Blood Moon

Jake was a mess. He could admit that to himself, but he wouldn’t let anyone, not even Eyvor, know that. He’d woken up in a small, dark, stone box, and no matter how he raged, moved, or pleaded, he hadn’t found a way out until Eyvor had pried open the lid and sent him sprawling off balance. He would have to be blind to not admit that the Asgardian had always been easy to look at, but she had never looked more beautiful than in the pale light once he came out of that sarcophagus. 

The desperation had clawed up out of his chest, choking him and making him gasp for air. Where were Steven and Marc? Where was he? What was happening? Why couldn’t he feel his boys? How did he get here? His thoughts had raced and circled and jumped around as he had fought to free himself, and when he’d finally been freed, everything had hit him, including the relief at seeing Eyvor’s familiar face, that he couldn’t help but cry.

Jake had always been self-sufficient. Even with only his snatches of time for most of his life, he’d always been able to take care of himself easily, focusing more on what Marc and Steven needed from him. It was his role to take care of them. He was older (in that weird mental way of just feeling like he’d always been the big brother to them), and he was supposed to protect them, to keep Steven from seeing the brutal life Marc led, to keep Marc from the worst of their mother, to do the things neither of them could do. He didn’t need anything or anyone to get through life, as long as the other two were okay.

Eyvor changed that. Jake found himself fronting more and longer, just to snatch a few good things for himself. Drives around London in his cab, executing justice for Khonsu or, whenever he ran into her, on the people that she tracked down herself (and he was so impressed by that). Meals shared in her apartment or on the hood of his cab, sometimes on a roof or fire escape. Shared laughter and jokes only they would understand. Jake had never really had an opinion on his time in control of the body, content to let Marc and Steven do most of the work, but–he had to share so much of himself with them. Eyvor belonged to him. He didn’t have to share her.

But when he couldn’t protect Steven by himself anymore, when he’d finally asked her for help, and he’d watched her flounder her way through protecting Steven, he wasn’t as upset as he’d thought he’d be. She knew about Marc and Steven. He had stopped trying to keep secrets from her. But watching her take care of his little brother in her own way, protect and care for him in ways that Jake couldn’t, he found himself content and even happy. 

Hearing her use his name sent him over the damn moon, and he had nearly had a skip in his step the next time he had the body.

And now, she was here, freeing him from that terrible place, and she was hugging him, something he had never allowed, and she was crying, and he was crying, and everything swirled and compounded, and he couldn’t help himself. He knew he loved her, and he had known it for a long time, but now, he didn’t care about hiding it behind the guise of friendship anymore. 

He kissed her, and it was single handedly the greatest thing he’d ever done. She tasted of salt from her tears, but he didn’t care. She was his, and he wanted to make sure that she knew he was hers.

Then, his worry for his boys overtook him, and she had seamlessly stepped into the other half of their relationship, where they were deadly together in all the best ways, and Jake stalked down the halls in determination. 

It was time to find Marc and Steven, and then figure out what to do next. He didn’t bother with any of the doors. If she hadn’t found anything behind them, he wouldn’t either. 

“Wait,” Eyvor said, her hand shooting out and grabbing his arm. Ahead of them were a set of double doors, different from the ones that they had been passing. “I never found any like that.”

“Bueno.” He walked towards it, her keeping pace with him as always, and they burst through the doors to find themselves very clearly not in the psych ward anymore. 

“Faen,” Eyvor whispered, and Jake would have agreed if he hadn’t been assessing the situation they’d just found themselves in. 

Well, they were on a boat. On sand? Everything was dark, covered by the thick rolling clouds overhead. There was a hippo? Walking on two legs? And scales with something on them, but it wasn’t balancing.

“Oh!” the hippo exclaimed, and Jake instantly did not fucking like that, his fists coming up. He felt more than saw Eyvor getting ready beside him. “You–where’s your brother? And–” Those eyes went to Eyvor. “Who are you? How are you here? You’re not dead, no no no. Well, not that that’s not good, but you aren’t supposed to be here.”

