14. Bifrost: Alex

CHAPTER 14

BIFROST

ALEX

A lex turned, his eyes landing on Heimdall, and fuck if the guy didn't look even more menacing than the last time they'd crossed paths. The Asgardian's golden eyes seemed to pierce right through him, probably seeing shit Alex couldn't even begin to imagine. It was unsettling as hell, but Alex would be damned if he let it show.

Heimdall stood there, decked out in full Asgardian regalia—gleaming armor that looked like it was forged from starlight, a flowing cape that seemed to capture the very essence of the cosmos. The whole nine yards. Next to him, Alex felt like he'd shown up to a black-tie gala in sweatpants.

Eryx, ever the smartass, leaned in close to Alex and stage-whispered, "I think we might be a tad underdressed for this shindig."

Alex couldn't help the snort that escaped him. Leave it to Eryx to find humor in the face of a god who could probably smite them with a glance.

But then something unexpected happened. The corners of Heimdall's mouth twitched, almost like he was fighting back a smile. "Apollo's vessel," he addressed Eryx, his voice deep and resonant, like the echo of distant thunder. "I see your wit remains as sharp as ever."

Well, shit. Alex hadn't seen that coming. He glanced at Eryx, saw the mix of surprise and pleasure on his partner's face. Of course Eryx would be thrilled to have his jokes land with the all-seeing guardian of Asgard.

Before Alex could formulate a response, Hermes stepped forward. The messenger god sauntered up to Heimdall like they were old drinking buddies, all easy smiles and relaxed posture.

"Heimdall, my man!" Hermes exclaimed, clapping the much larger god on the shoulder. "Looking good, big guy. Been hitting the gym lately?"

Alex fought the urge to facepalm. Trust Hermes to treat one of the most powerful beings in the Nine Realms like a frat brother.

But again, Heimdall surprised him. The stoic god's expression softened, just a fraction, but enough for Alex to notice. "Hermes," he rumbled, "still causing chaos wherever you go, I see."

"You know me," Hermes grinned, "can't let things get too boring around here. Speaking of which, any chance you could zap us over to Asgard? We've got some pressing business to attend to."

And just like that, the atmosphere shifted. Heimdall's expression hardened, his golden eyes sweeping over their ragtag group with renewed intensity. "This is about Odin," he said. It wasn't a question.

Alex stepped forward, drawing himself up to his full height. "Yeah," he said, meeting Heimdall's gaze steadily. "We need to get to Asgard so we could talk to Thor and find out what he knows."

The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush diamonds. Alex could feel the weight of Heimdall's gaze, assessing, judging. He resisted the urge to fidget, to look away. This wasn't the time to show weakness .

After what felt like an eternity, Heimdall spoke. "Asgard teeters on the brink of chaos. The other realms grow restless."

"No shit," Alex muttered, earning him an elbow to the ribs from Eryx. He cleared his throat. "I mean, yeah, we've noticed. That's why we're here. We want to help."

Heimdall's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Alex was sure they were about to get blasted back to Midgard. But then the guardian's posture relaxed, just slightly. "Your intentions, they ring true," he said, sounding almost surprised. "Though your methods leave much to be desired."

Alex bristled at that. "Hey, we're working with what we've got here. Not all of us can be all-seeing guardians of the cosmos, you know."

To his surprise, Heimdall actually chuckled at that. It was a low, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate the very air around them. "Indeed," he said, a glimmer of something that might have been amusement in his golden eyes. "Your unique approach may be just what is needed in these troubled times."

Alex blinked, caught off guard by the almost-compliment. He glanced at Eryx, saw his own surprise mirrored on his partner's face.

Hermes, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. "So, does this mean we get a free pass to Asgard? Because let me tell you, the commute from Midgard is a real pain in the ass."

Heimdall's expression grew serious once more. "The Bifrost is not to be used lightly," he warned. "Especially not in these uncertain times. However..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over them once more. "I sense that your presence in Asgard may be necessary."

"So, uh," Zac piped up, speaking for the first time since they'd arrived. "How does this work? Do we click our heels together three times and say 'There's no place like Asgard'?"

Heimdall, to his credit, took the question in stride. "The Bifrost responds to my will," he explained, his voice taking on an almost teacherly tone. "I need only to focus on your destination, and it shall carry you there."

