On that night, like most, Ana has a nightmare. It’s the same thing she’d seen time and time again; Armageddon. It’s like the sky is on fire, with the way all hints of blue were replaced by flashing orange. The Sun and Moon are both visible from every observable angle. The moon has a red tint and it dyes the streets in a blood-like overlay. Buildings struggle to keep themselves up, as they crumble apart. There are lifeless mortal bodies congesting every end of every road. Signs of battle ring out from all around in the form desperate howls intermixed with clashing metal and tearing flesh.

Ana sees this torn apart world from a bird’s eye view. She hears the beating of wings behind her, but she can’t turn her head to look at them. Her gaze is a slave to the dream. It’s like she’s on a rail, forced to look in whatever direction the dream wants. The worst part about this is she can’t close her eyes and on occasion, her glance does flit over something so cruel she can’t stand to think about it. This recurring dream was often the same each time she had it, but there were, on occasions, differences. Differences vary between little things like looking off in a different direction, or bigger changes, like landing and moving about the battlefield. No matter how often this dream repeats, her gaze always falls on the same person at the same point.

A queen stands amidst a war-torn street. She’s tall, beautiful, with hair like blood splattered against the sky. As dark plumage tousles around her neck the world goes a little crazier. People -what’s left of them- fill the streets just to fight; utter chaos with no discrimination. Siblings murder siblings. Parents drown their children. Friends, family, love; no bond proves strong enough to beat the rage she induces. It’s scary, no matter how many times Ana sees it, she wants to do something about, wants to stop the pain the world feels.

The worst part is how proud that woman looks. Hands park on her waist, and her crimson eyes survey the area as though admiring a job well done. Unable to take it any longer, Ana cries out, but she doesn’t hear herself. Instead, she hears another voice. It’s soft and warm, the kind of voice Ana would want to hear saying something kind or encouraging. “I can’t let you hurt anyone else,“the voice coos, getting the attention of the red-haired woman below. That woman scowls up towards Ana’s point of view.

“Oh, so you’re able to resist, are you? Interesting. Looks like I’ll just have to dig a bit deeper and draw out the worst parts of you.” Her voice is like a razor and threatens to cut clean through Ana, but somehow she feels resolute, even when up against someone so scary; someone she’d watched hurt so many people so many times.

“Even someone like you can care about others,” the voice briefly pauses,“you just need someone to show you how.” Suddenly, Ana’s view rushes towards the woman below. Her eyes widen and she thrusts her hands out, causing some of her feathers to straighten up before shooting outwards. Feathers speed through the air like bullets, and Ana’s gaze narrowly avoids them as she comes into contact with the woman causing a flash of red, white and pink, with black and white feathers floating rapidly about.

“Mmm,” Ana’s eyes flutter open and she looks around her ordinary room. Ana pushes the blankets back and rolls out of bed, knocking several of her stuffed animals to the floor. Ana squeaks tiredly and pushes the plushies back into place.

“There,” she says, feeling her lips curl into a smile. Ana traces her fingers along the edges of her eyes, ridding them of any remaining sleep.

Tiny footsteps carry Ana over to her window where she opens the curtains, causing sunlight to spill in. Her forearm blocks the intrusive light at first, but eventually, gives in so Ana can attempt to acclimate her eyes. There isn’t much beauty to be found outside her windows. Much like in the dream she sees a world ripped apart by battle. Clearly, it’s the aftermath, unlike in the nightmare where there was still a fighting chance.

“It was the most different last night,” Ana whispers to herself, glancing down at her hand. “I think the dream me tried to fight that lady. She’s the one who did all of this, isn’t she?” Ana puts both of her hands on the windowsill while her gaze traverses the desolate cityscape.

“I wonder if anything like that could have prevented all of this.”

This wasn’t the first time Ana’s thought like this. But what’s happened, happened and there wasn’t anything she could do to change that fact. So rather than be upset over yesterday, she should try to do something about today.

“Well, I can’t let this stuff get me down, especially not today. Not when she’s finally coming home.”

"Rise and shine!”

Ana shouts as she falls onto Jesus’ lap, waking him like every other morning. He reaches for a crown of thorns on his nightstand and slips it over his head, nestling it against his long white locks. Ana giggles as she watches him rub the sleep out of his eyes and yawn into his hand, his mouth clearly visible to her through his stigmata.

“So what’s on the schedule today, Annie?” He inquires as he claps his hands, summoning a flock of doves into the room. “I feel like having a day of rest wouldn’t be so bad. It’s Sunday after all. That’s the one day of the week even dad didn’t wanna work..”

“Well,” Ana interrupts. Nervously, she balls her fingers into little fists atop her bare thighs. “-Actually, today is different. You see, Jay, today-” Few words make it out of Ana. It wasn’t like she had a problem speaking, but she felt like maybe others had a hard time listening; at least to her. The way Jesus’ gaze breaks from her’s, it’s as though her words didn’t reach him. Personally, she didn’t mind repeating herself, it gives her time to practice what she wants to say. “Jay?”

Jesus hooks his hands underneath her arms and lifts the younger goddess up off of him. He sets her down by his side then climbs out of bed. Those doves drop a red sash across his shoulders, it nicely compliments his white robes. He moves across the room as though walking on water, each step somehow lighter than the one before. Magically, the curtains and window shutters open with the wave of his hand.

“Let there be light,” he says with a laugh as the morning shines through the window and into Ana’s eyes. She briefly looks away before glancing up at him through the golden morning hue. Try as she might, there was never a moment where the little godling could catch her friend off guard. Jesus never has bed head, never has bags under his eyes, and always wakes up more perfect than the day before.

Jesus holds his hand out to her.Sunlight hugs his tan skin as it struggles to get around him. He flashes that friendly smile of his, the same smile she got up early every morning to see.

Gods and goddesses rarely have to sleep, but Ana does it every night by choice. It is the same with eating, bathing and things of that nature. She imitates the one she admires. She is a vegetarian, like him. She brushes her teeth at the same time and in the same way as him. Ana doesn’t think anything of it, and judging by the way Jesus smiles at her, he doesn’t either.

