Chapter twenty-one: Winter's Challenge

I was in a well-furnished room—candles were everywhere, expensive fur rugs covered the floor, and paintings of creepy people stared at me from the walls. It was an incredibly hot room, causing my skin to stick to the sheets. My eyes found themselves studying the empty flasks, the bubbling cauldrons, the broken bottles scattered on the ground and the chemicals captured in tiny containers. I figured that since I wasn't chained up or being beaten to death, the person in front of me didn't want me dead yet.

"You're going to want to drink that," she said cheerfully, referring to the beverage she had handed to me minutes ago. She had an irritable, perky voice that made my ears cringe. "Drink and be merry."

"Yeah. Drink and be dead is what it really translates to," I muttered, avoiding the violet liquid. It had a foul smell.

I frowned, not being able to recall what happened to me hours beforehand. Glancing at my body, I could only guess that I was in a battle. I had various bruises, multiple deep cuts and I could not feel my legs. I didn't know if that was good or bad, seeing as I was too anxious to really think.

"What is this contraption?" She twirled my Blood Star curiously, which was strange to watch since the Blood Star was bigger than her. She only stood at five feet and was toothpick skinny.

I groaned, muttering, "It's mine."

She eyed me with her eerie white irises. "I didn't ask if it was yours."

"Who are you?" I glared. I sounded like a frog.

She smirked, revealing her fangs. "It's rude to ask my name without introducing yourself first."

I twitched, remembering that Kaede had said the same damn thing once. "I don't care if I'm being rude."

The red haired vampire casually dropped the Blood Star and sat on my legs, causing me to shriek in agony. A searing jolt of pain shook me and I continued to scream. Satisfied that she now had me screaming, she hopped off, wanting to get out of reach. I fell off the bed as my body convulsed into inhumane angles.

She giggled as began to braid my hair like nothing happened. "I forgot to mention that your legs are broken."

I seethed through my teeth, trying to regain my control. "Anything... else?"

"Legs, arms…your spine was a bit messed up when I found you, but I took care of that," she winked. "Thora."

"Thora what?" I asked impatiently.

"That's my name."

I gave her my best death glare. "What do you want?"

"Information is all," she said, throwing back her red bouncy curls. "Such as what were you doing with my prey?"

"Your…prey?" I shot her a confused look.

"Yes, you had someone with you that belonged to me."

"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't have anyone," I snarled.

"Yes you did. In fact, you had a lovely group with you," she stated calmly. "One male with fabulous blonde hair, one male with black hair and an eye missing, one male with silver hair and another with white."

I blinked. "I don't…"

"It doesn't really matter though. Everyone on that train is dead now."

My eyes widened. "Train?"

She tilted her head, curious. "You don't remember? Though it would make sense. You did hit your head pretty hard. In fact, you smashed right into the next train cart—that's how you screwed up your spine. Perhaps you have amnesia?"

I frowned. This was NOT good. She had too many advantages over me. One, I'm injured. Two, I couldn't remember diddlysquat. Three, she obviously knew what had happened to me. Four…well, my head hurt too much to think of more.

"Hang on here, I know those descriptions…" I stared at her, desperately trying to remember what happened. "They were on the train with me?"

I was on a train with Hanabusa, Zero and Yagari-sama...since when?

"Yes," she said bluntly.

"But you just said that everyone on the train died…" My voice trailed off.

"I know that."

But that meant...

I shook my head vigorously. "You're wrong. They're not dead."

"Oh but they are. The explosion that went off in the train was me," she replied.

I roared, smacking her hand away from my hair. "YOU ATTACKED THE TRAIN?"

She snorted. "Well, it was under attack to begin with. I just let loose a bomb filled with the nerve gas that killed everyone else."

"But that means…they can't be…no. No. They're not dead." I shook my head harder.

"If denial works for you, then so be it. Right now I want some information. Why did you have Nunki Hoshi with you?" She snarled, suddenly inches from my face. I could smell fresh blood in her breath.

I glared darkly at her. She had drunk someone's blood earlier.

Mine? Hanabusa's? Zero's? Yagari-sama's? Or some poor human?

I growled.

"Your friends are dead, Missy. I saw their heads explode myself," she smirked, taking pleasure in my pain.

She began to laugh as I squirmed under her hands, trying to whack them away. Yet it was like I wasn't in the room with her. My mind felt caged by the flashes of images and clips of memories that slipped through the cracks of my injured brain.

