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Chapter -22- Good News & Bad News

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*Albert DeLioncourt opened his eyes. * Everything hurt. He grunted softly and shifted his weight but felt something tugging against his skin.

He scrunched his face and looked himself over. Albert had an IV feed in his arm. The bag hanging on a hook by his bed had some fancy-named antibiotic written on the label.

He wore a simple hospital gown and a blanket draped across his waist.

"You're awake." The woman's voice was full of hope and excitement. Albert looked at her for a moment with a tilted head. He thought she looked nervous for some reason.

"Yeah. I'm used to waking up with a headache."

"You want me to call a nurse for some aspirin?"

"No," Albert said. "I mean, I don't have one for once. I'm used to having one when I wake up." He reached for a remote control on the hospital bed. After a moment of groping around, he found it and thumbed a button.

The bed angled until Albert was sitting up straight. He looked the girl over and tilted his head back the other direction. "So, what's your name, kid?"

"Aimee Sebevan."

"And why're you here lookin' after me? Where's Rufus?"

"Because you saved my life," she said. "I told Rufus to get some rest. I arrived about an hour ago. I wanted meet you. I'm glad I was the one here, on duty, when you woke up."

Albert lifted his blanket and adjusted his hospital gown. He looked over the wound. "It was infected huh?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

Albert up-nodded to the bag of medication hanging by his bed. "Any drug ending in -Mycin is an antibiotic. Just like any drug ending in -Cillin ... same thing. Shit part of it is, I probably didn't get the infection from being shot or being on a warehouse floor. I probably got it from being in a dirty-ass hospital. That's why I avoid them."

Aimee frowned. "Well, you're a smart man - that's an antibiotic. Uhm, I just wanted to thank you for taking a bullet for me."

Albert grinned a bit. "I got it on good authority that you're one of mine. Look, kid, you don't owe me your gratitude. I've not been there for your whole life. That, well ... I did it because your mom asked me to stay away, so I did. But a man's first instinct defines who he is. He either looks out for himself, or he jumps in front of a bullet for his kid. Funny thing is, I always thought I was the other guy. I never thought I'd try and be a hero. Maybe I just hate my life enough to jump in front of a bullet." He shrugged, adding, "Or maybe I just really want to get to know my kid."

She swallowed her shy expression back, cleared her throat softly, and said, "You're a good guy. Can I get you anything?"

Albert erupted into hoarse laughter. "A beer!"

She opened her mouth but didn't know how to reply, unsure if he was joking.

"I doubt they'd allow it in the hospital."

"You had to detox."

"How long've I been in here?"

"A while," Aimee said softly. "I kept my palms on your wound so you wouldn't bleed out. When Rufus told me you were my father, I was in shock."

Albert smiled a bit. "So then we're even."

"I'm ... I'm sorry?"

"I save you, you saved me back. Tit-for-tat."

Aimee replied with a weak laugh. "I'm just glad you pulled through."

"I don't understand one thing," Albert said firmly. "I vaguely remember waking up in a lot of pain and being shouted at to change back to human. The bullet was still inside, but the gunshot wound should've disappeared when I changed. But I have a hole in my gut. Not to mention the incision mark."

"Rufus was afraid a transformation might move the bullet somewhere that would do more harm if you changed with it in your body. So he slid a finger into your wound and held the bullet still while you changed. You were ... very, uh..."

Albert smiled. "Drunk? Obnoxious? I remember cussing at him and feeling light headed."

"You passed out after you changed. He kept his finger on the bullet and it kept the blood from gushing out."

Albert nodded. "C'mere, kid." He opened his arms.

Aimee leaned down and they shared a hug. "I'm glad you didn't die."

"I still have a few beers left in me before I die."

Rama entered the small hospital room. "Aimee, I have to go. My father and I found out that my mother is in trouble in Romania. We're flying out there right away on a chartered flight."

She turned around, facing Rama. "Ulfey is in trouble?"

"Yeah." Rama's eyes lid to Albert. "You're awake!"

"Yeah. Who're you?"

"I'm her mate."

"Oh." Albert snorted. "Christ, I finally meet my daughter ... and her boyfriend. Are you an asshole?"

Rama blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I bet I could kick your ass, kid. Heh heh. If I wasn't sitting here all fucked up and sober, I totally could."

Aimee looked horrified.