"Cool," Zac nodded, trying (and failing) to look nonchalant. "So, like, cosmic taxi."

This time, Alex didn't bother hiding his laughter. The absurdity of it all was too much.

But as quickly as the moment of levity had come, it passed. Heimdall's golden eyes, piercing and all-seeing, swept over their ragtag group.

"Before you depart," Heimdall's voice rumbled, low and resonant like distant thunder, "heed my warning. Asgard is not as you remember it, Hades."

Alex bristled at the use of his old name, but bit back the retort that sprang to his lips. Now wasn't the time for old grudges. "What do you mean?" he asked instead, eyes narrowing.

Heimdall's expression was grim, the lines of his face etched deep with worry. "The absence of Odin has taken its toll. Be on your guard. Asgard is not the shining realm it once was."

Alex felt Eryx tense beside him, saw the way Zac's eyes widened with a mixture of fear and excitement. Great. Just great. As if sneaking into the realm of Norse gods wasn't complicated enough, now they had to deal with some kind of divine fallout.

"Seek Thor in Bilskirnir. His castle had been a refuge for the people of Asgard as of late." Heimdall said, his gaze distant as if looking at something far beyond their sight.

Alex understood, but at the same time he couldn't help but wonder what happened that they're using the castle as refuge.

Alex turned to Hermes, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during this exchange. "You're not coming with us, are you?" It wasn't really a question.

Hermes shook his head, a flicker of something—regret? Concern?—passing over his features. "Can't, Uncle. Someone's got to keep an eye on things back home. Marcus and the rest of the Shadowguards will need all the help they can get if things go sideways. "

Alex nodded, he hated splitting up the team, hated leaving anyone behind. But Hermes was right. They needed a contingency plan.

"Keep them safe," Alex said gruffly, clapping a hand on Hermes' shoulder. "And for fuck's sake, try not to burn the city down while we're gone."

Hermes' grin was sharp and bright. "No promises, Uncle. You know how I love a good bonfire."

Before Alex could respond, Heimdall stepped forward, his massive form casting a shadow over them. "It is time," he intoned, raising his staff. "Stand together."

Alex felt Eryx's hand slip into his, warm and solid and grounding. On his other side, Zac pressed close, trying to look brave but not quite managing to hide the tremor in his hands. Alex squeezed Eryx's hand, rested his other on Zac's shoulder. A silent promise. We're in this together.

Hermes stepped back, offering a jaunty salute. "Try not to piss off too many gods, yeah? I'd hate to have to explain to Zeus why we need to bail you out of divine prison. Again."

Alex rolled his eyes, but there was no real heat in it. "Get out of here, you overgrown messenger boy. Go make yourself useful for once."

As Hermes vanished in a flash of divine light, Heimdall raised his staff high. The Bifrost hummed to life, a symphony of cosmic energy that made Alex's teeth ache and his skin prickle.

"Close your eyes," Alex barked, tightening his grip on Eryx and Zac. "Trust me, you don't want to see this part."

The world exploded into light and color, a maelstrom of rainbow energy that tore them from the Bifrost and hurled them across the cosmos. Alex gritted his teeth against the onslaught, keeping his eyes squeezed shut even as he felt reality bend and twist around them.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over.

The first thing Alex noticed was the smell. Acrid smoke, the metallic tang of blood, the unmistakable scent of divine magic gone awry. He opened his eyes, blinking against the harsh light, and felt his heart sink.

This... this couldn't be Asgard.

Where once stood gleaming spires of gold and crystal, now lay broken ruins. The sky, once a tapestry of stars and nebulae, was choked with dark clouds that roiled and churned with unnatural energy. And the ground beneath their feet...

"Are we in the Giant's Causeway?" Eryx's voice was hushed, tinged with awe and horror in equal measure.

Alex looked down, really looked, and felt a chill run down his spine. Eryx was right. The ground was a patchwork of interlocking basalt columns, hexagonal pillars that stretched out as far as the eye could see. But this was no earthly formation. The rock pulsed with a faint, sickly light, as if the very earth was feverish.

"What the fuck happened here?" Alex muttered, more to himself than to the others.

He cast his mind back, remembering the Asgard of old. It had been a realm of impossible beauty, a shining beacon in the cosmic darkness. Golden halls that defied the laws of physics, gardens that bloomed with flowers from a thousand worlds, waterfalls that flowed upwards into the star-studded sky. This was a nightmare version of that paradise.

