A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2015! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and a great New Year! Lets start this year off with an update hey? 5,584 reads, 99 followers and 51 favourites! Thank you, your love and support is the fuel for my writing! That and sweets...

Dear: Ellie, I'm glad this made your Christmas awesome! I'm pleased you loved Denicia, she's such an interesting character to write! Inscribed With Evil Love, Oops I didn't mean to make your head explode. Honest! I take it you enjoyed the chapter? I hope I wrote Domitia right. BW Lewis, you now know the complete and utter madness that is the Collector's mind. He wants to destroy the Nova Corps! He is an arsehole. Guest, I'm glad you love it!

I have a question for Ellie and Inscribed With Evil Love; do your assistants have powers of any sort? I was just wondering, please tell me in the review section if they do or not. :)

I hope you enjoy the chapter, if you do please review, follow and favourite. Have a great week

~I've been Jotunheim Storm~

Thanks xoxo


Heart Beat

"Domitia," I shook her shoulder.

There was no response, I knelt down beside her, her body still shaking violently. I put my ear next to her mouth, listening for her breathing. There was a slight breath nothing more than a few breaths. Peter knelt on the other side of her, taking her frail hand in his. His green eyes were filled with panic. I placed the heel of my hand on her breastbone, placing my other hand over it. I positioned my body directly over my hands, my arms straight and rigid. I pressed both my hands on her breastbone, my pace fast. Peter put his ear to her mouth, shaking his head. I continued pressing down on her chest, desperately trying to resuscitate her. I pinched her nose closed, I pressed my mouth to hers, breathing out for one second. Her chest rose slightly. Again I breathed out, watching her chest rise slightly. I went back to the compression, pressing down on her breastbone.

"It's not working!" I cried out.

A single tear trickled down my cheek as I carried on with the compressions. Peter grabbed me from behind dragging me away from her body. I screamed out kicking and punching Peter, sobbing uncontrollably. I tore as his arms trying to break away from him. He only held me tighter to his body. I buried my face in Peter's shoulder, weeping.

"Someone has put a pulsar in her," Gamora said.

I had no idea what a pulsar was, I guessed it was bad and was causing her the pain she was going through right now. Gamora fumbled through the medical cabinet, taking a syringe filled with a purple liquid. She injected the serum into Domitia's arm. She let out an ear splitting shriek making me cry even more.

"Mmm," a mumble came from Domitia.

I pulled away from Peter, rushing to her side. I held her hand, as she carried on mumbling. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing her brown eyes free from the black that once consumed them. She slowly sat up straight, her body still shaking with fear. She gripped my arm tightly, her eyes wide with terror.

"He's coming," she whispered.

Peter put his arm underneath hers, half dragging her, half carrying her, to the sofa sitting her down. Domitia carried on hyperventilating, Gamora brought her a glass of water. She took the glass in her shaking hands but dropped it almost automatically, smashing in a thousand shards all over the floor. Drax to a seat next to her, taking her hand in his trying to coax her back to normality.

"Who is coming?" he asked.

Drax's remark only caused her to panic even more, she could no longer form words let alone sentences. I knelt in front of her, looking straight into her eyes.

"Domitia, please. Who's coming for us?" I begged.

She exhaled deeply, her deep brown eyes still wide with fear but she no longer shook.

"The Collector, I was sent here to kill you but I could not," she admitted.

I rose to my feet silently cursing Taneleer. I should have killed him when I had the chance.

Kill him? Jasmine! You are not a murderer. You are not capable of killing this man. I laughed angrily to myself, pushing my hair out of my face.

"Bollocks," I muttered.

Groot looked at me suddenly, his little tree face filled with horror. I flashed him apologetic smile. He nodded slowly.

"Sorry Groot," I apologised guiltily.

"I am Groot," he said.

I turned to Rocket, looking for some sort of translation.

"What do you mean you hate swearing? Ya dumb? I swear all the bloody time," Rocket complained.

