Chapter Three - The Blood Doth Flow
On the approach to the castle, the Vampire King's soldiers spotted them and opened fire with spear throwers and catapults, forcing Loki to use evasive maneuvers. He flipped and twirled around these projectiles, causing his poor brother to barely be able to hold on to him.
Thor dove off the dragon as they passed over the castle, summoning lightning mid-fall to strike down the line of guards manning the weaponry on the west parapet, then landed in the courtyard.
Guards scrambled in all directions as Loki swooped into the courtyard beside Thor. One guard threw a long spear at him, but Loki batted it away with his wing, roared and charged the forming ranks, which worked to intimidate and divide them. He crushed a few of the demonoids underfoot and took out more with wide whips of his long, spiked tail.
Though effective, these attacks were also quite tiring after the long flight. So, when Loki caught sight of Thor back on the wall, smashing the catapults and tossing guards every-which-way, he made the decision to shift out of the dragon form and rely on his spells.
He harnessed the pain of the shift to escalate his rage. "Where is your master?!" he yelled and threw out some stunning, freezing and polymorphing spells to contain the next wave of charging soldiers.
Thor returned to his side, laughing and teasing, "You're not giving them a chance to answer."
"This is not a game!" Loki criticized, glaring at his brother's wide smile. "Keep focused. Vazelias can change his form and will try to ensnare our minds with his magic."
The brothers tore through more soldiers, advancing from the courtyard into the main hall and then worked their way higher. As they approached the king's chamber, a figure jumped out at them from behind a column, wielding a dagger. Loki blocked the attack with his bracer. Thor tackled the assailant, knocking the wind out of the pink demon before she could be much of a threat.
"Look at these," Thor said, turning the girl's head to reveal her numerous neck wounds.
Not yet able to speak through her gasps for breath, the girl fought to free herself of his large hands.
"Our quarrel is not with you," Loki assured her. "Do you yield?"
Her large, yellow eyes raged, but she soon surrendered with a disgruntled nod. The demon rolled away once the older brother eased off her slender frame, pushing to her feet then kept her hand on the wall to help steady her as she scurried off.
"She is a slave," Thor uttered. "No doubt she is forced to protect her master."
Loki gave a weary sigh and tossed away the dagger. "We can't save everyone. We'll be lucky if we can save ourselves."
"Quickly then. We'll find Maysa and leave."
"Vazelias will be near," Loki argued. "I would rather fight him here than be attacked in the air."
Thor stopped him as Loki reached for the door handle. He leaned close to study Loki's features and whispered, "You've overdone it, haven't you?"
"I'll soon catch my second wind," Loki insisted while attempting to nudge aside his bulk. "Don't hover so. I'm fine."
Thor turned away, a lingering frown of concern weighing down his features. Then, with weapons drawn and senses on alert, the brothers entered the chamber.
Maysa forced open heavy lids as the bed shifted under someone else's weight. She turned her head, expecting cruel silver eyes and found instead the most amazing blue ones that drew her in completely.
She heard a voice, so smooth and confident, but it spoke gibberish to her. Clearly it was not a real language as she had studied many. This was beautiful and comforting nonsense.
A warm, gentle hand touched her face and brushed aside her hair. The blue orbs shifted their gaze away. Then there was more incomprehensible talk, but Maysa didn't mind because for a moment, it sounded like the voice had said her name.
"She is very weak and under his spell," Loki told Thor after a quick examination. He pulled a sham off one of the pillows, bunched it up and held it to Maysa's wounds.
"Just grab her."
Vazelias's cold voice drifted into the room. "I should have known you wouldn't come alone, Loki," he chided. "You're always cheating, always scheming."
"Come out, vampire!" Thor roared, shifting his gaze.
"Prince of Thunder, you have no influence in my kingdom or any part of the Nightmare Realm."
"You've had your fun with her," Thor said. "Let us take her home and no more blood will be shed."
The king's laugh was a low, malevolent rumble. "I have so much more planned for my pet. She did cost me a small fortune."
Loki looked up, speaking toward the darkest shadows of the high, vaulted ceiling. "She is mine, Vazelias," he declared. "I am here to collect her."