Rama smirked. "So heal up and give it a go, old timer. We can do it however you want. Claws in a field or pieces on a chessboard. I'm down for whatever."

Albert cackled in a hoarse tone, which turned into a dry cough. "I like you already." He turned to Aimee and said, "Wonderboy, here, is an asshole, but I kind of like him." Albert grinned.

She turned to Rama. "Are you going to be okay without me?"

Albert reached up and grasped Aimee's forearm. "Don't sit here on my account. You knew the lady that's in trouble?"

"Yes," she said.

"Then go. I lived. When you come back, we'll talk more. You and your gay-looking wonderboy-friend." Albert's eyes lifted to Rama. "I'd kick your ass in chess, kid."

"Aimee, it's up to you. We have a third seat available."

She turned back to Albert with an expectant gaze.

Albert waved his hand dismissingly. "Go, go. It's fine. I'll be here when you get back."

Aimee nodded. "Thank you." She leaned down and kissed the side of her father's face.

He turned into it. It was awkward.

She leaned back and bit her lip. "Feel better." Aimee walked out of the room.

"Come here."

Rama moved closer to the older man. "Is this the part where we shake? Or is this the part where you threaten me? Because, no offense, I've known her a hell of a lot longer than you."

"And she's not wearing a fuckin' ring on her finger," Albert laughed. "So how long are we talking? And why no ring? By right of blood, she's mine until she's yours."

Rama pulled the ring box out of his jacket pocket. He'd kept it in the box for months. "I was just waiting for the right time to give her this." He thumbed open the box. Inside was an impressive sparkler of a ring.

Albert looked it over. "Huh. You should have done it sooner. You don't need my permission, wonderboy. I just don't understand why you haven't done the deed yet. Were you waiting for me to wake up, so you could ask or something?"

"Our lives turned into a circus. I didn't want to ask her to marry me while people were dropping dead all around us."

"Fuck all that shit," Albert said. "You ask when you got a ring and you want her wearing it. I saw her when I jumped at her. She was a werewolf. Apparently she got it from her mother or something. Whoop-de-fucking-do, right? So what happens when she goes to change? She'll break the shank or, worse, she'll break her finger, kid. You think that through?"

Rama smirked again. He drew the ring out and pulled on either side of the ring. The bottom of the shank slid apart with tiny springs at the bottom of the mount. "It's based on a Swedish watch-ring with an adjustable band. Yeah. I thought it through."

Albert cackled again. "You're an asshole. But I kind of like you."

"Takes one to know one," Rama replied, not one to take shit from anyone.

Albert laughed harder, which ended on a cough. "Okay, bring back my daughter soon. Whenever you allow me to see her, after you do all that shit you have to do, I want to spend time with her."

"I don't control her. She's free to see you whenever she wants."

Albert dismissed Rama with a backhanded wave. "Yeah, yeah. Like I said, whenever you allow me to see her, bring her by. Whenever you allow her to talk to me, have her call. Now go do whatever you have to do."

Rama quirked his eyebrows and closed the ring box. "Look, I'm not here asking for your permission to marry her. But I would appreciate your blessing, now that you're awake."

"You have my blessing, just make sure she talks to me every now and then."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that." Rama nodded firmly and backed out of the room. He pocketed the box and headed down the hall.

Albert relaxed. He thumbed the remote and eased the backrest of his bed back down. "Finally meet my daughter, and she already belongs to another man. How fucked up is that?"

A woman walked into the room and shut the door, leading out to the hallway. She looked over Albert and then sat down on the still-warm chair by his bed. "You're finally awake."

She wore a hoodie and a veil to hide her face.

Albert scrunched his brows at the woman. "Well _you_don't dress like a nurse."

"I am more of a surgeon than a nurse."

"Well you don't dress like a surgeon either," Albert said with a gruff laugh.

"My name is Sekhmet. And neither you, nor that boy, own your daughter."

"Well, that's debatable."

Sekhmet leaned in close. "In fact, you belong to me. I'll heal your wound, and then we'll leave together."

"What?"

She stood up, over him, and pushed back the blanket and the gown, exposing the naked lower half of his body. "You are not the only one who can turn into a lion."

Albert eyed her, not sure how to feel about how she just disrobed him so confidently. "Yeah, what do you know about that?"

She drew back the hood and adjusted her veil. The woman had the body of a human being but the head of a lioness. "More than you think. I am Sekhmet, and you are my property - you are a simple warrior, although much older than I expected."

