Thirty-Five – Escape

Kyra had tried to escape a foster home once. Less than a year after her parents had died, it was her second home. Her first family had decided she was too sullen, too odd to fit in with their family, so she'd been bundled off to another home. She didn't know what would happen if she left, but at seven she thought it had to be better than the overcrowded, dingy house that reeked of stale air and food past its expiration date. She'd read plenty of adventure books by seven, spent nights under blanket tents with her mom reading aloud to her in Nancy Drew. She thought it would be easy enough because the heroine of the story always got away in the end. She always had happy ending in those stories. She was always brave and strong, and Kyra wanted so badly to be brave and strong as well. It used to be her parents had made her feel that way, but without them she had to find her own strength.

She'd waited until lights out before trying the window in her shared bedroom. It hadn't budged, and she'd noticed the line of nails hammered loosely into the top of the woodwork. She spent the next week trying to loosen the nails one by one. It was meticulous work, but she imagined she had been taken prisoner by the bad guys and she only needed to escape to get back to her real family. When she'd finally pried the last nail loose and managed to lift the creaky window without waking her foster sister, she'd felt a surge of excitement. Her room was on the second floor, but somehow she managed to grab onto one of the branches of the tree outside, climbing down. She ran to the only other place she could—home.

It was early in the morning by the time she reached it, her feet sore from running in worn sneakers. She didn't know how she made it—she didn't have a map of the city, just instinct. Her foster home wasn't too far away from her old neighborhood, and her feet had seemed to know where to go. For a moment, she thought everything was all right. The porch light was on, and there was a car in the driveway. She ran through the lawn, up the porch steps, but paused at the side window next to the door. A man was moving about inside, readying himself for work with his suit perfectly pressed and his briefcase ready to be filled. Kyra took a step back. That wasn't her father. Her father's shirts had always been wrinkled, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his fingers stained with ink from his ballpoint pens and scattered notes.

A woman hurried out to the man, handing him something and planting a kiss on his cheek. She had blonde hair, cut just above her shoulder—nothing like Kyra's own mother with her dark hair and olive skin. She felt a wave of sorrow as reality washed over her. She realized there was no going home. She had no home anymore, and she would never see her parents again.

The police found her wandering a few hours later, and she was brought back to the foster home. Her foster mother had awoken to find her missing and filed a report with the police, fearing the repercussions of having a child go missing. The next night Kyra found the nails were back, doubled in number and size, dug deep into the wood this time. She hadn't tried to escape again because she'd realized early on that she had nowhere else to go.

Now she wanted very badly to escape, and it wasn't quite so easy as climbing out a window and down a tree. Loki was pacing again while Kyra lay upside-down on the cot, her hair hanging off the edge, the tips pooling over the pale floor, and her feet flat against the wall. They'd come up with plenty of ideas for what to do after getting out of the cell, but not so many for actually getting out. They'd tried breaking through with their combined powers but, as Loki had said before, it wasn't an illusion and nothing happened. Kyra had thrown one of the pillows from the cot at it, but that had only resulted in the fabric getting charred.

When a guard came to stand before their cell some thirty minutes after they'd ben thrust inside, Loki finally paused in his pacing. Had Lorelei and Amora changed their minds about keeping Kyra and Loki down here? Kyra wasn't sure what to expect from them. Clearly they wanted Kyra and Loki out of their way, but she didn't think they planned on killing them. It didn't steam like their style, and they'd already tried to banish them to Earth. Kyra drew her legs back, getting to her feet and coming to stand beside Loki.

Loki glanced down at her, his eyes reflecting the same question. Kyra prepared herself to use her powers if she had to. The wall fell, and Kyra waited for the guard to speak. Instead, she removed the helmet, releasing long, dark hair. Deep sapphire eyes lit up with her smile as she observed the looks of surprise on Loki and Kyra's faces.

"I told you it was a terrible plan," Sif said haughtily, casting a look at Loki.

"I'm impressed," he replied, cocking his head to the side to survey Sif.

"I didn't come through with you because I thought there was a chance Amora would be waiting on the other side. I didn't trust that she hadn't figured out all your secret entrances," she told Loki with a disapproving frown. "When I came through, you were gone, being led into the city by Lorelei and Amora and a fleet of guards. Please tell me you have a better plan for how to get the city back from them? You can break Lorelei's enchantment." She turned her eyes to Kyra.

