Warnings: References to Death and Violence

Chapter 10

Eli could feel gentle finger brush the left side of her face. It was the side of her face that was throbbing painfully. The back of her head was throbbing too, but it wasn't as bad as her face. Eli leaned into the cool touch of the fingers and sighed back into the darkness.

Eli found herself standing next to Pyro. They were in front of a building. She felt uneasy as he gleamed at the building. She knew there were innocent people there. She knew what Pyro wanted to do. Eli watched as he snapped his fingers and the sparks created fire. The fire grew in his hands and he smiled.

"Wait," Eli said coldly. "What if there are other mutants in the building? We don't want to hurt them." Pyro looked back at her incredulously.

"Come on, Enigma," Pyro said annoyed. "You know that we have to do this. That guy is supporting anti-mutant organizations."

"Yes, but if we do covertly, no besides him has to die," Eli said in a cold voice. She realized that she was dreaming. No one had called her Enigma in a long, long time. It was her mutant name. "There are innocent people in that building."

"Yeah, and I bet you more than anything all of the people in that building are anti-mutant too! You wanna know why? Because they are living under the same roof as he is. They listen to the garbage he spouts off everyday! And no one says anything about it!"

"What is going on here?" Mystic said as she saunter from the shadows.

"Enigma here is getting cold feet," Pyro said accusingly.

"If the whole building goes up in flames more people than necessary will die," Eli tried to explain. Mystic glared at the two of them.

"Enigma is right in a sense," the blue woman sided with her. "But we can't take any chances of him escaping. Burn the building to the ground. Eli frowned and stormed off, as she heard people start to scream from within the building.

Eli opened her eyes, and could see Loki gazing at her face. He was incredibly handsome. His eyes were surprisingly soft, and he seemed to be in deep thought. When he finally noticed that Eli was awake, he turned away. Eli tried to lift her head, but dizziness forced her to put her head back down. It was only minutes before she fell back to sleep.

Eli was sitting in an antique chair in front of Professor Xavier and Storm. Their eyes were warm and absent of any judgment. That didn't stop Eli from feeling guilty about her deeds. She had just turned thirteen and she was already responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. These people understood Eli, and that was the important thing. Eli felt like she might have actually found a home.

Hank McCoy entered the room. Eli admired his blue skin and fur. He caught her staring and he smiled. "I wish I was blue…" Eli mumbled, and Hank laughed, because he heard what she said.

"Now, Enigma," Hank started when he sat down in the chair next to hers. "The government appreciates your cooperation, and is willing to pardon all of your charges if you give them the all the names and locations having to deal with the Brotherhood of Mutants."

Eli nodded. "I know only a few people, Magneto would never let me around a lot of people. He never fully trusted me. He said I sympathized with homo sapiens to much. I was only ever allowed in the hideout in Florida." Eli explained. "The only one that really did trust me was Mystic, but I'm sure even that has changed now…"

"The government would also like to know your given name," Hank said cautiously.

"You mean the name my parents gave me?" Eli asked and Hank nodded. "My full name is Kornelia Smith. My parents are dead. They died in a car crash. I was the only survivor."

"I'll tell them, and they will see if you have any surviving family," Hank said kindly. Professor Xavier smiled as well. Everyone in the room seemed to sympathize with Eli. She wasn't sure if she deserved their sympathy. She was the reason so many people died. She told herself then that she would never let anyone die because of her ever again.

The dream shifted, and Eli was sitting on the bed that was given to her when she arrived at the mansion. She had her own room too because the other children were afraid to go near her. It made her angry at first, but then she realized that she deserved their mistrust.

Two women entered her room. Both of them had red hair. Eli's eyes widened. The two women looked almost exactly like her mother. The one that was older seemed wary of Eli, but the younger had a bright smile on her face.

"Hi, Kornelia," the younger said with a wave. Eli waved back nervously. The older woman smiled a little smile. For the first time since her parents died, Eli felt hope.

The dream shifted again and Eli was standing before a haggard looking man. His eyes were wide with fear. Tears were running down Eli's eyes. This was the man that had ruined her life. This was the man that caused her to walk down the path that lead to death and destruction. All Eli had to do was will him to die and he would.

