It's funny, I meant for Camilla to be sweet when I started this but then as I was writing she snuck in with that sass. I swear that happens with all my female characters. Funny since I am nothing like that. Must be my alter ego. Anyways, when I was writing this chapter I was listening to the song 'Too Good To Be True' by Edens Edge. I am a huge country fan & if you haven't heard it go listen to it now! Haha I killed the repeat button on youtube, the music video is sweet. The main singer actually reminds me of what I wanted Camilla to look like. Only older and Camilla's hair is auburn not brown.
(P.S- Hope you enjoy this chapter, it took me longer to get up cause it is the most that I have ever written for one chapter. Everyone has been reviewing a lot so I thought you guys deserved a treat :))
"No." It was the first word out of my mouth and I watched as Loki clenched his jaw.
"Now there's that word again. You say it as though you have any say in this."
I ignored him. "I am not wearing this."
I looked down at myself and shook my head. A minute after Loki had told me about the party, he had snapped his fingers and I had found myself dressed in something new. It was a floor length gown in the most gorgeous dark shade of emerald green that I had ever seen. A thin strap ran over one of my shoulders and down to a sweetheart neckline. There was a strip of diamonds just below my bust line and a slit ran up the left side of the dress to mid-thigh, exposing my leg every time I moved. It was sexy as hell, but that was the problem.
"I look like a whore. I am not your arm candy."
Loki raised an eyebrow and I realized that he might not have known what that meant. So I rephrased.
"I told you I am not going. I am not helping. So put me back in my normal clothes and leave me the hell alone. It's what you've been doing so far."
"You see that is your problem, you underestimate how important you are."
"I'm flattered." I said flatly. "But I'm still not going." I tugged on one of my curls- Loki had taken the liberty of doing my hair too when he had used magic on me, and I didn't have to look to guess that my face was done up with makeup as well- and frowned. "What kind of party are you going to anyways? This looks more like ball material."
"We." Loki said, accentuating the word, "are attending a very exclusive party. I hope you know German."
"What?"
"Never mind that." He said, taking my arm and steering me towards one of the many hallways that lead out of the underground base.
I tugged on his grip, but then for the first time I felt myself pause. This was the only time that I had been allowed out of the compound since we had gotten there. Loki always had men posted at every door, so no matter how hard I tried I could not sneak out. I may not want to attend this party, but if I played my cards right I could get away.
Hawkeye had said that he needed something, so this trip was more than just a casual outing. If Loki was looking for something, that would mean that he was distracted and if I could get away just long enough to contact Uncle Phil then he would be able to send help.
"Fine." I said suddenly and Loki and all his men stopped turning to face me. We were outside now, standing a few hundred yards away from a helicopter and the force of the blades whipped my hand over my shoulder.
"Fine." I repeated. "I'll go. But I won't help you hurt anyone. I'm not your minion and I won't play nice with you."
Loki smiled. "I wouldn't expect any less from you."
Then he extended his hand and reluctantly I took it, following him onto the helicopter and watching, as the compound became nothing more than a speck out the window.
OooooooO
The helicopter took us back to the military base- or what was left of it- where Loki's men had managed to get a hold of one of the military planes. Then from there we faced an eight-hour plane ride where I had plenty of time to think. I knew that I should be thinking about how I would escape, but my mind kept wandering back to my dreams.
The ones of the golden city, the planet where Loki had first spoken to me, and now the one of my mother. That last one had been real. I just knew it. Somehow I was seeing a piece of my own past. Some sort of warped memory. But unfortunately I had only gotten pieces of this memory. I still had no idea who the figure in the doorway was or what had been etched on the charm around my neck. And without these details the dream was useless to me.
I sighed and rested my head in my hands, thoroughly frustrated.
"Something the matter?" A slick voice asked a moment later and I raised my head to see Loki lounging in the doorway.
"Do you really care?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"No." He said, pushing himself away from the doorframe.
"Of course not." I said softly, returning my head to my hands.
"What is on your mind?"
"You just said you don't care. Leave me alone."
"I do care if it can aid me in what I am doing."
"Well first off," I said, raising my eyes to meet his, "I don't know what you are doing. You still won't tell me. And secondly does everything have to do with you?"
"Yes." He said evenly, as if this was common knowledge.
"Cocky bastard." I muttered. I surveyed him up and down. He even looked the part. His long hair was perfectly slicked back and he had changed into mortal clothes. His creepy armor was now replaced by a well-tailored suit and a long dark coat. He had even topped off the ensemble with a green scarf lined in gold, which hung loosely around his neck.
