Part 7: Beware of your wishes

Days were passing by without much change. Sif was still coming, but it wasn't for him anymore. She was inspecting the guards, the wards, the wall; everything that was containing Loki. She was always guarded and she never answered any of his attempts to get her attention. In the end he stopped and just kept looking at her. His heart was heavy, but he could not blame her. He would have liked her to understand why he had escaped, why he would try again. There was nothing for him here, and even her new found friendship wouldn't be enough.

So he was extremely surprised and, he had to admit to himself, a little pleased when he saw her coming to stand in front of the cell. There was preoccupation written on her face and he wondered what was happening.

'Prince Loki, I am here to inform you we have reason to think individuals will try to come and contact you.'

He was looking at her, trying to read through her mask, but she kept everything cold. He smirked, 'You are here to tell me formally that allies are coming to rescue me?'

She glared at him, visibly disgruntled. 'If I were to think those individuals have anything to do with you, I would have killed you myself... without hesitation!'

Loki caught his breath at her violent words. Something was wrong. 'What is it all about, Sif?'

She looked away, but said, 'We have found out a plot. Someone wants to obtain information on the secret ways between the Nine Realms. Secret ways you know about...'

He was still trying to understand, Sif was visibly worried... And it looked like it was for him, something he couldn't comprehend. 'Sif...'

She sighed, 'Loki, everything you have done... Even if it was reprehensible, it was for Asgard. Or at least, that's what you said... That's what you wanted us to believe' She swallowed, 'What I would like to believe...' He made to answer but she raised her hand and cut him short. 'Those individuals, they want your secrets, but they want them to conquer and destroy Asgard!' She stepped closer to the ward and force-wall, 'You are devious and most of the people think of you as a betrayer, but I believe that you will not threaten Asgard.' She lowered her head, 'I want to believe that you would protect those secrets to protect your home and people...'

His heart was racing again, his throat tight with emotions. She had just admitted that she believed in him... Well, that she wanted to believe in him. He looked up at the ceiling, closed his eyes in painful relief, she believes in me.

'Loki. You are in danger...'

He looked down at her, meeting wide, worried eyes, her face so close he could almost touch it, if not for the containing field. He quirked an eyebrow at her, fighting the stupid urge to reach out to her face, 'In danger...'

She shook her head, visibly angered by the whole situation, 'Yes... As I said, those people...'

He cut in, 'Who are they, Sif. You've avoided telling me since the beginning.'

He could see she was struggling and she spitted out, 'They are from Asgard.'

'Asgardians?' It was unheard of, unbelievable...

She sighed, 'Yes, Loki, I don't know why, don't ask me why! I've never been good at politics...' She lowered her voice, 'You are in grave danger. They will stop at nothing to get to you and your information. They know you are low in the favour of the All-Father, of the people of Asgard...' He snorted at this obvious comment, but she continued on, 'Loki, please! I wanted to warn you!'

He laughed bitterly, 'Oh, Sif... I am glad you care for me enough to come...' He gestured to his cell, 'But what can I do? I am a prisoner, I can't really hide... Besides, I think they would have trouble getting to me, don't you?'

There was still something not quite right and he saw her bite her lip. 'Magic. We think they could use magic...'

Ah. That was another matter completely. He knew fairly well that his containment cell had been made to prevent him from using his magic. But it was from the inside... 'You think they could use it to break the wards from outside... and get to me...' She nodded, avoiding his gaze. He sighed. 'Sif... I know I have betrayed... everything in your eyes. But I will not let them get to those secrets.'

She shot him a dark look and he stopped, not understanding why she was so angry with what he had just said. 'I know you won't! I just don't want you to be...' She faltered, looking at him with wide eyes, realizing what she was going to say... She cleared her throat and then added, softly, 'Be careful. Be vigilant. That's all I am asking from you...' and she left with a last look towards him.

The next few days had been tense. He could see that the guards had been warned about a possible threat to him. He had difficulties still to believe Asgardians could actually choose to betray their own realm... But he had absolutely no doubt that some would want to harm him. He had never really been appreciated, and his last actions had certainly not helped.

A sound at the end of the corridor caught his attention. A quick look at his guards told him they had heard it too. They had received orders to not leave him alone and so they were still in front of his cell when a sudden flash of light ended their lives. Loki, who had approached the force-wall, jumped back. It had been a powerful display of magic. His heart was racing. He had been found. Strangely, his only thought was for Sif. He hoped she would not arrive now. She would have to fight to stop this, and she would be wounded or worse... And he could not accept that.

Two people, in Asgardian garb, were in front of him now, a thin smile on one of their faces. 'Oh, great Prince of Asgard, we have come to save you!' A faint chuckle came from the other one.

'You will excuse my reservation, but as a Prince of Lies, I am quite able to recognise one.' His own smile was cold. Whoever they were, he had to tread carefully. They could help him escape, but Sif had been right. He wouldn't give up the Secret Ways; it was not something he wanted to share. After all, it gave him an advantage over everyone else. They looked at each other and the taller of the two just shrugged. He took out a strange device that he then launched through the wards and the force-wall. Loki stepped quickly back against the far wall of his cell. Things were not going well. This device had just passed through all the containment fields.

When the demon appeared, Loki knew he was in a vast amount of trouble. Whoever they were, they had obviously made a powerful pact with beings of other realms. And he was without any means to defend himself. He heard their laughs when the demon launched at him and he tried to avoid it. As quick as Loki was, the demon was quicker and dripping with magic. The demon hit him hard and his back met violently with the bench. He was trying to regain his breath when a second blow came at him. He felt himself fly against the other wall. And this time, the demon did not wait. Loki felt clawed fists falling on him, blood in his mouth, his vision darkening. He lost consciousness whilst hearing one of the men say, 'We want him alive.'