Chapter 4: Twisted

Sitting… in the dark. She was beginning to find it quite boring. "Beginning?" she said aloud. "Who am I kidding? It IS boring!" Her shouted echoed through the chamber. Accepting the fact that she could do nothing, she lay down and fell asleep.

Time passed, how much? She was unsure due to the darkness and the fact she had been sleeping. She stretched out as she began to wake, her fingers touching something.

"What the….?" She examined the objects, discovering more food and water had arrived. An eerie feeling crept over her at the thought that someone had been in here while she had slept. Who? She was surprised she had not sensed their presence… or had they just pushed it through the opening, which could mean she was close to it. She drank some of the water and was about to nibble on the biscuit when she heard a noise. Someone was coming.

"Good," she mumbled. "Maybe I'll find out something."

Brightness flooded the room as what appeared to be a door opened and a figure was silhouetted in the doorway.

She blinked, trying to focus, but her eyes would not adapt that quickly to the sudden influx of light. "Damn!" she swore softly to herself. Was this a friend or foe? Overhead lights suddenly illuminated the entire room. As her eyes adjusted, she swept a glance around, seeing how small the room actually was before returning to the figure at the doorway. He or she had moved further into the room and the door had closed, but the lights remained on.

"Sif!" Micarian shouted as he raced across the space between them and pulled her to her feet. "Thank the gods that I have finally found you."

Relief flooded through Sif as she recognized the figure who'd entered her cell. She was about to speak when Micarian put one hand over her mouth.

"You must be quiet. I do not want to alert anyone that I have discovered you, or that I am even in here," he whispered the explanation quietly. He removed his hand from her mouth and stepped away from her. "I feared they might have killed you already."

"How did you find me?" Sif asked, comforted by his presence but surprised by his reserve. She was confused by his actions. She moved to embrace him, but he stepped away from her. "How long have I been here? And why would they want to kill me?"

"A few days. When I arrived yesterday, I overheard some of the guards talking about a woman they had locked up. I listened and guessed that it might be you…"

"Where are we?" she interrupted him.

"Knowhere," Micarian looked closely at her face. "Did you not know?"

Sif shook her head. "No, the last thing I recall was leaving the feast with Kiri and Frigga. We went to our chambers and," she blushed as she recalled what she had been anticipating then. "Well, we giggled a bit about everything as we drank some more wine and they helped me dress in my bedclothes. Then they left. I thought I heard you come in and was waiting in bed for you when… I don't know what happened. I think someone must have drugged the wine as the next thing I recall I woke up in here." She gasped. "Kiri and Frigga! Are they here too? Were they drugged and brought here?"

Micarian hesitated, then asked. "So, you do not know how you got here? You remember nothing?"

Sif looked at him oddly. "No, I just said that. I believe the wine was drugged. Who did that? And you did not answer. Are Kiri and Frigga okay?"

Micarian nodded. "They were unharmed. It seems you were who they were after… at first."

"What do you mean 'at first'? Why would someone want to kidnap me? And how did you find me?" Sif asked anxiously.

"I said I overheard some guards talking. Someone is causing trouble…"

"I know that - we 've known that for a long time. Someone is after those stones for their own purposes," Sif broke in. "It has been going on for quite some time. I know Loki suspected something but couldn't figure out what. But that still does not explain why they would want to kidnap me. I am not important."

"To me, you are," Micarian assured her. "I went crazy when I discovered you missing. At first I thought Thor had spirited you away."

"Thor?" Sif looked at him quizzically.

"Yes, I was… am, jealous of him. His parents had always wished for you two to marry, you know," Micarian admitted his feelings.

"I know that, but… it just would not have worked. And then he met Jane, and well…" Sif shrugged. "I moved on. I met you and we got married. Did you honestly think I would have run off with Thor?" She eyed him, waiting for him to answer. Almost as if everything she had feared before the wedding were true. She realized in her explanation she had left out that she loved him. Did she? Or did she still secretly desire Thor? What if…? She stopped her train of thoughts to await his answer.