The great hall of Valhalla, once the crown jewel of Asgard, now stood as a crumbling ruin. Its mighty doors hung askew, the intricate carvings that had told the stories of a thousand heroes now scarred and blackened. The rainbow bridge, that marvel of divine engineering, was shattered, great chunks of it floating in the void like broken dreams.

"Alex," Eryx's voice cut through his reverie, tight with barely contained panic. "What's going on? This can't be Asgard, can it?"

Alex swallowed hard, forcing down the bile that threatened to rise in his throat. "It is," he said, his voice hoarse. "Or what's left of it, anyway."

Zac, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly gasped. "Look!" he cried, pointing towards what had once been the heart of the city.

Alex followed his gaze and felt his blood run cold. Rising from the ruins like some monstrous growth was a structure that defied description. It twisted and writhed, its form constantly shifting as if it couldn't decide what it wanted to be. One moment it was a towering spire of black ice, the next a writhing mass of thorny vines, then a swirling vortex of liquid shadow.

"What the hell is that?" Eryx breathed, his hand tightening on Alex's arm.

Alex shook his head, at a loss for words. In all his centuries, in all his dealings with the divine and infernal, he had never seen anything like this. It radiated wrongness, a sense of cosmic violation that made his skin crawl.

"I don't know," he admitted, hating the taste of those words on his tongue. "But I'd bet my bident it has something to do with Odin's disappearance."

Zac took a hesitant step forward, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and fascination. "So what do we do now?"

Alex took a deep breath, forcing his racing thoughts into order. They had a mission. Find Thor, figure out what happened to Odin, try not to get killed by whatever the fuck had turned Asgard into this nightmarish hellscape.

"We stick to the plan," he said, injecting a confidence into his voice that he didn't entirely feel. "Find Bilskirnir, find Thor. Maybe he can shed some light on all this."

Zac, his eyes wide as he took in the apocalyptic landscape around them, suddenly piped up. "Hey, uh, quick question. Are we being seen by mortal people right now? Because I'm pretty sure this would freak them the fuck out."

Alex couldn't help but snort at the kid's question. Leave it to Zac to be worried about traumatizing some random humans while they were standing in the ruins of a divine realm. "No, kid. Asgard's always been warded from mortal eyes."

He cast another glance around, feeling his stomach churn at the devastation. Heimdall's warning echoed in his mind, but even that hadn't prepared him for this. It was like someone had taken his memories of Asgard and run them through a blender set to 'apocalypse'.

"We need to get moving," Alex growled, more to shake himself out of his shock than anything else. "If we're going to find Odin, we can't stand around gawking like tourists at the end of the world."

Eryx nodded, his face set in that determined expression that Alex had come to both love and dread. It usually meant his partner was about to say something annoyingly sensible. "You're right. This looks like more than just Odin going missing. It's like they had a full-on war."

Alex grunted, starting to pick his way through the debris-strewn street. "If I had to bet? I'd say Loki and that Order of his had something to do with it."

"The Order?" Zac asked, scrambling to keep up with Alex's longer strides. "You mean those creepy cult guys who were after me?"

"The very same," Alex confirmed, his voice grim.

As they made their way deeper into what had once been the shining heart of Asgard, Alex couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness that permeated everything. The air itself felt... off, somehow. Thicker, heavier, charged with an energy that set his teeth on edge. It was like walking through a storm that refused to break, the tension building with every step.

Despite the devastation, they began to see signs of life. Asgardians—or what Alex assumed were Asgardians, given how fundamentally wrong everything else was—moved through the ruins like ghosts. Some were attempting to clear debris, others were huddled in small groups, their voices a low murmur that never quite reached Alex's ears.

"Should we help?" Eryx asked, his voice hesitant as they passed a group struggling to lift a fallen column.

Alex's first instinct was to say no. They didn't have time to play cosmic construction workers. But then he caught sight of Zac's face, the way the kid was looking at the struggling Asgardians with a mixture of pity and determination, and he felt his resolve crumble.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "Fine. But we make it quick, got it?"

The relief on Eryx's face was almost worth the delay. Almost.

Over the next hour, they moved from group to group, lending their strength to the efforts. Alex had to admit, grudgingly, that it felt good to be doing something tangible. Even if that something was just shifting rubble and offering what meager comfort they could to shell-shocked Asgardians.

