The Perils of Being a Stark- Chapter 12

Author: Amboo1979

Rating: M- for violence, some parts are a bit graphic.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's notes: I put Loki through it in this chapter so don't be too mad at me. I do love him, I SWEAR. Oh and remember I still have no beta so sorry for any mistakes in this chapter or any previous chapters. Show me some love and review please.


Loki awoke on the ground to darkness. He was hungry, cold, and thirsty. He attempted to swallow but his throat was too dry. He stared into the darkness waiting to see if it had all been a dream, had the woman truly been there with him.

Loki began to shiver involuntarily as the cold around him became even colder.

"Good morning Loki Odinson, or evening, or afternoon." She giggled. "Who really knows when one is all alone in the dark?"

Loki attempted to speak to her, but could not, his speech was still gone.

"I bet that is taking some getting used to huh? Not being able to speak because we both know how much you love and admire the sound of your own voice." She giggled again and it was a maniacal sound.

He flinched when he felt her hand caress his face. He strained his eyes in the darkness desperate to see her face, even in his torment he would rather see her face than be left in the dark.

How long must I remain here? He asked attempting to reach her through his mind.

He could feel her smile against his skin as she kissed his forehead softly. "Oh I wouldn't make any plans to return home anytime soon. You and I are going to be spending quite a lot of time together."

Loki felt his despair overwhelm him, but even more so than that, he felt sorrow and pain for this woman's loss. He could feel her anger and her bitterness. I am so sorry for your loss, for what I have done to you.

He hissed in pain when he felt her nails digging into his cheeks as she grabbed his face and shrieked. "DON'T YOU DARE APPOLOGIZE TO ME! HOW DARE YOU!" His head reeled back when she slapped him with tremendous force. He could hear her heavy breathing as she tried to calm herself. "Don't you dare pity me…" Her voice broke with a sob and he heard her move away.

Loki sat still for several moments, listening to her cry softly. What is your name?

He heard no response in his mind. Do I not at least deserve to know the name of my tormenter?

She laughed softly. "Yes I suppose I am your tormenter, jailer, and your redemption." She paused. "My name is Anna. Would you like to know the names of your other victims?"

Before he could stop the thought it moved quickly across his mind. No I do not want to know her name. It will be too final…too real.

"Her name was Jenny. She had just turned four years old. You murdered her on her birthday."

Tears began to burn Loki's eyes and he wiped them away quickly.

"My husband's name was Jack. Would you like me to tell you why they were in the city that day? Jack was taking Jenny to get a new dress. She was going to have a birthday party later in the day. She wanted a new dress because her best friend Candice had gotten a new dress to wear to Jenny's party."

Loki heard her move towards him again and flinched slightly when he felt her sit beside him on the ground.

"She and Candice were best friends since birth practically. They were going to have matching dresses." Anna chuckled softly. "Candice would wear the purple dress and Jenny the pink one. Candice wanted to wear the pink one, but Jenny was the birthday girl."

They sat in silence for several moments before Anna turned to speak to him again. He could feel her breath on his face and he shivered. "I don't know why I'm sharing this with you." She hissed. "You don't deserve to hear about my Jenny."

She stood then and grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his skin. "Get up! You have a lot to witness today."

Loki stood slowly wishing he could see her face. He wanted to look into her eyes and see her hatred. He knew he deserved it. He felt the stirrings of another strange emotion and he suddenly had the urge to grab this woman and hold her, to try to comfort her despite her hatred of him but he did not dare touch her. Her emotional state was too delicate and fragile. He also had no idea of the power she might wield. He was sure that his father did not send this woman here defenseless. But most of all, he felt he had no right to touch her or comfort her since he was the reason for her despair.

Anna released her hold on his arm, sliding her hand down his arm to grasp his hand. It was at this moment that Loki noticed how cold her skin was. It was ice cold and hard. She felt like death. The air was heavy and thick around them. It was weighted down with her pain and turmoil. It was weighted down with his sorrow and fear.

He felt her tug slightly at his hand and he began to follow after her. Although there was no light whatsoever she lead him in a perfect line down the path they were walking on.

How old are you.

"Ask me how old I was." She responded never breaking stride.

How old were you.

"I was twenty two years old."

Again the thought fluttered across his mind before he could stop it. Little more than a child…So young to be a wife and mother.

"We were 18 when we got married. We were high school sweethearts. We married right after graduation." She stopped abruptly causing him to nearly collide with her. "Now look Prince of Asgard. Look and see what other pain you have caused."


The Allfather approached his oldest son who had been keeping vigil beside the cavern that Loki had been sent inside for his punishment.

"Thor, my son. Why do you linger here? Come inside to your mother. She is worried for you."

Thor shook his head. "I cannot leave him alone father. I am afraid for him. I am afraid that he will not survive this. I am afraid that he will fall away from me again."

Odin put his hand on Thor's shoulder turning his son to face him. Thor had unshed tears in his eyes.

