When We Spirits Awaken

Chapter 15: Tattoo Removal

"Jax is about the most curious kid you'll ever meet. Mia is obsessed with tea parties, which I guess is normal for a six-year-old... but attend one at your own risk; you'll be deluged by eight hours of proper etiquette and major teddy-bear drama-"

Despite all my efforts not to, a small laugh escaped my mouth. "Kaleb, calm down," I smiled at him, "I'm sure they're great."

He took a deep breath and put his hand on door knob. I understood that he was nervous, though I wasn't sure why; I wasn't sure why I was either.

Walking into his house, I took a quick glance at my surroundings. There was a large set of floating stairs leading to the second level of the house, dark hardwood flooring covered the entire floor, aside from the black tile that i could see in the kitchen and a vibrant red, blue and white area rug in the living room. There were two white leather couches and a black leather love seat, all with a set of decorative pillows to tie in the red of the carpet and the incredibly large fire place which had a large flat screen hanging above it. Over all, his home had a very contemporary and open space concept.

Suddenly a blonde boy with a red cape came running in from behind one of the few walls on the main floor. "Surrender, Loki! You shall hold reign over Asgard no longer!"

Kaleb dropped his bag and caught the boy as he jumped at him. "Never! It is my birthright to rule just as much as yours! You are not fit for the throne!"

The blond boy laughed and then, for the first time it seemed, acknowledged my presence. He cleared his throat and pushed out of Kaleb's arms, standing up straight as he held out his hand. "Hello, my name is Jax, very nice to meet you."

I put my hand in his. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lillyana, a friend of your brother's."

After shaking my hand Jax brought it to his lips and kissed it, still not letting go. "Just a friend, hmm."

I tried not to laugh. "How old are you sweetie?"

Jax let go of my hand, winking over exaggeratedly. "However old you want me to be."

Kaleb pat his brother's shoulder. "Thor over here is eleven."

Smiling, I looked at Jax as his cheeks turned the same colour as his cape. "I take it you're fond of the Thor films?"

He crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "I was, yes, when I was young and unmature."

Kaleb rolled his eyes. "It's 'immature, Jax, and if that's true then what's this?" Kaleb pulled at what I now recognized as a bed sheet that was tied around his brother's shoulders.

Jax swatted at his older brother's hand. "I was making my bed."

I crossed my arms. "That's too bad, Thor is one of my favourites, he's quite impressive for a hero."

Kaleb and his brother looked at me curiously, "Aren't all heroes impressive?"

Though Kaleb had asked, I looked at Jax as I spoke. "Thor was a powerful Norse god. He could have anything he wanted, but he was arrogant, and he lost everything when he was sent to our world. Our world changed him and, in nearly dying, he proved himself worthy to wield Mjolnir and defeated the Destroyer, then returned to Asgard and demolished the Bifrost to save Jotunheim. He saved three worlds in one day, nearly costing him his life and taking his only way to return to the world and true love that turned him into the hero he was. An impressive hero is the one that loses everything and still fights so others don't have to."

Jax stared at me for a moment, his jaw dropped. "How many times did you watch the movie?"

"Once," I laughed.