Ana beams as she takes his hand. He pulls her up and she accidentally trips into his arms. A brief pause lingers between the two. There’s maybe the inclination of hesitation or perhaps longing intermixing with this aging pause. Ana pushes this moment, like many silly things, into the back of her mind in favor of more concrete facts, like the two of them being friends; just friends.

Slowly, Ana’s eyes climb up from Jesus’ red sash to meet his sky blue eyes. Those eyes are full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy; they shine down on her every day. He smiles a little and she smiles a lot.

She would have gotten lost in his eyes like usual if today wasn’t special. Suddenly, Ana remembers and shouts,“She’s coming back!” Ana jolts away from Jesus, pushing him over in the progress.

Jesus manages to catch himself just as Ana finds her way atop his bed.

Her hands proudly meet her hips and she exclaims,“Þrúðr(Throoth) is finally coming home!”

In her excitement, Ana begins jumping up and down on Jesus’ bed. After several hops she lets herself fall back, flat against his mattress. She playfully looks over at him, her head hanging over the side of his bed. Ana feels her hair rake along the bedside as she sways her head.

“R-really, are you sure she’s coming back? This soon?” There’s a seldom felt hesitance to his laugh. Jesus expression changes. Is that a grimace?

“Huh, is something the matter, Jay? Throoth’s been gone a long time. Don’t you miss her?” Ana’s grin widens in an attempt to influence his. “I’m so excited for her to come back. I thought you would be too.”

Jesus waves his hands in front of himself. “No, of course, I’m happy. Ecstatic even! Just hadn’t heard much from her on my end. It’s just surprising is all.”

“Well, she told me before she left that she saw three potential dates for her return. Not a day sooner, not a minute later.” Ana explains while rolling onto her forearms. She rests her chin in her hands and absentmindedly kicks her legs. Admiration for Throoth thick in her voice. Being privy to such information made Ana feel special. So special in fact that she lets out the briefest of giggles over the notion that Jesus Christ himself had been left in the dark by Throoth. It might be a bit naughty, but she’d hold this little victory over her friends and hopefully, they wouldn’t mind too much. “She saw today’s date the clearest, so that means today had the highest probability, right?”

Jesus taps his chin and shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah, I guess that is how it works, isn’t it? Well, color me impressed. She told you three dates all that time ago and you’ve been keeping track of them all. Look at you.” Jesus grins. “An immortal who actually still keeps track of time. You’re a really funny girl, Annie.”

“Really?“Ana inquires, suddenly in Jesus’ face, staring expectantly at him. A soft feeling blooms in her chest. It’s kind of embarrassing, but she feels this way whenever she’s complemented by any of her friends, Jesus especially. “I really didn’t know I could be funny,” Ana says with a laugh. “Maybe I’m meant to be a goddess of laughter or scheduling. You know, something like that.”

“How’s about we focus on Throoth?“Jesus says. Ana pouts, not knowing why he had to go and change the subject like that. Though admittedly, she is way more interested in Throoth’s return than her own talents, or lack thereof. “You want to do something big for Throoth’s return, don’t you? You can’t say it’s a special day and not actually make it special.”

“That’s true,” Ana agrees. Her sapphire gaze flits about the room. She scratches her chin and narrows her eyes. “But what should I do? I could throw a party. I could try and make her favorite food. Maybe wax Mjolnir for her...hm..”

“Well as her best friend I’m sure you’ll think of something,“Jesus reasons with a hand reassuringly patting Ana’s shoulder. “And if you’re hard-pressed to decide on something I’m sure the other girls can help. Whatever you decide on doing I’ll support you 100 percent. Just let me know when and where and I’ll be there.” Jesus flashes what Ana likes to call his ‘double pistol point’. Both of his pointer fingers whip in her direction, while his thumbs hike upwards and he winks; it’s all brought together by a clicking of his tongue. While others are always quick to disagree, Ana does think it’s a pretty cool pose. “For the time being, I’ve got some things to take care of. So you want to catch up with me in a few hours once you’ve got everything sorted out?”

“Of course,” Ana says before rushing out of Jesus’ room. Having not waited for a response, she skids to a stop down the hall, then quickly rushes back. Once back in his room she gives him a tight hug. “Thanks for everything, Jay! Promise to catch up with you later!” And with that Ana’s off again.

Ana enters a dark room illuminated only by a single swaying light fixture.There’s very little furniture to speak of with the exception of several bookcases, each home to rows upon rows of mason jars that vary in size and shape. She knows not to look at any of the jars. If memory serves her right each jar contains another internal organ. She still remembers the very specific pale pink of gray matter she’d accidentally happened upon during her first weeks here. Quietly, she makes her way over to a something that sits neatly tucked in a corner of the sparse abode. A sarcophagus, desperately hanging onto its gold sheen beneath cobwebs and dust, holds a friend.

“Hey Keb, are you awake? Hm? Are you?”

Ana whispers as she gently knocks on Kebechet’s sarcophagus. From the coffin comes faint groans. It’s typical for this early, so she knocks again. “Uuuuuuuuu...” She sticks around long enough to see if she wakes her mummified friend. All she needs is a slight crack of that tomb and a peek at one of those tired deep violet eyes. “Kebechet is dead.” A dark figure murmurs from within the sarcophagus.“But I will take a message.” A heavily bandaged hand reaches out and touches Ana’s face. It pats around, feeling out every contour of the visage.

“There’s my mummy,” Ana exclaims as she tries to shake Kebechet’s hand off of her face.

“I was having such a nice dream too,” says a voice Ana has come to describe as ‘impassively curious’. “I was alive.” Two fingers force their way into Ana’s nostrils. “You were there. As was Athena. Throoth too. I don’t know if Jesus was, I forgot to check.” Slowly, the fingers slide out of Ana’s nose. “I remember it being very nice. Being alive must really be nice.”

