Chapter 9

The next day is like the last, but this time more people know my name. Adam speaks to me a couple of times, but past that I don't see him. Part of me wishes he would stay and chat with me, having another friend would be nice. The lunch table is the same every day, and I begin being able to put names to faces. The bookworm that had asked me if I had run out Mr. Yerth is named Jasmine. The guy with fluffy black hair and square glasses is named Mark, and his girlfriend, a small girl with shoulder-length brown hair, who I hadn't met yesterday, her name is Ashley.

They are all very nice, fun people. They joke around, make up stories. After hanging out with them for a couple of lunch periods, I feel at home. Sasha is constantly making sure I'm ok, making sure I'm comfortable with the topics, which I love her for. But all these new friends make me miss my old ones. I miss Faith and her goofy smile, I miss my 'gang' of friends who would walk the halls of my school, causing people to have to go around us. I miss how laid back they are, and how familiar they are.

On my twelfth day of school, I gladly go home and lay down in bed. I try to fall asleep, but I feel like a kid without her teddy bear. Sleep won't come, and my mind keeps drifting back to the key. I roll over and rustle through my bag, finally locating the pouch. I loosen the drawstring and pull out the key, then lay back down, key in one hand, the pouch in the other. Closing my eyes, I focus on sleep, focus on quiet. Slowly I drift off, and once again find myself in the small, cramped closet. I put the key into the pouch and tie the pouch to my belt loop, then search for the odd pull in my chest. It is faint, but there, so I'm safe from whatever it is.

Turning the nob, I slowly push the door open and find no one waiting to jump out at me. Exiting the closet, I set off in the direction of where I think the doors are. I walk for a minute before pausing to look at a book that was set onto one of the rows of books. I grab it off and read the title:

Astral Projection Magic

Huh. This could come in handy. Like, right now.

I tuck it under my arm and continue my adventure of finding the exit. I reach the large doors in no time, and checking the hallway is empty, I leave the library and enter the beautiful marble and gold hall. Turning right and down a set of stairs, I find myself in a sort of laundry room. I hide behind the piles of folded cloth, watching the maids wash and fold beautiful fabrics.

"The Prince ordered for these to be thrown away, such a shame." A maid near me says, holding up a blue and green dress, showing another. She bends over and looks through the basket, tisking.

"Indeed, such beautiful craftsmanship on all of the clothes. Well, orders be orders, dear, no matter how beautiful they may be." She stands, putting the clothes back into the basket. Looking at the fabrics in the basket, I have a sudden wanting for them.

If they are going to throw it out, then it wouldn't be missed if someone took it.

I remember the incident with Mr. Yerth, and I have an idea. I focus on the basket, wanting it to come to me. For a moment, it does nothing. Then slowly, it wiggles, and I try harder, and it scoots toward me right as I start feeling lightheaded. I dart out and snatch the basket, pulling it back with me back into my hiding spot. As I gaze into the basket, I begin panicking.

How the hell am I going to get out?

A person in alien clothes carrying a basket of dresses is going to raise eyebrows since I'm not exactly invisible. Looking around, I see I'm completely hidden where I am, and so I pick out a brown and red dress, not as beautiful as some of the gowns, and get changed.

I stuff my regular clothes and the book into the basket, covering them up with the contents. I stand, picking up the basket and walking out and up the stairs. I pass a few servant people, and I exchange a pleasant smile with each of them. When I reach the hallway, I hurry down towards the library, but a servant woman stops me.

"Where are you taking those clothes?"She asks, looking aggravated.

"Well, the Prince did not specify the way they were disposed of, so we decided to hand them out to the less fortunate. I'm going down to the beggars and handing them out." I say, trying my best to imitate her accent. She looks skeptical, and before she can speak, I try to make it seem more convincing.

"Now I absolutely must get rid of these, I'm behind as it is, and I fear this conversation will put me back further, I'm sorry, but please let me pass." I plead with her, acting low on time. Her lips crease into a thin line, and she lets me pass. I thank her, and go forward, turning left and rushing back into the library. The tugging in my chest becomes harder, and I run through the isles of books and get back to the closet.

