Maija curled against the back of her cage and wrung her hands. The sun outside had lowered and finally slipped below the horizon. Only a black night sky stared in at them through the high, thin windows. Kjell had promised to return tonight, to exact his revenge on the King by using those he once held dear. She didn't want him to, but there was no recourse to stop him. So Maija waited, her agony rising like a tidal wave.
Nancy could sense her cellmate's dismay. How many times had she herself felt the same knot of dread churning in her own stomach? How many times had she waited, each agonizing minute an eternity, for her captor to return to torture her further? Each breath was a raging wind of fear. Each heartbeat could only bring the monster ever closer. But this girl… she was innocent, caught up in this game of war simply because of the man she knew. One poor choice, and now this travesty.
One quick breath to calm her own nerves, and Nancy stood to approach the door to her cage. "She doesn't have to be here!" she shouted to the rebel, "I'm the one you want! Let the girl go! Loki wants me; I'm his pet! Let her go!"
With a single swish, the thick black curtain parted and Kjell strode into the candle-lit area. His stride was sure, steady, and menacing. His eyes reflected the light from their black pools. "There is no one to hear you but me and my men, and quite frankly you should stop before I let them loose on you."
Nancy's glare didn't waver. "I'm the one you want. His prized treasure. He told me so himself. Let the girl go." She had to do something to get him to concede. In all her months of bartering, she had learned a thing or two. "I will give myself to you in exchange for her freedom." It was her only bartering chip.
"Tsk, tsk. We've been over this." Kjell barely noted Nancy's insult. She could not have offered a more unappealing option. Why have the King's beloved when the King's whore was so much more beautiful? He stopped at the bars to the little blonde woman's cage. "I'm not going to take my father's leftovers. I want this one."
"You're just a coward!" Nancy seethed, reaching through the bars in an attempt to grab him, "I bested your father, and you're too much of a coward yourself to try! Pity." Of course, she did have a reason for wanting him in the cell with her. One, to get him away from Maija. And two, she had her training to fall back on. She'd fought Loki off before, so how hard could this one be?
"I'd never waste my time on a cow like you." Kjell sneered. The latch to little Maija's cage opened easily with the key around his neck, and he stalked inside and clasped the door shut behind himself. "This Valkyrie, however..."
Maija curled against the bars, allowing the cold metal to push against her back. Any pain was better than the pain of knowing what he planned for her.
She had to do something, and fast. Make the girl unappealing. Make herself vulnerable. "Fine. If you want the king's scraps, go ahead. He's never been with me."
"Tells us something, then, doesn't it?" Kjell knelt beside Maija and stroked his fingertips against her soft, angelic skin. Yes, he definitely saw what the king had seen in this one. Easily broken, but well worth the time it would take to be gentle with her. "This one must have something you don't."
Tears filled Nancy's eyes as she realized there was nothing she could do. He was too far away and her cage was still locked. She'd tried to pick it, but the complicated Asgardian metal was too much for her. She could only sink to her knees and watch helplessly. "I'm sorry." she whispered, knowing all too well the horror the frightened girl was about to experience. Her tears spilled over. "I'm so sorry."
The instant he made a move to touch her other than her cheek, Maija shied away again, scrambling toward the corner. She didn't want to be touched. She didn't want any of this. All she wanted was to wake from this nightmare.
Kjell chuckled and followed her movements with his eyes. He saw everything and calculated it in his head. "Loki's whore, afraid of me?"
"I..." Maija swallowed convulsively, eyes wide with fright. "He was my first."
"Even better." Kjell conceded with a lecherous grin. He moved closer and pinned the woman who insisted on shying from him, tasting each inch of her skin and moving his way down. No matter that she shook and trembled beneath him, he would do as he pleased and she would come to enjoy it, in time.
Kjell's hands and lips sought areas Maija gave no man permission to touch, and through it all, the girl did nothing but watch her fellow prisoner. If she focused on the misery they shared, she might be able to forget the man who assaulted her. Maybe, if she focused hard enough, she would fly away home like the gods in the ancient stories. Hope was futile, but it was all she had.
Though sobs shook her body, Nancy locked her focus with Maija's. Eyes meeting eyes, pain with pain. She slipped her hand through the bars, reaching for her new sister. She would get her out of here. Somehow. Someway. She had to.
/ /
Loki didn't bother to sit when he reached the throne room. There was no use. His rage permeated deeper than ever before, deeper even than when the dark elves ended his mother's life. He would admit it, Frigga was his mother, blood relative or not. Now, his own people had taken it too far. There were only a handful of people he could trust to help him bring her back. The ones who had been beside him and his brother for centuries. Or, at least, the ones remaining.
As they came into view over the series of steps, Loki lifted his chin. Yes, they would help him, but only if he explained the situation fully. They had to think they did this not for his sake, but for the sake of the innocent. Even if it meant he angered them with his own participation in the events.
One by one, the warriors took a knee and pressed a fist over their heart. One blond man, one bearded, and one dark-haired woman.
"My friends," Loki began, an age-old habit that wouldn't die no matter how badly they despised him. "I called you here on matters none too pleasant."
Sif lifted her gaze and glowered at the god of mischief, her equally dark eyes shimmering with hatred. "I'm not surprised," she muttered.
Loki glared back at her and nodded once. He probably deserved that. "The girl is missing, and I need your help to find her. Evidence suggests she has been taken." he sighed. "Before you begin your rants, allow me to take credit for leaving her alone. I had a meeting, but I should have better guarded her with my owns hands instead of entrusting her to others."
The same look of agreement graced each face, and Loki swallowed his anger just long enough to keep himself under control.
"Tell us where we can serve your majesty, and it shall be done."
Loki startled at the uncommon obeisance of the blond warrior. Fandral hated working with him, as they were too different in some areas and too similar in others. Not to mention, if anyone knew of Loki's dalliance with the beautiful Maija, it would be Fandral. He wasn't above disgracing a woman or two, but never one of Maija's standing. Fandral much would have preferred to claim her as his, Loki was sure. To have his utmost allegiance meant the world.
A nod between them sufficed to communicate more than their words would say. Loki raised his chin in defiance and held out a hand as his staff molded by green magic appeared. "Are you with me, friends?"
"For Nancy," Sif clarified, pulling her weapon from her back.
Volstagg wielded his axe and gave a nod.
Fandral raised his sword and met Loki's gaze, the same sentiment in his eyes as Loki found in the others.
Loki looked over these friends and enemies, sometimes on his side and sometimes not. However, when it really mattered, they stood by him and fought with him. He would forever deem them his friends. His green eyes darkened as his pent-up rage exploded to the forefront. "For Nancy," he agreed.
