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Now it was time for questions. There always had to be questions. Odin glared at Marta, then met Alexandrea's eyes.

"I frightened her," Odin stated. "It would seem they," Odin darted another glance at Marta then continued "had scheduled to meet here and party down a bit."

Odin started pacing now back and forth in front of the couch.

"I did not expect anyone to just come walking into my apartment, Morgan did not expect to see me here...." Odin stopped pacing and looked down at Morgan. His eyes met Alexandrea's again.

"I spooked her. She was running from me. I am.....sorry."

Alexandrea frowned, confused. She suspected there was more to it than that but let it go for the moment, returning her attention on Morgan. Was it just wishful thinking or had Alex just felt something?

Looking down at where her wrist lay bleeding in Morgan's mouth, Alex couldn't be sure but she wasn't ready to give up yet. She stroked the young woman's hair with her free hand and started to shiver from the shock of it all.

Keeping her eyes focused just on Morgan, Alex tried to forget anyone else was in the room. Especially Odin. She wasn't ready to deal with him yet at all. Alexandrea would insist on the full story soon but for now, taking care of her friend was all she could think about.

"Drink, Morgan. Please..." She whispered, sounding broken. "I don't want to lose someone else that I love... please don't leave me..."

Odin didn't think his explanation went well, though it was the truth. He wasn't necessarily sharing all the details at the moment, but it was the truth. Alexandrea seemed to be avoiding looking at him.

He had to admit, she was certainly determined to try to bring Morgan back.

It happened so suddenly that for a minute Alexandrea had thought she had dreamed it. But seeing the empty sofa before her eyes was proof that it was no hallucination.

For the briefest of moments, Morgan had seemed to be swallowing. For a flicker of a nanosecond the young woman's eyelashes seemed to flutter. Then... she was, just gone.

A dark shadow seemed to hang in the air above where the human's body had lain mere seconds ago, and as Alex watched, it seemed to roll outwards as if t was make of smoke. Alexandrea gasped as the darkness that looked like a cloud or maybe vapor? Swam though her and gave a small shudder.

It had seemed to have worked, so why was Morgan gone? If she had died as a human... then there would be a corpse on Odin's couch. So what had happened? Too many wounds to heal and she died anyways and went to the shadow realm?
"She's a shadow." Was all she could think to say and then tried to send to Morgan in the Shadow Realm. Alex frowned, puzzled. She could not seem to get a 'fix' on where to send the message. She looked inside her head, picturing Morgan in her mind and trying to really, 'See' her. She came up blank. Blinking in confusion... Alexandrea finally looked back at Odin.

"I... I can't find her... why can't I find her? She must be in the Shadow Realm. She changed. You saw it, too. Didn't you?"

Alex's tone wasn't panicked or even confused. It was flat. A monotone. She stared up at Odin with absolutely no expression on her tear stained face.

Odin figured Alexandrea's efforts were useless. He sighed heavily. Why did it have to be Morgan that came through his door? He knew he had hurt Alexandrea in the past, but didn't think he could top what he did tonight. His words of apology couldn't possibly make up for it.

He stared at Alexandrea as she tried in vain to save Morgan somehow. Suddenly there was the briefest of movements on Morgan's face and in the next second she disappeared. A plume of smokey-looking fog rolled out across the living room from above the couch.

Odin's eyebrows widened at the sight. Marta gasped and backed up against the bookshelf. Alexandrea said "She's a shadow." She then proceeded to attempt to send her a message.

After stating she could not find Morgan, Alexandrea asked him if he saw what she saw.

"Of course I saw it," he said. "Though I don't know why you can't find her."

"This was not supposed to happen," he muttered under his breath. Maybe if he hadn't paused to grab the cell phone from Marta he would have been able to grab her before she fell down the stairs.

He shook his head and repeated, "I don't know why you can't find her."

Alexandrea nodded, feeling numb, as Odin agreed that he has also witnessed what had happened. She tilted her head to the side with a curious look on her face when the man went on to say he didn't know why Alex couldn't find Morgan. For the hundredth time, Alexandrea wished she had the ability to enter the Shadow Realm at will. It was on her list... she just had it pretty far down the list. Maybe she should change that. Alex shook her head to clear it, rethinking her priorities with self improvement could wait.

For a split second she thought of asking Odin if he would go look for her but Alex held her tongue. Things had been so awkward after he had given her his version of the "lets be friends" song and dance. She closed her eyes and ran her hand over the top of her head, thinking.

"Maybe... maybe, she is just too... new? Maybe there is a time delay to arrive in the Shadow Realm? I don't know that anyone has ever timed it. Maybe the next time I'm killed you'll time it for me. After all, isn't that the sort of **** friends do together?" She hadn't really expected much sympathy or comfort from the killer but his lack of any effort at all for someone who he had claimed he cared about annoyed her.

