Hello, fellow multi-cellular organisms. So I went back and re-read chapter 9 (I try to re-read my chapters to catch any errors and correct them) and I realized that I didn't explain how Avani was able to change clothes while she had the cuffs and chains on. Well, I fixed that, but just in case you didn't know, Loki made the chains connecting the cuffs disappear so that Avani's powers were still contained, but she could then move normally without having to deal with chains. Thank you to Andaie, LostInParadise21, Cavazza, and Dontgotaclue88 for the awesome reviews! Here's a fun-fact, just for the hell of it: When I write these chapters, I'm usually listening to the Phantom of the Opera (some movie or other), Lion King (broadway), or Cats (broadway movie) soundtracks.
"'If there's one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously but . . . life finds a way.'" – Ian Malcolm from Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. And yes, this is a very appropriate quote for this chapter.
Chapter 10
Avani opened her eyes. She was met with a bright moon casting light down upon the bayou before her. She drifted in a small skiff, with only a lantern attached to the front. Her clothing was that of a commoner, a rough pair of homespun breeches and a too large shirt. She wore no shoes. Avani recognized the place around her, the foggy swamp that was eerily silent, as a true swamp never would have been. She lifted the pole that appeared in the skiff and began to quietly push the boat through the bayou, taking certain offshoots and distributaries with practiced ease. No alligators splashed as she poled by, no herons took flight in her wake. If there were frogs in this place, they were silent. She traveled for hours, it seemed, before she finally came upon a dark grove of gnarled camellia trees. A sense of foreboding hung over the grove, a feeling of dread that she had long since become accustomed to. As the skiff bumped into the shore, she stepped out, leaving the pole and boat behind, and continued to the grove. As she approached, she stopped a few feet shy of the underbrush, watching sharply for movement in the vegetation. The silence was deafening.
Avani didn't flinch as the figure appeared before her, as if out of thin air. It tried to strike her, a wild blur emerging from the underbrush, but it was jerked to a stop by the chains that bound it into place. Avani looked into the vicious bloodshot blue eyes, devoid of warmth, taking in the delicate and aristocratic features of the captive. Its skin was golden tan, but it looked perpetually silver under the harsh light of the full moon above them. The creature's snow white hair was long and wild, unkempt and frizzed slightly by the humidity. From its head protruded two long horns made of blue flame and a tail tipped in the same fire lashed behind it. As always, Avani found herself feeling slightly ill at the sight of her.
Or rather, at the sight of herself. The creature that stood before her was who she would have been – who she should have been – had she not sealed her true self away centuries ago. It was hard to say which of them was real – the one chained before her who had a claim on the body she held or herself who possessed that body and locked away this beast, the embodiment of her darkness, her hate. The creature stood, eyes burning with hatred and fury, fighting its chains.
"I see that the binding upon you has not weakened," Avani said, masking her discomfort behind a mask of indifference. The beast snarled and growled.
"No!" It growled. "The cuffs that bind you bind me as well. How did you allow this to happen to us? How could you allow us to be captured like weaklings before a godly suitor?" It demanded, baring long white fangs. Long, sharp claws slashed the air near Avani's face, missing by inches.
"I don't have to explain myself to you; you are a monster, a captive of this maze of bayous and inlets. I will find a way to release us from these cuffs and then destroy them so that they can never be used against us again. That is all you need to know," Avani said, looking around the grove. She walked, checking the perimeter for damage. The guards on the demon inside of her could not be neglected lest they weaken. The demon followed her, its walk smooth and silent, like a panther stalking its prey.
"I could release us from them. These cuffs contain you only because you bear only a fraction of my strength. They were not made to handle the force of true power," it hissed, trying, and failing to coax her into releasing it from its prison. Avani finished walking the perimeter in silence, satisfied with the upkeep on the bindings that kept the demon trapped within this dark crevice of her mind. The demon, frustrated by her silence, growled, "You cannot keep me here forever. I will escape, eventually, and you will take my place in this maddening hell."
"You won't escape. Even if you broke your chains, you would get lost in this swamp. It changes constantly, a labyrinth of waterways leading to different memories, different times. You may find your way out eventually, but not before I find you trapped within a particularly painful memory, one that not even a devil like yourself can handle," Avani answered, face serious.
