I tried to clear my head. I could deal with those very unexpected revelations later. At the moment, I needed to focus on not dying and maybe even killing the draugr in the process, if I was lucky.

"How are we supposed to get close enough to behead him?" Hadley screamed at Noah, narrowly jumping out of the way as a blaze of fire exploded where she had stood moments ago.

Noah blocked an exploding flame with his sword and quietly told us, "Just distract him for me." Then he jogged behind the draugr, successfully entrapping him in our little circle of three.

I glanced at my short, useless knife before releasing a small battle cry. I quickly ran towards the draugr, avoiding bursts of flames as I advanced. I dodged a swinging fist and slid underneath his legs, and slashed at his ankles as I skimmed the rocky dirt floor. Above me, Hadley was blocking and counterattacking with very impressive hand-to-hand combat skills.

The draugr cried out and the ankle I had slashed gave out just a little bit. Noah took that opportunity to jump on top of his back. I had to skitter out of the way in order to avoid being whacked with the monster's flailing arms as he tried to force Noah to lose his grip. Noah tightened his hold and, with great effort due to the draugr's frantic attempts to throw Noah off, finally managed to position his sword at the beast's neck.

"Say hi to your brothers and sisters for me in Tartarus," Noah whispered into the draugr's ear before slicing his neck in a clean and concise movement.

Hadley and I stared as his head rolled to the ground and the glowing blue eyes slowly dimmed into darkness.

Noah sheathed his sword and the entire holster disappeared, "No time to gawk. We need to burn the body before he comes back."

Hadley and I dragged the draugr's body to where the golden retriever lay. We didn't want some poor human to walk by and see a halfeaten dog so we decided to burn it too. Noah took out a black cigarette lighter with an intricate pattern of swirls decorating it. A white fire ignited and the bodies were incinerated in a matter of seconds. He then scattered the ashes with his foot and watched as the wind picked them up and blew them away.

I blinked, "Okay someone better start explaining to me what in the name of Thor is going on right now."

Hadley sighed, "We should go somewhere else where it's safe to talk. Let's all meet up at Freyja Headquarters."

"Fine," I relented, "but I want answers as soon as we get there."

~*~

I paced the room while Hadley and Noah lounged in the comfortable seats at the round table. "So let me get this straight: you," I looked at Noah, "are a Cupid." He nodded. "And you," I turned my gaze to Hadley's, "are a Freyja?"

Hadley looked uncomfortable but nodded anyway, "I was assigned to protect you. As a bodyguard, of sorts. I was told you were never to know so I had to be lowkey about it. That's why I had to pretend to dislike you so much."

"Assigned by who?"

Hadley fidgeted, "Chief Damien... your unc-"

"I know who Damien is," I snapped.

A moment of silence.

Then, Noah looked up at me in disbelief, "I can't believe you thought that would do anything against a draugr." He glared at the four-inch knife I was still gripping.

"Well excuse me for not carrying around a freaking ancient sword with me everywhere I go. For some odd reason some people would find that a little threatening. Besides, there hasn't been a monster attack in years."

"Yeah. That's because we Cupids actually use our gods-given gifts to contribute to humanity's safety and well-being and give those monsters one way tickets to Tartarus! Gods, Freyjas are so incredibly irresponsible."

"And Cupids are goody-two-shoe know-it-alls who don't even know what the word 'fun' means."

"If it weren't for me, you'd be draugr meat so I wouldn't complain about me being knowledgable enough to save your ungrateful as-"

"That is enough!"

Noah and I continued to glare at each other as my uncle walked into the conference room.

Damien directed his attention to Noah, "Now, Cupids are not usually welcome into my home but as I understand you are to thank for saving my niece's life, I will make an exception just this once."

Noah clenched his jaw but said, "Understood."

Damien stroked his short beard thoughtfully, "Strange that the draugr was comfortable enough to attack so close to the human eye. We've had reports of seeing monsters prowl around but none have been reckless enough to actually strike. Until now."

"You just let the monsters roam free? You know they're there and you know what kind of harm and damage they can do... and you don't do anything about it?" Noah asked in disbelief. "I knew Freyjas were careless, harbingers of chaos but this..." 

"Watch yourself. You are still a guest here," Damien warned quietly. 

"Well I'm not and I would really like for you to explain why you gave me a bodyguard!" 

Damien turned to look at me. At least he had the decency to look a little guilty. 

"Not a bodyquard per se..." 

Hadley spoke up, "It really went both ways. I protect the world from you and I protect you from the world." She looked down in shame, "Or at least, I was supposed to." 

Damien said gently, "I know you did what you could, Hadley."

"What I could wasn't good enough." She looked up at me, "You could have died- You could have died because I wasn't good enough."

Noah shot me a "say something— assure her that she actually is good enough" look. 

I gave him a look back, "don't look at me. I didn't even know she was a Freyja until a few minutes ago!" I held my head higher, "Besides, I don't need her protection. I can take care of myself." 

Noah raised his eyebrow as if to say, "can you really?" 

I scowled but relented, realizing Hadley could use a boost of morale. 

"You're right. I could have died. But I didn't because you saved me. Noah may have informed us of how to kill the draugr... and may have actually managed to do it... but you came when I needed you. I would have had the same fate as that poor golden retriever if you hadn't come when you did."

Hadley gave me a small smile and excused herself, leaving Noah, me and my uncle alone in the room. 

Noah coughed, "So... what now?"

"What are you even doing here?"

"You asked me to be here, genius."

I rolled my eyes, "Not here. I mean in Ohio."

"I told you, I came to stay with my aunt and uncle because I needed a change in scenery."

"Who moves more than 2,000 miles away, across the country, just for a change in scenery?"

Noah glared, "I did."

"You two are giving me a headache," Damien complained with his fingers massaging his temples. 

"I'm about to give you an even bigger one. How could you have so little faith in me that you assigned me a secret bodyguard?" 

Noah snorted, "Obviously, he was right to have such little faith in you. You said so yourself: you would have been dead if it weren't for Hadley. Or me, a total stranger, for that matter."

I clenched my jaw, "This doesn't concern you, Davis. Stay out of it."

"Um, I think it does concern me, Jordan. I risked my own life to save yours."

"If you're so high and righteous, as all Cupids act, then that shouldn't be anything new for you."

"Are you seriously insulting me being a good person an hour after I rescued you?" Noah asked in disbelief, "You know you haven't said one nice thing to me since? Not even a 'thank you'. I'm out of here."

Noah gathered his things and briskly walked out of the conference room. My uncle looked at me and opened his mouth. 

Before he could say anything, I sighed, "I know." 

I quickly jogged to catch up to Noah. 

"Noah, wait!"

He slowed his pace and turned to look at me expectantly. 

"We still have to finish our Spanish project."

Noah scoffed and shook his head, turning his back to me. 

"No, wait!" I grabbed his arm to prevent him from walking away, "I didn't mean that. What I meant to say was I'm sorry. You're right. Thank you for saving my life." 

Noah studied me but eventually said, "You're welcome."

I grinned, "We really do have to finish our Spanish project though."