Part 5

“You tried to tempt fate, be careful what you wish
I'll take you deeper and strip you of salvation
It's a crusade to bring you to your knees
It's what you wanted, your last manipulation…”

(Can’t Sleep, Can’t Breathe)

The tunnel of light was glowing in countless colors around them, the frosty airless substance of space forced out from their path to allow the travelers to breathe. The edges of Thor’s red cape over his warm and heavy armor were fluttering behind him from the speed they were traveling across space, and he tightened his grip around Mjölnir as he held it out in front of him. Although he was used to travel this way with the help of the Bifrost he felt as if it was taking forever for Heimdall to get them to Niflheim. Thor knew that they’d have to move around in the realm of ice and mist carefully and mostly undetected so he asked the Gatekeeper of Asgard to make them land a little further from the main city where he felt the blocking of his eye-sight. Thor believed it was the place where his brother was keeping Jane captive.

Once the bright light subsided around him and his loyal friends Thor could immediately feel the colder air, his breaths coming out in white clouds around his face. It wasn’t the friendliest realm, especially because he knew who the ruler of this kingdom was.

“Oohh I don’t like this…” Volstagg murmured under his moustache “I’m not so keen on making Hel angry.”

“Yes, she can be a real bitch when she shows her claws” Lady Sif nodded looking up as they started climbing an icy hill in the direction of the city lit by eerie blue lights.

“Believe me my friend, me neither, but she brought this on her head by conspiring with Loki” Thor said trying to calm his mind and heart. The worry and excitement to face the important task at hand made it a little difficult for him to think clear. He took a few deep breaths from the frosty air as they reached the top of the hill and looked at the misty landscape. The valleys of the rough land were hidden under the thick fog, but in the distance they could see the castle-like building on top of the highest mountain around, towering over the land with a sinister shadow that got partly swollen by the white mist.

He was hoping they weren’t too late. This would be a long and slow walk if they wanted to stay hidden from the empty eyes of the inhabitants and their enemy. Suddenly anger made him squeeze the hilt of his hammer tighter again, because he knew how terrifying this unknown place might have looked for Jane. Thor knew that she was a brave woman but this time he hoped that she didn’t do anything reckless. She wouldn’t last in the land of the mist for long where the souls of those ended up, who didn’t die in battle. He suddenly felt Lady Sif’s hand on his which made him look at her. He probably forgot about himself and his worry showed on his stubbly face.

“Let’s go, Thor. A path opened in the mist to the right. We don’t have much time” she whispered in the unusual silence of the land that was broken only by some crows in the distance. Probably sentinels of Hel.

He nodded and followed his friends in silence, the worry growing in his heart with every step. He had a bad feeling and usually his gut was right about such things. He wanted to close Jane in his arms as soon as possible, before Loki could do more harm to her than he already might have. Thor promised to himself as they were carefully ascending from the hill that he’d skin his brother alive if he lifted a finger at Jane. His emotions were boiling and he wanted to fly with Mjölnir right to the castle, but that wasn’t an option because his friends, who risked their lives for him once again, couldn’t fly like him. He’ll have to stick to them and be a bit more patient. Two or three days until they will get to the foot of the mountain. If they get lucky. Two or three more days for Jane in the grasp of the brother to whom he’d have given everything once.

***

“They are here…”

“I know. I can feel Thor’s desperation even from this distance…” Loki chuckled darkly, as he sat back in his chair, keeping his eyes on an oval mirror within a decorated frame. It wasn’t an ordinary mirror at that moment. With the help of his power he could spy on his captive.

“The guards and the troops are ready to fight” he heard the familiar voice of the tall woman, who had the same raven hair brushed out of her beautiful face, the eerie blue lights in the room glistening on her armor as she walked behind Loki and put her long and pale fingers on his shoulder. Her piercing green eyes looked into the mirror too and let him take her hand to kiss the back of it. “I can send out a few.”

