Hi all, I know this chapter is way past late, but it's here. In the past couple of days I have taken the time to read through what I have published of this story so far and … cringe. My writing style has changed and matured so much in the past two years, even just past year. I have already edited the first chapter (Ill publish it in the next 48 hours) to fit my current writing style and will be doing so for the first thirteen or so chapters over the next couple of months. I will leave a note when I have finished in case anyone wants to revisit those chapters. I promise it will be worth it.
Searching deep within herself Sofiya inhaled as much air as she could, held it for a long moment, and then exhaled. Closing her eyes she saw herself peaking into the mental plane. She had spent hours and hours practicing traveling back and forth from reality to the mental plane.
At first she had needed Herc to help keep her body grounded so she didn't get lost, unable to return her consciousness to her body in reality. Over many sessions she was finally able to keep herself grounded and travel in and out of the mental plane by herself.
When she had visited the magical plane with Loki, Sofiya had seen his magic as a green spark in the distance until she got closer. It was then that she saw a molten green orb churning with energy. Herc had later explained to her that more skilled individuals were able to see wispy trails around them from beings that possessed magic.
The mental plane was different from the magical one. Upon asking Herc she had found out that the mental, physical, emotional and magical planes all looked unique.
Her first handful of trips to the mental plane she had struggled with how to describe it. It was not until her fifth visit that she was finally able to put words to the beauty of the mental plane. It was as if she was looking up at a sky congested with stars. There were transparent veils pulsing all around her, it was as if her vision was filled with distorted waves.
There were stars all around her. Some duller than others, but most held a soft glow that when gazed at from afar created a kaleidoscope of colors. Taking another breath Sofiya focused, she could see the stars of her friends sitting at the table, she turned and could see Herc's star. It had always been different from other stars, brighter and constantly pulling others towards it like it was some type of magnet.
Einar's star was bigger than she had ever seen it, usually it was a small dime sized blue light. Now she saw a huge ball of swirling blue light, she stepped towards it and felt a wave of calm confidence wash through her. Taking another unconscious step closer she caught herself and stopped, instead taking several steps backwards. She was not here to explore.
Sofiya had learned that those waves were a form of biofeedback. Herc had explained it in detail but some of the words he had used went right over her head. The gist of it she had understood though.
The waves were a broadcast of some type of psychic energy from brain waves. Telepaths could easily translate the waves to thoughts, and once a telepath reached a certain strength they would not even register the waves, just the thoughts.
Sofiya had asked Herc why she had been able to hear Loki's thoughts and sometimes Herc's thoughts without any training. He had answered saying that he believed the mental link Sofiya shared with Loki was the reason. With her magic she had demonstrated amazing control for someone just coming into their powers, as was the same with her mental abilities.
Herc believed that Sofiya's subconscious was feeding off the link she had with Loki. Not only learning from his centuries of practice in the planes but also leaning on his control and mastery of them. He further explained that most of the time Loki was probably pulling her into his head to communicate telepathically which would have made the transfer of thoughts clearer for her since Loki was highly trained.
In another session Herc had explained the basics of mental shields. There apparently was a large variety of them. Most people held a fragile and easily penetrable shell around their mind in the mental plane. This type of shield was one that was automatic and required no training. With training it was possible to construct a stronger shield around one's mind able to keep in all of one's brain waves and thoughts.
After doing some poking around, Herc had found that Loki had constructed a shield of his own around Sofiya's mind. Sofiya thought back to all those months ago on the helicarrier when Loki had manipulated her magic for the purpose of 'seeing how useful she was.'
That conversation had been a pivotal event in her history with Loki. Sofiya would bet her life that had that conversation never occurred, there would be no friendship between them now. That had been the first time she had pushed him so far, pushed herself so far. It was only after she realized just how horrifying his captivity had been that something changed between herself and the Asgardian.
If she looked down at the inside of her wrist she knew she would find the small celtic knot that was the result of the vow she had taken with him. The vow to never use him, and in exchange he had vowed to protect her from those that would use her to get to him. Sofiya did not have time to dwell on wondering if his reasons for maintaining the shield around her mind had changed.