"You won't do it Eli," a voice said from behind her, making her jump. When she didn't answer the voice said, "You lack the conviction to be a killer."

Eli woke up, this time truly awake. Tears were running down her face, and she wiped them away. It was then when she noticed that she was in her room. The walls were still white, and her mini-holographic projector was in the spot where she had left it. Her soft comforter soothed her skin. Her red heels were at the side of the bed where someone had neatly put them there.

Eli got up, and headed for the door. She made sure to be as quiet as possible, as she went to the main room. It was very quiet in the Tower. Eli checked every room for Loki and any other sign of people. She was all alone. Then, Eli went to the mini-bar that was in the living room to inspect one of Jarvis' many control panels. The screen was shut off.

She gingerly touched the screen to see if anything would happen. Nothing did, so Eli tried a voice command. Still nothing. Eli went back to her room, and found one of her watches that had Jarvette programmed into it.

"Jarvette, start working on rebooting Jarvis, and do it as discreetly as possible." Eli said in a whisper. Eli left her room again and really tired to listen for voices. She cautiously went to the staircase, she was too afraid to use the elevator, because of the noise it would make. Eli opened the door, it made a slight creak, and listened for people.

"Put it over there!" a voice said. Eli shut the door and headed the Ironman suit's platform. She could see people shuffling around the roof of the building. Quickly, Eli made her way back to the staircase. Quietly, Eli made her way up them. At the next landing was a fire extinguisher. Eli carefully took it from the wall.

At the final landing, Eli pulled the safety ring, and opened the door slowly. There were two guards standing there and Dr. Selvig was at a machine on the center of the roof calling out orders to two more guards. Stealthily, Eli walked up to the first guard and hit him in the back of the head with the extinguisher. Just as the second guard was turning Eli grabbed the stun gun from the first guards belt and fired it at the second. Electrical wires shot out, and hit him in the face, stunning the man. He fell to the ground in spasms.

Eli ran up to one of the guards that was holding something for Dr, Selvig, and swept kicked his feet from under him. The heavy piece of machinery fell on top of him, most likely breaking a few of his ribs. The last guard seemed like he was unsure as to what to do, and Dr. Selvig backed away from Eli.

Eli pointed the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the final guard and squeezed the levers together dousing the man in monoammonium phosphate. As the man tried to get the piece of machinery out of the extinguishers path he fell, and Eli threw the extinguisher at him and then kicked in the ribs for good measure.

Eli then turned her attentions onto Dr. Selvig. His eyes were shining with an unusual blue. That must have been the spell that Natasha was talking about. Eli threateningly approached the doctor. Just as she was within a few feet of him. A hand fell on her shoulder. Eli immediately spun around ready to punch whoever was behind her. Her fist, however, landed in a hand much larger than her own.

Loki was holding her hand in his, and there was amusement in his eyes. "You recover quickly." His hand let go of her fist and brushed against the left side of her face. His brows furrowed for a moment and smoothed back out. "Come, we should let the good doctor do his work."

Eli looked down and then turned to advance on Dr. Selvig again. That time Loki caught her by the arm and said, "Do not make me hit you again." With a frown, Eli turned back to Loki and looked him in the eyes. He really didn't want to hit her again. Loki motioned for the door and she went to it. Loki kept a hand on her lower back as they walked together back to the living area.

On the bar, Eli noticed the invitation to her recital. It was the one that was meant for Tony and Pepper. Eli closed her eyes as Loki lead her to the center of the room. He looked out the wall of glass windows. Triumph was in his every expression and motion.

"Do you still think your heroes will win?" Loki was looking at Eli now. The small girl thought for a moment.

"Of course they'll win. I wouldn't have had made that bet if I didn't think I was going to win." Eli said smiling. "Beside, I'm not the kind that plays by the rules all of the time. I have been known to bend or even break the rules. For example, Jarvette, shut down the Arc Reactor." Loki laughed when nothing happened. Eli's wrist was zapped three times, meaning that Jarvis was still out of service.

"Your Tower's security has been shut down for some time now. There is no stopping me now." Loki moved closer to Eli. His eyes glowed with want and desire. "Soon enough, I will be your king." There was a promise in his words, and Eli heard it loud and clear. Her body shivered and she took a small step towards him.