Hanabusa....Zero...Yagari-sama....

They could not be gone.

"Hey! Are you listening to me?" She shook my shoulders and looked me over when I didn't respond, seeming excited. "You're turning colors…did you stop breathing?"

And I vomited right on her.

She squeaked in surprise, recoiling with disgust and released me. I would have laughed if circumstances were different.

"You…bitch," I slurred. I was starting to lose feeling in my lips. "You...MURDERED…my friends."

She grunted as she cleaned herself. "If I did, it's not my problem. Whether you like it or not, you're going to tell me what you were doing with Nunki Hoshi."

Nunki Hoshi...the white haired vampire who tortured me. And now I had a disturbed red head bent on driving me insane. How the hell do I manage to get myself into these messes?

I looked for my Blood Star, which was out of reach much to my dismay and I tried to crawl to it but my limbs were becoming numb.

I had become paralyzed.

"The poison is activating finally," she said gleefully, skipping around me.

"Po..ison? When…?" I tried to get back on my knees but collapsed back onto the floor.

"Yes, a human made poison called Sarin that I modified so it would kill vampires as well. You breathed in when you were in the train. I had kept it at bay for the past few days because I wanted to talk to you," she smirked. "You have seven hours before I toss your body in with your boyfriends."

I screamed at her---not because I knew I was dying or because my muscles were deteriorating. I screamed because I wanted to tear out the woman's lifeless heart and smash her skull in, but didn't have the ability to do so.

My screams came out as pathetic gurgles.

God damn poison.

She giggled, patting me on the head as she skipped by and grabbed my bag. "I wanted to wait before I went through your belongings..."

I grunted. It was the only thing I could do.

She winked at me as she continued. "Because it's rude, you know? But since you're not giving me answers and dying…might as well, right?"

I lied there as she threw my extra layers of clothing out and my map of Russia and the routes that I was supposed to take to find Kaede out of my bag. She tilted her head at me--like she wanted to see if I would challenge her.

"Giving in yet?" I heard her ask.

I shook my head slowly, causing drool to drip everywhere on her floor. Not a second later, I vomited again. I tasted blood this time.

She frowned. "That won't be any fun to clean."

It wasn't until maybe three hours later, after she had spent her time studying the map to get an idea of what I was up to, that she grabbed me by my hair and dragged me across the floor. She picked me up as if I weighed only a pound and dropped me onto the bed I was on earlier.

My head rolled back, side-to-side and finally drooped down. I felt pathetic for not being able to even keep my head up to glare at her.

"Where did you get that necklace?" She removed the sun and moon fused gift that the Chairman gave to me.

I tried to say it was mine but drooled instead.

"Did you steal it, hmm?" She narrowed her eyes dangerously.

I moved my head side-to-side. She hurled me off the bed and effortlessly knocked me into the wall with her leg.

"This necklace," she hissed furiously as she held it in front of my face. "Belongs to the Heolstor clan. It's been passed through generation to generation. The last person to have it was Chiara Fontana, so I am asking you politely how did you get it?"

I giggled. I don't even know why I giggled, but I couldn't help it.

Everything seemed funny all of the sudden.

"Oh you think that's funny, huh? You thought it was funny when you killed her? When you stole from her?" she snarled, digging her nails into my neck. "Then maybe you'll think it's funny when I drain you alive."

I couldn't focus. The scent of my blood on her nails made me woozy—it made me reach for the necklace.

And for some reason, I felt stronger when I had it in my hand.

"Mom," I whispered faintly.

That's when I started to cry.

I knew I failed. I was never going to save her. It was over.

For her.

For me.

Over.

But the digging stopped and Thora was looking at me questioningly.

"Did you just call the necklace 'Mom'?"

I didn't answer her. I passed out.

Four days earlier

We arrived in China during midday, giving me the opportunity to get a glimpse of China's environment. The streets were overcrowded, the smell of fish and gas from vehicles rotted the air, and their foreign language buzzed in and out of my ears. I felt like I was in New York City during New Years.

Don't get me started on the food.

I was brave enough to try new dishes and miraculously kept the food in my stomach.

Yagari-sama wasn't so lucky. He stuck to his good old faithful noodles after he couldn't handle the stuff I ate.

Hanabusa was directly behind me, keeping an eye the hostage he dragged with him. Hoshi, the white haired creep who tortured me back when Kaede had me in her clutches, was not happy to be cuffed to the blonde noble vampire. He complained, whined, and mouthed off whenever he had the chance.

