a soft blue shirt came up to them. "I'm sorry we don't -oh I'm sorry." She said seeing the vest. "What kind of dog is he?"

"He's a special breed," Brenna replied.

"I got sick." Loki said quickly.

"Well, I hope you find everything you're looking for," the salesgirl said and waved them through.

They walked into the store, Loki looking around in awe at all of the books everywhere. Brenna let him browse before she asked, "So you wanna get a coffee or look at the humor section?"

"Do we have to stay in there?" He asked indicating the cafe.

"Nope. We can get drinks and go in the store."

"Then let's do that." He saw a big sign advertising a new drink-a peppermint mocha frappe. "I think I want that."

"That's a cold one."

"I like the cold," he laughed.

"You are so weird."

They ordered one peppermint mocha and Brenna had a gingerbread latte both with whipped cream. People smiled at Thori while they waited.

"I'm so glad I still have change left from the ice cream," Brenna remarked.

"You know, you do get an allowance?" Loki told her.

Brenna nearly fell over. "I do?"

"Yes. Just ask your mother."

"Wow! That's so awesome. Do you get it every week or what?"

"Father gives me mine every month."

"What do you do with it?"

"Mostly I save it. But I buy books with it occasionally. Or food at the market. When we had one that is."

"So do you have it now?"

"Yes. I can buy you a book if you want."

"Thanks! You don't have to."

"I want to."

They get their drinks. Loki sipped his. "Mmm! I like this almost as much as the milkshake."

" Wait until the caffeine buzz hits. Then you will really like it."

"What is that?"

"That drink has coffee in it. It is going to give you lots of energy."

"That's good. I still feel kind of tired." He drank some more.

Brenna took him by the humor section. They read the titles on the books. "What's this one?" Loki asked. He picked out a copy of Bad Cat.

They were soon giggling over all the funny pictures of the cats and the captions.

"I wish I had a cat," Brenna said wistfully.

Loki looked thoughtful at that statement. Thori growled. "Stop that!" his master hissed.

"Cats! I don't like them."

"I don't care what you like. Shush!" Loki whispered, rolling his eyes.

"Look! Here's the Bad Dog book!" Brenna showed him some of the pictures and they laughed some more.

Loki picked up one called Awkward Family Photos and soon they were pointing out pictures that resembled the gods and goddesses they knew and laughing hysterically.

A bored Thori began to chew a table leg.

"Let's buy this one," Loki suggested.

"Okay," Brenna agreed. "Umm Loki, what's that gnawing sound?"

Loki looked around, then he saw what the dog was doing. "Oh, Nine Hells! Thori, bad dog!"

The two children stared at the chewed table leg.

"What do we do?" Brenna whispered.

Loki moved a stack of motivational books in front of it. "Quick! Let's pay for this and get outta here!"

"Yeah before we get thrown outta here," Brenna moaned and she picked up Thori. "No ice cream for you!"

They walked briskly up to the front of the store and Loki paid for the book. Then they left.

"I can't believe you ate a table leg!" Loki scolded the dog.

"It looked like a stick," Thori defended.

'Norns! I can't take you anywhere!" the boy groaned.

The puppy looked slightly downcast, but then he spotted some boys across the street and began to bark at them. "Look! Look!" he woofed.

Brenna glanced over and recognized them as a bunch of hockey players that liked to tease other smaller kids. Their target today was Myra Hosenfeffer, who was a special needs child with high functioning Downs syndrome.

The three boys surrounded her, pushing her and shoving her.

"Hey, Dumbo, you missed the short bus!"

"Better hurry and catch it!"

Myra whimpered. "G-Go away mean boys!"

"Why?" one of the boys laughed nastily. "Look! Chinese, Japanese, Stupid-ese!" He made his eyes slanted up and down.

"Ooh! What's this? The tart cart has a diary!" one grabbed the pink and blue journal from her hands and held it above her head.

"No! My special book!" wailed Myra.

"Let's see how high you can jump!" taunted one of them.

"Why don't we see how high YOU jump?" Brenna growled and stabbed one of them with her fork.

"Oww!" yelped the boy and spun around.

"Hey! Your mutt bit me!" he accused. "I'm gonna sue you if I get rabies!"

"He didn't bite you, loser!" Brenna spat. "I poked you!"

"Give the book back!" Loki ordered coldly.

The three boys turned to look at them. "Oh look! It's Brenna the Loser and her friend with a therapy dog!"