“That’s nice, Keb.”

One of the first things Ana learned when making friends with everyone was to ignore close to ninety percent of what Kebechet had to say. Listening to her ramblings only makes her talk more. So, like everyone, Ana mostly ignores it. At first, she’d felt really bad about it, but now it is just part of life here in this old apartment.

“You should come out. There’s something I wanted to talk about,” Ana says then steps away from Kebechet’s resting place.

“K,” is the only response Kebechet gives.

Ana sticks around to watch Kebechet’s mummified hand sink back into the sarcophagus.

In a flash the redhead is across the hall, in another room, climbing into Athena’s satin bed. Like everything else in Athena’s room, her bed sheets are of the highest quality. Looking around, Ana can’t help but take in all the remnants of high life kept alive by Athena’s sense of style. From a small perfectly symmetrical coffee table to the stylized lamp that curves up along beige walls. Those walls are littered with weaponry, ranging from spears to swords and shields, all gloriously shown off in a very neat pattern. Of all of the rooms in the apartment, this is easily the most furnished.

“Athena, hey, are you awake? You should wake up. Today’s the day I was talking about, remember?”

Ana whispers into Athena’s ear whilst gently shaking the older girl. The Olympian youth peers out from one open bloodshot eye. Ana registers the glare targeted at the one who prematurely ended Athena’s beauty sleep.

Try as it might Ana wouldn’t let Athena’s glare defeat her smile. Tired looking gray eyes soften while strands of violet are brushed away by her delicate touch. She doesn’t seem to protest, and with one final yawn and a whispered,“Yeah, alright,” she climbs out of bed. A giggle rises from Ana, and she gives herself a metaphorical pat on the back as she gets out of Athena’s bed and leaves her room.

“Meet you outside, Athena.”

Ana waits to greet her friends in the hallway. She speaks loudly, hoping they could both hear her from their rooms. “I’m sorry I had to wake you guys, but today is really important. Throoth is finally coming home!” Ana’s excitement couldn’t be matched. Not that it looks like anyone else is trying to compete with her. Ah well, if they did, they’d completely lose! As Throoth’s number one friend/fan she is sure nobody could match her enthusiasm!

Kebechet and Athena both shuffle out of their rooms and greet each other in their own groggy looking ways, with Athena slowly raising and waving a hand, and Kebechet shrugging briefly, as though she attempts to move her arms but gives up halfway.

“Oh, my.” Athena gasps at the sight of Kebechet. “Look who finally decided to join us in the world of the living.” Athena’s tone is as cool and casual as ever.

Kebechet stares at Athena and several seconds pass before she responds. “You look rotund this morning, Athena.” Kebechet’s tone is as blank and impassive as ever.

Athena daintily covers her mouth to hush laugh. “You’re inscrutable as always my dear. I believe the word you meant to use was ‘robust’.”

“No,” Kebechet says flatly and then glances over at Ana with inexpressive violet eyes.

“Who’s idea was it to give Ana keys to our apartments? I can’t recall doing it myself. Would I do something like that?”

Kebechet, the Egyptian mummy goddess of embalming, inquires dryly. Her green dread-locked hair looks as though it slithers when she creepily shifts across the floor. Kebechet doesn’t raise her feet when she walks. She gets so close to Ana’s face that their noses touch.

“It was my idea, remember? So long as I have room keys I can come and visit you all whenever I want.” Ana reminds the girl, even though she assumes Kebechet will probably forget again seconds later. “Wouldn’t it get lonely if I wasn’t around? You enjoy my visits at least a little, don’t you?” Ana glances to Athena. “I’m sorry if I was annoying while Throoth was gone. Just wanted to make sure nobody felt lonely without her here. But now that she’s coming back I promise I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Oh dear,” Athena sighs,“I was hoping she would return soon, but this is a bit sudden. Whatever shall I do?”

As Athena speaks she runs her fingers through her long purple hair. Her hair settles gorgeously over her shoulders and she looks to Ana with her gray eyes. “Perhaps I’ll bring a game of some sort. I hope my skills haven’t atrophied too much in her absence. I hope she’s kept sharp without me as well.”

“AH! That’s a really great idea, Athena.” Ana happily flips her thumb up at her Olympian friend. “We should welcome Throoth back with the things she loved doing with each of us! It’ll help her feel right at home again.”

Ana looks over at Kebechet who is staring at the wall with a vacant look in her eyes. There’s a small crack in the area of the wall Kebechet is looking at, is it really that interesting?

“Kebechet, you should think of something you and Throoth always did together too. So that way when she comes home it’ll feel like she never left.”

Kebechet reaches for that small crack in the wall but stops just shy of it. Her head is the only thing that turns, rotating 180 degrees to look at Ana. Ana pales, always forgetting Kebechet could do things like that. Kebechet shrugs bandaged shoulders.

“I ’unno. I’m usually asleep around Throoth,” Kebechet murmurs while raising her sleeve covered hands to her face. In a single motion, Kebechet grips her head and forces it forward. The sharp, bone cracking sound Kebechet’s body makes is enough to cause Ana to wince. “Hm, when was the last time I was awake in Throoth’s presence? I don’t remember. Maybe, it will come to me in a dream.”

Kebechet lurks back into her room, gently closing the door behind her.

A soft exhale passing Athena’s lips gets Ana’s attention. Athena quietly remarks,“I just sleep for medicinal purposes, but Kebechet, I swear that girl lives for it. I mean, if you even call what she does ‘living’.” Athena looks down at Ana. “I can’t believe it’s been this long since Throoth left. I’m a bit surprised we managed. I hope she accomplished a lot in her time away. Definitely more than I’ve gotten done here, that’s for sure. I’m going to be a bit embarrassed when I see her to be honest. That Throoth, ever the overachiever.” Athena says it all with this calm little smile. It is always really hard to tell what Athena is thinking behind that cool look and mature attitude. Even so, Ana assumes something is bothering her friend. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

“It’ll be okay, Athena.” Reaching up, Ana puts a reassuring hand on her older friend’s shoulder. “It’s Throoth, she’s our friend. Even if we haven’t done much since she left I’m sure she’ll be happy knowing we’re happy and vice versa. In fact, won’t she be happier knowing she hasn’t missed much? That just means there will be tons of stuff to do together when she gets back!”