The demon smiled, its expressions so primal, so animalistic, on its humanoid face. "You survived them. I have no doubt that I can do the same," it purred. "After all, I was born to receive and deliver pain and suffering. It is my job, my life, my one love. I am not a weakling, as you are."
"Perhaps. But there are things that will break even a devil. Memories that haunt me at night, that wake me in a cold sweat. Memories that hurt so much I wish my heart would stop beating so I could no longer feel, images that burn in my mind, branding me," Avani paused, fighting off the recollections that struggled to resurface. "I survived those things, but I did not emerge unscathed. Should you face them, you would not either," Avani said as she walked back to the boat, stepping inside. The demon watched her, face furious again. It howled in fury as she poled away, a sound of fury and hatred. Avani ignored the howl, ignoring the lonely one it fell too as she continued pole away. As she went, she felt the swamp around her change. The water dried up, being replaced with cracked, flat desert. The moon sank below the horizon as a sun rose. The sun was too large, too hot, for the sky that held it. The skiff disappeared with the lingering humidity of the swamp.
Avani gulped, her mouth suddenly dry as she was left standing in the overbearing heat of the hellish sun. Her shoeless feet burned on the undisturbed sand beneath them, blistering quickly. She heard a sound behind her and she turned sharply. A man stood before her, much taller and larger than she was. He could have been her brother, looking at his blue eyes and golden skin as well as the devilish blue horns that graced his head. His white hair was long and pulled into a low ponytail. A small white goatee accented his chin. His blue eyes were piercing, seeming to see straight into her mind, into her soul. "Daughter," his voice boomed. He was unaffected by the heat, seeming very much in his element. "Why do you continue to fight me? Here I have brought you into the care of a proper man and yet you shun him as you have shunned me," Lucifer said, coming forward to take her hand in his. His touch was awful, burning and blistering the skin of her hand.
Avani ignored the pain that shot up her arm, saying nothing as the smell of burning flesh filled the air. She could feel her body healing the damage as quickly as it was done, creating an appalling cycle of destruction and regeneration. Lucifer walked her deeper into the desert, a mirage rising in the distance. She saw a beautiful kingdom rising from the sand, encrusted in gold and royal blues. It grew, larger and larger, spreading all the way around them across the horizon. Her father kept walking her towards it, though it seemed to grow no closer. "You have brought me nowhere, Lucifer, as you are bringing me nowhere now. Loki does not serve the likes of you," she said, preparing for the sharpening pain that would follow her defiance.
It came, a wild fire that grew from their conjoined hands, climbing up to lick at her arms. She couldn't help the sweat that rose on her brow from the strain of maintaining an indifferent expression. "He is serving my purposes. Is that not serving me, just the same?" he said, daring her to argue. She rose to the challenge, unwilling to be cowed.
"Loki is not like your twisted slaves. He does not enjoy causing pain. He lashes out against the world around him because he hurt, and because he hurts, he wants others to hurt with him, like him," Avani replied. Her free hand tightened into a fist as the flames continued to spread. The ground before her sprouted knives, crooked and wicked. Her father continued to lead her towards the palace in the distance, over the blades that sliced and pierced her unprotected feet. The knives sliced her feet to ribbons, her blood pouring out on the sand. Some pierced her feet all the way through, forcing her to carefully lift her foot straight up lest the blade slice back into her foot. She ignored the pain steadfastly, receding into that state of mind where physical feelings ceased to be real, that place where she could rest from her father's torment.
Lucifer watched her struggle for a moment, silently admiring her steel will. This was why he had chosen her, in spite of her defects. His sons would be lashing back at him or cowering from him if forced to endure the treatment he put her through. They lacked not only her magical and physical strength, but also her inner strength. They did not have her ability to bear anything and everything and continue on. Lucifer was no fool. He knew that she did not cower because she did not want to appear weak and that she did not fight back because she knew she did not have the strength to win. And yet, her endurance made a louder statement than retaliation ever would have.
