Always and Forever

Chapter 8

I continued to stare at my godfather, Doctor Stephen Strange, as he told Thor, "You can put down the umbrella."

Thor looked at the umbrella stand that had just magically appeared beside him, gave Strange a sideways glance, and put the umbrella in the stand. As soon as his hand left the umbrella, we were magically transported across the room with a woosh. "So, you're a wizard now?" I asked.

Thor messed around with something on a nearby table and broke it, and as he tried to fix it, Strange said, "The preferred term is Master of the Mystic Arts, and you can leave that now."

Thor put down the broken pieces and looked at Strange. "Alright wizard, who are you and why should I care?" Thor asked.

"My name is Doctor Stephen Strange and I have some questions for you. Take a seat." We were transported into some cushy armchairs with another woosh. "Tea?"

A cup of tea magically appeared in Thor's hand. "I don't drink tea," Thor said.

"What do you drink?"

"Not tea." The cup of tea magically changed into a stein of beer. Thor looked at it with confusion.

"So, what do you want?" I asked.

"I keep a watch list of individuals and beings from other realms that may be a threat to this world," Strange said. "Your adopted family member Loki is one of those beings."

"He's a worthy inclusion," Thor said.

"Then why bring him here?"

"We're looking for my grandfather," I said. "I assume you know which one."

"So, if I were to tell you where Odin was, all parties concerned would promptly return to Asgard?" Strange asked.

"Promptly," Thor said.

"Great," Strange said. "Then I'll help you."

"If you knew where he was, why didn't you call me?" Thor asked.

"I have to tell you, he was adamant that he not be disturbed. Your father said he had chosen to remain in exile," Strange said. "And you don't have a phone."

"No, I don't have a phone, but you could've sent an electronic letter. It's called an e-mail," Thor said.

"Do you have a computer?" I asked.

"No, what for?" Thor asked. Strange and I exchanged glances. "Anyway, my father is no longer in exile, so if you could tell me where he is, I can take him home."

"Gladly," Strange said. "He's in Norway."

We were magically transported to a bookshelf. As Strange pulled a book off the shelf, I asked, "Hey, can we talk?"

"Give me a second, I'm just seeing whether this incantation requires any Asgardian modifications," Strange said. As he scanned the book, Thor steadied himself on the bookshelf. Strange finished scanning. "Nope." We were transported to another part of the building, Thor taking the bookshelf with him and breaking the shelf he was leaning on. "Oh, we don't need that."

We were transported to yet another part of the room, and Thor angrily said, "Would you stop doing that?"

"I need just one strand of your hair," Strange said to Thor.

"Let me explain something, my hair is not to be meddled w-" Strange cut him off as he magically appeared behind him and pulled one of his hairs out.

As Strange started doing something magical with the hair, we were transported downstairs. I luckily landed on my feet, but Thor came tumbling down the stairs as Strange opened a portal. "We could've just walked," Thor said.