Zero was walking ahead of us, scanning the area. Once in a while he'd stop, put his hand on the Blood Rose and narrow his eyes into cautious slits. I once asked Yagari-sama why Zero was acting so strangely and he explained that China was one of the few countries that vampires avoided. The nobles and pure bloods believed that because China had such an overwhelming human population, it would be too tempting for a vampire to devour them rather than live with them peacefully. It was sort of an unspoken law among the vampires that no vampire would be allowed to settle in China.

So in other words, should I run into a vampire I was to kill them without any hesitation or become the meal of the day.

"This train reeks," Hoshi mumbled, sticking his nose into his hands. "And I can't see a damn thing."

"That's the point." Hanabusa threw him in a seat.

Zero had blindfolded Hoshi moments before stepping onto the train, saying that he didn't need to know where we were heading. Of course, Hoshi didn't know where we going at all. The only thing we told him as we left Japan was that he was going on a field trip.

I rolled my eyes. "We still have time—I don't see why we can't."

Yagari-sama sighed, keeping his attention focused on the window. "While that does sound tempting, my answer is still no."

"That's the sixth time you've suggested bodily harm. Don't get too anxious," Zero frowned, eyes trained on the other humans.

"What's one limb?" I smirked at the bastard. "He didn't hesitate to torture me or take Jade's arm off."

"Serena, do I really have to remind you that it was us who removed his arm?" Yagari-sama replied. He was becoming irritated with my behavior.

"Yeah, but he's the indirect cause of the removal," I said.

"Which limb?" Hanabusa sounded enthusiastic, causing the vampire hunters to stare at him questioningly. "Don't say he doesn't deserve it."

"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop talking about me as if I wasn't here," Hoshi growled. "I can STILL hear you."

"His tongue would suffice," I grinned deviously.

"Oooh…suffice…she used a big word," Hanabusa teased.

"It would draw attention." Yagari-sama interrupted me before I could smack the noble vampire.

I snorted. "There are only humans on this train—what's the risk?"

"Ah yes, I bet the humans would react just adorably as you rip out his tongue," Zero reprimanded me.

"And we're not certain that we're the only vampires here, you imbecile," Hanabusa reminded me.

Zero scowled as I began to sulk. "Could you sit somewhere else? Give me some peace."

"Oh yeah? And where would you have me sit your royal highness?" I sneered, indicating that the train was completely filled.

"Right there." Zero pointed to a group of empty seats left behind by a group of preteens as they got off the train.

I fumed. "FINE THEN!"

I got up and marched to the seats, stubbornly crossed my arms and plopped myself into one of the seats. Hanabusa followed me over, causing Hoshi to be dragged on the floor behind him. I narrowed my eyes at the two and decided to ignore them both. I glanced outside the window, taking in the snow and bright multi-colored bulbs. I blew on the window, creating a small fog spot and involuntarily shivered as the wind whistled outside.

"Cold?" Hanabusa gave me a mocking grin.

I glared at him.

"Don't give me that look," he smirked, leaning further against the seat. "I told you to dress warmly."

"I am dressed warmly! I have so many clothes on that I can barely walk! I FRICKIN' WADDLE!" I snapped.

"Well." He exhaled slowly. "You could always strip them off."

A vein popped on my forehead and I clenched my fist. "Hanabusa…"

"This was your brilliant idea, imbecile. I mean who in their right mind plans to travel to the place we're going to during the winter season?" He left out 'Russia' because Hoshi was listening to our conversation.

My nostrils flared. "Don't make me hit you."

He sneered. "Never stopped you before."

I opened my mouth to say something but then quickly closed it. I still felt guilty for slapping him the last time I saw him. I was surprised to even see him the morning we left Japan, figuring that he would be too angry to join the group. I had theory that the only reason he still wanted to come was to make sure Kaede ate me. I eyed him suspiciously despite recalling Takuma's words, wondering if Hanabusa was waiting for an apology or imagining my death.

Takuma had told me, "Oh, he's still going to follow you to Russia. No matter how pissed off he is, he cares too much to let you go there without him. Though I wouldn't question him while you're out there. I wouldn't put it pass him if he tried to get a little even so he can win back his dignity."

Wanting to avoid the subject, I averted my attention to the vampire hunters.

