My phone rings, calling me back from the trance. It is the normal ring, so I know it’s not Bronwyn calling. Rather, it is my personal assistant.
“Loki,” he says when I answer, “I’m pulling up in the car now.”
“Thank you, Jason. Now have the maître d’ call you a cab and leave the keys at the desk,” I tell him. “All the other arrangements are in place?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Great,” I say, knowing I’m cutting him off from his next sentence. “That is all I require today.”
“I – Loki… wait, what –“
I hang up on him before he even gets the question out. I know he’s confused. The problem is I can’t answer his questions when I can’t even answer my own.
I return to looking out the window, watching the human ants scurry around below. It is tempting, you know, to let this world mangle itself. The self-destructive tendencies of Midgard are nothing new. From the day a human first picked up a stick, this has been a realm of battle. The Aesir of Asgard are no different. But much like the many humans of Midgard who would do away with war and love their fellow mankind, the Vanir exist on Asgard for the same purpose. At times, I wonder if it is not their gentle nature which keeps the Aesir from destroying each other and all of Asgard.
Two ravens, Huginn & Muninn, fly by the window. Just as suddenly, a terrible feeling floods through me. I know this is coming from the fabric of Midgard. I reach for my phone even as it starts ringing.
The Tommy Tutone ringtone starts singing out Jenny’s phone number, which tells me it’s a Class 2 call, and so soon after finishing another case.
“This is Loki,” I answer.
“I’ve got a new case,” Bronwyn tells me. “You’ll meet the subject at the airport.”
“Airport?” I reply, thinking this is odd.
“He’s has a layover, brief, but he’s on his way to a comic convention.”
I can tell there is something Bronwyn is not telling me, so I probe, “Comic convention?”
“Yes. Loki, be careful on this one. Your pursuer is close. He knows what you’ve been doing.” She takes a deep breath. “They’re going after… well, you know who.”
Almost ironically, I turn as she tells me this and catch a reflection of my illusionary form in the window. Close, but not quite.
So I’d made my move and secured my position. My opponent’s follow-up play will be to try to draw me out. This is getting better and better.
I feel the totem card arrive inside my phone. I take a moment to pull it out and tuck it into my jacket pocket. This would be very interesting indeed. I’m almost giddy with the prospects of this adventure.
Okay, there’s no almost. I’m excited to see my adversary’s next action.
Loki’s ready to play and I do rather fancy this game. With it being my turn, I shall make it brilliant and unexpected.
Let’s go make some mischief!