The underground tunnels were damp. The ceiling and walls dripped water through tiny cracks. Alexandra followed Loki as he sloshed through small puddles, paying them no attention. As they entered a wider area filled with people and equipment, the ringing started again in Alexandra's ears. She shook her head to try to make it stop, but it didn't help. Loki walked over to a man inside of a more contained area. Also inside was a large machine. Inside that machine was a glowing cube. It reminded her of the gem in Loki's scepter. She stared at it, and the ringing in her ears became so loud that it hurt. She let out a cry as the pain forced her to her knees. She grabbed her head and curled up, trying to protect herself. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder before the vision hit.

A large man with blonde hair appeared, seemingly from nowhere. He practically fell from the sky, propelled forward by a large hammer. Lightning flashed around him. Then the vision was sucked away, and Alexandra saw nothing but blackness. But she could hear. Screams. Blood-curdling screams. Loki's screaming face flashed before her, then his wounded chest and back. His eyes glowed blue like the eyes of some of the men who served him, then they faded along with the vision.

Alexandra woke on her knees with her forehead pressed against the cold, damp ground. She tried to sit up, but swayed. The hand she felt before returned to her shoulder to steady her. When she looked up, she that it was Loki.

"Are you all right," he asked.

"I think so. It was a vision."

"That was a vision?" Loki helped her to her feet and held her by the top of her arm to keep her steady.

"I think it was that." She pointed to the large cube in the machine. As she looked toward it, the ringing in her ears started again. She groaned and grabbed at Loki's tunic. "I need to get out of here. It's happening again."

"Then you must let it."

"I can't. Please. It won't show me anything different. Not until something changes."

Loki stared into her pleading eyes. He saw a flash of bright blue circle around their natural color, then it faded.

With no effort at all, he swept her into his arms and carried her out. He used a mirage to hide his clothing and scepter, which he still carried in his hand. A few people asked if the woman in his arms was okay.

"She gets debilitating migraines," Loki would answer. "I'm going to get her to bed now."

In the apartment, Loki lay her down on the sofa and yelled at one of his guards.

"Fetch me a cold cloth!"

The guard hesitated, but turned toward the kitchen. Loki put his scepter on the coffee table, sat on the edge of the sofa, and brushed the damp hair from Alexandra's forehead. She slowly opened her eyes.

"The ringing in my ears stopped"

"Good," Loki said. "Did it hurt badly?"

Alexandra nodded her head. "I know you need the visions, My King. I'll try to push through it next time we go down there."

"Your visions come without so much pain just from being around my scepter. There's no need to put yourself through that."

"This one was much more vivid. And I don't think this was a vision of the future. It's something happening now... and something else, I think, from your past."

"My past?"

Alexandra nodded as the guard walked into the room with the cold cloth and held it out to Loki.

"Sir, your cloth."

A scowl formed on Loki's face. He stood as he grabbed the guard's arm in one hand, and his scepter in the other. He twisted the guard's arm up and behind his back, and stared into his eyes as the man screamed in pain.

"When I command you to bring something to me, I except immediate and quick action."

"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again."

"You're right. It won't."

Loki swung his scepter around, and Alexandra just knew the man would be killed.

She screamed, "No!"

But Loki didn't run him through. He held the blade tip of the scepter against the man's chest, and energy flowed into him from the blue orb. It worked its way up his neck and into his eyes. They turned black, then the black faded to reveal the familiar bright blue.

Loki and the man both stood straight, though the man's arm was twisted at an odd angle.

"Hand me the cloth," Loki demanded.

The guard bent over and picked up the cloth from where it had fallen to the floor, and handed it to Loki.

"Go. Have your arm looked at."

"Yes, sir."

The man turned quickly on his heels and left the room.

Loki placed the scepter back on the table and returned to his position next to Alexandra. She stared at him with her mouth slightly open. Eyes wide. Loki pushed her shoulder until she lay flat, and he wiped her forehead with the cool cloth. He glanced into her eyes and grinned.

"What questions turn through your mind?"

"What did you do to him?"

"I made him obedient."

"How?"

"By taking control of his heart."

"All those people with the blue eyes..."

"Yes."

"But not everyone has those eyes. You said I was your only willing servant."

"They serve a cause, not me. They do their jobs efficiently and without question. For now, that is good enough."

Alexandra sat up. "Let me serve you like they won't. I'll go back to the tunnels tomorrow. I don't care how much it hurts."

