Disclaimer: I don't own nor involved in the creation of the Marvel Universe or it's characters, except for those who I've made up.
"Sam I'm scared!" The girl cried into the boys arms as he held her against his cowering chest.
"Don't worry baby, I'm sure everything will be alright, they won't find us in here-" All of the sudden the front door was being broken apart by an army of the living dead, otherwise known as zombies on this planet.
The rest of the movie seemed to follow their girlish screams as they failed miserably to fight off the dead. Meanwhile I sat boredly eating a bucket of popcorn as Sam seemed engaged in the movies along with everyone else.
Sam had decided to take me to the movies for me to experience a first hand movie theater experience early in the morning, which apparently isn't something he does. But since Strange doesn't really like allowing me out during the night he made a small exception, besides apparently he wanted me to first experience a horror movie which are suppose to be terrifying.
But I was not amused at all, the entire plot of this movie seemed stupid and it seemed the humans had doomed themselves trying to create an elixir for immortality. And the main characters seemed to be this couple who got in the middle of it, and now their doomed to die.
Looking around the movie theater I saw that most of the girls were clinging to their male companions, some of which were attempting to act cool but were cringing in fear. Other guys like Sam seemed pretty entertained as the couple in the movie managed to get away.
It didn't help that my heart kept receiving these weird signals, almost as if there is some sort of disturbance. I've had enough of this.
"Sam I'm going to go to the restroom." I stated seeming to finally get him to lost focus on the movie.
"Oh ok, you want me to go with you-"
"No, no the movie is almost over, wouldn't want you to miss the end." I remarked giving him the popcorn before carefully getting though the few people that came to watch this movie.
As I finally made it out of the theater, my eyes quickly adjusted from the light change as I was quickly reminded that it was in fact morning. Making my way to the restroom I went to recollect myself and wash my face from the sudden intrusions.
What's going on with me? For some reason my body seems to be telling me something is a miss, but my body seems fine. Could it be that the soul stone is picking up some sort of danger?
That can't be right what does it have to possibly be concerned about, or is it me that should be concerned? Staring up at the mirror, I saw my eyes seemed to have transform into glowing green ones as the white quickly became black.
Alright stone you have my attention, what exactly is it you want to show me? Slowing taking slow and deep breaths, I opened my mind as the visions came flooding through showing me small images and hearing words from different voices.
Oddly the images were familiar sites that I'd been to on earth.
Central Park, the public library, and lastly the Baxter Building. The only images I could grasp but the voices seemed to overlap as I just heard gibberish at first before I could make up what they were trying to say.
Be wary... steer clear... he comes... to take... what is yours... Beware... the Prince of Lies.
Almost as if they have said all they wanted to say, the visions and voices all went away before I found myself gasping to recollect myself. What was that suppose to mean, they seemed fearful for some reason which never happens.
The only time they actually became fearful was when the members of the temple attempted to remove the stone from my body and contain it, and that ended horribly. In fact I had trouble regaining control as the stone or rather the voices had temporary formed an insecure attachment to me refusing to allow others around us.
Had I not trusted Father Sulivan before hand or had he been involved in stopping that operation I'm sure I would have never have gotten the stone to trust me again and transform the insecure attachment to a secure one. Glancing up once again my eyes slowly transformed back to normal as I let out a deep breathe, gathering a few paper towels to dry my face.
This isn't good, perhaps I should contact Strange or Reed to see if there has been anything out of the ordinary. Walking out the restroom, I saw Sam was waiting for me patiently before he finally took notice of me.
"There you are, had a feeling you would still be in there. Are you ok? You were in there for nearly twenty minutes." He pointed out taking notice of my conflicted appearance.
"I.. really am not sure, Sam you said the first time I came here you sensed a disturbance. Did you sense one now or during the movie?" I asked hopefully as he just stared at me with utter confusion.
"Ah no, not really why is something wrong? Did you sense a disturbance or something?" He asked as we walked out of the movies, grasping the charm Strange gave me I was surprised when he didn't respond or I couldn't reach him.
How peculiar...
"I don't know, but I'll call Reed and see if his scanners have picked up any weird activity. Sorry for partially ruining our outing Sam." I stated calling Reed as he casually brushed it off.
"Don't mention it, the movie was pretty lame anyway with the couple finally being eaten alive in the end." He stated as I let out a light laugh at the poor yet realistic choice of endings.
"Yeah I figured, the movie was doomed from the start, I'm amazed they allowed it to screen- Oh hey Reed, did I catch you at a bad time?" I started as he finally picked up after a minute.
