Chapter 14 – New Day
D43/4 ABY
Disguised in plain clothes was Loki – God of Mischief, and occasionally referred to as the Prince of Lies walking on the surface of Xadia, home to Queen Ygritte (former head of the Valkyrie). Loki sought a private audience with his sister without the scrutiny of a royal visit. Making his way to the palace, Loki had little difficulty getting past the guards. But Ygritte had sensed him as soon as he landed on Xadia, anger was always his undoing. But she suspected why her brother (adopted) would come this far, especially after the breakout and the skirmish in Jotunheim. Still she allowed him in her chambers, while sharpening her hunting knife.
"Ah good.", Loki said as he saw Ygritte, his eyes falling on the hunting knife.
"Allfather Thor's orders were to secure our respective holds.", Ygritte said.
"Which is why I've come in such a manner.", Loki said.
"What is this urgency Loki?", Ygritte asked.
"Fenrir was nearly burnt alive, by Thoros.", Loki said.
"The one you killed all those years ago?", Ygritte asked.
"The very same. He possessed the fires of Muspelheim.", Loki said.
"Not an easy feat.", Ygritte commented.
"Precisely, which begs the question 'Who gave it to that lowlife?'", Loki stated.
Ygritte sighed, "Get to the point."
"She must have escaped.", Loki said in a low voice.
"If it were anyone else stating this, I would outright dismiss the very idea.", Ygritte said, "What do you require of me?"
"I want you to hunt her down.", Loki said.
"I am the Queen of Xadia, brother. I cannot leave, especially at such an important juncture.", Ygritte spoke angrily, outraged at the fact that Loki could even suggest something like this. "Why aren't you hunting her yourself?", she asked.
"I cannot.", Loki said in return.
"Why?", she asked. Then Loki whispered the good news in trepidation.
"So, you see I have already taken a great risk coming here.", Loki said.
"I sympathize, and as such shall dispatch my best hunters.", Ygritte said, "But Loki… take this advice, if you keep hovering then Fenrir will never be able to live his life."
"I am not hovering.", Loki spoke, outraged.
"I am sure.", came the sarcastic reply.
D43/4 ABY
Reaching the planets' surface, Jesse and Ava disembarked. Exiting the spaceport, the two of them made their way to the town square.
"So, what exactly are we doing here?", Ava asked.
"I don't know.", Jesse answered.
"What did you see… in your vision?", Ava asked.
"Just myself on the planet.", Jesse answered shortly.
"Nothing else. Not a very clear vision.", Ava whispered.
"Hey, no one asked you to come.", Jesse answered rounding up on her.
"Easy. Remember that I am on your side Jesse.", Ava answered raising her hands.
Jesse then turned and started walking away from her. She followed him, but had to catch up as he was speeding. "Look, I know you don't want to be here. But you need to be here, and no amount of snappiness is going to change that."
"I'm not snappy.", Jesse protested.
"Ok.", Ava said. After a while of awkward walking she spoke again, "Look why don't we do something fun. A planet this big must have some pretty cool stuff.", Ava suggested.
"Um… there is something.", Jesse said.
"Ok, what is it?", Ava asked.
"Dancing class. It's very popular where I grew up.", Jesse suggested.
"What kind of dancing?", Ava asked.
"Formal? I think", Jesse replied unsurely.
"So, you grew up in a place where this dancing class is very popular, but you don't know what kind of dancing it is?", Ava asked to which Jesse looked at his feet uncomfortably.
"I had a very sheltered childhood, alright", Jesse said, the tips of ears were reddening.
"Ok, dancing lessons it is.", Ava smiled.
With that the two young adults, who had officially joined the Aesir just a year ago went towards the destination.
Reaching their destination, Jesse and Ava signed up for a free dance clad at one of the centers. It was an extremely big building, with three auditoriums – one was beginner lessons, another was for advanced lessons, and the third one was for live performances. There was a third smaller room, where private practice took place. Ava and Jesse were led to the auditorium for beginners. With that the lesson began, and surprisingly they were rather good at it. Aired up together, Jesse tried to stifle his laughter as the look on Ava's face could only be described as one of constipation.