Loki laughed in disbelief. "Even those whose hearts I've taken don't serve me with such enthusiasm. They simply follow orders." He noticed the that bright blue ring once again outlined her natural eye color. "You act like a loyal pet."

"Then call me your pet, My King. I'll do whatever you ask." She took his hand and placed his palm against her chest. His eyes lingered there as she continued. "Just let me serve you."

Loki looked into her eyes. The blue was gone. "Whatever I ask? Are you sure?"

"Whatever you ask."

"Would you kill for me?"

The color drained from Alexandra's face. Loki knew then that she had been affected by the Tesseract.

"No," he said, "you wouldn't. Not of your own will."

"But I do want to serve you."

Loki lifted his hand from her chest to her face. "Yes, but not to do whatever I may ask. That's not in your true nature."

"Then why haven't you used the scepter on me?"

"Is there need to?"

Loki saw the fear on her face as she said, "If you want me to serve you completely."

"Who said that is what I want?"

Alexandra didn't speak. Loki pushed her back to lie down again and patted her forehead with the cloth. "Tell me about the vision. What's happening now?"

She described what she saw, and watched as Loki grew angrier. He got up and began to pace slowly, so Alexandra sat up.

"Is he a threat, My King?"

"He could be. If he connects with the rest of my enemies, they will gain an advantage. He knows too much about me."

"Who is he?"

"I once called him my brother. Thor."

"Thor? As in the god of thunder, Thor?"

"Yes, but he is no god. Not even good enough to be king, as I was."

"You... you're Loki... the trickster?"

Loki turned to her with a grin. "I wondered if you had heard of me. You showed no recognition of my name."

"I just thought you were named Loki. I never imagined you were... the actual Loki. This is insane. Those are just legends."

"Legends often have an origin, my pet."

Loki saw her smile. When he looked into her eyes, he saw no blue. She was of her own mind, and liked the name.

"What about the rest of my vision," she asked.

"What did you see?"

She described the screaming and his anguished face, the wounds on his body, and his blue eyes.

"I didn't see it as part of your future. You've already endured that, haven't you?"

Loki hesitated. "Yes."

"By the hands of the man in my first vision?"

"Yes."

"And... the wounds I saw that first night?"

"It was a vision. The wounds are now scars."

"But I didn't see any scars."

"I was hiding them. One of my tricks," he said with a grin.

"You were tortured... so you would help them do this."

"I want to do this."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons."

"But are they really your reasons? Your eyes were blue, like your men's eyes."

"Are you questioning if I am in control?" Loki's voice grew louder. "Your visions show you pieces of the truth. I am Loki, rightful King of Asgard. I was cast out, and this is my revenge."

Alexandra got up and stood before him. Almost close enough for her chest to be against him. "My King... I'm sorry." His eyes softened, so she risked a question. "I don't mean to overstep my bounds, but I asked you that night if your wounds hurt, because you looked like you were in pain. Do they hurt? I only ask so that I might tend to them."

Loki took one step back and removed his tunic, once again standing before her in just his pants. This time he left his scars visible for her to see.

"The trip into this world was not easy. It weakened me, and I've had to fight since I've been here." He took her hand by the fingers and ran them over one of the larger scars. "The skin pulls and the flesh tears. It does leave me in pain, but I don't let it distract me."

He removed his hand from hers, but her fingers still ran over his scars. He stared into her eyes, watching them follow her fingers across his chest and stomach, until she finally looked up. But she wasn't looking into his eyes. She was staring at his lips.

"My King..." she looked up into his eyes. "May I?"

Loki looked closely. There was no hint of blue in her eyes.

He leaned down to her and she met his lips with hers as she stood on her toes. She braced herself with her hands against his chest, but when his hand clasped the back of her neck, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Loki kissed along her jaw as she fought for breath, and he whispered in her ear.

"Do you crave your king, my pet?"

"Yes, My King."

"You've wanted me since you first saw me, haven't you?"

"Yes, My King."

Loki kissed her again before he backed away and started to undo his pants. He stopped when Alexandra swayed, catching herself before falling, only to sway the other direction.

"Are you all right," he asked as he grasped her arms.

"Lightheaded. It will pass."

"You need rest."

Loki scooped her up into his arms and carried her into her bedroom. He pulled down the sheets and helped her in, then pulled the covers up around her shoulders.

"The Tesseract affected you more than I thought."

"Tesseract?"

"The cube we have underground. It's very powerful. You need some time away from that, and my scepter."

"What about the visions, My King?"

"Rest, pet. The visions will come when we need them... when you are ready for them."