Sorcha's Secret World, Part one.

Chapter 45, Fact and Fiction.

"That was the god of Mischief?" Anna asked incredulously as Loki dashed out of the house again to get the melting tubs of ice cream from the car.

"Prety much, yes," I grinned. Leave it up to Loki to not be able to go grocery shopping without it turning into unintended chaos, as events so often seem to do in his life.

"He's... not quite what I expected..." Anna admitted.

"He's normally a bit more..." Elegant? Graceful? Sophisticated? Better dressed? I wasn't really sure what word I was looking for. I supposed that if you had dedicated your life to studying the Norse pantheon meeting Loki and Thor for the first time while they were doing chores around the house was rather anticlimactic.

"...impressive." I finished my sentence.

"I see..." said Anna, expectantly looking at the door. "And your fiancé? Where is he?"

It was my turn to be confused.

"Loki is my fiancé," I said.

"But didn't you say were engaged to Thor's brother?"

"I am. Loki is Thor's only brother."

"Adopted," Loki corrected as he hurtled back in with the tubs of ice cream and a carton of eggs. "Very much adopted. Thank the Norns there is not a shed of shared DNA between us, even the thought of it makes me shudder."

Loki grinned. "I found most of the eggs, but one seems to have made a mad dash for freedom and remains unaccounted for. I can only hope it is out there living it's best life!"

I grinned back.

At the same time, Thor came bounding down the stairs and into the kitchen in his full armour, winged helmet perched on his head.

"Behold! For I am Thor, god of Thunder!"

Loki rolled his eyes. "Truly brother? Are you even done with your chores yet?"

Anna was starting to look rather wild-eyed. I couldn't blame her. I tried to restore some order.

"Anna, Loki was adopted by Odin, which makes him Thor's brother. Loki is my fiancé.

Thor, please take your helmet off and sit down.

Loki, Anna is a scholar, who specialises in Norse Mythology and Early Medieval History. She is here to help us locate the Places of Power."

Loki put the ice cream in the freezer and turned around.

"A scholar who specialises in Norse Mythology? So you have studied the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda and the Codex Regius, if am I correct?"

Anna nodded enthusiastically. "That is correct, I made it my life's work."

"Very good," Loki drawled insincerely.

"I'm certain your parents are proud of you.

Well, it was lovely to meet you, but we won't be needing your services.

Now get out of my house!"

"Loki!" I was horrified at his rudeness.

"I'll reassure you I am the world's leading expert in my field," Anna said angrily, "you will not find anyone who knows Norse mythology better than I do!"

She hesitated for a moment, realising who she was talking to. "Present company excluded of course."

"You know nothing!" Loki barked at her. "The Edda is complete and utter nonsense! If Snorri Sturluson was alive today he'd be writing Thorki smut fanfiction on the internet!"