His eyes narrowed. "Careful what you say to me, Midgardian. I have shown you kindness so far but do not think that it will last if you continue to defy me."
"Kindness?" I laughed harshly. "Is that what you call it? Wow I would hate to see it when you are really angry then."
"Continue to act as you do as you may just get your wish."
OoooooO
I tried to fight sleep, but about five hours into the flight and I realized that it was a losing battle. I had hardly slept since Loki captured me- aside from the time that he drugged me- and my body was starting to feel the effects of that. So I closed my eyes and let sleep overtake me.
Luckily this time I did not dream and a few hours later I felt someone shaking me awake. I opened my eyes to find a young boy standing over me, his hand on my shoulder. I didn't recognize him at first and then I noticed that he was wearing flight gear and I realized that he must have been one of the men who ran the plane.
"Um Ms. Young," he said and his voice shook as though he were afraid of me. Then I realized something else. His eyes didn't have the same blank look as the other men that Loki had used his staff on. He wasn't under the spell.
"Yes?" I said, suddenly sitting straight up. This boy couldn't have been older than eighteen or nineteen but he wasn't brainwashed. He could help me.
"The men instructed me to tell you that we are landing soon."
"Oh really? Okay. Listen, what's your name?"
"Trevor, miss." He was exceedingly polite and I was surprised to still hear the note of fear in his voice.
"Please call me Camilla. You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not with them. Well I am, but I'm not helping them, not willingly at least-" I cut off, realizing that I was just talking in circles. "But never mind about that. Trevor, are there any phones on this plane?"
"Yes," he said and my heart leapt- "but Loki cut all of them off when he got on the plane"- and then took a dive right back into my stomach.
"Right…" I said softly. "Of course he did."
Damn that man thought of everything. It was going to be harder than I thought to outsmart him.
There was a bang on the door and Trevor and I both turned our heads, startled.
"Trevor!" Someone shouted and I saw the color drain from the boy's face. "What is taking so long? Get your lazy ass out here!"
"I better go." He said softly but before he could go I caught his hand.
"Listen, Trevor." I said. "Don't let them push you around."
He laughed weakly and for the first time I saw him smile. "I'm not sure I have much of a choice. I saw what that guy can do. Is he even human?"
"I don't know." I said weakly. "But I know what you mean. Just keep your head down but don't let them brainwash you too okay? I'm going to figure out how to get us out of this."
I said the words with conviction, but I was beginning to realize how hard this would be. It was worth it though to see Trevor's smile widen.
"Alright." He nodded. "Just be careful too, okay?"
I nodded and laughed softly. "I'll do my best."
OoooooO
The plane touched down about a half an hour later and this time there was a limousine waiting for us.
"Riding in style huh?" I said, but no one laughed.
We all crowded into the car-me, Loki, Hawkeye and about six armed guards- and as soon as the doors closed we were off. I tried to keep my distance from everyone but the car was so crowded that I found myself pressed up against Loki. I bit my lip, suppressing an irritated groan and busied myself looking out the window.
We were in Stuttgart, Germany- the pilot had announced that as we were landing- but I still had no idea where we were going. As we made our way deeper into the city I began to notice other limousines and sports cars. Although I couldn't see into them because of the tinted windows I had a feeling that they were heading to the same place as us. I leaned against the window, following the cars with my eyes and I finally saw where we were headed.
"Wow." I breathed. It was a giant building made of white marble with giant roman pillars and a red velvet carpet leading to the front entrance. It looked like either a giant museum or the world's most elegant banquet hall.
As soon as the car pulled up Hawkeye got out with the guards while Loki and I paused on the velvet carpet.
"Are you ready?" Loki asked.
"As ready as I can be considering that I have no idea what is going on." I said the last part sarcastically but Loki, as usual, chose to ignore me.
"Just stay close to me and do not speak." He instructed.
"Yea." I muttered. "Like I said. Arm candy."
I moved forward, expecting that we would go through the main entrance but Loki grabbed my arm, directing me to a door off to the side. I followed and we made our way up a set of stairs and onto a marble balcony overlooking the first floor. Down below us were hundreds of people all dressed in suits and elegant gowns. There was a string quartet playing in the corner and in the center of the room sat what looked like a statue of a giant bull. It was made of cracked marble and its back dipped down to a flat table-like surface.