The shield that had been so strong, Herc had needed to convince Loki to loosen it some to allow her to explore her new abilities. It was only after much time spent going back and forth that Loki had agreed to loosen the shields around her mind. Even still he had assured her that no one would be able to enter her thoughts if she did not allow them entrance.
Until Sofiya could properly construct her own shields Loki had taken it upon himself to place a tripwire on the shield he put in place. The link they shared provided the foundation for this tripwire. He would know in an instant if someone had invaded her mind and would be able to push them out.
As Sofiya focused on the look he had given her during that conversation she used the closeness she had felt to him in that instant to guide her to their link in her mind.
The measure of distance was arbitrary on the mental plane. As long as the person had already felt the mind of the person they were communicating with, it was possible to find them. That was unless they had a very strong shell around their mind, almost cutting themself off completely from the rest of the mental plane.
Sofiya had never truly been cut off from Loki, even though Herc had said that the majority of the time Loki's shields were so strong he himself had trouble tracking the younger man. She knew her ability to always find him was due to the link they shared. The link resulted from the still mysterious transference that had happened between them as he had blasted the mind stone into the tesseract she had held all those months ago.
Sofiya felt around until she found what she had been searching for, the link. As her fingers wrapped around it she felt the subtle pulse of power it gave off. Sofiya had trouble seeing the link but Loki had told her with practice she would be able to see it just as he did. Not just a psychic link but something stronger.
Pulling on it she followed it forward, through the field of blurred waves. It took a matter of what felt like seconds but could have been minutes when she found herself in front of an area void of everything, not just the psychic waves but light as well.
Sofiya lifted her fist to knock, but then the memories of her conversation with Thor rose to the front of her mind. Sparks of anger threatened to ignite her temper, Loki had marked her. And even though she was not completely clear on what that meant she was still infuriated.
Without knocking and with an ease that came as natural as breathing she crossed though the impenetrable shield. The comfort that washed over her being was instantaneous and so different from the comfort that had washed over her when she had neared Einar's mind. Even with the disconnect from her body back in reality the comfort was strong enough to ease the tension in her muscles.
The root of this comfort grew from her closeness to him, how it felt so right. It was one of the only things she craved even more when it was in her grasp then she did when it was far away.
"Sofiya?" he asked in a concerned tone.
"I need you."
Loki was immediately hyper aware of the link he shared with the woman. It was no surprise to him that Sofiya could push through the walls he had set in place to keep their minds as separate as possible while he was away. That sobered him for a moment as a tingle of fear spread through him. It would just be too easy for someone to track her through him if by some chance someone was able to get into his head.
He would be lying if he said he had not been looking forward to her entering his mind again. The primal craving that had developed calling him as close to her as he could get.
All it took was one beat of his heart and Loki found himself in front of Sofiya. It would have been so easy to take comfort in her physical presence but the tone of those three words she had spoken put him on edge. All it took was a thought and he felt his battle armour materializing over his skin. The weight of his weapons comforted him in only the way a warrior could be comforted.
His arm wrapped around the woman in front of him and he pulled her to his chest while he took in their surroundings, prepared for any scenario.
It was his instinct to assess Sofiya first, but he had to suppress that until he knew it was safe. Her sudden words had surprised him, her tone of confusion and tinge of fear had him on guard. In an instant he had dropped everything he was doing to come to her side.
Scanning the area he found himself in Stark tower. Even though he had never been in the common living space he had seen glimpses of it, not just from Sofiya's thoughts, but the schematics of the building he had memorized.
His eyes swiveled around the space, he neither felt nor saw an immediate threat. Well, deadly threat. A man Loki had never seen before stood naked not three feet from Sofiya. Loki narrowed his eyes at the man, His senses already reaching out, Loki did not question the magical signature of the man. Einar.
The two immortals met eyes and the tactical side of his mind took notice that in this form Einar would make a formidable guard for Sofiya. Standing just centimeters taller than Loki. Einar's shoulders were as broad if not more than those of the soldiers in the Asgardian army. Where most male humans with his physique would have a tapered waist, Einar's waist was thick, just as his legs were. It was clear he was built for withstanding the force of any attacks that came his way.
