Sadie Kane was confused.

What was with that dream?!

What- or where- is 'Valhalla'?!

Why did Loki look like Ronald Weasley?!

And what was that summery blond guy, Magnus Chase or whatever his name is, doing there?!

My dreams are my dreams only, thank you very much! I don't like to share.

I stirred my spoon around in my cereal, pouting. Carter was looking at a book across the table, Walt beside me, thinking. Zia sat on one side of Carter, looking just as bored as me as she gazed up at the sunny sky. Felix played with a few penguins in a pile of snow close by. Julian, Alyssa, Sean, and Cleo all ate they're breakfast, talking with each other, smiles on their faces.

I sighed. It's so boring here...

My eyes darted over to Freak, who was pacing, Khufu ooh-ooh-aah-ing at him, no doubt trying to teach Freak basketball.

I had yet to tell Carter or Walt about my dream. They were already so busy with classes.

Urgh. It's all about classes this and classes that. I never get a break!

I glanced at Freak once again, an idea popping into my head.

"Hmmm..." I muttered, Zia giving me a strange look.

"Okay, that's it. What are you planning, Sadie?" Zia asked, leaning on her hands and raising an eyebrow.

Everyone fell quiet, looking at me.

"Hmm, me? Oh, nothing. Just excited for classes today! I have something I'm curious about to look up in the library later." I lied (well, sort of), plastering a fake smile on my face. Zia, Walt, and Carter did not look convinced, but they didn't push.

When they weren't looking, I smirked.

Long-need vacation, here I come.

-0-0-0-

That night, I snuck out onto the roof, wearing my boots and a leather jacket to protect me from the cold, a small bag at my side.

Freak spotted me, about to shout. "FFFRRREE-"

"Freak! Shhh!" I hushed, looking around. No one heard him, thankfully.

I attached the boat to Freak, ready to leave. "Okay, Freak. Let's go-"

Suddenly, a hand grabbed me by the arm.

"Sadie! What are you doing?!"

It was my brother, Carter. He wore his linen pajamas, only he had a scarf on due to the icy night air.

"Leaving! I need a break from all of this!" I huffed, turning away from my brother.

"Wha- Sadie! If you needed a break, I would've let you take the day off!"

"'I would've let you take the day off! ' I want to get out of here, Carter! I want to go on an adventure!"

"Adventure is the last thing I want."

"Exactly!" I exclaimed. Carter buried his face in his hands.

"Sadie, just come inside. We can go on an 'adventure' again sometime soon. Just not right now, okay? It's the middle of the night!"

I rolled my eyes, sticking my tongue out at Carter. "I'm going, and there's no stopping me!"

I grabbed Freak's reins, Carter diving into the boat as Freak took off into the night.

-0-0-0-

Carter and I wrestled for control of Freak.

"Sadie, turn around!"

"No, Carter! We have to-"

Suddenly, the boat lurched, Freak diving downward.

"What's he doing?!" i asked. Carter looked over the side of the boat.

"He's chasing something- or is that someone? It looks like they're wearing... a... Norse outfit?!" Carter gaped. "And a green hijab?!"

I glanced over Carter's shoulder just in time to see Freak swallow someone whole.

"What the-?!" I barely had time to finish my sentence before Freak landed on the street, our boat exploding under us.

I landed on my butt, still holding the reins. Carter wasn't so lucky, being thrown through the air and crashing into a store window.

I got to my feet, running around Freak and glaring at the griffin.

"Freak! Bad griffin! Spit whoever you ate out! Now!" I hissed, Freak whimpering. But he obeyed, spitting a girl out onto the street.

A green hijab covered her hair, her eyes the color of redwood bark. The girl wore a very strange outfit- golden armor and a cape, an ax at her side. She looked very annoyed, sprawled on the asphalt covered in griffin spit.

"Who are you, an Arabic She-Ra?"

I helped her up, the girl tugging her arm away.

"I'm so sorry, Freak can be... unpredictable at times."

As if on cue, Freak let out a loud "FFFRRREEEAAAKKK!!!" before taking off into the night.

"WAIT! Ugh, seriously?! There goes me and Carter's ride back home." I huffed, turning back towards the girl, an ax suddenly pointed at my face. I went cross-eyed trying to look at it.

"Who are you, and what was that thing?" The girl demanded.

I touched the tip of her ax, lowering it away from my face.

"Sadie Kane, from the Twenty-First Nome. And, like I said earlier, that was Freak, our griffin."

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Gnome?"

"Nome. N-O-M-E. There's a difference. Now, might I ask, who are you?! " I crossed my arms.

The girl sighed, but she didn't lower her ax. "Samirah al-Abbas, daughter of Loki, Valkyrie, servant of Odin."

My eyes widened. "Did you just say you were a daughter of Loki?! " I asked, one hand behind my back. I reached into the Duat and grabbed my staff, my fingers gripping it tight.

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" Sam raised an eyebrow yet again, opening her mouth to speak. "Because I am not on my father's side, if that's what your-"

Sam didn't have time to finish her sentence because I flipped her around, my staff at her neck.

"Tell me where Loki is, or I will send you into the Duat."

Sam looked up at me strangely. "What the heck is the Duat?!"

"HEY! Let Sam go, or your boyfriend gets it!" Someone yelled.

Sadie and Sam looked over to see two people standing in front of the store Carter had crashed into. Sadie could now see that it was a fashion boutique called Blitzen's Best.

A short little man that reminded Sadie a bit of Bes (only much more nicer-looking) was one of them, wearing a chain mail vest.

Beside him stood a pale teen, a candy-cane scarf around his neck, brightening up his all black outfit. For some reason, his ears were a little pointy, reminding Sadie of Spock from Star Trek.

And beside them stood Carter, his hands behind his back and looking a little frusterated.

"She's not my girlfriend. She's my sister," Carter deadpanned.

I sighed in annoyance, letting go of Sam. "There! Now hand over Carter!"

Sam rubbed her neck. "Thanks, Blitzen. Hearth can give Sadie here her brother back."

The short one, apparently Blitzen, nodded, doing something with his hands- sign language. Hearth let go of Carter, who pouted, rubbing his wrists.

"Any sign of Magnus and Alex?" Blitzen asked Sam. My eyes widened, and I held my staff out again.

"Who the heck are you guys, and how do you know Magnus?!"

Carter stared at me. "How do you know Magnus?!"

"I had a dream. Blonde guy was there. The ice lady said he was Magnus Chase. Now shut up!"

Sam opened her mouth to say something, but Blitz cut her off.

"Sam, why don't we hear what they have to say?"

Sam sighed. "Fine. C'mon in, you guys. It seems like we have a lot to talk about."