"I should never have doubted you," Micarian whispered softly. "But what else was I to think? I was unaware that there were troubles in Asgard. I would imagine they chose you to stir up the most trouble… and it worked. I went mad, raging around searching for you."

"How did you find me here? I know you said you overheard the guards talking, but why did you come to Knowhere? And why would they want to kill me?" Sif asked again. She realized he had never answered these earlier questions. She was realized he was lying. He had known of the troubles in Asgard.

"I actually did not find you. I was forced to come here, with my sister. She agreed to exchange the Infinity Stones for your release," Micarian explained.

"Kiri is here?" Sif's eyes opened wide as she took in this information. "No! She mustn't exchange the gems for my freedom! You have to stop her. I am not worth that cost. And who? Who brought this all about?"

"Shhh," Micarian attempted to quiet her. "I do not want them to find out I am in here. I have to go, I will give your message to my sister. Do not let anyone know I was here. I will find a way to get you out. I must go before someone misses me. I promise I will return and get you out of here. I just need to find a way."

He left before she could say anything else. Sif considered his responses, realizing that as Katirya's brother, he ought to have been privy to the conversations among the king and his wife, aware of the troubles that had been happening in Asgard. And he had been in Asgard frequently enough to at least have heard of some of the things that had happened. Something wasn't ringing true… he was lying, but she needed to get out of here, no matter what the cost. Were her fears of the marriage true? Had he really loved her? Something wasn't right with this whole scenario. Who had forced him to come here? Or was he lying about that as well? Was he part of the plot? Knowing she was on Knowhere meant that Taneleer Tivan was involved in this somehow, but how? Why? She had so many questions… and no answers.

The lighting in the room had remained on so she could see everything. Other than the four walls, there was no evidence of either the door he had come through or the opening for the food. It was a small room with no furniture. She sat back down against the wall and reached out for her meal. Thinking as she ate, she started to arrive at a few conclusions… none of which made her happy with either how she had gotten into this position, nor with her husband.

•§•§•

"How are we going to get to Knowhere?" Steve asked the question as they began to prepare to leave. "I still think that is an odd name for a place. Somewhere would have been better."

Clint laughed. "Well, I guess it's better than Hell. Rather go to this nowhere than hell. What should we bring with? Other than the usual?"

"The usual should do. Bring the weapons you are most comfortable with," Thor answered. "We do not know what we will find when we arrive. I have not been there in quite some time, so I am sure things might have changed a bit."

Loki nodded. "A bit. Still creepy, but I do recall quite a few more servants than I had seen on previous visits. I imagine these are guards."

Thor nodded. "You were the last one to visit – you and Kiri, so what do you recall from that visit? Anything that might help us?"

Loki shook his head. "It was a pleasant visit… well, as pleasant as possible considering the host. He offered us a tour, which we took. Strange collection he keeps. The food was good, and he was charming as a host. But knowing now what I do, he could have been pretending for all I know. We need to be prepared for anything. The fact he had the stones yet returned them to Kiri is very telling. He obviously has no fear of getting them back from her. He does not fear us and will be expecting us."

"Agreed," Greiwaldt stated. "But not me. He will not be expecting me… but then he really does not know who I am, yet."

"I thought all the Elders knew one another," Thor commented. "How is it that he does not know you?"

"Oh, he knows me, but not this form of me," Greiwaldt explained. "I have been in hiding for many years, so he has not seen me. Greiwaldt is simply a servant of Thanos… or rather a former servant. I have never given him suspicion to believe otherwise. While we all do know one another, we do not often visit nor communicate. And quite frankly, he is not one who I would choose to visit."

Thor nodded, accepting his explanation. "Everyone ready?"

"Wait!" Stark snapped, realizing that something that had been bothering him was starting to make sense. "This dude you were working with – Michael?" He started at Fury before going on. "How did you meet him? And where did you meet him?"

The others in the room became still, stopping their preparations to see if Fury would divulge any more information.

Fury shrugged. "He came to me. Made me the offer. I did not seek him out if that's what you're asking."

"No, you're not the one to seek out people. So why would he approach you? And not me?" Stark looked a bit put out by the fact he hadn't been approached.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask him yourself when you see him again," Fury sneered.