“I understand you, but my relationship with Throoth is a tad more complicated than that.”

“I’m not following,” Ana says as she tilts her head. “what you mean, Athena?”

Athena chuckles. “It’ll all make sense when you’re older.”

“Huh? But Throoth and I are the same age. Kind of. At most she’s like a century or two older, that’s practically nothing!”

With a haughty sounding laugh, Athena places a hand atop Ana’s head. Gentle Olympian fingers tussle Ana’s unruly hair. “You’re just too cute.” Athena tucks several strands of violet hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry, I’m sure there are other things you want to get done in preparation of Throoth’s return. Don’t let me keep you.”

Athena doesn’t seem to want to wait around for Ana’s response and begins in the direction of her room.

Ana watches Athena elegantly step through her door. It gently shuts behind her. That girl’s grace is something else. Though there are times when Ana gets the feeling Athena is messing with her but she couldn’t be sure. Maybe it’s just her imagination?

Ana knocks on several doors, hoping to convince other apartment dwellers to take part in the festivities.

She clears her throat, puts on the widest smile she can muster and tries her best to happily speak to whomever she meets.

Ana pulls her fist from the first door. After clearing her throat, she greets,“I know it’s sudden--”

Quetzalcoatl whips its large serpent body in an arc to slam his door in Ana’s face. “I’m watching my stories.”

Ana doesn’t give up and tries another person. “-but maybe you can consider-”

Several harpoons whip over Ana’s short stature. Sedna, an Eskimo mermaid, climbs out of her room-sized fish tank to shake a fist at Ana. “No tapping on the glass!”

Third time’s the charm, right? “-coming to Throoth’s-”

Trees and moss climb free from the opened door, and several butterflies fly around Ana invitingly. Tapio, a man comprised of beard and trees, chuckles. “Kinda rooted here. So would you kindly make like a tree...”

“-Party.”

Like so many doors before it, this one slams in Ana’s face too. Defeated, The young goddess makes her way down the hall. As she walks she takes note of things she was too excited to notice earlier. The broken windows, the stained walls, the tears in the carpeting. Signs that this place lacks the permanency of a home.No one cares enough about upkeep and there isn’t anyone managing it. Everyone had merely moved into the one standing structure that looked like it could hold them. Ana stops by one of the many dirty broken windows. She peers out beyond the cracked glass and cobwebs to see the dead world just outside, drowning in sand and ash.

“Who did all this?” Ana wonders aloud. A question she ponders on only when an impossible to describe emptiness grows in the pit of her stomach. It only happens when she’s completely alone, which, admittedly, isn’t often. She’s sure everyone feels this way when alone, so she never tells anyone how she feels. She tries to assuage the dreadful feeling by being around people as much as possible, but there are times, like now, when there just isn’t anyone to talk to. That’s why she wants Throoth back. Throoth never talks much, but that’s okay because even in her introversion Throoth never rejects Ana. Ana can spend as much time as she likes in Throoth’s company. Of all the people Ana knows, it always feels like Throoth wants her around.

In a hesitant pan, her eyes scan the debris of long gone architecture that surrounds their apartment. She doesn’t look for anything in particular, her eyes just wander from one rusted car to another. Then she sees it, coming up slow, just beyond two large utility poles struggling to stay standing.

A series of carriages approach the apartment, a caravan led by a chariot pulled by two large goats. Ana sees her clearly, even from up there. Throoth is riding front and center in that chariot. Her beautiful azure Aesir hair is tied into two long perfect braids that whip freely behind her. Her crimson eyes narrow coolly as she expertly navigates through the difficult terrain.

“It’s her.” The ends of Ana’s lips twitch and slowly fight their way up her cheeks, forming the largest smile she’d had all day.

“Whoa,” Throoth says as she pulls back on both reins. Even from a few floors up, Ana can hear Throoth’s voice is still calm as a setting sun. “Easy Tanngrisnir, Tanngnjóstr.”

Ana doesn’t wait around any longer to see her friend pull up in front of the apartment. All of a sudden, she’s running down the hallway. She spins and whips around several corners in increasingly dramatic sharp turns. After running for several minutes she reaches Jesus’ door, stopped by the same obstruction as always; A large boulder covering his door.

Ana spits in both hands and tightens her grip on the stone. It got easier with every attempt, so by now, Ana could move it with much less effort than one would expect from a girl her size. Didn’t even need to summon any divine power to do so.

Ana opens Jesus’ door and cries as she enters, “Jay! It’s too late, Throoth’s here already and I don’t have anything re-”

Ana’s words come to an abrupt end when her eyes fall on the sight before her. Jesus sits on the couch, sandwiched suggestively between Kebechet and Athena. Athena’s arms drape over his shoulders, while his head rests against her generous bust, and Kebechet crawls on top of him. All three look up at Ana, each with increasingly different looks of surprise, ranging from Jesus shock and embarrassment, to complete apathy on Kebechet’s part.

“Alright, I know how this looks Annie, but if you give me just a minute, I can explain everything.” Jesus stammers as he pushes himself out of Athena’s grasp. “It isn’t what it looks like.”

What it looks like is Kebechet sprawled over the couch arm with her head softly nuzzling Jesus’ crotch. It looks like Jesus tries to crawl away, but his attempt lands a hand on one of Athena’s thighs. A deep mewl erupts from Athena, and she turns her deep beet red face away. “Doing this in front of Ana,” she says in a husky voice. “And here I thought you were supposed to be the one without sin. You really shouldn’t take advantage of us virgin goddesses, you know!” It doesn’t help that one of Athena’s arms wrap around Jesus, forcing him back into her even more. So, technically, it is exactly what it looks like.