I could hear shuffling and the sound of multiple voices, a few that I could identify as Tony Stark and Nick Fury, before hearing Reed respond.
"Ah sort of in the middle of a meeting with the Avengers- is something wrong, you sound kind of anxious." He pointed out as I signed deeply trying to figure that out myself.
"It's complicated did... has Dr. Strange mentioned anything on his whereabouts or current plans to you, I can't reach him." I finished lamely as I heard him hum in response.
"Nothing comes to mind, strange I thought you of all people could reach him easily, is that all you wanted to ask?" He questioned knowingly as I lightly laughed at this.
"Am I that easy to read? I was wondering if your scanners have picked up anything out of the ordinary near the area." I asked curiously as Sam seemed to be leading me to Central Park.
I heard shuffling around and some buttons being pressed before hearing him hum momentarily.
"Nothing's showing up on my scanners, why are you sensing disturbances? You want me to send Johnny or Ben to check them out-"
"No, no, it's fine their just feelings. I'll look into it myself, just to be sure, sorry for disturbing you." I said sincerely ready to end the call.
"Wait isn't that a little dangerous with Strange being unavailable at the moment, maybe you shouldn't-"
"I'll be fine I'm more than capable of handling myself, besides I have Sam with me and he'll make sure to keep me out of trouble. Talk to you soon, bye!" I said cheerfully hanging up as he was midway into saying something to me.
I wonder what it was.
"So... We're investigating now?" Sam asked hearing the jest of the conversation as we wandering into the park.
Nodding I recalled the vision I has before realizing we were actually at the sights of one of the visions, Central Park. It could be pure coincidence that I did tend to spend some of my free time here and that it's a pretty famous site, but all those locations were ones I've been too.
Could I be connected to this event the vision was showing me, a warning of some sort, am I suppose to be avoiding these sites or are they telling me to go to investigate them? For a being that can alter life and death my life has always been difficult to predict, I can be killed and die but it's nearly impossible.
I don't fear death but that doesn't mean I don't feel pain when people cut me open and experimented on me. Father Sulivan was the only one who stood up for me, only a few of the priest and priestesses tolerated me, the others weren't as nice.
Sam was right to assume I don't trust people, I really don't. But the stone had always looked out for me, whether because I was its vessel or just because it pitied me, visions were always one of the methods it used to communicate with me when the situation called for it.
So what's going on that would make it to send me visions on these places and warn me about some individual named Prince of Lies. Was this person someone who spoke in lies, or says the opposite of what they really mean? Is this some sort of riddle?
Since when do infinity stones have sense of humors?
"Cosmo!" Sam shouted bringing me from my funk, surprised by him addressing me by my real name.
"Geez I've been calling out to you for a while now, you want to get a hotdog? I see an old man with a stand next to our usual spot." He said before I shook my head no, running ahead as I looked over at the vender, immediately sensing something was off.
He didn't appear to be one of the usual venders I see around here, and since when did benders sell hot dogs near this area or specifically next to the bench. Sam doesn't seem to act as if something is wrong with this, but I feel something is off here.
"One hot dog please?" Sam asked pulling out his wallet before the old man simply chuckled waving Sam off.
"Now there's no need for that, it's on the house for a very special occasion. I insist." The vender remarked handing it to Sam who accepted it in glee.
"What kind of occasion?" I asked as the man simply chuckled slightly more sinisterly then before.
Trying to peer into his mind I was taken back by the fact I couldn't, it had been blocked off to me. How...?!
"Just celebrating a soon to be success is all, cheers!" He added watching Sam apply condiments to the hot dog.
However the slight green glow that illuminated his eyes momentarily caught my immediate attention, although Sam seemed to preoccupied by the moment. But my eyes quickly went to the hot dog as I quickly picked up on the enchantment placed on it as I began to full on panic.
Who is this guy? Why did he enchant Sam's hot dog? Was that green glow his magic reflecting through his eyes? More importantly Sam's about to eat the hot dog containing who knows what, I have to do something quickly without drawing suspension.
Think Cosmo think!
"Sam look out there's a spider on the hot dog!" I remarked casting an illusion in Sam's eyes as he quickly dropped the hot dog which quickly disappeared oddly enough.
However Sam seemed more focused on getting away from it, not caring to look down.
"Oh gross it was all big and hairy, there goes my appetite." He remarked before I quickly grabbed his hand leading him away.
"Hey let's go to the library, I think I've had enough outdoor excitement for the day." I stated dragging him along forcefully before he could get his word in.
However I was startled when I looked back to see he, along with the stand, had completely vanished out of site. I didn't even get to read him, who was that guy?
