March from Darkness | ✓ (to be edited)

FORTY-TWO

DARAYA

Phrer's door suddenly burst open, startling both of us. We turned to see Freyja standing in the doorway, looking quite panicked. Phrer immediately sat up and began to speak. "Freyja, what--"

"You both need to come with me immediately," the goddess said quickly, cutting him off.

"What's happening?" I asked, feeling something in me begin to sink.

Freyja looked at me, her eyes filled with guilt. "I can't explain at this time, but you need to come with me." When neither of us moved, she huffed worriedly. "Hurry up! Put on clothes, we need to go now!"

Phrer and I just watched her as she moved to her cousin's closet and began to throw clothes at us. "Gods above, just get dressed!" she shouted over her shoulder. I looked at Phrer, confused, but following her request; Phrer began to do the same, and as soon as we were dressed, Freya turned and grabbed our arms, teleporting us out of Phrer's home.

When the world stopped spinning, I felt like I was going to be sick for a different reason. We were at Odin's throne room once again, and although I was technically more powerful than any of the gods that were in the room, I felt a weight settle onto my shoulders and in my heart. Odin looked shockingly somber while Tyr had the same guilty look that Freyja did. "Odin, what's happening?" Phrer asked. "Where is--"

Phrer was interrupted by the abrupt appearance of Frigg, who had a panicked uneasiness I never thought the woman who seemed to hate me so could possess as she saw me. "I am sorry, I have tried and failed," she said breathlessly, her green eyes losing an unearthly light as she fell on her ass on the dais.

"Will someone please just tell us what is going on?" Phrer demanded, the anxiety in his voice more than evident. "What did Frigg fail at?" When no one said anything else, Phrer looked to Tyr. "Father. What is happening?"

The man looked at Phrer sadly before he turned to me. "I'm sorry, Daraya. We have been instructed by the Universe to give you back to the mortal realm."

He continued to speak, and I could see Frigg's eyes beginning to well with tears as my heart stopped. Go back?

To what exactly?

There was nothing for me there. I had no family, they no longer existed. I had no friends or allies, I'd deleted myself from everything that I could. I couldn't go back to being a contract killer. I couldn't go back to doing what I had grown used to. I couldn't...

"Why?"

Tyr stopped at my question. "What?"

"Why? Why am I being sent back? There's nothing for me there anymore. Wh... Why?"

"We're not sure," Odin said. "Given the issues encountered yesterday and the reprimand Phrer here received from the Centre, I think this may be some form of punishment."

"Then it should punish me!" Phrer yelled. "What did Daraya ever do to deserve this? I don't understand why the Universe continues to make his life absolute hell for simply surviving!"

"We don't either, Phrer. But there's not anything we can do about it. We've tried to reason with the Centre, but..." Freyja looked at the floor, a tear dripping down her face. "You know how much it pains me to see things like this happen, so I tried. But I have no jurisdiction with this."

A short bark of laughter filled the room, and it was only when everyone looked at me that I understood I had let it out. Frigg glared at me, her face reddening. "You don't think we tried?"

"Everyone else? Yes. You? No." I took a step forward. "You've disliked me from the moment I set foot in here. You nearly broke me when you outed me on your terms instead of mine. The jokes and names you've flung at me, with no doubt more behind my back like a coward, were unnecessarily cruel. What in the Universe makes you think I can believe anything you say when it comes to me?"