This isn’t the first time Ana has seen something like this. There are occasions, many in fact, where it seems like the other girls are vying for Jesus’ attention; Athena especially. It usually presents itself in the form of flirting, and awkward moments like this, but Jesus often insists it ‘isn’t what it looks like’.

A long time ago such a sight would have troubled Ana, made her feel like she could lose Jesus to someone else. But he isn’t her’s, so why should that matter? Thankfully, Throoth was always around to comfort Ana when feelings of inadequacy rolled in. Confidently, Throoth would affirm, “Leave everything to me, Ana. So long as your happiness is my responsibility, I’ll see to it that you’re always able to smile.”

All Ana does is sniffle a bit and Athena and Kebechet crowd her, leaving Jesus to fall off the couch.

“Oh no sweetie, don’t cry,” Athena coos, wiping Ana’s tears away as soon as they appear. “I was merely reacting to Jesus’ body language. It looked like he was making advances on me. I assure you I had no intention of going any further without marrying him first.” Athena nods. “I take being a virgin goddess very seriously.”

Jesus clarifies, “My ‘intentions’ are a complete misunderstanding, and frankly a fabrication. Aren’t you supposed to be a genius? How can you mistake a guy falling over for flirting? And is that really how you ‘return your feelings’?”

Kebechet nods softly and assures,“I wanted to sleep. His lap looked very comfortable. It seemed inviting today. In a way, he was asking for it.”

Jesus sits up on the couch, points a finger at the girls and asserts,“That doesn’t mean you can just do that, Keb. You can’t just assume you have my consent because we’re friends.”

Kebechet flatly responds,“Understood. I must seek consent before invading the crotches of others. I will try to remember that.”

Ana truly appreciates her friends trying to cheer her up, but the sight of Jesus and the girls isn’t what’s bothering her. “N-no, it isn’t that,” she insists, stepping away. “It’s because Throoth is ba-” Ana backs into something. She looks up and around, and squeaks when she catches sight of who she bumped into. Warmth rises in Ana’s cheeks.

“So you all gathered here to welcome me home?” Throoth inquires in a deadpan manner. Ana’s soft sapphire hues meet Throoth’s cool crimson. Quickly, Ana steps out from underneath Throoth and timidly takes a place between Athena and Kebechet.

Slowly, Throoth glances down at Ana. She tilts her head, and those beautiful braids follow. “Did you do this, Ana?”

Ana buries her face in Athena’s white dress. “I’m sorry. Am I annoying, is this annoying?” She asks in such a quiet squeak she’s sure only Athena could hear.

“Of course this is Ana’s doing. Do you really think any of us are this thoughtful?” Athena’s charming voice is almost like a song to Ana. “I’m far too busy with my search to orchestrate this. Something like this is perfect for Ana.” Ana takes occasional peeks out from behind Athena.

She sees Kebechet impassively steps forward, where she looks to Throoth, then to Ana, then back to Throoth once more. She nods.

Pushing himself up off the couch, Jesus chimes in,” Yup, she got us all up extra early just so we could welcome Throoth, daughter of Thor, Aesir Princess herself, home.” He pauses and briefly looks back at Ana, startling her and driving her face back into Athena’s cloth. “She’s a very thoughtful girl. We shouldn’t take her for granted.”

Ana pulls her face away from Athena’s back and looks up at Throoth. As always Throoth’s expression is stoic. To most, she comes off as cold or aloof, but Ana knows to watch for subtle twitches in her face and changes in body language. Right now, despite that cold stare, Throoth lips quiver so she seems happy.

“Good job,” Throoth deadpans. Suddenly, she steps forward and embraces Ana. Ana’s cheeks flush again, but she smiles, happily nuzzling into Throoth and returning the hug.

“I know it isn’t much, but I’m glad you like it. I just wanted to show you how much we all missed you while you were gone, Throoth. I’ve been counting down the days until your return.”

“That’s weird,” Throoth says while flashing Ana a short-lived smile.

“Aha! T-that was a joke, was it funny?” Ana tries to deflect and save the moment.

Throoth simply shakes her head. “Not at all.”

“Send help!” Ana prostrates herself on the bare floor of Jesus small apartment. “I’ve died of embarrassment.”

“Alas, she was so young,” Athena says with a dramatic flick of her wrist. “She will truly be missed.”

Kebechet lays out on the ground beside Ana. She stares into the younger goddess’s eyes. “Really? You can die from embarrassment?”

“I’m retreating into my mind. I’ll go to my happy place. That way no one can judge me.” Ana whines and rolls around on the floor for several seconds.

She watches as Throoth crouches down over her. Throoth takes one of her braids and gently brushes it against Ana’s nose, tickling it. “Before you do, mind helping me? I’ve got luggage in the chariots downstairs, and I spent a lot of my trip telling my goats all about you. They’re neat. My dad left them for me.” Throoth pauses momentarily before explaining, “They can be killed and eaten every night because Mjolnir somehow has the power to revive them. It’s really weird but super helpful on a long journey. They are both transportation and nourishment.”

“Aww,” Ana sits up, “you eat them? Every night? T-that sounds so mean...”

“No.” Throoth helps Ana up. “They like it.”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?” Jesus questions while stepping towards the two. Throoth narrows her eyes at Jesus, stopping him in his tracks.

Athena walks over and with a raised eyebrow prods at Jesus’ chest. “I suppose you consider yourself a comedic expert as well? There isn’t anything the prince of princes, Jesus Christ can’t do, right? Well, I’d have to see it to believe it. I can’t recall the last time you said anything the least bit clever.”

Jesus hesitates, then snickers. “Not in front of Annie. I still have a pretty flawless reputation with her.”

“You have a reputation? What crimes did you commit? Have you ever killed someone with embarrassment?” Kebechet is still laying on the ground as she flatly asks about different things. It seems like she’s just trying to keep up with everyone’s conversation.