Alex's tone was sharp, she wanted to know the full story and she wanted it now.

She was sure that Odin had been avoiding her. They hardly ever spoke the few times they ran into each other. Although both were civil. Even friendly in a way. But Alexandrea had been hurt and if Odin had really cared and wanted them to be friends? What the hell did he think friends were? Just just say hi to the other guy in the building when you pick up the mail. That was a pretty much just a stranger, that person you only say hi to when you cross paths in the street.

So why would she ask him to fade walk to find Morgan?


She got a cold empty smile on her face and moved to plant herself right in front of the much larger killer. He said he had spooked Morgan? Spooked the young woman how. How exactly? Standing as tall as her small frame would allow, Alex rose to her full height of just under five foot two. Tilting her head upwards she gave Odin a larger grin, but it wasn't a friendly one.

Her voice was like silk. Smooth and soft as she slightly leaned her head to one side and said in a very low and quiet tone; "So. She fell down the stairs. That's what killed my Morgan. She ran, my dear friend did, because you... spooked her?"

Alex began to square off her feet, getting the best balance she could under the highly agitated state she was in.

"You, just 'spooked' her. Like a Halloween prank? Or what Odin? How exactly did you do to spook a young woman that was so important to me, and who loved me back...."

Alex paused.. Her voice never changed it's volume at any point. She was so calm one might call it eerie. Silent rage radiated out of her and her eyes were on fire, explosions of sparks dancing in them.

But she kept smiling, and kept her tone civil. "That she ran out of here so frightened she fell down the stairs and... died."

"Tell me the whole truth and tell me now. Or give me your consent for me to use mind read on you. I think you are holding back. No. I know you are. After all the times you and Morgan have been alone in the same room, why would she take a swan dive just to get away from you now?"

Alexandrea almost let her razor claws pop out but held back. Instead she shifted into her monstrous form and then just as quickly, she nullified the negative effects. She didn't kid herself that no matter how monstrous she might look, that trying to scare Odin was not just pointless but counter productive.

But she felt she made her point. She was ready to fight if she had to, to get the truth out of him. But there was a quicker way. If he would just agree to it.

"Alright, Odin. Now I'm going to shut up and I ask you... you, to start talking." Dropping the creepy smile, Alex finally frowned up at him.

"And if you have told me the whole truth? Then I can't see why you would say no to letting me into go swimming in your head. It wouldn't take long." Alexandrea smiled a bit too sweetly."In fact no time at all. And if you have nothing to hide? What's the problem?"

Alexandrea suggested a reason that she may not have been able to reach Morgan, though by the end of her supposition she started to sound rather irritated.

Odin replied, "It's possible it's because she just got there, and yeah, the next time you're killed, I'll time it for you," he added with a smirk.

She then got up in his face, a look of angry determination on her features. Her voice was eerily calm and calculated. When she said

"That she ran out of here so frightened she fell down the stairs and... died."

Odin frowned.

That was not supposed to happen.

There was no doubt she wanted all the details. He really didn't blame her. Then Alexandrea wanted consent to read his mind on the whole matter and briefly transformed herself into a monster. Odin suddenly grew angry. Any sense of sympathy he had dissipated.

"What's the problem?" he growled. "Maybe the problem is that I don't need anyone in my ******* head."

He glared at Alexandrea and said, "I didn't think you needed all the details right off the bat, and I did tell you the truth. I could have ******* got rid of her body. You would always wonder what had happened to her. I didn't need to call you, to summon you here, but I did."

"You want the details, fine!" he snapped. "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I wasn't exactly in a good frame of mind. She ran from me because I was going to kill her. She was terrified. I started to brutalize her and the only reason I stopped was because Marta, after a failed attempt at stabbing me, yelled out to me how upset you'd be if I hurt her."

Odin started pacing back and forth once again as he continued. "When I backed off her, Morgan bolted out the door and down the stairs. I went to get her to calm her down but before I could reach her she fell."

He stopped then slapped his forehead with the palm of hs hand. "But go ahead, you really want to see all the sordid details, go for it, have at it."

He then shot a glance at Marta and said, "Then you will have your proof that I didn't push her down the stairs."

His gaze returned back to Alexandrea and he growled, "When I got my head straight I tried to get her to calm her down. I wish it hadn't been Morgan who walked through that door."

She rolled her eyes as Odin said he would time her next death. At one time she would have wished that he would be the only one to want to kill her. She had promised him before that she would only let him do it next time but he didn't seem to remember that. Or else he really just didn't care anymore.

Alex got the feeling that Odin was now angry at HER. She narrowed her eyes as she tossed her hair. How dare he...

"What's the problem? Maybe the problem is that I don't need anyone in my ******* head. I didn't think you needed all the details right off the bat, and I did tell you the truth. I could have ******* got rid of her body. You would always wonder what had happened to her. I didn't need to call you, to summon you here, but I did."

