Prologue
Somewhere
It was a warm night and the sky full of stars, mostly because of how far from the city they were.
Erik had never left the orphanage or its immediate surroundings, ever since his parents left him there when he was a toddler. So when Father Harada told him about their little trip, the 11 year old was naturally very excited.
"Who are we meeting again, Father" Said the boy, on a curious note. The priest at first hesitated.
"We are meeting a very important man, Erik" The grizzly, asian forty-something looked at the boy "He helped us when we needed help, and offered us what we lacked. For that, we owe him a great debt. The orphanage couldn't exist without him".
"He seems a really nice guy." The kid's words seemed to sadden the priest." I hope he likes me". Harada looked the kid in the eye, and said almost breaking. "I am sure he will"
The boy nodded, assenting to the man's words, before looking out of the window of the car to the lights up the hill. Before long, he could see what they were. A giant mansion laid there, Erik couldn't quite believe a house that big existed. It's gate, surrounded by electrified fences, stood thrice the size of the guards stationed at the entrance, with an sign giving the name of the place. Nidhogg's root Club. It was also possible to see several dozens of cars parked. It must be some kind of party thought Erik
Father Harada touched the boy's shoulder, and handed him a blindfold
"Put those on, son" The priest said gently.
The boy didn't like it. "But I wanna see the party, Father."
"It would be better if you didn't". The older man griped the kid's shoulder and said again, sternly. " Put them on, alright?"
The boy assented, as they passed through the guards and moved up the hill, to the mansion
Although he couldn't see a thing, Erik could hear and smell everything as they passed through the main hall. The loud moaning and screaming from several people, not out of pain, but of enjoyment. The smell, a mixture of perfume, sweat, food fresh and rotten, something else he couldn't quite figure what was but could swear he smelled it before in the older kids, all of that, and blood. It was also possible to hear extra footsteps besides the kid's and the Father's, a group of people separating them from the party that surrounded.
"Now, now, what's that lil' thing? A gift for me? Can't say ever played with someone this youn-" A woman's voice said ahead, before a loud bump noise shut her up.
"What's this, Father? What's happening?" The kid was distressed, unable to understand what happened around him.
"Shush, Erik, we are almost there" The Priest seemed angry
After stepping down several steps, they entered a door, where the boy's blindfold was removed. He realized being on a great, cold chamber with a balcony, the view apparently going to a dark abyss in the middle, at least a couple dozen meters down. It was dark, and nothing could be seen much, except a faint blue shape at the bottom.
"You have finally arrived" A gentle voiced echoed in the chamber from the kid's right side. "Good Evening, Father Harada, and good evening..." Erik turned to face the voice. "...Erik".
A man stood there in green robes, his hair was black and reached all the way to the back, the eyes a strange, unnatural shade of green, and long, black and sharp nails. He was hunched down, looking at Erik. Besides him other figures imposed. A man in a suit, with shoulder-length blond hair, with burns covering the right side of the face. A red-haired woman, with a shapely figure, her blue dress exposing a cleavage. The stranger of them all, however, was far behind, a man with milk-white hair, face as pale as a dead body, pointed ears and wearing clothes that seemed rags straight out of old stories of knights and ladies. His face obscured by shadows.
"Mr. Wednesday, it's such a hon…" The man in robes approached Erik and interrupted Harada.
"Yes, yes, it's an honor, you wish you could do more and is thankful, at loss of words for all I have done". He took the boys hand and jerked at Harada's direction. "Let's not lose anymore time, shall we? You can go now, Harada".
"Wait, what?" The boy confusion grew. "What about me?" The Priest was already being escorted out as Erik screamed his name. "Father Harada!", he said starting to struggle against Wednesday's grip. The priest gave the boy a sorrowful look before the doors closed.
"Calm now, no need for this desperation" The woman spoke in a sweet, almost singing voice as she approached both of them. "You are here because we told your priest we needed help, sweet boy".
It was strange, Erik had never met this woman, but wanted to please her, and as such, stopped struggling. He could not stop staring at her lips, his feelings starting to emerge. He had never felt like this before, like something was burning inside.
"Your help, to be precise". She touched his cheek, and caressed his face. "Will you help us, Erik?" She touched her lips to his forehead. "Help me?"
He did not know much at this point, except that he would give his body to help her. He did not quite remember what a soul meant to be from Father Harada's lessons, but knew he would give it too, and said excitedly "Yes!"
"Well, then." Wednesday called for the boy's attention. "Let me introduce you to someone." He looked at the strange, pale man, who nodded.
The woman took the boy's hand as Wednesday ordered the man with a pale face to open a hatch. The hatch led to rudimentary stairs embedded in rock that descended all the way down the abyss. Wednesday and the man with a Burned face walked down the stairs, the boy and the woman following them.
They walked for quite some time. Not that Erik noticed. He could only look at the woman holding his hand. They arrived at the bottom where it was completely dark. It was not possible to see even a few feet ahead. The smell was a disgusting mixture of fresh blood and rot. Erik felt an intense nausea, but the woman's calming presence prevented him from throwing up. He could hear a loud moaning and the sound of metal scratching the floor coming from… somewhere. It was difficult to tell where, but it was close.
They stopped and Mr. Wednesday turned to Erik.
"Child, show me your hand". Wednesday said.
Erik complied and raised his hand. It was steady.
Wednesday nodded. "Good boy".
The man in green robes gestured with his hands in the air. Suddenly, two pillars of green fire appeared a few feet from the group, parallel to each other. It illuminated in every direction for a dozen meters. Erik's eyes sparkled with wonder.