"Well isn't that just too damn bad - I'm too old for you, huh?"

She reached down and put claws directly over his eyes. "I will teach you your place if I must."

He reached up and snatched her wrist, but she was far stronger than he expected. Her slender wrist could not be moved. "Damn."

"I am an Egyptian goddess, and I demand your worship or I will take your life."

"Christ, woman." Albert paused, looking over her slender body. "Well, I've always said I want a woman that could kill me. Something taboo about that."

"Then I am exactly what you've always wanted." She placed her other hand on his stomach and healed the wound and the incision scar. "There will be no infection. You no longer have a need for the bag of medicine being pumped into your arm."

Albert sat up and reached for the taped IV on his arm. He ripped it free. "You might want to put your little Muslim head-thing back on, Sand Princess."

Sekhmet abruptly took Albert by the throat. "Do you recall watching the news a number of weeks ago? Humans reported on hundreds of Muslims dying. I'm the one who killed them."

"What? You didn't kill anybody, lady."

Sekhmet lifted him from the bed by his throat with a single hand. "I am older than Islam. Hiding one's face is offensive. However, my fangs inspire fear. You will be my voice."

"Can't you just change back?" he grunted, putting his feet down on the mattress to take pressure off of his throat. His hands tugged at her wrist, but he couldn't loosen her grip.

"My human half is named Hathor. She is a different person."

"Oh, Christ, you have a split personality disorder?"

She slammed him down on the bed, breaking the rail on one side. "Hold your tongue or I will remove it."

"Yeah? And who else is going to be your talking piece? You said you need me to be your voice."

She sneered at him with a lion-like smile. "I will tame you, first. That's what men require - they need to be tamed. You are mine. If you get out of line, expect to be put in your place. Now, I brought you clothes. We leave immediately. Get dressed." She released his throat.

Albert rubbed his neck. He looked around. "Where's the clothes?"

She reached beneath the hoodie and withdrew a folded pair of slacks, briefs, and a shirt. "They are your size."

"You're going to stand here and watch me change?"

"You are my belonging. I do as I please with my property." Sekhmet leaned close and used her thumb to open his mouth. She inspected his teeth. "You should take better care of my property."

"Who gives a shit about my teeth? So what, I have a few cavities. Who doesn't?"

Sekhmet growled softly at the back of her throat. "Putting time into you is an investment, and your body belongs to me. Do _not_damage my investment. We will heal your teeth and your gums. Your liver, however, will take time to repair. You poison it with garbage. You drink watered-down piss."

"What??"

"Egyptian beer. That is what you will drink from now on. Not modern Egyptian beer ... proper_Egyptian beer. Strip down that unsightly garment and dress. We have much to do ... but first, we drink. I have a thirst, which requires a _proper beer."

Albert pulled the heinous hospital gown off. "Well, fuck, now you're singing my goddamn tune."

X

X

Meanwhile...

Rufus stepped off the helicopter, and walked across the tarmac to the waiting jet. "Shit, you guys, I could really get used to workin' for the rich."

Rama took Aimee's hand, following Rufus to the chartered private jet. "How long is the flight?"

Rufus shrugged. "Hell if I know, brother. I know we set down to refuel in the Czech Republic, and then we continue on to Romania. That's the best I can tell you right now."

A limo pulled up on the tarmac and a woman stepped out of the back seat. She hurried towards the three and curtsied to Rufus. "Do you know me?"

Rufus nodded. "Yes'm. Natalia Kincade. I ... we were just talkin' about how much the three of us appreciate you spending all this money to get us to Ulfey."

"Your flight is cleared to leave in twelve minutes, Mr. Darken." Natalia nodded to Aimee and Rama. "I wish I had more time for a proper introduction, everyone." She turned back to Rufus. "Do your best to bring Ulfey home safe and sound, please. I have acquired satellite intelligence to help you find her quickly. She is very, very important. You love her, so you are the best suited to protect her."

Rufus nodded. "Yes ma'am, I will bring her home."

"That is all. I'm glad I made it in time. Also, when you board the plane, please turn on the news. Any channel will suffice. When you see what is happening, you'll know just how serious things have become."

"Yes ma'am."

Natalia gestured to the private jet. "Also, there will be something to help each of you sleep on the plane. You'll need all the rest you can manage before your arrival." Natalia curtsied to them. "Hurry. Your pilots are already going through their flight check."