Zero was on his feet, eyes closed as if in deep concentration. Yagari-sama was still staring outside, one arm draped across his seat and the other in his lap. I stared at the group, wondering if I really wanted to face Kaede. I realized once we got to China that my chances of actually surviving were slim. The spar I had with Hanabusa gave me a hard reality check of what it was like fighting a noble vampire, and I knew I wasn't going to fighting just one. The up side was that I had three strong fighters with me, the down side was that there was still no guarantee that I would survive the confrontation.

I was swimming in dangerous waters.

Note to future self: Do not leave home without a really good plan or someone willing to save my dumbass.

"Hanabusa…" I started to say but I was cut off.

The train came to an abrupt halt and I would have been thrown out of my seat if not for Hanabusa's fast reflexes. He had me by the waist and tucked close to his chest in seconds. Hoshi wasn't so lucky. The cuff that had him attached to Hanabusa's wrist broke off and he went flying. He landed against a window, cracking it with his forehead.

Zero and Yagari-sama had managed to tighten their grips on the seats in front of them, and they gave each other a knowing look before drawing out their weapons. Not a second after the train stopped, the side doors were forced open and two black blurs attacked a group of four people sitting in front of me. I was thrown aside before I could even register what was going on, hitting the floor with my head. When everything slowed down so my human eyes could follow, I groaned in disbelief.

Every human in my cart was drained of blood.

Vampires. Fuck my luck.

I heard someone gurgle and found Hanabusa strangling a slim, blue haired man. He had him pinned to the roof of the train. Zero had the Blood Rose pointed at the back of a woman's head, who was suddenly standing right in front of me.

"God you're fucking fast," I swore as she blurred again.

A gun went off, someone screamed in Chinese, and I was soaring into the air. I crashed into the next train cart, screaming in pain as I felt my bones break.

"SERENA!" Hanabusa shouted in alarm.

A cold, pale feminine hand wrapped my throat and squeezed.

"This is your grave," she whispered hoarsely.

Something exploded, causing everything to go black.

And to be honest, at that moment I thought I died.

-------------------

Present time

My head throbbed. My body ached. I wasn't in pain but I felt so tremendously tired. I was back in my winter clothes, wearing the multiple layers. I could feel the cold metal of the sun and moon fused necklace back on my collarbone. It relaxed me.

I was on someone's back. I figured that since no warmth radiated from their body, the person was a vampire.

Or maybe the familiar red curls on top of the head were a dead giveaway.

"What…happened?" I asked, surprised that I could form words again.

"You were cured," Thora answered, bouncing as she walked.

I blinked a couple of times, trying to adjust to the light that the snow reflected. "Where…are we? And what are you doing? Where are you taking me? What the hell did you do to me?"

She chuckled. "We are in Kazakhstan. I'm following the directions your map outlined to take you to Russia."

"And…why would you do that?" I was fighting the urge to kick in my heels. "What the HELL are you planning?"

"I learned that we have a common enemy: The Bokyo Clan. And you mentioned in your sleep that you wanted to kill a Kaede—I can only think of Bokyo Kaede."

I paused, confused. "I don't talk in my sleep."

"Apparently you do if it is induced by poison," she said.

I growled. "Yeah about that."

"You are cured of the poison. I made sure of that."

"Do I want to know how?"

"Oh that's simple. You drank my blood," she answered playfully.

"Why the hell are you so happy about that?" I felt the urge to vomit again. "And stop sounding so damn perky. It's annoying. And you can't take me to Russia now! I can't face her alone!"

She laughed. A loud, genuine laugh. "My child, it is not often I come across a relative. And to have someone who belongs to your family drink—"

"HOLD UP! FAMILY?" I shrieked, wiggling on her back.

She stopped walking, looking up at me with a big grin. "Well, yes, we're related. I am Thora Heolstor. Your mother, Chiara Fontana, is my great-great-great-great-great grand niece."

"You lie…" I glared darkly.

She bounced again, unaffected. "No dear. I knew you belonged to the Heolstor-Fontana clan the moment I smelled your blood. That's why I made you drink my blood, the only cure to the poison I modified. And let me tell you, it's always rejuvenating to have a relative drink your blood."

My eyebrows furrowed. "You're nuts."

"Well, that too. So what's your name? I didn't catch it."

I growled. "I never gave it. And don't think that just because we're relatives...somehow… means that I will forgive you for what you did to my friends!"

