Chapter 81: Want to commit a crime? Let me help you!

(Percy POV)

I knew I was in trouble when I woke up dreaming.

"Now, we meet again." A familiar voice said.

In a daze I turned around, 'What just happened?' I asked Chaos.

I had a gaping hole in my memory, I remember entering the battlefield and trying to claim the hill but from that point on it was all blank.

'I have no idea.' Chaos admitted.

'I do!' Lyssa cried out, 'You went Berserk along with Chaos. I tried to stop you, but it was almost impossible to knock you out. Finally, I managed to do it.'

Lyssa was lying.

Since I had the blessing of Apollo, I could tell if someone was lying, though it was not foolproof. The power activated itself at random times. Which was sometimes useful but most of the times it was really not.

Someone coughed, and I returned my attention to the outside world.

I found myself standing next to Loki on the deck of a massive Viking longship larger than an aircraft carrier. The main deck could've accommodated the Boston Marathon. Giant shields lined the railings. Fore and aft rose thirty-foot-tall figureheads shaped like snarling wolves.

I peered over the side between two shields. A hundred feet down, braided iron cables moored the ship to a dock. The grey sea churned with ice. I ran my hand along the railing. The surface was bumpy and prickly – enamelled with white and grey ridges like fish scales or pearl shavings.

I recognized it immediately, "Naglar." I murmured, "The ship made of nails."

The ship was made of toenails, millions and millions of corpses must have contributed to building this ship. Nótt had told me that once Ragnarok begins this ship will sail straight to Asgard to destroy the gods.

Loki nodded, "Indeed. Long time no see."

I groaned, Loki's eyes studied me with great interest. His grin was wide like he knew what he was doing and had already succeeded.

"Why are we here?"

"Because I like you Percy," Loki said. "You got the skills most Einherjar lack and you also got the guts to do what's right. I'm glad my daughter brought you here."

I eyed Loki suspiciously, trying to figure out what he was after.

"You were behind that?" I snapped.

Loki shrugged, "Technically it was more your decision than mine. I motivated Samirah to keep an eye out for a certain Greek demigod. However, she would never have claimed you if it wasn't for the fact you claimed Valhalla yourself."

I frowned, "Why's that?"

"Oh, well if your plan failed, you wouldn't go to Hades. Instead, your soul would go to Helheim."

He tapped his forehead, "Though a certain daughter of me is really pissed about that fact."

"Hel." I guess, "She wanted my soul?"

Loki shrugged, "She always got her unhealthy obsessions. So in a way you should be grateful that I helped you."

"And now you want something in return?" I guessed.

'We could give him an amazon gift card.' Lyssa suggested. 'Maybe two.'

Loki smiled and shook his head, "No Percy, I'm not like the other gods. I'm just here to help."

I scowled, "Seriously? You expect me to believe that?"

Loki shrugged. "It's not my job to say what you should do, I'm just here to show you the choices and options you have. The most I can do is give advice."

"Advice that might be helpful to you?"

Loki's eyes flared with amazement, "Yes. Like last summer when we traded favors."

Last summer, when I gave Loki Thor's hammer in exchange for Katie.

"We could repeat it." Loki suggested, "Another trade of favors."

"And why would I be interested?" I asked.

Loki playfully tapped his fingers against the ship's rail. "Well, for starters preventing Ragnarok. Second Bianca."

My heart skipped a beat. I knew he was playing with me, and I should try to hide my emotions but I couldn't . I gasped for air as Loki, a Norse god, spoke the huntresses name.

"How?"

Loki waved my question away, "How does not matter. The point is, what I can offer."

"She's in Hades, there's no way you can get her back." I said and I hoped my lie detection would work.

Loki shrugged, "If that's what you think." he said casually.

"What do you want from me?" I asked cautiously. Making sure not to promise anything.

"The sword of summer." he said. "Magnus can't wield it properly. He's not a warrior."

"He did a great job on the battlefield." I defended my friend, "Besides isn't it some kind of magical weapon? With auto control."

