Guys... WHY WHY WHY AM I POSTING SO MUCH?!

Hope you like this one... the drama is about to heat up :) 

Chapter Eight 

~Thea's POV~

When I turn on my phone after Kyle and I walk off the plane to Boston, I have several texts from Jack waiting from me.

From: Jack

Oy, could you have TOLD ME before you left?!

From: Jack

I was going to bring pizza over!

I laugh a little despite myself and nearly run into a basketball player sized man yielding about three suitcases.

"Is it Jack?" asks Kyle with a knowing smirk on his face as we walk through the airport, our duffel bags slung over our shoulders.

"Yes," I say, trying not to blush, but I feel the redness on my cheeks anyway, "He was going to bring pizza over.

"Tell him to feel free," comments Kyle, "Max doesn't know how to cook to save his life, it'll give him something to live for." He pauses and brushes some of his black hair from his eyes before putting on a baseball cap backwards, "Are you gonna reply?"

"Oh yeah, yeah, yeah," I say hurriedly.

From: Thea

just give it to Max :) I'll be back tomorrow

"So what's going on between you and Jack?" asks Kyle as we take a right, towards the rental cars. "And if you say 'nothing', then I'll be forced to count how many times both of you have looked at each other with goo goo eyes, and seeing as I hate counting, just go for it now."

"Uh," I say, "Noth-"

"Didn't I literally just ask you not to say nothing?" inquires Kyle.

"Okay," I'll say, "I'll tell you what's going on between Jack and me if you tell me more about the conflict between Asgard, Ardhigiza, and Earth."

Kyle gives me the eyes.

"I will!"

He narrows his eyes.

"Kyle, I prah-mise."

He snorts, and for a couple minutes, I don't think he's going to say anything, not until we climb into an SUV that smells like McDonalds. As he turns on the engine, he says, "Will you tell me why you ran off like that?"

"Uh," I say, "That's complicated."

"How complicated?"

"You have no idea."

He raises his eyebrows, and I hastily cover up my slip.

"Pick. Jack, or why I ran out of the conference room."

Please say Jack, please say Jack, please say Jack. You know it's low when you'd rather talk about your maybe-relationship to your basically-older-brother than about your father who happens to be a MONARCH. 

"Fine, Jack," says Kyle, "And you better tell me all of the details."

"Okay fine, we made out at the back of-"

Kyle brakes so suddenly, he nearly causes a collision with the car behind us, which honks vociferously. "YOU WHAT?!"

"I was just joking," I say placidly.

He glares at me.

"If you want to know what's really going on, then I suggest you start talking." I roll my hand in the air imperiously.

"Fine," he turns onto a crowded street. "We've decided to stay neutral, as of now. But if Asgard invades Ardhigiza, we will take diplomatic action. Archer can't handle an entire realm of Asgard after it, not with Videl still being a pain in the ass, and a newborn baby that-"

"A baby?!"

"Oh yeah," says Kyle casually. "Apparently, Linthria has been pregnant since May, since Archer got back from our little expedition. One of the reasons they got married so quickly."

I do a quick tally, "But that's only six months!"

"Velah gestation is less than human gestation," explains Kyle. "The kid was born last week."

"Boy or girl?!"

"Girl, I think."

"What's her name?"

"I don't know!"

"Okay," I say, getting back to the issue, "So what exactly are the politics in Asgard? You know, three kids, each with a claim to the throne- ah..."

"Three kids?" asks Kyle, "Not unless you count Thor, and he has bowed out of the running. Just Saissa and Caomh."

(And me.)

"Right," I say, twisting my fingers, "But say...say you know, the king of Asgard currently has a son or daughter, or what have you. Or like...Thor's sibling had a kid. Wouldn't they be eligible?"

"Yeah, I mean I guess," says Kyle, "But Thor doesn't have any kids. And as far as any of

us know, Loki died childless."

Yep, Ky, Loki's only child is sitting RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

"All right," I say, looking at my fingers, "So what's the deal with Fjodr and Neidra?"