"Father surely there is another punishment that can be given. This is too much. It will not only drive him mad, but break his spirit. He will return to us a mere shadow of what he was. He will be nothing more than an empty shell if he returns to us at all."

Odin pulled his son into a strong embrace. "You must trust my judgment my boy. You must also trust in the strength of your brother's mind and in his heart."

Thor pulled away and looked intently at his father. "You still believe he has a heart?"

Odin smiled at the hope in his son's voice. "Yes Thor. I know your brother still has a heart, but it is buried too deeply within him. It must be brought forth again and it must be broken. He must pay for what he has done. There is no other way. Now come inside and sit with your mother. She needs the comfort of her son in her grief."

Thor paused to look back where his brother was being held prisoner and being tormented. He sighed deeply, trying desperately to find the hope in this situation. He could not see any so he had to trust in the wisdom of his father. Slowly Thor turned to follow his father.


Loki was overcome with the stench of death. He put his hand to his mouth to keep from gagging. Bodies were strewn everywhere underneath debris and out in the open. He could smell the blood and burned flesh. Destruction lay all around him. Buildings and sidewalks destroyed. There was shattered glass littering the streets. He stumbled forward trying to get away from the horror in front of him. Many of the dead lay staring up at him, eyes wide open and glazed over in death. He could see the last few moments of their lives written in their eyes, the fear and the agony. Loki tripped and stumbled, falling hard to the pavement. He gasped and crawled backward not wanting to look at the severed leg and head that were on the ground where he fell. He quickly climbed to his feet and tried to turn away but was stopped by a hand gripping his ankle. He looked down, his eyes wide with fear. The woman had been badly burned. He could see her singed flesh peeling back from her muscles and bones. She was coughing up blood due to a gaping wound from her chest.

"Help…me…please…" She managed to gurgle, coughing more blood as she tried to speak.

Loki stared down at the dying woman. His head began to turn in all directions looking for someone, anyone that could help her. His eyes made contact with another body. The body of the reptilian creature was partially covered by a vehicle. Loki blinked in shock and stared down at the woman. He realized in that moment what he was witnessing. I did this. I brought this here.

Loki knelt down beside the woman. She attempted to reach her small bloody hand out to him, but was too weak. He took her hand in his while stroking her hair with his other hand. I did this to you.

She stared up at Loki. She was so very frightened. Her eyes pleaded with him to save her from this. Loki could feel his heart constrict in his chest and he pleaded with his father in his mind for his speech back so that he could speak words of comfort to this woman.

"She is already dead. It's too late to comfort her." Anna mocked behind him. "I wonder what that feels like. To have your flesh melted off, all your nerves and organs exposed like that. How long do you think it took her to die?"

Loki closed his eyes and shook his head trying to block out her words. He looked back down at the dying woman. Her eyes were wide, but she was no longer looking at him. Loki brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. He reached out to wipe the single tear that had fallen from her eye. He could not stop the flow of his own tears. He gently laid her hand onto her chest and closed her eyes.

Please…no more. I am sorry. I am so very sorry. He brought his hands to his face and quietly sobbed.

Anna laughed cruelly. "Now you have tears? Now you feel sorrow? I told you before that this is only the beginning. You have much, much more to answer for Loki Odinson. There is no mercy where we are. You seem to think that you should just get a free pass for all the things that you have done. Do you think a few tears will make up for what you did to me…to hundreds of others?" She shoved him hard while he was still kneeling and he fell over.

His anger began to stir at how freely she touched him and hit him. She is small, I could over power her.

Anna laughed at his words. "Do you think it would be that simple to escape your prison? Over power the poor weak female? I'm not Darcy Stark you idiot!" She roared at him slapping him forcefully across the face. "Do you think this is a game? Perhaps simply showing you is not enough, maybe you need to experience their pain…" Anna's gaze drifted to the dead woman. "Maybe you should experience her pain."

Loki's eyes widened in fear at the implications of her words. Anna stepped menacingly towards him.

"I think you should have your voice back for this. I wouldn't miss your screams for the world."

A blood curdling scream tore from Loki's throat. He was in agony, his skin burning. He looked down at his arms in horror as his skin began melting from his body. The pain was unbearable. He screamed and screamed until his throat was raw. His tore at his skin with his fingers in desperation, thinking that if he ripped the skin off himself he wouldn't burn.

"Father please have mercy! Please help me!" He wailed. Anna stared at him with no emotion on her face.

Loki was thrown onto his back as he felt a searing hot pain on his chest. He started choking on his own blood and looked down to see a huge gaping wound on his chest. He began to lose consciousness as his life blood poured out of him. His skin continued to bubble, blister, and peel. He screamed again as the pain overtook him. He looked back at Anna in desperation lifting his hand towards her as if to beg her for help. She continued to stare at him expressionless. Soon Loki could take no more. Whether from the pain, blood loss, or the horror of all that he had witnessed this day, he slipped into unconsciousness.