Throoth jokingly uses both of her braids to dust Ana off. It must be the sight to see the bubbly Ana running around the room with Throoth stoically chasing after her. Once Ana is led to the door to the door, she yields.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go get your things. But save all the cool stories for when I get back!”

“No promises,” Throoth says calmly before winking at Ana. “Now hurry. The sooner you go, the sooner you get back.”

Ana leaves the room with a bright smile and a tingle in her chest. She is just happy Throoth is happy, even with such a small get together. As Ana makes her way down the hall the laughing voices from the room become more and more distant. The last things she can still make out is Jesus and Athena, loudest of the bunch, asking about the cold, bridges, rainbows, dwarves and construction. That seems interesting, Ana thinks to herself. That isn’t the only thought to come to Ana’s mind. She briefly wonders why Throoth chose to show up in Jesus’ apartment as opposed to any other. As quickly as the thought comes to mind it’s gone, Ana figures Throoth knew the most probable place to find them would be his room.

She hums as she makes her way down several flights of stairs and out the main double doors. Outside Ana finds several men of assorted shape and sizes around the caravan. A Jotun, lifts massive barrels of mead, water, and fish off of the carriages. Dwarves with beards of blue tend to the horses by feeding them, grooming them and changing their ‘shoes’. Then there is one man who doesn’t do very much at all. He’s almost as tall as the Jotun but looks like an Aesir. He’s familiar but only because he and Throoth share similar eyes and almost the same nose. If this man isn’t Throoth’s father then he must be her uncle, Víðarr.

Vidar trudges forward with a slight limp, on account of one of his boots being much larger than the other. His eyes focus on the goats that pulled Throoth’s sled. As he draws near he brandishes a dagger and licks his lips.

“No!” Ana cries as she steps out in front of the goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. She shakes her head. “You can’t just kill them after they worked so hard to bring Throoth home. That isn’t fair. They should be treated as heroes, not livestock!”

Vidar furrows his brow and it looks like he’s going to argue with her, but instead shrugs and walks over to the carriage. He grabs a large loaf of bread and snacks on that instead.

“Phew,” Ana sighs then looks to the goats. She nuzzles her cheeks against theirs. “You boys won’t be dinner tonight. After all your hard work, you guys deserve a night off too, right?” Ana steps away from the goats and towards the chariot. She rubs her hands together. “Okay, time to load up!”

Ana wears Throoth’s backpack, covers herself with several furs, and straps a myriad of weapons about her lithe form. She looks down to the bottom of the chariot where she sees Throoth’s hammer, Mjolnir.

“Shouldn’t be too hard. Throoth manages just fine.” With her free hand, Ana reaches down and grasps the handle. Ana tries to take a step but the hammer doesn’t budge. So she stops and plants her feet before tightening her grip and pulling. Still, she can’t seem to move the hammer. Even when she drops the other things she’s carrying and attempts using both hands the hammer doesn’t so much as shift.

“Wow,” Ana pants. “Throoth’s strength must be out of this world if she can lift this thing.” Tapping her chin, Ana ponders if strength isn’t the determining factor for lifting this weapon. Could it be that the hammer doesn’t find Ana worthy? That is a thing right?

From the corner of her eye, Ana catches sight of Vidar. A quiet chuckle leaves the tall Aesir as he saunters over. He kneels before her and digs around through Throoth’s belongings. Out of the sack, he pulls a pair of iron gauntlets and a belt lined with some kind of shinning metal. Vidar ties the belt around his waist then slips on the gauntlets. Once that’s done Vidar lifts the hammer. Now, it isn’t effortless the weapon does almost throw off his balance but the large boot seems to help Vidar even himself out. He nods down at Ana then walks off into the apartment. It’s probably for the best that he does the heavy lifting.

Even without Mjolnir, it takes Ana forever to get up the stairs. She passes by Vidar on her way up and the two exchange a quick glance. Once again he chuckles at her expense. He’s used to seeing girls her size who can lift mountains.

After much labor, Ana makes it to Throoth’s floor. She makes her trek down that long hallway. It isn’t long before she can hear the voices of her friends again. They reach her, almost beckoning her and telling her not to give up. The closer she gets the clearer the voices become.

“So you two will be getting married.” Ana hears Athena. “I honestly never saw this coming. But I guess it’s fitting that someone with your kind of vision did. If the benefits you’re speaking of really do come true then you have my support.” Ana’s steps become heavy, weighed down by something she can’t describe.

“You and I could never get married.” Ana hears Kebechet... “Death has already done us apart, unfortunately.”

“Have you found time to tell her?” Ana hears Throoth’s voice and she comes to a stop. “It isn’t fair, making Ana the last person to know.”

Ana stands by, patiently awaiting yet dreading Jesus’ response.

“I’m sorry.” She hears his voice and tenses up. “I want to tell her, but I’m still kind of unsure, you know? Like, I don’t know what’s going to happen to her if I become king. I won’t be able to take care of her, not directly at least. If she ever falls into the wrong hands, well...”

Ana trudges towards the door, listening in on the conversation the entire time.

“We’ll continue taking care of her, protecting her. This won’t change anything. Ana is our friend. As King and Queen, we’ll give her a better life than she would have here in Midgard and definitely a way better life than she’d have in Hell.” Throoth’s voice is resolute, inspiring even, but Ana still feels uneasy. “Together we’re going to make a difference. Are you doubting my vision? Especially after everything that has happened?”

“N-no, it isn’t that,” Jesus responds, his voice seems so sad. “You’re right. If you saw it then it’s gotta be true. Us being together like this is gonna be the best thing for the nine realms.”

Ana stops in the doorway just in time to watch Throoth and Jesus embrace one another. “Thank you for the opportunity. My sight will steer us towards the most prosperous kind of future.” There’s a brief pause. “One where I can preserve Ana’s smile for all time.”

The loud sound of metal clanging against the ground catches the attention of those before Ana. Athena, Jesus, and Throoth look up, presumably startled by the noise. Kebechet doesn’t look over until several seconds later.