Loki chuckled, "Yes it is. But do you really trust Magnus? Wouldn't it be better if you use it?"

I scowled, "I trust him more than I trust you. Besides he claimed the sword, and it's lost right now."

Loki rolled with his eyes, "I bet Magnus will find it again but he has no idea what he can do with the sword. He would probably fail his mission and start Ragnarok."

I scowled, "And that's exactly what you want."

Loki shook his head, "When Ragnarok is set in motion all the chains will break."

He showed me his damaged wrists, raw and burned flesh.

"The chains that keep my imprisoned...snap."

He pointed at the boat, "The moorings that keep the ship from sailing? Snap. Surt is destined to have the sword when Ragnarok starts. Do you really think Magnus is more capable than you in keeping the sword safe?"

"But you want Ragnarok to start!" I called out.

He pointed at the ship, "Look at the figureheads. The wolves' snouts aren't finished yet. Is there anything more embarrassing than sailing into battle with half-finished figureheads?"

I frowned, Loki made no sense at all.

He noticed my confusion and sighed, "Look, take the sword to your Greek camp. I'm sure Surt won't be able to take the sword if you stay there.

I wanted to laugh in Loki's face and tell him no. I figured he was trying to trick me. Yet I couldn't see his angle.

"You think it's a trap, don't you? But why would I send the sword further away from Norse territories?"

I scowled, my mind was taking a new perspective. What would happen if the sword was out of the picture. Loki wanted the sword away because it could do something.

Something Loki didn't want.

I shook my head, "Thanks for the offer but no. I'm not taking the sword away if Magnus manages to find it."

"Can Bianca change that opinion?" Loki asked with amusement.

"She's dead and in Hades, outside your control."

Loki tapped his fingers against his forehead. "If that's what you think."

I glared at him. I had no idea why he thought he could revive Bianca or how he knew about Bianca at all but I knew that I shouldn't trust him.

"No. I won't."

Loki sighed, "Don't you get it? The sword is meant to be given away."

"Than it will be Magnus's choice."

Loki sighed, "Do you know how the sword became lost in the first place?"

I shook my head, "I don't care."

Loki made a tsk tsk sound, "Frey sat one time on Odin's throne to see what he most desired."

"Like I said, I don't care." yet the Athena part of me wanted to hear the story, knowing it might help me.

"If you sit on Odin's throne, you can see in all the nine worlds. Frey's sister, Freya, was wandering through the worlds in grief. Frey sat on the throne to find her. But instead of finding her, he saw what he most desired - a frost giantess, Gerd. He fell madly in love with her."

I sighed, "How can Frey fall in love with a giant? The size and all?"

Loki chuckled, "Giants are not always...giant. They come in all different kind of sizes."

He shook his head, like he was distracted and annoyed by it. "Anyway.

He fell in love with her. Oh, she was beautiful. Silver to Frey's gold, cold to his warmth, winter to his summer. You've heard that opposites attract? She was his perfect match. But she was a giant. She would never agree to marry a Vanir. Her family would not allow it.

Knowing this, Frey fell into despair. Crops stopped growing. Summer lost its warmth. Finally, Frey's servant and best friend came to ask him what was wrong. Skirnir promised he could deliver Gerd within nine days,' said the goddess.

'All he required was a small fee for his services – the Sword of Summer."

"That's how he lost it!" I called out.

Loki nodded, "And the sword...he felt is why the sword will never allow Frey to use it again. And that is why, at Ragnarok, Frey is fated to die because he does not have his weapon."

I nodded, "And why did you tell me this?" I asked.

"Because I want you to know that it's not unusual or a strange choice to take the weapon and use it for your own good."

He gave me one last smile, "Frey did it and got what he wanted the most. You could do it too, stop Ragnarok and rescue a lost friend."

I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me of.

"Don't talk now, think about it. I have no idea where the sword is, but I have the idea that the son of Frey will find it. Until then, reconsider my offer."

He waved his hand and my dream faded.

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So a lot of explanation in this chapter. Hope you guys liked it.