"Did you not listen, my friend? I bought her at auction."
"She was taken from me, and I will be leaving with her."
"You put our friendship in a bad position, acting like this."
Thor asked, his tone accusing, "What does he mean?"
Loki's anger escalated with this banter. He purposely ignored Thor.
"You were expecting me. So, she must have told you about our betrothal. Did you drain her before or after you knew she was to be my bride… friend?"
"You do not love her, Loki. I have seen her thoughts and know it to be the truth. Has Odin ordered you here on this errand? Or, perhaps your brother tries again to make a hero out of a scoundrel."
Vazelias loosely referenced confidences between them from previous visits to the Nightmare Realm, which made Loki wonder if the immortal was trying to remind him of their camaraderie or to further provoke his anger.
"Name your price," Loki challenged.
"You know I don't want your coins or jewels."
"The girl leaves with us," Thor said, "whether you live or die."
Loki glanced back at Maysa and the trusting and somewhat distant look she gave him. Without Vazelias releasing her himself, there was only one safe way to break the vampire's hold on her mind.
"I'm sorry," Loki said, a pang of guilt twisting in his gut, then slapped Maysa as hard as he dared.
The stinging strike to her face cut through the haze of Maysa's thoughts. Her hand lifted to her cheek, covering, yet barely able to touch the throbbing flesh as her gaze found Loki's again.
He looks mad, she thought, but also worried.
"Apply pressure," Loki said, moving her hand from the stunned cheek to the cloth bunched at her neck. "Try to stay conscious."
Loki left her side, scanning the room as he moved closer to Thor. "Blood is what he wants. His attacks will be brutal," he warned as every candle blew out in a mysterious breeze and plunged the chamber into darkness.
Next a bright, blinding light filled the space. It was electricity that danced across Mjolnir's surface. Thor held the hammer above his head, turning in a slow circle as he searched.
Maysa noted that Loki had his eyes closed though, apparently counting on some other sense to detect the vampire.
"Where are you, coward?" Thor taunted. "Come forth and fight the Sons of Odin."
A deep growl arose from the foot of the bed. Mjolnir's light caught the sleek black fur of a large, demonic dog with wide silver eyes that peeked over the footboard.
Maysa screamed as the beast leaped at her. Thor unleashed a lightning bolt, which sent the dog into the far wall with a burst of white, searing sparks.
The elf rolled off the bed and into Loki's arms as he dashed forward. He carried her as they retreated to Thor's side. Though the world seemed to spin and she felt safer in his hold, Maysa knew Loki could not fight this way.
She bid him to put her down. He complied, and she stumbled a few strides toward the main door behind the brothers before sitting on the floor.
Vazelias lunged out of concealment, colliding with Thor and sending him and his weapon crashing to the stone. Mjolnir slid away from Thor's grasp, but he was busy fending off the dog's attempts to bite him and delivering powerful blows to the side of his head.
Loki hit Vazelias with a spell that made him whimper and turn his attack on him. The younger Odinson shifted into a large ape and bear hybrid. He reared up, batting at the leaping, gnashing canine with a huge, clawed hand. Vazelias went down hard then began to change too, doubling his size and growing longer teeth and thicker claws before rolling back onto his paws.
The beasts converged, tearing and biting into each other with a ferocity that carried them all over the space, crushing everything in their path.
Retrieving the hammer, Thor pulled Maysa to safety in the corridor as the chamber filled with terrible echoing roars.
After several minutes of relentless battle, both creatures were horrifically battered and bleeding. They fell into the light filtering in from the corridor, yet crawled away from each other panting and shedding the beastly forms.
The gore-covered Loki gagged, spitting out a mouthful of blood. "Surrender," the prince said, holding his side gingerly as he managed to sit up.
Vazelias chuckled, cradling his mangled hand. Dark red blood ran down his face and robes from a deep gash that had partly scalped him. His right, upper fang was chipped short.
When the immortal did not respond, Loki suggested, "Let's not start a war over one noblewoman."
"Fine. Take her," Vazelias said, shifting a tired, yet menacing gaze toward Thor and Maysa.