I really hope this works. Slipping in, I close the door and dig around for my pouch. I pull out the key and place it in the lock. Holding tight to the basket, I turn the key and the tugging fades away. I remove the key, open the door, and wake to the basket sitting on my chest, moonlight drifting into my room. I push the basket onto the bed, then set my key and pouch on my pillow, and turn on the light. Turning to the basket, I pull out the clothes and sort them into piles. There are a total of seven gowns, counting the one I woke up in, two cloaks, three pairs of legging-like pants, and five shirts. Most of them are in blue or green, but some are in red or dark yellow. I try on a few, finding them to be a perfect fit. Nice. I hang them in the closet, now confident that when I go back, I can successfully blend in.

I plan on returning the basket, so I place it by my bed for my next adventure. I pick up the book out of the bottom of the basket and crack it open. This one holds a note scribbled on the first page:

It seems you may want to study this, it could serve you well to know what you're doing.

Wait, was this written for me?! Who wrote it, and why? Did they know who I was? My heart beats fast, but I try to ignore the fear and shove it down deep. I'm certain whoever that person is they hold no threat, so I go ahead and read.

I finish the book right as the sun begins painting the sky in beautiful hues of red and blue. Setting the book onto my older one, I yawn and walk to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I see my hair has grown down to my shoulders. Just yesterday it had been chin length, but now...

Suppose I should be used to these kinds of things by now. I feel like it's only going to get worse from here, so I better strap in, no matter how fast my hair grows. Turning, I get into the shower and prepare for school.

When study hall rolls around, I scan every page of both books, successfully duplicating the books so I can return them later.

* * *

That night, I decided that there might be too much heat to return tonight, so I follow the book's instructions on how to stay in myself. It said to create a protective barrier with lit candles, so after school, I go over to the local store and buy a bag full of candles. The clerk gives me an odd look, but with Halloween coming around soon, he doesn't question it.

The book also spoke of items to help return beginners to their bodies, and a key is an excellent example of a way to get from one world to the next. I suppose my magic pouch may be more useful than I originally thought.

At home, I light the protective circle around my bed and go to sleep with a sense of calm and safety, and that night I don't dream.

A few days pass before I decide to return to Asgard, so I get dressed in a plain muted green dress, then lay down, the basket with both books in one hand, my pouch with the key in the other. It doesn't take long for me to get back to the closet, and once again I search for the tugging, but strangely I don't feel anything. Not even a small twang. I open the door and exit, hauling the basket with me. Making my way back, I set the books down on the same shelf I had found the second book, and I leave the note I had prepared:

Thanks for the books, I took good care of them. They did help me. You were right when you said I needed help.

Quickly moving on, I make my way back down to the laundry room, not getting much more than a passing glance from the people I passed in the halls. Before I can leave, the same woman from a few days ago pulls me aside and shoves a basket into my arms.

"You're late. Infants are more punctual than you are. Now, come. We have to take these to the Prince's quarters." She picks up another basket and leads me out of the room, down a hallway, and up many, many stairs. We scurry through hallways and up more stairs, eventually stopping at a grand pair of doors, looking much like the library's. She knocks, and with no answer, she enters the brightly lit room.

Bookshelves line the tall walls to the left and right, a large bed sits on the far wall. The bed is a huge, four-poster, the wood a dark oak wrapped round with gold. Beside the bed sits more bookshelves, but they are filled with knick-knacks as well as books. Snakes are carved on the ceiling boards, as well as the sides of the bookshelves. No doubt in my mind the 'Prince' is Loki, and this is his room.

"Come along, girl. We mustn't doddle, he will be back eventually and we have more work to do." Her angry voice snaps me into action, and she and I begin fixing the bed and changing the blankets. She is fast at what she does and gets angry when I don't match her speed. We do finish, then we vacate with the old bedspreads, and back down to the laundry room we go, where we dump the baskets then receive another round and we head back up and into other bedchamber. On and on we go, back and forth, until the sun has set and I am allowed a break. She shows me a room with a long, large table set with food, and I thankfully sit and eat. The room isn't the main dining hall, but it is still nice. As I chow down, I look around at the others eating and laughing.