"What's so funny?", Ava asked.
"Your face.", Jesse innocently answered.
Ava was going to retort, but soon both of them felt a warning pass through the force. A second later, a scream was heard inside the auditorium. As people began panicking, and instructors tried to maintain calm, Ava and Jesse hurried towards the source of the disturbance. Reaching the place, they both saw the most horrible sight, a woman whose feet were severed, her face completely marred with what seemed like claws and a hole in her chest. She was lying in her own blood, which formed a circular pattern on the floor with a hexagram inscribed within it. In the distance, they heard sirens and were pushed back by the instructors.
Law enforcement officers soon arrived and detained everyone for questioning. During the questioning, the two of them learnt that the girl's body had suddenly appeared on the floor.
The officer assigned to them asked all sorts of questions, like who were they, why were they there and where had they come from (amongst a few). Through this he learned that Ava and Jesse came from Asgard and are part of the Aesir.
"Really, who's your master?", the officer sneered.
"Dr. Bruce Banner.", Jesse answered.
"Prince Fenrir.", Ava answered.
"I don't believe you. They are highly respected members; don't you dare try to lie kids.", the officer said. "Tell me the truth, or its prison for the both of you."
Ava and Jesse started to protest, but before they could say anything, a loud voice could be heard. Following which the door opened, and in stepped Bruce Banner with Voris. The two angels looked at Ava and Jesse, and signaled them to come with them.
"Excuse me. Who the hell do you think you are to barge in my interrogation room?", the officer asked outraged.
Behind Bruce and Voris, an older woman entered and said, "Calton, they are Aesir. They have taken over the investigation."
"Chief!", Calton said surprised.
"These are the angels – Bruce Banner and Voris.", the chief said.
"You are to extend your full support and cooperation, Officer Calton.", Voris spoke. With that Bruce and Voris led Ava and Jesse out of there.
They were then followed by Calton, who started to say something.
"Listen up jackass, stay out of our way and I wont embed you in a wall.", Bruce spoke. They then left Calton standing there and left.
"Did you have to be like that?", Voris asked as they made their way out.
In the dragon graves of Vanaheim, Tarre and Balthazar were… lost, in a sense. They searched the place silently, hoping to find something out of place in a graveyard.
"What are we searching for?", Tarre asked.
"I have no idea, and the Allfather wasn't exactly precise.", Balthazar said.
"We are searching for something, in one the most dangerous places throughout the nine realms, with next to no information.", Tarre spoke.
"Yeah, I'm rather enjoying it.", Balthazar said.
"Of course, you are. Just make sure not to steal anything.", Tarre said.
"Right.", Balthazar said.
"I haven't felt this frustrated ever since I located my first kyber crystal.", Tarre said.
"It was the black blade, wasn't it?", Baltazar asked.
"Thor has always been unpredictable, but this is just on another level.", Tarre said ignoring the question.
"You're both similar in that way.", Balthazar commented.
"How many levels are there?", Tarre asked.
"No one alive knows, why?", Balthazar asked.
"I sense something… faint, beneath my feet.", Tarre said.
"Trap?", Balthazar asked.
"Possibly.", came the answer.
Inside the refresher, Fenrir stood with his back towards the door, and the bandage covering his face on the floor. Curiosity got the better of Fenrir, when he looked at his face. The image was unsettling, to say the least. His features reminded him of an old foe, a foe whom he though was long dead – the same reddish skin as a result of the burns, clinging to the structure of his face. The area around his eyes was dark and hollow. He knew whose face this resembled – Johann Schmidt, The Red Skull.
As he looked at the mirror, he saw the glimpse of another figure behind him, reflected perfectly in the mirror. A blond woman, wearing a green one-piece, hugging her curves and a very short skirt with a very beautiful face. She had a green jeweled headdress, with black leggings having yellow circular patterns on them. Fenrir recognized her, and as he turned around, he saw nothing and heard the woman's laughter, which sent a chill down his spine. Fenrir then closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as he heard a knock on the door and Satine's voice.
"Fenrir, Hera and Kanan are here to see you.", Satine said.
"I'll be out in a minute.", Fenrir spoke.