The Ragnarok

A Pixie's power

While it seemed Lottie and Helen’s relationship had grown closer over the next few weeks the same could not be said for her and Fen’s. Even Jordan who was out of reach most of the time was still warming up to her. It had been days since Fen had been out of his room. Something about the other day had struck him wrong. Helen and Jordan wouldn’t talk about it, it seems like it was a private family business. When Lottie accepted some things they would not talk about and stopped asking their relationship really started to prosper. It would seem as if these people appreciated discretion and respecting their privacy more than anything else. 

Lottie not only loved her new housemates who were getting far friendlier, but they also provided the best food. Helen, while never eating herself, would always make sure the kitchen was well stocked. Fen sure ate a lot, but Helen never seemed to mind. She also never seemed to get sicker, she was always in such good spirits. Maybe, Lottie guessed, Helen was the most healthy of them all. 

“Good morning!” Helen skipped in with a bright smile despite her constant cold glow. 

“Morning.” Lottie sang back, “Any plans for the day?”

“No plans,” she sighed, “I was hoping Fen would get his butt down here today.” Glaring back up the stairs she cursed his door. After Fen heard Sol was near he didn’t care about anything else. His appetite, even though it was still far greater than a human's, had depleted if only slightly.

“I’m kind of getting worried about him.” Lottie turned to also look upstairs, “I don’t think he’s been out of the house for a few weeks.”

“He’s a homebody anyway.” Jordan shrugged and finally provided a few words which was the only thing he’d ever contribute to a conversation.

Getting up from her seat, Lottie walked up the stairs, “I’ll see if he’s in better spirits today.” 

Both brother and sister wanted to object, but the disguise they were holding prevented them from spilling any secrets as to why Fen was bound to the house. The only thing they could expect would be for Fen to decline any offer Lottie passed to him. 

At his door, she knocked quietly three times. Deep down she had hoped those quiet knocks would go unnoticed and she could pretend he just refused to talk to her. While Fen was still showing signs of his god-like abilities being diminished over time, his hearing was still as sharp as his nose. The knocks didn’t bother him, the person behind his door on the other hand was the nuisance. 

“What is it?” He spoke plainly, his gaze refusing to meet Lottie’s. 

With her voice low, she twirled her hair in her fingers as she spoke feeling that she was an inconvenience right now, “I was wondering if you’d like to maybe-”

Not one to let her finish the pathetic display he interrupted her to once again toss a short answer. “I’m fine.” 

“No no.” Lottie quickly put her hand up preventing him from shutting the door, “I was wondering if you would like to go out for a walk later?”

“No thank you,” he growled again.

“Well, you can’t stay in here all the time.” 

“I assure you,” his voice now low daring her to not argue with him over the matter, “I can most definitely if you have any issues with it take it up with Helen.” Moving her hand away aggressively he shut the door. “Don’t feel the need to talk to me again.” He called.

“As If I would.” She mumbled back.

Downstairs there was little optimism as far as Helen and Jordan were concerned. They knew Fen would refuse to come out, he was pining over his lost love Sol. 

“There is another way you can help him,” Jordan smirked.

“Not me. I can’t control fate.” Helen knew there was a slight possibility one person in the house could, but to do so would surely put her on Odin’s radar in a foul way. 

“Fen was never fated to Sol.” 

“He is fated to Sol’s death, which as I understand through my very minimal knowledge can easily mean they are fated to love as well. There was much Odin feared about Fen. He was hated far more than our father ever was,” recalling the many terrible predictions Odin spoke of, Helen couldn’t help but feel sorry for her brother. True Odin hated all three of them, but Fen always took the brunt of the Alfather’s anger and it never seemed fair. 

“Well, you were right.” Lottie sighed returning to her seat, “Seems like he’s fine just staying up there.”

