Fiore awoke once more in the darkness, gazing up into the nothingness of the void that surrounded her prison. A small smile curled at the corner of her lips as she allowed herself to relish in the memory of that dream world Loki had created for them- where they had shared their last moments together.

"You're stronger than I give you credit for," the voice of Lady Death spoke out to her through the void.

"You didn't give me much credit to begin with remember," Fiore spoke back, her voice even and calm.

Perturbed by the young woman's seeming dismissal Lady Death spoke again-aiming her words to wound.

"You are indeed in every way a genius in magic Fiore, however inept your attempts to use and understand your own powers may be. Did you think I would not notice the prince reaching out for you so that you could warn him of my plans?"

She spoke nothing in response to the cold laughter. Instead she simply closed her eyes to the darkness around her, not even bother to move- even if she had been able to she would not have given the woman the satisfaction of riling her.

"You and I both know that you and your heroic prince can not surpass me on talent alone."

Again, her words received to reaction from the girl at her mercy.

"Just think- the realms may have remained safe had you and Loki never met, if you had listened to Odin when he sought to keep you apart. You will be the destruction of the nine realms."

Lady Death was echoing the same thoughts that Fiore herself had thought back in the underworld of Hel upon hearing the Norns' prophecy. But she had already come to terms with them. The choice in her and Loki's actions remained the same- they could create and protect, or they could destroy. It would be just as the Norns had spoken. She trusted Loki to make the right decisions.

"There are unknown and deep sins that have been carved into my heart- sins that have been there since my birth. They were there when I was found and when I met Loki. They were there when we fell in love and in the years of our separation. Those sins that condemn the realms are choices- ones that neither Loki or myself had a choice. That may be true, but we do have the choice to erase them."

Understanding suddenly dawn on the woman as her laughter began to echo through the void. In fact, she found so much enjoyment of the moment that she even manifested a body to stand over Fiore's prone form, looking down at her with wicked glee as she spoke.

"You believe the god of lies and mischief will save the realms by cutting me down- I, the goddess of death and destruction?"

"You were cut down once before."

"Silence you little worm!" Lady Death screeched in pure anger at the lack of fear and respect presented to her from the prone woman at her feet. "Does a death wish cause you to speak to me this way? You should show your betters some respect!"

"Loki can do it," Fiore insisted, her mismatched eyes glaring unblinking at the woman standing over her. "You won't be able to harm him."

"Correction- he loves you, with everything he is. Of course he can be hurt. You may have asked it of him, but keeping a promise and cutting down the woman he loves are two completely different things."

"You're wrong," Fiore replied, her voice gentle with quiet conviction. "I believe in him."

"How nauseatingly sentimental."

"Don't presume to think you know anything about him!" Fiore finally snapped, her facade of calm slipping.

Lady Death only laughed. Again.

"In your scenario, somehow, you're the only one that wins. How does that happen?"

"I don't let foolish things get in way- love and friendship- promises and faith-peace- these are all fantasies born of a false belief. I will destroy that belief and restore the proper order to the realms."

"Then you will enjoy your version of eternity alone? You may rule, but in the end what will you have? Either way I see it-it won't happen."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"You're lying to yourself. It's the only way you can make yourself believe that what any one does in the name of another is worthless. But it's not- love is not worthless! And that is exactly why you won't succeed!"

With every word she spoke Fiore felt her conviction rise, along with her anger. Even powerless before Lady Death, she refused to back down- she refused to give up on Loki. Unfortunately, Lady Death did not take the words kindly as her temper snapped.

"I am tired of playing games with you...it's time I ended things for good and move on to bigger fish. From the moment I sensed you I knew you had something interesting to offer me."

Fiore felt the world around her turn cold with the evil aura of Lady Death taking hold, wiping out what little was left of her own. Still, she refused to back down against the woman, staring up at her unblinking. Had she been able to move her body she would not have moved. She would have remained unmoving if not for the black whisps of Lady Death's hair winding around her wrists like snakes to pull her limp body up from the ground, holding her before Lady Death's cold red gaze.

"Why don't you let it out, that hidden power of yours."

And with those words the dagger like nails of the woman pierced through her chest

If it had been her true body and not her spirit form blood would have flown- even so, it did not stop the excruciating pain that suddenly lanced through her body. Try as she might Fiore could not stop the ear piercing scream of pain from passing her lips. The sound bringing delight to the woman standing before her. For no other reason than pure enjoyment of another's pain she dug deeper, twisting to draw another scream of absolute pain from her adversary. Suddenly, her seeking fingers grasped something hidden within, a small ball of power kept within the soul, sustaining it in its separation from the body. The very last drop of power, the very same power that once in her complete possession would give her control of the shadows and ice. Yet, another proper addition to her already extensive repertoire of abilities. Such power would make her stronger than any of Asgard's strongest warriors.

Lady Death's red lips curled in cruel delight as she grasped a tight hold on that power before tearing it from Fiore altogether. Without a qualm Lady Death released her grasp on Fiore, allowing her to drop unceremoniously to the ground. Her gaze was no longer for Fiore, but rather the small sphere of glowing power she now held firmly in her grasp. The orb glowed with a swirl of icy blue and pitch black, colors that Fiore recognized as part of herself- the blue of her ice and the black of the shadow she had spent years denying- locking away beneath strong walls.

For a brief moment she felt a sliver of regret as the thought of what may have turned out differently if she had released that power long ago and learned to control and use it- rather than fear it and locking it way. If she had done so she may have never been overcome so easily by the ether and it may not have been a threat to Odin and the realm- she and Loki may have been able to be together.

Holding the orb within her grasp Lady Death tightened her grip, shattering the orb. Fiore gritted her teeth from the pain wracking through her body, only able to look up from where she had fallen, watching helplessly as the last of her powers were absorbed into the woman who had stolen her body.

With her laughter still echoing she disappeared in a wisp of red and black, leaving Fiore alone once more. As she looked out into the expanse of nothingness, her body having grown numb to the pain a soft glow began to light the darkness. One by one small lights broke away and melted away. As Fiore watch, quite literally as her life force drifted away, she closed her eyes to envision Loki, relishing those last moments he had given her within their shared dream. She kept his image there, holding onto it as everything else began to fade.

Before fading into unconsciousness Fiore had one last thought...

I don't want to die here.