"Always such a gracious loser," Loki said, forcing a playful tone. "Until next time then?"
"No," the Vampire King said with finality. "Stay out of my kingdom, or you and your kin will die."
Loki nodded, looking a little regretful at the response. He fought to right himself, walking out with a hunch and limp from oozing leg and foot wounds. His features were disturbingly pale beneath the blood splatter, and he muttered something about home.
Thor supported Maysa with his left arm. He hooked Mjolnir to his belt and reached for his brother with the right hand, getting a firm hold before Loki's eyes rolled back and he collapsed. This forced Thor to release Maysa so he could heft Loki over his shoulder. Then he drew her back to his side, and they started down the corridor together.
"This is really bad," Maysa warned when she spotted soldiers through a window, forming ranks in the courtyard below to block their exit.
"I'll handle them," Thor said, sounding confident despite obvious worry.
"Loki is losing a lot of blood," Maysa mentioned, looking behind them at the long trail of dark droplets on the floor.
"For now, all we can do is get him far away from here," Thor said. "I know you're tired, Maysa, but try to hurry."
Maysa tried to keep the pace. She felt weak and disoriented. Her strength waned with each step, putting additional strain on her body. Her heart hurt, her lungs felt constricted and her vision soon blurred and went dark.
The sound of distant, yelling voices pulled Maysa to consciousness. Sunlight filtered into the suite allowing her to see that she was back in Asgard. With a flood of relief, Maysa climbed out of the bed, grabbed her robe and left the bedchamber.
A surprised Sari looked up from her cleaning. "Lady Maysa! The queen thought you'd sleep another day for sure."
Maysa threw herself at the servant, pulling her into a hug. "I'm happy to see you."
Sari returned the embrace, admitting, "I have been so worried about you, my lady."
Again, the loud voices arose, interrupting their moment. It sounded like an argument.
"They've been at it for days," Sari told her with a frown.
"Who?"
"King Odin and your father."
"My father's here?"
Maysa hurried out of the suite, following the voices to Loki's door and let herself in. She found Sovereign Antus, King Odin and both Princes of Asgard in the darkened bedchamber. Loki was tucked into bed under a mountain of blankets, glowering at his visitors through shining silver eyes.
"He saved her life!" Thor yelled at the sovereign, and then silenced as he noticed Maysa in the doorway.
She demanded, "What's happening?"
There was a long, uncomfortable silence while the men avoided her gaze, yet eyed each other with hostility. Maysa could only guess at the issues they'd been debating in her absence.
"Father, I'm alright," she began. "I got myself into a bad situation and…" A sudden swell of emotion burned in her chest, and tears filled her eyes. "I thought I'd never see you again."
Antus gathered her into his embrace. He kissed her forehead and dabbed at her tears with the edge of his cloak.
"They brought me back at great risk to themselves," she continued. "Please don't yell at them anymore."
"I think you should come home," Antus said, his tone hardening. "Your instincts were right. This arrangement was a bad idea."
Maysa turned to take in Odin's stiff posture, Thor's anger and Loki's downcast gaze. "Wait. I don't know what's happening," she said to the group.
"Prince Loki ingested vampire blood," her father said. "His eyes glow, his skin's cool to the touch and he can't go out in the sunlight."
"We told you that side effects were to be expected," Odin argued back. "It's too soon to know if he'll recover. He's done so before."
"Your son chooses to keep the company of demons and vampires, Odin. You knew, but did not disclose—"
Thor interrupted, "Sovereign, like you, I have given Loki a very hard time over this incident, but the truth is, we never would have found Maysa in the Nightmare Realm if Loki hadn't been there before."
Maysa stepped out of her father's arms and moved toward the bed, skirting Odin to stand as close as she could get to Loki. She waited for him to look up at her, reading the embarrassment and anger in his pale features.
"So, you and the Vampire King were friends?"
He looked down again. "Not really. Not in the true sense of the word. He was a distraction, an escape, someone important who thought me interesting and worthy of his time."
Odin added, "Vazelias is a bored creature. He looks for amusement in the strangest of places. As an immortal, the possibility of death thrills him. He goads Loki into fights because he is both a sorcerer and shapeshifter, but not so powerful as to kill him outright."