"If I still had my powers," Eli said with hooded lids, her eyes glanced at his lips and then up to his eyes. "I would be with my heroes trying to stop you."

Infuriated Loki walked away from Eli, debating on whether or not he should use his scepter on her. Eli pursued him, her anger was rising with every step she took. "I don't know why you brought me here, but when you fail, and you will, I will be there to rub it in your face." Loki looked at her, murder in his eyes. "After all I have the best seat in the house."

"I just hope they let me go to your executio-" Loki's strong hand wrapped itself around Eli's throat for a second time. The skin where he was touching her was starting to freeze. Even the tissue on the inside of her throat was beginning to ice over. Eli looked up at Loki. Eli saw flickers of hurt in his eyes, that were ground out by rage and hatred. Loki suddenly let go of Eli and she fell to the ground. Logan's mutant abilities started to heal her as she struggled for breath.

As she lay there gasping, she didn't notice that Loki had left the room. She only realized he had left when she heard tearing fabric. Eli looked up to see that he had gone to her room and took her flat sheet, and was now ripping it to shreds. He then grabbed one of her arms and dragged her to the balcony. Eli was still trying to catch her breath and was helpless to his will.

Loki shoved her against the wall furthest from the landing pad, tied her hands together and lifted them above her head. With the long left over fabric, he froze it to the wall a few feet above her head. Eli was finally able to speak again.

"Let. Me. Go." she rasped out. Loki took another piece of fabric and tied around Eli's mouth so she couldn't speak. Satisfied Loki walked away from her, and then quickly came back.

"You will stand there and watch me succeed!" he growled out at her. The two of them glared at each other. After a moment Loki began to talk again. "I want you to see me succeed, and when I do, I want you to come to me willingly.

"I don't know what is going on, but from the moment you first touched me, when you first spoke to me I wanted nothing more than to ravage you. I told myself that I would not be weak like Thor. I told myself that I would kill you if we ever met again." Loki glared at Eli, who had stopped struggling all together at Loki's admission.

"And yet, every time I had the chance to kill you, something would get in the way, whether it was someone else or even myself." Loki walked up to Eli and caressed the left side of her face, which was now an ugly yellow color. "I don't know why but I want you by my side…" Loki brushed his lips against Eli's. "I want you begging me…" Eli shivered with delight when Loki's tongue slid across her lips.

Eli could hear the sound of the Ironman suit zooming through the sky. Eli looked up to see Tony fly up to the roof of the building. "But something always gets in the way." Loki growled and walked away from Eli.

Tony flew down toward the landing pad without seeing Eli. Eli was glad that she hadn't seen him, because she was sure that she would have begged Tony not to hurt Loki. Eli understood where Loki was coming from. Her hands had tingled when she pulled him from the path of the car. Her stomach flipped each and every time he looked at her. God, Tony was right, she should have just left the museum when she had the chance. There was no denying that she was attracted to him. Hell, she was ready to have sex with him in his holding cell.

Even the kiss he had just given her made her entire body burn. Eli took a deep breath and focused on the situation on hand. Eli pulled on her restraints. She pulled on them hard, but they didn't budge. The ice kept the cloth from breaking. Eli huffed, and tried to listen into whatever was going on between Loki and Tony.

After she couldn't hear what was going on, she tried get the gag out of her mouth. That endeavor failed as well. Eli thought through the possible ways to get out the binds. As something came to mind, Tony was suddenly thrown through all of the windows. Eli screamed out. He didn't have his suit on. He was falling from the top floor of the tower there was no way he would survive.

Muffled screams of Tony's name left Eli. She pulled as hard as she could from the bindings, but they would not break. Eli had lost another close friend, and the last conversation she had with this one was an argument. Tears began to well in Eli's eyes. Suddenly, the red and gold jukebox exploded out of the windows. It started transforming into the Ironman suit. Moments later, Tony flew up fully intact and inside of the Ironman suit. Tears of joy fell from blue eyes.

"And there's on other person you pissed off," Tony said inside his armor. "His name was Phil."

Eli forced her tears of joy to stop; knowing that at this point there was nothing that they could do. Tony fired off one of his repulsors, and Eli tried screaming out to get his attention. However, the Tesseract activated and drowned out Eli's voice. Tony turned his attention to the portal, leaving Eli strapped to the wall.