Chapter 2

Upon nightfall, the Asgardian leaders gathered in the King's presence to discuss the outcome of their current situation. The majority of the leaders were men from across the city that had been in town by chance. Some districts were unrepresented due to the suddenness of events. The men mumbled to one another over their concerns the people of Asgard would have if they 'blew up' an assumed peaceful race. Questions were shouted here and there across the room.

"How many civilians are left on Argos?"

"How do we know they are peaceful?"

"What if the remaining survivors retaliate against Asgard?"

"Will there be Asgardian fatalities?"

The questions were answered by the other side of the room where Sif and Loki had been standing near the throne of Odin. Their king had been watching the councilmen argue for a while before he decided to speak.

"Brothers, calm yourselves. We must decide the fate of not only an innocent race, but upon the safety of Asgard. We should protect what we have fought so hard to preserve. We must use the Bifröst to defend our city."

Sif could not stand quiet for long and began to speak but was stopped by Loki's grasp on her arm.

"Don't…"Loki urged.

Sif scoffed at him as she snatched her arm out of his hand. She approached the throne and bowed to King Odin.

"My king, what of Thor?"

"Thor? I'll tell you, my son has abandoned Asgard for the last time! He has chosen to be with that girl rather than to serve as king of Asgard. Thor? A son of Odin? No longer," Odin's voice thundered over the council leaving silence in its wake.

"My Kin—"

"Enough! All this talk about treachery has diverted us from what is at hand! We will use the Bifröst to protect the people of Asgard!"

Sif grew angry with his words and trudged down the steps of the throne and faced the councilmen. Since she could not raise her voice to the king, she would raise it to them.

"Innocent people will die! Is that the legacy Asgard should leave behind? I urge you to call upon Thor! He has proven worthy on Earth!"

"SILENCE!" Odin's voiced clapped like thunder.

The silence that echoed was no match for the booming rumble coming from outside of the palace. Many citizens had gathered in the streets and looked upward at a comet with a long tail shooting across the night sky. Its tail was white hot and extended several links behind a ball of glowing red debris. The entire city of Asgard watched in awe of the spectacle without even imaging what it could be.

"We must act now, good king! The city is upon us!" A voice cried out.

Loki stood at a distance from the window as he stared at the object shooting across the sky. His eyes narrowed onto the mass of the object. He could not understand how an object with little mass did not burn up in the atmosphere of Asgard. As he continued to ponder the 'shooting star' as some civilians were calling it, a slinky blonde woman snaked her way to his side.

"Amora," Loki acknowledged.

"Have you considered my offer?" The woman asked very coy-like as she ran her fingers down the length of his arm.

Loki seemed unaffected by her efforts but interested nonetheless. He looked down at her and grasped her hand in his so that he could kindly remove it from his forearm. As he did so, he placed a gentle kiss on her wrist and watched as she swooned over him. Clearly the woman was enamored of him.

"My dear, as flattered as I am to know that you would have me bed you, it is not in my nature to take a stranger into the royal bedchambers," Loki whispered.

"But we are so much alike," Amora pleaded with Loki as she cast a small spell to change to color of her hair from sand to fire red.

"Yes, you are well versed in your magic, but I am better," Loki suggested as he protruded his magic upon Sif by giving her a cat's tail.

Amora giggled at his magic and again grasped his arm to keep his attention on her. She looked up to him with tempting green eyes, although it was hard for Loki to maintain eye contact with her bosoms protruding so wildly.

"Madam, don't you think it a bit desperate of you to be begging for it?"

"Does it not flatter you that I would have none other than you, that you would be my one and only, my first and only?" Amora peeked up at him with full, pouting lips.

Loki was feeling very disoriented by the looks she gave him but he knew he would never hear the end of it if he took her virginity. He politely shook his head at her and waited for her to continue her charade.

"Then, how about a kiss for good measure?" Amora asked sweetly as she closed her eyes.

Loki did not want to risk the chance of anyone seeing the two of them locking lips and making assumptions so he placed a tender kiss on her forehead and retracted his arm from her grasp. As she opened her eyes he knew she would protest but he cast a small spell on her to make it seem like he was kissing her passionately, enabling him to walk away minus the awkward moment.

As he walked away he passed Sif, who had not noticed her newest addition to her anatomy. Her tail flicked playfully as Loki approached beside her.

"Looking good, Sif," Loki smirked as he pointed behind her.

"Ugh! Loki! You annoy me!" Sif swatted the illusion away and punched Loki in the shoulder.

"I thought it was a ravishing look! You should really consider wearing more fur than leather, my lady," Loki jested.

Sif continued to land minor blows onto Loki's shoulder as he poked fun at her. The two of them had become a lot closer than they had in the past, mostly because they spent so much time together. But Loki knew that if his brother were around it would be completely different. Since he decided to be with Jane on Earth many things had changed. Odin often times spoke of how angry he was with Thor for choosing such an 'unworthy' wife when he had plenty to choose from in Asgard. Loki was just happy that he had another opportunity at the throne without the mighty Thor reining over him.

Thor was on Earth and Loki intended to keep it that way until the end of Odin.

There was also the expansion of sorcery. The late queen, Loki's mother, was known for practicing magic but no one else in Asgard was permitted to use it openly. When the queen died, Odin thought the use of magic could be useful in times of peril, so many newcomers who had originally been outcasts became residents in the city. Loki assumed that was how Amora came to be.

Loki and Sif's playful banter was broken by Odin's voice.

"It has been decided! We will expel the threat of the fallen city with the power of the Bifröst! And have mercy for those upon the planet's remains."

Cheers erupted from the banquet hall all in favor of the king. Sif muttered to herself in disdain and marched out of the palace. As she marched further and further from the palace the cheers grew faint and almost indecipherable until they turned into screams of terror. The comet that once trailed across the night sky now barreled toward the palace doors.

Before Sif could even break into a full sprint the crash and clank of twisted metal echoed through the city. It was obvious this was no ordinary comet. In any case the rock of a comet would crumble against the palace doors but this metal object penetrated the door and left a deep hole right at the feet of Odin's throne.

As Sif climbed over the rubble in the chamber she peeked over into the hole she was grabbed by the wrist. Looking up at her was what appeared to be a young woman wearing hardly anything at all. Her clothes had been nearly charred off but her body remarkably unharmed. The two of them stared eye to eye for a while until the woman fainted.

The rest of the men soon gathered themselves around as Sif carted the lifeless body out of the hole. Loki helped Amora back to her feet after he dove to save her life. She was shaken but well enough to speak to him.

"Loki! Don't go near that woman! She-she- she is trouble!"

"What woman? Sif?" Loki asked confused.

Amora pointed her dainty finger as Sif stood with the woman passed out in her arms. Odin approached Sif after dusting himself off.

"Well, what is it?" He asked.

"I don't know. All she said was 'Kara' and then she passed out cold."

Loki narrowed his eyes on Amora who seemed upset about the woman's presence.

"Do you know this woman?" Loki asked.

"She will take the throne! She will be the end of us!"


Please review! :)- kmblackwell