Chapter 76: I recycle myself

(Magnus POV)

Whatever happened today, it managed to make my life worse.

I stared at the kid in front of me, trying to figure out what was going on.

My day started kind of normal. I woke up under the bridge-

Oh, you're surprised I slept under a bridge? I am homeless, sorry if that shocks you.

Oh, wait. I don't care.

After living on the streets for 2 years I got used to weird stuff.

But today managed to surprise me.

My friend Blitzen woke me up in the morning, telling me that people were looking for me and that Hearth, my other friend, was waiting for me.

If you're homeless, it is a bad sign people are looking for you, mostly it were cops who saw you steal something. Or social workers.

But Blitzen had told me that they had my picture and knew my name, this made me curious.

To my surprise it were my cousin and Uncle, Frederick Chase and Annabeth Chase.

But why were they looking for me? I had thought.

I heard them mention my uncle Randolph was looking for me.

I decided to find it out, and the best place to do it was his house.

With ease, I broke into his house but surprise, he was waiting for me.

That sneaky bastard.

And now I hear you say: But why are you so negative about your Uncle Magnus? IF you are homeless, couldn't you live with him?

One answer, NO!

Before my mom...died...she told me not to trust Randolph, so I did. I stayed away from his house and never tried to connect with him.

And I was right in avoiding him, the moment I entered his house he began rambling about me being in danger because I was turning 16 years old.

Oh, by the way. Today was my birthday.

After hearing an explosion in the decision I agreed to come with Randolph, and he drove me through Boston telling me my dad was a Norse god.

At that moment I decided he was crazy, but Randolph made it impossible for me to escape with child lock on the car door.

He brought me to a bridge and tried to make me summon a sword from the river. Against all odds it worked, and I received the grand prize.

A rusty sword.

Randolph told me it was my birthright, and it was lost for eons but I wasn't really that happy with my sword, sure it was a fun super power to summon scrap from the river bottom but I kind of hoped for something else.

Then suddenly a guy named Surt shows up and tried to kill me, he set the bridge on fire and almost killed the peasants. I couldn't let that happen and cut of his nose with my sword which magically recycled itself and turned into a sharp good-as-new sword.

However, while I tried to kill him he managed to toss me into the river, however I took him with me, so he wouldn't be able to bother the peasants anymore.

We both fell into the river, and I was sure I would die. Surt literally shot a piece of burning asphalt through my stomach but somehow I managed to survive it.

My body had magically healed itself after a drop in the ice-cold river.

In fact, I looked perfect. My body didn't feel dirty and my clothes weren't as ragged as they used to be.

"Hey!" someone called out, I turned and noticed a boy staring at me.

The first thing I noticed were his sea green eyes, they were almost shining so bright were they.

He was around my age, maybe younger.

He was very handsome. He was lean and muscular, but in an athletic way, his jet black hair was so swept to one side, and he wore an orange t-shirt which was really inappropriate for the Boston winter.

I immediately knew this kid was a troublemaker, his smile told me that immediately. On the streets I learned to pick out those kinds of people, and this kid was one of them.

But maybe he could give me some explanation about what happened on the bridge.

"Who are you? Where are we?" I asked.

"I'm Percy Jackson, who are you?" Percy asked.

I frowned, he didn't answer the question of where we were. On the other hand, he seemed to be as confused as I was.

"Where are we?" I asked trying to find out what's going on.

"What's your name?" He insisted, damn he was good.

"My name is Magnus," I said. "Magnus Chase."

He grinned, "Okay, so where are we?"

As waiting for me the double doors swung inward with a groan. Blinding golden light spilled out. A burly man appeared on the stoop. He wore a doorman's uniform: top hat, white gloves and a dark green jacket with tails and the interlocking letters HV embroidered on the lapel, but there was no way this guy was an actual doorman. His warty face was smeared with ashes. His beard hadn't been trimmed in decades. His eyes were bloodshot and murderous, and a double-bladed axe hung at his side. His name tag read: HUNDING, SAXONY, VALUED TEAM MEMBER SINCE 749 C.E.

Percy stumbled backwards, reached for something in his pocket and fished out a pen.

I raised a brow, maybe Percy was going to make a scary drawing on his face to scare this guy away.

"Get out!" I yelled to, Percy, then I realized there was nowhere we could run to

The man scowled, "Don't run away while checking in."

Percy frowned, "What?"

"You two died right? Follow me to the registration." he said and turned around and walked back.

The place was bigger on the inside, which for some reason didn't surprise me.

The foyer was huge and when I say huge I mean huge, it was twice as big on the inside than the on the outside. And this was only the folly.

An acre of hardwood floor was covered with exotic animal skins: zebra, lion and a forty foot-long reptile that I wouldn't want to have met when it was alive. Against the right wall, a fire crackled in a bedroom-size hearth. In front of it, a few high-school-age guys in fluffy green bathrobes lounged on overstuffed leather couches, laughing and drinking from silver goblets. Over the mantel hung the stuffed head of a wolf.

"Wow, you guys have a lot of stuffed animals." Percy said dryly as we followed the named Hunding.