"Are you a wizard?" Asked Erik.
Wednesday just smiled.
Everything beyond was still darkness. But the pillars were enough to show what was in front of them.
Erik saw it and could not hold it any longer. His face became green and threw up all over the floor.
A man chained to the floor. The chains were gigantic. Easily two feet wide. They had strange symbols drawn in it, Erik remembered them. Runes, he guessed was the name.
But the man. He could barely be called a human anymore. He had a full beard and wild long hair, soaked in blood. He wore no clothes, revealing his nude body. A scarred wounded thing.
The man was full of gashes all across his body. He did not had a patch of skin on his back, showing the raw muscle. One of his arms was completely deformed, a twisted thing of raw flesh and blood. One leg was broken with a exposed bone. The man tried to speak, only to cough blood. A cut tongue.
The ground around him was full of blood and feces.
Erik could not bear it to look any longer, grabbed the woman's dress and turned his head to the other side.
"Do not look away boy". The man with a burned face said. "Confront this worm. That is your right".
Erik did not listen and closed his eyes. The Man with a Burned face lost his patience and grabbed the boy's head, forcibly turning it to face the prisoner. Erik started to cry.
Wednesday touched the man's hands, a sign for him to let go. Which he did. Erik grabbed the woman harder.
Wednesday crouched to face Erik. "Child, do not feel fear or disgust. That man deserves this".
Erik opened one eye to look at Wednesday. He then looked at the man in chains again. The prisoner was sitting, surprisingly calm considering his situation. He looked at Erik who instinctively looked away.
Wednesday looked at the red headed woman, who began to caress Erik's hair. The boy was filled with serenity.
"Erik". The woman said with her sweet lips."Wednesday wishes are mine as well. Do as he says".
"Lorelei, please". Wednesday said. "No need for this farce anymore. Erik can call me Loki".
The boy looked at Loki, and smiled. A robotic expression that was exposed by the despaired eyes. Loki reached a hand which Erik grabbed, and both walked closer to the man. Lorelei still by their side.
"Good evening, Huginn". Said Loki with a smug smile. "I trust you did not wanted to meet your kin in this situation".
Erik for a second almost broke from his spell. Was that man related to him? It was only for a second though, as Lorelei's touch once again put him under a trance.
The prisoner gave Loki a look of pure fury, which Loki answered with a blink. He put one hand behind Erik's back and pushed him closer to the man in chains.
"Erik, meet your father". Said Loki.
Erik still sported his smile, but a single tear fell down his face. His expression was scary to look at.
"Are you confused?" Loki asked the kid who answered with a nod. "I would be surprised if you weren't. That man's name is Huginn, Erik. And he is a old cowardly thing".
Erik could not take his eyes away from the man anymore.
"I don't know the details. But my guess is he met a woman, had his way with her, and left". Loki put one hand on Erik's shoulder. "He never met you. He probably did not even know you existed until now. But now that you are here? Look in his eyes".
Erik stare at the man. The prisoner eye's although angry, were also sorrowful and guilty. He knew it was true. And Erik knew too.
"Yes, I know". Loki's voice had a quiet but furious tone. "A father should be there for his son. That's why I want you to help us punish him".
The boy's smile grew larger. His eyes started to tear up profusely. His expression was a twisted thing, a mixture of angriness, fear and compliance. He wanted to punish the man. He wanted to be loved by the man. He wanted to get away from there and he wanted to stay.
The boy nodded.
"Good". Said Loki. The man in robe looked at the man with a burned face. "Siegfried, time for Erik to meet our pet".
Siegfried walked closer to one of the pillars of green fire. He put on hand on it and pulled away, somehow holding a green flame in his palm. He started to walk away in the darkness, the flame lighting his surroundings. He approached a blue shape a few dozen meters away from the main group. As he walked closer, the shape was clearer.
It was a blue giant, about three times the size of Siegfried who was no small man, and just as wide. The giant had metal fused to his flesh like an armor. His hands were completely mechanic, and one was much bigger than the other. He wore a tasset that reached his knees. His chest was bare, but it was clear some kind of metal and circuits were embedded in his flesh. The giant got up and tried to punch Siegfried, only for his fists to stop before reaching the man. The same kind of chains on Huginn imprisoned the giant to the ground, but they seemed small for him.
Siegfried looked at Erik. And jerked his head to the blue giant. The blue thing saw Loki, Lorelei, the prisoner. And Erik. And he grinned.
Erik looked at the giant and met his eyes. His smile immediately stopped and he hid behind Loki.
"It… it wants to eat me!". Erik shouted. Lorelei caressed his face, the trance working once more.
"It does wants to eat, Erik". Said Lorelei.
Loki interrupted. "Help us, Erik". He said, his tone cold, almost robotic. "Help us feed him".
Erik hesitated but Lorelei's touch was too alluring. The woman took his hand and started to walk closer to the giant. The prisoner behind them was agitated, shaking his chains. He tried to shout a warning, but only managed to spit blood. Hugin made the only noise he could. And screamed.
Loki approached the prisoner. "Watch your child Huginn. See what happens to him". Loki put one hand on Huginn's face, who flinched. "And remember what happened to mine".
The prisoner and his tormenter watched as Lorelei and Erik walked closer to the giant. The thing had hungry eyes, saliva pouring from his mouth.
And the boy never again saw home.
