Before I get this started, I really wanted to thank my dear cyber-sis, The Character's Death for everything she has done for me and continued to help and support me. You could never be replaced in my heart, love. Sorry I'm such a terrible drug dealer, making you wait so long. lol

And without further adieu,

Anthem of the Lost

His Voice

Chapter One

Her life had lost all purpose. She waited and waited. Nine months she waited for him, looked for him, trusting in him. He didn't promise that he would come back, but he said that he would try, but he hadn't come back. He went back to Asgard and she hadn't seen him since. She could understand his decision. That was his home. His family was there. His mother, father, even his brother, all waiting for him to come home.

She waited for any sign of the storm that meant he was coming back, but none ever came. Now, she sat alone, left in that small work space she had made for herself. Erik had gone. S.H.I.E.L.D had hired him onto their staff, utilizing his expertise for whatever they needed now. Darcy had run off at the end of her internship, saying she couldn't take anymore of her depression. And her mother? That was a completely different story she did not want to think about.

So now she was all alone. No family, no friends, and now, no hope.

Jane wiped a stray tear from her cheek with her forefinger and took another sip from her nearly empty glass. This had become her midnight habit. Sitting at her workstation, a glass of wine in her right hand and the bottle in the left. She refilled her glass tentatively.

She would drift asleep at some point during the afternoon, then wake up in tears later in the night. She'd make her way to the fridge, pour herself a glass of wine, and contemplate whether she should put the bottle back. Not thinking on it long, she would then walk to her desk, pull herself into her chair and sip away. Her mind would wander of course, and it always ended on him.

Her thoughts of him, only a whisper in her mind, but they held such anguish and guilt. Had she done something? Had she not done something? No matter how hard she thought, she could never find the answer.

At first she was understanding when he left. Then she was angry, angry for so long, and after the anger passed? She had nothing but pain. Unwanted thoughts would enter her mind like, he had found another woman back on Asgard. Or it had only been a fling and instead of facing her, he would just disappear from her life forever.

Jane slammed the bottle on the desk, splashing the dark liquid across the surface. She was not a plaything for him! She was a strong, intelligent woman! Capable of so much more than he gave her credit for! Who was he to decide that she was worthless? That she could not give him what any other woman could? She may not be as experienced as him in some things, but he had lived so many lives to her one! How could he expect that from her! She could hear his patronizing voice.

'Keeping to the hopes of a mortal? What purpose would that serve me? You are nothing! You never were and you never will be!' His voice spat in her face.

"Stop it." Jane whispered, her shoulders slumped a fraction, tears falling from her chin.

'All you hold is a false pretense of what you hoped would be!' His voice continued harshly, surrounding her.

"Be quiet!" Jane sobbed softly, pressing her hands to her eyes, still holding her glass with a trembling hand.

A voice spoke behind her now, sounding almost tormented. "-Jane."

"I said be quiet!" Jane screamed, throwing her glass mid-turn. The glass shattered against the wall, the wine dripping down in a dark stain.

A figure stood there, clad in the other worldly armor of an Asgardian. She sucked in a breath, unsure whether it were some trick or reality. She had met this man before, but only briefly.

"T- Thor?" She hiccuped.

A dismal smile lifted the corners of the golden prince's lips and he simply nodded.

"W- What are you- How did you-"

"The door was not barred. I did not think anyone would be here, but I thought a search should still be made." Thor tipped his head to the side, his smile wavering, his eyes never left hers, questioning.

Jane suddenly became aware of her tears and turned back to her desk, grabbing a tissue and roughly wiped them away. "Why are you here?" Her voice quivered ever so slightly with false strength.

"I needed to speak with you."

Jane couldn't help the breath of laughter that escaped her lips. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from the future king of Asgard." She retorted, not bothering to face him again as she lifted the bottle of wine to her lips. Thor did not snap back at her as she had expected.

"I need your help Lady Jane. Heimdall cannot see him and I have looked everywhere I can think of. I fear what he is getting himself into."

Jane shook her head. "Heimdall? No wait, who are you talking about?" Jane swiveled back around to face him.

"Loki." Thor spoke gently. "It is my brother whom I search for."

"Loki?" She questioned softly.

Jane's heart felt as if it had frozen inside her chest. Breathing had become difficult, coming in short, labored breaths. She could feel what little hum she had in her veins die instantly, leeching her body of any warmth that it held moments ago. Her vision blurred and the world seemed to twist into something bleached of color and life.

For a moment she saw nothing, felt nothing but screaming pain. The next, Thor's face loomed over hers. His lips moving, but she heard nothing for a moment before his voice finally broke through. "-Jane!"

