Chapter 40
40
Issa, or rather, Loki had been bored, tired of the unremitting tension of rediscovering and assimilating his past, freeing his mind from Eir’s meddling and strengthening his mental protections. He decided to take a break and do something physical. He’d go hunting and perhaps provide the Bartons with some meat to thank Laura and children for the kindness they had shown a stranger.
So early Friday morning, Issa walked to the college, found a student with a vehicle willing to make some cash, and had the young man drive her north to the next town, Plainfield. Between the village and the river was a wildlife sanctuary. She intended to hunt there and continue south along the river.
She knew the Cedar River continued through Waverly, passing just west of the family farm, which was north of town. Since the weekend approached, she was aware the family would be busy with sports. Issa was fairly sure she could stay hidden amongst the copses and groves of the river greenbelt.
It would take no time at all to cross the far pasture to the Barton’s barn; she could do that invisible. Then hang and dress her catch, (hopefully a deer), and enter the house from the kitchen. If lucky in her hunt, she might even have time to prepare the family a surprise dinner.
It was past noon when the goddess finally made it back to the farm. Hiding just within the treeline to the west of Barton’s largest pasture, she watched the house for some time. Having determined all the family were out, she dashed, invisible, across the field.
Issa hung her deer and a brace of coneys in the barn. Having already field dressed the buck, she entered the house through the door off the porch. Finding what she needed, she finished butchering the deer and returned to the kitchen with the meat.
Packaging the excess to freeze, Issa proceeded to make a roast and sectioned the rabbits to fry. She rummaged through Laura’s cabinets and pantry, helping herself to pots, pans, oil, flour, etc. While the roast marinated and the rabbits soaked in brine, the blonde headed outside to raid the garden for greens to accompany the meal. She hummed as she worked, enjoying her bit of domesticity.
The aroma of cooking food surprised the Bartons as they returned home just at sunset. Everyone piled out of the SUV, the kids chatting until their noses woke them to something unusual and delicious scented. Before he could be stopped, Nathaniel bolted into the home.
Laura and her two older kids were more cautious. She had felt it safe to warn them of Issa’s true identity. Hoping it was a neighbour or friend and not the mischief god, she signalled them to wait while she checked.
The youngster’s delighted bellow dashed the mother’s hopes. “Mom! Mom, Issa’s back! And she’s making us dinner!”
“Oh, no!” Laura moaned, softly. She warned her two eldest. “Act normal. She doesn’t know we know. Dad said to not make her suspicious. God only knows what she might do.”
They all trooped into the house, Laura admonishing the kids to put away their sports paraphernalia and wash up. “Nathan, throw your uniform in the wash and leave your cleats on the porch!” She just looked at the other two; they knew without being reminded and headed for their rooms.
Taking a deep, calming breath, she headed for her kitchen. “Issa! This is quite a surprise!”
Turning from the open oven, baster in hand, the goddess smiled. “I had hoped to have dinner fully prepared before your return. A thankyou for your kindness to me. Alas, it took longer to track the buck than I planned. But all should be done within the hour.” She frowned at Laura’s shocked face. “You are not angry with me, I hope?”
“Oh, no! Just very surprised. It’s not deer season; you’re lucky you didn’t get caught. A ranger would have arrested you and confiscated the deer.” Lord be thanked that didn’t happen, she worried silently.
“Good that I finished dressing it and packaging the rest for freezing then, I suppose. He is taking up much space in your refrigerator at the moment.” Issa chuckled. “You needn’t worry about me. I know how to stay unobserved.”
The women chatted about inconsequentials as they set the table. Laura called the kids down and they got drinks and condiments. Cooper helped his mother take the rest of the venison to the big freezer in the pantry and everyone sat down to eat.
Stunning the family as dinner was being cleaned up, Issa suddenly froze, then bolted outdoors. She stood, listening intensely, scanning the sky overhead. Laura instantly knew she must have heard the quinjet, even though it was cloaked.
When the human approached the doorway where the goddess stood, she got a very angry, disappointed glare. “You know, don’t you?” Issa hissed.
“I’m afraid so,” Laura answered. “Please, don’t hurt my children. They’re innocent.”
“What makes you think I would ever injure a child?” Issa looked distraught and hurt. “I am generally fond of them. They don’t lie and cheat, like adults. Their opinions and feelings are their own, pure, not yet corrupted by adult prejudice.”
She sighed, “I hoped to have more time. I have enjoyed your company and the peace you have here. But, the Nornir have ever made my life difficult one way or another. Goodbye, Laura. I doubt we will meet again.” With those words, she stepped fully outside. And vanished.
“Mom? What just happened?” Cooper and Lila’s faces reflected shock. “Where’d Issa go?” Lila asked, plaintively. “I hoped she’d help me shoot again.”
“How did she disappear like that?” the boy wanted to know.
“I told you what your father said,” Laura sighed. “He was serious, kids. That really was Loki.”
“Wow!” Cooper shook his head. “I never would have guessed. He’s really nothing like what we saw on TV. Or what Dad said.”
“I don’t understand,” Lila wailed. “Issa is really a guy? An alien? Like Thor?”
“Yeah, he is. A very dangerous one, too.” Their father’s voice sounded from the side of the house. “Where is he?” He had his Avengers’ bow in hand, an arrow nocked and ready to fire.
“Dad!” the kids yelled. They had sense enough to not mob him, though. They could see he was in ‘work’ mode.
“She, I mean, he heard the jet. He’s gone, I think,” Laura answered. “Just vanished from right where she stood. Poof.”
“No! No, no, no!” Thor followed Clint around the corner. “Oh, Brother! Where have you gone?”
“I wish I could say, Thor. She, I mean your brother, seemed sad that I had found him out. He said he enjoyed my company. Even made us dinner from a deer he’d hunted. To say thankyou for our kindness. I got the impression he’s not had much of that in his life.” Laura frowned at the big, upset god. “He’s pretty angry at you, for sure.”
“You sound rather sympathetic to someone who’s lied to you from the get go,” Tony snarked. “Don’t forget this is the guy who nearly destroyed New York, fu... messed up your husband’s head and threw me out my own window... 90 stories up!”
“That’s not the person we met. Sorry,” Laura snapped back. “Issa was kind, gentle, thoughtful and friendly. The kids really liked her.” She glanced at Clint and shrugged. “So did I.”