Chapter One: The Apotheosis
Broxton, Oklahama
Donald Blake did not wanted to be there, the small office smelled of old people and cheap perfume, the clock on the wall clocking was really distracting, the psychiatrist chair on which he laid was terribly discomforting and the portly balding old man sitting at his front, frankly, just didn't gave much of a shit. Or else he would stop making notes and just talk already
"You know" Said the doctor after stopping with the notes "When Jane told me about your case, I was quite fascinated".
"Oh, really?" Donald replied surprised
"Yes, yes, I didn't expect her to become enamored with such a mess like yourself" Donald was sure that was against protocol.
The man in the chair was fairly nervous about the appointment with a psychologist. Usually, he was the one treating people, a military doctor who even got hold of seeing actual combat a fair share of times, or more than a share. Donald Blake was a well built man, with strong, large shoulders and arms coupled with a rugged full beard and blonde hair that reached almost his shoulders. He was even larger once, but a leg injury prevented him from properly exercising, not that it stopped the man from trying. As a result of the injury, Donald was forced to use a leg support and cane which although helped him stand up, did nothing to the chronic pain that plagued he constantly and had come to get used to it. The doctor he was seeing today was an old friend from his girlfriend's father, who she insisted he would see after some persistent nightmares
"So tell me, Dr. Blake, what plagues your mind?"
The patient paused for a few seconds before saying "Look, Dr. Selvig… I…" He was clearly having trouble saying whatever it was "It's complicated, you know" Seeming to think before letting even a poof of air. "I...I guess I have been dreaming… stuff"
Selvig was clearly amused with such an answer. "Why, yes, of course. Stuff is dreaming, since it defines something, the contrary to nothing which would be, of course, just sleeping" Although it contributed nothing to the session, it was painfully obvious the psychiatrist wanted a medal for the wit.
"No..." Donald didn't find much to laugh. "It's like I am someone else, somewhere else, doing something else" He paused for a few seconds finding the words to describe something which seemed so mundane. "They are like memories, not like dreams, I know I have full lives each time I remember those…episodes". He then had a epiphany. "HA! Like when Picard plays the flute, y'know? At the end of that one episode? He live that life, and know it happened, except it didn't? Doc?"
Selvig looked unimpressed with the analogy, before taking notes again. "I see" He stretched the last syllable, and without stop taking notes said. "Are any of these...lives… recurrent?"
Donald seemed hit with the answer. "Well, one of them. There I am not from, like, here. I am from far away."
"Like China?" The doctor seemed to actually think he was to something with the suggestion.
"No! Not like China, man, geez." Donald contorted his mouth before speaking softly. "Not from Earth".
"..." The silence was all the answer the patient needed. It wasn't the only one he got. "Like a Alien? From outer Space? A little green thin…"
"NO! Like a warrior, a prince. I seem human enough, but I feel bigger, stronger. I have those abilities and… I can fly."
Doctor Selvig had stopped taking notes, cleared off his glasses and spoke. "I know what afflicts you, Doctor Blake". The patient seemed hopeful, since thanks to those dreams he wasn't able to get a proper night's sleep for a feel weeks. "I know about the chronic pain from your injury, I know how that can mess with a man's body." He stopped to look firmly at Donald. "Are you having performance issues?"
The blonde sitting in the psychologist chair took his time to process the question.
"Of a sexual nature."
"I understood it, yes". He caught himself. "I mean, No, no, I am not thank you very much."
"Please, from doctor to doctor, I am only asking for your own good… and Jane's"
"Jane is fine!" Donald Blake suddenly shouted. "I am fine too, what kind of question is that?"
"Please, the desire for power, ability to fly and escape your problems… these are typical power fantasies designed by the desire for something you lack. Manhood."
Donald stared at the man in front of him. "I am a soldier and a doctor, Selvig, I am a power fantasy". Blake was trying to regain some face
"Not anymore, you are discharged thanks to your injury, aren't you? And you haven't even tried finding a job somewhere you could practice the profession. I saw your file, and I know what those painkiller can do to you."
Before Selvig finished, Donald Blake was already aiming for the door, cane in hand "Yeah, I will be going now." He remembered something. "Oh, and don't worry, I will be sure to tell everyone waiting in line what a creep Dr. Selvig is." He finished opening the door and finding an empty corridor
"You are really the only appointment today… this week"
Sometimes, revenge doesn't present itself
"I bet Reed Richards never had this problem" Jane Foster said under her breath.
The coffee table was covered in scattered papers, the woman hunched over it, trying to make some sense of all the data she dad. "This thing doesn't obey the laws of thermodynamics at all"
The blonde sitting at the couch with a cane by his lap seemed boorish. "Yeah, well, I swore you would be excited".
"I am, Don" Jane picked a photo. "But this is just ridiculous." The image showed a hammer embed deep in a rock that fused to the ground. "When Shield called, I thought to be part of something new, not to make a fool of myself". She slammed the photo in the table. "I can't even make sense out of the readings".
Three months ago, half the south's power grid just blacked out for about 10 seconds. At first it was thought to be a solar flare, but then the electromagnetic scanning showed a EMP blast originating from a single point, a few miles east of Broxton. The radiation periodically emitted implied it conducted energy unlike any object now to man, yet the slab of metal was cold, and no one knew from where the energy came. But the most distinct feature was the fact it was, simply put, unmovable. Not even the most powerful engines were able to change its position, and yet the apparent inmesurable weight didn't even put a dent on the normal piece of rock where it was stationed. The most brilliant minds were put to work in order to understand the object, and yet after 1 month of research, Jane Foster wasn't able to make a single breakdown on what the thing even was
"It seems a hammer to me." Donald Blake got up and picked the image, staring at it for a moment. "And not one even a cool one, that handle is barely bigger than my hand."
