~ Part 2 of 4 ~

When the band of five friends entered the hotel with Loki in the front they were blown away by the décor of the hotel. It truly was old fashioned, and one you would see in a horror movie, but it also had a charm that fascinated them all.

Thor turned in circles as he tried to take everything in.

"This hotel has been in the Odinson family for over 500 years. While it's not a hotel that's been used as a resort for the family, it's grown in value due to the land. Also the historical value has almost as much value as the land."

"So it's a hidden piggy bank." said Fandral without really thinking about his words.

Thor thought that he saw a pinch of displeasure in Loki's face. "That's one way of putting it. While we are not a hotel that have a long line of costumers, we make a steady income with seasonal bookings that can be placed for years in advanced. We are currently not in season so we don't have any guests for another few months so you are welcomed to stay or-"

"Who's that?" Sif questioned without a care about interrupting Loki. She pointed at the grand portrait at the top of the stairs. It was an old man with a bushy beard and a smoking pipe in his raised hand. "He looks creepy."

"Maybe it's haunted." Fandral teased Sif before making some corny ghost noise which he was slapped for.

Loki turned around and looked up at the portrait. "That is the original owner of this hotel." he turned back to Thor with a smile. "Since this hotel has always passed down from father to child in the main family, that makes him your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather." Loki looked to the side before giving a sheepish smile. "Or something along those lines."

Thor chuckled. "That was an old relation." he joked lightheartedly. "Can't say that I really know him." he looked carefully at the picture. "But he does look like my father."

"You have his eyes."

Thor looked at Loki when he heard the whisper but the man was already walking toward the saloon before turning around. "You are free to look around. If there's anything you need just call me. If you want to stay for the night then I can arrange it."

"Is there any food?" Volstagg asked quickly.

"This way please." he held up his pale hand to the saloon.

The fat man looked so happy that he practically bounced to the saloon.

The others realized that they hadn't eaten anything for a long time so they decided to follow before exploring more of the hotel. It wasn't like they didn't have the time.

"I don't like it here." Sif said as they were making ready to sleep. Night had fallen before they knew it and they had decided to stay for the night. Not risking driving home when they were sleepy. So Loki had prepared their room. Two double rooms with one extra single bed in one of them.

"Why not?" Thor asked. He actually liked this place.

"She's just scared that a poltergeist will take her in her sleep. Or is it Bloody Mary?" Fandral teased. It was a well known fact that Sif, despite her bravo, couldn't handle horror things very well.

She threw her pillow at the bastard. "I can't help it. Something is giving me the creeps. So is Loki."

"Loki?" Thor exclaimed surprised. "What don't you like about him? He's been more than welcoming to us when we came unplanned." He stood up and took his T-shirt in his hand before heading toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Sif asked.

"Toilet."

Thor closed the door between them before walking down the hall. He really didn't see what was so creepy about Loki. The man was amazing in how he handled their arrival and he had been nothing but nice to them.

When he had done his business and was planning on heading back, he thought he saw something cross the hall and down the stairs. Always the one to get into trouble because of his curiosity, he headed after the shape.

He walked down the dark stairs case and saw the candle light on in the saloon. He tip toed over to the doors and opened them carefully.

"Can't sleep?"

Thor basically jumped out of his skin when Loki suddenly appeared behind him. He put is hand over his racing heart and tried to smile while catching his breath. "No. I saw something and came down."

"Is that so." The flickering light were painting Loki's eyes an almost amber colored glow when Thor knew that they were green in reality. "Well, it was probably nothing so you might want to go back to bed. It's pretty late."

"What about you?" Thor asked the smiling man. He had thought about it earlier toady but Loki really didn't look older than him.

"Me? I still have duties to perform and I've always been nocturnal. I work better during the night."

"Actually," Thor began big but settled down when he realized he had raised his voice needlessly. "I would like to know more about this hotel. More about my linage." he finished with a blush.

Loki looked him up and down before nodding his head. "If that's what you wish." and ushered him into the saloon where several candles were burning. Thor sat down at one of the tables and Loki said he would be right back.

Like the rest of the hotel, the saloon was stylish but very old fashioned. When Loki returned he carried on a photo album. Just like the envelope it was worn around the edges from use and age.

Loki put it gently down in front of Thor and sat down next to him. He opened it to the first page where the man from the hall portrait sat with a woman next to him.

"That's the first owner; Odin Allfather. The reason why your linage is named Odinson is because of this man. He wanted to leave a trail of his blood and named his children Odinson and set it as a rule that all children to the family should bear the name. After that there have been some sons who have carried the first name 'Odin' in honor to their linage."

"I remember my father was called Odin VI Odinson." Thor thought back to seeing the name on paper. "I never knew why. How did your family come into the business? Why was this hotel built?"

Loki looked really pale in the light and the candles were throwing weird shadows on his face. "This hotel was actually built to keep a secret hidden. A secret that's been guarded by my family."

"Couldn't we do it ourselves?" Thor asked. "Why would we want others to look after a family secret?"

"To keep up appearances to the world. To keep the secret as far away as possible. Who knows. It's been lost over the years and three generations after Odin Allfather – Reynaldo Odinson – arranged the hotel to be transferred to his younger brother because he didn't want it. And since then the Odinson linage stopped coming here to make sure everything was as it should. My... family continued working here out of loyalty." He turned to face Thor. "You are actually the first Odinson to come here since then. Not even your father visited."

When Thor turned back to the album he thought he heard; "Although it's not like they ever cared." But when he looked at the other, Loki didn't seem to have said anything.

They turned page and continued through the Odinson history and Thor learned more and more about a family linage that he never before had paid any attention too.

Not noticing the attention he was receiving from the man beside him.

TBC