The NightWalker: Reborn

Faith, trust and pixie dust

I pull the sword an inch away from Odin's throat as I try to process the words that just come out of his mouth.
"What did you just say?" I frown. Odin looks at me, his expression wrecked, his eyes burning with rage.
"That's what you want, right? To kill her? To end this nightmare? I know how,"
"Yeah, I'm calling bullshit," I growled, tightening my grip on the sword.
"It is the truth. I discovered her weakness centuries ago but told no one. Because why would I? But now..." Odin clenches and unclenches his fists, teeth barred as fury shudders through him "She ruined me. She violated me. She stole... She stole my life," With a roar, Odin punches the wall, forming a small crater beneath his fist "She used me like a mindless servant, using my devotion and faith against me. She never cared about me. She never loved me,"
"Hmmm,"
"You think you want to kill her? You have no idea," I grit my teeth but I don't move the sword.
"Why should I believe you? After everything you have done for us. All the lies you have built up. How do I know you are not just saying this to save your skin?" Even with steel to his throat, Odin rolls his eyes.
"You're the mind-reader. You tell me," Uneasy, I stare into Odin's eyes and form a link between our minds. As I do, I sense the truth of his words. How broken he is in the wake of what I have revealed. How furious. How honest.
"I guess you really do mean it,"
"I do," Odin straightened up, standing like a soldier "I will help you destroy her. For good," The hold that Frigga has on him has really gone. I stare at him for a minute longer then finally drop the sword to my side "At ease, soldier. Fine. I will believe you. For now. I'm taking you to the others so you can tell all of us exactly what this secret is. Try anything. anything and you are dead,"
"I understand,"
"Oh, and walk in front of me. I don't fancy being stabbed in the back. The front was enough," I shepherd him onward with the tip of the sword. This had better go well or the others are going to flip their shit. I let the sword hover at his back in a silent warning "Just keep moving,"
"Whatever you say, Your Highness,"

When we reach the guardian's club, I force Odin inside. He enters with a grimace.
"I'm telling you, She is..." Loki trails off as Odin steps into the room. Everyone springs up to their feet, diving for their weapons "standing right behind us... What is--"
"Odin?" Gamora stutters.
"How did he get in here?" Mantis looks around the room.
"Threat detected. Initializing battle procedure," Nebula geared up. Sif is the first to notice that I am standing behind Odin, pressing a sword into his back.
"Emily? What the hell is this?"
"I--" I went to speak but I was cut off by a loud screech.
"YOU!" Thor races across the room, drawing Selvig's sword with fury flashing in his eyes "YOU BASTARD!" Quill darts forward and grabs Thor, trying to force him back.
"Hold on! You'll get hurt,"
"Oh, I'm not the one getting hurt," Thor's chest heaves for breath as his glare burns into Odin. But Odin doesn't return the look. Sighing, I walk forward.
"Will everyone just calm the fuck down!" I push Odin behind me. Everyone looks at me. Some confused. Some angry.
"Emily? You... you brought him here?" Sif's jaw dropped. Even Loki looked confused.
"Oh god! Is he mind-controlling you too?" Melody tried to grab my head. I dodged out of the way. I feel like Melody would have slapped me if she got hold of me.
"If Frigga couldn't control my mind, What makes you think he could? and no, nothing like that. He..." I glance back at Odin, who is purposefully not meeting anyone's gaze, glaring off into the middle distance "It turns out that Frigga had him under her mind control all this time. Shaping him, altering him. Making him her solider. I took away her influence and showed him her true nature. He says he wants to help us defeat her. He wants to kill her,"
"He's lying, you idiot! He's manipulating you to get in here," Gamora shouts at me. I click my tongue as I walk to the left of me. I put the sword on the table. Odin doesn't move from his spot.
"Then why hasn't he attacked us?" I speak as I lean on the bar stool. Loki pouted and wiggled his head.
"Urm, because this is Odin we are talking about? And he's basically a snake in human skin?" Melody glared at Odin.
"He's very skilled at playing the long con. He can't be trusted," Loki frowned. Thor is still fighting against Quill but Quill is still keeping Thor at bay.
"It's Odin! Odin!" Thor kept screaming.
"That is my name," Odin mumbled.
"I'm not asking anyone to trust him but we have to hear him out. I know what you all are thinking. Trust me, I don't like it either but we can't pass up this chance,"
"So we are all thinking that we should cut off his head?" Melody grabbed the sword that I set down and twirled it in her hand.
"Mel, no," I grabbed Melody by the elbow and pulled her back. I took the sword off her "I mean, Odin is the one who has been with Frigga the longest. she turned him. If he says he knows how to end her, I believe him,"
"Em..." Melody whispered.
"We can't afford to turn any information away. Even if it comes from him," I glanced at Odin over my shoulder "If he really is our only hope at stopping Frigga, we have to hear him out," The others look at one another, silently debating. Thor just continues to glare at Odin, teeth bared. Mantis stood up, straightening her top out.
"Very well. We'll hear what he has to say but he has to be restrained. If you recall, he just killed one of our own,"
"Are you all insane?" Thor growls, finally shoving Quill off him and Odin presses his lips together in a grim line.
"Nebula, if you please," Gamora nods to Nebula. Sighing, Nebula comes forward, pulling slick metallic wire from her shoulder compartment and tying up Odin's arms.
"Now, everyone. let us sit," Mantis lead everyone to the couches. I took the sword from Melody.

