The Ragnarok Trials

#750970

May 31, 2013 at 2:41am

Day One Doctor My Eyes Focus Word: Hello Word Count: 1631 It was storming in God Town. A real rager, too, from the feel of the thunder pounding through my feet and the frequency of the lightning forking its way from the churning maelstrom above. Knowing my brethren, it meant trouble. I didn't really care. Until my bosses showed up and told me to handle things, I wasn't about to go sticking my nose into trouble. They'd already ruined this ugly mug enough with the ... [Read more]

#751063

April 16, 2012 at 3:07am

Day Two Army of Me Focus Word: Demand Word Count: 2405 The storm was just finishing up as I stumbled out into the night, pain lashing its way through my every limb. It is a disconcerting feeling, the sharp clutching of flesh embodied, and one that I am entirely unique in experiencing. A side effect, if you will, of dealing with my more ascendent masters, who now summoned me into their realm. Since Christ came and the Old Gods fell, kicking and screaming, into obscurity, we h... [Read more]

#751139

April 17, 2012 at 10:03pm

Day One Bold as Love Focus Word: Bold Word Count: 1868 Gabriel's gift did not last long. Perhaps two hours; just long enough to get the poison of Heaven out of my less-than-worthy blood. I awoke in my soiled clothing, smelling of sweat and wet dog, musky and unappealing. Grimacing, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched, stumbling into the bathroom. At least Gabriel sent me home. Michael had a tendency to dump me right back to where I'd come from, leaving me t... [Read more]

#751225

April 18, 2012 at 5:39pm

Day Four Pursuit of When Things Explode Focus Word: Dream Word Count: 3065 The elevator ride was a lot longer than I thought it would be. Odin watching me, no doubt, scanning for weaknesses with that lost eye of his. The thought made me laugh. Below me, the Watcher was blind, and above, the one-eyed man saw more than ever. It was the last remaining of his gifts; Christ had hidden from him his charms. His prodigious mind was all his own and, thus, remained. Not many gods could fi... [Read more]

#751305

April 19, 2012 at 9:59pm

Day Five I Need a Dollar Focus Word: Dollar Word Count: 1744 Baldur was laid out on a pyre. If we hadn't been so far from water, I'd have been sure Odin meant to go through with a proper Viking funeral, but it seemed the Peace God would become one with the sky on solid land, no sea water to hold his spirit. Of all the things that have happened in recent days, it was this sight that troubled me most. A funeral without water meant no everlasting rest, no ocean home for our... [Read more]

#751316

April 21, 2012 at 12:33am

Day Six Head Over Heels Focus Word: Admiration Word Count: 2872 Odin abandoned me to the streets of town around sunset of the first day. I hadn't wasted as much time as you might have thought. In one day, I'd formulated a portfolio and, far more importantly, gotten Odin to call off the hit. You have no idea how much easier it is to work when half of town isn't plotting slow and painful ways to kill you. Or maybe you do. I don't know. But if you do know, I'... [Read more]

#751417

April 22, 2012 at 12:06am

Day Seven Temptation Focus Word: Temptation Word Count: 1537 Oh Lord, as the Angels say, deliver me from temptation . Because I simply cannot resist. Some time around dawn, his lips found mine. I hadn't expected it, but when it happened I threw myself into it with my whole being. Time turned to honey, slow and sweet, and he tasted even sweeter. We were definitely drunk--he liked wine and I liked drinking with him--but that didn't matter, because I was aware enough to... [Read more]

#751485

April 22, 2012 at 6:58pm

Day Eight Aim Focus Word: Aim Word Count: 1815 Upon Gabriel's departure, I set about getting schnazy. After all, I had a wake to go to. What? You didn't expect me to send Gabriel along and not make an appearance myself, did you? Nah. I had my own investigating to do, a few lines of questioning to follow, and drinking contests to initiate (and win). And I wanted to see Hod. He was Baldur's brother, and they were close despite the mistletoe incident, what with every... [Read more]

#751547

April 23, 2012 at 9:54pm

Day Nine I'm So Sick Focus Word: Sick Word Count: 1743 The party was in full damn swing by the time I got there. I couldn't see Gabriel at all, but then I hadn't expected to. What amused me was that I couldn't even sense him. Sneaking was a kind of lying, and so I should have been able to tell he was there, but the Angel was completely invisible to me. Even in human form, without access to the majority of his divine power, Gabriel could outstrip all of us. ... [Read more]

#751642

April 25, 2012 at 12:33am

Day Ten I've Been Loving You Too Long Focus Word: Habit Word Count: 2010 Freya pushed her way into my path after I finished saying good-bye to Baldur. She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. After Aphrodite, she might be the most beautiful woman I have ever met. For those of you wondering why my vote for sexiest Old Goddess in town didn't go to one of my own pantheon, it's because Freya can be damned scary and, frankly, I don't like being fri... [Read more]