I nodded, "To many."

In the middle of the folly was a sign that announced today's activities, things like: Breakfast, to the death. Yoga, to the death. Group combat, to the death.

I thought it was a little disturbing, I saw Percy gulp which gave me a little bit of satisfaction. At least I was not the only person who thought this place was weird.

"Do you two have any luggage?" the doorman Hunding suddenly asked.

I patted on my empty pockets as to show, I don't have anything.

Percy looked around, like he expected his luggage to appear out of thin air, but nothing happened.

"Nope." I said for the both of us.

Hunding grunted. "No one brings luggage anymore. Don't they put anything on your funeral pyre?"

"What?" I muttered confused.

"I died at sea." Percy said casually.

"Never mind."

He walked towards the far corner of the room, where an overturned boat's keel served as the reception desk.

The man behind the keel apparently used the same barber as Hunding. His beard was so big it had its own zip code. His hair looked like a buzzard that had exploded on a windshield. He was dressed in a forest-green pinstripe suit. His name tag read: HELGI, MANAGER, EAST GOTHLAND, VALUED TEAM MEMBER SINCE 749 C.E.

"Welcome!" Helgi glanced up from his computer screen. "Checking in?"

Percy's coughed, "What?"

"Check in," Helgi said. "You realize check-in time is three p.m.,' he said. 'If you die earlier in the day, I can't guarantee your room will be ready."

"Die?" I asked.

"We would rather just go back to the world of the living." Percy suggested. "It's not a problem."

"No, no." He tapped on his keyboard.

"Ah, here we are." He grinned, revealing exactly three teeth. 'We've upgraded you to a suite.' Next to me, Hunding muttered under his breath, 'Everyone is upgraded to a suite. All we have are suites."

"Hunding …" warned the manager.

"Sorry, sir."

'You don't want me to use the stick.'

Hunding winced. 'No, sir.' I looked back and forth between them. It was obvious they had some kind of rivalry."

Helgi gave us an apologetic smile, "How many keys would you like."

"Keys?" Percy asked.

"But where are we?" I asked, "Can someone explain it please." I practically begged the last part.

"Sir," Helgi said, "all this will be explained tonight at dinner. That's when new guests are formally welcomed."

"Valhalla." Percy whispered under his breath, like he just realized the true meaning of it, "We are in Valhalla." he said, now louder.

"We are in Valhalla?" I asked, I vaguely remembered something about a mythological place called Valhalla.

Helgi's eyes made it clear I was straining his patience. "Yes, sir. The Hotel Valhalla. Congratulations. You've been chosen to join the hosts of Odin. I look forward to hearing about your brave exploits at dinner."

"Brave exploits?" Percy murmured.

Helgi narrowed his eyebrows and glared at Percy, "And you, shouldn't be here!"

I had no idea why Percy shouldn't be here, but if he was getting kicked out. I wanted to join.

"Why shouldn't he be here?" I asked.

Percy played nervously with his thumbs.

"He's a Greek, Greeks usually don't go to Valhalla." Helgi answered not looking away from Percy.

"That's racist." Percy said with hurt in his voice.

"So, I might be Greek too," I lied, "Can you kick me out and bring me back to the world of the living?"

Helgi shook his head, "No. No, the choice can't be undone. You two are chosen."

The choice can't be undone.

The words made my legs buckle. I leaned on the desk for support. I'd been trying to convince myself this was all a mistake – some elaborate theme hotel where I'd been mistaken for a guest. Now I wasn't so sure.

"Dead." I muttered.

Percy gave me a look that said, Don't worry. We'll be alright.

"But I can't be dead." I protested.

"Here are the room keys." Helgi said not particular caring for my emotional break down.

He tossed a rune stone at me. It was about the size of a large domino stone. Smooth, circular and above all; a good projectile.

"You guys want the Minibar key?" Helgi asked.

"We want the minibar keys." Percy answered.

"How long," I asked, "How long are we going to stay?"

"Forever." Helgi said. "Or at least until Ragnarok. Hunding will now show you to your room. Enjoy your afterlife. Next!"

...

(Percy POV)

Hunding guided us through the many corridors of the hotel.

It reminded me of the maze, so many hallways and the lay out was impossible.

Most of the hotel guests looked like they were in high school, though some looked slightly older. Guys and girls sat together in small groups, lounging in front of fireplaces, chatting in many different languages, eating snacks or playing board games like chess and Scrabble and twister.

Probably to the death.

Staff members in dark green shirts moved among the guests, bringing platters of food and pitchers of drink. As far as I could tell, all the servers were buff female warriors with shields on their backs and swords or axes on their belts, which is not something you see a lot in the service industry.

"So are we dead?" Magnus asked.

I frowned, "I don't particularly feel dead."

'I feel so alive!' Chaos cried out for no particular reason.

Hunding shrugged.

"Well, there's dead and then there's dead. Think of Valhalla more like … an upgrade. You're one of the einherjar now."

"Einheria Whats?" I said.