Once everyone was seated, I stood diligently behind Odin, keeping the sword pressed against his neck.
"Just in case," I smirk.
"Let's hear it then," Loki speaks. He and Thor are hovering close to me. Odin glances at the others with faint disdain, muscles still tight with anger. I tap the blade against his neck in a warning and he lets out a sigh.
"Before Frigga became the first vampire, she had a betrothed and a daughter. But then the King of Mydiea, or as you now know it, Andros, sentenced her to die in the caves for rejecting him. That is where she found the tree of eternal life,"
"yeah, this bit we know. Hurry up so I can kill you," Thor frowned.
"She wandered the caves for days until she found the tree and drank from its sap. And when she emerged, she was fully a vampire,"
"We know the story,"
"With her new powers, it was easy for her to dispose of the King and take over the kingdom. In her new seat of power, she wanted to right the injustices of the world. To prevent others from experiencing what she had. To create a Utopia. A paradise on Earth,"
"Should have gone to Bora Bora then," Melody stated. Thor smirked at her. I knew what Odin was speaking was the truth. I had seen these scenarios in the visions.
"She was determined not to resort to violence to solve our problems. At first, she ruled with fairness and mercy. Her betrothed and daughter were always close by. She kept them by her side whenever possible. They knew what she was and they were not afraid of her," I see small visions of a little girl begging to see Frigga's fangs but Frigga turning her away "But she never turned them. She always refused,"
"How sweet of her," Sif rolled her eyes.
"Perhaps she was scared, uncertain if it would work. Or maybe she knew that being a vampire meant holding hands with darkness. Maybe she knew she'd be losing them all the same,"
"BloodKeeper, Does he speak the truth?" Nebula looked at me.
"So far what he speaks is the truth," I stated, I then tapped Odin's neck with the blade "Keep talking,"
"Perhaps what happened next could have been avoided if she had turned them," Odin looked down at the floor "There were those who wished to put Frigga down, loyalists to the old king. And one night, the loyalists attacked. The Sons of Areas killed Frigga's family. They slew Baldr and burned Freyja alive,"
"The fuck?" Melody's jaw dropped as she hopped over the back of the sofa with a bag of sweets.
"She was devastated. Their loss finally cracked her open, revealing the darkness that had been building beneath the surface,"
"Emily, Your dream from earlier showed this," Loki looked at me.
"Indeed. Frigga said that she would kill all humans," I nodded.
"In Frigga's grief, she cradled her betrothed's body, desperate to undo what had been done. She did the unthinkable. She tried to feed his body her blood. To turn him after he had died but it went terribly wrong. He had been dead far too long,"
"I don't think I am going to like this," Melody spoke with a mouthful.
"Instead of coming back with eternal life, Baldr came back with eternal death. Baldr was nothing but a hollow shell, unable to feel. Unable to love,"
"Sounds like someone we know," Thor glared at Odin.
"When Frigga took him back to the castle, every human they passed sickened. They rotted. They died. Everywhere he went, he radiated death, like he was the walking plague. No, it was worse than death. The humans he infected began to turn monstrous, bestial and ravenous,"
"They turned into Feral," Loki frowned. Odin nods.
"Frigga was the first vampire and her lover, Baldr was the first feral. He was a danger to everyone who came into contact with him. Whenever I got too close, I could feel myself weakening dangerously fast, as if stepping into sunlight. Even Frigga could only stand to be with him for a few minutes at a time before she began to wear away,"
"Frigga was allergic to her own husband? Man, that ruins any relationship," Melody added. Everyone agreed.
"His blood was toxic. Black. Even one drop could turn anyone who touched it Feral. Be it human or vampire,"
"Or the first vampire," Gamora exclaimed. Odin nodded "What happened to husband, Baldur?"
"Frigga kept him locked up but it pained her greatly. Eventually, she decided to simply let him go free" Odin leaned against a column.
"Even though he was a danger?" Sif shuffled in her seat. Odin nodded again.
"He got himself a boat and set off into the ocean. And he never came back. As he left, so did the last of Frigga's conscience. She was a whole different person after that. She found the loyalists. Every single one and she tore them apart with her hands. She fed them to the hounds. Mounted their heads on spikes. She killed the Sons of Ares followers and their families. Even their children,"
"What a bitch," Melody stated. We all stared at her "Please, continue,"
"When I wouldn't help her... she entered my mind. She made me into the monster that would help her. The Goddess of Blood. The source of so much pain and misery,"
"So, If what you are saying is true, The weapon that we need is Frigga's long-lost husband?" I sighed. Great. We don't even know if he is alive still. The dude could be rotting in his grave for all we know.
"His blood is the only thing that can weaken Frigga. Stab her with a blade coated in his blood and she would turn feral,"
"And that's good... why?"
"Frigga's greatest advantage is her mind. Her ability to control, to influence. To manipulate. As a feral, she would be mindless, stripped of all psychic powers. We could overpower her. We could kill her," Sif spoke. Odin nodded "Where is Baldr now?"
"About three hundred years ago, I tracked him down to an island in the South Pacific. One that is not on any of the maps, Believe me, I looked. It's a dead zone. No ship that's gone there has ever come back,"
"And you'll tell us where it is?" Loki started to pace.
"No," Odin declined "Instead, I will take you there," Wait, did Odin offer to do something nice? A tense silence fills the room. Then at last Thor speaks.
"Please, tell me you are not buying this. He's just saying what he has to stay alive!" Keeping the blade against his neck, I walk around Odin and stand in front of him. Dragging the sharp point across his skin.
"Why can't you just tell us where it is?" I narrowed my eyes at Odin.
"Because the oaf is right, from a certain point of view. If I did give up Baldr's location, you would kill me and just go there yourselves,"
"What did I say?!" Thor joined Loki in pacing. Between them both, they are going to wear a hole in the floor.
"Well, the honesty is refreshing..." Melody mumbled. Sif agreed with her.
"Emily, can't you pull it out of his mind?" Thor clicked his fingers at me. I close my eyes and concentrate, digging deep into Odin's memories. But I find only a sharp pain, flaring red.
"OW!" I drop the sword and grab my head with both hands.
"Emily!" Loki rushes to my side and stumbles. Thor unsheathes Selvig's sword and presses it against Odin's neck.
"Move. I dare you," Thor warned, worry dancing in his eyes as he looked at me.
"Darling! Are you alright?" Loki cradles my head.
"It's like... ow... it's like he... is blocking it," I try to ignore the pain and look again. Pain flares without my head "Will you stop that?"
"What are you doing to her?!" Loki yells.
"Apologies, Emily. You don't get to be my age without learning a few psychic tricks of my own," Odin tried to cross his arms but he forgot that his hands were chained. He then smirked at me "Keep it up, though. You'll break me sooner or later. I'll give it six months. Maybe a year?"
"Why are you doing this? What are you even after?" Loki snarls at Odin as he helps me to my feet. I grip his jacket as the pain eases.
"What am I after? My boy, Revenge is what I seek. That bitch Frigga betrayed me and manipulated me. Used me. The only thing I want any more. The only thing I care about is seeing the fear in her eyes before I plunge a stake through her cold heart. I want her to know that I was the cause of her downfall. After that?" Odin glanced at Thor and the rest of the room "You can do whatever the hell you want with me,"
"As if we can possibly trust that. We are not teaming up with him," Thor frowned.
"I agree. For all we know, he could lead us right into a trap," Loki agreed.
"Guys, I went into his mind," I sighed. Sif clicked her tongue as he looked over at Odin "He is telling the truth. About this at least," Loki and Sif look at each other uneasily.
"There has to be another way to defeat Frigga. Rocket's training--" Loki ran a hand over his hair. I placed a hand over his mouth.
"Will take years. This is the only lead we have to defeat Frigga now,"
"No. No, goddamit, no! We can't do this! not with him! Not after what he did!" Thor yelled.
"Thor, Odin is a victim too. I know it sounds hard to believe but... Odin, the real Odin, Frigga hurt him too," I went and stood by Thor. Loki right behind me "You remember what she did to you at the party at her house? How she warped your mind, how she made you all want to hurt me?"
"Please, don't remind me," Loki mumbled. Thor's face falls, haunted. I placed a hand on his upper arm.
"That's what Frigga did to him. But worse and deeper than you can ever think. It lasted for over two thousand years. When I looked at his mind, it was like it was infected with rotting vines and spiderwebs. He deserves his chance at vengeance too," Thor exhales sharply, nostrils flaring, head down but then he lets go, his body sagging as he lowers his sword.
"... Damn it. Damn, it" Thor lowers the sword.

