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

Don’t go anywhere with any of them, and… I don’t know. Can you get to where Dad is?” She felt better knowing that her family wasn’t as vulnerable as she’d feared, but she felt worse because this meant they realized how dangerous things were in the world—but had no way to stay safe.
    “Your father is on his way to us. Last I heard he’d reached Canada, but he’s traveling by foot or by bus when he can. He doesn’t want to get caught sneaking into town.”
    Laurie nodded. “Good. Good. So… okay, then. He’ll keep you safe while I’m away.”
    “Away?” Her mother’s smile vanished then. “You’re home now. We’ll be here together when he arrives.”
    That’s when Laurie realized that her mother didn’t know the big part. “Mom, I can’t stay. I’m Loki’s champion. I have to fight in the final battle, alongside Matt and Baldwin.”
    Her mom opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out.
    “Matt is Thor’s champion, Owen is Odin’s, and Baldwin is Balder’s, and then the others are waiting for us, too. Frey and Freya’s representatives are with Matt. We’ve got thehammer and the shield, and we’re going to fight the great serpent, the Thorsens, and the Raiders… who are mostly Brekkes.”
    “No,” her mother said. “You can’t go fighting anything.”
    “I have to. I’m
Loki’s champion
.” Laurie stood up and started pacing. “We fought a bunch of monsters already, but the battle is coming. I can’t stay here.”
    “No.”
    “The world will end if we don’t stop them.”
    “Someone else can do it.” Her mother stood, too. “You and your friends will stay here, and when your father gets home, we’ll deal with all of us getting somewhere safe.”
    Baldwin came to his feet. Owen left his post at the window and walked back to Laurie.
    “I’m sorry, Mom.”
    Laurie grabbed Jordie and hugged him tightly. “Be careful,” she whispered.
    “I mean it, young lady. You are not walking out that door.” Her mother gave her the sort of stern look that used to make her quake.
    “Okay.” Laurie looked at the boys and nodded once. Then she closed her eyes for a moment. She put her hands together in front of her. When she opened her eyes, she spread her hands apart and opened a portal. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll be as safe as I can. I love you. Tell Dad… I love him, too.” She glanced at her brother. “Be good for Mom. Love you.”
    Her brother and mother were staring at the glowing portal in the living room, but Laurie knew that their shock would fade.
    Owen finally spoke. “She’s brave, and we’ll be with her to help.” Then he stepped into the portal.
    “Baldwin,
now
,” she ordered.
    “Nice meeting you. See you after the battle!” he called, and then he jumped through the portal.
    “I love you. I’ll be careful,” Laurie promised, and then she went through the portal, too, just as her mother’s shock was fading enough for her to reach for Laurie’s arm. Her mother was too late, and Laurie was gone.



EIGHT

MATT
“SMOKE DAMAGE”
    L aurie was obviously upset, but she didn’t want to talk about it. Matt introduced Jake and explained the plan to go to Mitchell. Then, as Laurie talked to Baldwin and the twins, he asked Owen to take Jake aside and persuade him not to join them, in hopes that his brother would listen to a guy closer to his age.
    “It’s not happening,” Reyna said as they watched Owen unsuccessfully trying to dissuade Jake. “How about we make sure your brother brings up the rear—to guard us, of course. And then, whoops, the portal shuts before he gets through?”
    “That wouldn’t be right,” Matt said, with some regret.
    “Doesn’t matter,” Reyna said. “Even if he’s not a Grade Ajerk—and the jury’s still out on that—he’s going to second-guess your every move because you’re his kid brother. He’s not Thor’s champion. You are.”
    Laurie nodded. “Reyna’s right. It might sound cowardly, but if it’s