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Chapter 10

"Is this the little wine press you desire so much?"

Niki stayed perfectly still, eyes still closed but defiantly awake with no clue where she was, why she was here, or who was speaking but whoever it was terrified her. The voice was deep, cold, and devoid of any emotion.

"Yes, thank you for your troubles. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone with her for a time."

Now she did recognize that voice and she almost bolted upright and embraced the owner but the terrifying voice was still in the room.

"Of course. I will return later to discuss what you have been putting off for so long," said the cold voice.

"Yes, yes," Loki replied dismissively. "Now please leave."

There were sounds of footsteps and a door closing before Niki dared to move. It was only when she heard her friends voice gently encouraging her to open her eyes that she moved, wrapping her arms around his neck and almost weeping with joy at seeing him again.

"Where the hell have you been," she choked out.

He chuckled and held her close. "I've been here. There's much I need to explain to you and I'm very, very sorry but you have a role to play and it won't be a fun one, but," he pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "You have to trust me and play along if you want to live. Promise me you'll play your part?"

She swallowed and nodded. "What is it?"

"I'm so very sorry. I know who my biological brothers have allied with and he is a powerful being who will not be satisfied with anything less than the enslavement of the world for his own insane desire to satisfy his dead lover. Byleister brought me here and either I comply or die and the first demand he made was for me to choose between the death of you and Thor or myself. Thor's not dead," he reassured her as the panic welled in her eyes. "I managed to convince him that he was just an amusement that had no real attachment to me. You however are a human and the only way I could save you was to convince him that you're my human slave."

"What?!"

"I'm so sorry."

"Who is this 'all intimidating' person? Why the hell would you go along with this? Why didn't you leave?"

Loki's expression darkened. "Don't you think I would have if I could? The only way I can leave is as dust in the wind. You have no idea what I endured those first two days while you ran around with Thor. How much time did you waste frolicking in the sun with Thor before you decided to come after me? Did you just assume I would come back after a time? Or did you rejoice at my disappearance?"

"Wow," Niki said narrowing her eyes. "Thor wasn't kidding about your mood swings was he. We ran after you right away, nimrod! We were delayed only because SHIELD picked a wonderful time to 'save me for my own good.' I just got back to Thor when your little friends came and carried me off again. Are you really so insecure that you think we'd forget you? That I'd run off with your brother? Get it through your thick head now since it hasn't these months we've traveled together. You two are both my family now and I love both of you equally. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself and tell me what I have to do and who this boogey man is so I'm not completely stupid when he comes back."

He looked at her with doubt before sighing and turning his back to her. "His name is Thanos. He is a powerful vampire with thousands of followers that have allied themselves to him over the years and they are very loyal, willing to do anything he asks. He plans on total world conquest; all the wolves dead and the humans enslaved as little more than cattle. And with the number of his followers, I begin to believe he could do it."

Niki paled and bit her lip before wrapping her arms around Loki's chest and burying her face in his back. "What do I need to do?"

He turned in her arms and wrapped his around her one hand stroking her hair. "I really am sorry. You have to act subservient to me, always following and yes, sometimes letting me feed from you. It's the only way I can keep you alive, you have to believe me."

She shuddered a bit but adjusted to rest her head against his neck. "I do."

Holding her close he continued, "I am your world now, as would be with any other human slave. And no one else is allowed to touch you. Remember that. I am your master and the only one allowed to dink your blood or anything else."

Tears started to slip from Niki's eyes but she nodded and took a shuddering breath. "Alright. I promise to do my best. Please, just please," she choked. "Keep me safe." Her arms tightened around her and she started to shake with silent sobs.

Squeezing her gently, Loki kissed the top of her head. "I promise."