It was during one of these impromptu aid missions that Alex heard it. A sound that cut through the eerie quiet of ruined Asgard like a thunderbolt. Which, he realized with a mixture of relief and irritation, was exactly what it was.

He turned, already knowing what—or rather, who—he'd see.

Thor stood atop a pile of rubble, his red cape billowing dramatically in a wind that Alex was pretty sure hadn't been there a moment ago. The Thunder God's face split into a grin that was entirely too cheerful for the circumstances, his booming voice carrying across the devastated landscape.

"Hades! My dark and brooding friend! What a pleasant surprise!"

Alex felt his eye twitch. He glanced at Eryx and Zac, saw their matching expressions of bewilderment, and sighed. This was going to be a long day.

"Thor," he called back, trying to keep the growl out of his voice. "We need to talk. Preferably somewhere that isn't a pile of your realm's rubble."

Thor's smile dimmed slightly, a flicker of something—worry? Fear?—passing across his face before the jovial mask slipped back into place. "Of course, follow me. We have much to discuss, it seems."

As they fell in behind Thor, who was striding through the ruins with the confidence of someone who either didn't notice or didn't care about the destruction around him, Alex felt a headache building behind his eyes. This whole situation stank worse than the Stygian swamps, and he had a feeling they were only scratching the surface of whatever cosmic clusterfuck they'd walked into.

"So," Eryx murmured as they walked, his voice low enough that only Alex could hear. "That's Thor, huh? He's not quite what I expected."

Alex snorted. "Yeah, well, don't let the frat boy act fool you. There's a reason they call him the God of Thunder, not the God of Nuanced Emotional Responses."

Zac, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since Thor's appearance, suddenly spoke up. "Uh, guys? Is it just me, or is the scary smoke monster building getting closer?"

Alex's head snapped up, following Zac's gaze. The kid was right. That writhing, ever-changing structure they'd noticed when they first arrived seemed to have... shifted. It loomed closer now, its twisted spires reaching towards them like grasping fingers.

"Thor," Alex called out, unable to keep the urgency from his voice. "What the fuck is that thing?"

Thor glanced back, his expression darkening as he saw what had caught their attention. "That, my friends, is why we must talk. Come, quickly now. Bilskirnir's walls will offer us some protection, at least for a time."

As they hurried through the streets, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Shadows seemed to move independently of their casters, and more than once he could have sworn he saw faces peering at them from the darkened windows of ruined buildings.

As they rounded another corner, Alex caught Thor eyeing Eryx with an intensity that set his teeth on edge. The Thunder God's gaze was fixed on Eryx's face, as if trying to peer beneath the surface to the divine essence within .

"Out with it, Sparky," Alex growled, his patience wearing thin. "If you've got something to say, say it. We don't have time for your brooding hero act."

Thor had the grace to look abashed, if only for a moment. Then that familiar arrogance crept back into his posture, his chin lifting as he addressed Eryx directly. "Is it true, then? Does the essence of Apollo truly reside within you?"

Alex felt his hackles rise, ready to snap at Thor for his presumption. But before he could open his mouth, Eryx's hand on his arm stopped him. The touch was gentle, but firm—a silent request for Alex to stand down.

"It's alright, Alex," Eryx said softly, before turning to face Thor. His voice, when he spoke, carried an echo of that otherworldly power that never failed to send a shiver down Alex's spine. "Yes, Thor. Apollo and I are connected."

Thor's eyes widened, a mixture of awe and something that looked suspiciously like envy flashing across his face. "Fascinating," he murmured. "To think, a mortal hosting the essence of a god. The power you must wield?—"

"Is not a toy," Alex cut in sharply, unable to keep silent any longer. "And it's not up for discussion. We're here about Odin, remember? Not to satisfy your curiosity about divine timeshares."

Thor had the decency to look chastened, but his gaze soon shifted to Zac. "And what of you, young one? What role do you play in this unusual gathering?"

Alex felt a surge of protectiveness, ready to step in front of Zac and tell Thor exactly where he could shove his questions. But to his surprise (and, if he was being honest, pride), Zac straightened his shoulders and met Thor's gaze head-on.

"I'm Zac," he said, his voice steady despite the slight tremor in his hands. "I'm part of the team. I can do things. Help people. And right now, I'm here to help find Odin and fix whatever's gone wrong with Asgard."

