Thor: The King of Everything.

Summary: (A sequel to "The King of Nothing") "One month after Loki's sudden, inexplicable disappearance and the cryptic message he left behind, Thor desperately tries to hold everything- and everyone- together. But now, facing the cruel reality that his brother before him couldn't bear, failed to overcome and ultimately left to him alone to face, a war that Asgard has no chance of winning; too many people who refuse to see that terrifying truth, and even loosing the one last person he fights for, the God of Thunder knows he has got to make a stand before it's too late. His quest for victory- and to finally end all the suffering around him- will lead him into a long since forgotten, forbidden place, and reintroduce him to the cruel world he never realized he knew existed. But, with the help of his friends, and someone else who may or may not really be there at all anymore, Thor might just end up saving not only himself, Jane, his people, and his home from certain doom, but someone else who no one knew needed saving in the first place."

Warning: "This will be a relatively tame fanfic, with the exception of some blood, violence, angst, some language, a character death or two, and other adult situations. So, to be on the safe side, we'll be going with Rated T. I have watched both Thor movies and the Avenger's movie, but this does not mean that I am perfect and/or know absolutely everything there is to know about, and I'm bound to forget or misuse something. So, with that, please forgive me if I screw up, and just enjoy the story."

Disclaimer: "I do not own Thor. Please don't ruin my day by thinking I do."

A/N: "This story is dedicated to Adamzgal."

N._.s._.S

Chapter Nine: Gateway to Hell.

"The gates of Hell are terrible to behold, are they not?"

- E.A. Bucchianeri.

Ceil Zak'Vael's head slowly tilted to the side in obvious curiosity as he stared at Jane from across the suddenly still lake. His dark, midnight blue eyes glistened oddly in the half-light of the evening, illuminating a strange light in them that could only be identified as insanity.

Who, He began, slowly, his voice echoing unnaturally across the river, Are you?

When Jane didn't reply, he repeated himself, only this time louder and with more confidence.

Who are you?

Jane slowly slipped her hand into her pocket, taking hold of the hidden, sapphire-embedded, silver dagger out of its silver, intricate case, absolutely sure the former Honored King, true to Eir and Axel's warnings, would attack her here and now, especially as she blatantly defied him.

But surprisingly, the Vael did not even blink, much less move.

Several dark figures approached Zak'Vael from behind, and Jane quickly realized that they were also Vael. There were five of them, all just as impossibly tall and as black-skinned as their leader. The former King didn't acknowledge them in any way Jane could see, even when they each, in turn, bent to one knee.

Go, He told them, simply, tonelessly, his dark eyes still on Jane as he broke the following silence, still not even sparing any of them a glance as his minions slowly rose back to their feet, You have your orders.

Jane's grip on the dagger in her pocket tightened as the five Vael made their way around the lake, careful enough to stay clear of the cool waves as they washed quietly ashore. Without a word, the figures passed the young woman, not even glancing at her as they moved toward the gilded stairs.

Zak'Vael waited until they were clear across the field before he spoke again.

Now I remember, He said, and Jane's pulse quickened as he, too, began slowly walking around the shores of the lake, toward her, You are the Human woman who wedded the God of Thunder… and a friend of Laufeysson, too. You're under their protection, if memory serves.

"And?" She demanded, quietly, taking out the sapphire dagger and slowly, subtly, putting it behind her back and turning her head to the side, feigning fear as he approached, "What if I am?"

If you are, I'd first be amazed those fools would be so arrogant to leave you unprotected.

At that moment, the alarms sounded, but Zak'Vael paid them no mind. He was a few feet away from Jane now, and the young woman could feel the tension building up in her chest. Her palm was sweaty from how tightly she was gripping the knife, but she only gripped it tighter as the Vael took another step.

It would be like a doe, The King continued, his midnight blue eyes flashing oddly as Jane stared, almost fearlessly, right back at him, Leaving behind a trail of leaves back to its den.

At that moment, Jane knew for certain that Axel had been right in warning her.