“Ana,” Throoth and Jesus say in unison.

Ana feels her tiny little fingers kneading at her skirt. She tries to smile but is sure her face looks really dumb, because of how much it wants to frown. She wants to look at her friends, but couldn’t without her heart racing really fast. So she ends up looking beyond them, out the window and to their destroyed world again.

“I’m happy for you,” she says in a quiet whisper,“r-really...let me...let me help in any way I c-can.” As soon as those words pass Ana’s lips she turns away. “Excuse me.” she hurries off down the hall.

Ana runs as fast as her little legs will take her. Her gaze can’t stay up, and melts to the ground, watching as that terrible, patchy floor rushes by. As she turns, her eyes flit to those cracked windows, where outside the dark begins to eat the sky’s light. She shakes her head and grits her teeth. In one motion, she leaps and transforms from a girl into a crow. She flies up the stairs and doesn’t turn back until she reaches her room. Her hand falls on the doorknob and she stops long enough to choke back tears. The worst part is she can’t tell why she’s crying. Shouldn’t she be happier? Her two favorite people are going to be together, and from the sound of it, they are going to do a lot of great for the dead world outside.

Ana trusts Throoth and her vision more than anyone, so why did it make her feel this way all of a sudden?

Trembling, her hand meets the doorknob. Through sniffles Ana talks to herself, “I’m not envious or anything. N-no...I’m happy Throoth is back, and I’m happy for the two of them. They’re my best friends, so...I am definitely okay with this.” She brushes her free hand along her chest. “Even so,” she sighs,“it still stinks...” Finally, Ana finds the strength to turn the knob and enter her apartment.

Ana’s eyes widen when she sees that her apartment is a complete wreck. Tables are flipped over, pillows and blankets had been whipped about, and her clothing is scattered or in shreds. Worst of all she can clearly see her fridge from here; it had been left open and rummaged through. Her gaze travels from her fridge over to the nearest window, where she finds the culprit.

With a foot propped on the windowsill and hands tight around a pillowcase, presumably filled with food, the intruder rears back and sees Ana. The lithe figure alone suggests that she’s a girl of similar age and build to Ana. She wears a mask that’s fashioned to look like a crow, or maybe a raven. There are Gaelic red markings etched throughout the black, feathered mask. Dark plumage feeds from the back of the mask into a fur cloak hood that rides down her back.

“A changeling?” Her voice is familiar, sounding like the voice Ana hears whenever she speaks. “You managed to copy me without even getting a look at my face. Impressive. But ya got the hair all wrong.”

She pushes the mask back and over her head. Two pairs of blue eyes meet, different only in hue. Her hair is a deeper shade of red and is a mess when compared to Ana’s puffy ponytail. From a glance, Ana feels like she was staring into a disheveled mirror.

“Having to do the next part to myself is gonna be strange.” With a fang bared, the other Ana grins, and teases,“Though I’ve heard an out of body experience can be good for ya. So, You caught me...now we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Her deadly blue eyes narrow and flash with malevolent intent. “Please say you wanna do this the hard way.”

Ana doesn’t know what to say at first but after taking a step into her apartment and looking at the mess, she huffs. “I’m not a mimic, y-you...copy cat! C-criminal. You haven’t just stolen my food, which I’d be happy to share if you just asked, you’ve also stolen my face!”

“Me? Steal your face,” her double replies.

The other girl climbs down from the windowsill. As she steps into the light the resemblance becomes even more apparent, with the biggest dissimilarity being a nearly unnoticeable difference in height. She steps towards Ana, who finds herself inching towards the girl as well. That’s weird, Ana is suspicious of her, but feels the need to get closer; she wants to touch her.

The girl drops the sack of goodies at her side and circles Ana, prodding at her as she does so. Despite being a random intruder, Ana doesn’t seem as worried anymore, especially in lieu of recent events. Maybe the fact that they look alike eases her nerves somehow. With every little touch from her other self, Ana lets out a small sigh, and with those sighs come that terrible feeling linked to the prior event. Just being around this girl, despite the circumstances, is calming. The emptiness that Ana felt earlier, when she was all alone, at this moment she feels the exact opposite.

“So this is what you really look like, huh? I was sure you were a doppelganger, maybe a changeling or mimic or something. But you’re the real deal. Another me.” The other Ana smirks, barring her little fangs once more. “You can feel it too, can’t cha? It’s like we’re drawn to one another.”

“Another...me...” Ana repeats, almost wistfully.

“I guess it wasn’t a coincidence, comin’ to this apartment. I knew somethin’ was drawin’ me in.” The other Ana claps. “So, I might as well ask since I’m here, and you’re another me, so you’ll be more than willing to cooperate.” She looks to the upturned table and walks over to it. She flips it over then climbs on top of it. Black plumage sways across the girl’s collar as she moves. She crosses her arms and looks down at Ana with a haughty smirk.

“You will swear your fealty to me, Morrigan: The Phantom Queen.”

Ana’s eyes widen, her lips part, and she feels a foreboding sense in the pit of her stomach.

“But I’m Morrigan,“Ana whispers,“I’m The Phantom Queen.”

There’s a brief bit of silence before the other Morrigan hops off the table.

“Of course,” she spits. “If yer callin’ yerself Morrigan than yer even more like me than I thought.”

The intruder hops down, grabs the pillowcase of stolen goodies and walks to the window.

She looks back to Ana and offers her freehand. “Come on then. With a name and face like that yer not gonna wanna be alone here for much longer.”

“I’m not alone,” Ana says. “Besides, this is my home. Why would I go anywhere with someone I don’t know?”

“So yer a fraud then,” her twin says. “Stop usin’ the name Morrigan and enjoy yer cushy sham of a life. Least until I or someone meaner shows up and rips the rug right out from under ya.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you were Morrigan you’d understand. Morrigan or not yer in for a rude awakening. This domain is too good to pass up, so best believe I’ll be back for it. By then, figure out if you’re a fake or not.” As those last words leave her she climbs onto the windowsill.