After he assessed the situation he would have questioned the males nudity. Instead at the moment he did a general sweep over the male, gauging his size. With his next thought Loki materialized armour on the male while strapping an array of weapons to his body unsure of which the man favored most.
Eyes floating over Herc, Loki did a quick head count and took note of the presence of Tony, Steve, Natasha, Clint, and his own brother at the table in the center of the open space. Even without the taste of magic in the air he would have known that the people round the table had been caught in a stasis that had apparently taken them by surprise as Clint was holding a glass mid-sip.
Only seconds had passed since Loki had arrived, his initial scan of the situation just completed when he heard the unmistakable sound of a large vessel entering the atmosphere at speeds impossible for human technology. Though that was not what concerned him, he knew the sound of the vessel's engine.
"Herc, what is the meaning of this?" Loki asked as he unwrapped his arms from Sofiya and pulled out a set of armour from his personal dimension he had had custom made for the woman in front of him after the battle of New York. It had been his hope that she would never have to wear the suit reinforced by uru metal. But Loki had not been so naive to let his hope cloud his actions, preparing for the worst Loki himself had taken care to carve numerous runes over the armour.
Loki passed off the unconscious inspection of her armour as the instinct of a warrior. But a fleeting thought at the edge of his mind knew it also had to do with his need to assure himself of her presence after so long apart. With the quick check that could be done only by someone that knew every detail of the suit, Loki's eyes wandered down and over her form.
Loki had known it might be a disadvantage at some point to have their armour look so similar. Loki had not been able to help himself, the aesthetic of her suit had been part pride and part possessiveness on his part. In fact, her suit was almost exactly like his just with a few adjustments to not only fit her body better but fit her needs in battle.
"The time has come my son, my deal will expire and yours will commence." Loki's expression grew solemn, "You have shown me hope in the darkest of places, you gave me purpose when I felt it was all a game." Loki took in Hercs words with a heavy heart.
He knew that his old friend was talking about death. It crossed Loki's mind for a moment to try and cohorce the man to choose a different path, but Loki knew better. Herc would only do this if it was the only way to stay on the path he had so meticulously orchestrated. A stirring arouse in Loki's chest and he recognized the unwanted feeling as anxiety. Loki knew not if the anxiety was from the people he knew were coming or the one he knew was leaving.
"Herc …" Sofiya started to speak and then fell silent. Even with the single word that managed to cross her lips he felt the emotion of thousands of words.
"Do not fret, I feel no regret for the past nor the future. What I have seen will bring me comfort in my last moments. When the path became clear to me I found myself saddened by the thought of leaving you alone, then I met her. Do not be weary, your faith in her will never be betrayed. With my last gift, you will be halfway to a complete bonding." Hercs' words made their way into Loki's mind just as Loki got his first glimpse of the ship.
Loki fought the nausea that was almost all consuming. After months of running from them, Herc had brought them to Earth, to Sofiya. It would be so easy to take her with him, to keep running. If anyone else had done this, Loki would have no qualms about killing them. But Loki had grown to know to trust Herc, even if the omniscient beings actions seemed to betray the trust Loki held in him.
Loki had once held that same level of trust in his family, but each member of his family had nurtured that trust for their own personal reasons. When the time had come they had all betrayed him. Fear of betrayal threatened to manifest in him, but Loki refused to let it take root. Loki had to trust in the glimpses of the future that Herc had shown him, Loki had to trust in someone.
Not to say that he did not place trust in Sofiya, but Loki had experienced the strength of the woman's morals and ethics through her own mind. Loki knew that there were factors driving Herc that Loki would never be able to understand or even comprehend, after all Herc had seen countless millennia before Loki had even been a thought in his mother's mind.
It would be so easy to take her with him, to keep running.
"Are they not to be in this fight?" Loki questioned as he spared a glance in the direction of the frozen Avengers.
"It is not their time." Herc replied with an emotion in his voice that Loki was unable to identify.
"Loki, I'm not ready for this yet." Sofiya whispered into Loki's chest as she pressed herself closer into him. Loki tried to give her strength while he silently cursed that he would not let himself succumb to his instinct to teleport her away.
"We will live." It was the only thing he could promise her as the ship came level with the tower. In an effort to keep the Avengers out of the picture Loki teleported the four aware beings in the room to the streets below.
