World News at 5

"Sandra, you've mentioned before you wanted to visit Norway," said the New York anchor.

Sandra nodded, her bleach blonde hair shimmering in the studio lights. "Yes, I've always wanted to visit. I'm trying to plan a trip with my family next summer."

"Well, don't pack your bags yet, because our next story comes from the small town of Shol-den - I hope I said that correctly - in Western Norway, that is dealing with a freak summer blizzard. Our field reporter Danny is coming to us right now from Norway to tell us more."

In the next scene, Danny was standing in the middle of a snowy street, squinting through the sharp flakes that pelted his face, peaking through the fur of his downy jacket.

"Yes, Jeff, I am here in Sko-den, that has been pummeled by thick, heavy snow, for the past two days, and right now it's showing no signs of stopping. You'll see behind me, many businesses have closed due to the weather, and officials are instating a travel advisory, not to go on the roads until the snow has subsided. Our crew managed to make it in just before the roads were closed down. This storm is making international headlines - a once-in-a-life-time weather phenomena that experts cannot explain! While Norway is known for its cold winters, this is the first time in recorded history of a snow storm this severe hitting in the middle of July."

Elizabeth pushed apart the curtains [https://img.wattpad.com/cdaba3bb5f3663891627065fd42ed8eeaa3b57b6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f49424b39506479495667306570513d3d2d313436383132323436372e313765396136313763396338326336613439343532333138393230382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Elizabeth pushed apart the curtains. It had been snowing long enough now that she was no longer shocked every time she looked out the window. From the bed, Jess let out a raspy cough that brought her attention back.

"Is dad still working?" Jess asked.

Elizabeth nodded. "He texted me a few minutes ago. There's a lot of accidents and stranded vehicles, so he's gonna be working late. Take this." She handed Jess a thermometer to put under her tongue. When it beeped, Jess took it out to read the screen.

"It went down a little."

Elizabeth took it back and shook her head. "It's still high. I swear, if I ever see that girl again, I'm wringing her neck."

"You know she didn't do this!" Jess said. "She saved my life."

"And why were you in the middle of a frozen lake in the first place? The point is she took you there. She put your life in jeopardy, so she is responsible. If she ever shows her face again, she better hope the police find her before I do."

Jess watched her sister leave the room and go downstairs. It wasn't fair Sigyn was taking the heat for the accident. Jess hoped she would never get caught, but at the same time, she really wanted to see her again.

She turned her head back towards the rest of the room, and there, by the shelf, was Sigyn herself, paging through a book. Despite the aches in her body, she shot up. "Sigyn?"

"I thought she'd never leave." She sat on the edge of her bed. "I wanted to check on you."

When Jess explained she was fighting a bit of pneumonia, Sigyn's face went grave, as if it were a cancer diagnostic. Jess quickly explained she took antibiotics, and the infection should be over in a few days.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Oh. Good. Not too long ago, that was pretty lethal."

"I mean...a hundred years ago, yeah. How did you get here through that storm? Or...in my room?"

"Oh, I have my ways." Sigyn looked down at the book on her lap. "Have you read this?"

"My mother read it to me when I was little. I remember the stories."

Sigyn was staring at her with an expecting look. "What do you think?"

"What?"

"These stories of gods and Jotuns and other worlds. What do you think of them?"

Years ago, Jess would have shrugged them off as fairy tales. She would never have believed they were anything more if not for meeting Sigyn. "They're real, aren't they? And you...you're..."

A small smile pulled at Sigyn's lips, telling Jess she was onto something. "The politically correct term is Jotun."

Jess didn't know why her first response was laughter. She covered her mouth to stifle the sound. Nothing about this was funny. It was a kind of giddiness that came from a revelation of a lifetime. In line with meeting your favorite celebrity or realizing the love of your life is proposing.

"Are you afraid of me?"

Jess shook her head, but immediately had second thoughts, remembering the events of the lake. "Should I be?"

"Nah." Sigyn thumbed through the book. "These stories paint us as villains, but we mean no harm to humans. But humans have a sixth sense. They can tell when something doesn't belong in their world. Even if they can't recognize why, they are programmed to fear Jotuns. Making you the oddball in all this."

There were moments when Jess was definitely afraid, but when others would run, she charged ahead. Natural selection would have weeded her out early if not for the protections of society. Perhaps it was the very thing that scared her most that drove her forward; the possibility of there being nothing more to the universe than the mundane rhythm of everyday life. The tiniest trace of magic was worth everything.

"Should you be telling me this? Don't you need to keep this a secret?"

Sigyn shrugged. "Who are you gonna tell? You're dearly beloved cunt of a sister?"

"She's not a...she's just going through things."

"Right. And like a completely responsible adult, she's taking it out on everyone around her instead of facing her problems head-on. You let her get away with too much."

Jess hugged her knees closer to her chest and decided to change the subject. "So this means Odin and Thor are real to? All the stories are true?"

"'True' is a tricky word. There is truth within them, but history is written by victors. In those stories, we are cheating, lying monsters." She held out her hand with her palm towards the ceiling. "I disagree with that."

The air shifted, buzzing with electric energy. Panic flooded Jess' veins, but she kept it at bay trusting Sigyn would never hurt her.

Light erupted out of Sigyn's hand. Jess leaned back, but didn't take her eyes away. Mist-like tendrils reached upward and hit the ceiling, where they expanded into long dancing ribbons. Her breath hitched.

The Northern Lights.

They were right here - in her bedroom. Jess reached up. There was nothing to feel except air, but the light responded to her movement, twirling around her fingers. Sigyn made a fist, and the lights faded.

"We don't use electricity back home, so that's how we light our chambers," Sigyn said. "Fire is...uncomfortable."

"You can do other magic too, can't you? Like making ice and stuff." Jess' eye lite up like a child.

Sigyn shrugged it off. "So can a freezer, it's not that special. I just do it faster." She stood and walked towards the window, where nothing could be seen beyond the bright snow on the wind. "Now this is the big concern, isn't it?"

Realization made Jess' heart sink. "Oh, you did this by accident and now you don't know how to undo it?"

Sigyn raised an eyebrow at her. "You better not be referencing Frozen at me."

Jess sealed her lips.

"I was followed here by other Jotuns. They're trying to draw me out. As soon as I rendezvous with them, the sooner I can get this town back to its regularly scheduled weather."

Jess climbed out of bed to meet Sigyn at the window. "What are you gonna do?"

"All you need to worry about is getting better." Sigyn gently moved her back into bed. "I have to make up for a few mistakes I've made."

"You're leaving aren't you?" The excitement in Jess' eyes was fading fast.

"The storm will keep going. It'll get colder until nothing with a temperature is left alive."

Jess grabbed her hand. "Will I see you again?"

Sigyn leaned over her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Jess closed her eyes as Sigyn planted a light kiss on her forehead. When she opened her eyes, she was gone, as if she had never existed at all. The howling winter wind outside was her only witness.