Unknown POV
"Hmm... That wasn't very nice of you, just who might you be?" I questioned outloud on top of a nearby rooftop watching the two teens quickly leave the park.
That boy is an associate of Spiderman's, the helmet wearing hero, but I don't recall ever seeing that girl. Whoever she may be, she was capable of seeing through my illusion and even attempted to read my mind.
Had I not been wearing my traditional Asgardian headgear, I would have been sure to fall victim to her. Quite the display of mental power, but clearly lacking in acting skills.
Following them from above he was once again surprised they headed to the second location I scouted out. The public library, strange could this be a coincidence or was this fate dealing me a card in my favor.
However first things first, time to check up on this girl, if she happens to be a friend of this hero then she could possibly connected to Spiderman's ring of associates. I shouldn't underestimate her, especially after what she did back there, she's no fool.
"This should be interesting..." I remarked transforming into another form before entering the building, pushing the glasses from my disguise upward to adjust it.
Alma's POV
I shouldn't have brought Sam here, heck I shouldn't have come to the library when that individual might show up here if my hunch is right. And I don't even know who I'm dealing with, maybe I should call Reed again, perhaps the Avengers might even know something about this.
"Sam maybe we should wrap things up and call it a day, I should be heading back to the manor-"
"Uh huh." He stated not believing me as I looked at him in bewilderment.
"What?" He laughed knowingly before flicking my forehead in response.
"Nice try but your not losing me that easily, as if I'd cut you lose after that magic incident. So are you going to go after the guy or are you going to try and lead him out, either way I'm against it-" He started noticing me pouting in response.
"-but if you were to run off I'd have no choice but to follow you. However no doubt the Sorcerer Supreme and the Fantastic Four aren't going to like it, remember the other day you left in the middle of the night because you sensed a disturbance? Pretty sure Johnny had spent the entire night searching for you." He remarked as I laughed nervously remembering that incident.
Some enchantress had made her way to New York and I got a rude wake up call when she did, Strange says that I was like a living magic detector. Both a blessing and a curse, especially in the middle of the night during blissful sleep.
Not to mention Strange nearly ripped my head off, a first time for everything, while lecturing me on the dangerous of doing such reckless things. Luckily for him he had dealt with the problem before I had the chance to, apparently he had already been on it before I could get out of bed.
"Way ahead of you I'll just call them ahead of time and we'll be off- Sam?" I asked turning around as I exited the public facility only to see Sam was no longer there.
Running back in I was alarmed when everyone had stopped moving, frozen in an enchantment as I couldn't sense Sam's soul with the facility. Don't tell me-
"Looks like you're not affected, you're no normal mortal are you?" The librarian asked as I quickly noticed the same presence as before, but instead of the old man from before he was an older woman.
A shapeshifter? No they don't use enchantments, could they also be a sorcerer of some sort?
"Where's Sam?" I asked as she chuckled quickly changing forms again.
As the green magic momentarily showered them with light, a man dressed in some sort of formal wear with a horned helmet stood before me. Mischief reflected across his eyes as he took in my surprised appearance, where had I seen him before- no not him but something about him seemed familiar.
"You think it wise to question me mortal, especially when I have your friend in confinement?" He taunted bending down to my level as I narrowed my eyes on him.
Trying to read his soul I ran into inference again only being able to skim the surface of it, who is this guy? I haven't ran into such heavy inference since Father Sulivan or when I came across Strange.
But I was able to get a name despite not being able to physically touch him.
"Prince Loki of Asgard, your Thor's brother no wonder your attire seemed familiar. What business does the Prince of Lies have with us, or specifically with Sam?" I asked not likely the fact I'm face to face with the person I should be avoiding.
"Naughty, naughtry girl, don't you know it's rude to read people? Just who might you be?" He asked reaching for my face, on instinct I pulled up a magically barrier flinching in response.
"Where's Sam?!" I asked more forcefully as he backed away cautiously still having that playful smirk on his face.
He's toying with me.
"If you want to see your little friend come alone to the school, I understand it's a place you go to often?" He asked confidently but I could sense the uncertainty beneath it.
"Don't tell me the Prince of Lies actual stalks young mortals, quite immoral don't you think? What's stopping me from calling Thor, I hear you two are at a stalemate at the moment." I remarked already regretting my choice of words.
"You two seem very close, it would be ashame if something were to happen to him. Well I guess I'll see you soon." He remarked disappearing into a light of green, everyone in the room going back into their normal routine completely unaware of what transpired.