At first she grew even more pissed off as he glared at her and growled out his words. But it sounded to Alexandrea that Odin WAS telling the truth... And he had brought her here when he didn't have to.

And as the man who despite Alexandrea's best efforts at cutting him out of her heart, yet still did hold her heart, went on to admit that he had been hurting Morgan... And, that in his own words? That he had... 'brutalized' her, Alex closed her eyes while she shook in anger. She was trying her best to stay calm and hear the rest of what Odin had to say. The words'

"She ran from me because I was going to kill her."

echoing in her head.

'Why?' Alex wanted to ask, to beg Odin to explain. But she stayed quiet and kept on listening to the man.

"the only reason I stopped was because Marta, after a failed attempt at stabbing me, yelled out to me how upset you'd be if I hurt her."

Startled, Alexandrea looked over at Marta as if to ask, 'Is that true?' and blinked a few times, she was trying not to cry anymore and refocused her attention on Odin as he went on. Startled that his thrall had raised a weapon to her boss. Alex shot a look of undying gratitude towards the woman.

Then she opened her lips to speak as he explained how he had stopped. How he had been reminded of her, Alexandrea, and gave the rest of the story about how he had tried to stop Morgan but was too late. She squeezed her eyes and her lips shut and tried not to sob. She believed everything that Odin was telling her except for the part that he stopped because of Alex. If he had really cared, then why? Why hurt Morgan at all and why had he been so distant for so long? As much as she was sorry that he had called it quits between them romantically, losing his friendship had hurt Alexandrea the most. She... had missed him. More than she wanted to admit.

Odin offered Alexandrea the chance to read his mind and she was about to refuse, convinced he was being honest with the most important parts. But then he brought Marta into it. Odin looked at the human woman and said that then she would have the proof that he hadn't pushed Morgan. If Marta had been there the whole time, why would Odin's thrall doubt whether or not Odin had pushed Morgan?

Alex's frown grew back again, after it having just vanished and her body had just been starting to relax.

Perhaps she would look into his head and check out his memories after all.

The Killer continued to speak, in a growl that didn't phase Alexandrea one jot. She did blink, however, when Odin said that he wished that it hadn't been Morgan who had walked through his door.

She nodded and even though at first she did hesitate, Alexandrea went ahead and read his memories. And saw that it was true. All of it.

The first thing Alex did was to look over at Marta and nod. "He didn't push her." Alexandrea said softly as she took a step back and stopped looking in Odin head. She was only going to look at what was relevant. She hoped he knew and believed that.

The other thing she had seen was that had it had been true that Odin HAD indeed stopped when Marta had brought up that Alexandrea would be upset. Alex almost smiled. So maybe some part of him did still give a **** after all.

Alex slumped down to sit on the sofa. She was drained emotionally and just completely confused as to what to do next.

"I know. I understand. I can't say it's okay but I do get that you didn't really mean to really kill my friend. That doesn't make it right but I have to give you full credit for being honest with me."

She raked her finger tips along her scalp and through her hair and then shook her head. "It just sucks, Odin. It really really sucks and I still want to kick your ***." It was true. Not just because the Allurist was mad and hurt. But she missed the fights that Odin and she used to have.

After Alexandrea read Odin's memories, and confirmed to Marta that he didn't push Morgan down the stairs, she collapsed on the couch.

"I know. I understand. I can't say it's okay but I do get that you didn't really mean to really kill my friend."

Odin frowned. He paused a moment before he spoke, thinking of her one statement in particular. "Yes, it does suck, and I'm sure you want to kick my ***, but let me clarify one thing - I did, indeed, mean to kill her....initially."

He sighed, then continued, “Not that I wanted to kill her in particular...I just needed to kill.

And in the end I was responsible for her death.

Odin found no pleasure in this thought. It was just a fact.

He glared at Alexandrea, and trying to keep the growl from his voice said, “I told you about my idiocinricies early on, and you were good with it.

I’ll bet you’re not so good with it now.

He remembered that difficult conversation well.

At this point he didn’t trust himself. He darted a glance at Marta.

Who will be there to try to save you?

Marta looked at Odin and nervously shifted her weight back and forth on her feet, and thought it probably wasn’t a good idea if she slept here today. She didn’t know this side of Odin and was becoming increasingly frightened.

As though he read her mind he said, “I believe you should stay somewhere else for awhile.”

Marta nodded her head slowly. She would be fine. She knew several places at which she could crash. “I’ll get my things,” she said quickly before she darted out of the room.