Jane winced and placed a hand to her head. "I'm fine." She croaked through a suddenly parched throat, sitting up slowly. Thor's hands still held her shoulders as she held her head in her hands.

"What is wrong?" Thor urged.

"I- I don't-" She shook her head weakly, trying to process what just happened.

'Jane.'

Jane flinched, eyes searching the room for the source, hands trembling strongly.

Thor's hand moved, shaking her gently, voice deep with worry. "Lady Jane, what is it?"

Jane's legs pressed tightly against her chest, fingers strained painfully. Her body convulsed, forcing her body to curl in on itself against the unknown threat as darkness enveloped her vision once more.

"Lady Jane! Lady Jane, listen to me! Look at me- Jane!" Thor's voice seemed so far away, as if a galaxy away. A chill enveloped her, something gripped her hand, awkwardly through painfully tensed fingers.

Suddenly all feeling was gone, leaving her floating in an abyss of darkness.

She laid motionless, trying to open her eyes, trying to move, but found her body wouldn't respond.

She felt a soft caress run down her face. 'Jane.' A whispering voice called.

Jane tried once again to open her eyes, to move, but her body betrayed her still.

She heard the lilting voice chuckle. 'You still fight so hard.' She felt the smile behind that voice, the emotion. A stray tear fell down her temple, the only movement her body would allow it seemed.

'Oh come now, there's no reason for tears.' She felt a cold hand brush it away, then the press of the same cold hand against her cheek, thumb stroking her cheek.

'The choices made are not my own.' The voice whispered, unmistakable pain in its timbre. 'You must never speak my name again, Jane.' The voice continued.

'I cannot ignore the bond we share anymore. If you call, I must answer and I will not be able to protect you from this pain.' The thumb stopped, as another chilled hand cupped the other side of her face. She felt the slight chill touch her forehead as well, warm breath against her face.

'Please,' the voice hitched, 'do not call my name again. I cannot bear the thought of bringing this pain upon you.'

She felt the figure cringe, pulling away from her, instantly she missed the chill.

Words rushed quickly, short and labored. 'I'm sorry, Jane. I thought I could protect you from-' Unbearable pain echoed in his voice before it was abruptly cut off.

Jane's body convulsed in agony once more, arching her body to the point she thought her spine would snap in two. She rode out the waves of pain, unable to do anything more than endure.

Slowly, the pain ebbed until nothing was left but the darkness. Then slowly, the darkness faded too.

-x-

Jane found herself staring up at white tiles. She stared for a moment, before turning her head to see her lab. She was lying on the couch that Darcy had insisted they make room for in the cramped space. As her eyes drifted over the room, her attention was drawn back to a splash of color. Blinking slowly, she found Thor seated in front of her, blue eyes staring back at her, worry etched deep. She watched as he swallowed thickly.

"Are you alright?" His deep tones managing to be soft somehow.

Jane's eyes drifted, looking down at her own body. Slowly, she flexed her fingers, one by one, then her toes, then each muscle one by one, discomfort coherent throughout her body. Slowly, she pushed herself off the couch, Thor's hand reaching out to steady her as she teetered slightly.

She pressed her fingers to her aching temple, feeling her growing headache. "I'm fine." She managed to say finally. Thor stood close, ready to help if needed, she thought.

"Did I pass out?" She questioned weakly, looking from her desk to the couch then back again.

"You lost consciousness some time ago." Thor answered.

"How long exactly?" She lowered her hand, looking into his solemn eyes.

"I believe it to be about an hour in this realm's time." He watched her carefully.

Jane squeezed her eyes shut, lifting her hand to her face, thumb on her right temple and middle finger on her left as she felt her vision and head spin. She felt Thor's strong yet gentle hands guide her to sit down.

He said nothing until her dizzy spell had passed and she removed her hand from her face.

"Lady Jane." She looked up at him, knowing his question.

"Lok-" Jane pressed her lips together into a thin line. "I met him." Her voice trembled, remembering the pain that must have been his and not her own.

"Loki." His unrelenting eyes bore into her auburn. She nodded. "Where?"

She shook her head lightly. "I don't know. No where? Somewhere? I don't know if it was black or if I wasn't allowed to see." Jane squeezed her eyes shut, trying to remember more easily. Thor's hand squeezed her shoulder, giving her an anchor.

"There was pain." She whispered shakily. "So much it was unbearable, but he was there." She tried to make sense of her thoughts, her emotions. All she felt was this awful dread in her chest.

Tears found their way to her eyes once more. Not wanting Thor to see, Jane pressed her hands to her eyes. His hand stayed firmly on her heaving shoulder, squeezing gently.