"I can. She still thinks I'm weak, but she also knows I'm powerful. We've got one shot at this. If I can break her enchantment on the guards and on the Warriors Three, we'll have an army on our side. But there's nothing keeping her from enchanting them again. I'm hoping…" She hesitated, glancing at Loki. She knew he was doubtful, but she couldn't think of another way to stop Lorelei. "I'm hoping I can overpower Lorelei and then bend her to my will."

"That would be incredibly satisfying," Sif said. "Can you do that?"

"I don't know," Kyra admitted. "I haven't tested it before, but I can create illusions. If nothing else, I can trick her into thinking I'm in control. I know there's more to my abilities that I haven't gotten the chance to test. It's now or never. If she retrains control of the guards, then there's no getting past them. It will be a battle, and we want to avoid that at all costs."

"What then? They've broken out of the dungeons before but will exile really keep them away for good?" Sif asked, trying her hair back into her usual pony tail.

"I think I might have an idea about that…" Kyra smiled and explained.

…

Together Loki and Kyra cast an illusion. Despite their own powers, Amora and Lorelei would not be able to see through the illusion without extra help. Kyra only hoped Amora hadn't helped herself to Odin's vault again with the alluring power of the Warlock's Eye.

They freed the other prisoners whom Lorelei and Amora had locked up—all women who were not affected by Lorelei's power but had rebelled against their seizing of the city.

"We do not know where the king is," one of the women said. "He disappeared, and we fear what could have befallen him."

Kyra and Sif glanced at each other. "He's safe," Sif finally said. "But he'll probably be back any moment to help take down the threat," she added, looking pointedly at Loki, testing him. Kyra couldn't tell if she'd gained any acceptance toward the god of mischief.

Kyra didn't know what to expect from Amora and Lorelei, but the festivities filling the throne room came as a surprise. The men stood with placid looks on their face, some with lust and admiration aimed at Lorelei. Lorelei's power was thick on the air, and Kyra tested the boundaries of it. The Warriors Three stood by the throne, weapons in hand in case anyone tried to rebel against the two sisters. There were few women in the room, but those who circulated had looks of fear and worry veiled behind smiles. It was all about control. There was something sad about it—that Lorelei believed she needed to force people to obey her even if it was a simple celebration.

"It's all a bit dull in here," Lorelei said, twisting a lock of red hair around a long-nailed finger. She clapped her hands together. "Can we have some music?"

A group of frightened looking woman took up some of the instruments in the corner of the room, picking up a tune that was forcefully uplifting. Considering Lorelei and Amora didn't mingle with any of the Asgardians, Kyra wondered what the point was of all this. They were Asgardian themselves, but there was such a disconnect between them and the others that they might have been from another planet entirely.

Kyra, Sif, and Loki had disguised themselves as guards and now stood along the walls with the others, taking in the details of the room. Lorelei and Amora were dressed in fine clothing, but Kyra saw the dangerous glint of knives strapped to their waists. Kyra's own knife was tucked into her belt. She would use it if she had to, but she hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"We free the guards and Warriors Three first…" Kyra hesitated. She didn't think Lorelei would have any qualms about using the people of Asgard against them after her trick with the guards earlier that day. "No," she corrected. "It has to be everyone. I have to break her spell entirely."

Loki glanced at her, concern dancing in the green of his eyes. "Are you sure you're ready for that?" She appreciated that he didn't ask if she was strong enough. But she was still recovering, and it would have been a valid question. She felt a tug of weariness, but pushed it aside.

"I have to be. If you help strengthen my power, I'll be all right." This was it. They got once chance at this, and Kyra refused to fail. "Sif, you need to get to Amora before she can do any more damage. Loki and I will take Lorelei."

Sif nodded in agreement. "Whenever you're ready."

Kyra turned to Loki. "Odin would fight for his kingdom, for his people. So would a true king."

He knew what she was asking, but he shook his head. "They're not ready for me, but I will fight."

Kyra nodded and changed her illusion to that of one of the guests so she could move about more easily, an unassuming woman with pale skin and hair. She moved toward the center of the room, mingling and slowly getting closer to the sisters. Amora looked a bit sour, lips pursed. Lorelei stood with her shoulders set back regally, and Kyra had a feeling she was in command of her sister though not through enchantment.

