All Time Loki Part III: Less Obvious

(Quick Note: These are not the actual myths. These are rewritten by moi, and probably not that mythologically accurate. Also, the vibe song for this story is I'm Ready by AJR. Carry on)

🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

Well, stupid Kraken.

My head flew back and hit the rock. I sank into darkness.

But then I opened my eyes.

A figure, shrouded in darkness stood in front of me. Whispers flew around me. He has been asleep for millenia, they said. But now he is awake. And he will bring us our great victory.

I tried to yell, Who are you? But I couldn’t.

Yes, great victory. But what of the girl?

The girl, the girl, the girl. She will play her part well. 

Yes. But after?

She will die, of course. But her death won’t matter.

I struggled. Get me out of here.

However, we are being watched. We will speak of this later.

And the dream vanished.

🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

I opened my eyes. Everything was blurry and hazy.

“Where…” I croaked.

“Oh, thank the gods, you’re awake!” Cailen screamed. “How do I get rid of this thing?”

“You can stab it anywhere…” I said through a daze. “Haven’t you...fought...monsters before?”

“Duh!” 

She finally killed the Kraken, and it sunk into the bay.

“Oh gods, you're bleeding.” She said, looking at my hair.

I touched my head, and my hand came away red. “Who put Kool-Aid on my head?” I giggled.

Cailen rolled her eyes. “Can you walk?”

“Cai!” Someone shouted. I giggled.

“Thank the gods,” Cailen mumbled. “Miles!” She shouted. “A little assist? I've got injured over here!”

I saw a blob appear above me, and then the sky faded to black.

I faded in and out of consciousness, but finally I woke up again, and could speak in complete sentences without giggling.

But the room started spinning when I saw the person who had healed me.

I had just arisen, when Cailen explained that we were at a friend’s house, in Pinole. But then the friend walked in to check on me, the poor, helpless concussion victim.

And. Oh. My. Me.

His eyes were the color of the sky. He had the cutest splash of freckles across his cheeks, a warm smile, and choppy ginger hair. 

Yeah, reader, I bet you noticed my use of pronouns there. Are you shocked? I am Loki, after all.

“Hi.” He said, sticking his hand out for a shake. “I’m Miles, son of Apollo.”

“Loki.” I blushed. “God of mischief. How many Romans are there in the Bay Area?”

He chucked (adorably). “You’d be surprised. But I’m not Roman, I’m Greek.”

“Greek?” I said.

“Yeah, except there aren’t that many Greeks on the west coast. They’re all over on the east coast, like her brother.” He pointed at Cailen.

Cailen mumbled something that sounded a lot like famous show off older brother.

“So, son of Apollo, huh?” I said, trying to manage my blush. When I was a god, I could appear however I wished. Curse your uncontrollable mortal bodies!

“Yeah. That's why I’m a healer. That's also how I was able to cure you of your giggle-itis.” 

We locked eyes for a second too long. His were blue, the color of Lake Tahoe in the winter.

He looked away and blushed. “Anyway, I was telling Cai, I would like to be a part of your quest, if you would have me.”

Oh my gods yes yes yes. I tried to shrug it off, and act indifferent. A god would not be smitten! “If you want to. Doesn’t matter to me.”

I really hoped it sounded convincing.

“Alright, I’ll pack my bags, then. I have a feeling that between you and Cai, you’ll need my healing abilities. A lot.” He walked out of the room.

“What in the gods' names is wrong with you?” Cailen hissed once Miles was out of earshot.

“What do you mean?” I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans.

“You need to do better than that next time. If you’re gonna have a crush on him, be a little less obvious.”

“I don’t have a crush.” I lied.

“Suuuure. Well, even if you did, you would be lucky, because Miles is bi.”

“Really?!” I said, my eyes widening. Then I realized what I was doing. “I mean, good for him?”

Cailen snorted. “Yeah, you don’t have a crush. You’re right. Now get up, loverboy, breakfast is ready.”

🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

We walked into the kitchen, where Miles was talking to his mom. Or so I assumed. She had the same ginger hair that he had.

“I’m sorry, Ma, but I have to go. They need me. A god needs me.”

“Okay, then, Miles. I love you, son. Make sure to come back to me in one piece, boy, or you’re gonna get in trouble.”

“Yes, Ma. I love you, Ma.”

Both Miles and his mother spoke with a slight southern accent. It made me wonder how long they’d been in Pinole. 

(Also, can I add how cute the southern accent was? Thanks.)

Miles’ mom slid plates in front of the three of us.

“So where are y’all headed to first?”

“The Crockett Hills Armory.” Cailen said. “After that, I’m not sure. Some signs will appear, I hope.”

“Yeah.” Miles chewed something that looked like bacon, but wasn’t.

“Wait. What is that?” I pointed at the bacon-like thing.

“This? It’s facon bacon.”

“Facon bacon?” I asked.

“It's like bacon, except fake. It's made of plants instead of animals. Because I’m vegetarian.”

“It still confuses me, but as you mortals say, whatever. So, anyway-” I started, but I paled.

Reno, Nevada.

Spoken in my head as clearly if someone had said it out loud.

Reno, Nevada.

I looked at Cailen, felt my face go paler, and said, “This is not good.”

“What? What isn’t good?”

“Reno. Reno, Nevada.” It repeated over and over in my head, like a song stuck on loop. I couldn’t bear it for much longer.

You’ll remember that, Miles?” Cailen turned towards him, pointing her head up to face him.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“How did you get that info?” Cailen asked.

“It’s…” I gritted my teeth. “Playing over and over. In my head. Like what you modern mortals may call schizophrenia. Except it's not.”

“And it’s only saying ‘Reno, Nevada’ over and over?”

“Yes.” I gritted my teeth harder. My head started to throb.

“Miles. Get something to knock him out. Instant.”

Miles ran to his bathroom. “All I have is chloroform.” He shouted back. “That's risky, but it’ll knock him out.”

“Just do it.”

Miles came back a few moments later and stuck a damp cloth under my nose. After a few breaths, I slipped away.

End of part 3