"Fjodr," says Kyle, "Has had a grudge on the royal family for quite a long time, after Loki apparently had a little... incident with Fjodr's wife, Heira. His family is actually related to Thor's very, very distantly, but Fjodr has power too, and a backup of the citizens who value his input. And he has a daughter, who you met apparently." He gives me a very patronizing look.

"Heh...heh..." I say, grinning.

"Yeah, so Saissa is in line for the throne."

"And so does Neidra's son?"

"Neidra's a little more of a difficult, more shady story. She's very influential, but very quiet about it, which is honestly sometimes worse. Some people say she killed her husband to gain his title and position, but nobody has ever confirmed that for sure. She's also a very powerful sorceress, capable of doing pretty much anything. Also, legend has it, she and Loki have been...close a few times across the millennia."

I cough, "Wh-what?"

"Yeah, Loki liked to know who would play his cards for him. But anyway, that's the story with both of them. Caomh and Saissa are both in line for the Asgardian crown, but neither Fjodr nor Neidra want to give it up for the other. So, bitter rage, mixed in with the fact that Asgard wants to trample poor little Ardhigiza, and possibly Earth, yeah that's a little bit of a pickle."

"I'll say," I grumble. I can't help but think about the fact that I'm still technically the princess, the real princess, and also the fact that I don't know if I even want to be a princess, especially if my father is Loki.

"Okey doke, you're turn, Missy," says Kyle, "Spit it out, what's going on with Jack and you?"

"Nothing's going on!"

"Okay, that's cheating, I said that if I told you, you actually had to tell me about you and Jack."

I look out the window, "But seriously, I don't even know what's going on."

"Ah," says Kyle, "I see. Neither of you want to admit that you have feelings for each other."

"I don't even know IF I have feelings for him!" I say desperately. "I don't know anything right now!"

"Hey," says Kyle, more gently, "This is all part of growing up. You have to work through these feelings-"

"IT'S NOT JUST JACK!"

"Thea, what's going on?" asks Kyle, "You've been acting off for a while."

Damn it, I let go, and I can't, or Loki will kill Kyle.

"Nothing," I mutter, leaning against the window, "It's just...I don't know. Jack might not like me anyway."

"All right, want me to tell you a secret, assuming that you won't tell Jack? Like you told him about me asking Emmaline to marry me?"

"Uh, whoops, and yeah," I say.

"Jack texted me a couple days ago, wondering how he should ask you out."

"WHAT?!" I scream.

"Hey, don't screech, you're going to make me deaf, girl!"

"What did you say, what did you say!?" I exclaim, shaking Kyle's (toned) arm.

"I am driving," he says, pushing me aside.

"Sorry, but what did you say?"

"I told him to be creative, and to just go with it."

"What did HE say?"

"He basically just said okay, and that he's going for it soon, so just calm down," says Kyle, "Probably soon after we get back, he'll ask you."

I squeal, jumping up and down in my seat.

"Right," says Kyle, "So you don't know if you 'have feelings' for him."

"Well..." I say, "Yeah?"

Kyle snorts, "As long as he asks you out before Christmas, then I'm good."

"Why?" I ask, reaching for my phone. I have a text from Jack.

From: Jack

that's literally not the point

"I bet Max twenty bucks on it."

I roll my eyes.

From: Thea

it is so

"You texting him?" Kyle asks, giving me a kissy face, complete with a suction-y sound.

"Ew, gross, save it for Emmaline!" I exclaim, pushing him away. "And no, I'm texting Angelique."

This is not strictly true, but I need to get away from Kyle's gah-gah face. So I do text Angelique.

From: Thea

I think Jack is asking me out soon- what do I do?

She replies five minutes later

From: Angelique

omg, really!? Yaaaay!!! *throws confetti*

From: Angelique

I advise you say yes, you know you like him

From: Thea

I will, but what do I do on a date?!

From: Angelique

I would say be yourself, but that's such a cliched response

From: Thea

So I shouldn't be myself?

From: Angelique

Of course you should, don't be silly! (or sarcastic) But just have fun! You and Jack have the advantage of being really close friends first, so you know each other pretty well.

From: Thea

Will you help me pick out my outfit?!