Ceil Zak'Vael was the type who liked to play with his food before eating it.

"Where is your dragon?"

She took a step back as she spoke, hand clenching so tightly around the dagger behind her back that she could feel the intricate metal cutting into the soft skin of her palm.

The dragon?

Jane had absolutely no time to react, Zak'Vael moved so inhumanly fast. His black hand shot out and a long-fingered, burning hot hand coiled itself tight around her arm, and he pulled her so close that they were practically chest-to-chest, staring up (in Jane's case; Ceil was so tall he looked down at her) into each other's eyes; and it was stony, defiant dark brown eyes versus maddeningly calm midnight blue ones as the young woman fought his impossibly strong grasp, trying to get free.

His grasp was painful for some reason. It felt like something deep inside her was being forced out, as if Zak'Vael was somehow trying to compel something that lay deep and dormant within her very self, like her very soul was slowly, painlessly, being coerced from her own body and being taken into his.

And whatever part of her he wanted was slowly beginning to follow him.

Then, without warning, just as something bright gold flashed between him and Zak'Vael, a strong, echoing voice called out to her, softly, as if whispering right into her ear. The voice was all-too familiar, and it brought her almost instantaneously back to herself.

You must get away, Jane.

Oh, my dear girl, Zak'Vael said, softly, his midnight blue eyes narrowing dangerously as the bright golden light between them suddenly faded, and his free arm snaked quickly up her shoulder and his hand slowly began to clasp over her neck, I'm afraid that the Space Dragon is the least of your-

GET AWAY FROM HIM!

CRACK!

- Agh!

The dagger hit its mark, slicing directly across the former Vael King's face. He instantly released her and stumbled backwards, covering his face with both hands.

RUN NOW, JANE!

She ran.

And even over the wailing alarms overhead, over Loki's voice still shouting in her ears, and the harsh beating of her own racing heart, Jane could still hear Ceil Zak'Vael's agonized cursing as she sprinted as fast as she could toward the gilded stairwell.

RUN!

N._.s._.S

It was hard to explain exactly how Loki Odinsson saw the things he did now. It was difficult to explain how every speck of snow, every drop of rain, and every cloud in the sky, was an extension of himself back in the Jotunheim. The only way he could explain it, was that the snow, the rain, and even the clouds were his eyes- they allowed him to see almost everything in Asgard.

And, more importantly, it allowed him to watch over those who needed to be watched.

Like Jane, for example.

He used the lake to call out to Jane when he saw that the Vael had taken hold of her- and had pleasantly found that the body of water had amplified his voice more strongly than he had thought it would, causing the young woman to react quicker to his orders.

And slash Ceil Zak'Vael across the face.

Loki had spared himself a laugh before following Jane as she ran.

The young woman would never make it to Thor, not if the Black Hunt or the Space Dragon had something to do about it. Ceil Zak'Vael had targeted her as soon as he laid eyes on her; and would do pretty much anything to capture her to use against Asgard-

And, of course, Thor.

Loki had to make sure she reached him.

For all their sakes.

The God of Mischief slowly ran his fingers through his shoulder-length raven hair, his brows cinching together thoughtfully as he mulled over his options, before slowly kneeling and taking hold of a fistful of snow from the ground. As he stood back up, he clasped the snow in both hands, and closed his eyes.

"Let it snow."

Loki opened his eyes, and instead of the dark green they used to be, they were bright, ice-blue.

After flinging the snow up into the air, he turned sharply on his heel.

Instantly, the snow began to twirl around him, faster and faster until it looked like a sideways-tornado with a center of near-blinding white, had formed before him.

His eyes turned back to their old green as he stepped inside the portal. As the snow engulfed him completely in blinding white, he managed one last look over his shoulder, and thought he saw a flash of thunder streak down from one of his blackening, angry clouds forming high over Asgard.

And then, inexplicably, Loki smirked.

N._.s._.S

Least we know Loki's going to show up in the near future.

XD

Anyway, tell me what you thought of this one!