Chapter 21

A big thanks to The Yoshinator, Mira SeverusSirius Black-Snape, Opera123, and Gyoro and Ururun for reviewing the previous chapter! It meant a lot to me and this chapter is dedicated to you guys!

Thanks to all of my followers, you guys make me blush!

Darcy stormed through the castle, tears stinging her eyes and cursing her father under her breath. She had no idea where she was going, she just needed to get away and be alone. She needed to process this most recent betrayal by her father and the fact that Ivan Vanko, the man who she still had recurring nightmares about was still alive.

She found another stairwell that went downward even deeper into the palace. Reaching up, she grabbed a lit torch that was on one side of the passage way and began the decent downward. It was even colder the further she went. She could feel the dampness on the walls as she reached out her head to help keep her balance. Even with the bright light of the torch, she could barely see in front of her. After what seemed like an eternity, she reached the last step of the stairwell. It was now that she took the time and considered what she had just done.

She had marched off alone to the lower regions of the palace with only the light of a torch that could burn itself out at any moment. She had no idea where she was and she suddenly began to feel very small and very stupid. She turned to make the climb back up the stairs and gasped. She was so shocked that she nearly dropped the torch. The stairwell was no longer there; in its place was a stone wall. She wasn't instantly frightened. She sighed in annoyance and whirled around towards the noise that she had just heard coming from behind her. "Very funny Loki!"

Her mouth snapped shut and she stared ahead at the nothingness in front of her. "Loki?" She called out into the eerie silence. "Loki are you there? This isn't funny, please stop."

Darcy screamed and turned dropping the torch when she felt something touch her hair. She quickly bent down and retrieved the torch, holding it out in front of her with a shaky hand. "Is anyone there?"

Darcy… Came the hushed whisper from the looming darkness in front of her.

"Loki stop, please. You're scaring me." She said as tears began to sting her eyes.

The air around her became thick with a quiet malice and sense of foreboding. There was a sudden rush of a shrill sounding wind that seemed to come from nowhere and Darcy hugged herself, being mindful of the torch she held. Goose pimples broke out over her skin as the temperature became unbearably cold. She could see her short gasps of breath in the freezing air.

Darcy…The voice called again followed by a maniacal laugh.

Darcy could make out that the voice sounded feminine. "Please…stop this…whoever you are." She said trembling and looking around wildly.

The fine hairs on the back of her neck and her arms stood on end. She heard the dragging sound behind her. Her heart felt as if it would burst inside of her chest and her hands shook violently, yet she could not make herself turn around and look.

She could hear its labored breathing before she felt its cold icy breath on the back of her neck. She felt the blood in her veins run cold as she felt as if she were being smothered by the cold dank darkness.

It was standing right behind her. She could feel the coldness of its body almost pressing up against hers and the cold breath, this time against her ear as it spoke. Darcy, come play with us….

Darcy found she could not scream, she could not breathe in enough air to allow a sound to break free from her lungs. Not even when it placed it cold, dead, stiff hand on her arm. The tears rolled down her

cheeks as she trembled violently. She slowly looked down and saw its icy long fingers wrapped around her forearm.

Darcy managed enough air into her lungs to manage a blood curdling scream. The fingers latched onto her arm with a fierce grip as she struggled to break free. Darcy turned and struck out at it with the torch and hit it. It abruptly released her and Darcy ran. She ran blindly in the darkness leaving her torch behind her. She felt along the walls, running as fast as she could and screaming for someone, anyone to hear her.

She could hear it giving chase. Its light footsteps were right behind her as it cackled at her. The coldness only seemed to worsen as she ran. She reached out in front of her and felt an open space. She quickly turned down the corridor running as fast as she could, the being still behind her laughing.

Darcy screamed when she felt the cold fingers touch her neck. Darcy why don't you want to stay and play…

Darcy turned and struck out blindly in the darkness hitting something hard and cold. You hurt me Darcy…why… It feigned being hurt as it spoke with a mocking tone.

Darcy screamed again and continued running, slamming face first into a stone wall. She hit the stone cold floor in a heap momentarily stunned. She struggled to catch her breath as she stared into the nothingness that surrounded her. She heard nothing. No footsteps, no laughing, nothing but dead silence. She could feel the blood running down her head and into her eyes. She wiped at her face, her head moving from side to side listening and waiting.

She started to push herself up from the floor when she was grabbed from behind. The cold icy arms closing around her middle and the cold hands gripping her wrists painfully. Don't you want to stay here with us forever…

Darcy began screaming and fighting as it began dragging her. She clawed at the hands and arms in futility. The soft feminine laughter mocked Darcy as it dragged her. Darcy began to claw at the stone walls trying to break free. She screamed and cried out over and over clawing desperately at the stone wall, her nails and fingers becoming torn and bloodied. She was abruptly dropped to the ground and she could feel the presence looming over her. Give me a kiss goodnight…It whispered, with its icy breath caressing her face. Darcy placed her hands over her face and screamed.