Traffic had come to a halt, people were running and screaming, no doubt fearing a repeat of the previous battle. The screaming of humans did not deter his attention as he took a threatening stance. Faced with the inability to run Loki found himself experiencing emotions he had tried to bury so deep they would never make any more appearances.
Before meeting Sofiya, Loki had learned through experience that it was safe to live off of hate, believing it comforting to live a life of vengeance. He could trust those emotions, knew where they would lead him. But Sofiya had shown him he could live off of more beautiful emotions, living a life placing faith in actions not derived from hate was so much more enjoyable.
Loki had once thought himself broken beyond repair, but Sofiya had given him a reason to venture into the life of the living again. It was in the memories of Sofiya, the feel of her presence to his left that gave him the strength to think clearly as he faced his demons.
Sofiya found herself standing atop a car, looking to her side she spied Einar on her left and Loki on her right, both atop their own abandoned car. Sofiya tried not to be too conspicuous as she glanced around to find Herc, her efforts proving rewardless.
A movement from the vessel in front of her drew her attention. Sofiya had seen more alien spacecraft then she would have liked. The one that stood in front of her now was different than all she had seen before.
It was enormous, the vertical ring shaped craft barely fit in the street between the buildings. It's shell of what looked like black steel showed barely any damage from space travel. A ship this big needed many hands and much money to keep in such good condition.
Sofiya knew enough to notice that the apparent heat waves that surrounded the vessel and allowed it to land without touching the ground were not due to heat waves, but a gravity field. If that technology held any indication as to what they could expect from the crews weapons … fear laced up Sofiya's legs, gaining speed as it crawled up her torso and buried itself into her mind.
The door opened and five individuals stepped out. Sofiya's eyes went to the largest of them, he was taller and broader than the others. A memory brought itself to the surface of her mind. She had seen him once before. The only time she had interacted with him, Loki had been left a bloody pile on the floor.
In the unnatural lighting of the room she had originally thought his skin held a blue tone, but in the natural light she saw that it was more a light purple hue. Her eyes roamed over his face and followed the line of his neck to the gold plates of metal at his chest. His shoulders look broader than before, she contributed that to the layered and gold raised plates protecting his shoulders.
His legs were covered in leather, a gold plate over his knees. His feet were covered by shoes made of the same leather as his pants. The way he held his shoulders radiated confidence and assurance triggering an image to flutter across her mind of her father standing at a podium giving a speech she cared not about.
Her thoughts slammed back to the man in front of her as he set one end of his double edged sword down, his right hand relaxed around the hilt. Sofiya knew the danger he posed if he chose to raise that weapon against them. The relaxed and comfortable way he held the weapon built from the confidence only years of experience could yield.
"Loki, you have proven to be elusive prey." The man stepped out in front of his comrades as he spoke. The normalcy to his tone caused her to stand at attention. She did not put it past him to change from casual to vengeful in an instant.
"I would not want to make it easy for you now would I?" Loki's response was laced with arrogance.
While Loki talked to the purple giant, Sofiya looked over the other four individuals. The one on the farthest right was the only woman in the group. She had skin of white ash, her hair cast a bluish complexion across her skin. At first Sofiya thought she wore a helmet, but then realized it was horns that emerged from the woman's temples. They curved around the woman's head, their tips coming to an end just as they lifted off the top of her head.
Blue paint covered her skin from the top of her cheekbones and traveled well into her scalp. There was a matching blue line from the center of her bottom lip to the bottom on her chin. She held a spear that Sofiya had no doubt was laced with magic. She lacked armour, only a chest piece of silver and a gold cast around the arm that held her spear. The rest of her body was covered in a skin tight black material. Even though she appeared to lack battle armour, Sofiya did not doubt the strength of the fabric that hugged her body.
The man beside her had skin of a greyish purple. His mouth was large in comparison to his beady eyes, his nose only half as long as it should have been. Sofiya could just see the beginnings of some type of geometric pattern high on his cheeks before it disappeared under the black cloth that covered his head. His hood appeared to be held into place by a gold piece that began at his chin, looked to branch off and wrap around the nape of his neck before it continued up the side of his jaw to end in points at his temples.
