Minutes later they were in the car, with a map. Darcy was reading it and marking coordinates on the GPS. Jane was on the wheel and the brothers were in the back seats.
- You need to put the seat belt. You both. – Jane said, looking at the mirror.
They did what she told to. Loki smiled:
- We need to protect ourselves from the lady driving.
- I will not stand your jokes. – Jane answered and Thor glanced at his brother, smiling.
Loki looked at the window, watching the view.
- Look at these people… running and running, going to nowhere…
- They are like us, brother.
Loki smiled:
- No, they are not. They are humans and some of them are really stupid.
- Shut up! You are with two humans here! – Jane said, angry.
- Sorry ladies, my mouth will stop transmitting my thoughts on these matters. But, if I may say, there are good things here too.
Darcy smiled.
- You have your own ideas, Mister… maybe someone can change them, or some of them.
- Much pleased for your words, Miss Darcy. – Loki answered, smiling again.
Thor was anxious about the talisman and the strange shadow. He was really nervous. He knew how to fight monsters, giants and other creatures, but he didn't know how to fight shadows. Alias, witchcraft shadows. Who was the woman who spoke in the room? That stranger touched his brother's face. What did she want with Loki? Of course Loki could fight magic, he imagined that. Loki was magician. Illusions and magic… that was a tricky world he didn't know. And Jane, his lover, had walked to a deep and tricky path.
- Jane, darling – he started – do you think she can hurt you?
- Thor, she is some kind of spirit. A shadow ghost… a shadow witch with magic powers. I don't know, I never saw nothing like this. I think Loki is the one who can say something about this. Isn't, Loki?
Loki glanced at her.
- She wants something from us. I bet this talisman is some kind of weapon. Some device that can create magic. Maybe she needed someone to activate it. She is ancient, I felt it. She is powerful too. When she stepped upon this world, she was terrific. When she had a body, you know. Maybe she is dead now… or maybe not. She could have preserved her body and soul for all these years, centuries. We will find out. Is it fast, to get there?
- No, but we will try to make it fast. – Jane answered.
- Almost 3 hours. – Darcy said.
- Thank you. – Loki nodded.
Three hours later, they were in Glastonbury.
- And now? – Thor asked.
As it could hear him, the talisman gleamed.
- She is coming… - Loki said.
Jane stopped the car and they left it. It was almost five o'clock and the sun was starting to hide among the dark clouds.
- Let's wait to see…
The talisman gleamed even more and seconds later, they were wrapped in a shadow. It was dark and smoky. Jane reached Thor's hand. She was scared and was no shame to ask for his comfort. She gave the talisman to Loki, with a nod. Seconds later, no one was near their car.
There was a lake and a dark wood house. It was empty and silent. The shadow grown near it and they came from it: Loki, Darcy, Thor and Jane, hand in hand. The talisman was not shining so brightly. Loki had it on his hand.
Cold. The air was too cold. Cold and calm. Silence. Silence…
A mist was growing above the lake, creating a pale shadow. The water was dark blue and the shadow was hiding its mysteries. There were lots of trees. Apple trees. There were dead apples on the ground, those which fell from those trees in all those years, abandoned. But there were new apples growing on their branches. And strange herbs and flowers on the grass.
- Where are we? – Jane asked.
- I don't know. – Thor answered.
Darcy glanced at Loki's hand.
- The light is dying…
- No, it is fading… going to this place… giving life… - Loki said, looking around.
And then, she spoke.