Jane pulled the photo from her boyfriend's hand. "Its not a hammer, Don." She seemed genuinely hurt from the suggestion her subject of study was just a simple construction tool. "It's a puzzle, and I'm going to solve it. "She paused for a few seconds staring at the image. "Just don't know how."
Donald pulled Jane to his arms, and kissed her neck. "Well, I'm just happy that you found some time to come home again" He tuned her to face him. "I missed you". She kissed his lips, her hand sliding inside his shirt as the man's hand reached for something on her back.
Jane petit but voluptuous figure was engulfed in Donald's massive size. He caressed her brown hair before removing her glasses and slightly lifting her in the air
"So how was the session with Selvig?" Asked Jane.
Donald just stared at her for a few seconds. "Amazing".
"I know, right?" Jane's smile was a sweet thing, pretty to look at. "That man is a genius".
And then the interphone rang. Donald sighed under his breath before walking towards the device and pressing a button. "Ahn, Mr. Blake?". A nasal voice said from the other side."There's a man here wanting to see you. He says he has a gift."
"Name?" Blake's birthday was yet four monthd away, and his behaviour wasn't being exactly praise-worthy the past few weeks. He couldn't fathom why would someone bring him a present.
"Didn't say it, but he has a card. I think it's from the Nidhogg's Root Club"
Donald and Jane looked each other in confusion. The Nidhogg's Root Club was a socialite private association where only the elite of the elite attended with more than a 100 years of history, their parties did not allowed any kind of camera or media inside.
"Tell him to come up." Said Donald.
The man was dressed in fine clothing, a black suit the kind worth more than a year salary from Donald. Not that the good doctor received a salary at the moment. Maybe a year's government pension for veterans. Before leaving without saying a word, he handed Donald a bottle of a expensive, foreign wine and an invitation which read:
Dear Dr. Blake
You are here therefore invited for the Nidhogg's Root Club most prestigious event this Fryday night as the guest of honour
Make sure to wear the appropriate attire and feel free to bring a companion.
With regards
Mr. Wednesday, most honorable President for the Nidhogg's Root Club Association
Donald mouth was wide open, his eyes unblinking.
"So? What does it say?" Jane tried to peek from behind the man's back
"They...they invited us. To their party." Donald was still unmoving, Jane followed him on staying still.
They stared at the invitation for a few seconds, before Jane hugged Donald and said "Let's buy new clothes then."
They had never seen such a big place with so few people. The mansion's main hall seemed even more titanic when almost empty, Jane thought to herself that a truck could easily make a few rounds around the place. The guests mostly kept to themselves besides the quick glimpses towards the couple, talking in small groups, the sound of their voices echoing through the hall.
"The could have warned us it was a costume party" Donald seemed uneasy. Although all the guest weared formal dress, the also seemed to be in some kind of costume. Some had pointy ears and unnatural eye colors, like purple or completely white irises. Some seemed monstrous, with a reptilian appearance. And other had blue, red, black and different shades of skin. "We must look like a couple of republicans on our wear"
Donald wore a black suit, Jane had a red dress exposing her back and right leg. As they walked through the hall, it couldn't be helped but feel a bit out of place amidst the colorful costumes the other guest had.
"Well, if someone asks, you can say you are Dr. House on steroids." She caressed Donald's hand gripping his cane "The costumes are awfully convincing for mere a party."
"These people probably own half of…" Donald paused for a moment, regarding his words "...everything. You would think they would want to impress one another. A gold dick measuring contest, if you will."
"There are women here too, you know."
"Oh, clit measuring them." Donald said. She smiled and gently slapped his forehead
A loud clapping began, coming from the main steps up ahead, leading to the stairs. A man in a black suit and a half-burned face stood there smiling. "Welcome, Dr. Blake. The party was waiting for you". He said, all the eyes fixed on him. He began walking towards the couple, a nervous Donald gripping his cane harder.
"My name is Siegfried, and I will be the one introducing you to the place" the man was now face to face with the doctor, despite his foreign name he had not a hint of an accent. "And would you look at that? Who's this pretty little thing?" Jane took a step back at the man's lustful eyes.
"This, Mr. Siegfried" Donald pushed his girlfriend closer, taking her under his arm "Is my girlfriend, Dr. Jane foster. She's a physicist."
Jane said a faint hello and extended her hand on a handshake, before the man turned her hand and kissed it "Dr. Foster, I trust you to enjoy the party on your own as I take the good doctor here to discuss some matters".
"Wait, which matters?" Jane seemed worried. Siegfried eyes for a moment turned angry.
"Matters between me and Dr. Blake" his tone provocatory.
"Excuse me?"
"I will go" Donald said before taking Jane to the side "It's okay, hon. I think I can handle some rich creep".
"It's not about you. What am I supposed to do while you go have fun with some..." She paused looking at the man, who eyed them smugly "...rich creep?"
"I don't know. Look at the size of this place, just go have fun" He let go of her, gestured to Siegfried and began walking with the man toward the stairs. Jane's eyes following them as they walked. She turned to face the party, all guests staring at her after the two men disappeared.
"I think I need a drink."