Oh great now Sam's in danger, putting my phone away I let out an aggravated sign as I exited the library. He's no doubt waiting for me at my school, but will Sam really be there with him? He is the Prince of Lies after all can I really trust in his words?
But if Sam's still in New York I can track his soul down without having to use the power of the stone, it should be relatively easy since I've acknowledged and categorized it in my memory.
Concentrating on his presence I was surprised to see he wasn't anywhere near the school, instead he was at the Baxter Building. Specifically unconsious in the janitors closet in the lobby, why the heck would he be there out of all the places Loki could have chosen.
Using a spell Strange had taught me, I quickly teleported to the back of the desk in lobby that was relatively empty. Not even the lobby manager and receptionist were there to greet or question me like usual, walking towards the closet I let out a breathe of relief at the site of Sam unconsious yet uninsured.
Slinging his arm over my shoulder, I lifted him out and placed him on the couch to properly examine him. His vitals are good and it doesn't appear he was physically knocked out, just another enchantment that appears pretty harmless.
However when I suddenly sensed Loki's presence I quickly made sense of things, this was a trap and I just causally walked into it. Quickly teleporting Sam out of there, I let out a relieved breathe knowing he was safe at Strange's manor for the time being.
"Wow you really are a Prince of Lies, since when is this a school?" I questioned not bothering to turn to face him.
I sense he was already standing a few meters behind me, and I didn't have to turn around to know that he probably held a look of triumph on his face. But what could he have possibly be happy about.
I didn't fall for his other bait but somehow I managed to do as he calculated. Was this some sort of test?
I shouldn't even continue to linger here, I should go, I don't want to have this man's attention. But I need to know why he's here, could it be pure coincidence that he came to Earth perhaps to face his brother or was he here for me or more specifically the stone? Could he possibly known?
No we were careful he can't possibly know about me, but perhaps he does know the Soul Stone is on Earth. Was he involved in the raid of the temple?
"How did you know to come here? I did say we would be at the school, or perhaps you had a way of tracking me or the boy-"
"Lucky guess, I don't have time for this." I said beginning to walk off before I quickly realized I couldn't use my magic, weird it was working earlier.
Checking my phone I saw it also had no signal, so that's why he's so happy. He thinks he has me at a disadvantage.
"Is something the matter? I thought you were leaving." He taunted as I paid little attention to him and more over my surroundings.
Not a single other soul in proximity, whether that was his workings or he scared them off, it did give me comfort of mind. No one in the area to get caught in the crossfire, but something tells me this guy isn't someone to take lightly.
I would probably need to used the power of the infinity stone to be sure of victory, but that's to dangerous to use right now. Especially if the stone warned me to beware this man, not to mention he might get what he wants.
He's observing me to see what I'm capable of, he has taken away some of the tools in my toolbox. But I have an infinite amount of others I can use to my advantage, however that's what he wants to see.
I won't allow him to get what he wants.
"I'm kind of curious as to why your doing this, I don't think I've done anything to offend you. Or could it be your fixated on me because let me tell you your better off with anyone else." I remarked as he seemed to summon a staff out of nowhere walking closer towards me.
"Don't flatter yourself, I am not my brother, I would never find interest in a mortal woman nor in the company of a mortal. However seeing that your someone who deals in the art of magic perhaps you know something that would be of interest to me." He stated stopping nearly an arm length away from me to look upon his staff.
Already knowing how I might be able to get out of this messy situation, I took hold of the necklace Strange gave me as he continued on. Strange gave this to me as a way to communicate and locate me, when I go to take it off Strange loses his direct connection to me. But if I were to go into a huge amount of stress or something where to cause it to shatter he would likely come to my location at a moments notice.
Yanking it lightly off, I looked down at the eye piece contemplating whether this was going to work or not as I heard him mention something of interest.
"-about a disturbance that occurred over a month ago, not far from this place." He stated as I flinch in response at it, catching his attention.
"Oh have I peaked your interest?" He asked as I held onto the necklace a little longer, what's he getting at?
"Were you involved in the attack on the Temple of the Ancients?" I asked clenching my fist avoiding whatever useless chit-chat he had already planned.
"I beg your pardon, I haven't the slightest clue what your talking about-"
"It must have angered you when those scavengers came up empty handed, but I'm guessing you placed all the responsibility and blame on someone else to remove yourself from the situation. How underhanded, as expected from the Prince of Lies, but now you find yourself at a dead end hanging on threads that you hope will lead you to your prize. Well Loki am I on the right track?" I questioned with a blank expression unfolding my hands causing th necklace to fall to the ground next to my foot.