Rufus offered an endearing smile. "I owe you. Also, can the pilots be trusted to see us in our ... you know ... natural state?"

"They drink from Mela and Sero, my children. They are loyal servants and can be trusted with your secret. Good luck, Mr. Darken." She returned to her limo, eased into the back seat and pulled the door shut. The limo moved off of the tarmac to a safe distance.

Rufus took the steps two at a time. Rama and Aimee followed him aboard.

Someone came around and pulled the stairs away. The door shut automatically, followed by a pressurized hiss.

Rufus sat down on an extravagant plush leather seat. He picked up a remote control and used it to turn on a flat panel monitor. He thumbed to find the first news channel he could find - it didn't take long.

Rufus' eyes widened. His jaw dropped open.

Rama tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

"That son of a bitch," Rufus said, nodding at the TV.

On the monitor, a man was shown being sworn in a President of the United States of America.

The ticker at the bottom of the screen displayed words, reading, "Breaking News: POTUS found dead. Suicide suspected. President Pro Tempore of the United States' Senate is taking oath, publicly, swearing into office."

"I don't recognize him," said Rama.

The TV ticker continued along the bottom, showing, "Inside sources suggest President may have been dead for as long as thirty-six hours. Cover up called into question."

Aimee tilted her head. "He's the head of the Senate? I thought the Vice President is the head of the senate?"

Rufus sneered at the TV. He cut his eyes over to Rama and Aimee. "The senate elects a head honcho just in case something happens to the V. P."

"So who is he?" Rama asked.

"He's fourth in line of succession," Rufus grumbled. "I was wonderin' where that sleazy shithead went."

The ticker continued across the screen. "Pro Temp said to be juggernaught in Senete, with a decade of experience..."

Rue narrowed his eyes. "Looks like he's been in the Senate for ten years. Lucky him."

"Who is he?" Rama repeated.

Rufus turned back towards Rama and Aimee. "He used to go by the name Reinhardt St. Leonard. He was a judge for the Esoteric Council. He and his brother, Sire, were workin' with Aris Falcon to orchestrate the murder of nearly all the Esoteric Community members around the globe. A hundred thousand people with abilities were killed in a matter of days, in 2023. That bastard is now the President of the United States, and he still works for Aris Falcon."

Rama licked his lips in silence.

Aimee frowned. "Sounds like our lives just got a lot harder."

Rufus nodded. "We're lucky Natalia's money is gettin' us a flight out of the country. But we'll be lucky if we can get back in right now. Shit's about to get real bad."

X

X

An hour later Western state of Virginia, Continental United States ...

Greg Watson looked up from where he sat at his desk. Several armed men stormed into the room. One held a piece of paper, another was shouting orders, and two more had weapons drawn.

Greg held his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, do you know who I am?!"

"Greg Watson," said the man with the paper, "This is an order, signed by the President of the United States, demanding your immediate arrest."

"What?! What are the charges!? I am working closely with President Garrison, and..."

"Sir, President Garrison is dead."

"What?!" Watson stood up, coming face to face with two handguns. "Since when?!"

"Your intelligence feed has been altered to keep you and your team in the dark. You are being arrested for acts of terrorism against the United States. You, Director Watson, are a traitor to your country."

Watson's eyes widened. "Fucking Loki."

The men approached him and forced shackles onto his wrists and ankles. "Come with us, Mr. Watson."

Greg was taken out of his office. Several of his top aids were being arrested at the same time, from all the offices in the hallway.

X

X

Celestial Realm, Heaven...

Sinopa hugged Jonathan Parker."I know you're disappointed but Conner is such a good boy. A little stern at times, but you would be proud of him."

"I_am_ proud of him," Jonathan said. "Disappointed in Fox and Topaz? Yes. But I will not begrudge Conner and his achievements."

"Tell me, are you jealous of Jules?"

"No. He did his best and he treated you well. He treated you better than I knew how."

"He was a romantic man, Jon. You were a focused and stern man. At the time of our marriage, I was comfortable with your version of love - it was what I was used to from the Japanese culture. You showed it, and that is all that ever mattered."

"I understand you've befriended my second son?"

Sinopa nodded. "James is a wonderful young man. He is nothing like his mother."

"Fara did not know what she was doing. She was manipulated by Sire."

Sinopa frowned. "I did not know..."

