WARNING

This chapter contains gore!

All characters as well as setting is (C) MARVEL

Seren and story is (C) Black Lace Lamb


Chapter IX: The Horned King

They took off through the woods, not looking back for a second. All they heard was gnashing teeth, tearing trees and writhing fur. Their horses were sweating, their bodies hovering above the saddles as the sounds around them came closer and closer, but even Asgardian horses could not outrun the beasts that pursued them. Sif's eyes turned at the flash of red at her side and fear crept into the Goddess of War. A huge scarlet beast was running along side them, its fur was flecked with black and gold and its massive claws tore the ground to shreds. It caught her gaze and snarled at her, its terrible teeth as big as swords and green eyes that glinted with bloodlust. Around its waist was a curved sword of crude iron and leather.

"FASTER!" Thor shouted, whipping the reigns harder as they felt the breath of the monster that pursued them. Seren was shaking like a leaf and adrenaline fuelled her, her horse's eyes were wild and its legs were a blur as she streaked ahead like a comet. Trees around them smashed and groaned as Loki looked to the side, a chill ran down his spine as he saw a shape running alongside them. Outrunning them. His eyes shot ahead to where Seren was, the shape curving around and stopping ahead of them. Everyone felt their hearts sink to their stomachs.

Seren screamed as her horse reared back and threw her off, she fell to the ground and her steed writhed on the floor in pain, its legs bucking the air like it was possessed. She shielded her head as the others reared back their horses and their hooves came crashing down around her. The beasts that pursued them formed a ring, snarling like savages. They were hunched over, their knuckles dragging as they pounded the earth and roared at them. Thor leapt from his horse and stepped forward to help Seren to her feet.

"Stay your hand, Asgardian prince. She does not deserve such kindness…" An arm emerged from the dark and seized the mane of Seren's bucking horse. The horse disappeared into the darkness with a strangled cry; there was a sickening crack and the ripping of flesh, the spatter of blood on the dirt. The others dismounted and stepped towards Seren, but Loki blocked them with his arm.

"Wait. We do not know what we challenge." Thor opened his mouth to protest but Seren got up and took a trembling step towards the blood spatted grass. A low, terrible laugh came from the dark.

"A wise move." The others gripped their weapons and watched as Seren was shaking like a leaf but looked into the dark with her head held high. "You thought that you could run from me, my white lady." Seren opened her mouth to speak but her voice had been spirited away.

"Who dares to attack a warrior of Asgard?" Thor growled, the sound of ripping flesh stopped and blood spilled over the roots of the trees. "Reveal yourself, and we may show mercy." The remains of Seren's horse was thrown at her feet, blood and organs littered the grassy floor as she continued to stare, unflinching into the dark. There came a crude spit and a mouthful of blood hit her on the cheek, the others gasped in anger, Seren didn't move a muscle to wipe it away.

"Mercy?" The voice laughed again, the arm appeared and the terrible golden eyes loomed out of the dark. "That word means little to monsters like me," A figure emerged from the darkness, easily twice the size of a normal human and with blood-red skin and hair; human in shape, but bestial in manner as his long tongue licked the remaining blood from his smiling lips. Loki's eyes widened as the jaws ripped up his cheeks in a sadistic smile; its teeth were razor sharp and laced with green and purple saliva. From his brow grew a horn of black, entwined with golden thread and adorned with gems in a tribal crown. In his hand was a sword of gold, which dragged across the ground with colossal weight. He was heavily muscled and the air around him was laced with menace and malevolence; his golden eyes flickered to Seren, he smirked. "Or like her." Thor gripped Mjolnir and stared up at the alien king, the others glanced at one another at his words.

"What nonsense do you speak of?" Sif shouted. "The Lady Seren is loyal to Asgard and its king, all she does is in the service of her people." The beasts around them snarled and gripped their blades as their leader advanced slowly towards the trembling woman.

"Oh indeed, very loyal. As a hound is to its master, this vicious bitch will snarl and bite at all those who threaten the safety of this realm. No matter the cost…" The others watched as Seren looked up into the monster's huge eyes of gold, unable to speak. "Does it keep you awake at night?" He hissed, slowly circling her and crushing the bones of her dead horse under his step. "Those screams of my kin?" Seren felt her arm burning under the bandages, the poison curling around her arm wildly, ripping through her veins. "The sound of their breaking bones?" She hissed as blood started to drip from beneath her gauntlet, the others tried to step forward but the beasts around them snarled at them to keep their distance. "The taste of their blood on your pretty, pale lips?" The monster's huge claws reached out and Loki sneered as it ran a finger down her shaking spine, her body shying away from its touch. "In another life, you would have sat at my side as my star of slaughter."

"Don't you touch her!" Fandral shouted, the leader looked up at him and scoffed.

"I do as I please, so save your breath. You will need it." The golden eyes looked down at Seren's petrified face, her eyes still concealed from him. "This will end one way or another, all that matters the manner in which you will die." The others turned pale and stared at Seren in disbelief. His hand reached out for her white hair.