"You are like me in many ways, daughter. More like me than any of my sons, even my heir. If only you would stop your crusade upon me, your own father, your flesh and blood," he sighed. "I suppose the problem is that you are too like me. That drives you to rebel against your creator, whom you should love."
"I don't care that you created me. I don't feel that I must be your slave because of that."
"I gave you your power, your strength – "
Avani cut him off, saying, "Too bad you also gave me your lack of respect for 'authority'."
He turned, punching her in the upper stomach, his patience worn thin. Avani could feel her sternum shatter and her ribs break as she was sent sailing across the desert. She skidded over the cracked and burning earth. She felt more bones break with every impact with the earth. Finally, she came to a stop, her mangled body bloody and broken under the burning sun. Her father appeared, standing above her from where she lay face up in the sand. He pressed a heavy boot to her chest, pushing the broken fragments of her ribs into her lungs. She choked on her breath, the pain overwhelming. However, as the pain became unbearable, she saw her father disappear.
As her consciousness in the dream faded, she felt the pain fade, the burning of the sun and sand and fire being cooled and soothed. She panicked for a moment, thinking her father was tricking her, lulling her into a false sense of security. He never left her like this, never allowed her to really, truly rest. Finally, she calmed, allowing her awareness to drift into healing, restful slumber.
Loki wondered what had cause Avani to suddenly tense so much again as they slept, her breath coming fast and labored. One moment she had been fine and they had both been asleep, and then she tensed, fisting her hands and biting her lip as if in pain. He hugged her closer to him, murmuring soft words in her ear and petting her head in what he thought was a comforting manner. He had never comforted someone before, so he wasn't really sure what to do. He rubbed her tense back, stroking her shoulders, before slipping his hand into hers. She squeezed his hand in an almost painful grip and clung to him, her body shaking. He could feel her heart thumping in her chest, a panicked beat. She whimpered a bit, eyes screwed shut against whatever horror invaded her dreams.
Slowly, under his ministrations, she calmed, breath slowing again and body relaxing. Her grip on his hand lessened, though she continued to hold it, seemingly comforted by the presence of another. At last, he thought she would be okay, so he settled back down to sleep. He would have two get up in another hour or two, but for now, he just wanted to be next to her. The feeling was strange to him, a surge of protectiveness that reared at the thought of whatever plagued her returning while he wasn't there to hold her, to comfort her. He had never felt the need to eliminate the suffering of another, not unless it would serve his purpose in some way, but when he thought about Avani, proud and strong and clever and beautiful Avani, suffering such pain and terror alone . . . What is this feeling? he thought, drifting back into slumber.
Avani awoke slowly, bit by bit becoming aware of the world around her, of the soft sheets, of the comfy bed. She started awake, forgetting for a moment where she was, and was surprised to find Loki gone. His spot on the bed was still somewhat warm so he couldn't have left too long ago. Looking at the clock on the wall, she noticed that it was nearing 8 o'clock in the morning. As she got out of bed she panicked, noticing that the iPod band was gone. She searched the bed, tearing the sheets apart looking for it, before she noticed the empty band sitting on the nightstand over a note. The note read:
"Good morning, Kitten. I trust you have awoken feeling well and rested. The butler will be delivering your breakfast at eight o'clock. Unfortunately, I will be unable to join you, so you will have to amuse yourself. Do not try to escape, it will only get you punished, so do behave. I will see you in a few hours.
-Loki"
Avani snorted at the idea of her keeping out of trouble. As if. She was getting out of here TO-DAY! Before lunch, even! She'd show that overgrown bastard. The fact was, she was feeling great, ready to take on the world – or save it, really. A knock sounded at the door and she rose to answer it, thinking, It's go time. The butler wheeled in a cart of breakfast food on paper plates. Most of it was finger food, though a plastic spork had been provided for her use. Where did they find a Tacobell spork in a place like this? Avani approached the butler as he attempted to leaving, asking, "Will you bring up buckets of ice? I wish to have an ice bath."
"The master did not say anything about heeding your requests," the butler answered, confusion flashing across his face.
"I want an ice bath! Do you want me to tell Loki that you have neglected me?" she said, threatening him.
"No, no. I will bring the ice up," he responded, looking panicked at the idea of disappointing his "master".