"Nor did I, until after I died." Jonathan sighed. "She didn't know how to handle my personality. She took my gruffness wrong and thought I only married her because I didn't want to be alone."

Sinopa replied with a thin smile. "You treated her the way you treated me - with devotion and sternness. But I knew you loved me."

"I still do," he said. "But we vowed until death. And now we are parted. I am no longer your husband. But I still love you as I always have."

She placed her hands on either side of his face. "You are eternally my husband, Jonathan. I visited you first out of respect."

"I could take you to him."

"To Jules?" Sinopa tilted her head.

"I hold no grudge towards him. He treated you like royalty. He never hurt you, he never cheated on you, and he was man enough to raise my children and grandchildren to the best of his ability. I befriended him."

Sinopa studied Jonathan's face. "You are a good man. And I will always love you." They shared a kiss.

"You should take Jules with you."

"I cannot," she said.

"There is a way," Jonathan told her. "Reincarnation. But it isn't easy. There are two ways for Jules to be reincarnated. One, you find the Holy Spirit. Only by convincing the Trinity can Jules be reincarnated, and only if they feel the world would benefit from his presence. It is extremely rare."

"And the other way?"

Jonathan grimaced. "You take Jules from Heaven."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"You leave him in the Buddhist afterlife. He will be incarnated."

Sinopa drew in a deep breath and sighed with a nod. "Very well. Should I?"

"He saves the world according to your prophecy. Maybe he was meant to do it as Jules; maybe he still has a chance to help people when he is born again."

She nodded. "You are a wise man, Jon. Take me to him, please."

"Follow me, Sinopa." The two walked hand-in-hand through Heaven...

X

X

Meanwhile Celestial Realm, Asgard...

Tamamo lifted from her knee and smoothed the fabric of her kimono. "I am honored you have taken time from the remaining skirmishes throughout the land in order to see me." She looked around the tent-like dwelling.

"You wish me to leave - is this correct?"

Tamamo nodded. "I understand your sacrifice. You are here to watch over the gods, the realm, and one of the few old ways to travel to Earth."

Heimdallr nodded firmly. "The Bifrost was one of three ways to the human world when the Hall of Reflection was closed, recently. I fought hard to ensure neither the Jötnar, nor the strange creatures that came after, could find their way to the Rainbow Road."

"And you were magnificent," Tamamo said. "You live up to the name given to you by humans. But the heart of the Celestial Realm is open once more. And Midgard needs your help."

Heimdallr tilted his head. "Midgard?" He smiled, "You think Earth is Midgard?"

"Is it not?"

Heimdallr laughed and shook his head. "Midgard is the realm from which humanity originated. Earth is a planet."

"I understand now, thank you for clearing up the difference. But the fact remains, Loki has escaped the realm of Asgard, fled the Celestial Realm, and made his way to Earth."

"You wish me to accompany you to Earth?" Heimdallr stroked his beard in thought. "Answer me this: Why has Loki grown so powerful? His influence has increased, regardless of his absence here."

"He is influencing humans with fear. His name is now spoken by billions - he took credit for destroying human cities."

"How many were destroyed?"

"Five cities are completely uninhabitable, now. San Francisco and Oakland, in the state of California. Dallas, Forth Worth and Arlington in the state of Texas. More neighboring cities are becoming abandoned, including Sausalito and San Jose, as well as..."

Heimdallr held his hands up. "Please." He expelled a sigh of frustration through his clenched golden teeth. "Could you approximate a combined death toll?"

"The weapons he used kills in many different ways," Tamamo said. "Currently, the projection is approximately half of a million human lives."

Heimdallr rubbed his chin, again stroking his beard. "They are not worshippers of my people, yet their fear in Loki gives him incredible strength..."

"Please," Tamamo said, "Americans have their own way of celebrating the Asir. They have a day of the week dedicated to Thor - Thursday. They have brought about a spike of interest in the Norse deities with illustrations, motion pictures, and other such stories about Asgard and its warrior gods. A story-telling company known as Marvel, which is based in America, tells of Asgard's greatness to all Americans. And they need you now."

Heimdallr frowned. "I am prophesized to die in combat against Loki."

Tamamo nodded in understanding. "It ... may be possible this becomes your last battle."

Heimdallr nodded firmly. "Do you know of Loki's exact location at this time?"

"No."

"Very well. Does he possess another human weapon?"