"So, why did you sign Mr. Wednesday on the invitation?" Blake eyed the man, trying to analyze him. He was even bigger and more well built than Donald himself, the suit's cut clearly outlining his physique. "You told us your name anyway."
"Because I didn't. I am not the host, doctor"
"Oh, so who is?"
"That's where I am taking you."
The stairs seemed to go on and on, each corridor which Donald glimpsed seemed bigger than the last. The house seemed old, and most likely lacked a elevator, quite a design fail for a man with a crippled leg.
"That host, y'know, could have told me it was a costume party."
"Costume?" Siegfried caught himself for a moment "Oh, yes. Well, our guests are quite… eccentric, doctor. I wouldn't worry about feeling out of place. Especially you."
"Of course, guest of honor and what-not."
"Of course."
When they finally stopped, they arrived at end of a long corridor. The door in front of them was made of solid wood with symbols carved in. Donald remembered them from books on norse mythology. The man with burned face dispensed the security that accompanied them until now.
"What, I look so harmless you ain't even gonna search me?"
"Doctor, they weren't here for us, there were here for you" Siegfried said as he opened the door.
Inside, a big luxurious office. The fireplace could roast a whole bull, the red carpet seemed made of some animal's fur and covered almost the entire room, and the windows gave view directly to the city of Bronxton in its entirety, a beautiful view in the night. Looking out the window, a man stood. His hair was black, and he wore an extremely formal attire, black with green details and golden metal ornaments. The kind of clothing only a noble would wear. His nails were long, sharp and painted black.
"Mr. Wednesday, may I present you Dr. Donald Blake". Said Siegfried, gesturing to Donald.
"Ahn, Hi" Donald couldn't help but feel a little intimated a the man's presence.
Mr. Wednesday turned around to face the doctor "Good evening, doctor. Please, have a seat".
Donald looked for a chair, before sitting besides the fireplace. Wednesday kept standing where he was, and Blake noticed his eyes, shining like emeralds.
"You may leave us, Siegfried." As the man with burned face closed the door before leaving, Wednesday approached Donald and sat on a chair in front of him.
"I have been waiting for this for quite some time"
"Yes, thank you, that invitation came out of the left field y'know" Donald held the chair's leather tight, nervous.
"It's the least I can do for such a man as yourself, good doctor" The mysterious man gestured to a bar on the far right of the room "Please, have a drink"
"No, thanks, I don't drink" Don put his hands in the air.
Wednesday seemed surprised. It was nice to get a reaction from the man. "Is that so?"
"Yeah, I just can't handle it".
"I believe you"
"So, anyway, no disrespect and all, but I can't help but wonder, what is all of this?" He gestured with his hand "Guest of honor? In here? I thought this was a place for… y'know" Donald looked down and then at the man in front of him, what he wanted to say was a place for debauchery and sex and all the kinds of kirks human mind could imagine "For rich people".
"This is a place for people who deserve it, a place for those who merit to be here" The man got up "And no one deserves it more than you, Doctor. I heard about you, about the sacrifices you made. A man who got hurt on a war he had no business fighting, a man of scientific knowledge using his gifts to help, to cure those in need" He approached the bar and started to pour a bottle of brandy in to a crystalline cup. "I heard that after your injury, you didn't look for a job, am I correct? With your curriculum I am sure several medical centers would be killing to have someone like you with them".
Donald dismissed the compliment with a gesture "I got some offers. Here, others in New York. Turned them all down though".
"Yes, you have been working with the poor, with those in need, without taking a single penny" He raised the glass in compliment.
"Yeah, I have been receiving some money from the government. It's not much, but it's all I need, really. My apartment is very simple, and I don't spend much time there anyway. I mostly work with NGOs taking care of the homeless and the poor. In fact, I am supposed to go to Africa next month, quite excited for that".
"Truly a singular man" Wednesday thought to himself for a moment and let go a little smile of irony
"Not really, if you knew some of the people working with me. They had so much, and left it all in order to help others. Compared to them I am just doing my job".
Wednesday seemed surprised with the man's humility. It was truly something he did not expect. Donald was uncomfortable with the silence.
"So, what happens now?" The doctor started to tap his fingers on the chair
The man at front seemed to snap out of a trance "Yes, now doctor, I explain your predicament" He took a sip of the glass, stopping to appreciate it "You see, by accepting my invitation, you accepted being part of a world bigger than anything you knew. And so did your friend".
Donald's expression closed "Jane? What about her?".
"Well, I don't see her here. And my guests down there might not take kindly to an outsider." And just as Wednesday finished his sentence, the shooting started. Shooting, screams and loud shattering noises. Coming from down below.
"You might want to go check on your friend" The man said before taking another sip, and smiling. Donald's expression turned sour, then angry as he runned as fast as a cripple could to Jane Foster's aid.
Jane Foster was in trouble. Big trouble. She could not find where the bar was. Everytime she tried to call the attention of a waiter, the guy just dismissed her for one of the costumed guests.
"Well, ahn, Hello there" Jane let go a smile approaching one of the people in the party "I am kinda lost here".
"Don't you say" The woman who she talked to wore a blue dress with crystals embed to the fabric. It appeared as she had long pointed ears, and the hair was a strange shade of purple, her skin as pale as milk with tribal-like markings on the cheeks. Quite off putting.
Jane swallowed her pride "Can you help me find the bar? I need something to drink here".
The woman eyed her from feet to head and snapped her fingers to a waiter. Jane could swear the man appeared out of thin air "Help her".
