Christie left Jennie in the hall and settled herself down on her own bed a few minutes after Madame Herja swept away. Now she was a ball of anxiety; just thinking…contemplating, wondering. She was confused. Extremely confused. She didn't know who to talk to about the concerns that Madame Herja had raised. She could either speak to Frigga about it and hope she'd be able to shed some light, or she could go one up and speak to Odin directly.
Well, Odin made her uncomfortable. So…Frigga it was.
Christie stepped into Frigga's living quarters and took a shakily deep breath, before rapping her knuckles on her great bronze door. "Yes?" Frigga called out.
"Frigga? It's Annerledes!" Christie called back politely, praying her voice didn't shake.
"Oh! One moment, child," Frigga hummed. There was a muffled sound of her rustling about before the door swung open. "Annerledes," Frigga breathed happily, although her eyes were still full of devastation. She swiftly pulled her in for a hug and pressed a kiss to her forehead, much to Christie's surprise. "I take it from your shaken state that you spoke to Herja?"
"Frigga I…I don't understand," Christie mumbled out tearfully, biting back those sobs of confusion that were bubbling up in her throat. "What…what has Loki sparked? I don't want to involve myself in any more of his antics-"
"Sweetheart," Frigga whispered as they broke apart. She gripped Christie's shoulders and sighed. "Listen to me. My son loves you. He loves you more than he loves himself - and you of all people know how much of a great feat that is." Christie gave her a small teary eyed smile and sniffed. "But what he's done, what he did…the whirlpool of what's yet to happen to our worlds under his actions…it's unavoidable. What you can do, however, is make the best of a terrible situation."
"Oh? Like I'm doing now?" Christie scoffed miserably under her breath.
"No - this isn't a terrible situation. This is nothing but the opening scene," Frigga whispered back. Christie felt a shiver run down her spine. "Your fight starts when you go back down to Midgard. And it ends…well, you'll know when it ends." Christie let out a sceptical noise and started to pace the room with her hands pressed together instead.
"Frigga, all these little hints are making me want to do, is not go back to Earth," she admitted.
"Of course. That's why Seers actively avoid telling people their purposes, in case they try and change them. But I had to request Herja to share yours with you, because some of the pain you have pending, Annerledes…I couldn't live with myself if I didn't forewarn you," Frigga told her shakily, looking genuinely rather concerned. Christie's heart plummeted and she bit her bottom lip. How bad was this?
"Frigga, what's going to happen?"
"I don't know, child. I genuinely know not the details, none of us do. All we know is bits and pieces and the pain that's to come. I've tried to ask Loki every single day if he's made any other deals with darkness to help us prepare, but he claims he hasn't."
"Yes, cos Loki's proven to be absolutely trustworthy in the last year," Christie muttered back.
"I believe my son, Annerledes - but you still need to speak to him to find out what he knows," Frigga suddenly ordered. Christie recoiled at words and stared over at her. "He's likely to tell you!"
"Frigga, he hasn't spoken a word to me in a year," Christie reminded her slowly.
"To you? No. About you? Always. He asks about you all the time, Annerledes," Frigga whispered as her eyes filled with tears. "He-"
Suddenly, a loud, swift and abrupt knock rapped on Frigga's door.
"Mother? Have you seen Annerledes around?" came the thunderous voice of Thor. Christie clenched her jaw as she and Frigga exchanged small looks, before she whacked the doors open to find herself face to face with him. He jumped, clearly startled by her unexpected presence. "Oh! Annerledes, h-hello," he frowned in surprise, giving his mother a brief little wave too. "I…just wanted to know if you fancied a trip?"
"To where?" Christie blinked, her mind still on Frigga's last words.
"Midgard, let's go," Thor spoke quickly, before taking her arm and gently but forcefully leading her away before she could protest. Christie's heart slammed against her chest as she quickly glanced back at Frigga, who was standing there watching them leave.
She looked far too calm - so was this it?
Was this when the pending fight began? Was this the trip to Midgard they were all talking about? Christie desperately wanted to stop and stay on Asgard at this point, now convinced that her life would be hell from here on out - but Thor clearly wasn't in the mood to give her that choice.
"Erm Thor? Wanna tell me what's going on?" Christie shouted after him, as he speedily made his way out of the palace grounds and into the streets with her in his grip.
"It's Jane," he explained roughly, not even looking at her. "Heimdall…he cannot see her anymore."
Christie felt her entire body run cold.
"What?! What do you mean? Like he can't find her life or he can't find her actual body-"
"I don't know Annerledes, nor do I care about the specifics! Both are as bad as each other," Thor grumbled, his golden hair flying behind him as he ran across the Bifrost.
"Fair enough - but why am I coming?" Christie asked him loudly, now even more puzzled.
