It took me two more days to fully recover. As soon I was able, I set my plan into motion. It was necessary for me to write down all the information I could recall, just to make sure I had the dates right. When it was all settled, I gathered Sarah to myself, Loki and preparing to temporarily say goodbye. I was incapable of dying but she was not, yet I refused to hide somewhere safe while the battle raged. After all, I considered this to be me versus Hel; death against time. She had been my enemy all along and I hers.
And so it was that three of us departed without a word to anyone. Upon our return to earth after my previous meeting with Hel, I had practiced using my abilities. It so happened that one day I particularly missed my grandmother. Though I was not her blood grandchild, she had always made feel as if I was and I had a connection to her like Claire did not. It didn't seem to matter that Claire could have passed for my grandmother's twin, were she young. Mormor Inga and I were as thick as thieves.
I had initially intended to just allow myself a glance at her. I had never known her when she was young and I was curious. However, other events had occurred and we ended up speaking. In turn, she had learned everything about who I really was. Surprisingly, she had believed me and I was best friends with grandmother once more.
"Olivia, may I ask when and where we are going?"
"Wichita Falls, nineteen fifty-six."
"Is there any particular reason?"
"Yeah, my grandmother's there."
"Your grandmother?"
"When she was younger, of course. And not dead."
"And you're certain she will help?"
"Yes, she's Mormor Inga. Of course she will."
"Mormor Inga? Is she-"
"She's my mother's mother. She and my grandfather were both Swedish, if that answers your question. During the war, they left Sweden and emigrated to America. I think, if memory serves correctly, that I spoke to her in fifty-five. She should remember me."
"Exactly how old will she be?"
I paused where I stood, running the calculations in my head."Eh, about thirty-four? Thirty-five? Old enough to be responsible." I extended my free hand towards his. "I don't want anyone getting lost in the time vortex."
"We wouldn't want that, would we?" He replied with snark.
I ignored his sarcasm, closing my eyes with intent. I felt the forceful wind that erupted as I opened a rip into the vortex. When my eyes opened, I could see each and every piece of time moving before me. A quick glance at Loki revealed his alarm. Good, I had managed to surprise him. I searched for the time and place, at last finding it within the swirling vortex. All I had to do was be patient, thinking intensely of traveling there. Not a moment later, we had arrived.
It was a hot, Texas summer night. The familiar brick of my grandmother's ranch house was barely visible in the incandescent light. A light shone in the front room and I felt Sarah squirm in my arms. I took a thoughtful glance at the front door and sighed sadly. I swallowed the knot that formed in my throat and tugged lightly on Loki's hand.
I stood at the door, a sinking feeling rising in my stomach. WIth great anxiety, I rapped on the wood. I heard the sounds of a television blaring from within, the faint footsteps approaching. The door swung open to reveal my grandmother, her golden blonde hair pulled up with a bandana. She look utterly frazzled and I immediately felt a sense of guilt for imposing upon her.
It must have been near, the time when my grandfather would die from complications of an old war wound. How very exhausted she appeared. "Olivia!" She exclaimed in surprise, casting a frantic look over her shoulder. "I-I wasn't expecting you."
"I know. And I feel really terrible but I-" She glanced down to see a still slumbering Sarah.
"Is that?"
"She's mine. Ours." I corrected quickly, glancing to Loki.
She froze when she saw Loki. I watched surprise, followed by fear make its way into each feature. Her pale blue eyes flicked to me in panic. "What did you say his name was?" Of course. I had forgotten about the fact she had grown up in the Swedish countryside. She must have heard countless tales of Loki growing up. And even if she had never seen him, there must have been something within all those stories that brought recognition.
"I am Loki, of Asgard." He stated condescendingly. Once again, he wanted to rile her. The darkness within him had only been lessened, it had never entirely disappeared. There was still a piece of him that enjoyed being feared and in control. I glowered at him in response, incredibly angry he would dare upset my grandmother.
Mormor Inga covered her mouth in alarm, her blonde head shaking side to side in worry. "Olivia, come inside." She whispered frantically, pulling on my arm with alarm. How very afraid of him she was. She sought to protect me from him, the best she could.
"Inga, it's okay. He's not-"
"Don't you touch her!" She shouted angrily at him, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and leading me inside. The door slammed close in his face and I struggled to get her to listen.
"Inga, please-"
She carefully took Sarah from me, eyeing me with concern the entire time. "Did he hurt you? Is that-"
"No, no, no. He didn't rape me." I soothed. "Inga, please, just listen. The story is really long and complicated. But he's not who you think he is." Well, not exactly anyway. "He's my husband, Inga. And Sarah," I gestured to my daughter who whimpered uneasily on the sofa. "Is our daughter. Things are...dangerous. There are people who want to hurt her and we needed a place for her to stay. I know things are hard for you but we don't have anywhere else to go."
She bit her lip in thought before motioning me to wait a moment. I watched as she nervously opened the door, closing it behind an amused Loki as he entered. "I take it you've had a sudden change of heart?" My expression wiped the smirk from his face.
My grandmother said nothing in reply, gathering Sarah into her arms. "I promise I will keep her safe until you return." She stated sadly, reaching up to kiss my forehead.
Tears stung my eyes as I took one, last look at my sleeping baby. "Thank you." I cracked, bending down to kiss Sarah's raven curls. I savored her scent, her softness. But I knew if I ever wanted her to be truly safe, and truly alive, I would have to return. Not only return but I had to, simply had to, destroy Hel and all she fought for. It was the only way for my life to be a life.
So, it was with great forlornness that we left. I couldn't ignore the hollowness I felt within as we departed. Shove it in a drawer, Olivia. I thought bitterly, the scene shifting from my grandmother's house to Asgard. Shove it in a drawer and lock away the key.
It took me a moment to realize, upon our arrival, that Asgard was amiss. I heard the sounds of blades clanging, the room that had once been Loki's having been pillaged. From the broken window, I could see flames licking the visible landscape. I comfort that we had just saved the one thing that mattered most. Now, all that remained was the rest.