A Song Named Alice

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Forseti puts the file back in his bag and throws the bag over his shoulders as he walks away in the same direction as Odin. 

Then Frey begins to leave and Freya quickly strides up to walk beside him. She turns her head to him, but Frey avoids her glance. So she whispers, "Do you fear for Loki's sake that much?" 

Frey talks as quietly as Freya did, but the tone he carries sends a chill down her spine. "Not another word on this subject. If word got out about our connection, then we all could be in danger; all five of us. It needs to remain a secret in order to keep us safe. Do you hear me?" 

Freya remains quiet until she's out of the building. "Frey, you know you can't hide it from me. I know you're worried about Loki, so please, don't be strict with yourself." 

Frey turns his gaze away again. "Yes, I know I worry, but I am not being hard on myself about it. It's just that today marks two years since Loki lost her." 

Freya watches the ground as she paces in circles near the wall. Frey peeks at her anxiety, but fails to show much concern. "Yeah," she says, "I guess it really has been two years since then, but at least she's alive. That's why Alice is around right now. But he'll get through the day Frey, he has to." 

"I know, but it's been two years. What if she never comes back? Loki's the one that's hard on himself. He's the one struggling every day to get by. Besides, the last thing we want is a repeat of what happened afterwards. All Father is busy as it is. You remember what Odin said, about the new goddess's spell that is weakening. He doesn't have time to deal with Loki; not now and definitely not later." 

"What are we to do about Alice then?" Freya asks. "Frey, she's what we have to worry about second most. It's true that the new goddess is what's most important right now because it's All Father we're talking about, he's even lonelier. But Frey, if Alice stays like this much longer, she'll never get better." 

She pauses as tears threaten to line her eyes. "If we can take care of Alice, then we won't have to worry about Loki. Also, I want to know why L-, I mean, why she gave us that black letter. She told us in the letter to tell Loki who she really is. Do you think we should tell him? He might not believe us or take it well. Oh, Frey, I don't know what to do anymore, help me with this." 

Frey starts to walk away. "Freya, I fear we are already too late." 

"That may be true, but I hope not. In the next phase Odin may tell Loki; and we can't trust that Forseti won't tell since he's knows. Besides, telling him ourselves could be even worse. Sometimes I think the truth is better left untold, Frey, for his sake." 

"That may be the case for him, it's hard to tell." 

They leave the building for another, in hopes that their worst fears will not come from the start of the next phase. Freya pulls a black envelope out of her pocket, but shoves it back within seconds. 

Then, when they are blocks past the building the meeting was held in, Freya and Frey turn to a thin alleyway. They stop at an ancient looking wooden door and upon opening the door, a smell of mold from old books with layers of dust on top emits from inside. To escape the smell, Frey and Freya rush to the other side of the room. Another door lies at their feet, a heavy bronze latch marking the front. 

Freya pulls the door up, letting a waft of cold air come through. Looking down, a metal ladder leads them down into a dark tunnel. They walk slowly down the pitch black tunnel in search of another destination. 

Forseti, the last one to leave the room, goes back to Loki's apartment, who will be off work soon. In his chilled hands he holds two envelopes, one of white and one of black. 

When he drops off the letters in Loki's room and returns to the frigid air once more, he heads toward an empty part of town: the abandoned suburb. As Forseti approaches, he notices a streetlamp flicker near him, proof of the area's abandonment. 

Finding the nearest mostly intact bench, he sits down while the close streetlamp continues to flicker. He clings his legs close to him and wraps his arms around. Glancing around at his surroundings, he checks for Wonderland. 

Odin, you seem to be catching on to me, at least my tricks. I fear that soon I won't be able to fool you. You've always been a tough man to lie to, you're getting better. Though, I think your guesses are still wrong. I wonder how long I'll be able to keep my secrets. Will it last until the goddess takes her last breath? 

Forseti shivers and huddles closer. 

I cannot let Odin find out my wish and who I really am. He wouldn't be able to handle the truth. From now on, I must tread the water around Odin carefully and make no mistakes around him, lest it cost me the game. I've bet too much on this game to lose. Not as much as All Father or Loki, but enough. 

He takes one last glance around him. In the distance he hears the echoes of the clock tower sound, chiming seven times. After it, silence befalls the suburb again. When the chimes rise again for eight o'clock, Forseti leaves.