After a lingering silence, Loki steps forward.
"It's a hard bargain but," Loki looked back at me and held his hand out for me to take. I grinned as I took it "But I trust my girlfriend. If she thinks this is the right call, then it is,"
"When it comes to Odin, I don't intend to rely on faith, trust and pixie dust. There is no happy ending with that guy. But," Melody stands behind me "I also trust my best friend and if Loki is game then so am I," Sif agreed. Standing on the other side of Loki.
"Whatever you decide, I will advise you to take extreme caution," Mantis sighs. Hearing a small cough behind me, I turn to Sif, whose face is a hard mask of stoic determination. Without saying a word, she crosses the room towards Odin.
"So, this is really what you want us to believe. That all that time, all those centuries. Those millennia, that wasn't really you? It was just Frigga's brainwashing. No. I don't buy it. Not even for a second,"
"Sif..."
"I know you. Frigga might have shaped you but you were the man that made those choices. You were the man who caused so much pain. The Odin that killed so many, the monster that made me... that was you! Tell me that I am wrong," Odin doesn't blink but something dances in his eyes. Something that almost looks like regret "I didn't think so," Sif's hand moves, an imperceptible blur and then her dagger is out, its point resting just below Odin's eye "Listen and listen well. This is not your redemption story. You do not get to become some hero in the last act. One good deed does not undo millennia of evil. so we will take your help. Because we need it. But when this is done, you will pay for your sins. For all the harm you have done. For all the people you have hurt. Do you understand?"
"I do," Odin nods his head. Thor walks in front of Odin, Selvig's sword in his hand.
"And when that day comes, I will be the one who will take your head," Thor then smashes the butt of his sword across Odin's face, hard enough to split his cheek. Hard enough to knock him to his knees. And not a single one of us protested. I go to reach for Thor but he turns away, trembling with fury and grief.
"He will be okay," Loki whispers in my ear "Remember, this is all still raw for him,"
"I know," I licked my lips.
"Alright. If we are going to do this, we should get going," Loki nodded to the door. we all turned to follow.
"Wait a moment," Mantis calls out. We all turned to face her "There is one thing we have to do before you leave,"
"What's that?" Loki sighed, pinching his nose.
"Selvig's wake," Mantis crosses her hands in front of her. Thor hangs his head and everyone turns solemn "It's the least he deserves. He was a troubled man but we should lay him to rest. Properly,"
"He was one of us. And a good friend," Quill stood up.
"Will you help us say goodbye?" Mantis asks. I look over at Thor. Saying goodbye might help Thor come to terms with what happened. Loki and Sif do their silent conversation thing and Melody bites her nails. I took a deep breath and spoke up.
"I think we should. He did save our lives after all," I glanced over at Odin. Odin hangs his head. Thor looks at me and smiles, tears in his eyes.
"I think that's what he would have wanted," Quill places a hand on Thor's shoulder. Thor nods.
"Very well. We'll get started at once,"

