I waited by the truck as he talked hurriedly to the gathering and then strode away, his cloak whipping around him.
"Let's get on with it, then," I smiled, reaching for the door.
"No, not like that," he said coldly, grabbing my elbow and then a strange sensation washed over me, dizzying and soothing all at once. I found myself standing with him a few blocks away from Palace Street. "If I remember correctly, it is nearby."
"Correct," I nodded. "Shall we?"
We proceeded down a back alley where his funny get-up wasn't likely to be noticed. I led him around the bushes, ducking away from the security camera. I could tell he was beginning to think it was a wild goose chase, so I rounded on him once.
"It really is there, I swear. In a safe and a titanium case and everything."
For the first time both his voice and expression were matched in softness, "I believe you, Paton."
I got on my knees and patted the ground.
"It was right here, I swear," I said lamely. "I mean, this is where I was when it just suddenly-"
The trap door slid aside and I couldn't really stop myself from tumbling down a second time, just barely managing not to shout in surprise. However, half-way down, I felt and upward pull and I found myself suspended in the middle of the shaft.
"Paton?" Loki's voice floated down to me.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I was grateful, but I didn't particularly feel like thanking him.
"I'm fine," I called as loud as I could allow myself. "It's not too far down. You coming or do you want to throw down the sceptre for me?"
I felt myself being gradually lowered and I entered the lab more gracefully than the first time round. A moment later, Loki slid in, quickly getting up to dust himself. This was not a Prince's work and he made his disgruntlement very clear. But he had trusted me enough to go through with it.
"Over here," I went around a table with strange instruments on them. The safe looked as daunting as before, but it proved to be no match for a Norse God after all.
Loki's sceptre hummed slightly as it released a beam of blue light and the safe door was gone, melted into oblivion. He strode towards the giant hole in the wall with all the anticipation of a bride at the altar and I was momentarily glad but then a siren went off somewhere.
"Curses," he breathed, plucking the case out of the irreparably damaged vault. Outside the glass doors a single figure had materialized with what was clearly a glock held up in one hand. He took aim and fired but the world had become soundless to me.
"Cripes," I squeaked and fluttered around uselessly. Loki reached for my arm and we were above ground on the street, heels thumping against the concrete as we ran. This was totally not a Prince's work.
The gunshots didn't even register until the bark of a tree in front of us exploded, sending dust in every direction. Having two left feet did not help as I stumbled to keep up with Loki, picking myself up and throwing my hands over my head.
"I've got it!" He bellowed at me as I tore down the road after him, my sweater flapping wildly.
"You got it?" I squawked in disbelief and saw that he was indeed carrying a titanium case in one hand.
"I've got it!" He repeated, ecstatic and then spun around do fast jabbing with the scepter, I was forced to halt and duck. I felt something searing through the air above me and as I looked over my shoulder, a dumpster had burst into flames. More rounds shot through the night and all of a sudden I felt his arm circling me and I was jolted off my feet.
It didn't last more than four or five seconds, but a sickening feeling of being trapped inside a tumble-dryer overwhelmed me. When it was over I felt solid ground under my sneakers. Loki stepped away from me, still clutching the titanium case to his chest, beaming.
"Yes!" He cried. "Yes! Yes! I've finally got it, Paton-" he didn't finish as he looked up. His face fell as he gave me a one over.
"What?" I asked, following his gaze and looking down at my shirt.
It was as if I was watching a slowed down documentary on the television - a dark patch was steadily blooming across the white of my t-shirt and it took me a long moment to realize what had happened. Finally, the pain shot through me and I spluttered in surprise, clutching at my side and watching with a detached fascination as my hand came away red
"Blood hell," my voice echoed from somewhere down the street.
I could sense Loki's rigid form close to me, I could sense his shock but I couldn't feel anything beside him. Not even my heart beating, though I'm sure it must have been pounding off my ribs.
My knees hit the ground first as my body went into shock.