"What's the dog for, rejects? Are you depressed?" mocked one of the boys.

Thori growled at them.

One of the boys took one look at Loki and paled and backed away. "Guys, shut up!"

"What's wrong with you, Larry?"

"It's HIM!" he pointed at Loki. "The kid who beat up the Bruiser!"

"Oh crap on a cracker." Brenna said, backing up.

"That's right," Loki declared softly. "Now give her the book back." He made a fist threateningly. "And apologize to her."

The boys shrank from him.

"We're sorry!" babbled one.

The other one tossed the book at Myra. "Here. I didn't want it anyway!"

"Now get!" Loki ordered menacingly.

The three boys went pale as milk and ran.

"Cowards!" Thori howled.

Loki picked up the journal and dusted it off. "Here you go, Miss-uh . . .?"

"Myra!" Myra said, and smiled. She took the book. "My special book!"

"I'm Loki and this is Brenna," Loki introduced himself.

"Hi!" She hugged Loki and he gasped. "Loki my new friend!"

"Eeek! Help!" Loki cried. "Brenna . . .can't breathe!"

Brenna giggled. "Um, Myra . . . not so tight!"

"Okay!" Myra let Loki go. Then she spied Thori. "Aww! A puppy! How cute!"

Thori backed up, whining.

"C'mere, puppy!"

"You can pet him, just don't squish him," Loki said.

"Okay!" Myra knelt and pet Thori. "Wanna cookie?" she took a slightly crushed chocolate chip cookie from her pocket and gave it to him.

"Cookies!" Thori gobbled the cookie and licked Myra's face. Myra giggled.

"Funny puppy!"

"His name is Thori,' Loki told her.

"And you now have a friend forever," laughed Brenna.

"Now I have three friends!" Myra smiled. "One, two, three!" She counted them.

"You want us to walk you home?" Brenna asked.

"Okay!" Myra skipped along with them as they walked on either side of her.

"I hope those boys leave her alone," Brenna murmured to Loki.

"They will." Loki assured her. "Hey, Myra. If those boys bother you again, you tell them go away before Loki gets them."

"Okay!" Myra said, looking happy. "Loki n' Brenna n' Thori my friends!"

They reach Myra's house, a small yellow one with some tired looking trees and shrubs in her yard. "Is this where you live?" Loki asked.

"Yup!" Myra nodded. "With my granma!"

They walked up to the door and Myra opened it, yelling, "Granma! Come see my new friends!"

"New friends? I had better see them then."

An older lady of around sixty-five came to the door. "Hello! I'm Mrs. Hosenfeffer. Are you my granddaughter's new friends?"

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am. I'm Brenna," Brenna held out her hand to shake.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Loki." Loki said politely, as the woman shook his hand.

"You two look very nice. Come in and sit!"

They go inside the little house which was small but neat and sit at the white kitchen table. The kitchen was decorated with homey country touches-blue and white checked curtains at the windows, some cross stitches framed on the walls, a pot rack with pots hanging from the ceiling and embroidered cushions on the kitchen chairs. The table had a lace table runner and a small vase of sunflowers is in the middle in a blue earthen ware vase.

"Thori, lay down," ordered Loki and the puppy lay by his feet.

"What an interesting dog," Mrs. Hosenfeffer remarked. " What kind is he?"

"He's an old breed of hound," Loki explained. "But he is very smart. I got sick and he helps me."

"You poor thing!" Mrs. Hosenfeffer said. "How would you like some lunch?"

"That's very kind of you, ma'am," Loki said.

The older lady beamed. "Well, your mama sure taught you manners."

"Yes, ma'am," the boy answered.

"So refreshing to see that nowadays," the woman prattled as she went about making sandwiches and putting them on plates along with chips, lemonade, and a plate of cookies. She even gave Thori a bone. "Myra, set out the napkins."

Myra went and got the napkins and placed one by each chair.

Myra's grandmother carried the plates to the table and set them before each place. "I hope you young'uns like ham and cheese with pickles."

"We eat anything, ma'am," Brenna told her.

While they eat Myra told her grandmother how Loki and Brenna saved her special book from the mean boys.

"My goodness. Someone needs to teach those boys a lesson," Mrs. Hosenfeffer said with a shake of her head.

"We did," Brenna said.

"I mean an adult. Those boys need a right spanking. That's how we dealt with bullies in my day."