Suddenly she was aware that she was being shaken rather roughly and that the air surrounding her was no longer dank and cold.

"Darcy!" Loki shouted at her, shaking her.

Upon hearing his voice she pulled her hands from her face and looked around. The stone corridor was alighted by several torches along both of the walls. She turned to look behind her and saw the stairwell. She looked back at Loki, her eyes wide, frightened, and wild.

"Darcy?" He repeated softly.

"Where is she?" Darcy asked with a broken sob.

Loki looked around. "Where is who, love? There is no one here."

"There was just someone here Loki. She chased me down the corridor and was dragging me across the floor. It was so cold." Darcy grabbed at his sleeves. "She was so cold Loki. She laughed at me when I cried."

"Darcy there is no one here. You fell down the stairs and injured your head." He stood with her in his arms.

"No Loki she was here. She is here hiding somewhere." Darcy gasped through her tears.

He didn't respond as he carried her back up the stairwell. When he reached the top, Sif and Frigga were waiting for them.

"Oh you found her!" Frigga said worriedly rushing to Loki's side. "She's hurt."

"She fell down the stairs and…"Loki began but was interrupted sharply by Darcy's shrill voice.

"I didn't fall down the stairs. I ran into the wall when that thing was chasing me! Why won't you believe me?" Darcy pleaded.

"Bring her to her room Loki." His mother said. "Sif call for the servants to bring warm water and bandages."

Sif nodded and left them. Loki carried her to her room with Frigga following behind them. He laid her gently on the bed and Frigga sat down beside her. There was a knock at the door and two servants entered, one with a large basin of water, the other with towels and bandages. Sig entered behind them and closed the door.

Darcy grabbed Frigga's hand. "I did hear someone. I couldn't see her because it was dark. I threw the torch at her when she grabbed me. She followed after me. She was laughing and it was so cold. I thought I would drown in the darkness. I think she's dead."

Frigga glanced at Loki. Sif stepped forward. "With your leave my Lady, I will go and see if there is anyone there."

Darcy sat up reaching for Sif. "No! Don't go down there! Not alone. She's down there, please don't go." Darcy looked at Loki. "Loki, don't let her go."

Loki looked at Sif apologetically and pleadingly. "Sif, perhaps it could wait until later and then I will go with you?"

Sif hid her annoyance for Darcy's sake. The girl was obviously frightened and Loki was trying to soothe her. Sif smiled reassuringly at Darcy. "Yes, of course."

Frigga began to care for Darcy's head wound while Loki held her hand in his. She was trembling violently, her teeth chattering loudly from fear.

Loki tried again and spoke very gently to her. "Darcy, do you think it is possible that you just became frightened by a random strange noise? This palace is very old and…"

"No Loki!" She cried. "I know what happened. I'm not crazy! Why won't you believe me?"

Frigga finished bandaging her head before taking each of Darcy's hands to clean the blood from her torn finger nails. When she had finished, she looked at her son. "Can you not give her some peace my son?"

Loki nodded and placed his hand over Darcy's forehead. She knew instantly what he meant to do as he had done this many times before when she was his captive. "No don't! I don't want to be asleep…" Her words began to slur as Loki's magic soothed her. "What if she comes for me…Loki don't…please…" She struggled to fight it, but could not as he eye lids fluttered and closed.

"Poor child." Frigga said softly. "She has been through so much."

"I will stay with her mother." Loki said looking down at Darcy's now peaceful face with concern. "I will make sure that her dreams do not bother her."

Frigga cupped her son's cheek. She stood and leaned down to place a kiss on Darcy's forehead. Sif turned to go. "I will go and search the corridors my Lady."

"Wait Sif." Loki called. "Not alone, don't go alone. Take Volstagg with you."

Sif looked at him and smirked. "Surely you put no weight to her words Loki. She was frightened and fell down the stairs. She hit her head and obviously imagined what she saw."

"Just do this please Sif. Take someone with you, just this once do not try to prove your strength." He pressed.

Sif began to argue when Frigga held up her head. "Do as my son asks Lady Sif."

Sif's expression hardened but she nodded. "As you wish my Lady." She turned and left the room.

"Loki, do you think it is possible that Darcy did hear something?" Frigga asked

"Of course not mother, but why take unnecessary risks." He said giving his mother a false smile which she instantly saw through. She said nothing and left him alone with Darcy.

Frigga walked quickly to her husband's study and knocked lightly. "Come" Odin's voice called to her. She opened the door and quickly entered.

"How is the child?" Odin asked.

"She is sleeping and Loki in with her." Frigga answered softly. "Odin, my love, she believes that something was in the tunnel with her."

Odin turned to regard his wife. His face was grave and he nodded. "The child was not alone."

Hey it's Halloween, thought I'd have a bit of fun. Let me know what you think in a review!