"Again?" Stark stared at Fury in surprise. "I've met him?"

"Time to go!" Loki shouted as the Bifrost effect appeared.

Fury glared back, refusing to answer as he watched them disappeared to Knowhere.

•§•§•

Katirya warily surveyed her surroundings. She had recognized the voice instantly back on Earth. How he had managed to remove them from Stark's place, she did not know, but here she was… on Knowhere.

Micarian had pushed her away the instant they had arrived. Brushing the hair that had fallen over his face, he grinned at her and then glanced over at the man standing in the corner of the room they had arrived in. "Got her, just as you asked!" he shouted.

Katirya's eyes widened as Micarian's announcement. "So, it was you all this time?" Shock raced through her as this had been the last person she had suspected. "You're my brother! Why would you agree to this? To tearing apart my life?"

Micarian smiled at her. "Yes, it was me… all… this … time – and you did not know it. Pretty good, aren't I? I got you to agree to let me rule Cartherion while you lounged around Asgard, playing at being a good wife, finding most of the Infinity Stones for us. Managed to get Sif to marry me… that gave me one more piece to ensure our plan worked."

Katirya looked at him oddly. "What did you say? Us? Our? Are you working with Tivan?"

"Indeed he is, my child," Taneleer Tivan moved closer to them.

"And you have accomplished several other things that have helped me on this quest, such as ridding the universe of Thanos and his brother." Tivan stared at the fingertips of his right hand as he rubbed them together, not looking at her at all. "And now you are going to assist us in locating that last gem, fathering a child that can rule by my side, and then you will… just… disappear." He flourished one hand in the air to punctuate the last part of his statement.

"I already have children; you are not going to touch my children!" Katirya glared at him.

"Oh, I don't want those – ah – half-breed mongrels of yours," he sneered at her. "Why did you not stay put when things were moving along as planned? Instead you had to run away from Cartherion – just when everything was almost in place." Tivan sighed, shaking his head. "You have created a good deal more difficulties, but we appear to have finally sorted them out. You are here, most of the gems are here, and now I can begin to finalize my plans."

"Plans? What grand plans do you have? Ruling the Universe?" Katirya's sarcasm was evident in her speech. "You are incapable of ruling anything… " her arms swept around the space they were in. "Just look at this mess. You know nothing of ruling."

"You shall not judge me, missy. Now, hand over the Gems like a good girl. Then Micarian – you will see to it that she is prepared for my visit," Tivan blinked several times as he spoke, indicating he was finding her argument boring.

"Visit? I am leaving, with the gems." Katirya turned only to find a large armed guard standing behind her.

"As I was saying, you are remaining here. And you will hand over the gems now," Taneleer extended a hand waiting for her to comply. "You did bring them, did you not?"

"Yes, the agreement was that you would release Sif in exchange for the gems. Nothing else was said about any other arrangements," Katirya said as she whirled back to face him. "You will release Sif and allow us both to return home to Asgard."

"Well, things change. I did not want you fully aware of the plans as I figured you might find them distasteful and decide not to come visit your dear father. Now, if you will simply give me the gems, your brother will take you to my chambers to prepare you as I wish to father your next child – a son please, one that will follow my orders unlike you: one who shall rule beside me," Taneleer looked skyward, envisioning his future ruling the universe with his son by his side.

"I will not provide you with an heir! What kind of father are you? You're a monster if you wish to sleep with your own daughter!" Katirya shot back, repulsed by his suggestions.

"I am not your father. Your mother was quite the liar I discovered, to my dismay. That is why she had to be eliminated. I learned that she slept with many other men… not even her true husband. Micarian is not even your brother," Tivan sighed heavily. "Nor was your sister your true sister. Althanas told me everything. Of course, he did not love Beythran anyway so that was not a problem."

"What do you mean?" Katirya was surprised by this information but felt comforted a bit as she had loved her mother. She had never had any feelings for Althanas – the man she had once believed to be her father. And now to hear that Taneleer did not even think he was her father? "Besides, even if you are not my father, I will not give you any children. I am married to Loki."