"Oh they're alive!" she laughed. "I lied to you. They're probably looking for you as we speak, but if they're smart they'll go to Russia anyway because that's where you're supposed to be going. And every smart person knows that if someone gets lost they have to meet them at their planned destination."

I suppose that makes sense...my head hurts too much to think. I was going to have to count on Yagari-sama and Zero to be smart. Hanabusa was probably in a hysterical state of mind.

"My name is Serena Fontana." I rubbed my eyes.

She clicked her tongue. "Pretty name."

"Where's my Blood Star?" Relative or not, I still wanted to bash her skull in. She lied to me.

LIED. GOD DAMN IT!

"It's on me somewhere. I packed it," she replied.

I sniffled, unable to stop the tears from prickling my eyes.

"Are you crying?" she asked playfully and tried to look.

"No," I snapped, pushing her head down.

"You're lying. I can smell salt," she giggled.

"Just shut up and keep going."

As time went on, Thora talked about what happened on the train after I passed out. Apparently the two vampires that attacked the train were aided by two more, and three out of the four vampires are dead. Tolucan Rufin, the blue haired vampire that Hanabusa protected me from, was the only one to survive.

Tolucan married into the Bokyo clan, becoming Thora's prime target because he murdered her human lover a century ago. In turn, Thora killed Tolucan's wife, Nagisa Bokyo. According to her, Tolucan had the ability to produce acid with sweat on his hands and that ruled out hand-to-hand combat for me.

She informed me that Hanabusa and the others left the train the moment her bomb went off. She said Yagari-sama recognized her, spotting her outside of the train when he looked out the window. It was probably why he didn't throw a fit when she kidnapped me.

He knew who she was. And he knew of the relation.

Damn bastard could have warned me.

Thora also bragged about her past achievements.

In the past, she killed Tonya Bokyo by poisoning her food. She murdered Freya Bokyo, Hilda Rufin, Pleah Bokyo, Morela Rufin and Sakae Nunki during a vampire council meeting.

Eji Bokyo, Galina Rufin, Calder Rufin, Goro Nunki, Hitoshi Bokyo, Chiyo Bokyo and Kagami Bokyo were killed in their own mansion when it exploded thirty years ago. Her nerve gas killed Huyu Bokyo, Akira Bokyo and Ozera Rufin fifteen years ago.

"You make it sound like a sport," I frowned.

She chuckled proudly. "Well, they kill some of our relatives and we kill some of theirs. I just take it a step further. I'll admit—I probably have the highest score of killing most of them."

That didn't sound good at all.

"Do I have more relatives out here?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Not around here, I'm afraid," she said. "There's Vincent Fontana and his wife Roxanne in Ireland…I think they're awaiting their firstborn. Vincent is your second cousin, I think. But they're humans. Then there's Kale Heolstor and his human wife Laurie in Switzerland. Kale is my nephew…that makes him your great-great-great-great uncle."

She had only just begun but my head was already spinning with all these names and I tried my best to keep them straight. I really hated family trees. I could never keep up with who was related to who and how.

She closed her eyes in thought. "Jean Heolstor, Kale's older brother, is in…well, I honestly don't know. He likes to be by himself most of the time. I know his daughter, Diana, just married a human named Michael Ferguson. They live in Alaska. Solange Fontana, your mother's aunt, lives with a vampire whose name escapes me in Texas. And…Celeste Heolstor, your great-great grandma lives in New York. She's some kind of fashion agent when she's not busy with her vampire duties."

"My great-great grandma is a vampire?" I was excited.

"Yes, but she married a human--who died by the way. Her blood is the last vampire blood in the family. Well, for the new generation anyway," she explained blatantly.

I began to wiggle again.

"Hey! Hey! What are you doing? If you have to use the restroom, you'll have to wait till we get to the next exit!" she barked.

I laughed and it felt so good to laugh. When was the last time I truly laughed?

"What are you laughing about?" she asked, confused.

"I'm happy," I grinned. "For years I thought I didn't have a family but it turns out I have so many relatives that-"

"You don't have to finish. I understand," she cut me off.

I stuck my tongue out at her despite the fact I knew she couldn't see me.

A big part of me hoped that, if I survived, one day my family would unite in one place.

I wanted to see them all. At least just once.

Maybe I would feel…less angry. But at the same time I wondered if I would be approved. I'm not exactly the world's best angel.

"AH HA!" she shouted suddenly and I nearly fell off her back.