"Not that I am aware of, but he procured the first with ease, and, with the aid of Aris Falcon's connections to brilliant minds, he was able to break the weapon into three smaller ones. It is only a matter of time before he could obtain another such weapon."

Heimdallr lowered his gaze. "Very well. I wish to bid farewell to my wives. Also, I must abscond to Mimir's well - my golden horn rests below the water besides the eye of Odin." He stood up from his seat. The brilliance of his shiny white armor served to enhance his handsome appearance. "I have defeated Loki before and neither perished. Perhaps I can manage this feat a second time."

"Forgive my ignorance with the lore, but ... you have?"

"Yes. He stole away the necklace of Freya. A flea was seen to flee the scene. We battled as animals battle. Victory was sealed as a seal. Freya's necklace, a symbolic emblem of Earth's fruitfulness, was returned to its rightful owner."

"Why not kill him when you had the chance to change history?"

"And be known as a killer of our kind? No. However, it is possible my death is at hand, as is the death of Loki."

Tamamo frowned. "How can you be certain?" She walked with him from his tent, overlooking a battlefield. It was far below, in a valley, but the field was quiet, illuminated by the light of the moon.

"Heimdallr lifted his gaze to the moon and sighed. "Odd how it resembles the moon over Earth, isn't it?"

"Yes." She lowered her tone and asked, "How can you be sure this will be the final battle?"

He turned to face her.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him.

Heimdallr frowned thoughtfully. "Thor has gone to fight the giant world serpent. No one has seen him. A silly man, willing to do the most foolish things to save the gods, he is sure to fight to his death if necessary."

"Why wouldn't he retreat? And what silly things?" she asked.

"Thor and Loki once dressed in women's clothing to trick the prince of the Frost Giants. They did this to retrieve Mjölnir, stolen from Thor in his sleep."

"I thought no one could live the hammer, but Thor himself. And ... Thor and Loki were friends?"

"Yes, for a time. They were brotherly to one another and had adventures together. So far as Möjlnir, the prince was a clever foe; he found a way to move the hammer without grasping its handle," Heimdallr said.

"I see."

"If Thor is willing to shave his beard and wear a dress and necklace to retrieve his hammer, in order to wield it in protection of the gods, then he is a man willing to do anything in order to win a war."

Tamamo cleared her voice. "I have a difficult time imagining Thor in drag."

"Drag?"

"What the humans refer to as men dressing as women. I am trying to picture him, long blond hair and..."

"His hair is somewhere between tawny and vermillion." Heimdallr began walking again. "There are human men who would do this for no other reason than amusement?"

She stared at the shining ethereal god, unsure how to respond to the fact the man knew different names for hues of red. She licked her lips and simply answered his question. "Yes."

Heimdallr nodded. "An interesting lot, these humans." He continued walking with her, in the direction of glowing Valhalla in the distance. "I will gather my things, speak to my wives, and then I will go with you to Earth."

"I cannot go."

Heimdallr glanced back at Tamamo at his side. "You would stay here?"

"I cannot go. I wish I could, but my physical body was slain on Earth nearly nine centuries ago."

"I have heard tales that you have roamed Earth. Am I mistaken?"

"No," Tamamo said. "I can possess a human body."

"Then do so. Would you sit back and watch the fate of our realms? Or will you take part in the battle by any means necessary. Some may mock Thor for wearing a dress and a necklace, but he did whatever it took to outsmart his opponent. If you must wear the veil of a man to help the world avert disaster, at least you have the option to do so."

Tamamo nodded quietly. "You are a wise man," she said softly. "I will consider finding a way to take part, so I can stand besides my loved ones on the battlefield."

Heimdallr smiled. "Excellent. Let us go and retrieve my horn from the well, speak to my wives, and then we will take the route I know best - the Bifrost."

"As you wish," Tamamo said. "Thank you for coming with me."

"If Loki is successful, the gods will die. I am the watcher of the gods. It is my duty to return to Earth, Tamamo."

"Return? You've been to Earth before?"

"I created classes amongst mankind." Heimdallr smiled somewhat. "It has been suggested I did this by sleeping with many different couples, but that would make humanity my children, now wouldn't it?" He cut his eyes forward, still smiling. "Although ... perhaps some of them were. I doubt any have lived this long."

Tamamo opened her mouth but couldn't think of a reply. "Fair enough."

---

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