“You know him?” Eyvor asked guardedly.

“Didn’t you just run off into–oh, wait, hold on, you’re different, aren’t you?” The hippo started towards them, and Jake backed up. “You are. Much more jumpy, aren’t you? Well, that might help the scales! If there’s supposed to be one more, of course they won’t balance.”

“Where’re Marc and Steven?” Jake demanded.

“Oh. They’re back inside. Let me just–” She was getting closer. Jake stepped back again, and Eyvor shifted to put herself between the hippo and him. He didn’t like any of this.

“What do you mean they’re inside? We didn’t see them,” Eyvor asked.

“Well, they’re trying to balance the scales. But if they’re missing a heart, then of course it won’t balance!”

“What scales?” The hippo motioned to the still-moving scales. 

“I weigh hearts against the Feather of Life. If the heart is heavier than the Feather, you’ll be thrown into the Duat and remain frozen in the sands forever.” Eyvor gasped, her body going tense, and she stepped back to press him towards the doors. “If it’s balanced, then you will be allowed to pass into the Field of Reeds.”

“And you’re just going to throw them overboard if it doesn’t balance?” Eyvor asked. “How could you? They’re–they’re good people.”

“I’m sorry,” the hippo replied. “Those are the rules. But there’s a good chance for them! I just need to add your heart to the scales.” She looked at Jake. Eyvor turned, worried eyes meeting his.

“Where are my brothers?” Jake demanded.

“I told you. They’re inside. The scales wouldn’t balance for them, so they are trying to make them by finding out the secrets they’ve been hiding from each other.” Eyvor gasped again, and her face was still looking at Jake, so he could see her eyes watering.

“You’re the secret,” she whispered where the hippo couldn’t hear them. “Jake–”

“Lo sé,” he replied, steeling his nerves and stepping around her to stand before the hippo. “Fine. Do it.”

“Let me just–” Her large hand reached into his chest, and Jake felt as if he couldn’t breathe. His entire body seized up, and he felt Eyvor’s hands grab his arm as if to pull him away. A yellow-white heart came out, and the hippo made a pleased sound.

“Wait,” Jake said, and the hippo paused. “What if–” There was a terrible thought that was sitting in the back of his mind, and he had to say it. “What if my heart makes the scales too heavy?”

“Then, I’m sorry–”

“You’d send them over too?” Jake asked, dread gripping him and making him feel cold.

“Those are the–”

“To hell with your rules!” Jake shouted. “Send me over, ¡bueno, maldición! But they don’t deserve it!”

“Jake,” Eyvor whispered, but Jake had always had one job, one purpose, his only reason for existing, and he was going to do it.

“I’m sorry, but it won’t change anything,” the hippo said, and she did sound upset at the idea. “The scales aren’t balanced now, without your heart.”

“Then I’ll–”

“We’ll help them figure out their secrets,” Eyvor said, picking up when his voice broke under the strain of what was happening. “Don’t–please just wait?” The hippo looked between them and sighed.

“You don’t have much time. We are going to the gates of Osiris. You have until then.” Eyvor grabbed Jake’s hand and pulled, dragging him backwards through the doors they had just left and entering the psych ward again. Once they were back in the sterile, uncaring walls, Eyvor pinned him against the wall and crowded him.

“Don’t–you can’t–” she stammered, and Jake put his hands on her shoulders.

“It’s my purpose.” It was a low blow, he knew that. Eyvor had told him how much she had struggled to find her purpose amongst the greats in Asgard and the history of her people, how she had left behind her home and her family to come to Midgard to finally find her place in life. But he had to make her understand. Jake wanted nothing more than to be with his brothers, to be with her, but if he was the difference between peace and nothingness, he would gladly throw himself overboard to ensure that Marc and Steven were safe.

Eyvor’s face went through a myriad of emotions before she bit her lip, seeing the determination on his face.

“If–” She blinked back tears, and he gently wiped away the ones that leaked out. “If she says that you must go overboard, I will find a way to get you into Valhalla.”