A new wave of bickering started when Antus suggested that Loki let Maysa wander into the forest even though he knew it wasn't safe.
"Stop!" she yelled over the top of the men, sounding authoritative. "I want to speak with my intended. Kindly wait outside."
"Maysa…?" her father began, but quieted when she glared at him.
"He won't hurt her," Thor promised. "We know there is hope of his recovery because he doesn't crave blood." He left, herding the fathers out with him and shutting the doors to give them some privacy.
Maysa stared at Loki's blankets, surprised by the unexpected loss of words in light of all that had happened.
"I'm sorry he hurt you," Loki said after a while. "I never would have allowed him near to you."
His unsolicited apology warmed her heart.
"I believe you."
"How are you feeling?"
She took a moment to assess. "A little tired and bruised. You?"
"Cold, agitated and sick to my stomach, but due to the vampire blood, my injuries are healing well."
She offered him a small, sympathetic smile before asking, "Could you have killed the Vampire King?"
"Perhaps. Thor might have finished him if I fell, but I'm rather fond of not dying. I figured Vazelias would feel the same. So, I took the chance to call for his surrender."
His humble tone made her think that he truly had been affected by the ordeal. She felt he deserved to know that his efforts were not going to be ignored.
"You were impressive," she said. "I really had no idea you were that powerful."
Her compliment seemed to further embarrass him.
"I guess we're getting what we want now," Maysa said, fidgeting some and looking back toward the doors.
"Your father is quite insistent."
"You can consider the end of the engagement as your reward for saving me."
He looked conflicted as he uttered, "I suppose."
Once again, Loki confused Maysa with his contradictory words and actions. It was the perfect time for him to show pleasure at her impending departure from his life, yet he looked miserable.
She made the tentative suggestion, "Maybe it's too soon to decide."
Loki stared at her, his eyes narrowing with uncertainty. "What are you suggesting?"
Feeling brave and empowered, Maysa pecked a kiss on his cold cheek. "Let's discuss it when you're feeling better." Then she left him to tell Odin and Antus that they were going to take some time to evaluate things.
Loki didn't realize until after he'd thrown out Thor, Frigga and Igus for the night that he didn't want to be alone. Every time he shut his eyes, memories of the fight with Vazelias came rushing in to haunt and unbalance his calm.
Well past midnight, Loki was startled from his musings by a growing light shining under his door. Then it swung open, revealing Maysa wearing a nightdress and holding a small lantern.
The prince sat up, hiding his reaction to inquire, "What's wrong?"
"Bad dreams."
"For me as well," he admitted. "Vampires are nasty creatures."
The elf approached, setting her lantern on the bedside table before pulling up an overstuffed chair.
Loki took this to mean she was planning to stay a bit. So, when she curled up in the chair, he took the top blanket off his stack and tossed it to her to wrap up in.
"Just can't seem to warm up," he said in explanation to her questioning look at his pile of covers.
"This has happened before?"
"To a degree. This time, I really did hurt him. Blood everywhere." Loki laughed, but wasn't sure why as the situation wasn't amusing.
"I noticed," Maysa said with a sad smile.
Loki eased back against the pillows with a perplexed sigh. "I could ask Igus to get something to help you sleep," he offered.
"Nothing for you?"
"Won't help." He frowned. "My mind needs distraction."
Maysa threw aside the blanket, picked up the lantern and walked over to inspect his private library. "Got any more storybooks?"
He felt a little sheepish, but directed her to the bottom shelf on the far left side where his favorite books from childhood were kept.
Grabbing one of the volumes there, she returned to the chair and got snug again before starting to read aloud in the lantern light. The words of these particular tales were quite poetic and silly. The couple chuckled periodically, commenting on the clever uses of phrase and description. Loki marveled at how much enthusiasm Maysa put into her reading, delivering each character in such a way to distinguish them quite easily from the others.
Finally, when Maysa was yawning too much to keep up the flow of the words, Loki interrupted her to issue the gentle order, "Go to bed." Then he promised, "I will rest as well."
She left the book in the chair, but tossed him back the blanket before sneaking off to her own rooms.