The Disorder (Book 1)

Chapter 30

Aubrey sat in her room early that morning, sprawled across her covers, her fingers twirling the vibrant rose as she thoroughly examined the note Loki left her. She couldn't help but notice everything about it: the book page about birds it was written on, the faintly smeared charcoal that disturbed the pattern of the words on the page, the way Loki managed fairly decent penmanship, even with his eyes closed. His handwriting was what she investigated the most, however. How quickly each stroke was scrawled, so that they tapered from thick to thin. How long and skinny the letters were, and how they reminded her of a spider's web.

As Aubrey did this, she couldn't help but laugh to herself when she thought about the irony of Loki's letter. He had written those words before he had realized he lost, just like he had run before he noticed his powerless state. She was sure he would feel sorry, of course. Sorry for himself, that is, when he finds out that his plan was unsuccessful. In fact, she was sure he felt more sorry than if things had gone as he had planned.

Really, all she was doing was occupying the time. About an hour ago she had gotten home. When she had left, she thought she would be gone for much longer than she was. Now her parents wouldn't even know she had left, so the dry erase board had been wiped free of her note right after she had opened the front door.

She couldn't sleep, and even if she could, there was no point. She had guessed it was around 6 o'clock, so her parents would wake up any moment now to get ready for work. That was when she would do it. She would tell them all about Loki. About Odin. About Asgard. About everything.

And then she wouldn't be alone. Aubrey and her family would be ready for whatever comes next.

The sound of movement floated through Aubrey's cracked doorway. She quickly stuffed the note and the rose into the closest dresser drawer that she could reach and snuck to the doorway.

Her mom's face peered over the banister of the stairs, and Aubrey breathed out slowly. Now was her chance to gain the help and experience from her parents that she would need to protect her family.

Because if there was one thing Aubrey knew for sure, it was that Loki wouldn't give up that easily, even when odds like these were against him.

* * *

It felt like Loki hadn't run in a millennia. He ran and ran, even though he knew Aubrey wasn't chasing him, he ran from her. He ran from the connection. He ran from his daughter. He ran from his guilt. And he ran for the hell of it.

The cool, wet wind stroked his face and chest with icy fingers and tangled his damp hair, but Loki didn't feel the discomfort of winter on his skin, instead a free smile broke out on his face as he splashed through the puddles like a child.

Unfortunately, some part of him, in the very back of his brain would not allow him to enjoy the freedom as he wanted to. This small, reasonable section of Loki's brain told him that he still had a job to do. That Aubrey would no longer come willingly, no matter how much charm he tried to lay on. That she would fight to keep her family as far away from Odin as she could.

Maybe he had tried a little too hard to make her hate him...

No, he told himself, that can come later, so for now...

Loki jumped in the middle of the street, not caring who saw him, closed his eyes, and set free his falcon self.

But it didn't come.

The pavement was hard and wet when he landed on it face first. Confusion dumbfounded him for a few seconds, so he just laid there, trying to open the chaotic magic in his mind but finding himself unsuccessful each time.

The more frustrated he grew, the more he refused to acknowledge that the cheater had been cheated. That he, the god of lies and tricks, had been lied to and tricked.

That little bastard! He couldn't believe that Aubrey had actually won the control over his body in those last few seconds. Only now did he realize that Aubrey was more than she seemed. He had known she would try something, but he hadn't thought she had quite reached the level to beat him yet.

Evidently she had.

He couldn't help but feel impressed by her capabilities. He wished he would have been aware of them before he betrayed her. She would have made a powerful ally.

And now she is a powerful enemy.

Now here he was, stuck on Midgard, with no way of contacting Odin. And more importantly, no plan. How was he supposed to impress the Allfather, maybe even get the gods to accept him, if he failed to bring back Balder?

But the ultimate prize had been to bring the last of the Drommare along too. That would have assured him a permanent spot at Odin's right hand side, or at least an excuse to kill him if he got mistreated one last time.

So, Aubrey's whole family had to go to Asgard, but how? Loki was utterly powerless with only his wit against four powerful beings.

Wait.

Four powerful beings.

Loki had nearly forgotten about Aubrey's gullible younger sister and her love of bad boys. Charm was everything to a girl like that. And though Aubrey took his magic, she didn't have the power take his silver tongue from him.

There could just be hope for him yet.

A/N:

Welp. That's it for The Disorder. Close the curtains, clear the stage cause this adventure is over. But as the stage is being cleared, and the pimply teenager hired to sweep the stage becomes the star of the show, remember that they are clearing it for the next story, The New Order!! So, sure, go refill your popcorn and visit the bathroom, but make sure you come back! Because this rodeo ain't over yet!!

Also, be a dear and press the vote button if you enjoyed, and comment if you would like, just glad you came and read with me.