The argument of I am Groot and Rocket's response quickly grew tiresome, I tuned back into what was happening about the Collector. Peter sat in the pilot's seat, with Gamora in the co-pilot's seat. Peter's expression determined, his eyes flickering with anger. I felt a lighting admiration for Peter, not in the sense that I fancied him, I didn't, but despite it all he was a good man.

At heart.

I respected that.

Drax held Domitia's quacking hand trying desperately to calm her, but I felt as if Domitia may slightly be playing up to the terrified thing now so Drax would hold her hand. Oh well, if it had been Henry Cavill I think I'd be doing the same thing. Sorry Sam.

I felt a lump in my throat form suddenly thinking about Sam. It had been… Ages since I last contacted him. I put my hand in the pocket of my lilac dress, pulling out my phone. I sat down in one of the leather chairs, not really paying attention while I pulled seatbelt over myself, completely missing the buckle. I felt hands tugging at the retracting seatbelt. I looked down to see Groot pulling the seatbelt, I smiled sadly at him, taking the seatbelt from his fingers locking it into the buckle. Groot looked up me, his deep brown eyes filled with questions. I patted him on the hand, faking a grin.

I unlocked my phone, remarkably still charged, and began looking through various pictures of Sam and me. I stopped on one with a sun dried, slightly sepia filter. Sam sat on the rim of one of the fountains in Trafalgar Square. His sandy blonde curls were ruffled by the wind, his fifties style wired rimmed glasses reflected the sunlight in the lenses. His grey blue eyes twinkled and a sheepish grin tugged at his lips, his dimples were set deep in his cheeks. He wore a checked green shirt and beige trousers. My heart sank, and I felt myself blinking back oncoming tears.


(Denicia's POV)

Denicia passed a sphere containing star energy to her master, her hands quaking but her eyes stone cold. The sphere of bright glowing light lit up the otherwise bleak room. A large cannon stood in the middle of the empty warehouse in Xandar Taneleer had invested in many years ago. The warehouse was in the poorer area of Xandar, where the criminals tried to escape the wrath of the ever powerful Nova Corps. Cobwebs hung from the aging weapon, and several parts seemed to be rusted. Her eyes looked critically at the weak gun that Taneleer was loading with the star spheres.

"So you are going to storm Xandar with that old thing?" she sneered.

Taneleer turned to look at his assistant. His cold eyes staring unforgivingly at Denicia. She rolled her eyes in response no longer fearing the man standing in front of her. She had grown used to his eccentrics and bouts of complete and utter madness. She didn't not fear him but did not care for him whatsoever. He was a source of income, not a friend. Over the years her hatred toward him only grew, her bitterness never mellowing.

"We are going to storm Xandar," he corrected her.

Denicia looked genuinely shocked by his answer. She hated Xandarians as much as the next person but she wished them no harm. She was a thief, a liar, a greed bound worker. She was not a murderer.

She would not kill these people.

Denicia turned on her heel, tossing her head in annoyance. Taneleer gripped her wrists in the clutch of his cold hand. She winced as he twisted her arm backwards. He stood closer to her and growled menacingly in her ear.

"I pay you for complete allegiance, you think you can opt out when the situation gets tough, oh my poor Denicia you are wrong," he hissed.

He let go of her abruptly. Her skin stinging from the tight grip. She rubbed the rough patch of skin tenderly with her fingertips. Denicia silently cursed the Collector with words way too rude to ever leave her lips. Taneleer pushed the sphere of white light into the cannon hole, illuminating the broken frame of the weapon. Sparks of light shone through the cracks. Denicia hated to admit it was somewhat beautiful.

"This will break through the walls, leaving the guards dazed as star light produces a toxic gas when fired. This will give you enough time to steal the orb from their grasp. I remember you are a talented thief, yes?" he instructed.

She nodded silently. Ashamed of her past, she had lived two hundred years with thieves, travelling across the galaxy, stealing innocent people blind. Only now did it occur how wrong it was, and how her greed led her down a dangerous and dark path. This time, there was no escape, not light at the end of this tunnel. Denicia was trapped.

And no one could save her.