The woman returns and sits with me, eating her fill with delicious food. As she takes a swig of her mead, she looks me over.

"You know, I haven't seen you around here before, besides a few days ago, then you disappeared." She takes a bite of meat, watching me, waiting for my response.

"Oh, well, I am very new here, and I got lost in the city and got trampled by a horse," the story comes easily, and I shift in my seat. "So a kind pair of farmers helped me get back to myself again. I ended up giving them the rest of the clothes." I take a sip of the mead, then a sip of water."They very kindly showed me my way back here."

"Well, I'm just glad you found your way back. I've been needing someone to assist me, although you have a long way to go." She sits back in her chair, taking a moment to relax.

"Hey, may I ask you something? And please don't laugh."

"Go ahead, child. Ask away."

"Do we, uh, do we get an allowance or something? I'm just curious. I'm thankful for the food and things given." I try not to sound like a greedy little snot, but I think I did a bad job.

"We do get paid, every twelve days. I already told the tally-man about you, and all he needs is your name so you can get your part."

"Asta. My name's Asta."

"Sigrid. Nice to know your name, child. So, are you only evening shift?"

"Well, I can work evenings and partial nights. So I guess."

She nods thoughtfully. "Then you will work with me. From the moment the sun sets till the moon has peaked in the sky."

This is perfect. A paying job, food, and time to sleep? Heck yes.

"Alright, sounds good!" I say, and she stands.

"I am glad you're happy with that. Now, come. We have a job to finish."

We run around and clean for hours, and true to her word, my shift ended at midnight. Thankful for being able to return home and sleep, I bid her goodnight and go off to the library. When I arrive, I find the books I had left gone and replaced with another book. I grab it without reading the title and get into the closet, returning home. Before I fall back asleep, I extinguish the candles and set the book on my nightstand, then pass out for the night.

The next night, I return and get to work with Sigrid. We do exactly as last night, chat a bit over supper, then continue our cleaning. The tugging in my chest returns, but I ignore it, more concentrated on the task at hand. I am able to work faster than the previous night, which makes Sigrid happy. Before I realize it, it is once again time to return home. No new books sit in the spot, so I return home empty-handed.

The next day, I copy the book, then begin reading it in study hall. It has no title, but it has a note tucked into the first page. I unfold it and read:

I appreciate how you have found a job here, and appreciate your putting those clothes to good use. If you keep working, I may see if someone will arrange a pay raise for you and Sigrid.

So they know about me, huh? Kind of unfair they know me but I don't know them. I put the note into my bag and begin reading. It talks about cleaning magics and ways to make chores go faster. I read most of it by the time the bell rings for dismissal for the next class, but I complete it by the end of the day.

When I get home, I test out what I had read. Concentrating on my carpet, I focus on making the dirt go into the trashcan. Holding out my hand and focusing my energy, I slowly but surely make a quickly growing dirt cloud. I direct it into the can, where it lands with a thunk and puff of dust. Yes!

Quickly I write a note saying:

This book will definitely help in the job, so thank you! I'm flattered with the offer, but give others the raise, not me, please. Whoever you are, you are a kind soul.

I stuff the note into the book, then get dressed. Laying down, I hold onto the book and my pouch and return back to work. I hurry out of the library, leaving the book, and going down to the laundry room. There, as I get to work with Sigrid, the weird tugging feeling is back, stronger than ever. As we make our way to Loki's bed-chamber, it grows stronger and I grow anxious.

Sigrid knocks on the door, and I hear Loki call for us to come in. We enter, and Sigrid bows, so I follow. He acknowledges us briefly before turning back to the papers and books on his desk, so we turn to our task, but all the while my internal alarm bells are going off. Why in the hell would I have an internal compass to Loki, and why would I-

It was him in the library. He's the one that made that boy, the illusion... God I'm stupid! How did I not realize, an invisible person and a fake boy?

We change the bedding quickly, but I glance at him and catch him watching us as we leave.