“Rosa de–”

“Nei!” she shouted, slamming her hands into his chest angrily. “No! You can’t just–I won’t let you!” She hit him again. She was holding back, though. He had seen her cave a man’s chest in with her punches before. She was hurting, and he was the reason. But even when she was hurting and angry, she didn’t want to hurt him. “You deserve peace,” she insisted. “You–no one on Midgard could deserve it more. I’ll–you were shot, right? Which means you were fighting. That’s death in battle, and that’s honorable. You deserve Valhalla. You’ve done nothing but protect Marc and Steven your whole life. That’s honorable! You–” Her voice cracked, all the fight draining out of her, and he used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “You gave me a new purpose, a new thing to protect that has meaning. I–you protect them, and I protect you.” She hit him one last time before curling her fingers into his sweater and pressing their foreheads together. “You deserve better than sand, Jake. You deserve peace.”

“Hello?”

Jake knew that voice. Eyvor gasped, her head snapping to look off down the halls. 

Well, they found Marc and Steven.

Eyvor stepped away from Jake, but he followed her, standing side-by-side with her while the other two came closer. 

“Uh, hi,” the one in darker clothes said. That was Steven. “Evin?” He looked between both of them in confusion, and while Jake was steeling himself, Eyvor once again proved that he didn’t deserve her. 

“Hello, Steven,” she greeted with a voice still wavering from her emotions a moment ago.

“You’re–you’re dead? What happened?” Steven started towards her, but Marc stopped him, glaring suspiciously at Jake. That was fair. He would’ve done the same thing in Marc’s place. 

“Who’re you?” Marc asked him.

“No, I’m not dead,” Eyvor said, glancing over at Jake for a second before taking a step forward. “I–well, I was actually going to explain eventually, but now’s fine, I guess.” She looked at Jake again, and he gave her a small nod. If they had to get the scales balanced so Marc and Steven were safe, secrets wouldn’t do any good anymore. “My name isn’t Evin.”

“It isn’t?”

“Why’d you lie?” Marc asked, pressing Steven behind him to stand in front of him protectively.

“I panicked? I made a promise to–” She looked at Jake for a third time, and he raised his eyebrows at her. “I made a promise to protect you, but I wasn’t sure how much I should actually tell you, so I panicked and gave a fake name. My name is Eyvor. I’m from Asgard.”

“Asgard?” Marc echoed.

“The–that’s the realm of the gods from Norse mythology,” Steven said. “Thor, from that group in the States, he’s from there.” Eyvor nodded. “You’re–are you a god? Or, well, goddess, I suppose.” Eyvor laughed, and the sound loosened something in Jake’s chest. 

“Technically, I am. But I’m no one special, really. I can’t do anything fancy like Thor can.”

“And you promised to protect me? Why?” Steven asked. Eyvor smiled.

“I promised to protect you and Marc. Why?” She looked back at Jake yet again and gave him a fond smile. “Someone important asked me to.”

“Yeah, great, that’s sweet. Now who the hell are you?” Marc asked.

“Marc, you can’t–”

“Nah, it’s fair,” Jake answered, waving off Steven’s protests. “Jake Lockley, at your service,” he said, giving a nod in lieu of tipping his hat. He missed his hat.

“Lockley? But that’s–” Steven looked back at Eyvor, and she gave him a sheepish shrug.

“I told you, I panicked. We don’t have last names in Asgard, and his was the only one I knew.”

“That’s a little funny, innit?” Eyvor laughed again.

“Yeah, it is. He teased me for it, don’t worry. I am sorry for lying to you, Steven. I just–I promised.”

“It’s all right.” She smiled.

“Your turn,” she whispered to Jake.

“Whattaya want to know?” Jake asked, rolling his shoulders a bit.

“How long have you been here?” Marc asked.

“Boat? Or part of you?” Eyvor elbowed him.