"There was so much!" She sobbed softly as her words left her in a rush. "He tried to keep it from me. He said he couldn't ignore the bond we had anymore? That he had to answer if I called?" She lifted her head, gripping Thor's arm. "What does that mean?" She cried, forgetting her tears that rolled down her face.

Thor's eyes searched her face, looking for something she thought. His free hand reached toward her, halting inches away.

"May I?" He inquired. Earning a slight nod, Thor held her chin between his forefinger and thumb, lifting her face, turning it slowly, back and forth. His brows furrowed, creasing his brow. "I see no mark."

"Mark?"

"Yes. Mother knew of a spell. One that was taught to my brother I'm sure. A kind of binding spell."

Jane's brows furrowed. "A spell and a mark? But I've never seen a mark."

"It would have to be a place he had touched often. My mother said the mark she left on my father was left over his breast." Thor's eyes questioned gently.

She shook her head. "No. Oh god no. We didn't- We never-" Thor's hand slid from her shoulder as she raised both hands before her, fending off the embarrassing images that came to mind. She froze and stared at her hand.

"What is it?" Thor took her left hand holding it gently to inspect. "Ah yes. I see it now." Thor's thumb raised her annular finger slightly.

Jane stared at her finger. "But, that was never there before. I know I would have seen it." She pulled her hand from the demi-god's and inspected her hand.

A faint, simple symbol was there, as if it always had been. It was a series of soft curves and strokes, all coming together into the curl of what looked like goat's horns, with the gentle slope that formed its face, all traced in a deep forest green.

Jane had ever seen anything so beautiful. She smiled, remembering how he had favored kissing that spot. Remembered how he had kissed it one last time before he left.

Jane felt tears brim her eyes once more, but she shoved them back, feeling too many tears had been shed already. But she had to admit, it was beautiful, and she loved that it was placed over her ring finger, almost as if it were an engagement ring.

"The spell is an intricate one I'm told. The bearer will not be able to see it until they are aware of its existence on their body. The same applies to anyone else."

"Well isn't that convenient." Jane muttered distractedly, some warmth finding its way through her body, the last of her chills gone.

She stood abruptly, nearly causing Thor to fall from his perch.

"We have to find him." Amber eyes met light blue as she made the statement. A small smile found its way to Thor lips as he stood. "Well I think that is quite obvious. Can you not recall more of where you saw him?"

"No, I didn't actually see him. Like I said, either I either wasn't allowed to see or it was too dark." She thought for a moment. "Actually," She spoke slowly, her brain processing. "I think I did see a glimpse during the first spasm."

"It was dark. Everything looked as if it was bleached of color, like nothing would be able to survive in that place. It actually felt like the life was being sucked out of me, but I didn't see anything else."

Thor turned away from her, pacing back and forth, one arm tucked under the other that held his chin. "That is a rather broad response." He murmured.

"I- I'm sorry, I only got a glimpse. Maybe I can go back-"

"No." Thor cut her short, stopping in front of her, hands grabbing her upper arms, holding her firmly. "You will not attempt to delve back into that place, Jane. Promise me this." His eyes held hers, waiting.

Jane was taken back by the forgotten 'Lady', but more so by the tone of his voice. She found her lips moving on their own. "I promise." It seemed to tumble off her tongue, as she tried to step back. Thor sighed, releasing his grip on her.

"Good."

Jane watched as he began pacing once more. "So what are we going to do?" She questioned.

"I will find him. I will search all of the nine realms if I must."

"I hope by I you mean we." His head turned to her, halting his pacing.

"No, I do not. I will not put you in harm's way."

"Good, you won't have to because I will. You're not leaving me here, Thor. I'm not going to just sit here and do nothing!" She huffed, her eyes looking away from his exasperated expression. She found her legs moving, pacing as he was before, hands moving animatedly. "I am not going to leave him to whatever is happening to him! I have to help him! Save him!" She stopped, eyes boring into Thor's.

Thor simply stared at her. She could practically see the battle going on in his head before an irritated sigh escaped his lips. "Fine! But you do not stray from my side. You listen to my every word and follow them exactly, if you do not I will have you removed and held until you can be brought back to Earth."

A smile lit Jane's face. "Let me get a few things!"

To be continued...

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Firstly, thank you for reading the first chapter! I'm really excited about this fic and I hope I can present it as well as I hope. Also I apologize for my terrible titles, it's never been my strong point but I will try my best!

I hope you'll stick with me through the ride! Leave a review or message if you've got an idea or thoughts! I'm always open to input!