(Peter's POV)

I landed the Milano abruptly in Xandar, rushing out of the jet. I tossed Jasmine one of my Quad Blasters, which she caught in both hands. It was for her own safety, giving her a weapon. She would be able to protect herself a lot better. I ran through the streets of Xandar, pushing the citizens out of my way. The rest of the team was hot on my heels. I skidded around a corner, my boots slipping on the pathway. I ignored my falter and carried on running. I came to the Nova Headquarters, pushing open the doors.

"You need to evacuate! You need to evacuate now!" I shouted.

People looked up at me, confused by my outbreak. I exhaled sharply, catching my breath. Jasmine came and stood by my side clutching the Quad Blaster tightly.

"What are you talking about?" Irani asked me.

Drax kicked the door open with his foot. He carried Domitia in his arms. Her head lolled to the side, her skin pale and sickly. She wasn't coping well with the pulsar, it seemed she had an allergic reaction to the antidote. She had passed out on the Milano as I flew it Xandar. One of Nova Prime's assistants ran over to assist Drax. The assistant with bright blue eyes and short blonde hair led Drax out of the main room down to the infirmary.

Gamora and Rocket stood impatiently behind me. Rocket was absentmindedly stroking his gun, snarling slightly.

"The Collector, is coming," Gamora warned.

Irani turned to us, her eyes flashed with fear. She nodded to her a group of guards who ran of the vault to guard the infinity stone they held.


(Denicia's POV)

"I want that Terran killed!" Taneleer screamed.

His icy blue eyes glinted with a fiery rage. He screamed out in anguish. Denicia stood her ground as her fuming master stomped around the room shouting out words of unimaginable rudeness.

"I want her on her knees, begging for mercy. Screaming out in agony as I slice her throat," he whispered menacingly.

Denicia gulped, a bead of sweat rolling down her face. She wiped it from her brow quickly before it caught anyone's attention.

"She shall surrender to me," Taneleer declared.

Denicia looked up uncertainly at her master. He readied the cannon with great focus and determination set upon his face. A ghostly glow shone in the warehouse. The lighting was dim, causing both Denicia and the Collector to squint.

"She won't. She is too strong willed, too determined. She will not surrender and you know this is true," Denicia commented.

Taneleer turned to look at her, a cruel smile tugging at his thin lips. He broke into a fit of spontaneous laughter. His eyes gleaming with an undeniable evil.


(Jasmine's POV)

"The Infinity Stone, the Orb. He wants it," Peter said.

I gulped holding tightly to the gun that Peter had given me. I exchanged a look out worry with Groot who stood beside me. His brown eyes were filled with sympathy for me. I was in the middle of an oncoming war.

"What's an infinity stone?" I asked out of interest.

One of Irani's assistants began tapping away at one of the tablets' bringing up a display. On the screen it showed six brightly coloured stones. One that caught my eye was a large blue cuboid of a bright blue. The Tesseract. Loki had attacked New York City with this. He destroyed thousands of lives, homes and jobs. All from the power of a stone.

Oh damn.

"The Power Stone is a remnant of one of the six singularities which existed before the universe. After the universe came into existence, the Cosmic Entities used the energies of these singularities to forge six immensely powerful objects known as Infinity Stones. Hence its name, the Power Stone represented the destructive nature of the universe, and was incredibly powerful, capable of annihilating entire planets," Irani informed me.

Entire planets? Why the blooming hell did this thing even exist? The woman holding the tablet tapped again, zooming in on the Power Stone. It was purple in colour illuminating a bright glow from the small stone.

"The Power Stone can be used to produce blasts, explosions, storms, orbs or tornados of lethal, purple, fire-like energy. When used at maximum potential it can produce an energy wave strong enough to consume a planet," Irani explained.

No wonder Taneleer was hell bent of retrieving this Orb. It contained unimaginable power. I gulped just thinking about the sheer monstrosity of everything I had just been told.

Gamora took Peter by the wrist and whispered something in his ears. He nodded solemnly, smiling sadly. He turned to me opening his mouth to speak.

"Jaz," he began.

"Jasmine," I corrected him.

He nodded, sighing slightly. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as if he was struggling to find the right words.