"Moral support," Thor stated simply as they both entered Heimdall's portal. Christie sighed, unable to fight him on this, and reluctantly allowed Thor to take her down to Earth. The swirls of glittering rainbow colours consumed them once more and they were sent straight down - causing Christie to suddenly land a few feet away from Thor on the cold, wet floor, with heavy rain droplets slapping her forehead.
"Never gets old," Christie hissed painfully, placing her hands on the damp gravel and slowly steadying herself to her feet. Her head was still spinning as she tried to decipher her whereabouts - but as soon as the sharp wind violently slammed into her and the grey clouds floated above the Greenwich Tower, she knew exactly where she was. "Seriously? We had to land in London?" she grumbled to herself. She rolled her eyes and looked around again, now noticing the number of police cars and the various policemen dotted around the scene.
Now she was even more confused. Then it got even stranger.
When she glanced to the right of her she saw that the rain had stopped completely in one specific area - where Thor and Jane standing opposite each other. Jane was repeatedly slapping Thor's face in anger, then hugging him, then slapping him again. "She's crazy, right?" came a bubbly voice from behind Christie. She jumped and spun around to see a very excitable looking Darcy Lewis. "Hi! You're the pretty silver badass assassin right?" Christie raised her eyebrows, a little stumped for words. "Sshhh, don't worry, I won't tell," Darcy smirked smugly. "You're pretty damn cool though. I mean, like, if I were into women—"
"I'm…I'm sorry? I don't know…what you're talking about," Christie spluttered uncomfortably. She was clearly caught well off guard - so Darcey just rolled her eyes and nudged her arm a few times.
"I get it, the whole 'secret spy' thing ya got going on - but you don't have to pretend," she whispered loudly. "I know everything about you!"
"That's…well actually, that's slightly disturbing, actually, but…thank you for being a fan?" Christie grimaced, before turning back around to watch Thor and Jane argue about something. Clearly that didn't do the job, because Darcy let out a hearty laugh and walked around her to face her again.
This was strike two.
"I'm not a 'fan', that sounds kinda sad. I don't read your fanfics or anything…but…well okay, I read one, but that's beside the point! I'm more of a supporter."
"Got it," Christie muttered, still a little lost.
"I have to ask – have you heard from Ashley recently?" That pretty much did it. Christie couldn't keep her eyes from going wide at the mention of her sister's name.
"I…why would I…?" she spluttered in surprise.
"Well, 'cos no one in the…ya know, 'secret science circle' has spotted her for nearly three years now, and I think people are starting to get a lil twitchy, you know? They kinda reserve the right to, after all she's capable of," Darcy shrugged, her dark blue eyes deep in concentration. "And she is your sister so…"
"So I must know her every move?" Christie muttered bitterly, looking away again.
"AHA, so it IS you! Just checking," Darcy laughed smugly. Christie rolled her eyes and gave a small deflated shrug. "No but seriously, isn't anyone worried about her? She's an uncontrollable rage machine when she starts floating and sh*t! She was on the radar and now she's just…gone? Pretty weird, no?" Christie bit down on her jaw to stop herself from agreeing out loud.
Ashley's mutation was dangerous in her own right and, although her mother tried to make her feel otherwise, there was no denying it. After the deadly accident in Paris, Professor Xavier had kept Ashley under lock and key for her own protection. But regardless of the fear surrounding her mutation, S.H.E.I.L.D had been monitoring her for years with the intention of her joining them - but her father refused to release her to them. It was tug of war over her for years and eventually, Fury got tired of trying.
That's when the tables had turned and Christie became their main priority - for now.
As Christie's mind faded back to her sister, Thor suddenly called her name and she snapped out of it again. She looked around and noticed the police cars had somehow been flipped upside down, and that police officers were now scattered on the floor with Jane bang in the midst of the commotion. She looked absolutely terrified of what Christie could only assume was her own strength.
"Wow…that's a lot of damage," Christie muttered as she walked over to them both, whilst Thor called out to Heimdall.
"How…how are you so calm? Did you completely miss what just happened?" Jane asked her with a pale face.
"Well…yes. But more importantly - I fell in love with a possessed demi-god-like man and I have a sister that can start an earthquake whilst forcing you to walk to Rome via Russia just by controlling your blood – honestly, Jane, nothing fazes me anymore," Christie smirked to her quietly, glancing up to the portal slowly opening in the sky. "Apart from this stupid fu-"
And up they went.
…
Christie landed with a bang on the smooth surface of the portal entrance. She hated the journey between Asgard to Earth, but she didn't look nearly as queasy as Jane. Thor quickly hold Christie's arms still to steady her before she toppled over. "Are you alright?" he asked somewhat amusedly.
"Yeah, I'm-" Christie began to pant thankfully - but swiftly saw from his lack of eye contact that he was actually talking to Jane. "Wow. You absolute bastard." Heimdall overheard and let out a chuckle, shaking his head fondly.
