Ten

Frankie:

In the heart of an ancient part of this forest, it was clear not many traveled there.

I could almost hear the trees whispering secrets of old and see the air shimmering with magic.

"Can I ask you something, Mist?" I asked, breaking the silence that for the last mile seemed to have only been filled by the sounds of the forest surrounding us.

"This forest is magical for people like you and me. It is full of ancient magic and creatures who breathe air so that people like you and me can acquire what we need for the magic we cast." She had ignored me completely, and we continued on our way through the forest with the path illuminated by the soft glow of fireflies.

As we walked, Mist spoke of the forest and its magic, the creatures that dwelled within, and the ancient spells that protected it, never once offering an answer to the question I never got to ask.

We came upon a small cottage nestled in the heart of the foliage we had tromped through for what felt far too long.

"You are welcome to stay here as long as you like. It would be easier for us to connect you to your magic if you were exposed to it more. I love Valhalla, but it can be difficult for magical beings like you and me." Mist opened the door and held it, offering me the first step inside.

"Then why did you choose to stay here?" The question about my wolf was still burning in my mind, but I could tell by the nervous look twinling in Mist's eyes like the fireflies outside that she wasn't ready to share any secrets or answers she may have.

"My time earthbound was difficult, far more difficult than my life here in Valhalla. I deserved the spot I was offered and took it, much like many other warriors here." She walked inside, hanging a fur cloak on the hook at the door before kicking her boots off and making her way into the kitchen, where she began heating water for tea.

"We are safe now. You may ask your question." She returned to find me in her living room, cupping a wooden carving of a wolf.

"I have... or well... I had a wolf spirit before I was killed in Pinnala. Can I get her back?" My emotions were running so wild that my first question wasn't why we weren't safe outside for her to answer that same question, but I made a mental note of it for later, ensuring I would ask about it before leaving to take that walk back to the kingdom when the time came.

"You were never a wolf, Frankie." Her slight chuckle irritated me. Why did she think something so important to me was funny?

"I was Mist. I know what Odin must have told you about me, but I know who had been my only comfort and who could keep me sane through everything. She was there!" I held out the wood carving to show her, but it had turned to ash in my hand. I hadn't realized in my anger that the black flames had returned and burned the tiny figurine in my palm.

"I never doubted you had a spirit talking with you, but tell me, Frankie. What wolf do you know who whispers poetry in your ear to calm you?" Her question had left me stunned. I had never told anyone, not even Odin, that my wolf spirit would read poetry to me to calm me in my times of need.

"How did you?"

"How did I what?" she asked with a sly smile.

"How did I know that your "wolf" would read poetry to you when you never told anyone that before?" her smile grew wider, and suddenly, I felt like I was locked in a room with a serial killer, and I had ignorantly let her lure me into the place where no one would hear me screaming for my life.

"It's one of my abilities. I can hear thoughts, know things." She rolled her eyes as if she hadn't just admitted that she had heard my thoughts about my wolf and probably heard my thoughts about being the dominant one between Agnar and me, a knowledge that made my face hot into my shirt.

"Don't worry, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Though, I could have done without your memory of you being eaten by the rats." We both shivered.

"Don't you think you should have asked first? I mean, I would have let you in." I crossed my arms, feeling very exposed.

"No. I find out far more without permission. Aside from that, the "poetry" you thought was being read to you was spells, ancient ones, very powerful ones." She poured us both a cup of tea that smelled like grass and dirt.

"Drink, it'll make you feel better." I didn't question the could be serial killer, I only drank the tea knowing I couldn't die if it were poison.

I sat down in a huff, trying to ignore the weird aftertaste of the tea in my mouth. I never was one for a drink like that, not that I could have had one had I enjoyed it.

"I'm not a serial killer either. You can stop thinking that." She smiled around the steam of her cup.

"You can stop intruding in my brain, Mist." I fell back against the chair, waiting for the poison to kick in.

"It isn't poison!" She laughed, smacking my leg.

"If it wasn't a wolf, then what was it?" I asked, overwhelmed with the need to know. I needed to understand why I was so sure she was a wolf and why, if she wasn't, she never told me she wasn't.

"I have a theory that it was your dark being leaking through to help you when you couldn't share one headspace." Mist shrugged.

"Get out of my head." I grumbled, rubbing my temples free of the pain aching behind my eyes.

"What is a dark being?" I asked, suddenly letting her words register in my reality.

"I can't answer that. I don't know much about your kind. I know I can help guide you until you get access to her." Mist settled, getting more comfortable in her chair.

"Let's do it then. Help me restore her. Help get this over with so I can figure out who the hell I am." I stood, ready to walk back outside into the forest's darkness, knowing that anything involving magic likely meant explosions and smoke that would ruin her cute little cottage.

"Not so fast, alley cat. First, you have to spiritually awaken, and the tea you just drank should start kicking in about... oh... I don't know... now?" She smirked again.

"I thought you said it wasn't poison?" I gave her a look that I almost hoped melted her beautiful face off.

"Definitely not poison." She sat up, talking as she stripped from her chained vest, breastplate, and boots until nothing was left but her underwear. I watched in shock as she walked into her room and came back out wearing something I would think a grandma would wear.

"How old are you?" I asked as I began feeling heavy, sleepy, and confused.

"Old enough, now rest. Look for her in the darkness. Help her find her way to the forefront again." She spoke softly as the blur began to fill my vision, and the darkness she spoke of pulled me in.