I am so very sorry for how long it has taken me to update this story. I hope to get back into writing again and post some more updates soon. This is a short one to hopefully tide you over. Thank you for your continued support of this story.
A Promise Chapter 21
Thor trailed his fingertips across the smooth plane of Jane's back, admiring the softness of her skin as she slept beside him. But it was her paleness that caught his eye. It had been two days since her examination with Eir and Thor was no closer to finding an answer. He poured hours into research, with almost nothing to show for it. Legends of the Aether were as numbered as the stars but none had any hint of a way to defeat it.
Jane tried to hide it with all of her bravery, but her body grew weaker every moment. And what the Aether did not take from her, their child sapped in spades. He was helpless to fight it.
It was only in the wee morning hours that he allowed himself this moment of grief, of vulnerability. He had to remain strong for Jane. He could not let her see his weakness, his doubt. Thor removed his hand from her back and rolled onto his. He brought up one forearm to cover his eyes from the glow of the morning light, seeping through the swaying curtains. He suppressed a frustrated growl as he racked his brain for someway to end this. Surely with all his strength, and matched intelligence, he could solve this maddening puzzle. He could fight any giant, any monster, but this, this magical power was far beyond his physical strength. Magic had never been his strong suit.
Thor shot up as an idea, drenched in desperation, struck him. Jane mumbled incoherently as she rolled over to cuddle into his thigh.
"Are you alright?" She murmured sleepily and glanced up at him through hooded eyes.
"I am well, my love," he reassured her with a tender kiss. "Return to sleep."
She nodded and quickly slipped back into slumber. Thor waited until he was certain she was sleeping before moving out of the bed. He knew what he was about to do could only cause more problems but Thor had run out of options. His lover and child depended on him. Thor dressed quickly and quietly left the room. He prayed Loki was in a talkative mood.
The prison of Asgard was a quiet hall, lit only by the ever-burning lamps aligning the corridors. The only sound to be heard was that of the angry murmurs of the early risen prisoners. He cautiously approached Loki's cell. Loki sat cross-legged on the floor; his eyes were closed and he made no movement as Thor came up to the barrier. He waited, knowing full well that Loki was aware of his presence. They both sat in silence, a trepid battle of wills. Loki broke first.
"Jane is here," the magician murmured. "The Aether will take her soon."
"How did you know?" Thor asked, his voice hoarse.
"She and I are forever linked by the Tesseract. I can sense her presence as surely as if she was right next to me."
"What do you know?"
"More than you," Loki replied. "But I have no reason to share." He laughed mirthlessly, at Thor's desperate expression.
"She will die if nothing is done!" Thor roared and pounded on the stone column nearby.
"No, she will not," Loki returned quietly. He continued after Thor's silence. "Your healers, no doubt, have mistaken the Aether as an unknown energy that will overwhelm her heart once it reaches the muscle. But that is not correct."
"Then what will happen?" Thor asked, impatiently.
"The Aether will cause no harm to her organs. It needs them to continue to function for when it overtakes her mind."
"Like the Tesseract?"
"No." Loki stood up slowly and approached Thor. "It is beyond anything the Tesseract could ever do. The Tesseract can control your mind. But the Aether destroys it. The Aether erases everything that makes you who you are and turns you into a mindless husk, a forever obedient pawn to its unyielding will."
The horror kept Thor's tongue silent.
"She will not die, Thor," Loki whispered. "Her fate will be far worse."
"How do I fight it?"
"You cannot. Only one trained in such arts can handle the Aether."
"The Dark Elves?"
Loki nodded.
"Where are they?" Thor asked.
"I do not have that information."
Thor banged on the barrier, startling his brother.
"Do not toy with me, Loki! I will not lose her to your games!"
"You think I want the Aether to take her?!" Loki suddenly seethed. He moved closer so that only the barrier stood between them. His bright green eyes met Thor's with an impenetrable stare. "My mind is linked with hers, Thor. Our fates our tied."
Thor heaved a deep sigh at the realization of what Loki implied.
"I cannot help you," Loki murmured.
They met gazes for a tense moment. It was in that brief moment that Thor desperately missed the times when Loki had been his brother and his best friend, and not the enemy lying in wait to betray him. Now was when he needed someone to depend on.
Loki finally turned around and returned to his spot on the floor. Thor took an uneven breath, trying to push down the panic. His last option had proven even more hopeless than what he had before. He pushed away from the barrier and turned to leave.
"One more thing, Thor."
The young god turned once more towards his criminal brother.
"The Tesseract had a master long before I took hold of it. And the Aether is no different. Keep your mortal close."