Ana rushes after the little girl. She wraps her arms around her and holds her in place, preventing her from jumping out of the window. To Ana’s surprise, their strength is equal.

“Pathetic,” the trespasser coughs. “Let go of me you lookalike poser!”

By now Ana’s face is brushing up against the black feathers around her other self’s collar. The texture and color of the feathers is a perfect match for the ones that made up her skirt. Those feathers start ruffling, tickling Ana’s cheeks.

“What the hell,” her twin growls, “It isn’t workin’?”

“H-hey, stop struggling. Talk to me for a second. What do you mean lookalike? You said you felt it too, didn’t you? Our closeness. I am Morrigan. Jesus told me never to use that name, so I don’t. He says it makes people really sad. W-why would anyone want to use a name that upsets other people!?”

“You can’t be The Phantom Queen, just listen to the way you talk!” The little girl claws at Ana’s head. Eventually, she resorts to biting Ana’s wrist. Ana screams before biting intruder’s shoulder, causing her to belt out a shriek of her own.

“You’re a real idiot, you know that? The world is ripe for the pickin’. Everyone thinks The Phantom Queen is dead...but more importantly, everyone fears her. This is the best opportunity to stage a comeback!”

“Why do you think people are afraid of me,” Ana asks, as though there was truth to be gleaned from this familiar stranger.

“Not you! The Phantom Queen. The one who destroyed the world!”

Ana’s grip on the girl loosens, giving her just the wiggle room she needs to escape. The news leaves Ana floored. So her namesake was responsible for the world that surrounded her? Was she involved in such a thing, or did she just share her name with a complete monster? Is the monster who haunts her dreams The Phantom Queen? Is that her? Is that who she really is?

There’s a knock at the door.

“Annie, we need to talk.”

Ana hears Jesus voice. The door opens and just as she looks over she sees him enter her room.

“I need to make things right. I know there’s a lot I haven’t told you, but-” Jesus’ words ease pass his lips as he comes to a complete stop.

She’s sure it’s the look in her eyes that shackle him. Though they hold each other’s gaze for some time, his sight soon tilts towards the lookalike. A veil of uncertainty washes over Jesus’ face. Christ wearing that expression leaves Ana with an uncanny feeling.

“Jesus,” Ana inquires quietly.

“Annie,” Jesus asks softly.

“What the hell is going on? Who the hell are you? Who the hell is he?” If Ana could answer her intruder’s blaring questions she would, but she hasn’t a clue what’s going on either.

Ana’s wide, confused eyes watch Jesus and search him for answers. Her attention only falters when the wall to Jesus’ right ripples. Such an impossible sight pales Ana’s face. She points and tries to speak when that wavelet becomes a tear. Through that split she sees stardust. Dark, murky looking water oozes from the crease, staining the floor in a transparent black sludge.

The little girl’s body language changes, she climbs down from the window and takes a defensive stance in front Ana, her plumage standing on end. Of course, Ana notices the act but wonders ‘why’.

From the hole in space-time comes a woman made of white. With cold eyes, she casts her sight on Jesus. A scythe appears in her skeletal hands. One long bony finger reaches up from beneath the woman’s white robes and presses against her pursed pale lips. Jesus doesn’t seem to notice the woman looming over him.

“Shhh. Children are to be seen, not heard.” The woman’s voice is awful, cold, dead, and crawls from her mouth like something reaching out of a grave.

Ana wants to scream, but her voice can’t reach him. In fact, in this being’s presence, she can’t even hear herself. It’s clear from the girl at her side’s inaudible protests, that she can’t be heard either. Jesus taught her things about magic and she figures that this must be some sort of silencing spell. Even so, Ana still attempts to get Jesus attention and motions for him to turn around. When Jesus doesn’t immediately look away, Ana steps forward, pushing her twin aside, and lunges towards Jesus.

In one simple, clean, careless motion, the woman’s scythe pierces his chest.

Red fills the air, but not a bit of it touches the chilling white nor stains her perfect blade. The first sound to pierce the magical silence is a soft gasp passing Jesus’ lips.

The woman of white sinks back into her little ripple, as though she were never there, to begin with.

Red soaks through his white robes until they match his sash. Jesus reaches up, touches the red then pulls his hand back to examine his bloodied fingers. His glance slowly, painfully slowly, eases in Ana’s direction whilst he falls to his knees. Before he can fall any further, Ana is there to catch him. Words are bubbling over in her chest. A froth of feeling is thick in her throat. There is bile and sadness and love and all these unsaid things that want to erupt forth in that moment, but something else beats them down. Some undeniable, unexplainable feeling that says ‘this can’t be it’ that ‘this can’t happen’. Blood eagerly escapes the sides of his lips and drips down along his twitching chin.

“What the hell,” The other girl shrieks. Sound returns to the room the moment the woman in white disappears. “Shit, just who the hell was that!?” Ana feels a small hand grip her arm. “Come on, get up, we gotta go before that crazy bitch comes back and tries to do us in next.”

Like dead weight, Ana doesn’t move. She sits there beside Jesus, cradling him.

“A...nn...ie...”

Despite the blood filling his mouth and the life leaving his form, Jesus musters a word. Shaking, one of his hands reach up towards her, and she’s quick to grab a hold of it.

“Be..”

She should tell him not to speak, that’s what you say to someone in this moment, right? Where’s Athena? Where’s Kebechet? Where’s Throoth? Didn’t she know this was going to happen? Didn’t she see this coming? Did she let it happen? Why would she let Jesus... What do you say to someone who’s dying? How do you keep them from dying? What should she do?

“...good.”

That last word hits Ana and she gives up. Her body, limp and weak like his, is pulled up by the other girl. Final fleeting looks are paid to her savior as she parts with his passing body.

Ana can’t scream. Her eyes remain fixated on Jesus’. Her tearful gaze gets lost in his dying hazel hues. Those eyes that were full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy that shined down on her every day dim. He cries a little and she cries a lot.