“Play nice,” she scolded. Jake huffed. He was already uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to having so many people to talk to. He had to keep reminding himself it was for Marc and Steven’s own good. 

“Long as he’s been here,” Jake said, jerking his chin towards Steven. “Before, after, I dunno.”

“That long?” Marc asked.

“But–why didn’t you know about him, Marc?” Steven asked.

“I don’t—”

“Didn’t want to be known.” Jake interrupted Marc to answer, shifting his weight on his feet. Eyvor leaned against his arm slightly, giving him something else to focus on. 

“Why not?”

“Didn’t need to be.” Marc was getting frustrated, he could tell.

“You’re the one that killed those people in Cairo?” Marc asked. Jake nodded. “And in Germany?” He nodded again.

“Those people who’ve been showin’ up dead around London,” Steven carefully began. “Was that you too?”

“Sí.”

“Don’t take all the credit,” Eyvor said. “I helped.”

“‘Helped?’” Marc echoed, a scowl furrowing his brow.

“You helped him?” Steven asked, puppy dog eyes kicking into effect. Eyvor softened next to him, making a soft sound in the back of her throat. She turned to Jake.

“Do you want me to tell them? Since you’re being all mysterious?” Jake gave a tiny nod. He really wasn't used to talking to people in these types of situations. These were his brothers, and he hadn't ever expected to actually talk to them. He was out of his depth and uncomfortable. She smiled and squeezed his hand before looking back at the other two. “My parents are Bragi and Iðunn,” she explained.

“Sorry, don’t know Norse quite so much,” Steven said with a nervous smile. Eyvor laughed, setting Steven at ease as easily as she had Jake.

“My father is the god of song and poetry. In the times when we interacted with Midgard more often, skalds–poets and musicians–would seek him for inspiration for their works. My mother, Iðunn, is the goddess of youth, spring, and–” She still had that bag on her hip, somehow, and she produced a ripe red apple from it, holding it up and tossing it to Steven, who fumbled but caught it. “–apples. Women would ask for her blessing, and even Odin himself would go to great lengths to get fruit from her orchards. They were sought after by so many people, and some got the idea that they might have their requests answered if they went through me, the only daughter. It–when you’re a young girl whose only lot in life is to be the go-between to your parents, you wonder if that’s all you’re meant for. So I asked questions. I was told that Asgardians are to protect the Nine Realms, specifically Midgard–or Earth–, because it’s such a young world, and so unprotected if the other Realms decided to attack. So I made sure I could protect those who couldn’t protect themselves.

“When Thor was banished, I left too, not to help him, which is what a lot of people must have thought when I left, but to finally go back to a place I hadn’t been since Asgardians stopped visiting. It was very different when I came back, but also, so similar. And in need of protecting, not from the Realms, but from themselves. So I protect. Those who can’t defend themselves, those who are trapped, those who need help. I make sure they’re safe, and that those who harm them don’t harm anyone else.”

“The travelers of the night,” Marc whispered, and Eyvor smiled.

“In not so many words, yes,” she answered. “I met Jake while I was doing just that. And then I didn’t see him again for awhile, and then I ran into him while handling something else, and we kept running into each other.” She smiled at him, and Jake’s heart flipped at the sight.

“You work for Khonsu too?” Marc asked. Jake sighed, looking at Marc and trying to keep a neutral expression.

“I do the things you can’t,” he corrected. “Sometimes, that includes Khonsu’s work.”

“So, what, you’ve just been poppin’ in and out our whole lives?” Steven questioned.

“Somethin’ like that, yeah.”

“Well, that’s no way to live.”

“I don’t need a life,” Jake replied, crossing his arms and cracking his neck.

“Now, that’s just not true,” Steven said, shaking his head and putting his hands on his hips in response. Eyvor was giggling; he could hear her. “Everyone needs a life, even you. You’ve got Eyvor, right? That’s somethin’, innit?”

Jake didn’t have an answer for that, and Eyvor giggled louder, watching the two of them talk. Well, watching Steven scold him.

