Free Thor's Serpents by K.L. Armstrong, M.A. Marr Page B

“Sorry.”
    “It’s okay to say his name. I know he’s not a traitor or spy. You’ll all see it, too.”
    Owen sighed. “He is where he must be. Like you, he has a role in the final battle. He
will
be with the monsters, Laurie, not us.”
    Laurie ignored him and pointed toward her building. “This is it. Home.”
    “I hope you’re right,” Baldwin said. “I mean, about Fen. I’m sure you’re right about your building.”
    She shook her head. “I am right… about
both
.”
    The boys stopped beside her. Owen’s ravens flew away after pausing to swoop close enough to her that her hair blew around in the breeze from their wings.
    As they walked to her apartment, Laurie considered her options. There were really only two choices now. She could take the boys inside with her, or she could leave them alone outside to wait while she talked to her mother and little brother. Dividing into an even smaller group seemed like a bad idea… especially if they needed to flee.
    She put a hand on Owen’s arm as they reached her door.He still had a faraway look in his eye, and she needed to be sure he was listening. Once he met her eyes, she told the two boys, “If Mom tries to make me stay, I’ll portal us to the longship.”
    “Right,” Baldwin said. “Escape parents with your super god-powers. That’s Plan B, I guess. What’s the plan that doesn’t require us to escape?”
    Laurie shrugged. “Talk to her. Make sure they’re safe. Maybe tell them about Ragnarök.”
    “Plan A, complete craziness. Got it.” Baldwin gestured to her door. “Let’s do it.”
    She laughed and opened the door. “Mom? It’s me.”
    “Laurie?” Her mother came running to her. “Oh my goodness!
Laurie!
” Her mother grabbed her and hugged her. “I’ve been so worried. What were you thinking? And you, Fe—you’re not Fen.”
    “Baldwin.” He held out his hand like he wanted to shake. “That’s Owen. He’s not very talkative.”
    Laurie’s mother stared at Baldwin, barely sparing a glance for the blue-haired boy wearing an eye patch like some otherworldly pirate.
    “You’re the boy who’s supposed to be dead,” her mom said. “The mayor came, and he told me that F—”
    “The mayor lied,” Laurie interrupted, pointing at Baldwin. “Baldwin’s fine, and Fen did
nothing
wrong. The mayor isn’t someone you can trust.”
    “Oh, sweetie, is this that Brekke-Thorsen thing your father goes on about?” Her mother sighed. “I know they don’t get along, but that doesn’t mean—”
    “Did the mayor say Fen killed Baldwin?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “So you can see that he
lied
. You can see that with your own eyes, Mom.” Laurie was about to say more, when her brother, Jordie, came running into the room.
    “I
did
hear you!” he yelled as he tackled her. “I thought you were gone forever.”
    Laurie felt her eyes burn with tears as she stumbled at the fierceness of his hug. She held on tightly to her brother. “No, not forever.” She lowered her voice and added, “But I’ll be gone for a while longer.”
    He didn’t say anything, but she felt him shake his head.
    “I came to see if you were both okay,” Laurie said as she straightened, releasing her brother. “We wanted to check on you.”
    “The mayor did, too, and the sheriff,” Jordie said. “
And
your cousin Kris, the one who lives with Fen.”
    “Oh.” She looked at her mother.
    “Why don’t we sit down,” her mom suggested.
    Baldwin and Owen followed Laurie and Jordie into the living room. Jordie was still clinging to her like he was afraid she’d vanish the moment he let go. She felt a wave of guilt because she was going to leave again. She
had
to.
    “Ragnarök is coming,” she blurted out as they sat down on the sofa.
    Instead of being shocked, her mother simply said, “I figured.”
    “I know it seems crazy but… wait,
what
did you say?” Laurie glanced at Baldwin and Owen, silently asking if they heard the same thing she