The gold piece did well to frame his slender face, just as the black metallic fabric that hugged his body did. Above the fabric was some sort of battle armour that peaked out of the cloak he was wearing. Where Loki looked lean with well honed muscles, this figure looked almost malnourished in it's slenderness. This one's weapon of choice was a bronze glaive.
Next in line was a man that was as broad as he was tall, but still not as imposing as the one that led them. His skin a greenish black reptilian scale. He wore no head piece, but that was likely not a problem as the scales that were pulled over the raised crest of his head held marks of past blows that had failed to leave any significant lasting marks.
His arms were bare but that of a left shoulder plate that was held in place by a leather sash across his torso. His torso covered in what Sofiya could have confused with a black kevlar had she not known better. That same kevlar like material lead all the way to his thighs where it transformed to a silver bodycon like armour, the boots that covered his feet, a mix of leather and kevlar. The ax in his right arm was unlike any ax she had seen before, it was a jagged mass of rock.
The last man looked weaker compared to the other individuals. His skin was a bluish grey, but as where the blue complexion in the woman's face only led to a more menacing look, the blue in this one's complexion led to a sickly look. His face was spattered with age marks and subtle wrinkles.
He was bald besides a smarting of hand length grey hair that trailed around his head from ear to ear. The tight black dress he wore reminded her of something a high priest or the likes would wear. This collar wrapped half way up his neck, with gold pieces all the way down his sternum to his belt. He held no weapon, but Sofiya was not tricked, that made him no less lethal than the other four.
"No, no of course not. You have done well giving my sons and daughter a delightful chase." The purple leader was saying, he gave a soft chuckle adding to the false air of ease around him.
"I did once live to serve you." Loki's words were sharp enough to cut through the mounting tension.
"Yes, and now your life is forfeit." The man responded with a causal grace as his eyes finally scanned over Sofiya and Einar.
Sofiya had been raised around the power moves of politicians. It did not escape her notice that the purple being mear meters in front of her was well versed in games of power. His lack of scoping out Sofiya and Einar before he started a conversation was meant as a display of how little he thought them to be a threat, and how much trust he had in the individuals at his side to guard him.
"It would be rude to execute you without introducing myself and my children to your friends," the man introduced his so-called children in the same order she had checked them over, "This is Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, Cull Obsidian, and Ebony Maw." The man gave Loki a look that said he should introduce those standing with him.
"This is Einar and Sofiya." Loki said not taking his eyes from the party in front of them as he motioned with his hand.
"Ah, we have met before beautiful Sofiya." The smile directed her way was supposed to be welcoming, but the emotions his words brought forth in Sofiya were all but welcoming.
She smiled back and he continued on, "I knew there had to be a reason for his trips to this bleeding world. It seems you are more than just a pet to him." Sofiya hesitated as she tried to pin down exactly which type of game he was playing.
She had guessed they had tracked Loki's visits to her and that was how they had found them. She did not put it below him to play games, but maybe there was more she did not know. Perhaps it had been Herc's use of the stone?
"How do you know Loki is not my pet?" Sofiya quipped with a fake lifting of the corner of her mouth, the man laughed.
"I am beginning to understand why Loki has kept you alive." His eyes leapt from Sofiya to the man at her left, "And Einar, a breathing myth." His eyes leapt again, this time to Loki, "You have managed to gather quite the odd collection of followers Loki. It is a shame they shall see your execution." The tension was high but no one moved. Sofiya wondered where Herc had run off to.
It was not until her opponent's leader made to walk forward and Herc appeared out of thin air between Loki and Thanos.
"Hello, my wronged titan." Herc said with so much emotion that Sofiya could not tell whose side Herc was taking.
A slight tilt to his jaw, "I do not belong to you."
"My mistake. To my race, everyone and everything is ours." She watched as for the first time she saw a trace of something more than casualness from the man she now knew as a titan.
"You speak of those that watch over us." Sofiya knew she was missing some underlying implication to their exchanged words.
"I always did more than watching."
"If you have come to negotiate Loki's death, I will have to kill you as well."
"Oh, I have no doubt you will kill me." Herc replied with humor as he opened his palm, Sofiya could not see what he held but Loki leaned forward.
