I woke up in a sweat that morning. I didn't have any dreams that night. I just saw memories. Memories of the strange man in the cell. I had to figure out who he was. I would have done research, but I need to more than the fact that he was imprisoned. He looked so familiar, so it was driving me crazy that I couldn't identify him.

I got up to get dressed and ready for a regular day of classes when Elisa rushed into the room and slammed the door shut behind her. She quickly locked it, and looked through the peephole. She was breathing hard, and I could tell she was afraid of something.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked as I moved closer.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm good, but they aren't." She quickly ducked and pulled me down with her.

"They shouldn't be able to see us through a peephole you know."

"Shh." She quietly got up and looked out again. She carefully opened the door and popped her head out. When she came back in and shut the door once more, she let out a sigh of relief.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing," she blurted defensively. "I don't know what you're talking about." I gave her a look that told her not to test my patience.

"What. Did. You. Do?"

"Ugh. You're no fun. Alright, so a tried to play a little prank."

"Tried?"

"I had it all set up and ready to go. It was meant for my friend. I wanted to mess with him since it's his birthday, but some asshole was fucking with him, and it went off on him instead. Boy, you should have seen it. His face turned tomato red, and he was all like 'who did this' and 'I'm gonna kill you.' It was great."

"Why were you running?"

"Once he figured out it was me, he and his friends chased me and threatened to beat me up. Luckily, I'm fast. Fast enough, anyways."

"You're never going to learn, are you?" I asked with a scoff. She shrugged and sat on her bed. "I've got to get to class. Are you going to be alright?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Just promise me when you get back you'll tell me about your Valkyrie stuff."

"Only if you promise not to get into any more trouble."

"Deal."

******

I opened the door to my dorm, half expecting Elisa to have her head bashed in. Luckily, she was passed out on her bed. I did my best not to wake her, but the second I sat on my overly noisy bed she sat up.

"Sorry," I said quietly.

"No, no. You're... good. What time is it?" I could tell she was still half asleep.

"Almost five."

"When do you have to go to, um... Asgard?"

"In half an hour."

"Good, you have time to tell me about it or whatever. Just give me a sec." She got up and went into the bathroom. I heard her turn on the sink and presumably splash water on her face.

She came back in and sat next to me on my bed.

"Alright, spill." I could tell she was really excited to hear about this. I told her about how I had hurt my wings in the course and how I couldn't fly for now. I almost didn't tell her about the man, but I'm glad I did. I just made her promise not to tell anyone if for some reason she met Alma or something.

"Oh, shoot. I'd better get going."

"Okay. But first, do the magic thing. I wanna see it again." I changed my outfit for her to see and made sure my daggers were in place.

"Okay, see you tomorrow?" She nodded, and I changed back so I could walk through the halls unnoticed. Once I got to the rift, I changed back again.

I checked the area and stepped through. After getting in the elevator, I stepped out to see Thor in Valhalla again.

"Lady Lilith. How are your wings?" Thor asked.

"Fine. Thanks. How's, um, how's Asgard?" I was never good at small talk.

"Well enough. I need to speak with you privately though. I have already informed your trainer that you will be with me. Now, follow me."

I did as he said, but I had a horrible feeling in my stomach. I was afraid I had done something wrong, even though I knew I hadn't done anything. We stepped into a room, and he shut the doors behind us, inviting me to sit in one of the chairs.

"Someone's in trouble," he taunted. I ignored him.

"I have to ask you about last night. When you were guarding the cells, did anyone try to talk to you?" I froze, I didn't want to lie to him, but I didn't want to tell him either.

"Oh dear, it would seem he's onto me." And because of his snarky remarks, I decided to tell Thor.

"Yes." He stood up instantly.

"Who?"

"I... I don't know." I cowered a bit in the chair. Thor was always tall, but he seemed even taller and more intimidating when he was hovering over me.

"What did he look like?" I don't know why, but I wanted to cry. The way he stood over me was intimidating and made me anxious. He must have sensed my unease because he backed up a bit and leaned on the chair. "Please, tell me."

"He... He was wearing black and green. His hair was pitch black and slicked back. And, uh, he had really green eyes." Thor's expression changed horribly.

