LokiGirl says to read the chapter before this... cause that was just posted too. And chpater 19 should always be read before ch 20.

Chapter 20: "Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'"

While the Norns had their hands full taking care of Mayura, Narugami, Yamino, Fenrir, and ecchan were worrying over Loki.

"Loki… talk to me. Please, say something…anything. Tell me what's wrong… please?" begged an alarmed Narugami. In all the time he had known Loki, Narugami had never seen him act this way. Until last week, had anyone come up to Narugami and bet that Loki could stay depressed for more than five days with someone trying to cheer him up, he would have called them a fool. And yet now, Narugami was beside himself having already run out of ideas to cheer Loki up.

"Nothing's wrong Narugami-kun," replied Loki in a monotone voice.

"Sure… that's why you don't call me Narukami-kun anymore right?"

"........................"

"Loki-tama…"

"Why do the gods try so hard to live Narugami-kun? After several thousand years, what's the point of living anymore?"

"L… L… Loki" stuttered a terrified Narugami.

"Do we solely exist to perform our duties as gods?"

"Loki, don't talk like that."

"That's right Loki-tama! You're very important…"

"Fire… trickery… and chaos… do those truly need a deity? Or am I merely a fake… an imposter… neither Aesir nor Vanir… a deformed frost giant… a malformed destroyer of life… whose destiny it is to annihilate the world?"

"Loki! Get a hold of yourself! You're one of us! And the Norns changed their prophecies! There is no more Ragnarok!" insisted Narugami as he shook Loki's shoulders.

But Loki ignored this and began to recite:

TO ONE IN PARADISE

by Edgar Allan Poe
(1834)

"Thou wast all that to me, love,
For which my soul did pine-
A green isle in the sea, love,
A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.

Ah, dream too bright to last!
Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
But to be overcast!
A voice from out the Future cries,
"On! on!"- but o'er the Past
Dim gulf! my spirit hovering lies
Mute, motionless, aghast!

For, alas! alas! me
The light of Life is o'er!
"No more- no more- no more-"
Such language holds the solemn sea
To the sands upon the shore
Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree
Or the stricken eagle soar!

And all my days are trances,
And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy grey eye glances,
And where thy footstep gleams-
In what ethereal dances,
By what eternal streams.

"Ecchan, watch Loki for me." Fearful of what Loki might do to himself, Narugami raced down to the kitchen where Yamino was cooking dinner and Fenrir was hoping to sneak of with scraps.

"Narugami-san! What's the matter?" asked Yamino worriedly.

"It's Loki… I think he really might do it."

"What would daddy do? I thought Ragnarok was avoided."

"No, it's not that. There's no sharp objects in Loki's study is there? Nothing that would seriously cut?"

"Only some scissors or a letter opener… Narugami-san…?" asked a confused Yamino.

"Well, there are the drapes, but those would be a little too cumbersome…"

"Thor-san! What's going on with Loki-sama!" insisted an annoyed Yamino.

"We have to watch him four-eyes. Keep him away from all sharp objects, long rope or things that can be made into rope such as bed sheets… not to mention all types of medicine… he might try to overdose given no other option…" rambled Narugami.

"Are you suggesting that daddy might try to kill himself?! Daddy wouldn't do that!" shouted an angry Fenrir.

"I would have thought so too Fenrir, but lately… I don't know. And today he started talking about the meaning of life and that there is really no point in living!"

"Loki-sama?"

"And to top that off, Loki started talking nonsense about being a false god or something like that and that perhaps it was his destiny cause the destruction of the world. But Loki doesn't believe in destiny. He's said that often enough."

"Daddy…"

"He's starting to recite Edgar Allen Poe! I left him with ecchan watching him," informed Narugami as he opened the study door. Even though Narugami had warned both Fenrir and Yamino of what they would see, neither were adequately prepared.

Loki meanwhile was reciting:

ELDORADO

by Edgar Allan Poe
(1849)

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old-
This knight so bold-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be-
This land of Eldorado?"

"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"

Once Yamino regained function of his brain he pulled Narugami and Fenrir outside the study and closed the door.

"I think we need to take shifts. Narugami-san could you take the first?"

"Fine with me," replied Narugami.

"I'll take the second shift… Nii-san and ecchan can take the third shift during the night," mused Yamino.

"Why do we get the night shift?" asked an annoyed Fenrir.

"Because nii-san, you're both small enough to get away with sleeping in Loki-sama's room."