“Yeah, what’s up with the two of you anyway?” Marc asked. Eyvor’s giggling turned more hysterical, and Jake grinned. “Seriously?”

“What’s so wrong with it?” Steven asked, looking at the other with the same stern expression. “You’ve got Layla; why can’t he have Eyvor?”

“I’m married, that’s why.”

“Oh please, you’re halfway divorced anyway,” Eyvor cut in, still laughing. “Honestly, I’m impressed with this Layla. You’ve been rude to both of us since we got here. You called me on Steven’s phone and were rude to me for no reason!”

“You did what?” Steven looked back at Marc in shock.

“It–” Marc’s entire stance shifted from defensive to nervous, and it made Jake’s jaw clench. He didn't like watching Marc do that. It usually meant that he was about to front and handle things. “It was a new number in your phone I didn’t recognize. I got worried.”

“What, that I’d have a friend?”

“No! No, Steven, you know that’s not true,” Marc replied. “Just–friends haven’t worked out well, in the past, and I didn’t want you getting hurt.” Eyvor stopped laughing and looked over at Jake, almost as if she were asking for permission. He had no idea what she was doing, so he nodded. Eyvor stepped away from him and over towards the other two.

“Marc?” He and Steven both looked over at her. “Steven is my friend, even though we just met. I feel like I know him pretty well, though, from hearing about him from Jake. Jake and I have known each other for months. I promised him I’d protect you and Steven, and I keep my promises. You don’t have to worry about me hurting Steven. What we all need to worry about is if the scales are balanced because I don’t want to lose any of you, but I will do what I have to to make sure that all three of you are safe.”

“Oh no, are you on about killing Taweret too?” Steven asked.

“Who?” Eyvor and Jake said at the same time. The name was entirely new to Jake.

“Giant hippo,” Marc explained, but the nervousness had drained out of his form back into confidence. Jake relaxed a bit in response too. “I suggested it.” Jake hummed. The idea had merit. Driving a boat wasn’t that different to driving a car, right? He could handle it.

“Jake!” Steven exclaimed.

“I follow you, remember?” Eyvor said to Jake, and he smiled.

“Lo sé, rosa de sangre.”

“Eyvor!” Steven scolded.

“So, we agree,” Marc said, looking between the two of them. “Anything goes wrong, we kill the hippo?”

“No! No, we do not!” Steven shouted, and all of them jumped in response. “Oh, sorry. Bit loud there, wasn’t I? But you can’t kill Taweret. She’s lovely! It’s not her fault. Besides, she’s helpin’ us by gettin’ us to Osiris’s gates, remember? We just have to get the scales to balance.”

“Yeah, well, they haven’t yet, and we don’t have anymore secrets,” Marc muttered.

“Are you sure?” Steven looked between Marc and Jake, who both shrugged.

“Jake,” Eyvor said quietly, “your heart’s still not on the scale.” His brothers looked at him, and Jake tensed.

“Gotta be somethin’ we’re hidin’ then,” he said.

“Jake, why didn’t you put your heart on the scales?” Marc asked.

“Not important.”

“It is, though, innit?” Steven said. “We’ll all go over if the scales don’t balance.” Eyvor turned back to Jake, and he stared into her eyes, trying to make her understand.

“I think you have to,” she said, and Jake sighed.

“Tell them what I told you. I’ll go talk to the hippo,” Jake replied, turning to walk back through the doors.

“What? No! Jake! Don’t–” He didn’t wait. He stalked through the doors and let them slam shut behind him.

“Oh, did you find them?” the hippo asked.

“Yeah. Look, if you throw me over and the scales balance, do they get to go to wherever-it-was?”

“Oh, well, yes.” The hippo seemed startled by his question.

“Great.” He walked towards the edge just in time for the doors to open again.

“Jake!” He heard Eyvor yell, but he wasn’t going to stop. He’d made up his mind already.

“What the bloody hell are you doing?” Steven shouted. Arms latched around Jake’s waist right as he got to the railing.