“All the best.” Helen smiled trying to lighten the mood, “What’s say we go out and enjoy the day then?” Helen had placed several runes around the city hoping to dampen the unnatural aura the city projected to Asgard. It was about time she took a look at them to make sure none were damaged. This part of the world seemed to be prone to strong storms every so often and the last one a few nights ago, while it was far from severe, brought a powerful wind that had knocked down a few trees. Helen needed to make sure none of the ones knocked down were her rune trees. 

“You and Jordan can go on without me, it’s my day off today so I’m going to spend some time relaxing a bit.” She might have been the one to offer the day outside, but something about Fen’s rejection stole all her enjoyment for the activity. 

Jordan shrugged at the offer but looked over to Helen who was still willing to go out today. It wasn’t like she needed him to go, but he knew she always felt safer with him around so he couldn’t just abandon her. “Oh fine.” he huffed, “We’ll get going after breakfast.” which was to say after Jordan was finished eating, Helen’s plate was empty as usual. 

Immediately after Jordan was finished eating he and Helen set out promising to be back within the hour. Lottie used her time to relax on the back porch enjoying the clear sky. The forecast was expecting stronger storms this afternoon anyway, so while she didn’t want to get out today she was still able to enjoy the outdoors. 

Once she settled in she looked up to the windows lining the upstairs. The first one was her, the second one was Fen’s. He was positioned with the window closed looking out at the sun. His eyes turned upward as if to be longing for something he could never have. She waved smiling back up at him hoping it would snap him out of whatever depressive state he was in. Noticing her below he backed away from the window. 

“What was that about?” She whispered to herself. “I was just being friendly.” Huffing again she picked up her stuff to move to the front porch. At least then she wouldn’t have to worry about him. 

The front porch wasn’t nearly as gorgeous of a view, but it was what she had to work with. Joggers, bikers, motorcyclists, and the usual noisy jargon that lined the streets during the day sped past her as she slipped into her book. She didn’t get too far invested before someone of course had to disturb her. 

“You never called,” that poetic voice hummed through her eyes like a hornet crawling from its nest. Looking up she saw Brice, that smile of his dancing toward her. 

“I didn’t get a chance really,” trying to play it off as too busy was her best option to avoid the awkward conversations that were sure to follow, but that of course only worked if she in fact remained busy in his presence. 

“Clearly,” he smirked, “Well, looks like you have a chance now don’t you?”

“Oh I’m so sorry,” She hopped quickly to her feet trying to find the best possible excuse for rejecting him, then it hit her, “You know I’m kind of in a relationship right now.”

“Oh,” it was clear Brice wasn’t buying it, his nod was just so he got a chance to make sure they were still alone. “Who’s your partner? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Well, we don’t really know each other well enough for me to talk about such matters with you. I am sorry. Maybe if it was a different time.” Continuing to back up she reached behind herself for the doorknob fumbling to turn it. “I really must be getting back inside.”

“So you do live here then?” Brice continued his surveillance which was cut short by the door swinging open for Lottie to fall inside clumsily. 

“She’s got a boyfriend,” Fen grumbled, glaring down at Brice. 

“Oh, my sincerest apologies.” Brice bowed and took a few steps forward, planting himself firmly on the first step of the porch, “My name’s Brice, what is yours?”

Fen placed his arm around Lottie’s neck pulling her close against him protectively covering her while also praying that she’d offer a hint of a buffer to where Brice wasn’t able to tell who he really was. “None of your concern,” another warning for Brice to stay back, but of course he wasn’t the kind of person to be intimidated. 

“Oh, I highly doubt that. Someone who gets partnered with this young flower seems to be a person worth mentioning. When’d you meet? Please do regale me of your tales of love.”

Fen looked past him seeing his siblings making their way back before catching sight of the exchange. If Lottie’s abilities were in fact working, seeing those two come into the house would surely give everything away. 

Lottie placed her hand on Fen’s chest hoping to further solidify the facade. “It really isn’t your concern. If you would, please leave us alone. I would hate to call the authorities over a voyeur.”