"Oh, but you will, my dear," Tivan smiled at her. "Then you shall die, along with those heathen creatures you call children. I shall hunt them down one by one and kill them. Then I shall rule the universe with my son by my side… a son that you are going to provide. Beythran may have lied to me… telling me for years that you were my daughter. But she finally admitted the truth… that I was not the father. I had great hopes of ruling with you… but no. First you had to spoil that plan by running away and marrying that fool. Beythran also told me the truth, just before I killed her. That she had never slept with me and that you were not my daughter. So, I feel justified that you shall be the one that shall provide me with a son. That child shall rule by my side… you, of course, shall be dead. Once I have your child, I will have no further need of you."

"Loki will come for me," Katirya shot back.

Tivan laughed. "Oh, I am certain he will attempt a rescue… and he, too, shall die, along with that stupid brother of his, and any others that choose to join in his mission." Taneleer paused in his twisted explanation, looking quite wistful as he considered the deaths of Loki and Thor. "Then… oh, yes. Then I shall be avenged for all the lies told to me." He contemplated his future. "Maybe I will keep Loki alive for a short time and allow him to watch us as we create my son."

Katirya stared at him, her eyes widening in shock as he revealed his plans.

"What about me?" Another woman entered the room. "She killed my lover." She pointed at Katirya accusingly. "You promised I could kill her."

"All in due time, Thriana," Tivan replied. "And you may continue to serve me. You have shown some degree of intelligence… unlike your brother… or lover… or whatever you wish to call him."

Katirya stared at the newcomer. "Who are you?"

"Thriana - I thought he just said that," the woman replied, sneering at her. "You killed my lover - Althanas… and my other brother."

"You're related to Althanas? And Thanos?" Katirya stared incredulously at the woman as she looked nothing like either of the two men.

Thriana shrugged. "We all had different mothers. I got the looks, Thanos got the strength…"

"And what did Althanas get?" Katirya asked.

Thriana smiled, a very sensual look appeared on her face. "Ah, yes… my lover. Let's just say he was well endowed in that department."

Katirya looked disgusted. "You slept with your brother? Even if he was a half-brother, that is just sick."

"Well, you grew up with two of our kids. We managed to foist them off on Beythran – Kyrath and Micarian. Stupid woman believed the sob story Althanas gave her… that they were orphans and he was raising them. That's when he married her. She raised them, more or less… they preferred their father's company to hers. I do wish he had been able to pry out the name of your real father, but she refused… so she died." Thriana ended her explanation with a dramatic wave of her arms. "Poof! Dead! Went rather easy too."

"You killed my mother?"

"Only fair… you killed my lover and my brother… or brothers," Thriana looked a little confused on how to list them.

"But that happened after my mother died," Katirya countered, wondering if reasoning with this mad woman was even possible. Although she was learning more pieces of the puzzle, helping to understand this insanity.

Thriana shrugged. "Details. She needed to die anyway."

"And he's your son?" Katirya pointed at Micarian. Thriana nodded. "Did you know this?" Katirya asked him, watching as he nodded. She was stunned at this revelation. "Interesting sibling interactions," she muttered. "I am glad I am not related to any of you."

Micarian shrugged. "Yes… What difference does it make who your parents are, as long as they are strong?" He lifted his chin, as if daring her to comment on his parentage or his strength.

"Really? Well… "Katirya broke off, deciding not to go any further as she saw his look. Now was not the time to engage in this argument.

"And you killed my father. I hate you for that! But then, I've hated you since you were born," Micarian hissed. "Useless child that we were told you were. Another lie from Beythran. You were supposed to grow up and do as you were told - but what did you do? Sneak out and study from another person… pretend to learn enough powers to control the Cronuth…"

"I Do control the Cronuth!" Katirya shouted back.

"Yeah, then took off into hiding, like a dog with its' tail between its' legs. Ran away to Asgard to get a protector. You don't love Loki… you used him! To hide from us!" Micarian accused her.

"You do not know what love it," Katirya replied softly.

"If you two are done arguing…" Tivan cut them off. Once they were silent he went on. "Now, the gems?" He held out his hand once again – waiting.