CHAPTER 1
Bethany awoke slowly, groaning as she did so. "Ahh! Where… where am I?" she asked looking around the room she was in. When she tried to get up pain shot through her body and she cried out.
"It would be wise not to move mortal." came a sharp and harsh voice from the other side of the room.
Bethany turned her head just enough to see who was speaking, it was a woman with blue skin, red eyes and black hair.
"Who are you?" Bethany asked. "Funny how short your mortal memories are." The woman replied in a low and chilly voice,
"My name you shall not know, not yet. But please call me Anna."
Bethanys eyes widened, "Loki's sister?"
"Indeed mortal, I am glad to see you remember now." Anna said
"What am I doing here?" Bethany asked softly.
"You remember Loki, do you not?" Anna asked.
"Yes but what does that have to do with anything here?"
"The reason you are here is because he wants to marry you and he will do anything in his power, which is quite a lot, to get exactly what he wants."
Bethany looked horrified at Anna as she explained that they were having the wedding in an hour then Anna shoved a cup of liquid at her.
"Drink this, Mortal. It will heal you so that you may move without pain."
Bethany took a sip of the the gray liquid and gagged, almost spitting it out.
"Drink it." Anna commanded then watched as Bethany choked down the awful potion. "Chloe!" Anna called to the maid, "Come in, she is ready."
Bethany briefly wondered what she was ready for, but knew the instant the maids walked in with a wedding dress that would put any clothing on Earth to shame.
Bethany was confused, she was engaged to marry Steve Rodgers, or Captain America as many knew him, on July fourth, the most patriotic holiday, in two months. Why would Loki do this to her? Sure they had both loved each other long ago on one of Loki's first trips to midguard. Bethany had fallen in love with the handsome young god who had bumped into her on the street one day after Odin had allowed him to explore the nine realms at his own leisure. But that, like most young loves, had ended in a tragic scene where Odin had sent Thor to retrieve his little brother who had fallen in love with a mortal. Loki had left, vowing to come back and find Bethany again. Bethany was shaken from her daydream by Anna telling her that it was time.
She was then escorted to pathways. She reached wedding hall where Loki was waiting to see her. Her heart leaped at the sight of her first love but she restrained herself, telling herself she was still engaged to Steve.
"Hello, my dear… why the long face?" Loki asked, Bethany gave him a halfhearted glare before settling for staring into space, away from Loki.
"Bethany?" Loki asked, "What is wrong?"
"I'm engaged to Captain America, Loki!" Bethany said. "Does this have anything to do with our past relationship that ended when you didn't come back?"
Loki didn't answer because the wedding ceremony was just beginning.
Later Loki walked Bethany back to her room. "I know you don't trust me, believe me, or care for me, but I love you and that will never change. I hope you will trust me in time and even come to love me like you did." Loki then kissed Bethany on the cheek and left the room.
Bethany waved the maids away, tore the dress off and changed into a nightgown before collapsing on the bed and crying herself to sleep.
The next morning, as Bethany made her way to the common room, her eyes were red from crying and she was exhausted.
"Hello Mortal." Anna said.
Loki nodded to Bethany and said, "Good morning Bethany!"
After they had all eaten breakfast Loki was approached by a servant who held a whispered conversation with him for a few minutes before leaving. Loki turned to Bethany, "It appears Father has some sort of business for me to handle. I am afraid I will be gone all day and won't be able to spent time with you until tonight."
"May I look around Asguard?" Bethany asked.
"Of course you may." Loki said, "Just do not leave Asguard."
After Loki left, Bethany walked down the halls and, after getting directions from the servants walked to Thor's room and knocked on the door.
"Lady Bethany!" The maid, Lily said, "Are you here to see Prince Thor?"
"Yes please," Bethany said, then was lead to Thor's study.
"Bethany!" Thor exclaimed, standing up and walking over, "What are you doing here? Did Loki send for you?"
Then Bethany realized that Thor had not been at the wedding, "No Thor… well I guess he did in a way but it was to marry him not just to see or talk with him."
Thor looked puzzled, "Are you not promised to the great Captain Rodgers?"
"Yes I was that is the problem, I need to see Steve. But Loki has forbidden me to leave Asguard."
"I will take you to see Captain America Lady Bethany. You must not tell Loki though because he would punish me and might hurt you. He is not able to control his anger. When he is angry his powers take control."
Bethany nodded and Thor flew them to Hiemdell who transported them to Earth via the Bifrost.
They landed on the top of the Avengers tower and as they walked into the interior they could hear Steve Rodgers yelling, yes yelling, at Nick Fury.
"Where is my Fiancé Nick?" Steve yelled too Fury's face, "It's been a month!"
"Steve I can't do anything if she isn't on Earth, my power is limited to Earth, Thor might have some power elsewhere, but he has been gone for longer than Bethany has."
"Steve!" Bethany yells running over to Steve and throwing herself at him.
Steve looks up startled and catches Bethany as she hugs him, "Where have you been?"
"On Asguard, it's a long story, I don't have time to tell you all of it but I will give you back this." Bethany hands Steve the ring her gave her when they were engaged and slips the engagement and wedding ring Loki gave her. Steve looks down at her.
"Why are you giving this back? What happened?"
"I married Loki, not my idea, but it has been done."
"Why would you marry Loki?"
"We were lovers long ago, Steve I don't have time to…"
Just then Loki appears right next to her, "Bethany I told you to stay on Asguard." He grabs for her but she pulls away in a moment and slips falling and hitting her head on the side of the table, falling unconscious as she hits the ground.
"Bethany!" Both Loki and Steve call out before Loki walks over and places his hands on her forehead.
"I need to take her back to Asguard, our healers will give her what she needs to awaken."
"I am not letting you take her…" Steve started
"Didn't she tell you Rodgers we are married she is mine to do with as I please… not that I would want to hurt her. Whatever she may think now, I love her just as I did long ago." Loki vanishes upon saying this last sentence and Steve and Fury are left looking at the empty air that had just moments before been occupied by the god and his Prize.