Thor studied Zac for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Well spoken, young Zac. Your courage does you credit."

Alex felt a swell of pride in his chest. Zac was holding his own, sure, but that didn't mean Alex was about to let his guard down. Not here, not with everything so royally fucked up.

As they continued their trek through the devastated cityscape, Alex found his mind wandering to darker places. He'd known Thor for millennia, fought alongside him (and occasionally against him) more times than he could count. The Thunder God had always been a bit of a meathead, all bravado and lightning bolts. But he'd also been steady, reliable in his own pigheaded way.

This Thor, though? This Thor was different. There was an edge to him, a desperation lurking behind the familiar bluster. It set Alex's nerves on edge, made him wonder just how bad things really were.

His musings were cut short as they crested a hill and came face to face with a sight that made even Alex's jaded eyes widen in surprise.

Rising before them, untouched amidst the surrounding devastation, stood a structure that could only be Bilskirnir. It was a castle in the truest sense of the word, its towering spires seeming to pierce the very heavens. Unlike the crumbling ruins around it, Bilskirnir gleamed with an inner light, its walls humming with barely contained power.

"Well, shit," Alex muttered, unable to keep the awe from his voice. "That's something."

Thor's chest puffed up with pride, a glimpse of his old self shining through. "Aye, 'tis a sight to behold, is it not? Bilskirnir stands strong, even as the rest of Asgard lies in ruin."

Alex's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "How?" he demanded, turning to face Thor. "Everything else is trashed. How the hell is this place still standing?"

Thor's expression sobered, a flicker of something—grief? guilt?—passing over his features. "It is my father's magic that guards Bilskirnir," he explained, his voice low. "A final gift, perhaps. The wards can withstand any attack, even those from the gods themselves."

And there it was. The confirmation Alex had been dreading. "Loki," he said, the name tasting bitter on his tongue. "He was part of this, wasn't he?"

Thor's silence was answer enough.

As they approached the towering gates of Bilskirnir, Alex felt a familiar tension coiling in his gut. This was it. Whatever answers they were looking for, whatever clusterfuck they'd stumbled into, it all led here.

"Alright, Thunder Pants," Alex said, his voice gruff to hide the unease churning inside him. "Time to spill. What the fuck happened here? And don't give me any of that 'it's complicated' bullshit. We need the full story."

Thor's shoulders slumped, the weight of rulership visibly pressing down on him. For a moment, he looked old. Tired in a way Alex had never seen before.

"Very well," Thor said, pushing open the massive doors with a gesture. "Come. There is much to discuss, and I fear our time grows short."

As they crossed the threshold into Bilskirnir, Alex felt a tingle of divine energy wash over him. It was familiar, yet foreign—Odin's power, he realized, but twisted somehow. Changed.

The interior of Bilskirnir was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Here, everything was pristine, untouched by the devastation that had ravaged the rest of Asgard. Gleaming halls stretched out before them, their walls adorned with tapestries depicting great battles and heroic deeds.

Under different circumstances, Alex might have been impressed. Now, though, the opulence just pissed him off. How many Asgardians were out there, struggling to survive in the ruins, while Thor sat pretty in his magic castle?

"Nice digs," he commented, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice. "Real cozy. I bet it's great for watching the world burn from your ivory tower."

Thor whirled on him, anger flashing in his eyes. "You know not of what you speak, Hades," he growled, electricity crackling around his clenched fists.

"It's Alex," he shot back, refusing to be cowed. "And I know exactly what I'm talking about. Your people are out there, suffering, while you hide in here. Some king you turned out to be."

For a moment, Alex thought Thor might actually take a swing at him. Part of him—the part that had been itching for a fight ever since they'd arrived in this fucked-up version of Asgard—almost hoped he would.

But before things could escalate further, Eryx stepped between them, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Enough," he said, his voice carrying that hint of divine authority that never failed to make Alex's breath catch. "We're here to help, remember? Not to point fingers or assign blame."

Alex grumbled but backed down. Eryx was right, as usual. They had bigger problems to deal with than Thor's wounded pride.

"Fine," he muttered, shooting Thor one last glare. "But I want answers. Real ones. No more cryptic bullshit or half-truths."

Thor nodded, the anger draining from his posture. "And you shall have them,"