Odin clasped his hands behind his back and started pacing once again. Thoughts flooded his mind. He was not only responsible for Morgan’s death, but for the fact that Ishani-Snow was here. He had killed her mother during his vacation to Ireland, not realizing there was also a child in the house, locked in a dingy closet of a room. When he discovered her, he waited until he got back in town, then called the authorities. Luckily, Snow hadn’t laid eyes on him. Of course, she gets shipped to her grandparents who live - where else - in Harper Rock.

I should have tied up loose ends, it would have been better for her.

His mind darted to different places, different times.

It’s hard to keep a girlfriend when you keep killing them – talk about commitment issues.

Odin cleared his head and stopped pacing. He sighed heavily, and then turned back to Alexandrea. “Would you like me to go look for Morgan?” he asked.

Though I don’t think she’ll be too happy to see me.

Alexandrea's eyes darted up to look Odin in the face. Something she had been working hard at avoiding having to do for months, not just tonight. When the killer agreed that Morgan dying sucked and that Alex wanting to beat the crap out of him wasn't a surprise, Alex had actually smiled for a brief moment. But the feeling of being in the presence of a close friend vanished even before she had heard what Odin was about to say next.

She squeezed her eyes closed, trying not to cry and her hand shook as she racked it through her tousled hair. Odin didn't have to bring her here, didn't have to tell her what had happened to Morgan. Alex kept focusing on that as she tried to pay attention to his voice as he said he needed to make something clear. She put aside her 'reasons to smack Odin list' and paid attention to what her friend's killer had to say.

.........I did, indeed, mean to kill her....initially."

“Not that I wanted to kill her in particular...I just needed to kill.

Stunned into silence from the moment she heard Odin say it was no accident, every sentence he spoke making her more and more angry, she was getting to the point of no return when Odin dropped the real bombshell.

“I told you about my idiocinricies early on, and you were good with it.

Splashing Alexandrea with a bucket of cold ice water couldn't have had a quicker effect of cooling the blonde down.

"Ohhh... no.. you're right." Alex said so quietly that although Odin must have heard her, there was no way Marta had. A bit more loudly she went on; "I should have known it could happen. It's all my fault. My own damn fault."

Her elbows planted in her knees, Alexandrea buried her face in her hands and felt shame. Soul crushing shame that her blindness over a man that didn't even want her had led her to put her friend at risk.

She didn't sob or cry, she just sat there for a minute making no sound.

Alex heard Odin speaking to Marta and then the sounds of the young woman rushing from the room. She looked back up at the Killer with a resolved look on her face.

"She should stay with me. We both lost someone we cared about."

Standing up she tossed her hair out of her eyes and blinked back the tears, refusing to appear weak ever again in front of her ex lover. She was sick and tired of losing people she loved and she told herself she was only upset over Morgan. But the frustration she had felt at not getting proper closure with Odin still stung, and gave her voice a slightly bitter edge as she shoved down deep in her heart just how much she wanted the man to comfort her in her grief.

"She and I can comfort each other and if she wouldn't mind Marta can help me.... figure out what to do with Morgan's things in a few days."

Alexandrea stood there at a loss as what to do next after Marta left and she had finished making her little speech. Once she could have spent hours in Odin's company and no one had to say a word. Now the silence was awkward and uncomfortable. She was still plenty used to his ways however. She hadn't even noticed he had gone back trying to wear a grove in the floor until his pacing suddenly stopped and he had spoken again.

“Would you like me to go look for Morgan?”

The offer was so unexpected that Alexandrea just stood mute for a few minutes before almost smiling "That's... good of you to offer, Odin." She began quietly. "But if Morgan is there I rather doubt seeing you right now would bring her any comfort."

If Morgan was out there somewhere, she would be back. If she wasn't then no amount of Fadewalkers searching the shadow realm would help. There really wasn't anything more to be done except wait. And she could do that at home. Alex moved towards the door but then stopped and took the spare key to her house off of her fob, setting in down on the table beside her.

"Please give this key to Marta? Tell her she is welcome to come by my place at Willow Court anytime and stay for as long as she likes." The blonde's voice was a monotone again and her face was a blank as she struggled not to blink, feeling her eyes were filled with tears again and not wanting to let them fall. She stared straight ahead at where Odin would be but didn't see him through the mist in her eyes.

Alexandrea turned around quickly as she felt her lashes flicker and the waterworks start, her hand on the door knob she flashed back to the last time she had left Odin's. The night he had dumped her. Twice in a row now, Alex was leaving the same place with a broken heart. Shaking with emotion, the blonde forgot the door opened in and not out. But that didn't stop the door that now had the frame still around it as Alexandrea leaned it against the hallway wall.

"I'll... pay for the expenses" She started to say, her voice breaking. She continued to speak in Odin's mind, unable to continue without sobbing. *And I'll hire someone to do the work unless you want to do the repairs yourself*. Keeping her tear stained face averted, Alex headed for the elevator just as the hiccups started.