“I’m sure you would,” with another look tossed between them Brice narrowed his eyes at Fen before huffing as he set off. “If he doesn't fulfill your deepest desires my offer still stands.”

“He is doing just fine, thank you!” Lottie called back slamming the door as hard as she could. “Damn him, you were right,” she huffed pacing back and forth, “I can’t believe such an arrogant self entitled-” 

Fen rushed up to her wrapping his arms around her tightly, “Please shut up. He’s gone.”

“What are you doing?” She whispered as her head was forced into his chest. 

“Thank you.” he whispered back but provided no further explanation. 

Not wanting a repeat of the kiss, Lottie pushed herself away quickly, gaining as much distance between her and Fen as possible. “Woah there, I didn’t do anything.”

Fen smirked and shrugged hopping back over the couch to lay down, “You did more than you know.”

“What reject him?” She thought back and realized just how much Fen had hated that guy before, he was certainly an odd one when it came to how he handled himself, “Well, thanks for warning me about him. Talk about a major stalker, what’s that guy’s problem anyway?”

The back door swung open quietly as Helen and Jordan snuck their way into the house. Jordan looked Lottie up and down like she just slayed a dragon, and Helen couldn’t have been happier than if she was watching everyone eat a feast. 

“Why’d you guys come through the back?” Lottie looked around seeing if anyone else was joining them

Helen rushed up grabbing Lottie’s hand and wrapping her in a hug that was far less intimate than Fen’s but still tight, “We didn’t want Brice to see us come in, but we saw what you did for Fen, and we saw you stand up to him and we are so happy. Thank you so much!”

“I didn’t do anything for Fen though.” The second time someone brought it up, what did she do? Was there some secret conversation that was going on between Brice and Fen during that whole exchange? She was clearly missing something. 

“You did more than you know.” Jordan patted her head knocking Fen’s feet from the couch to make room for himself, “So, he didn’t recognize you I take it?”

Fen turned back to Lottie cracking another snide smile across his face, “Seems not.” 

“Okay?” Lottie threw up her hands, “I’m going to start dinner, any requests?” Not waiting for anyone to answer, she continued, “No? Okay good I’m making chicken then!”

“Oh, I’ll help.” Helen spun around joining her in the kitchen tossing a wink and a thumbs up to her brothers. 

“Finally done sulking about Sol then?” Jordan whispered.

“I wasn’t sulking.” he glared back, “If you ever loved anyone but a fish you’d understand.”

“Well sorry I like to date in my species.” he joked back, “That girl’s not worth it you know. We weren’t going to tell you because she helped put you in prison.”

Gritting his teeth Fen looked back at his brother daring him to watch the next words carefully, “She didn’t do it.”

“Oh no? I don’t recall her warning you, or helping you, or you know telling Odin not to do it.”

“She couldn’t speak against Odin, no one can.”

“Whatever, I think you just need to move on and get your head out of her ass.” c*****g an eyebrow he tempted Fen with something that was bound to be slightly more enticing, “You know, Lottie kind of likes you. What better way to move on than you know, by moving on with something better?”

Tossing a side-eye he rolled his eyes in response, “If I was interested, and I’m not saying I am, but I highly doubt she’d waste her time with me. Where would we go? Oh that was an absolutely lovely date,” sarcastically he added, “TO THE BASEMENT.”

“It was a suggestion.” Jordan held up his hands in defense backing off the subject, “What do I know I’m just some grotto dwelling snake.”

“Fish fucker.” Fen added with a laugh tossing a playful punch at his brother. 

“Dog breath.” Jordan retorted, tossing a slightly more powerful punch not realizing how much weaker his brother’s body had become. “Aw hell.” he spat as a red spot on Fen’s upper arm started to form. 

“I’ll get you back somehow.” Fen winked, tossing the certain bruise to the back of his mind. “Storm’s coming tonight.”

“Storm?” Jordan looked around.

Nodding Fen added, “Pretty strong one, you know what that means.”