“That is not necessary, Hel. Let them come and seek their deaths at the foot of the mountain then let the mist swallow their lifeless bodies while I take my time with her…” he grinned with sparkling green eyes.

“Wouldn’t it be more convenient to do that after we defeated your brother and his friends, father?” Hel asked raising an eyebrow.

“I take no chances with this. Triumph will be ours this time, but I have to make sure in case Thor somehow happens to make his way to her that he’d find a different Jane Foster… Now go and keep an eye on our unwelcomed guests. With this pace it will take a few days for them to get here” he ordered, keeping his eyes on the female in the mirror who just finished putting on the dress he’d left for her days ago.

“Yes, father” Hel nodded, a wicked grin creeping on her pale face and turned around just to disappear in the shadows.

It was time and Loki knew it. With the help of his daughter he’d be able to stall the Asgardians and get what he wanted.

***

“You look much better like this…” Loki smiled as he entered Jane’s room and watched the woman turn to him, quickly pulling her fingers back from her bottom-lip as she stopped staring at the spot on the wall where he’d pressed her against before. This made his smile get wider, but this time he didn’t comment on it. Moreover, now that he had her attention his expression changed serious and he offered a hand to her, keeping the other behind his back. “Now tell me, Jane Frost, do you wish to live as long as we do and leave your human weaknesses behind?”

She opened then closed her mouth, feeling her hands shake as she looked at the offered pale one. Yes, she’s been thinking about this since Loki left him alone after that unsettling kiss. She didn’t sleep much as she tried to examine the offer from every possible angle. It was true that her mortal life was like a blink of an eye for the Asgardians. So how could it work out between Thor and her after he came here for her? Because she just knew that he’d come sooner or later. Their relationship was doomed from the first moment because of her mortality. They haven’t really talked about this but Jane knew that even if they stayed together in Asgard or on Earth she’d grow old quickly while Thor would stay the same. His love would fade away just like her own life. Yes, they would have a few beautiful years, but what’d happen with Thor after her death? Jane just felt it that they belonged together and this way they could stay like that for much longer. But was she ready to take the offer and later watch everyone she knows wither? Her mother? Erik? Darcy? Even Ian? Would she see them again at all if Odin allowed her and Thor to live in their realm? She wasn’t sure and couldn’t know just yet. But one thing she knew: Loki was changing his mind faster than the worst weather and if she refused this seemingly generous offer then she’d probably miss her only chance to be able to defend herself against him. Jane knew him enough by now to realize he had a hidden motive behind it and saying yes would get him closer to success, but…

Jane wanted to shout at him for putting her into such a situation and making her decide over her fate like this! How could she make the right choice? What was the right choice here? She didn’t know what was right and wrong anymore. Since the Aether everything got grey, there was no absolute white or black anymore. She could see clearer and think more analytically, but at the same time it affected her judgement and thinking about some things. And that didn’t help either that Loki got into her head, and now she was longing for more. He tricked her good with triggering her deepest fears, insecurities and… desires, she had to give him that.

“I see you are still conflicted about the answer, dear Jane…” he said after a minute of silence “Oh I understand. This will change your world even more than it already did, but think about the advantages. You are a woman of thoughts, you must see the benefits in accepting my offer” he said softly and walked closer to her, knowing that this was his chance to persuade her. “Just think about what you could accomplish in your new life. I know you want it. It’s been so long that you were kept in the dark and handled like a weak child. Rise from the ashes and spread your wings with me, Jane. Become what you were meant to be” he whispered close to her lips “You don’t have to hide your desires from me. I understand them more than anyone else could. Take my hand and your wishes will come true.”

Jane held her breath back as something crossed her mind and finally slid her hand in his, glimpsing up in Loki’s green and eager eyes. This time his smile seemed gentle as he pulled her closer to him until their bodies touched. “You won’t be disappointed. I’ll make all your deepest desires come true” he said. She wanted to ask how, but he sealed her lips with a kiss and she forgot everything else. She gave up fighting with herself. He won.

Part 6

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