“Don’t,” Eyvor pleaded. “I’ll–I’ll take you to Valhalla. You don’t–vær så snill, don’t do this.”

“Let go, rose de sangre.”

“No! I won’t! You’ll–You’ll have to throw me over too.”

“Gotita–”

“No!” She squeezed tighter, her arms digging into his torso. “I won’t let go! I won’t let you! You–” She buried her face between his shoulder blades. “Don’t go where I can’t follow,” she said. “I go where you go. If you throw yourself over, I’m going with you.”

Jake sighed, tilting his head back to stare up at the dark clouds. Didn’t she understand? He was trusting them to her. He needed to do this, his last chance at protecting his boys. She could take care of them, he knew that. He didn’t want to leave her behind, but he had one job. He had to do it.

“Let me protect them,” he whispered.

“No!” she shouted, her voice echoing across the boat.

“Weigh the hearts,” Jake heard Marc’s voice say, and Jake pulled against Eyvor’s grip to get his arms over the railing. Eyvor dug in her heels and fought him. She was stronger than him, they both knew that, but she was also terrified of hurting him, so she had never used her full strength on him. That would work in his favor this time. 

“Eyvor, mi amor,” Jake started to say, but she squeezed harder.

“Shut up! Shut up! Don’t you say it!” she yelled, fighting him and sitting down to drag him onto the deck of the ship with her. “I’ll lock you in Marc’s panic room, don’t think I won’t!”

“You know about that?” Marc exclaimed.

“Focus, Marc,” Steven said, and Jake grunted as he fought Eyvor’s hold.

“Let me go, gotita,” Jake said.

“I won’t!”

“I have to do this,” Jake argued.

“No! You don’t! I told you, I’ll fix it! Just–stop–fighting me!” He was kicking and thrashing, all finesse gone in favor of trying to throw off her hold. He bit her arm, and she whimpered, but she didn’t let go.

“Jake, stop it,” Steven’s voice said, and he was suddenly kneeling next to him, looking down at the pair on the deck. “Look.” Jake glanced up, past Eyvor’s head to where the scales were.

Three hearts were on them.

They were perfectly balanced.

“Look. We’re okay.”

“What?” He didn’t believe it. He was terrible, he knew that. He’d killed so many people, done so many things. There was no reason his heart should have made the scales balance. 

“I told you,” Eyvor said, her voice tight with tears. “You deserve peace.”

“Were you really gonna just throw yourself over to save us?” Steven asked. Jake clenched his teeth and sat up, though Eyvor remained plastered to his back like a baby monkey. 

“You were,” Marc said as he stood next to them. “Why?” Jake stood up, heaving himself to his feet while keeping his balance with Eyvor on his back.

“‘S my job,” he answered.

“Yeah, well, no more of that, all right?” Steven said. “Nobody here go throwin’ themselves off any boats into eternal sands, right?”

“Agreed,” Eyvor said. Marc nodded, and Jake finally caved and gave a curt nod as well.

“Well, it’s been a pleasure gettin’ to know you boys,” the hippo said, “but we’re here!” The boat was sailing up to a giant set of stone gates that didn’t connect to any walls or anything. Really, they were just two big doors. The doors were opening, and there was a bright, piercing light coming from inside.

“Don’t they tell you not to go into the light?” Jake said. Eyvor dropped down from his back and stared ahead of them.

“Only when you’re dying,” she answered. “This is to get you three back, right?” She looked over at the other two, who nodded.

“Yeah. Harrow’s releasing Ammit,” Marc said. “We have to stop him.”

“Who?”

“And Layla’s going in all alone,” Steven added.

“No, seriously, who?” Eyvor asked.

“We’ll tell you later, rose de sangre.” Eyvor huffed, kicking his foot.

“I thought we agreed no more secrets,” she pouted. “You’re being mean again.” He smiled.

“Love you too, rosa de sangre.”

“Oi!” Steven exclaimed right before the light engulfed them and Jake felt himself yanked forwards, losing all sense of bearing.