A violet smoke reflected on the walls of a metal cell— its source shedding light on the faces peering through the translucent fumes at the prison's center.
"Loki, my vision will come easier if you do not look through the scrying smoke." A woman with long, tawny hair and green eyes spoke. She adjusted her yellow dress quickly before sneaking a glance at him. Across from her sat the Jotun prince, bound and gagged with silver metal. His dark hair was gelled back and his attire was of a wealthy Asgardian make— proud with tasteful black and green adornments. His brows were currently furrowed and his eyes were downcast, focusing on the shackles that were beginning to chafe his wrists.
"There's a good boy." Her teasing was met with an annoyed grunt. Smiling, she looked back to the rising violet magic. "Now think of a question and hold it in your mind."
Her name was Sigyn. She was a woman of the Vanir living amongst the dominant Aesir— a sort of means of peacekeeping between the two groups. She had obviously not spoken to Loki for quite some time due to his chaotic escapades, but today she came to his cell because she felt his essence calling out to her. Sensing his intentions, she mentally prepared herself to scry and made her way inconspicuously towards the Asgardian prison. She was too careful to get caught. She wouldn't care even if she had because she would do anything for the man sitting across from her now.
Colors other than violet began to show through as Sigyn's thoughts became more focused, forming pictures and shifting through them quickly.
A maiden sat in an abysmal apartment, staring into blank space. Her auburn hair was extremely untidy and her blue eyes had dark circles hanging like drapes underneath of them. She was clutching a dark shape to her chest. All of the sudden, she jumped up as if surprised and quickly climbed out of her dwelling's window.
The apartment had a yellow sheen to it due to the light emanating from a strange vase with what looked like a funneling fan. Loki was inside of the young girl's dwelling. She was handing him a small cup while he rested on a small cot. He smiled weakly and attempted to take it, but his arms failed him.
Sigyn felt a flare of envy at the sight, threatening to overwhelm her and make her lash out at the image, but that would mean having to explain to the prince as to why she had to start the spell over again. She would truly not tell him that a young girl angered her. Him being known as the Liesmith— the Lord of Lies, she assumed that it would not go well in spite of his restraints.
The light was gone, leaving the apartment draped in darkness. Loki was pinning the maiden against a wall. She had a perfectly calm expression, matching Loki's oddly similar one. He released the girl, letting her fall to the floor and placed his hand on her forehead.
A large, Midgardian crowd was surrounding a lone man elevated above them behind a podium. Beyond him was a banner with the words: Down With Mutants! Support Stryker! Many of those gathered seemed to be cheering, but there were some among them with worried or hateful expressions. Loki stood at the far back, observing with a mild upturn of the corners of his mouth and a raised eyebrow.
Loki was laughing in a glorious fashion atop of a fierce-looking statue until a shield knocked him from his perch. A flash of red and gold caught him as he was falling. The prince was then dropped at a lower height into the hands of a well-muscled green monster. Even though he had been caught and more foes seemed to appear, his grin did not falter… until he saw his brother ushering over the lass with red hair and another young woman with light blonde hair and blue eyes.
Sigyn tried to get a better look at the new figure, but the colors shifted too quickly into a new image.
Loki was in a cell; however, he easily slipped out. He was still on Midgard as far as Sigyn could tell. He was dancing with the irritating maiden next to a crowded, brightly lit room: an amused grin occupied his face. Once again, Sigyn felt the need to harness the manifestation of her jealousy and kill the Midgardian. They spoke while waltzing until the young girl's eyes widened and she pushed him away.
Then the images began to shift rapidly. She tried to focus on them, but they were changing too swiftly for her to process. The information she had failed to grasp was too far into the future and too uncertain for her capabilities to reveal. The violet smoke retreated into the light formed in the palms of Sigyn's hands as she recalled her magic. She could feel Loki's gaze on her, but she refused to look up at him until the thoughts swarming in her mind came to a halt.
The red-haired one appears too much to be unimportant. Who is she? Why is so much of the future uncertain? Why couldn't I hold the images that I did see for long? Why was I not in his future? He knows I would follow him to the gates of Hel until Ragnorak come.
Sigyn shook her head and moved closer to Loki, reaching towards his gag. He looked upon her with a curious stare as she unceremoniously worked at detaching it, her face red with the close contact. When the piece of metal was removed, Loki gasped and began working his jaw to make up for its lack of usage.
Marveling at the fallen prince, Sigyn sat down. She placed the gag on her lap and let her thoughts run loose again. Myth suggested that the two were married, but that was because of the Vanir woman's interference in Midgardian affairs with the hope of pushing Loki in the direction of her longing arms. He did not welcome her affections—only staying close enough away to be considered somewhat of a friend. Despite his rejections, Sigyn still felt for the prince and—
"gyn. Sigyn?"