"Your transport," he announced to them, gesturing towards the grand horses stood at the entrance of the Bifrost awaiting their return. Horses on Asgard were a little larger than they were on Earth, but they were also undeniably beautiful. There were three of them there – one was ivory white, one was a golden brown and one was jet black – which Christie recognised as Loki's horse.
Loki…the thought of him re-triggered Madame Herja's and Frigga's words and she felt sick.
"Oh wow…" Jane breathed in awe, her eyes darting around excitedly. She couldn't decide if she was more amazed by the large golden palace in the distance, the galaxy skies dotted with different coloured stars, or the shimmering rainbow colours merging into one in the form of a mystical bridge.
"You can ride Taxutnta, the white one," Thor introduced her quietly as he took her hand and lead her to them. He romantically lifted Jane to mount the horse as if she weighed nothing.
"Taxutnta, the Greek word for 'speed'," Jane murmured with a smile, stroking the horse's thick, silky neck. "He's so beautiful." Thor laughed at her awe. His eyes displaying such love that Christie just wanted to puke up her own rainbow bridge.
Absolutely grim.
Thor then mounted the golden brown horse and almost automatically, both their horses started clopping down the Bifrost, perfectly in sync. Christie was left alone, staring eye to eye with Loki's horse, Wizzfire. Her breathing became laboured.
"I'm never gonna forgive you for this, Thor," she hissed to herself in irritation. Wizzfire's eyes were still locked with hers as if he was trying to place her face. "Come on my beautiful boy, you know who I am," Christie whispered to him calmly, knowing how violent Wizzfire could be if he didn't trust his rider. Suddenly, Wizzfire's dull eyes glinted amber, implying that he felt comfortable, and Christie released a heavy sigh of relief. He finally broke eye contact with her and slightly bowed his head as a sign of acknowledgement and respect. Christie smiled slightly and stroked his velvety jet black neck with the back of her fingers. "Awww. I know you're missing him, I…I miss him him too…sometimes," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his head. She swiftly mounting him and gently tapping him to signal that it was time to go. Wizzfire was a wonderful horse to ride - he was so graceful, sturdy and loyal. It was almost like riding a black cloud who was also your best friend. They caught up to Thor and Jane in no time.
"So, would you like to explain why we brought Jane up here?" Christie hissed to Thor once she reached his side. He sighed and his deep blue eyes glanced at Christie narrowly.
"She's got something… within her," he began hesitantly. "And I know not what it is." Christie ran her tongue over her teeth and tried her hardest not to say what this situation was reminding her of.
"So, you've decided to bring the ultra-dangerous unknown thing…here?" she clarified.
"Well Annerledes, it was either that or I let her tear down Midgard piece by piece. And that hardly sounds very 'Protector of The Nine Realms', does it?" Thor shot back defensively. Christie let out a small huff at his tone.
"And how do you think your darling father is gonna feel about this one, Thor?" Christie asked casually, although they both already knew the answer.
"We're about to find up," Thor muttered as they gradually approached the end of the Bifrost, leading into the city centre. "And how are you doing?" Christie blinked at his question whilst the horses came to a steady halt.
"What do you mean?" she murmured, even though she had a feeling that she already knew.
"I mean when I saw you with Mother earlier…you seemed rather upset," Thor mused, looking a bit awkward but pressing on nonetheless. "Was it…regarding Loki?" They hardly ever discussed him, so the conversation certainly took Christie by surprise - and worst still, she could feel Wizzfire tense slightly at the mention of Loki's name. Christie rubbed his neck comfortingly for a few seconds, before quietly answering.
"I…found out today that 'darkness is coming'," she explained with a mumble. Thor let out a little huff from his nose.
"Madame Herja came?" he guessed, already bored.
"She did. She was adamant that something was going to happen - or a many few things in fact, all because of…him," Christie further went on, causing Thor to look even more bored. "And apparently, it's going to cause a chain of reactions that will affect me forever - and our worlds-"
"Yes that's all lovely Annerledes, but sometimes the Seers are a little…off point," he began tentatively. "A lot of them are crazy old-"
"Yeah I can imagine, Thor - but your mother confirmed it too and I trust that woman more than anything. Sh*ts definitely about to kick off again," Christie interrupted him sharply but calmly. "And I have a feeling that whatever's within her might have something to do with it," she muttered out of the corner other mouth as she pointed to the patiently waiting Jane. Thor's disbelieving face suddenly went pale.
"You…you think-"
"It's possible. Whatever it is, it involves your brother," Christie muttered in annoyance as she nausea of nerves hit her again. "It's gonna hurt me, but I need to ask him what he's done. What 'deals' he's made with the darkness. Your mother told me what to do, so I'm going to do it."
...
i am so excited for ashley's fanfic it's not even funny LMAO