"Okay, mister, could you get something to drink? I would love some bourbon" she paused for a second "with some...lemon?" Jane had never tasted bourbon on her life, had no idea what it was or what it was good with.
The waiter looked at the woman with pointy ears, who gave him an asserting nod, before slightly bowing and leaving to fetch the drink. Jane smiled to the woman, who without paying attention returned to her conversation with the small group she was in. A man with red skin and big horns, another with blue skin and a woman with four eyes but instead of legs, spider appendages. All of them in formal attire.
"What kinda costume is that?" she thought to herself. That is just the kind of thing you see in fantasy movies, they must be people in the industry. As she continued the tour through the hall, it was obvious that to the place, eccentric would not begin to describe it. Everyone wore costumes, and she noted even children among them, wearing full beards with rough facial prostheses. Just insane.
"Thank you" she said to the waiter bringing her drink, who bowed again and left. Jane took a sip of the bourbon, tasted it, made a slight nod and then spat it out on the glass. Great place, terrible taste.
"These people just don't know what makes a good drink" a voice came from her side. Jane looked and noticed the woman. She had short hair and held a white porcelain mask on the upper half of her face, exposing a scar running across the nose. She wore not a dress, but a feminine black suit "If you ask me, I would rather a good cold beer."
Jane was relieved that someone made the effort to talk to her "Yes, thank you" she was trying to find somewhere to put down the glass, before settling for an empty table next to her. "Hi, I'm Jane. Jane Foster". The two just stared each other for a second before Jane tried to break the ice. "So, are you a regular here?"
The woman in suit eyed her for a second "No, but this is a special occasion".
"Yes, I know" Jane was very proud of what she had to say next "I came here with the guest of honor".
The woman came closer "I am aware, Dr. Foster. So tell me, here is Dr. Donald Blake?"
"You know him?"
"Oh, yes, I am here for him".
Jane was surprised, and then furious. Where do they knew each other? What was Donald up to while she was gone? They would have a talk back home.
"He went with some big guy named Siegfried"
"God fucking damn it!" the swearing caught Jane by surprise. The woman was visibly angry. She extended one hand towards the lady doctor "Come then".
"Come? Come where?"
"To save your boyfriend"
Jane's heart skipped a beat. What was she talking about, was Donald in danger? The place did have some creepy vibes and the man with a burned face seemed less than thrust worthy. Jane wondered for a moment, before being interrupted.
"Lady Sif" Siegfried booming voice screamed "What an honour having someone of the likes of you here". He was positioned on the second floor, several guards aiming rifles at the woman's direction.
"Hello Siegfried" she smiled "I see your face is as pretty as ever. I may have something to help conceal your likeness" She showed the mask on her left hand "Because, let's be honest, this place is full of horrendousness as it is, they don't need your help spooking the place up".
He smiled angrily "Yes, a great honour. Unfortunately, the place is overcrowded" Siegfried gestured to the empty hall "I will have to ask you to leave".
"I am not leaving without whom I came here for".
"Hah! Sorry for your troubles, but Loki already met him, they are talking right now."
"Then I will just take him".
Then the shooting started. Guards positioned on the second floor opened fire on the woman, as well as ones among the guest. Several bullets hitting the guests, spraying purple, red, blue, black blood, as many shades as skins as of bodily fluids. The stone and wood flew all over as the shooting destroyed the place.
Sif pushed Jane under a table with enormous speed, the doctor barely registering what happened. And then things got weird
Sif just stayed on the line of fire, allowing bullets to hit her. Which they did. And then bounced off. She calmly approached a pillar, while the bullets flew. She stood, and with a single strike, pierce the pillar's base with her bare hands, shards of rock flying. She then took another strike, this time up and removing the pillar altogether, which she placed in front of Jane.
"Doctor, be nice and stay here so you won't get killed" Sif said before crossing about 10 meters in 2 seconds, and stabbing her hand through a security's chest. She lifted the man in the hair, and throwed him at another, hitting him and making the guy shoot other guards and some guests. The screams of pain and sound of the shootout echoed through the hall.
Jane then threw up.
Siegfried jumped from over the balcony on the second floor to the main hall, cracking the ground under him, the bullets never stopping, hitting him as well and bouncing off again hitting some guests, several which were already dead. Sif never saw the punch to her temple, throwing her against another pillar, breaking the thing in a million pieces.
By that time, the woman's suit was torn to pieces, underneath it metal plates showed. They were white, with red mail in between each piece of metal. Sif got up and prepared herself as Siegfried charged in.
"WHAT. THE FUCK. IS HAPPENING" The screams of Donald Blake, down the main hall, momentarily stopped the carnage, with both Sif and Siegfried staring at the man. Then the shooting resumed. Blake tried to take cover behind the one of the pillars.
Sif and Siegfried once again duked it out. The man threw a punch and Sif, using his size and strength as leverage, jerked it away to the side with her elbow. As the fist passed her head she grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed the man closer, kneeling him in the abdomen, making him crouch as she used the momentum to armlock his head under her armpit. Sif finalized by elbowing his back repeatedly faster than the eye could see and throwing Siegfried through a pillar and a wall to outside in the garden.
The woman approached the crouching Donald. He seemed in shock, but before he could snap out of it and speak, Sif took him and put the grown man over her shoulder like he was a ragdoll. He protested, but was silenced with a tap to the head "Jane Foster! Come with me, NOW!" She screamed the order at Jane, also crouched behind the pillar she put for her. The physicist was praying and did not hear.
