''Darcy... Darcy.'' Echoed in her mind. Something told her she should be awake, but right then all she wanted to do was sleep...
''DARCY!'' Then the blankets were ripped off of her and Darcy sat up straight, looking around for the intruder. As her eyes adjusted to the light Darcy could see Jane standing in front of her, hands on her hips frowning.
''How can you sleep in Asgard? It's physically impossible for me.'' Jane said, rummaging through Darcy's clothes, looking for something.
At first all Darcy could do was blink, then what Jane had said sunk in and immediately she was up and out of bed. '' Why didn't you tell me we were in Asgard in the first place.'' Memories of the golden city and the prospect of the things she would be seeing racing through Darcy's head.
'' I thought you would remember something this amazing,'' Jane replied pulling out some jeans and a t-shirt ,''Is this all you brought? Nothing fancy.''
''Why in the hell would I bring something fancy? I don't dress fancy. I'm going to be walking around Asgard doing mapping and geography. This isn't a vacation Jane.'' Secretly though, Darcy did intend to relax a little. The room she had gotten had a balcony with an incredible view.
''Well I told you to bring clothes.'' Jane cried sadly ,''I thought you'd know what I meant by that.''
''Jane, it's okay. I'll be fine, it's not like there's gonna be a ball or celebration.'' Darcy said, pulling on some fitting jeans and a white designed t-shirt.
''Okay, but I'm going to be fancy, no matter how modern and midgardian you're dressed.'' Jane replied, hiking some satiny blue skirts and leaving the room.
Man, is this whole Asgardian thing was really getting to Jane's head. If she was talking like Thor after the first day... Darcy looked at Jane's retreating figure thoughtfully.'' Maybe she does belong here.'' Darcy said aloud, alone in the still air of her bedroom.
''I know what I said, but my father won't understand. He believes Midgardians are feeble-minded at times and don't comprehend the meaning of patience.''
Darcy could hear Thor's accented voice from a mile a way, but at this time she was kinda sorta snooping in the gardens listening to Jane and Thor's conversation.
''But you promised Darcy that you would show us around. With all the reconstruction even I don't know where everything is.'' Jane protested, and from Darcy's vantage point behind the bushes she could see the furious look her friend was giving the Asgardian.
''Jane. My father-''
''Thor! I don't care what your father says. Nevermind Darcy and me. I might as well trust Loki to keep a promise. I'm sure your father wouldn't need him to help rebuild Asgard!'' Jane interrupted.
Darcy felt taken aback by her friends hostility. Jane was not that protective of Darcy, at least, she didn't think Jane was... Maybe she was just mad Thor acted like a kiss-up to his dad. Darcy had heard the only reason Thor had been sent to earth was because he disobeyed his dad.
''Ohh.'' Jane said beginning to comprehend what she had just said.''Thor, I didn't mean it, Loki isn't more trustworthy than you. I understand you have duties here on Asgard. I'm sorry.''
''It is alright. I know you did not wish to inflict pain with your words.'' Then Thor gently wrapped his arms around Jane.
Darcy covered her eyes, then peaked. They were just standing there. Thor holding Jane in his strong arms. Darcy assumed that if she showed herself now, then they would know she had been eavesdropping. So silently, Darcy crept back far enough to where if she came out to talk to them it would seem like she had just walked up.
''Hey.'' She called, walking up to Jane and Thor.
''Hello... Darcy.'' Thor paused and looked at his feet guiltily, scuffing the ground with the toe of his boot.
''Darcy, Thor can't show us Asgard today, but he can soon. His dad wants him to help with the reconstruction.''Jane said for him.
On any other occasion, this would have been really much more disappointing. But on the conditions which were present, Darcy already had enough time to be disappointed so her reaction wasn't what they were expecting. ''That's okay, a little frustrating but Thor is a prince...'' Darcy paused, remembering what they had said about Loki. For some reason, the matter was suddenly intriguing.
''Well, you handled that fairly well for a Midgardian.'' Thor said, straightening up and looking at Jane, ''I'll be back soon.''
''Okay,'' She replied, kissing him lightly on the lips. Then he was gone, a swing of Mjolnir and whoosh. He was flying away.
''Come on,'' Jane said taking Darcy's hand, ''We can't possibly get lost in a castle.''
''Okay, oh and Jane, what happened to Loki after the attack on New York? Is he in prison, dead... what happened?'' Darcy asked, keeping pace with Jane.
Jane froze in her tracks, then resumed walking.''Why do you want to know?'' She tried to sound calm, but Darcy could see her nervousness.
''I just was curious about what happened to him.'' Darcy replied steadily, hands in her pockets nonchalantly.
''Well, he's alive, I hear he's living somewhere in the city. Under close watch, but free to roam around everywhere except here.'' Jane said, licking her lips, a bad habit she'd developed after her visit to Asgard. A sign that she was nervous and felt threatened.
''Why would they just let him off like that? Didn't he try to destroy a whole race? As well as attack earth?!'' Darcy exclaimed. To her it didn't make any sense whatsoever.
''He helped Thor in the war... so he gets freedom as a reward.'' Jane replied, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
''But why did he help?'' Darcy asked, stopping in her tracks.
''You know... suddenly I feel really sick. I'm sorry Darcy. Thor can give us a tour soon.'' Jane said aloud, then she held her head in her hands and slowly walked towards her room.
''Tell Selvig I miss him, okay? And give Kathy a hug! Oh and-'' Darcy cut off and sunk to the floor sobbing.
Heindal had informed Odin that Katherine had gotten critical and was in the hospital, waiting for a lung. Kathy and Eric Selvig had been Darcy's only true family for 10 years. This was not what any of her jumbled family could bear. They couldn't afford a new lung in less than a month. And Darcy didn't think Eric could bear to ''keep'' Kathy alive.
''It's alright. You stay here and we'll get this whole thing worked out, okay?'' Jane comforted, her earlier behavior vanished.
''Okay.'' Darcy said, wiping off her face.
''You stay here, and I'll go back to earth. Your job here is more important anyway.'' Jane stepped away from Darcy and smiled, trying to be cheerful. And even though she did want to stay in Asgard, Jane cared more about her friends. The only thing Jane wanted was that Darcy stay.
''Jane-'' Thor looked like he wanted to stop her, but then he hesitated. ''Be safe on Midgard.'' Then he leaned down and kissed Jane lovingly, holding her close to him.
Jane slowly pulled away, and walked over to the portal Thor had made. ''Goodbye.'' she said softly over her shoulder. Then she was gone.
''They are such pesky creatures aren't they?'' A beautiful blonde-haired woman spoke, looking into a swirling ball of flame. Reflected in it were Thor and his mortal pets.
''Not as foolish as you... Amora the Enchantress.'' An enormous fiery figure replied, black smoke outlining his dark horned figure.
''My lord... the human... she has left.'' A small goblin spoke in his squeaky stony voice.
''Good, now Thor will be more susceptible to our plan. His father 'Odin' will desire his son Thor to rebuild Asgard. He will be vulnerable to temptation.'' Amora spoke in a pleased tone.
''Quamor. Start the invasion of Jotesei. Loki will be drawn in by the demonic activity.'' The smoky figure commanded.
''Lord Surtur. What about the Sorcerer Supreme? He deals with this kind of activity, he has the Nexus and not to mention the Ancient Eye-'' The small goblin scrabbled at his throat and collapsed.
''The Sorcerer is of no importance to me.''Surtur replied, walking into the darkness.
As he left Amora's eyes flashed green and panic overtook her. ''Thor!'' she cried desperately. Then her eyes returned to a bright red.
