Odinson Estate
Arya stood at the front entrance to Thor's family home. It was a massive estate on the farthest corner of Mystic Falls, even larger than the old Salvatore Boarding House she had heard so much about. It had stained wood and antique statues out front resembling all sorts of animals. Arya's eyes lingers on a raven perched on a lion statue. It's eyes a unique shade of green. How peculiar it was to see such a sight in nature, let alone Mystic Falls. It was night and the lights that lit the massive porch of the estate illuminated everything in a warm glow. She waited patiently as Thor gracefully carried her bag from her car to the porch. He smiled at her as he took his keys from his pocket. He unlocked the door and made his way inside. Arya tried to follow but her body hit the empty doorway as if the door was still shut.
"What the hell?" Arya complained and Thor turned and looked embarrassed.
"Sorry. I forgot. One second." He said then sped from the doorway up a long staircase Arya could see inside. When he returned a young woman with tanned skin and waist length braids emerged. She was petite but very muscular. She made eye contact with Arya and raised an eyebrow.
"You aren't going to murder me are you?" She asked and Arya looked to Thor. Thor sighed.
"Scouts honor." Arya said saluting.
"Come in." She said moving to the side. Arya reluctantly took a step through the doorway.
"Explain." She said turning to Thor.
"Vampires can enter a residence with an invitation from the owner. Hence, Brunhild here, the owner of our magnificent home." Thor said walking Arya through the breathtaking home, Brunhild walking ahead of them.
The ceilings were tall and the walls painted a bright ivory color. Paintings and old photographs graced each surface of the home. It looked like a museum. Brunhild lead the two vampires through the main area of the home into a large sitting area accompanied by a massive fireplace left unlit and multiple plush sitting areas. The room was bright with dark furnishings. A bar sat in the far left corner adorned with every bottle of liquor you could think of. Arya's mouth fell agape when she noticed an enormous painting hung above the fireplace. It was of four people. One was obviously Thor dressed in what looked like an 1800's red and gold get up. Next to him stood a man slightly shorter than him. he had white hair and an eye patch. On the other side of Thor stood a woman with long braided hair and a flowing blue dress, and beside her stood a man with piercing green eyes and raven black hair that hung in curls past his shoulders.
"My family." Thor said standing next to her.
"How old are you?" Arya blurted. Thor chuckled. "Sorry." She mumbled not intending to be so forward.
"Three-hundred and two." Thor said and Arya's mouth fell open.
"Jesus Christ."
"Not quite." Brunhild said walking up to them and handing them each a glass of whiskey. Arya downed it and grimaced at the taste.
"Yuck." She said placing the glass back into Brunhild's hand.
"Tastes different, but same effect." Thor said then nursed his glass.
Arya paced around the room. She admired each painting and sculpture that was presented before her. There were a few book shelves that housed books of all genres. She picked one up titled "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." She flipped through the pages and sighed as she thought about her own book collection. Reading might be the only escape she had left in this life. From this new life.
"One of Loki's favorites." Thor said and Arya placed the book back on the shelf.
"Loki?" Arya asked.
"Yes?" A velvety deep voice echoed from behind Arya. She turned and was met with the man in the painting with the raven colored hair. He wore an all black ensemble. His hair hung in perfect loose curls and he had his hands behind his back. He had a smirk on his face that suggested he was trying to intimate Arya.
"Brother, this is Arya Foster. She will be staying with us for a few days." Thor introduced Arya and Loki raised an eyebrow then turned his attention to Brunhild.
"Are you okay with this?" Loki asked and Brunhild folded her arms.
"She's harmless. I read her." Brunhild said and Arya's face turned to one of confusion.
"Read me?" She asked and Thor smiled wide as if he was excited to share something new to a group of friends.
"Brunhild is a very powerful witch. And a distant, very distant, cousin of ours." Thor explained and Brunhild smiled up at him. His height towering over her.
"Lady of the house. She will be respected at all times." Loki said narrowing his eyes at Arya.
"Witch huh? Haven't run into one of your kind in some time. Your not going to put a spell on me are you?" Arya joked but Brunhild wasn't amused.
"Thor will show you to your room. I have errands to run. Don't break anything and don't eat anyone." Brunhild said then brushed passed her. Arya watched as the witch summoned her car keys that seemed to appear out of nowhere to her right hand.
"Get sustenance!" Thor shouted at her as she walked.
"Yeah, yeah. Just behave yourselves." She said then left the estate.
"I'll show you where you will be staying." Thor said happily and grabbed Arya's bag for her. His kindness continuing to shine through.
Thor lead Arya, with Loki trailing behind, up a large winding staircase. They walked down a long hall way that was decorated with more paintings and photographs. Most of which were portrayals of Thor and Loki. As Arya looked at the memories through the many years the Odinson brother's had lived through she felt a pang in her heart. How hard it must have been to live so long as to see all those you cared about die. Arya wondered what happened to their parents. Were they vampires as well? Did they live close by? And how on earth did they manage to live in Mystic Falls for so long without anyone noticing their presence. Arya had lived in the small town her entire life and never once did she meet either of them. She had known the Odinson estate existed. But it was at the farthest corner of town, so she had never seen it. Who were these mysterious brothers? And why, for vampires, did they seem so normal?