Jane only noticed outside her closed eyes when she heard the pillar being moved. She looked up to Sif, carrying the pillar with one hand above her head, and the unconscious Dr. Blake on one shoulder "We've got to move".
Siegfried recovered from the blow, and stood up. He saw Sif and Foster leaving the mansion, but before he had the chance to charge at them, Wednesday appeared by his side, through the shadows one pillar cast.
"Enough! Let them go!"
"Loki! You must be joking. That's Sif right there, we've been waiting… I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."
"I know, and you will wait more." Wednesday didn't quite appear wholly humanoid while fused to the shadow, he seemed more like a mass of black smoke assuming human form, but a smile was still visible.
"But-"
"ENOUGH! Remember, she's the only one who can awaken our dear Doctor" One tendril of shadow touched Siegfried's shoulder, making him flinch "Remember why we are here, my dear General. And remember, that in the night, lightning gives way to shadow..." Loki then produced a small flame from his shadowy hand "...and fire".
The humanoid figure dissipated, leaving Siegfried to contemplate as his enemies got away.
He then noticed the main hall. Dozen of bodies laid out everywhere, most mutilated beyond recognition. A pool of blood had taken the entire floor, which from white became scarlet red.
Siegfried stepped on the blood. And he laughed.
"Oh, I understand your silence. It is not everyday you get to witness the Great Volstagg" Said the man sitting in the old sofa on the abandoned building.
After escaping the mansion, Sif had brought Jane to three other people. Their names were Fandral, Hogun and the self acclaimed Great Volstagg. From there, Sif lead them all there, as Donald's apartment most likely was compromised. Donald shortly woke, and they stood there in silence trying to make some sense of what happened.
"Yes, great" Frandall huffed "Roads and sidewalks alike tremble in fear at the sight of the Voluminous's footsteps".
"YES! whait what"
Great indeed, Volstagg definitely wasn't a little thing, his girth such that he alone occupied almost an entire sofa designed for 3 people. His beard, a reddish orange wild thing reaching the man's knee. He wore a set of plate armor, with reddish-brown fabric underneath it.
The sizeable man bickered with Fandral, called the Dashing. A handsome person, Fandral had blonde hair and goatee, with green fabric underneath his plate.
Watching the two bicker was Hogun, called the Grim. Unlike the others, he had mostly asian features, with a closed expression on his face and a long moustache reaching the base of his neck. He hadn't said a single word yet. Not the he need, for as he stomped his feet in the ground and the entire room shook, Fandral and Volstagg's eyes met his, and their incessant blabbing immediately stopped.
Jane and Donald sat on a corner staring each other and the strange people who were now in their presence. Their eyes having not curiosity, but a mixture of fear and angriness and confusion and powerlessness. Powerlessness at not being able to fight back, at only being able to hide, and above all, for not understanding the power they just witnessed.
Sif came down from the rooftop after watching for a couple hours for movements in the city. "Nothing" She was quite confused "It's like not a single thing happened, everything is just...running normally".
"I don't want to know about how thing are running" Donald said looking down "I want to know what just HAPPENED!" He grabbed his cane and got up, almost falling down "Who are you people? What do you want with us?" Sif approached him with a disquieting look " How can you do those thin-..." And then slapped him so hard across the face that the doctor fell on the floor.
What was left of a stability on Jane's mind was now gone, she picked a slab of wood and slammed it against Sif's head, who barely noticed it shattering against her. Jane fell on the floor from the momentum she put on the move, looking at her hands, cut and bleeding.
Sif picked Donald with little effort "Coward! You hide while the fight happens?" she took a spit "I expect that from them, but not from you".
"Lady, you don't even know me". Donald was strangely not afraid of the woman's temper or the strength she showed, for he knew there was one thing he could do. And spat on Sif's face.
Now he was afraid.
Sif lifted him up in the hair with one hand, and before slamming him on the ground, Jane screamed "He is not coward!" all eyes were on her, and she blushed for a moment "He ran... towards the hall... after the shooting started. He went there with a limp, and arriving there he screamed for everyone in the chaos to hear. He is not a coward, Sif" She looked at him, trying to find nice words to end the sentence, before realizing that all needed to be said about this situation was said. Sif put the doctor back on the ground gently.
"What a disappointment..." She said to Donald before turning her back.
He tried to grab his cane, only to realize it broke on his fall. Donald tried to get up anyway, supporting himself on the walls "And you didn't answer my questions".
Sif looked both of them and gave a smile "I saved both of you."
"Did you, now? I remember they shooting at you, not us." Jane helped Donald get on his feet.
"If I weren't there, you both would be on a Jotunn's belly".
"Ok, wait" Donald decided to give up and just sat on the floor again "Jotunn? I remember that. And those symbols, and your names, all your names". Donald was having enough of the mysterious gimmick, he wanted definitive answers "You guys are members of some cult? Like worshiping Norse Gods? I remember the stories, I was pretty in ancient mythology".
All four armored figures laughed out loud.
Sif cleared her throat, and before letting another smile, said "I need you all to understand something. Your world is just a part of something a lot bigger and older than you can imagine".
"That's what he said too. Wednesday".
Sif considered Donald Blake's words for a second. "Loki" she said under her breath "Mr Wednesday's real name is Loki. And he is our enemy".
Jane Foster now interrupted "Loki. I know that name too, that's the norse god of lies".
"No, Dr. Foster, that's what the child lovers who you consider spiritual leaders would lead you believe, after years of corruption from the ancient myths". Sif closed her fist "He is the god of fire and shadow. Trickery and lies are but two of many weapons in his arsenal."