"Einherjar," He corrected me, "Singular: einherji. We're the chosen of Odin, soldiers in his eternal army. The word einherjar is usually translated as lone warriors, but that doesn't really capture the meaning. It's more like … the once warriors — the warriors who fought bravely in the last life and will fight bravely again on the Day of Doom. Duck."

"Duck?" Magnus wondered.

My battle instincts jumped to action, the Shield of Winter sprung to life and stepped in front of Magnus, a spear crashed into the shield and shattered to dust when it connected with the ice.

"What?" Magnus cried out.

I groaned, "Great, it almost feels like home."

"Take it easy kid." Hunding said. "He was just trying to impale that guy on the couch."

The guy on the couch, who was playing monopoly to the death, paled and yelled, "Fuck you John!" then he went on with his game of Monopoly.

"Anyway." Hunding resumed walking as if nothing had happened. "The elevators are right over here."

"Wait!" Magnus said, "That guy Johny tried to kill someone."

"I know," Hunding groaned. "The lounge is a no impaling zone."

"Aren't you going to arrest that guy?" I asked.

Hunding shrugged, "If he would've died the wolves would just clean it up."

Magnus gave me a horrified look.

"Aren't there any rules against killing?" Magnus wondered.

Hunding raised a bushy eyebrow. "That was just a bit of fun, boy. The victim will be fine by dinner."

We reached an elevator. Its cage door was made out of spears. Overlapping gold shields lined the walls. The control panel had so many buttons. It stretched from floor to ceiling. The highest number was 540. Hunding pressed 19.

"How can this place have five hundred and forty floors?" Magnus said. "It would be the tallest building in the world."

I chuckled, "Technically not. The Empire state building has 600 floors."

"Say what?"

"But," Hunding said with an annoyed smile, "Olympus only exists in one world, yes. But Valhalla connects with all the Nine Worlds. You just came through the Midgard entrance. Most mortals do."

"Midgard?" I wondered, "Isn't that the Norse name for Earth?"

"Aye.' Hunding took a breath and recited, "Five hundred and forty floors has Valhalla; five hundred and forty doors leading out into the Nine Worlds."

He grinned. 'You never know when or where we'll have to march off to war."

"You sound excited." I noticed.

He grimaced, "Oh I am."

The elevator stopped on floor 19.

We walked a past a few doors that read: Mallory Keen, Halfborn Gunderson, Thomas Jefferson.

Before we reached a t-split there were two rooms opposite of each other.

One read: Magnus Chase, the other. Percy Jackson.

Hunding looked at the both of us, "Well who wants to go first."

Neither Magnus or I felt excited to see our new room.

Magnus and I held a short glaring contest I won and Magnus opened his room door.

He used the Runestone key and the room opened.

Magnus entered his room.

"Well. See you at dinner." Hunding said, ignoring the questions Magnus fired about his room.

He gestured for me to open my room, I used the Runestone key and entered my room.

My room was impossibly beautiful.

It was an exact copy of our house in Montauk. Or at least the house my mom and I use for vacation.

"How?" I wondered.

Then I heard the sound of waves, I charged outside and slammed the front door open.

My gaze met the shining beach and sea.

The beach stretched out till the horizon which should've been impossible. The sun was now descending into the water, an orange glow shimmered on the sea making it look almost red.

I turned to Hunding, "How?"

Hunding shrugged. "I don't know – magic. But this is your afterlife, boy. You've earned some perks, eh"

I gave him a confused look.

'I like our suite.' Chaos commented.

"Been a pleasure serving you, sir, and welcome to the Hotel Valhalla." He held out his palm. It took me a second to realize he wanted a tip.

I fished a drachma out of my pocket.

"I only have…"

His eyes turned the size of drink coasters. "Gods of Asgard! Those things are collectors items! Thanks kid."

I frowned, "What?"

"Okay, you need anything. You let me know. Your Valkyrie will come get you right before dinner. Wow!" Hunding said and turned around and left my room/beach/suit.

"Well."

I couldn't finish my sentence, I was interrupted by a familiar Meow

I turned around in a circle and saw...my backpack stranded in the sand along with a golden furred kitten sitting on top of it.

His golden eyes stared at me, Here I am!

I knelt down and studied him, "You died too?"

Suddenly he arched his back and made a hissing sound. He opened his mouth and puked out a white sheet of paper.

I frowned, "What the…"

'Fuck.' Chaos finished.

Rebel gave me a pitiful look This is yours.

I picked it up and saw something was written on it with black ink.

Hi Percy,

I sense your plan has succeeded and that you successfully infiltrated Valhalla. Great.

Sadly I can't follow you. Someone has to keep an eye out on camp. Also, Hemera and Aether can't follow you either. Something about stuck in a chariot.

Anyway, there was one person crazy enough to follow you to the Norse Territories.

Lyssa, my dear daughter, will keep you safe.

Expect you back soon.

Greetings, Nótt.

I frowned, "Lyssa?"

Lyssa was the Goddess of madness, along with some other things. I met her last Christmas at Nyx's place. She seemed really fond of me, saying I was crazy and mad.

'Hi Percy.' A female voice said in my head, 'Good to see you again.'

"Great," I muttered, "Now I have to die again."