"I was afraid of that." All of a sudden, the room seemed to get hotter. I started sweating, but Thor seemed fine. "Are you alright?"

Then there was a searing pain in my left forearm. I looked down and part of it was turning red.

"Shit. What the hell is happening?" Thor darted over and picked up my arm. The pain was becoming near unbearable. I couldn't stop the scream that escaped my mouth. A mark with intricate lines began to appear. "What... What is that?!" I was sweating, and I felt like I was dying. My arm felt like it could have had a million knives in it.

"Please, try to calm down. You'll be alright." I was gripping my wrist with the other hand when the burning just stopped. I gasped for air before looking at my arm. Where the pain was now rested a tattoo like symbol with two interlocking snakes, twisting around each other. I tried to gently run my finger along the design, but I pulled it back immediately. It stung a bit, but I kept staring at it. I wasn't even paying attention to Thor's hands on my shoulders, shaking me back and forth.

"Lilith! Lilith!" I snapped out of my daze and looked up to him in fear. "I am so sorry. This was not planned, but I need you to come with me now." I didn't say anything. I didn't have anything to say. I was still in shock.

"Where is your trainer? Lady Alma?" I still didn't answer. I wanted to but my face was frozen in place. I was afraid of what was happening. "I'm so sorry. We must go now." Before I could say anything he scooped me up in his arms. He was running through the halls. Everything went by in a blur. My stomach felt hollow, and I felt weak. I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, but I couldn't fight it off. My eyes closed, and my body went limp.

******

"Hello again." I gasped for air and tried to stand up. As soon as I did, my head felt light, and I stumbled back. Before I hit the floor, though, someone's arm caught me at my waist. "Be careful." I opened my eyes. I had closed them when I started to fall. I was met with eyes like emeralds looking directly at me.

"You," I said as I snapped out of my trance and pushed myself away from him. I backed away until I hit a wall. I looked around and realized I was in his cell. "Get away from me." He put his hands in the air as if he were the most innocent creature to ever exist.

"My apologies. Perhaps next time I will just let you hit your head and collapse on the floor."

"What do you want with me?"

"Ah, you ask excellent questions. The problem is, you ask them before I am willing to answer."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you'll find out soon enough."

"No! Stop playing games. I want an answer. I deserve an answer." His face darkened. He walked towards me ominously. I was afraid, but I couldn't hide it this time. I felt tears build up in my eyes as he grew closer. Before I could move, he was right in front of me, pinning me against the wall with his hand against my throat.

"You deserve nothing. I do not owe you anything, you ignorant Valkyrie. In fact, you should consider yourself lucky." I couldn't breath. I tried desperately to make my lungs work again. The air just left my lungs and never came back in. I tried to pull his hand away but I was too weak. I kicked, but it did nothing. Something was different about him. His eyes were more... blue. The room slowly got darker. "Until next time, Valkyrie."

******

I jerked upwards as air finally filled my lungs. I put my hands to my throat as I caught my breath. The blurriness of my vision eventually cleared.

"Lilith?" I turned to see Alma standing beside me, looking like she had a heart attack. "Can you hear me?"

"Yeah," I said, but my voice was hoarse, so it sounded like my throat had been through a cheese grater. "I'm fine."

"I'm so sorry. I wish I could have done something. Please forgive me," she begged.

"For what?" She didn't say anything, but I noticed her gaze shift to my arm. I pulled my sleeve back and saw the snake design again. "Oh, shit."

"Do you know what that is?"

"No. Do you?" Her eyes widened.

"Um, no. Not at all." I could tell she was lying. I could see it in her eyes. Alma knew something, but she wasn't telling me.

Thor walked in, and he looked angrier than ever. "Lady Lilith, I apologize for the occurring events, but you must come with me. We need to speak with the Allfather." Alma looked towards him in fear. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew it must have been horrible if we had to meet with Odin about it.

Before Thor could drag me along, Alma grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. Please, promise me that you'll be careful." It was a warning. She knew that saying the wrong thing could very well get me killed. She was making sure I knew it, too.

"I will."

She pulled away from me, but before I could say goodbye, Thor was dragging me out by my wrist.