"Ah, I should have known you knew what I sought. I have your blessing then?" The titan asked.
"Everyone chooses their own path, it is the obstacles in their path that make the heart." It did not miss her notice that Herc was giving neither confirmation nor rejection.
"Stay quiet. Do not cause trouble, my children." Thanos said to those at his side before turning his attention back to Herc."I am willing to negotiate." With a blink Herc and Thanos were gone.
The air sizzled with tension, or it might have been magic. She couldn't tell. Sofiya had no idea what was going on, but she hoped to whatever gods existed that Herc knew what he was doing.
"When we kill you, I will ask for the ownership of the girl." The one named Proxima Midnight spoke while looking directly at Loki. It was in that moment that Sofiya understood all of the beings in front of her had taken some part in Loki's torture, not just their leader.
Sofiya's next exhale cleansed her body of fear only to be replaced with fire. The anger that flushed through her veins scattered her thoughts for a moment. The pain Proxima had already caused Loki wasn't enough, she wanted more. The fury coursing through her had nothing to do with the implied insult on Sofiyas part. The fire burning under her skin had everything to do with wrath born from a protective and possessiveness that had come from her soul.
"Sofiya." The word entered her mind as a command to stand down.
"Bitch wants to play, I want to win," she replied.
"Aw, you couldn't even keep a leash on your mouth. What makes you think you could keep a leash on me?" Sofiya answered calmly before Loki could stop her.
"The peasant dares to question my promise? Stupid human, I have killed thousands, proved my strength and you dare question me?" She remarked with a humourless laugh as she stepped forward.
Sofiya had been right, this one's weakness was pride.
"You killed thousands with them," Sofiya jerked her head in the direction of her male comrades, "By your side. This little peasant single handedly took out your entire chitauri army without even breaking a sweat." With an ease only a politician's child could possess, Sofiya strategically chose every word with intent to cut.
Adrenaline pulsed through her blood, she let it build up as she enjoyed playing with her prey.
Proxima seemed to be the most affected by not being able to catch Loki, hints her speaking up and taking claim to Sofiya. It was surefire that Proxima would be bothered by the implications that the one she looked up to had not only lost Loki, but his army as well.
"I will take pleasure in cutting out you tongue and watching my hounds fight over it."
"Tisk, tisk." Sofiya purred huskily looking down and shaking her head before lifting it and meeting Proxima's narrowed glare, "I'm disappointed in you. You need to work on your threats. Here, I'll give you some pointers.
"You should have gone more along the lines of something like," Sofiya cleared her throat to better mimic the woman's voice,"'I will take pleasure slicing you from hip to hip, forcing you to clean the floors with your own entrails.'"
The woman took a moment to open her mouth, then clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Her jaw relaxed and she appeared to shrug off her anger, but Sofiya knew better.
"It seems Loki is too weak to keep you in line. Rest assured I will not falter where he has failed." Venom dripped from the warriors words as she adjusted her grip on her spear.
"Sofiya," Loki gave a warning but she ignored it. Sofiya stepped forward all too aware of the daggers at her hips and strapped across her back. Jumping down from the roof of the car, to the hood, and then finally to the ground Sofiya took her time and again let her eyes drift from Proxima to the ground as she watched her feet.
You did not take your eyes off anyone you saw as a predator, except to submit or disrespect them. Once Sofiya's feet were flat on the ground she smiled just enough to show confidence, lifted her head with a slow self assurance and gave Proxima a slow once over before meeting her wild eyes.
In a practiced move she had learned from her father, Sofiya raised her eyebrows just as slightly as she tilted her head and lifted her chin. It was a gesture of invitation, raising her brows in challenge, showing her neck in a way that said come and get me - if you can.
Sofiya could see the cage holding Proxima back start to warp, she watched as the other woman's breathing picked up speed.
"From where I stand, it is not Loki who has failed but you Proxima." The one that had stood beside Proxima, Corvus, made to step forward to her side again. But a word from the one called Ebony stopped him. Sofiya missed nothing
Sofiya judged Proxima only had moments left. Sofiya focused on the air that filled her lungs, feeling every inch of tissue the oxygen brushed against as it flowed down her throat before being suctioned into her lungs as her chest expanded.