We all gathered on the roof of the club, Mantis held a box in her hands. Loki wrapped his arm around me and I grabbed Melody's hand who then grabbed Thor's hand. Everyone else stands in a circle.
"Is that..." Thor mumbles as he points to the box.
"We gathered his ashes," Mantis nods, staring down at the box. She then puts it on a table surrounded by candles.
"That was considerate of you," I speak.
"Of course," Quill sighed. I glance at Thor, who's staring out at the Tokyo skyline. The sounds of the city are distant here. I look over my shoulder and all the way at the back, stands Odin, who is still tied up and looking up at the sky instead of any of us.
"Why does he have to be here?" Thor snaps as he glances over his shoulder.
"We can't leave afford to leave him on his own. I'm sorry Thor,"
"Fine. Let him watch. Let him see how a man who was loved is mourned and know that when his time comes, no one will ever do the same for him," Thor spat. Mantis steps forward, clearing her throat.
"Since we are all here, let us say our goodbye," Mantis places a delicate hand on the box "Selvig, we spent many nights arguing but also many nights drinking and laughing. You were a damn good chess player but you always got cranky when I beat you at Mahjong," Mantis smiles slightly but his smile trembles and drops "I will miss you, old friend," She steps away and Gamora approaches the box.
"You were my oldest friend in this world, Eric. My first ally. My loyal warrior. I am sorry for all those times I lost patience with you. For all the harsh things I said. For my cruelty," Gamora holds back tears and takes a breath to calm herself "You were there from the start and I wish you were here now. Goodbye, brother," Quill then stands before the box, bowing his head.
"You and I had some times, huh? The battles we fought... the endless nights sparring. God, how much sake we put away together. I am going to miss you, my dear friend," Quill sighed. Nebula is next. She just stands there for a moment but when she speaks, she commands everyone's attention.
"Life is fleeting. Far too short to enjoy all it has to offer. Even for us, for whom eternal life has been gifted. It is still all too fleeting. Cities rise and fall. Empires are built and they decay. And here we stand, waiting for the day we turn to dust. It is a gift to even witness it at all. Eric Selvig witnessed much of it and now he is gone. But that does not mean his time on earth was for nothing," Nebula ignores everyone's surprised stares and nudges Thor forward. Thor grips Selvig's sword and holds it close to his chest.
"I get to speak? Really?"
"Of course. He was your maker. It is only right. What he did was against the rules, yes but it seems superfluous to raise the issue now that he's gone, don't you think?" Mantis smiles, patting Thor's arm. Thor takes a deep breath, the sword trembling in his hands.
"I... I would have died if it was for Eric. He risked everything to help me. To train me. When I thought he had died, it felt... it... but now he's really gone... and..." Thor's voice breaks, overcome with emotion. I put a comforting hand on Thor's shoulder, letting him know that he is not alone. Melody places a hand on his other shoulder.
"Go on, Thor. You've got this," Melody whispers in his ear. A cool breeze passes over us as the stars gleam bright overhead. Thor's spine straightens as he holds the sword close.
"I was so mad at you. All that grief, all that pain, when I could have known you were alive. But I see now that it doesn't matter. The relief was greater than the betrayal. To talk to you again. Even it was shouting. I didn't think I would ever have the chance. I consider that a gift. That we could see one another. That you could see the man I have become," Tears slide down Thor's face as he turns to me.
"I didn't know Selvig very well. But I feel like what I saw, I understood. Before the fucknut behind us attacked, he and I talked. He told me about his life. About all of his regrets. How he tried to run from his guilt, to drown it," I turned to Thor "He was proud of you, Thor. He loved you. He was going to make it right between you two," Thor grips his sword tightly in his fists "In a way... maybe he did," Thor's head drops, tears running down his cheeks.
"I didn't know that," Thor sniffs.
"But you do now,"
"Thor, would like to scatter the ashes?" Gamora asks. Thor nods, hands me the sword and walks to the railings. After one last moment of silence, Thor opens the box and begins to scatter Selvig's ashes to the wind.
"Goodbye, Eric. Thank you for everything," Thor whispers as he hugs the box. As the group begins to exchange quiet words of condolence and reassurance, I glance back at Odin. He watches sadly at the scattering of Selvig's ashes with pinched eyes. It was as if he was actually feeling a measure of remorse. Then he turns away, still saying nothing.
"It's strange. Eric had what most men dreamed of. Power, wealth, limitless youth, endless pleasure. But in the end, I think all he wanted to be was a simple man again," Gamora's eye flit to Thor "To be a father," Thor exhales sharply, craning his head up to the sky.
"Goodbye, old man,"

