I stumbled, but Thor steadied me. Fortunately, he was used to my clumsiness and didn't say anything.
Sorry, but it's the truth,Al went on.I can't tell you much more; it will interfere with the return of your memories. It would make you question whether I had planted the suggestion in your mind. But I will explain things that you see if you need me to.
Why did he leave me?
Just try to remember,Al said patiently.
I let Thor lead me through the hallways as my attention turned inward. I was a witch; I knew how to meditate, even when my body was moving. It was easy enough to focus on finding the trace of a memory that had just popped up. I latched onto it, and it unfolded.
“This isn’t your fault,” I whispered.
“I didn’t say it was,” Thor's voice turned to ice, and I took an involuntary step back. “I said it wasyourfault. You used my love for you to kill her.”
I focused on my surroundings in the memory; Thor and I were in our bedroom, but the drapes were shut against the night air and there was a fire burning beside him.It cast his face into sinister shadows that made his furious expression seem evil.
“What?”
The memory-me was shocked; completely unprepared for Thor's attack. I had known he'd be mad about... holy hellfire; I had killed Sif! Sif is Thor's ex-wife and Ull's mother. Why had I killed her?
“I called to her to stop her from killing you, and when I asked you for the same mercy, you took her head,” memory-Thor went on.
“I would have shown mercy,” I said.
I felt my hand lifting to reach to Thor even as I felt his current hand already holding mine. It was the strangest sensation; reliving the memory while experiencing the present with the same man.
“I would have done it for you,” I went on in the memory, “even though I knew she’d come back and try to kill me again. I’d have spared her for you, but when I drew away, she used the distraction. She tore into my thigh wound. You must have seen that. I tried to show mercy, and she tried to kill me.”
“Her tearing into your leg would not have killed you.” Thor shook his head as if he was disappointed that I’d try to lie to him.
Who was this man? This wasn't the Thor I'd married. He would never treat me like that. I nearly let go of the memory, but Al interrupted.
Keep going, V,Al said.I know it's rough, but you gotta see this.
I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and let the rest of it play out.
“Damn you, Thor!” I had screamed, and Thor narrowed his eyes at me. They flashed with lightning, and it hurt me to see that it was in anger instead of passion. “I’d been losing blood from that wound for awhile by the time she tore into it. If I’d gone without healing any longer, I’d have bled out. I’m not a goddess. I can’t heal myself like the rest of you.”
“No, you’re not a goddess,” he said it coldly; as if my DNA explained all of my traitorous shortcomings.
Cold shivers ran over me. I didn't want to know that Thor could be like this. At the same time, I felt the truth in it. Thor was a passionate man; in all things. If he ever decided that I deserved his fury; it would burn just as hot as his love for me.
“I want to be very clear with you, Thor. This is one of those moments you'll never be able to take back.”
The memory continued. I could feel my own cold response settling in. I had known what Thor would say, but I needed to hear him say it so that I could move on.
“If we end this here, we're over for good. You told me just days ago that you'd love me no matter what tried to hinder our love. If you turn that into a lie, I will never forgive you. No second chances this time, no dream visits. I will block my connection to you like I did with Blue. You and I will never be together again. So, I'm only going to ask you this once. Are we done?”
“Yes,” Thor whispered; it was a bare breath of sound over the thin slash of his lips, but it sounded loud and clear in my ears.
I let the memory go with a sigh; my heart heavy with the burden of Thor's choice, even though he hadn't chosen it in this life. Simply knowing that he could leave me—in any circumstance—was heartbreaking. I had thought that nothing could tear us apart, but it seemed as if I were wrong. If Thor could do that to me in one life; he could do it to me in this one. I glanced at him with suspicion for the first time since we'd become a couple.
And I hated myself for it.
Before I could think on it further, the sound of voices distracted me. We were approaching Hades' bedroom, and the voices were loud enough to filter through his massive double doors. We didn't bother knocking; it was doubtful that they would have heard us over their argument anyway. We just walked in to find Demeter—Persephone's mother—facing off with Hades.
“This is indisputable proof!” Demeter shouted.
“A human camera picking up a black mist?” Hades shouted back. “That could be anything.”
