The Ragnarok

Pixies and Wolves

Lottie got home at a later hour than she would have liked. The sun was starting to set, but she figured giving her new roommates plenty of time to get all their stuff moved in was optimal. If she was able to stay out of the way while they settled in it would clear the awkward air. 

Walking inside she noticed the two boys were sitting on the couch. Jordan had his head hanging back with a cloth draped over it. 

“Hey guys,” Lottie sang, putting her purse down on the table, “Feeling okay Jordan?”

Fen looked over his shoulder disguising his feelings getting hurt from her talking to Jordan specifically. 

Rather than answer Jordan gruffed, refusing to acknowledge her further. 

“He’s fine,” Fen grumbled.

Lottie smiled and walked into the kitchen. Opening the fridge she was happy to see there was control from her roommates as far as the alcohol went. She opted for a cider and popped it open as she took her place on the back porch. 

“What are you doing out here?” Fen was sitting legs crossed on the floor right inside the doorway leaving the door open. 

“Relaxing.” Lottie shrugged, taking a long swig of her drink, “Want to join me?” She turned back, surprised to have to look down to see Fen in the unusual position. “There’s plenty of room out here if you want to join.” She turned her back from him looking out into the forest. 

Fen stretched out his arm meeting the invisible barrier as the tattoo on his wrist started to glow warning him he was getting too close. When the heat became unbearable he backed off wincing slightly before scowling at his cursed wrist. “It’s fine,” he mumbled.

“If you’re interested there are some cool lights that pop up in the forest around this time.” She turned back again, still confused about his reluctance. 

“What kind of lights?”  At this point, Fen decided to get more comfortable. He laid down on his back head closer to the doorway.

“Oh you know, it’s just some blue lights from the swamp. Natural Gas burning off, you know.”

“How long have you seen these lights?” 

“A few years,” She shrugged, “it’s kind of been a thing since I moved here.”

Fen nodded, looking up at the sky. It was clear Lottie didn’t know she was being targeted by Will-o-the-wisps. It was annoying to him when humans rationalized things. The people in the old world did the same thing to him, it was one reason Odin feared him so much. This girl though. She was rationalizing it in a dangerous way. It wasn’t exactly his place to tell her those lights wanted to harm her. She wasn’t exactly rushing after them, so what was the harm in letting her watch them?

“Where did you guys move from?” Filling the silence was the only thing Lottie could think to do. He didn’t seem to be a good talker, but who knows maybe he was just backward about it?

“Well, Jordan and I are from up North.” He cracked a smile at his inside joke, “Helen grew up away from us.”

“Oh?” happy he was finally talking she pushed him further, “So I guess you’re happy to be spending so much time with them now?”

“Meh,” Fen squeaked, “We knew each other for a little while before we got separated. You know how it is with siblings, we’re a terror when we’re together so we had to be separated for everyone’s good.”

Lottie nodded, figuring this was some coping mechanism for their parent’s divorce. It would certainly explain Helen’s clear eating disorder and the lack of functionality with the trio. “You all must be glad to be back together then? Helen certainly seems happy.”

“It takes very little to make Helen happy to be fair, but yeah it’s kind of nice to get to see them after all this time.”

“Did you guys get all your stuff moved in?” 

“Sure.” Fen didn’t exactly know if Helen had been working on that or not, she’d been pretty quiet the entire day, but moving through shadows wasn’t exactly a noisy way to travel. “If you don’t mind me asking,” he began, “Why were you living here alone for so long?”

Lottie turned back to him, her head c****d to the side, “It wasn’t really long.”

“Still, you’re the only one who’s stayed, everyone else moved out.”

She shrugged, repositioning herself to the side so her neck wouldn’t be strained anymore, “I guess the reasons why everyone else moved out just didn’t apply to me. The rent’s really cheap, it’s close to my work, and it’s a really cool place to live.” gesturing out to the forest she exclaimed, “Where else are you going to find this great of a view?”

Fen gave a short throaty laugh, “Yeah, it is a pretty nice place.” He felt a ghost sweep by his head and he shooed it away quickly. “Do you ever feel like there’s something strange going on in the house sometimes?”

“Strange?” Oh no, she thought, this was happening quicker than ever. As soon as these three found out about the ghosts they’d be sure to leave. “Oh no, nothing strange, you know, just the quirks of an old house.”

He nodded, not fully understanding what quirks she was talking about, “Care to indulge me about the quirks?”

“Oh, you know.” She shrugged tiptoeing around the real issue, “Squeaky floorboards, odd water pressure, lighting issues. Just the standard stuff that goes wrong with an old house.”

“Ah,” he nodded with his mouth gaping, “I see.”

“It’s not a bad place to live.” She reassured him, she was actually starting to think things were getting better, at least with her and Fen. If they moved out now, who knows what kind of people would move in next. 

“Oh trust me,” Fen sighed, “Helen’s not going to let us move out anytime soon.”

She didn’t want to pry, but those boys really seemed to listen to Helen as if she was the oldest, “Would you mind if I asked you a question about Helen?”

“Why not?” She was a pretty naive elf, so what was the worst she could ask?

“I know it’s probably not my place. I really don’t want you to think that I’m poking my nose where it doesn’t belong.” She figured softening the lead-up was the best option, she was about to ask a very delicate question. “I just kind of am worried about Helen.”

“Worried?” Fen looked back at her, “Did she say something to you?”

“No no.” Lottie raised her hands, “I mean is she well?”

Fen paused for a moment rolling over to get a better look at Lottie. When he saw there was no joke, but full-blown seriousness in her eyes he burst out laughing.

“Did I say something funny?” She c****d her head to the side, “I’m just worried about her, how is that funny?”

“Stop it!” he called through the laughter.

Jordan pounded his big feet into the kitchen grumbling, “What is so funny?”

Fen wiped his eyes pretending tears had fallen from all his laughter, “Lottie asked if Helen was well. Apparently, she is concerned for her.”

“Helen?” Jordan echoed and then also chuckled.

“Care to bring me in on your joke?” Lottie hissed, jumping to her feet. “Eating disorders aren’t a laughing matter. She could really be sick.”

Fen also jumped up but made sure to keep his distance from the doorway, “Helen’s the healthiest out of all of us. Trust me, she’s doing just fine.”

“Do you guys not see what I see?” Lottie looked back and forth between the brothers.

“Actually,” Jordan piped up, drawing out his words before Helen tiptoed in placing a hand over his mouth.

“I’m honestly not sick.” She smiled knocking Jordan out of the room.

“Helen!” Lottie gasped, “I’m sorry, really. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Oh, you’re fine.” She glared at Fen knowing he was the one spilling too much information during this little talk time, “I honestly get it a lot. I just have a very hyperactive thyroid.”

“Sure you do.” Fen winked, taking his leave. “Watch this one.” Fen stared back at Lottie, “She’s a live one.” He tossed his hand up to Jordan who slapped it as they both walk out of the room. 

Turning back to Lottie, Helen rolled her eyes, “Brothers,” she sighed, “Really I’m fine. If you should be worried about anyone, it’s those two.” She grabbed a glass from the cabinet filling it with tap water, “We’re all moved in by the way.”

“Oh great.” Lottie smiled sitting back on her chair. 

“I’m going to go talk with my brothers for a bit, but I’ll be back out later if you don’t mind? We can talk for a while?”

“Sure.”