Chapter 10

Green and red, red and green, with a gold and silver sheen.

Oh shut up! I yelled in my mind. With difficulty, I pried my eyes open, only to see Father—Thor—staring down at me. I groaned and propped myself up on my elbows and discovered myself to be in a loose, white tunic.

All of a sudden I recognized the room. This was the healing ward. "I'm not sick, I'm not hurt. Leave me alone, Thor." I grimaced as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and unsteadily rose to my feet.

Thor tried to help me, but I pushed him away. "You used to call me Father," he said softly.

"That was a lie. My life is a lie. I'm a lie."

"That's not true."

I laughed, a bit too harshly. "Lying again? What is it, an incurable disease? Please, spare me."

He was starting to get angry. I could tell by the deepening creases on his forehead. But somehow he restrained himself and guided me to the door. "Don't go, Miett. You'll be safe from Loki here."

"And yet somehow he managed to come here before and inform me of my ancestry. Great defense system, Thor," I bit out sarcastically, wincing at the sharp pain in my head. Why didn't the healers take care of that? "Where are my clothes?"

My former father silently pointed toward the room connected to the healing ward. I went in and found that although I still had black pants, my shirt color had been changed from green to dark red. No matter; it was still clothing. I changed as quickly as possible and went back out.

Thor met me at the exit of the healing ward. He held out my staff and I rushed to it, snatching it from him and hugging it to myself. It was my only trustworthy companion, and I was ecstatic to be reunited with it.

"I can order you to stay," Thor said, his voice thick.

I stared at him, words escaping me. I wanted to plead with him, tell him that I had to go; my family's lives were in danger. But my mouth betrayed me.

"But I will let you go. Heimdall will keep his eyes on you, and I shall stand ready. At a moment's notice, I will come save you."

I stood tall, back straight and staff in hand. "Is there anything you request?"

A faint smile crossed his face. "Yes. When you see Loki, give him a good smack for me."

I landed extremely un-lady-like, with my limbs splayed and my face in the ground, but at least I landed without injury. I got up and studied my surroundings. There was a structure nearby made of wood. Perhaps the people there could give me directions to…wait, I didn't know where I was going. "Heimdall, you moron," I muttered under my breath and stomped up the steep hill to the house.

As I walked, I came upon a gravel path and moved up it. Soon I passed a car and neared the house. Hold. I paused and looked back. That was their car. They were here. "Oh, Heimdall, you angel!" I shouted and ran up the stairs and pounded on the door.

The door suddenly swung open and I jumped back. A weapon of some sort was shoved in my face.

"Oh!" a familiar voice called. "Miett!" The weapon was lowered and Damien threw his arms around me, squeezing me tightly.

"Yes, it is I." I wriggled out of his grasp. "Where's Mrs. Gerard!"

My half-brother led me into the house. "Mom! Miett's back, and I almost shot her!"

"That's not something to be proud of," Mrs. Gerard said as she walked out of a room, also carrying a weapon. "Miett, I'm so glad you're safe."

"We won't be safe for long. Loki's looking for us and I'm pretty sure he can find us."

Damien gripped his gun tighter. "We can take him, right?"

I shook my head. "I'm uncertain about that. He's not alone. He has an apprentice."

Mrs. Gerard frowned. Damien muttered something under his breath that I couldn't hear and his mother hit him lightly on the head. "No foul language," she admonished. "It's not like that'll help us."

"It helps me," he mumbled, but didn't say anything else.

My mother turned to me. "So what do we do?"

I sank into a chair. "Do you want the truth?"

Damien's face fell. "No."

Mrs. Gerard said, "Yes."

"I have no ideas," I sighed.

Thanks for reading! I hope I didn't leave you on too much of a cliffhanger! ;) Thanks for the favorites and reviews. Please keep the reviews coming, since without encouragement I tend to procrastinate. Again, thank you!