"Well aren't we a little to well-informed, and how might you know all of this?" He asked beginning to lower his staff, hovering it over my chest.
"Let's just my father has eyes everywhere-" I started stepping on the necklace with a great amount of force, causing it to break.
Almost on cue a portal appeared behind me as the enchantment on the place was broken, two hands shooting out to pull me back.
"-and he tends to be very well informed on matters." I stated before Strange fully emerged from the portal pulling my back into his chest, his cloak nearly causing me to disappear from site had there not been an opening in the front.
Keeping one arm around me, the other was extended towards Loki as if prepared to attack or defend at any moment.
"Loki what an unusual surprise, and here I thought I just had to make sure only the boys on Earth would keep their hands off my daughter-" He remarked before dropping all formalities as he his narrowed darkly.
"What business do you have here? You don't go out of your way to visit people here, especially when you hate the inhabitants so." He remarked as Loki had a bewildered look on his face.
"Daughter? Since when did you have a- never mind it appears my visit here will have to be cut short, until we meet again girl." He remarked leaving to process the new sets of information presented to him.
As soon as he left people began to show up again as the receptionist returned, all appearing as if nothing in particular happened. However Strange wasted no time pulling me through the portal where we ended up back at the manor.
Seeing Sam still passed out on the couch another sense of relief washed over me before Strange seemed to check me over. Finally satisfied that I was ok I saw him quickly change into parental mode as I felt another lecture coming on.
"What happened today, I thought Sam was taking you out to perform normal and safe teen activities?" He said empathizing the safe part as I scratched the back of my head nervously.
"We were but then I had this vision so I tried to contact you but you didn't respond-"
"Cosmo I told you never to purposely finding these people in your visions, especially when they have such a huge magical advantage. Your putting yourself at risk by doing these things-"
"But I didn't do it on purpose, Loki just so happened to be at Central Park with trap set for Sam. I didn't know who he was before then, besides he said he was some way involved in the massacre at the temple. And looking for the stone!" I defended rapidly, frantically waving my arms arounds before he pet my head trying to calm me down while trying to reason in his head.
"I know Loki is a master manipulator and he probably made sure to cover his tracks, even going as far as to place the blame on someone else wouldn't surprise me. But you can't be gaining any sort of attention, especially from him, it will only lead to trouble. So please reform from taking drastic actions and don't go looking for these people." He reasoned as I managed to calm myself down and nodded.
Not even five seconds of silence could be had before his phone went off, looking at the caller I.D. he picked up and I'm guessing he was talking to Reed as the person immediately began to question my wearabouts.
Looking at my phone I saw I had a few missed calls from him along with other members of the Fantastic Four. Forgot my phone had been momentarily cut off, they probably thought I ran off again.
"No, no, she's fine this isn't another repeat of last week... She just had a little run in with a certain Asgardian Prince... No Loki not Thor... Uh huh..." He remarked before leaving out the front door before closing it behind him, leaving me alone with an unconsious Sam.
"Uh... What?" Let me take that back, a now conscious Sam.
"Hey there sleepy head, did you enjoy your little nap?" I joked as he got up, still slightly groggy.
"Alma what- what-" He tried to ask as he experienced a major headache, taking a seat nice to him I offered him a glass of water I quickly summoned up.
"Happened? Kind of a long story, but everything is fine now so don't worry to much about it." I stated as he feel into my lap, letting out groaning noises.
"I feel kinda of sleepy." He mumbled out as I laughed lightly in response.
"Well it's to be expected, the enchantment placed out you was suppose to knock you out for the rest of the day. Luckily using the magic I've learned from the priests and priestess and managed to awaken you from-" Hearing a sudden low snore I looked down to see Sam had once again passed out.
"-slumber. I guess you earned yourself another nap time for taking me to the movies today, although it was a crappy one at that." I remarked peering down at him before laying back myself.
"I guess I'll partake in this activity with you too, you lazy bum... Sweet dreams Sam." I whispered falling back and closing my eyes.
However I quickly jolted awake when one authoritative and deep voice in my head, one that had spoken to me for the first time when Strange examined me, spoke softly to me in a rather soothing voice that surprised me.
Sweet Dreams, my child.
Author's Note: I know it's been awhile and I'm so glad to finally have this chapter out, especially today of all days. This story has reached its one year anniversary and I'll finally be able to focus my attention on this story as I finish up with my last story.
I can already feel my creative writer juices flowing to continue this story, but chances are I won't be updates this weekend with relatives and black Friday all going on.
Finally going to get things back on track that's for sure, hope you guys are having a fantastic day (pun not intended) and enjoy your Thanksgiving.