She had told me to look at the whole picture. Seven wasted days. I’m such an idiot. Everyone is talking as I stare at that tiny tree with the even tinier, green stone. I feel Emma’s eyes on me. I jerk my head in the direction of the garden. I don’t wait for her. I know she will follow. I don’t want to tell everyone my theory before I talk to her first. She’s always been my sounding board. Standing by the fountain, I only wait a moment before she arrives.

“Well? Does it have something to do with what she told you?” I knew she’d figure it out before I said anything.

I tell her what Yggdrasil told me -- how the ancients came here long before the others and how she was the last, why she was the last, and who they were.

“She told me she joined herself with the tree that stood in the middle of their city. The trees we saw her at were just parts of that one’s roots. What if the tree in the painting is the original tree? What if the green stone or jewel of Loki’s cave is the same thing leaning against the tree? What if they brought some of whatever that is with them here? She said that it was only safe to kill Odin now because there was no more of that line with the magic to go into. Loki is the last.”

Emma chews at the skin of her finger as she thinks. “So, you think on their own planet they made them go to the cave because the stone was key to the magic? And if there’s some of it here, we can use it to get the magic out of Loki?” I nod. “Let’s tell them. We have no other options or plans right now anyway.”

We walk back inside, and I tell everyone what I think and what I have been told. “I’m sorry. You’re saying we have to find Atlantis, like the sunken city.” Michael’s voice is incredulous.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” I grimace while shrugging.

“Patrick and Chris would’ve been the ones to help with this.” Sean’s sadness thickens his voice, and I feel tears burning my eyes. It’s horrible, but I try not to think of them, especially Chris. Kai had checked for Patrick days ago, and even though the Highlands were not underwater, the house was gone, destroyed, targeted by someone who knew how important he was to us.

I hate how none of us have had a chance to grieve. Almost every person here has lost nearly everything -- parents, children, friends, and siblings. Looking around, I wonder how long it will take before one of us breaks. Forcing away the images that I can’t face, I try to focus on just saving Loki. There will be time to grieve them all after.

Emma looks at Hecate. “You and Khonsu are now the ones left who have been here the longest. Do you know where Atlantis might be?” The Goddess looks at Khonsu, who shrugs.

“It was not here when we arrived. I have heard tales. The pharaohs in Egypt spoke of a city and the Gods who lived there. They talked of magical machines and how they learned about language there. It was why they wrote things down. They did not say where it was at. I would assume it had to be somewhere in that region.” She manifests a map spreading it on the table.

Joining her, we all lean close studying everything. Jason points to an area near Greece. “For as long as I can remember, the Greeks have claimed the city was somewhere here.”

Morrigan uses a marker and circles the area Jason pointed to and Alexandria. “I once heard a story long ago about some Vikings that sailed south, searching for Valhalla. They conquered towns and cities all through Europe until they reached a French city named Sens. It had once been the stronghold for the tribe known as The Elders in Celtic. That city is in the center of what was once the largest megalithic civilization. We have long used the standing stones in the circles but we did not build them. When I first heard this tale, I was so interested in it that I did some research, learning everything that I could.” She draws another circle where the city is and points at it on the map. “This region, which you can see is nowhere near water other than rivers, is known as the Ile-de-France.”

“The island of France,” I translate once again, thankful for those that taught me Cajun French. “Can I see the marker?” I hold out my hand. “I feel like we should focus our search here.” I draw lines from one point to another making a triangle.

“I agree. We have no other clues. But what are we looking for, a tree or a ruin? If it was an island and it’s been sunk, would a tree still be there?” Sean’s not wrong. It’s not as if it would be in plain sight; if it was, it would’ve been found by now.

“Maybe we search for neither.” We all look at Emma, waiting for her to continue. “What I mean is if this thing is part of the ancients or if the tree is there and was part of Yggdrasil, maybe we can sense that part. We’ve all been touched by her. I don’t know about the rest of you, but to me, she felt so much different than anyone else. Her magic had a different flavor.”

I nod. She’s right. Asger steps forward; he has been withdrawn since we lost her. I think about his story once again and I suddenly feel so stupid. “Gaia. Why don’t we just ask Gaia? Yggdrasil told me how Gaia allowed her roots to spread. They often work together, like with Asger.” Everyone has the same look on their face, the look when you realize something that is so completely obvious. So much wasted time. Fuck.

Asger runs from the room, shifting as soon as he’s out the door. We all know he’s going to the tree. It still stands, its branches still protecting Fenrir; she is just not there.

“Let him do this alone.” Ylva blocks us from leaving.

The others pace or stare at the map, but I go to check on Cora. I tell her everything that we figured out. For the first time in days, she has some hope in her eyes. She gently shifts from under his head, standing and pulling me into a hug. She clings to me, and I hold her tight, wishing I could offer her more.

She finally breaks away and joins him back on the bed. “I went to go get you some food, and you should think about getting some rest.” She nods, but I know she won’t.

Stepping out the door, I turn right and almost run into Jason. He’s leaning against the wall. “How’s she doing?” I shook my head a little. “Maybe I should talk to her.” I smile a little and nod. Cora doesn’t know about Jason’s power, just like I didn’t know when he first used it on me.

Rising on my toes, I kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear, “I think that would be very nice, Brother.” Leaving him to it, I go to get her some food.