#751656

April 25, 2012 at 9:27pm

Day Eleven Let It All Hang Out Focus Word: Chill Word Count: 1692 "Sorry, Loki, my TV is on the blink." I smiled and shook my head, dismissing the apology. "Don't worry, Herms. I'm here to talk, not to watch daytime television." Hermes laughed. It was a warm sound, the laugh of a consummate liar, though I knew it to be authentic. The Greek trickster was handsome, like all of his kind, with golden curls, green eyes, and sun-kissed skin that always gl... [Read more]

#751718

April 26, 2012 at 9:59pm

Day Twelve Virtual Insanity Focus Word: Sanity Word Count: 1740 I was in Heaven almost before I sensed the tug. "You have a day left," Gabriel said, voice harsh and arms crossed against his chest. "One day and Michael will pass judgement upon you for your crimes against Christ's law." This might seem odd to those of you who've been following along closely. Gabriel knew I was innocent--his adventures in crazy Norse land had actually proved that to hi... [Read more]

#751810

April 27, 2012 at 2:58am

Day Thirteen Called Out In The Dark Focus Word: Time Word Count: 2832 Athena wasn't at the library, nor was she at the Courthouse. So I trekked to the other side of town, crossed the boundary of God Town and entered a plain, but serviceable development called Kensington Place. It seemed that Athena was another of those unfussy types, though I suppose that was to be expected from the Virgin Goddess. Building 2A was actually the third building in, but the number was big enough... [Read more]

#751889

April 28, 2012 at 6:54pm

Day Fourteen Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Focus Word: Intention Word Count: 1954 Leaving Athena's apartment, I realized that I was in no condition to go see Ares. That woman is rough , I'll tell you. Had me singing in octaves heretofore unknown in Loki-land, she did. The occasion had left me sore and more than a little worse-for-wear, so instead of heading to the War God's abode (at which location Aphrodite surely awaited), I scooted around God Town and back to... [Read more]

#751915

April 29, 2012 at 8:01pm

Day Fifteen Where Is The Edge Focus Word: Brink Word Count: 2109 It was morning when I said goodbye to Hermes and headed off into the town to find Ares. Apparently, he was better at Halo than I thought, winning at least eighty percent of the matches and bringing me to a draw for the rest. If you must know, I won only once, and that because I cheated. What? I wasn't about to lose every time to that bloody Greek, thank you very much. As it was, I owed him a fair few rounds a... [Read more]

#752046

April 30, 2012 at 10:54pm

Day Sixteen Little Lion Man Focus Word: Disappointment Word Count: 1900 I sat alone in my room, unmoving, unblinking, staring at the same spot on the floor as I had been for six hours. It was too cold, Gabriel's silent anger chilling the entire building no doubt, but I made no move to warm myself, relishing instead the pain of my freezing fingers. I hadn't eaten in almost twelve hours, since Hermes had made grilled cheese and poured a bag of Doritos into a bowl, and m... [Read more]

#752122

May 1, 2012 at 10:32pm

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#752133

May 2, 2012 at 3:00am

Day Eighteen Nightingale Focus Word: Fly Word Count: 2951 A nightingale greeted me with its song as I exited the building. It was beautiful, the lilting chirp of its song bringing in the night, but all I heard was a knell, leading me to my death. Michael did not touch me, thank all the gods, but neither did Gabriel, the two Angels instead electing to walk with me into God Town and into the waiting crowd of my admirers. You know, the ones that wanted me dead. Michael walked af... [Read more]

#752195

May 3, 2012 at 2:34am

Day Nineteen Burn it Down Focus Word: Flame Word Count: 2184 Michael sheathed his sword, the metal snick announcing my doom before the whole world, or at least the parts of it that knew Old Gods existed. "You're going to let him kill me?" I whispered through the corner of my mouth closest to the Angel. "Seriously? Petty revenge never seemed like your style, Mike." Fiery eyes glanced down at me, their intensity shocking even in dismissal. "You believ... [Read more]

#752270

May 4, 2012 at 5:07pm

Day Twenty My Way Focus Word: Final Word Count: 1713 Around us, the crowd disappeared, along with the dais and the remains of the god called Heimdall, the one-time Watcher of the Norse, driven mad by his own blindness. With a sweep of his hand, Michael cleared it all away, and returned everyone to their own homes, leaving only my compatriots and he to stand in the town center. "You violated my command, Gabriel, and aided him," Michael whispered. "What have you to... [Read more]