My tears are not dry. Remy is my best friend and I know, KNOW, I’ll never see him again. I look back at the painting and see nothing but pain. Everyone is gathered around me, all looking at the painting.

“I’m going to check to see what’s happening.” I hear Nestor’s whisper to Jason and look up as Jason nods and the man disappears. As we sit in silence looking at the canvas, Hecate and Khonsu appear. Asger and Ylva appear moments later with Danu in Asger’s arms. Morrigan rushes forward and pulls her mother into her arms as she collapses to the ground. Her wail of grief echoes around the world.

Raven stares at the portal in shock, silent and unblinking as Sean hovers near her. Looking to my right, I notice a long, deep cut on Emma’s arm, blood dripping from her fingertips. I look at Mimi, wishing Powaqu was here to help heal those that are injured. Jason whispers in Emma’s ear, and she shakes her head, but he just scoops her up and carries her to the house. She curls into him, sobbing as her grief finally breaks free. Her father’s face pops into my mind. I know he wouldn’t have had time to flee the city, and I fight more tears.

I finally stand and carry the letter and painting into the house, setting it in the light as I stare at it more. I’m standing there some time later when Nestor appears, panting. Everyone tenses.

“He has killed Odin and most of the others but he saw me. Sensed me, maybe. He follows.” I gasp. “He will be here in minutes.”

“Why did ye lead him here?” Sean growls. “Ye trying to get us all killed?”

“Sean,” I admonish before turning to look at Nestor. “I assume you have a possible plan.”

“I do. Remember before when I knocked him out?”

“Yes, but he wasn’t nearly this powerful,” Aislin cries.

“Yes, and I was alone. I’m not now, and neither are you. If Odin pulled power from others, why can’t we?” He turns and looks at his parents. “I need your help, or we will all die.” They nod. Then he looks back to me. “You won’t like this part.”

“I’m the bait.” Michael leaps up, his head shaking. “It’s alright. According to Remy, we survive or at least the people on the planet do, which means somehow he is stopped. And that’s all that matters. You all kept what would happen from me, taking my choices away. This time you won’t.” I glare at them all, knowing they all knew.

“I think finding you will give him just enough will to fight. It won’t last long but it just might be enough.”

“I agree,” Aislin’s voice is quiet but firm. The others stop fighting and fall quiet. “I will need every bit of extra power but I don’t know how to draw it.”

Morrigan moves close to her, “I will give you mine. I lost my mother; I will not lose my uncle also.” She lays her hand on Aislin’s back. Emma follows suit, grabbing her best friend’s hand, and Jason grabs Emma’s, and so on until a chain of power flows into Aislin. Her skin glows, and her hair floats out from her head. She looks otherworldly and frightening.

Only two are left, and they stand by Nestor. They don’t touch, but I feel their magic flowing into him. We are ready. I wait, standing in the middle of the room for the one who has stolen my love from me. It isn’t a long wait.

The monster appears just a few feet from me, blood dripping down his face. He looks at me, an evil grin spreading as he does. Maybe we were wrong. Maybe there is no Loki left. His head shakes as he pants then it drops down, his chin on his chest. I glance at Nestor, and he holds his hands up. Everyone is frozen in place afraid to move afraid to set the creature off.

“Elskan min,” it said, so low I almost don’t hear it. My love.

“I love you, Loki,” I whisper as I nod at the others.

Aislin’s power barrels through me and into him like an avalanche, and I hear a sigh as I watch his muscles relax. Nestor rushes forward, and his power, boosted by his parents, slams into Loki. No one breathes until his body falls to the floor.

“It won’t hold him long, and we must find a place to keep him.” He looks at the others. “We all have to continue to stay together. The only way to keep him like this is to keep hitting him with the power.”

“How often?” I ask as I sit by his side on the floor.

“I say even if he twitches,” Sean growls, and the others nod.

“Can we at least move him to the couch?” I snap, hating the idea of this.

“Tis for his own good, pixie. If he hurt you, it would kill him. As is, he’s going to be mad; he told us to kill him.” Michael raises an eyebrow at me.

“What?” I shout, looking at them all as the nod their heads. Anger clouds my vision. Kill him. Kill him. I’m gonna kill him when we figure out how to save him.