The night hangs over us like the sea: cold, silent and endless. At last, Mantis speaks.
"You don't have to go, you know. We can offer you a safe haven here,"
"Safe until how long? You know Frigga will eventually come here as well," Loki crosses his arms.
"you don't know that," Gamora scoffs.
"Yes, We do," Sif replied instantly.
"We still have time to set up a defensive plan. We can protect ourselves here,"
"yeah, I really don't think you guys understand how powerful she is. She is final boss status. And this may not even be her final form," Melody crossed her arms.
"Then... perhaps I could sweeten the offer. With Eric gone, The guardians have an open spot on our council. A spot we can only fill with a powerful, righteous and deeply trustworthy vampire. Sif, will you join us?"
"Me?"
"No! I mean, Sif's home is in New York, She..." I messed up my words. Sif cannot leave us. I turn to face her "You're not going to leave us, are you?" Sif laughs softly and puts a hand on my shoulder, addressing Mantis.
"Thank you for the offer but I am afraid that I will have to decline. I cannot step away from this fight,"
"I understand. If you ever change your mind. You have a place here," Mantis bows her head "And if you ever want to visit again, let us know,"
"I hope you succeed in your task," Nebula holds a hand out for Melody to shake. Melody grinned as she shook it.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Sif bowed her head. As did Thor and Loki.
"Yeah, it's been great," Melody beamed.
"And when you see Rocket, tell him... tell him I am sorry," I smiled.