Loki thought back to the beatings he received from the other Asgardian boys as he sighed and nibbled on the sandwich.

"There are a lot of them in this town, ma'am," Brenna sighed. "Some of them chased me up a tree once."

"They are nasty!" Myra said. Then she asked, "Why are they so mean?"

"Because they can get away with it," Loki replied. "The ones that used to pick on me did so because they could. Until my foster mother made them stop."

"She sounds like an amazing woman," Mrs. Hosenfeffer said and Loki nodded.

The two children ate everything they were given and thanked Mrs Hosenfeffer again.

Loki picked up Thori's leash. "We need to be going, ma'am."

"Yes, my mom will be expecting us home to do some chores," Brenna added.

"Of course, dearies! Myra, say goodbye to Brenna and Loki."

Myra hugged them both and said goodbye. "Will you come back tomorrow?" she asked wistfully.

"Uh, if we can," Brenna said. Then they headed out of town and back to Asgardia.

Unnoticed, Ikol was spying upon them and his heart grew cold with rage. He knew that he had to be rid of that annoying angelic child, for she was keeping Loki on the path of redemption, which was not where Ikol wanted him to be. He wanted his child self to be bitter, angry, and ripe for his suggestions to turn from the Light and walk the Lefthand Path into Darkness. A despairing and angry soul was perfect for corruption. But Loki was no longer that way and Ikol knew a great deal of that was because of Brenna.

And so, the dark spirit determined, the angel princess would need to be gotten rid of. One way or another.

He followed the two children as they returned to the pond and skated until it was time to return to the palace for supper. He observed with beady black eyes how Brenna made Loki laugh and how she appreciated his instruction in the art of skating, the pitiful half-mortal whelp.

And an insidious idea began to form in his brain.

Brenna adjusted her diadem on her head and asked Loki, "So what do you think dinner is going to be tonight?"

"I hope it's venison roast," he replied.

"A venison roast? You mean deer?"

"Yes. You never had it?"

"No. They don't serve that at the fast food restaurants in Broxton," Brenna replied. "Is it good?"

"Delicious if prepared and cooked right," Loki answered. "And the chefs here at the palace know how to cook it right."

"Yum! Deer!" Thori bayed.

"I'll take your word for it," she said. "I hope there's those buttery peas and crispy potatoes."

"There probably will be."

"And those rolls. They were so good!"

"I know. You ate three of them," he laughed.

"Oh who's counting? You ate four."

"Thor could have eaten the tray," Loki smiled.

"I could eat the tray!" Thori yipped.

"You better not eat anything on the table," Brenna warned. "Or else you'll be banished from the hall."

"What ever happened to dogs are man's best friend?" the hellhound grumbled.

"Best friends don't eat everything in sight," Loki retorted. "If you behave I will give you a roll and a bone after supper."

"Deal!" Thori bayed and licked Loki's wrist.

Ikol glared at the threesome. He knew Loki would stop anything he tried against the angelic girl and shook, ruffling the feathers. He then saw a small cat over near the bench as he cawed and flew over to it. Suddenly, he flapped his wings and the cat screeched and ran off. The small cat ran toward the pond when Thori saw it and growled.

"Cat!" he barked then chased after the little cat and Loki gasped.

"Thori! No!" he shouted.

"You better go get him," Brenna said and he nodded. As he ran off, Ikol watched Brenna then got a great idea.

Brenna sighed as she watched her friend chase after the rebellious puppy. Oh Thori! When are you gonna learn to listen? She wished she could find the cat and feed it. She used to share meals sometimes with the stray cats that slept in the alley with her back when she was a street brat. The cats had always kept her warm. Until the snow came and they left to find better places to winter.

Overhead, the black and white magpie circled the girl and then flew a few feet towards the lake.

"Brenna! Brenna!"

Brenna started and looked about.

"Loki? Where are you?"

"Over here! I'm over here!"

Brenna turned and followed the sound of her friend's voice.

"Brenna! Hurry!"

"I'm coming! Keep your pants on!" she yelled. "I don't have long legs like you, grasshopper!"

She ran back down the path to the pond, figuring Thori had run that way and Loki was still chasing him.

"Loki?" She called. "Where are you?"

"Here! I'm over here!"

Brenna frowned, for she couldn't see her friend anywhere along the path.

Then she heard Thori barking ahead of her and she raced over to the lake.