She jumped at the realization that Loki had been calling her name. He was looking at her with one eyebrow slightly raised and his head leaning slightly.
"M-my prince, I apologize." She murmured while bowing her head. She didn't see Loki cringe at the word "prince."
"My Lady, if you please, I wish to know the content of what you have seen."
"Yes, of course. If you wish for me to accurately make sense of it, my prince, I must inquire as to what your question was."
"Will I be too weak to survive my flight from Asgard?"
It was an unbelievably simple question. Sigyn felt her brows furrow as her heart suddenly started to hurt with each beat.
He has doubts? Then it is no wonder my visions were fleeting. He just wanted to see if he could leave. Surely Liesmith must know that he is more than capable?
"You shall survive."
"But you saw more." It wasn't a question. It was a statement that flew around Sigyn's head, reminding of her previous confusion. She was silent, taking in his serious expression and relaxed composure. She knew from his question that she wasn't going to be seeing him for much longer. When she decided to speak, she did so slowly.
"Yes."
"What else did you see?"
"My prince, I'm not so sure—"
"Cease addressing me as prince!" Loki shouted as he completely lost his composure and lunged at Sigyn, as if to grab her. For the first time, Sigyn did not see the chains that bound him as her enemy. She was horrified as she watched his face warp from soft and calculated to pinch-point fury. "Here I am a frost giant— a Jotun monster! I am not one of you. I am destined for much more than a pathetic title such as "prince." I shall set off to acquire one that is truly worthy of my glory and rule those beneath as I see fit. Now tell me Sigyn," He spat. "What did you see?"
"I saw a young Midgardian maiden with hair as red as your brother's cape. You will be weak from your retreat, but it seems that she takes you in and nurses you. You leave her care when you feel you are well enough. Something about her is strange. She seems… prominent… in your future."
"How so?" He asked impatiently. The rage was gone, replaced with a look of annoyance.
"I am unsure my—" Sigyn paused, catching herself. "…Loki. She appeared in the visions following." He tsk'd and rolled his eyes, having caught her stumble.
"Surely there was more than some girl."
"There was a Midgardian assembly about… mutants?"
"That is the way they refer to half-breed Vanir unaware of their origins. They are feared because their capabilities exceed that of the other Midgardians."
"I… see." Sigyn was starting to feel extreme distaste for Midgard. She brushed aside a sandy blonde lock that had fallen in her face. It would be a fitting place for Loki to demonstrate his leadership capabilities. Leadership…
"Loki, there is one last thing for you to remember."
"Yes?"
"Thor and his Midgardian friends will interfere in whatever you have planned."
"That is to be expected, my Lady." Loki replied, his voice dropping lower than it had been, a look of joyful malice occupying his formerly soft features. "Now for another question." Sigyn gasped as his shackles faded away and Loki stepped closer to her, then knelt and brought his face close. "Will you help me, Lady Sigyn?"
"Always." She could barely breathe as he brushed aside the same lock of hair that had fallen back in her face only moments ago.
"Good." Loki grinned as he suddenly stepped away from her.
Sigyn was confused at his sudden retreat, only to become even more so when she found she could not move her arms and legs. She looked down to see that the shackles that were previously adorned around Loki were wrapping themselves around her.
What is he doing?
"L-loki?"
"'Always,' you said." The trickster began pacing slowly around her. "Your death shall be a trivial matter to you if you truly mean what you have said— now and in years previous."
Sigyn felt her heart breaking. She knew that Loki was referring to the many times that she had attempted to proclaim her love for him. She looked to his face. There was madness and apathy, yet… loneliness. Her cold prince was still mixed within the psychosis of the man standing before her. With that in mind, she thought over what he was asking her for. Take his place as a more lifelike doppelganger than his clones and die for treasons when she has been found out.
If I must give up my life for my love to be appeased… then…
"So mote it be." Sigyn spoke gravely.
"I knew you would say so, one way or another." He began murmuring under his breath and gently waved his hand over Sigyn's imprisoned form. Her sunny dress was replaced with black and green Asgardian armor. She felt no change in her body; however, when she looked to the metal walls of the cell, she saw two Loki's reflected on its silver surface.
"A wonderful trick this will be, will it not?" Loki asked, making his way towards the cell entrance.
"Yes…" Sigyn replied weakly as he opened it. She felt a hot, burning pain in her chest and wet tears stinging in the corners of her eyes, threatening to drip down.
"Farewell Lady Sigyn. I have appreciated your… submission." The Liesmith whispered as the doors closed, leaving the Vanir pawn to her fate. He fought his way towards the bridge, each blast of energy, clone, dagger, and wound opening up a new gateway in his own destiny. After countless guards fell at his hands, Loki finally approached Heimdall at the remains of the Bifrost.
Time to see where that door takes me. He thought as he lunged at the guardian.