After half an hour of saying goodbyes, The guardians leave. Loki and Sif shove Odin away.
"You can move. There's a ride downstairs that will take you to my plane," Loki snapped. Soon, it is only me and Thor on the roof. He stares out over Tokyo, the box still in his hands. I place Selvig's sword against the railings.
"Thank you for this, Em. For coming out here. For letting me have this," Thor sniffed.
"Are you alright?" I ask. I know it's a stupid question.
"No. Not really. But I will find a way to keep fighting... I will make him proud," I step forward from behind, wrapping my arms around him and holding Thor close.
"I'm here for you. You know that, right? No matter what,"
"I know," Thor patted my hands. He picks up the sword and sighs before clicking it into his back. When he turns around, he frowns at me "Is that my sword?"
"Mine was on the plane," I smiled as I hooked my arm around Thor's.

Soon enough, we arrive at the airfield and head to Loki's plane, Odin in tow. His arms are still bound together with the wire Nebula gave us and he jerks them in annoyance.
"Are these restraints really necessary?" Odin holds his hands up.
"Yes," Sif spat.
"Absolutely," Loki glared.
"Just be lucky that we are not cutting off your hands," Thor threatens. Odin sighs and allows himself to be manhandled into the plane. I am about to follow when I hear a familiar voice in my head. One that pulls me back, in my mind, to the white room.

"So, you're leaving?" Rocket speaks, perched on Groot's shoulder.
"How the fuck?" I spun around. I then smiled as I realised what was going on "Right, powerful psychic. I keep forgetting," Rocket laughs a bit but his tone is sombre.
"I wish you would stay but I know you won't,"
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us? You would be so much help,"
"I cannot. It is not where I am meant to be," Rocket did a two-fingered wave "See you later, BloodKeeper. Try not to die and I hope our paths cross again," I feel him leave my mind and sigh, heading into the plane to get ready for a long flight.

I look around and see that Odin is sitting by himself in the very back, looking bored. I still can't used to him being here. Everyone else is spread out, absorbed in their own thoughts. I find a seat next to Loki, who gives me a small, tired smile.
"Ready for the next leg of our journey?" Loki pulls me closer to him.
"I think so. I hope so," I lean my head on his shoulder.
"The pilot has the coordinates for the island, so all we need to do is sit tight for the next few hours," Loki's eyes flit uneasily to Odin "I don't like this, Emily. I don't trust him,"
"I know. But it's the only option we have" Odin rolls his eyes and looks out the window. The plane takes off and I watch as Tokyo falls away below us. As I try to get comfy in my seat, I notice something shining on the seat "Oh, bloody hell,"
"Emily, Are you alright?" Loki asks. I shake my head.
"There's a vision coming. You know, I think I preferred these visions when I was human. Less intense headache," I go to reach for the shard. But the feeling I am getting from it is not one of malicious intent. I see a glimpse of Sif, Loki and Sylvie from a long time ago. I see out the corner of my eye, Loki pulling his phone out and sending a text. I assume that he is telling the others what is going on. I close my eyes and take a deep breath as my hand hovers over the shard. I steel myself and touch the shard and I am immediately transported through time and space.

It is the late 1800s. In a saloon, deep in the heart of New Orleans. Behind the bar stands a tall man with pointy ears and short white hair.
"Welcome to The Graveyard Shift. My name is Miek. What will it be?" Loki and Sif take a seat at the bar, looking around.