"Loki?"

"Over here!"

Brenna peered across the lake and thought she saw a small figure near the trees on the far side. Thori barked again.

"Hang on! Just let me get across the lake!"

She looked at the ice as she tried to figure out where the weak ice was and slowly moved her feet.

"Hurry! Please!" Loki called out and she heard the fear in his voice.

Had something happened to the cat?

Had Loki fallen and broke his leg?

She moved faster when she heard a loud cracking sound and looked down. The ice was breaking as the cracks spread out like lightning bolts and her eyes widened.

She took another step forward and there was a loud CRACK and suddenly the ice gave way beneath her!

She was plunged into the freezing black water and it was so deadly cold that it stole her breath. She flailed her arms and legs but couldn't seem to get to the surface. Something was sucking her down and she could not fight against it.

Desperate she called silently in her mind Loki, help me! Mom! Dad! Help me!

It was all she had the strength for. A moment later she felt her world go black.

Loki had just caught Thori by the collar when he heard a soft feminine voice in his ear.

"Loki! Go to the lake quickly! Brenna needs you!"

"What?"

"Go! Before it is too late!"

The Dreaming:

Morpheus sat on his throne when he felt something was wrong and ran out of the room after getting up. He ran for the portrait room. He stood in front of the portrait of Death when the portrait blurred and she appeared. She looked frightened and worried, something she never was, and he saw her pacing back and forth.

"Sister, what is the matter?!" he asked.

"It is Brenna! She is... She is dying!" Death said and his eyes widened.

"Show me where she is!" he demanded and Death nodded. She showed him what happened as he watched Brenna falling through the ice and heard her cry. for help. "Hurry, Brother! I don't want to take her!"

Morpheus vanished in a puff of black smoke as Death sat down hard on the floor and covered her face. She normally never cried, but this time she did.

Asgardia:

Loki ran faster than he ever had in his life. It was almost as if he flew over the snow. He reached the lake and saw to his horror there was a huge hole in the middle of the ice and Brenna was nowhere to be seen.

"BRENNA!" he screamed, the cry full of desperation and fear.

"She is there," the voice said and he looked at the large hole in the ice.

"Yes!" Ikol said from his vantage point in a tree when a puff of black smoke appeared on the ice and his eyes widened. "No!"

Loki's magic roused then, and without conscious thought he sought his friend beneath the ice and drew her from the dark water.

"I see her!" Morpheus shouted as he saw the top of Brenna's head and Loki concentrated.

"Hurry!" Thori barked.

"Shut up, you stupid hound," Ikol growled.

Loki watched as Brenna came out of the water as the water slashed back into the hole and he placed her on the ground near the edge of the pond.

Loki knelt beside his friend, whose skin was an unhealthy blue color. He put an ear to her chest. "She's not breathing!" he panted, panic clawing at him. But he forced it down. Brenna needs you! Now remember the videos you watched on youtube?

His perfect recall allowed him to remember perfectly what he had to do.

He placed his mouth over her and breathed into her after he tilted her head back. Breathe! Please! Oh Norns hear me! Breathe!

Seconds passed and she did not respond. Tears ran down Loki's face as he repeated the process. No! No! I will NOT lose you! Breathe!

Suddenly color flushed her waxen cheeks and he felt her chest heave.

"Yes!" he cried in triumph and then carefully turned her on her side.

She began to cough and water spewed from her mouth.

Loki rubbed her back and held her as she coughed up what felt like half the lake. "It's okay. I'm here. You're gonna be okay!" he murmured over and over, unmindful of the tears running silently down his pale face.

He could feel her shivering violently beneath his hands.

Morpheus knelt beside her. "Brenna! You're freezing, daughter!"

Loki removed his jacket and Morpheus wrapped it about her. He picked up his daughter, who whispered two words, "Loki? Dad?" before she passed out.

"We need to get her warm quickly!" Morpheus cried. "Or she could die!"

Loki caught his sleeve. "Take her to the palace, sir!"

"I am!" Morpheus concentrated and both he and Loki vanished in a puff of black smoke.

Thori barked forlornly and ran back towards the palace while at the lakeside a black and white magpie turned the air blue with his curses.

Then the bird grew quiet as his rage passed. You may have won this battle but you have not won the war! And Death may still come to take her yet!

A/N: I hope you all liked this chapter!

Tune in next time to see what happens to Brenna! Will Ikol win?