Kyra didn't know if she'd ever be ready, but she took a deep breath and reached for Loki's magic. She felt the familiar connection and breathed in sharply at the sensation as it warmed her. It strengthened her until she could no longer tell where her magic ended and Loki's began. Then she looked straight at Lorelei and concentrated.

Whenever Kyra had tried to use her abilities before, she'd felt some strain. Breaking illusions had always been the simplest of tasks compared to creating illusions, but breaking Lorelei's grasp on the people in the room was anything but simple. She hit a wall at first, watching as Lorelei blinked. She'd felt that. Kyra needed to dig in deeper, drive her magic against Lorelei's harder. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She let her magic and Loki's wash over her until she fairly hummed from it. She was strength itself, no longer a shadow being told something was wrong with her. She wasn't quite Asgardian, but she wasn't simply Midgardian anymore. She was somewhere in between, but she had found her home here. She would do anything to defend it and its people. Especially a certain few.

Despite Sif's reservations about Loki, she'd come to help them anyway. She'd been a true friend to Kyra from the very start, and it was something Kyra had needed—someone constant in her life who had her back. She'd never had that before, and she hoped Sif could forgive her for keeping Loki's identity a secret from her. She didn't want to have to choose between them. If it came down to that, she didn't think she could.

Loki's magic was wrapped around her, strengthening her. It felt intimate in a way that spoke of utmost trust and though he was an immortal god and she just a human, it made her feel like his equal. In Loki, she'd found someone who frustrated her and challenged her, pushed her to her limits but somehow kept her craving his company more and more each time they were separated. He had a way of getting under her skin that was both infuriating and irresistible. They'd become this sort of team together, unstoppable at their best. Every day had become an adventure and she found, much to her surprise, that she was up for whatever the universe threw her way. She turned around and found Loki, seeing straight through his illusion. He met her gaze and gave her a small nod. They were in this together, so how could they possibly fail? Kyra smiled at him, letting her soul warm it, hoping he could see everything she hadn't yet said in it.

Then she turned to focus on Lorelei's enchantment and shattered it.

The next few moments happened so quickly that Kyra wasn't sure exactly how it all fell into place. The second Lorelei's enchantment broke she doubled over. People stirred in confusion all around the room.

"You are not welcome here!" boomed a familiar voice and an illusion of Odin strode into the room, separate from Loki this time but brimming with his magic enough to look real. "This is the last time you disgrace Asgard with your tricks and enchantments." He brought down his scepter and it cracked against the floors with a resounding force like thunder.

Sif moved to restrain Amora, but the enchantress drew a knife, growling at Sif. Behind them, Volstagg, Hogan, and Fandral stirred. The guards around the room were slowly becoming aware of what was happening. The music had stopped and the Asgardian's were watching now, many of them glaring at Amora and Lorelei. Kyra was still focused on Lorelei. She'd broken the enchantment, but she wasn't quite done with her. She felt another wall as she tried to push her will into Lorelei's mind. She was scrabbling for control, and she could feel Lorelei resisting.

Lorelei slipped through her grasp, and one of the guards came at Kyra with a raised sword. Loki was there in an instant, his knives drawn, crossed over to take the brunt of the blow and push the sword backwards.

"Let him go!" Kyra shouted at the redheaded enchantress. Lorelei gritted her teeth as Kyra fought her.

She could feel Loki beside her, strengthening her, encouraging her without words. Kyra focused on creating an illusion. If she couldn't control Lorelei like Lorelei could control other people, then she would make her believe she could. She focused on her illusion empowering it with her need to stop Lorelei. She was the one in control here, and she wouldn't allow Lorelei to capture anyone else's free will.

Lorelei let out a cry and fell to her knees. It was working. You are under my control now, Kyra thought fiercely. You will not control anyone else ever again. Manipulating people like Lorelei did wasn't a game. Kyra had spent a lifetime dealing with the consequences of other people's actions, but playing god with people, controlling them like complicated marionettes, it had to end.

The power Kyra felt was both thrilling and frightening. Memories flashed before her. If she had been able to do this when she was a child… If she'd been able to keep Krentz from murdering her mother… Her life would have been so much simpler. Her mother could have completed the serum after that, saved Kyra from the imperfection that sat in her body like an assassin.