Seren slapped his claws away; the leader looked surprised as she clenched her fist and looked up into his eyes. Still shaking like a leaf she gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. Staring into his eyes in raging fury, she wiped the bloody spit from her cheek.

"I am Lady Seren, Goddess of Stars. She who watches over cosmic fire…" The leader smirked at her. "Lay a single hair on Asgard or any of its people and you will BURN!" She shrieked at him, her voice cracking. The others stared at the scene before them, unable to take their eyes from the two figures of white and red. The alien king roared in her face, the horrible stench of her dead horse rendering her mute. Seren looked up at him as he leered at her in sadistic relish.

"Oh yes… there is that voice I have missed so much. My bloodthirsty bitch." Thor's eyes darkened in fury.

"Enough of this!" Thor shouted.

"NO! WAIT!" Loki growled, but it was too late.

Thor swung Mjolnir and attacked the leader, knocking him to the ground while Seren remained frozen. The others separated as the beasts flew at them with cruel snarls, the clash of metal on metal and the cries of anger and pain ripped through the air. Loki threw a knife and struck one of the beasts, it whirled around and belted him in the head, as it pounced on him he stabbed it in the belly and blood spatted his hands. He pushed the corpse up and ran over to Seren, seizing her arm.

"Get yourself together…" Loki shook her arm, she didn't move. "LOOK AT ME!" He shouted at her face, Seren did nothing. Loki gritted his teeth and put his hands on her mask, undoing it and revealing her gaze. His eyes widened as he lowered the visor.

Seren was petrified with fear. He gritted his teeth at her blank stare and grasped her shoulders, shaking her roughly. Her lips were parted and tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked straight through him. Thor roared in pain as the leader laughed and his claws ripped at his arm. Loki quickly put her visor back on before throwing another knife and dodging the swiping claws.

"THOR! WE MUST GET BACK TO THE CITY!" Hogun shouted.

"WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS FIGHT!" Loki yelled at him. Thor turned to see Seren frozen in terror and as much as he wanted to continue this battle, they knew nothing about the foe they faced. The others bled as claws and teeth gnashed at them, the beasts' fur flashed in the dappled light as they started to move in for the final kill.

There was a blinding light as Thor smashed Mjolnir onto the ground and the beasts went flying back as the lightning struck them. Everyone mounted their horses and Thor seized Seren by the waist, hoisting her in front of him and they turned and fled through the woods towards the gates.

"DO NOT LET HER GET AWAY!" The leader roared as the beasts got to their feet and took off after them, the leader got down on all fours and joined them in the pursuit. Thor held Seren close to him as the gate grew closer and closer, the towers of Asgard gleaming for them. The horses passed through the gates and they turned to see the alien beasts just about to reach the doors to Asgard. The king snarled and leapt forward, his claws passing though the gate.

Suddenly he was knocked off his feet by a blast of gold, all eyes turned behind them. Seren's mind returned to her at last. Odin All-Father was storming toward them, sceptre in hand and rage in his gaze. The gates sealed shut and the leader roared in anger behind them.

"You will not set one foot in Asgard, Jolvir of Parlavix." Odin shouted, his voice booming through the gate. The others dismounted and Seren leapt from Thor's arms, running to Odin's side.

"All-Father, our business lies with the white lady, we have no quarrel with you. We will return in one week. Either she rides out to fight me or I will slay every last Asgardian man, woman and child until I have her screaming at my feet." The others marched forward to speak but Odin's glare stopped them, Seren lifted her head.

"I accept these terms, I will fight you in the forest of Aldr in one week's time. Be wary, King of the Parlavix, for you know who you challenge!" Seren shouted over the gate, the deep, guttural laugh rang though the air and the sound of retreating strides faded away behind the gate.

She turned back to the others and her heart ached at their baffled, confused faces. They stood there in silent accusation, but none looked sterner than the princes. Odin looked at her in anger as she walked back over to meet them; she looked up at the All-Father and fell to her knee.

"There is no way I can express how truly sorry I am for this chaos that has followed me." She said softly, still shaking a little from the encounter in the woods. "But I will not allow Asgard to answer for my ill transgressions." Odin nodded but said nothing, the two of them turning to the others.

"Father, explain this madness." Thor asked, looking at Seren in furious disbelief. She shook her head slightly and Odin turned to her, gripping his sceptre.

"Lady Seren!" He shouted at her, her whole body trembled and a few stray tears escaped her eyes. Thor and Loki had never seen their father so angry before, Seren looked like she was hoping that Odin would kill her. "You will go to the chambers of your comrades and you will explain yourself and your actions to my sons, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three." He said. Seren closed her eyes and bowed her head to him.

"As you wish, All-Father." She muttered. Odin turned and everyone walked back to the palace, unable to speak. Loki looked at the back of Seren's head, she was trembling from head to toe and her shoulders were hunched in grim defeat.