"What? What?" I looked around, finding only snow and bare trees.

"I found the Volga River!" she said with vigor, shaking her fist. "We're going to follow the Volga River up to Kazan City and take a plane to Moscow."

"By plane? I don't know if that's a good idea," I stated. I couldn't make out the river she was talking about either.

"And why not? It's twelve hours if we go from Kazan to Moscow by train," she said, pouting.

I flinched at the word train, not wanting another incident. "But I don't have money with me. Zero carried the money. I can't afford an airplane ticket."

She laughed at me. "Silly Serena, what made you think I was going to let you pay? I already knew you didn't have money. I went through your bag, remember?"

A vein bulged on my forehead. "Well then why didn't you say so?"

"I did." She made a peace sign.

"I meant earlier!" I snapped, irritated by her constant enthusiasm. "UGH! If we weren't related I'd smack you!"

She giggled. "Awww... You're so cute when you make empty threats."

Another vein bulged.

I officially take Hanabusa's arrogance and superiority complex over Thora's perkiness any day.

Kazan City was like visiting a kingdom. Buildings were constructed like palaces, or at least they looked like palaces. Oddly, they reminded me of Arabian architecture. Most buildings were cream yellow or white with interesting, twisted rooftops. It was a typical city though.

Very busy, very crowded, very noisy.

It was the noise that woke me from my slumber. In fact I don't recall what time we arrived in Kazan City, probably because I slept the entire trip. Though I don't know how I managed to sleep—Thora never shuts up!

When she wasn't talking to me, she was talking to the random animals that appeared. When she wasn't talking to the animals, she was talking to herself. When she wasn't talking to herself, she was singing.

It made me wish I were deaf.

"Here we are." She paused and slipped me off her back. "This is where we will be buying those tickets."

It took me a few seconds to stand since my feet were tickling with numbness. I hate it when my feet fall asleep.

She glanced at me and it was the first time I realized how young she looked. It was like staring at a twelve year old.

She pointed at the ground as I retrieved my bag from her, taking out my map. "You stay right here while I go get them. Don't go anywhere—I wouldn't want you to get lost here."

"I won't get lost," I lied. On a normal day, reading maps wasn't so hard for me, but I was a bit distorted from everything that happened in the last five days.

"And whatever you do," she said while looking at the streets. "Do not look like a tourist. Vampires in Russia are not kind to tourists."

"Uh huh." I nodded my head, half paying attention.

"That means putting away the gigantic map, Serena," she chuckled.

I blinked and then slowly realized what she meant. "Oh! Yeah…my bad."

As she walked away and disappeared into the busy streets, I sat myself on a nearby bench and watched the clouds. I inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of the winter season and frowned.

It reminded me of Hanabusa. I wondered if he was okay.

I missed his cranky ass.

"Why, don't you look tired?"

I lazily looked to my right and spotted a girl wearing revealing clothes that made her big boobs seem pointy and exposed her stomach. She was my height with an athletic build, teal layered hair that framed her round baby face, and excited lime green eyes.

"Can I help you with something?" I found it odd that she could speak English. Not seconds after I spoke, the hairs on my neck rose in alarm.

She grinned, showing off her fangs. "I think you can."

I groaned, looking upward.

Why? Why ME?

"Don't you have someone else to bother?" I sighed, not bothering to move. "Isn't there someone else you can harass?"

She laughed, her voice a melody. I partially wondered if she could sing like an opera singer. "Wow, you're the first lazy Heolstor I've met."

I narrowed my eyes. "For you to use my ancestor's surname means that you belong to the Bokyo clan."

The atmosphere around her became static, causing my hair to stick up in the air. "Good to know that you're at least a little smart."

I frowned. I didn't have the Blood Star on me. I forgot to ask Thora for it before she left. Lady Luck was NOT on my side.

God damn everything to friggin' hell!

I liiveeeee!!! Sorry for the long wait. I desperately need a laptop, but I'm using the family computer.

If I were you, I'd reread the last chapter because I changed a couple of things just to make the fiction flow better.

I don't know when the next chapter will be up...I've decided to wait until I get at least ten reviews before I update again. If I have to, I'll wait for a year to pass before I update. Now the decision is within the reader's hands.

By the way, I hope Thora Heolstor came across as someone who is...generally a happy-go-lucky person, but with a lot of screws missing in her head. That's what I was going for.

Have a good summer!