Lorelei cried out, and Kyra realized she was hurting her. Somehow the illusion was causing her pain, and that wasn't what she wanted. That wasn't her. She pulled back, and Loki grabbed Lorelei's arms.

"Leave her alone!" Suddenly Amora was lunging at Kyra. She'd slipped from Sif's grip. A knife gleamed in her hand, and Kyra barely managed to avoid the swipe. She drew her own knife, rebalancing herself.

Loki moved to grab Amora, but the enchantress was like a wild animal. She swiped at Kyra again, teeth barred. Kyra ducked, her reflexes quick after all her training with Loki. "You don't belong here," Amora hissed. "You're not Asgardian, and you're not good enough for a god."

"That's not my call to make," Kyra told her. She knew Amora was trying to bait her, but refused to let her. Amora could try to cut her all she liked, but only her knife could inflict the damage.

They moved in a dance, and Kyra felt her confidence growing. She didn't need illusions for this. She caught Amora's knife arm with her braced forearm, swiping her own knife and achieving a shallow cut on Amora's shoulder. The enchantress snarled as Kyra drew blood, eyes burning.

Everyone else had stepped back, and Kyra realized they believed she could win this fight. Amora was fast and strong—she was Asgardian after all, but Kyra had a determination that made her stronger and faster. She was tired of this woman, tired of her tricks and her carelessness. Kyra fended off Amora's flurried attack, the enchantress's knife nicking Kyra once, twice on her forearms. Kyra gritted her teeth against the pain. She swept a foot out, and Amora deftly leapt over it, but Kyra was already following it with her fist. Amora hadn't been expecting that. Perhaps it was too human to simply throw a punch, but it landed straight against her forehead, knocking her back, eyes dazed. Kyra grabbed Amora's arm and forced the knife from it. It clattered to the floor, and Kyra kicked it away from them. She raised her own blade to Amora's neck.

Something like fear sparked behind Amora's acid green eyes. "This isn't your throne," Kyra hissed. "You are not welcome here anymore."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," the illusion of Odin said.

Amora's eyes slid past Kyra, glaring at the Odin illusion before they caught on something else. A familiar voice cut through the room, melodic and airy. "I believe I owe you a favor."

Kyra pulled Amora with her, knife still pressed against her throat as she turned to face the elf queen. "Aelsa," Kyra greeted. "Perfect timing."

"What is she doing here?" Amora asked, fear coating her throat.

"Queen Aelsa has so graciously agreed to take you and Lorelei on as prisoners," Kyra said, pushing Amora toward the elf queen. "She's got a very special place reserved for you—the Infinite Forest. I believe you're familiar with it."

Amora tried to struggle, but Kyra didn't relax her grip on her. She nodded her thanks to the woman who had gone to give the message to the queen. After they'd freed all the prisoners Lorelei had sent to the dungeons, Kyra had sent a group of them to overtake Skurge and send word to the elf queen.

"These will keep them quiet," Aelsa said, motioning to the two guards who stood at her side. They held metal mouth-masks, and Amora balked as one of the guards neared her.

"Odin is really Lo—" she tried to scream, but the elf placed the mask over her mouth, muffling her words. Lorelei had not spoken a word since Kyra had cast her illusion. She still looked dazed, and Kyra wondered what exactly she had done to the enchantress. She tried to tell herself Lorelei had deserved it, but Kyra wasn't cruel like them. She went to stand by Loki's side. He was still disguised as his usual guard, shoulders slumped in relief. His eyes darted to hers, and she could see the worry behind them.

"I'm okay," she said, reaching for his hand. His fingers were warm in hers, and she felt a pulse of magic at the touch. The elf queen missed nothing as she walked up to them, eyes flitting to the Odin illusion.

"You have our thanks, Aelsa," Kyra said.

"After all Asgard has done for me, it was only fair I return the favor," she said, including Odin in the conversation as if he were really there. "And it was my pleasure to help a friend," she added to Kyra. "I look forward to seeing Asgard's future," Aelsa said softly, tilting her head to the side to study Kyra and Loki. With a smile, she turned and motioned for her guards to bring the two sisters. Kyra watched as Amora and Lorelei disappeared leaving the Asgardians in peace.