The Family Lokison (Part 4)

Mistake (NARVI)

I didn't take Vali's fear away. He needed it, like Father did. But someone we knew was paralyzed and hidden in the corner, alone.

We hadn't met in days, but one thing changed—he was family. How could I leave him once I knew he was there? Modi crouched behind the open doors that were propped to let people through without stopping. His hair caught a little bit of light from the torches before they fell. I hoped he wouldn't move before I could get there, or I was wasting precious minutes for nothing.

I stretched my sleeves over my hands so I could squeeze amongst the people blocking him from me. Even when I spoke up, no one paid me any attention—they mindlessly pushed ahead emptying the room. Hundreds of nauseating flavors filled my mouth, blending every emotion in the air from terror to grief to uncertainty and distrust. I sang Mum's lullaby in my head as a distraction until he was clearly in view.

Father's voice still came through now and then. "Get out, now! To the Bifrost!"

I'm hurrying, Father. I'm hurrying. I hoped he could hear me the same way I heard him, so I kept singing. It was the only comfort I could offer.

Modi hadn't moved from where I saw him before. He rocked slightly with his knees against his chest, sobbing in near silence that cloistered him from the other evacuees. His short maroon cape blended him into the wall, further ensuring how he wouldn't be noticed outside of me. A halo of bluish surrounded him; it pulsed like a heartbeat to red and back again. Fear and anger at their core. He clenched his fists and quivered all over, making even his hair shake.

"Modi? Are you hurt?" I asked, kneeling at his side.

He snapped his face toward me. "Go away!"

"No, I won't leave you behind. You're family. Everyone's leaving. Father says the realm is falling."

"Your father, the Frost Giant?" Modi stood over me, dripping tears all over himself. "Glad he's leaving. Glad you're leaving." The room was void of live people, so he filled it with his voice. "None of you belong here. Get out of my home!"

I stood with him and swallowed my own uncertainty. "I know you're scared, but it'll be alright. You can trust me."

"Trust you? No one can trust a monster, not even a small one."

"You can't stay here, Modi. You'll die!"

"Get away!" he screamed, dissolving to weep again. The stench of his heart clouded most everything else.

He was beyond reason, and I couldn't force him to come with me. He shouldn't have been left alone, but there simply wasn't time to waste arguing.

If I could only clear his mind...even enough to know I meant no harm...

"Get out, do you hear me? Go!"

"No. I won't abandon you. Take my hand," I said, pulling up my left sleeve to expose and offer my bare skin. "Just for a moment, and you'll feel better."

"Oh, so you can burn me with your secret magic, like him?"

"No, I won't hurt you. I can take away your fear."

"You know nothing about fear." Modi seethed, backing me against the corner with slow steps. "Have you seen death yet, Narvi? Seen it like I saw today? Your broken promises mean nothing. I'm not afraid, but you should be."

I put my hands up, ready to shove if I had to. "Modi, please listen—"

The world shook again. It was too late to call for help. Too late to find Vali. Too late to leave.

Modi couldn't have known what he was doing; I didn't know myself. Yet something happened when he grabbed my bare forearm. The touch gave me access to his soul...or, should I say, gave him access to mine. He squeezed as hard as he could, making my hand numb. "You and your family deserve to be crushed in this mess like the wench who followed me."

"Let go. Release me—"

He glared. The innocent tone of his blue eyes hid a ring of red near their center, deceptively keeping his rage at close reach. Whatever mess of his mind kept him from trying to leave, it was gone; the clarity I hoped to bring came true, but at a great cost. "My father is King now. Yes...soon, it will be my turn. And I won't let Jotun filth pollute my house."

My heart pounded too fast and loud to hear much else. His morphing halo burned bright red, like he poured every ounce of his fear and sadness straight into me. It strengthened him somehow; made him more bold. He had all the power because I had his weakness.

"P-please. Stop."

He grinned with harsh laughter, bowing down as I fell to my knees, not letting go until I was too weak to stay upright. "Well, well." He looked at his hands and flexed them in and out, testing his new strength. "That felt quite good, actually. It's almost a pity how I'm the only one who'll ever get to do it."

For the first time in my life, I felt cold. Shivered. Gasped for air. "I'm...I'm—"

"You're what? Sorry?" He cackled and straightened his armor, which still looked far too big for him, though now he filled it better with a truly upright stance. Seemed he took that from me, too. "You know, the more I look at this, the more I think you might be right. I think this place is forsaken."

I slowly gained a little strength. The infirmity wouldn't last forever, thank goodness. I brought up one knee and steadied myself, using the corner to lean on and stand.

"Oh, that won't do." He sighed and walked with heavy steps to the fallen torch sconce behind me.

"What are you d-doing?" I asked, wishing more than ever that I could call out in my mind to someone else. Anyone else.

"They'll just have to find you when they find that old wench. Like you, she got in my way. I'm deciding right now—no one gets in my way. Not anymore." He lifted the sconce above his head and tipped his face to the side. "Poor baby. I really wish Vali were here to see this. Something tells me I can't cripple him so easily."

Mum, please hear me. Vali, please hear me. Father, please—

"Goodbye, Narvi."