"Good. Fill the bath tub up with it. Then you can go," she said, turning to the cart full of food. As the butler left, she grabbed a pitcher of orange juice and picked the bowl of fresh fruit from off the cart. She also grabbed the pint of yogurt. All the items were cold, probably fresh out of the refrigerator. Quickly, she ate them, watching the butler run back and forth, dumping buckets of ice into the bathtub. She could feel her core temperature drop ever so slightly as she ate the cold food, downing the pitcher of ice cold juice. She sat on the couch, under an air conditioning vent, letting the cold air wash over her. Finally, when the butler had filled the bath, she told him to leave and not to return unless given specific orders by Loki to do so.
She shivered as she stripped down, standing bare before the bath of ice. If this works, if inducing slight hypothermia makes my magic spike to save me, I'll be able to see what Loki's doing. Depending on that, I can decide what to do from there. But, damn, it's cold. She stepped up to the bath and held her breath, deciding to just jump in. She stepped into the ice, sinking in as the ice bit at her toes. Shaking, she sat into the ice, maneuvering to cover herself up to her shoulders in ice. She shuddered as minutes passed and her body temperature dropped. She stuck a foot out of the bath, seeing the nail-beds on her toes turning slightly blue. She brought her foot back under the ice through sheer force of will. Sure enough, as the heat of her body retreated only to her most essential organs, her body began to shut down. She felt a spark as her magic reacted, fighting to counteract the hypothermia in spite of the cuffs on her wrists.
Using the single seed of magic that had returned to her momentarily, she searched the mansion for Loki, finding him in the basement of the house. She approached with caution, wary that he might sense her, but he seemed to be entering a transient state, unaware of the activity around him as scientists rushed about, packing things away. Thor said that his army was coming from another dimension. He must be going to talk to whoever he's cut a deal with to control the army. Good, spirit-walking takes time and focus. He can't have been at this for too long, which gives me time to get this damn collar off, spoil his plans, and haul ass out of here, she thought, quickly climbing out of the bath. Her skin had turned deathly pale, a far cry from its usual golden tone. Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she started at her pale bluish lips. She seemed like a creature made of ice with her now pale skin, white hair, and bright blue eyes.
Avani quickly dried herself with a towel, fighting the temptation to simply curl up in the blanket and wait to warm up. She walked to the light switch, flipping switches until a heater came on. Sighing with relief, she dressed in her bra and underwear before going to raid the closet. She went to the man's side of the closet, thinking that he would be more likely to have what she wanted. Sure enough, she dug up a designer pair of tan cargo shorts. She pulled them on, slipping one of the woman's belts through the loops to secure the shorts around her hips. She also found a loose, button up, white shirt that she put on. She rolled the too long sleeves up to her elbows.
She continued to shiver, her body beginning to reach a normal temperature, and sought wire to pick the lock on her collar with. Her eyes lit up as an idea occurred to her. Electricity = wiring to power stuff! She ran into the bedroom and seized the lamp on her nightstand. She yanked it, pulling the plug out of the wall. Thinking quickly, she slid the plug sideways under the bathroom door so that she and the plug were on one side and the lamp was on the other. She picked up the plug and sat down, bracing her feet against the door. She pulled the cable taut and gathered her strength, preparing to yank the cable free of the lamp to expose the wiring.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the cable, almost falling backwards as the cable came free. She heard the lamp clatter as it rolled around on the floor. Avani got to her feet, deft fingers quickly stripping the cable down to the wires at the broken end. The copper wires shone encouragingly. She went into the bathroom, pushing the door and lamp aside, and climbed up on the counter in front of the mirror. Carefully, she stuck a wire into the tiny key hole, feeling around.
Having great experience picking locks (usually on Stark's stuff, just to annoy him), she was able to deduce that the lock, while tiny, was uncomplicated, probably because it was never expected to hold someone who could pick a lock. Inserting another piece of wire, she watched her hands in the mirror. It took her a few minutes, but finally, she heard a satisfying beep! and pop! as the collar released her. She yanked it off, setting it on the counter. Alright, Loki. Let the games begin, she thought, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
To be Continued . . .
I'm tired. Read and review, please, let me know what you think. I'm off to bed.