“Yes; we're following,” Thor said gently. “Why don't you sit down, Morpheus?”
“Uh, thanks.” Morpheus fell into a chair and slumped. “I don't know what to do; Hades doesn't even care. He won't listen to me.”
“We were intending on going there today anyway,” Thor said. “We'll talk to him.”
“Thank you,” Morpheus said in relief. “If Zeus gets control of the Underworld, we're all fucked.”
“He won't,” I promised. “Zeus is meant to fall.”
I blinked and looked away from Morpheus' surprised face. Why had I said that?
“I like your confidence, V,” Morpheus said. “But Zeus has most of Olympus under his thumb. It would take a miracle to take him down.”
“Hey, guys!” Ull said merrily as he walked into the dining hall. “Look who's with me.”
Odin walked in after Ull, and I stared at him in shock; he rarely came to Bilskinir. Odin had once been on the opposite side of the God War from Thor and me, but he had given up his position as a wedding present to us and had been trying to repair his family ties. Vali and Vidar, Thor's brothers, had returned to Valaskjalf at Odin's request but things were still awkward among them. Ull, Thor's son by his ex-wife, had been trying to get everyone past that awkwardness.
Seeing Odin when those visions were still fresh in my mind was disturbing. I found myself superimposing images of the old him over the new one, and it was hard to look at my father-in-law without blushing. This was so fucked up. Should I tell Thor? Should I tell Odin? Should I just keep my damn mouth shut? I met Odin's gaze and realized that I didn't have to tell him; Odin already knew. I had a feeling that he'd known for some time.
Past interactions I'd had with Odin replayed in my head; the time he'd given me tarot cards for Yule—cards which had belonged to Sabine, the way he'd stare at me, the way he said my name strangely. As I looked at him now, Odin's single eye widened, and his lips parted. He knew that I knew. Great.
I shifted my gaze to Ull and froze. Ull's eyes suddenly drew me closer, and the next thing I knew, I was hugging him tightly.
“Uh, okay.” Ull laughed as he hugged me back. “It's good to see you too, Mom.”
“Mom?” I blinked as I leaned away from him.
Ull frowned and looked at Thor for help. “Why is Mom acting weird?”
“You know that she's still adjusting to your penchant for calling her 'Mom,'” Thor chided his son.
“Mom,” I whispered again as another vision rose up in my mind.
Mommy! Please don't forget me!
“Oh, fuck,” I whispered as I covered my eyes; I was tearing up.
“Vervain?” Thor asked with horror as he slid an arm around me. “What is it, darling?”
“I remembered something,” I whispered.
“Vervain, perhaps you should give yourself some time to process,” Odin said hurriedly. “Sit down.”
“I'm okay,” I said but I sat down anyway. “I've just been having strange visions this morning.”
“Visions?” Ull asked; his stare going sharp. “What kind of visions?”
“I don't know,” I whispered. “But I just heard your voice, Ull. Except it wasn't your voice.”
“Ull? Your vision was about Ull?” Odin looked surprised and then relieved. “What did he say?”
“He begged me not to forget him,” I said as I stared at Ull. Suddenly, his eyes were in another face; a child's face. I started to cry again. “I'm sorry,” I sobbed. “I don't know why I'm crying.”
“I've been seeing things too,” Ull said as he sat beside me and took my hand. “I saw myself standing before me, and that other me was a dragon.”
“A dragon?” Thor asked with huge eyes. “What the hell is happening?”
“I don't know,” Odin mused, “but this feels wrong. Everything about this day feels wrong.”
“As if I'm in another person's life,” Morpheus added with a nod. “Do you think someone has enchanted us?”
“Toward what end?” Thor huffed. “Come on; we're gods. No one has enchanted us; we're all just tired and stressed over this situation with Hades.”
“Maybe,” I murmured as I glanced at Odin.
Odin slightly shook his head.
I stood abruptly, and everyone looked at me in surprise.
“I'm going to make us breakfast,” I declared as if it were a call to war. “You guys stay here and relax; I think we could all use some food in our bellies.”
“Thank you, darling,” Thor kissed my forehead and took a seat.
“I'll help you,” Odin offered. “I don't think you should be alone right now.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Thor said with a smile toward Odin.
I nodded absently and headed into the kitchen. Thor's kitchen was all stainless steel and modern appliances. I guess it was my kitchen too, but it didn't feel like it. I'd been meaning to add a few Vervain touches but all I'd done so far was put out my latte maker and a hanging basket for fruit. Now, I was in the massive, cold room with Thor's father and, ironically, it felt more like home.
“Am I Sabine?” I turned on Odin immediately.
Odin flinched and then his face sort of crumpled. He ran a hand tiredly over his eyes and swallowed roughly before answering.
“I believe so,” he whispered.
“Oh, this is so fucked up,” I groaned. “How long have you known?”
“I suspected it when we first met,” he admitted. “But I didn't know for certain until the wedding. When I saw you walking down the aisle toward my son, I also saw Sabine; walking toward me on our wedding day.”
“Jesus Christ,” I whispered.
“Well, that's hardly appropriate,” Odin said with a little smile.
I made a surprised bark of laughter and then shook my head. “What are we going to do?”
“Do?” Odin asked in