Thor pulled a small key out of the pocket of his blue jeans and handed it to Arya before opening the door to her new lodging. When she stepped inside she was in awe. It was huge. Large floor to ceiling windows to her left and a canopy bed draped in all white bedding. To her right was a doorway to a joined bathroom. Mirrors graced an entire wall around the corner which lead to a massive closet and sitting area. Arya allowed her fingertips to grace the delicate dark wood furnishings and soft colored fabrics. It was as if she was in a dream. She never considered vampires would live like this. Maybe her opinion of them was wrong. Maybe.
"I hope it's to your liking." Loki said leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed and his eyebrow raised.
"It's insane. This is all insane." Arya said shaking her head looking out the massive windows. She gazed at the garden below. It was plush with all colors of flowers and different plants. A path lead to the woods behind the building.
"See, your life isn't over." Thor said walking up beside her with his signature wide smile. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and without thinking she leaned into him. Neither of them moved. Just enjoyed the view before them. That was until Loki cleared his throat, ruining the moment.
"As much as I would love to witness such a romantic display of yearning I have a party to plan." Loki announced pulling his phone out of his pocket and scrolling through it before leaving the room in a huff.
"Party?" Arya asked removing her head from the comfort of Thor's shoulder and looking up at him. He dropped his arm from around her and Arya felt her skin go cold. She didn't like it.
"Loki's three-hundredth birthday extravaganza! But he's telling everyone he is turning thirty." Thor explained half laughing.
"You're having it here?"
"Of course. This is home."
"And you're inviting humans here?" Arya's worry grew. She had a moment of brief peace with her new found life, but now she was back to being overly concerned. Thor sensed this and placed his arm back around her. He was a touchy guy, but she didn't seem to mind.
"Do not worry. My brother and I don't feed on humans. And neither will you. This, I promise you." He said placing his free hand over his heart and bowing his head slightly. His blonde hair falling in his face. Arya couldn't help herself but to giggle slightly. He looked up to her with furrowed brows.
"You're so formal sometimes. It's like your from another time." Arya admitted now blushing from embarrassment. That was until his smile returned.
"I do indeed. You must be starving, let us have something to eat before we retire for the evening. And in the morning, Brunhild should be done with your daylight ring." Thor explained turning and making his way out of the massive bedroom. Arya followed after him. When they reached the kitchen, Thor opened a back door with a key and walked in. He came back with two blood bags.
"Okay first question. Daylight ring? And Second question. You're the one steeling the blood?" Arya asked and Thor looked guilty.
"Yes, and yes. Daylight ring to allow you to roam around in the daylight without a fuss. And the blood bags, that's all Brunhild. She has a connection at the hospital."
"Who is it?"
"Who?"
"The connection, at the hospital? I work there. Or at least, I used too. I don't know anymore."
"I shouldn't say." Thor said handing her a bag, her skin ran cold. "Go ahead. You need it. Your pale." He said then began drinking from his bag. Veins began to spread on his face and his fangs started to show when he took a breath in-between drinks. Arya hesitantly took a sip. Her eyes went wild as she began to devour the blood bag. "Slow down." Thor said and Arya looked at him through blurred vision. She wanted to rip the half drank bag of blood from his hands and drink that too but she resisted the urge. If she was truly stuck like this for the rest of eternity, she wanted to do it right. Something she never thought she would have to consider throughout her life.
"Is it Bruce?" Arya asked Thor as he finished his bag.
"I am not answering that."
"It is! He's always making excuses to go to the blood bank. I just thought... I didn't know what to think honestly."
"You didn't hear it from me." Thor said taking the empty blood bags and tossing them in the trash.
"My lips are sealed. It's better than drinking from the vein I suppose."
"It is. It's getting late we should get some rest. Loki's party is tomorrow evening so we will need a lot of rest."
"Party animal that one?"
"Precisely." Thor said then yawned.
Arya decided she was too very tired. It had been a long day and Thor had promised he would help her in every way she needed. Even Loki did, despite his seemingly uninterested demeanor toward her. Arya laid in her bed shrouded in darkness. Her thoughts drifted in and out of thought as she made her escape to dreamland. She thought about her sisters, and how she hoped they wouldn't completely cut her out of their lives. Even though she knew it might be for the best. She thought of Bruce, and how she never suspected the trauma nurse who had his face in a chart most of the day to be so involved in vampire blood bank heists. And she thought of Thor. How kind he had been to her, despite her crass attitude toward him on occasion. She had hoped he would continue to be as thoughtful and gentle as she had known him to be. She also wondered as to how he knew Tony, and Jane for that matter. Why was her sister all of the sudden so buddy buddy with a vampire? As the questions brewed Arya found herself drifting into sleep. Her last thought that of how Thor's arm felt wrapped around her, bringing her a feeling of safety and hope.