"I will enjoy peeling the flesh from your bones." Proxima sneered, her composure breaking for a second as she took two steps forward off the ship's ramp and onto the street. That was all Sofiya needed.
"You're going to have to do better than that." Sofiya responded with a silent arrogant chuckle as she feigned to lean on the car beside her.
Proxima raised her spear.
Sofiya's hand shot out as she let go of the control she had been holding over the adrenaline fueled energy racing through her veins. She had been dying to put into practice some of the tricks she had learned.
Already focused it took a split second for Sofiya to pop into the magic plane and show her own magic it's prey. Sofiya pulled. There was a click and a rush of ice as Sofiya felt herself gain entry into Proxima's body via the circuit Proxima created between the ground, her body, and the magic in the spear.
Proxima was mid-throw, taking aim at Sofiya's head when she stilled. As Sofiya pulled harder she could see her own skin growing brighter as gold filled her peripheral vision. Holding her stance she pulled harder than she ever had before, her mental strength not held back by the strength limit of her human body.
Sofiya smirked. During her lessons she had learned that magic was its own breed of energy, but it still had some things in common with electricity. As long as Sofiya kept her hold on the energy in the spear and did not falter in her effort to pull the magic through the woman's body and into the ground, Proxima would be paralyzied.
"Not too fast, daddy said not to cause trouble." Sofiya said, her breathing barely picked up speed, showing just how much control she had.
"Darling, it is not nice to play with your food." Loki purred and Corvus stepped forward to stand beside Proxima.
"Ah, yes. How could I forget, it is all about the chase." Sofiya stepped forward again, Proxima growled, "Say please and I might let go." Sofiya was not brass enough to assume she had won yet.
"Human, you have signed your death warrant." The words had just left Corvus's mouth as Thanos and Herc reappeared in the exact spots they had been before they left.
Sofiya did not meet the gaze of Thanos even though she felt his eyes were attempting to burn holes in her head. This was between Proxima and herself. Thanos would make Proxima look weak if he stepped between them and Sofiya did not peg him as the type to interfere in his minions battles.
Giving Proxima one last pointed look, Sofiya released her hold on the magic anchored in the warrior's spear.
"Children, children, behave." Thanos said as he walked up to meet Loki who was no longer standing on the roof of a car. Neither was Einar. She glanced back to see Loki and Einar both taking up a fighting stance behind her.
"The Watcher showed me what is to become of the future," there was a pregnant pause, "I will not kill you today, but I will kill you. I have been enlightened of how you can be of use to me if you agree?"
"I do not blindly agree to anything." Loki responded.
"In a few days time you will be given an opportunity to take the power you have always sought. When you take it, you are to keep the nine realms out of my way while I complete my quest."
"And what do I get in return?"
"A few more years of life, and the promise that she shall not be harmed in any way before or after your death as long as you hold up your end of the deal."
"Loki, don't do it." Sofiya sent in a rush to Loki. All control she had appeared to have during her verbal spare with Proxima drained from her.
"Relax my daughter, everything will go as planned," Herc said out loud. Loki broke his attention from Thanos to give Herc a long gaze. Taking a deep breath Loki stepped back.
"I will do as you ask." Loki agreed as he bowed his head to Thanos, Sofiya had to grit her teeth to keep from speaking up.
"Then it is settled."
"Come along my daughter," Thanos called gently as he turned to head back towards the ship. Sofiya watched his back, Thanos stopped as he reached Herc but the others continued on to the ship.
Just as she had put the pieces together of what was about to happen. Einar stepped in front of her to block her view. Loki grabbed her wrist from behind her, she was so angry at him she wanted to shake him off but she would not show any disunity in front of his enemies, their enemies.
"Do not worry your mind on my behalf, remember what I have taught you. Loki will teach you now, and the rest you will learn as you take your place in space beside him. My son has a long way to go, stay with him. Just because souls are bound does not mean they are healed." Herc spoke in her mind, as his final word reached her thoughts Sofiya found herself somewhere else.
This chapter was originally longer buttttt I decided to cut off here. Oh and, their first kiss is in the next chapter. :)
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