"Jasmine… Look… This is gonna become a war, you know that. And honestly I don't want you getting hurt. I don't know what I was thinking bringing you out here. It was stupid and reckless and I sorry. I'm taking you back," he said.

Taking me back? Back home? I can't go home.

"Taking me where?" I asked, desperate for clarification.

Peter dropped his hands to his sides, sighing in exasperation. His green eyes locked onto mine, his eyes almost brimming with tears.

"I'm taking you back to Terra," he said.

"No! This is my fight too! You are all my friends and I'm not letting you face this alone. You can't just show me this world of excitement, adventure and fun and then expect me just go home. And do what, pretend it never happened. No way Quill. No bloody way am I going back! I can help you," I protested.

Anger came over Peter's face, his green eyes filled with rage. I stood firm not backing down. I wouldn't allow him the pleasure of winning this argument.

"Help with what? You get yourself killed Jasmine! This is war, this will be a warzone. You aren't a solider," he pleaded.

I was taken aback by the harshness of his plea. I hadn't crossed my mind the effects of war. He was right, I wasn't a solider, a fighter. I couldn't kill someone.

"I can't let you die," he whispered.

I lump formed in my throat, shocked by the clear sincerity in his words. I never knew he cared that much. I nodded silently letting him take me by the arm, dragging me away. I washed sadly at Groot, who attempted to follow me, I shook my head egging him to stay. Rocket smiled slightly at me, as did Gamora. Drax walked back into the room, Domitia standing next to him. Domitita waved sheepishly at me, Drax nodded at me, a nod of respect.

I turned around taking one last look at the headquarters of the Nova Corps. I noticed the screen faltered slightly. The screen wobbled, shutting itself off. The guards looked up it shock. I shook Peter off my arm, stepping forward. Suddenly the projection returned but it no longer showed the map of Xandar. It was a blurred image of a warehouse, cobwebs clung to the ceilings and there was only a dim light glowing in the room. There was a knock against the screen. It was Taneleer.

"Hello, can you hear me? I need to speak to Jasmine Antonia Turner, are you there Miss Turner?" he called out.

I walked toward the projection, waving my hand sarcastically. He beamed at me, his blue eyes as cold as I remembered.

"I'm here to accept your inevitable surrender," he spoke coldly.

I scoffed at his words, rolling my eyes.

"I had a feeling you may disagree, so I brought a few people that may sway your decision Miss Turner," he grinned.

He walked further into the murkiness of the warehouse, the camera following his footsteps. The image cleared to show an older man, with matted black curls, deep brown eyes and a sickly green skin tone. Black circles were deep set underneath his eyes and he looked ever so frail. I knew this man in an instant.

It was my father.

He was in shackles, on his knees tied to the wall. I let out a little whimper, covering my mouth. My body was quaking with fear and my fist were balled. Taneleer knelt beside my dad, wrapping an arm around his neck.

"Well don't be so rude Benedict, say hello to your lovely daughter," Taneleer instructed.

"Jasmine, don't do what he says. You can't give into to him, you have to keep fighting," he rasped.

Taneleer tusked at his response pushing my father aside. He rose to his feet, walking onwards into the dim light of the warehouse. He stopped when he came to a young man. His sandy curls were ruffled, his face pasty and sweating. His clothes ripped and his grey eyes were filled with terror. A cut was on his left cheek, blood trickling down his face. He was in shackles and his posture was hunched.

"Sam," I said breathlessly.

"Your lovely fiancé here is twenty eight yes? So young, too young to die don't you agree? Such a shame you were involved with him. Samuel is it? Samuel here doesn't want to die. You can save him, you can save your father. You can save Xandar. How I hear you cry. Surrender. Come to me and grovel in your knees. Beg me to stop. And they will live. If you don't… Well Miss Turner, not only will I kill your family, I will destroy Xandar. Make a decision, time is running out," he warned.

The screen blurred and the message cut off. Peter stood in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders, speaking to me. But his words made no sense and I couldn't hear him. His tone was comforting but I couldn't stop sobbing. My eyes were blurred by tears.

Surrender was my only option.