Donald was incredulous "So that's what you are saying. You are actual gods"
"Well, no" Sif caught herself "We are just a very old race, with very long lifespans and the kind of technology you humans have not even began to understand". Sif shrugged. "Same difference I guess".
Donald was not convinced "Technology then? Not magic?"
"To us, they are one and the same"
Jane and Donald took some time to process the information they were given
"No" Donald said in an incredulous tone "You can't just come here, threaten our lives and say… say… you are gods".
"We" Fandral said from across the room "Not You, Blake, We".
Donald considered the man's words and laughed. "I am a God? Mister, I don't know who you are, but in case you haven't noticed, I can't even get up on my own".
"Yes, that's why we are here. That's why why you were given that invitation" Sif gestured to Hogunn, who then tossed her an waterskin made of green leather. "This is an odre, made of a dragon's bladder. Pretty cool, uhn?" She smiled, gesturing the bag in the air "And it contains water from the well of mimir" Hogunn tossed another thing at her, this time a bronze chalice into which she poured the water "With that, we will awaken you, Thor".
"No, that's not… it doesn't make any sense. My name is Donald Blake, I was born on New York, my mother was a nurse and my father a bricklayer."
Sif stared in the doctor's eyes "What about the dreams?"
Donald stopped smiling, his irises shrunk
"Yes, there is always dreams". Sif smiled. "I looked for you, for fifteen hundred years. How many must you have been? Hundreds, maybe thousands. But these lives do not disappear, doctor, they just bury themselves deep in your mind. When there is no space left, the memories come."
Donald remembered all the dreams he had. They were always ancient, people in the past living different lives. And that one recurring life in particular.
"They are all gone, did you know?" Sif's tone now sounded bitter "While you played, loved, grew and experienced everything once more, Asgard died. Ragnarok has already happened, and everyone is dead" she was now by Donald's side, close to his ear
Donald did not know what those words meant, but they hurt. Hurt more than everything else. And he cried.
"Crying already?" Sif was clearly disgusted. "Doctor, you haven't even began to understand what is all of this. But I can help you do it".
"Allow me to show..." her lips touched Donald's ears, the voice a whisper "who you are".
Donald's eyes trembled, his hands were shaking. But he was now full of certainty. "Show me!"
Sif nodded with a smile, seeming proud with the doctor's decision. "Volstagg, hold him". Donald looked at her, not afraid or confused, but just determined. "Believe me, you will need it". Sif took an almost doubtful look at Hogunn, who nodded with approval.
Fandral took Jane's hand "My lady, you will not want to see this" She slipped, pushed him to the side and wondered if Don knew what he was doing.
Volstagg began to cry, positioning himself behind Donald and grabbing him by the arms tight. Blake realized that any tighter and every bone in his body would shatter. "I am so, so sorry" Volstagg voice cracked, the big man's eyes red and full of tears. Donald had began to worry about what they would do to him, but his worries disappeared when Sif touched his face. smiling at him. Her touch warm. Her smile bright.
Then she ripped his left eye.
The doctor screamed, his lungs lost all air, he took a deep breath and screamed again.
Fandral held Jane foster tight by her waist. Foster scratched, bit, punched and tried to do everything she could to escape but the man, although the weaker of his asgardian companions, was far too tough for a small physicist to seriously injury.
As Donald screamed, Sif took the eyeball and smashed over the chalice. The fluid and blood mixing with the water from mimir. She gestured and Volstagg, crying sorrowful Volstagg forcibly opened Blake's mouth.
"YOU MONSTER!" Jane screamed "Why… why did you do this?"
Sif turned her head slightly and said with a somber tone "The Well of Mimir demands payment" she then approached Donald and forced the liquid down his throat.
His screaming suddenly stopped. He stopped debating himself. Volstagg let go of him and he falled to his knees.
And then the sky was dark.
And the lightning hit.
The bolt which entered the abandoned building illuminated everything in miles, every single window on the building breaking. Sif was tossed across a wall and Volstagg slammed against the floor.
The man was charged with electricity, energy coming out of his body. His socket began to grow another eye. Jane watched in shock, barely noticing the buzzing sound that came from the skies. Suddenly, something broke through a wall entering the building at high speed. The man raised on hand, the object hitting it. It was clear know the thing was an hammer. Jane noticed it to be the same object she was contacted to study. The lighting stopped, the room was now silent.
A man was on his knees, and he remembered. And he stood up.
He stood up, and he remembered being a farmer on Poland, watching the czar forces salt his land.
He took a step, and he remembered being an impoverished banker on Germany, watching his family being gassed
He took a second step, and he remembered being a warrior fighting against the muslims for the fate of Byzantine.
And above all, he knew his name. He recalled the time of old, being a prince, a warrior. He recalled being on adventures with his brothers, his lover and his friends.
He was heroic and selfish, brave and cruel, first in battle and quick to anger. He remembered doing a terrible, terrible thing, and being punished for it by becoming weak, fated to live and lost over and over again.
He remembered when his name was Thor.
And he cried again.
Well, ok then.
People, some warnings.
This isn't so much a fanfic as it is a complete reimagining of the entire Thor mythos. This will have elements from everything. Movies, comics, mythology and any work of art I like. Yeah, it's pretty much a completely original story with those characters. And even the characters have changes, some subtle others not so much.
Please tell me if you see any spelling mistakes because english isn't my first language.
Bye, 'till the next chapter