From: Angelique

Of course! I'll even take you shopping if you want. My friend works at this really cute place about a thirty minute walk from your apartment, we're bound to find something!

From: Thea

thank you SO MUCH man, I owe you

From: Angelique

Just study those laws of physics for me ;) And hey, at least your Umber application is already sent in, so you have that taken care of!

From: Thea

haha, sounds good!!

From: Angelique

I have to run to work, but I'm so happy for you, Thea! :) Text me when you get back from Boston! See you soon!

From: Thea

THANK YOU! Bye! :D

I am so excited about Kyle's news about Jack, all thoughts of Loki slowly filter away from my head. Even the golden necklace, which has begun to spark off-and-on, can't distract me from the euphoria of getting asked out on my first date.

*

"All right, you're heading to your room, right?" asks Kyle as we walk into our house in Boston. It smells stale, and there are piles of boxes littered around the foyer, "You have some last minute stuff?"

"Yep," I say, remembering my case of daggers that I had forgotten, as well as some clothes and stuff.

"Sweet," says Kyle, "I'm just going to be loading some stuff into the car, and then I'm going to Angelique's parents' house."

"To get on their good side? Or to ask permission to marry her?"

"Actually, your second guess is right," says Kyle. He salutes me, "Be all packed up in two hours. We're staying in the hotel for the night and hey, we can stop by the diner. Sound good?"

"Yep, fantastic," I say over my shoulder as I climb up the stairs two at a time. The hallway is stripped of paint in preparation for re-selling, and the hardwood floors have a faint layer of dust.

My bedroom door opens with a creak, and I poke my head inside. It's completely bare, with the exception of the bedframe and a dresser, plus some boxes and stuff littered around the floor. The curtains are gone, so when I walk to the window and open it, I can see clearly down to the horse pastures, which are empty. We had sold the horses a while ago, and I had watched Minny go with a tiny bit of regret. I hadn't really bonded with her, but she was still a really nice horse.

Pushing aside my thoughts, I throw my purse down on the floor and take out my phone. After texting Jack for a couple minutes, I put on some music (Fifth Harmony) and begin to sort through the stuff in the gaping closet.

An hour later, Kyle yells up the stairs that he's leaving, and I yell back that he'd better hurry up, because I'm getting hungry. The door slams behind him.

I rummage through my belongings, sorting clothes and assorted junk. Finally, as I'm humming along to "Angel in Blue Jeans" by train, I find them- my long knife and other twisted dagger are wrapped up in a case. I take them out and inspect the blades- slightly dull from not being used, but I've missed them anyway, especially considering I have thrown my (now ruby-studded) dagger from Loki under my bed with no intention whatsoever to use it.

My music changes to ads, and I get up, putting the knife and dagger on the dresser near the door and begin to filter through my choices as I sit amongst my boxes. Don't feel like pop, or classical. Maybe I'll go with country. Not usually my favorite, but I've always had a soft spot for Taylor Swift.

I jerk my head up as I hear a short thud from the hallway, and push my hair away from my face. I almost yell out for Kyle, but I hadn't heard the SUV pull back in, and I should have, considering my window is still open.

I stand up, wanting to grab my dagger, but it's sitting on the nightstand still, and not my phone either, because it's still on the floor (playing "Haunted" by Taylor Swift), and I don't want to make a sound. Instead, I crouch and kneel behind the bed, closing my eyes. I know open houses are sometimes broken into by looters, and I have no desire to fight off bandits.

I stare at my phone, and then reach my hand out. I trembles, and is about to zoom towards me, when it stops and suddenly flies off the other way, out the door. It doesn't crash to the floor, and I hear the music stop a second later.

It's like someone has poured an icicle down my back. Someone has my phone. Someone with the power of telekinesis.

At that moment, someone walks into my room. That someone is tall, with green and gold armor, with thick dark hair and luminous green eyes.

My breath comes quickly, "N-no," I whisper.

"So," says my father, his eyes narrowing at me, "You and I have some things we need to discuss, don't we?"

UH OH SPAGETTI-OH. 

Told you about the drama. 

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I might post tomorrow...

And I might not ;)