I wanted to look longer, but Loki tugged on my arm again and we were off, making our way down the main spiraled staircase. I could hear that a man had begun to make a speech in German and wondered again why we were here. As we made our way around a corner Loki shifted his hold, one hand on his staff and one on me. There was a guard standing next to one of the pillars and just as he turned his head Loki spun his staff in his hand and wound up, slamming the man in the face.
I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth as he let go of my arm and stormed across the room. Taking hold of the man who had been speaking, he dragged him across the floor while the crowd and I watched helplessly. One flick of his wrist and the man was on the table, pinned by Loki's hand. I watched, frozen, as he reached into his coat and pulled out some sort of instrument. It looked menacing enough but when it lit up and started to glow and spin, the spike on the bottom gleaming, I felt my stomach drop.
Loki's face remained calm, even as he brought the blades down onto the man's eye and the German began to writhe in pain. It was the screams of the crowd that snapped me out of my daze.
"Loki!" I shouted, my body stiff from shock and fear.
He looked up and smiled as his gaze met mine. It was the expression of a child that had just done something he was proud of and the look alone made my stomach drop. Loki glanced around, surveying the panicked crowd with pride and a second later he let go of the man, before following the mass of people out the door.
As he walked his suit began to melt away, his body shinning as his human clothes were replaced by armor.
Oh no. I thought. What was he going to do?
Reaching down I grabbed my dress and lifted it so I could run after him. As soon as I made it outside though, I knew that this was not good. Loki had cornered the frightened crowd in a stone courtyard across the street. As he made his way across the road a police car came roaring down the street but one flick of Loki's wrist and the cruiser went flying, flipping over once before skidding down the street on its roof.
He waved his hand and slowly clones of himself began to appear around the perimeter of the courtyard.
"Kneel before your king!" He commanded, but all of the people continued to run, changing directions as the clones appeared in front of them. "I said. . . KNEEL!"
The last word came out as a shout and I watched as he slammed his staff against the ground, sending out a sharp blue light, which traveled from clone to clone, trapping the people.
They all gasped then slowly sank to their knees.
Loki smiled. "Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state?"
He began to make his way through the crowd, extending his staff in front of him so the people would make a pathway. "It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."
The crowd didn't move for a moment, and then a man rose from the ground. He was older, but even so his voice carried across the courtyard.
"Not to men like you."
Loki laughed. "There are no men like me."
"There are always men like you." The old man said and I felt my heart swell as I realized that he was brave enough to defy Loki. But Loki did not appear amused. His eyes narrowed and I immediately recognized that same gleam that he got in his eyes right before he was about to hurt me.
"Look to your elder, people. Let him be an example."
He lowered his staff and as I saw what he was about to do I suddenly found my voice.
"No!" I shouted, running across the street as fast as I could and grabbing the arm that held Loki's staff.
"Camilla!" Loki snapped and I flinched. It was the first time that he had used my name and the word was sharp and harsh. He turned his body, shaking me off and then his hand clamped over my arm so tightly that I gasped. "What are you doing?" he hissed.
"Loki you have to stop this." I knew that it was a weak attempt, but I figured I would try it.
But he just shook his head and smiled cruelly. "Sorry my dear, but you do not get everything that you wish. Now, be a good example and show respect for your king. Kneel." The last word came out as a hiss again and suddenly I felt my anger flare up.
"No," I hissed right back.
Loki blinked as though he had not expected me to defy him, but then his smile returned.
Oh no. My heart sank. That was never good. Loki's smile was usual followed by some form of chaos and sure enough, he tugged on my arm, pulling me to face the crowd.
"Do you see?" He asked and despite the fact that he spoke in English I could tell that the crowd understood him- no doubt the result of some form of magic. "How some fight this? But what this young girl does not see is how this will benefit her."
Benefit me? Now I knew that he had lost it. How on Earth could I benefit from someone as harsh and violent as Loki?
"Under my rule," he continued, "your lives will be free of chaos. You will no longer have the burden of making decisions."
"So basically no freedom." I ground out. "Funny but that doesn't sound appealing to me. And I don't know about the rest of these people but I am with the old man, I will never kneel before you!"
"Foolish girl!" Loki spat and I gasped as he threw me to the ground. I landed hard, then turned, scrambling back on my hands as he advanced on me. "I told you if you defied me one more time that you would pay."
He raised his staff and I closed my eyes, preparing for the impact, but it never came. Instead I clamped my hands to my ears as there was an Earth shattering crash.