Wind blew frost and snow into Darcy's eyes, and she was having trouble seeing through the white mist that shrouded the place.
''C'mon. We're almost there.'' Loki encouraged, taking Darcy's hand and helping her up the hill.
Darcy took the last couple steps and looked down at the valley below.
The place was ruined. Scorched fir trees were toppled over, bare patches of dirt showed through were there was more fire damage, and ash fell like snow over the whole valley.
A small floating shard of ice floated into view. When it came closer to Darcy, it cleared and Darcy could make out a head and small wings.
''A girl! She is so beautiful.'' It said in a delicate voice.
Another one flew up and nodded, ''She can stay here. But the man... no, monster must die.''
''Loki. Look!'' Darcy said, pointing at the little fairies.
''Frost Sprites.'' He retorted, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
''What's a... Frost Sprite?'' Darcy asked, holding out a finger. One lighted on it while the other flew away. ''They're so pretty.''
Loki took her arm and whispered a spell under his breath. The spite gave a small gasp and in a puff of smoke, was gone.
''Oh my gosh! You... Killed it?'' Darcy gasped, putting her hands over her mouth.
''It would have killed us. They seem sweet and kind... But they are very nasty. And more than likely, whatever happened here... Had something to do with them.'' Loki replied, taking her hand again and leading her down the hill.
Darcy looked around at the ash and coal. A small Frost Sprite slowly melted away into the ash. ''What happened here?" She asked, stepping on a cold patch of snow. Wind blew in her face again, bringing this time frost and ash.
''There are different types of demons. Lesser ones, and higher ones. There are three types of higher demons. Ul'roche, Magenter dark demons, and Dream demons. Surtur is a Magenter, meaning he can forge and produce lesser and higher demons.''
''So it was Surtur?'' She asked quizzically.
''No. It was a Ul'roche. Surtur must have forged one and sent it here. But he can only forge them every couple of years. It is crafty business because Ul'roche's are almost as powerful as he is.'' Loki explained.
''Oh, who pissed it off?"
''I think it was him.'' He replied, rushing over to a motionless figure in the ash.
''Is he okay? Is he alive? Please be okay strange demon fighter.'' Darcy pleaded with the person, helping Loki bring him to a patch of snow.
The man wore very bright colors, a red cloak with a gold edge, a blue tattered shirt, black pants, boots, and he wore a gold amulet around his neck.
''Wo. He would stand out in a crowd.'' Darcy breathed, the man was quite handsome, but the circumstances didn't make her attracted to him. He might not even be breathing.
''Strange is the right category for this man. I know him'' Loki gasped, trying to revive the unconscious man.
''You what?! Who is he?!'' Darcy exclaimed, looking at Loki.
''His name is Stephen Strange... He's made... Uh... Visits, to Asgard in the past.'' Loki explained, listening for a heartbeat.
''Stephen... Stephen! I know him too. He's worked with Jane before. But back then he wasn't so colorful.'' She hesitated, Then shoved Loki out of the way.
''What are you doing?'' Loki asked, getting up.
''He's got ash stuck in his throat. He can't breath.'' Darcy opened the mans mouth, tilted his head back, and prepared to get personal.
She closed her eyes, and started doing mouth to mouth. The guy was freezing and she was beginning to think this wasn't doing what she had planned. She drew back and pumped his chest, counting down the seconds, then she continued respirating for him.
Just as she was going to give up the man gave a shudder and she lurched back. Sure enough he started coughing up congealed something. It looked like a mixture of ash and mucus.
His face paled even more and he began heaving.
''What do mortals call that?'' Loki asked, looking at Darcy with a mix of concern and disgust.
''Oh we call that throw-''
''Not that! What you did to... Save him.'' He didn't seem to thrilled that their companion survived, and Darcy wondered why.
''I um, did what is called mouth to mouth. It's where you push air into someone elses lungs? When they can't... Breath?'' Darcy had learned CPR, but wasn't very good at it.
''Oh... I really think we should leave him here.'' Loki said, a worried expression on his face.
''What!? Why would we do that?'' Darcy exclaimed, standing up abruptly.
''Because he knows I'm not someone to be messed with. My dear, please get behind me.'' The man, or Stephen, had gotten up, and any earlier signs of weakness had vanished.
''Everything we find on this place wants to hurt you doesn't it?'' Darcy asked, making no move to get behind Stephen.
''Let me explain myself. I am not here to harm you. I came to explore this place while I have freedom, so let's not fight.'' Loki spoke as if Stephen was a toddler that was very angry.
''I doubt you were allowed to come here. You more than likely stole this woman as insurance and came here for some reason unknown to me.'' Stephen seethed, his frustration evident.
Man their history is bad. Darcy thought, separating the two men.
''Me! Stealing her! She practically forced me to take her. I had no choice.'' Loki retorted.
Loki had a point...
''Like I would believe-''
''It's true. I'm Darcy Lewis, I work with Jane Foster. I came with her to Asgard and Loki had to be my babysitter when she left. He came here and I forced him to take me with him.'' Darcy admitted.
The mans grey eyes shifted from Loki to her. ''You're not lieing.'' Then he stumbled to the ground.
Darcy understood his stand off-ishness. He couldn't have let Loki think he had the upper hand.
''Are you okay?'' Darcy asked.
''I'm... I sense something. Surtur is sending more... Amora.'' Stephen said, looking into the distance.
''What's an Amora?'' Darcy followed his gaze, to where she could see a red fiery glow.
''It's not a demon it's an Asgardian. Amora the Enchantress. She was my tutor and...'' Loki gave Darcy a look.
Oh. Darcy felt a flicker of jealousy, then focused back on the crisis at hand.
''She's got something more... Oh no. She's been enslaved by Surtur.'' Loki muttered, eyes widening.
''A villain worse than you with doubled powers. Perfect.'' Stephen grumbled, slowly standing up.
Darcy sighed, and prepared herself for a fight. You always get the weird ones Darcy. That was for sure, but right then she couldn't focus on Loki. She had a feeling this was going to turn out worse than any of them expected.
