A Warm Hart Has A Cold Revival (sequel to A Cold God Found His Warm Hart)

Chapter 18: Jormungandr

I swallowed, circling the clearing, searching for the giant beast.

"Where is it?" Austin whispered. My eyes searched the calm black waters, every so often a glint of silver caught the torchlight and I instantly turned to face the beast, only for it to sink back into the inky ocean and disappear. My eyes narrowed in frustration and I relaxed my stance, but still gripping my two hand blades tightly.

"The beast isn't going to attack until provoked. We need to keep going" I ordered. I met the eyes of my comrades and saw the fear, but obedience in their eyes. I made eye contact with Roy and nodded slightly, he nodded back and turned around to continue our journey along the sandy floor. Everyone's nerves were on end and we continuously looked over our shoulders. Every time the air bubble would shift slightly we would all check our surroundings, silently checking with each other to make sure we're okay. The minutes that passed felt slow, the distance we went was unrecognizable, everything looked the same.

"Should we resurface to get our bearings? I'm afraid we have lost our way" Austin interrupted our fearful silence.

"Jackson, what direction are we heading?" I asked, watching his movements. He formed a fist with his first two fingers over his thumb and then lifted his hand straight up, stopping at his shoulder.

"North" Austin interpreted.

"No. We are still heading in the right direction, we can't risk exposure by going to the surface" I commanded.

"We will need to head up soon" Roy interrupted. My attention changed to the back of his head.

"Why?"

"Everyone panicking during the shark attack took away a good portion of our oxygen supply. We will suffocate within the hour"

My jaw clenched in frustration.

"does everyone need to go? or just you?" I asked Roy, increasing my speed to walk beside him.

"I will go alone"

"How long will it take?"

"I don't know but I will go by myself and leave the air bubble for you guys."

"But how will you breath yourself?" 

"When learning how to manipulate the sea and water I was also taught how to inhale the oxygen that is in the water. Similar to the way fish breath through gills." 

"Who taught you this power?" I asked. Roy looked slightly uncomfortable by my question, he took a deep breath and sighed before meeting my gaze.

"Your son, Jormungandr". Rage filled my chest as I remembered my snake like son, and his mother Angrbotha. 

"How and why did you come into contact with him?" I asked. 

"I was in the library, searching for books on water powers, when I came across him, the book said that he lived in the great ocean and that he was believed to encircle Midgard. As you know, it is believed that the snake held the earth in place by wrapping himself all the way around it with his tail in his mouth, and when Jormungandr eventually let go the world would end. The text also mentioned that he could bend water and ice and air to his will. I figured he would be the best to teach me to use my abilities.  Before the Bifrost closed and when you were still training Aceleve I had Heimdall help me locate and communicate with him.  He taught me everything I know, as well as how to breath underwater and a few other things regarding strategy and the history of the nine realms." 

"What did he want in return? I know none of my children help for free." 

"In exchange, I would give him Thor, and allow Jormungandr to kill him"

"That was not your promise to make". I said through clenched teeth. If Roy really honors his end of the deal it will throw off all of the nine realms, and have me banished. Although I really don't care about that, I will have my throne whether I be a citizen of Asguard or not. But it will not put me in my mother's good graces. 

"Why? Have you not read what is prophesied to be his fate? Thor kills him during Ragnarok. He wishes to kill Thor before Thor kills him. Jormungandr doesn't wish for Ragnarak to happen. But he knows that it must, he just wishes to change his fate." 

"But it is also prophesied that Jormungandr kills Thor, right before Thor strikes him with his hammer the great snake poisons him. So does Thor not receive the same courtesy as to be able to change his fate?"

"You wish Thor to remain alive?" Roy asked. 

"Of course not, but messing with prophecy and fate never ends well."  

"I never promised when I would give him Thor".  Roy said slyly. My eyes narrowed at his words; when a Midguardian believes himself smart it usually ends in disaster. 

"Do not think that you will be able to outsmart my son. You have seen him and seen how much knowledge he possess. It will not end well for you if you think him a fool." I warned. 

"I know, but this is my hole that I dug. I will deal with it when the time comes." He said confidently. I rolled my eyes at his ignorance. 

"Fine. We'll talk about this later. We need more oxygen" 

Roy nodded in agreement and turned to face our small caravan. 

"I'm leaving. Stay  here so I can locate you easier" He commanded. We nodded silently and watched as he simply walked through the edge of the air bubble. Once he was on the other side he pushed off the sandy floor and began to kick his legs and pull his arms in front of his face, the current he caused by his propulsion caused the air bubble to stir just slightly. I watched as tiny air bubbles left the side of his neck where three small fleshy slits were embedded, until I could no longer see any of him at all. I sighed and turned back to my two comrades. Austin and Jackson were facing each other, talking to each other in their secrete language of hand signs. I swallowed a little nervousness that I had in my throat and approached them,

"May I join you?" I asked. The two brothers shared a glance before nodding, Jackson offering me a kind smile. 

"So, what language is it that you're speaking?" I asked curiously. 

"It's called American Sign Language. We learned it in Damian's camp." 

"Oh, who taught you?" 

I listened as Austin told the story of a beautiful Indian woman named Cheyenne who taught them a whole new language used only with your hands.