As the night neared day, a dark shade slipped into the room. It slid up the bed, like the snake that it was, and entered Paige's mind.

Traitor.

Paige still laid in bed, but her eyes were open. She knew she was asleep, but she couldn't wake up. A dark figure hovered over her, its face shrouded with a dark hood. The creature's voice hissed over her.

Liar.

She cowered away from it and closer to Loki, but for some reason he wouldn't respond. She tried shaking him, but he wouldn't wake up. It was only a dream. She knew it was only a dream.

Your beloved cries over you. Weeps bitter tears. Yet here you are, lying with another man.

It's not my fault! Paige protested, clinging to the body of her sleeping prince. I was kidnapped!

You want that man. That half-breed. You desire him. Do not hide your heart from the darkness within. You cannot. You are a traitor.

No! Stop it! Paige covered her ears with her hands, trying to block out the hissing voice.

One man you love has already died. The one you desire is next. Tell the half-breed that he will remain dead this time. The Aether is not the only weapon we have.

Paige bolted up straight, panting softly and shaking. She looked around the grey-lit room and saw the shadow of a man in the shrouded rays of the dawning sun.

Your half-prince will die. And then, so will you.

As the shade faded away, Paige screamed a squeaking scream.

Loki heard the scream in his mind and sat bolt upright. So much for a good night's rest. Paige looked absolutely terrified, and he couldn't tell why. Nothing seemed amiss. Nothing out of place. He didn't dare reach out a hand to touch her. "Paige," he started quietly. "What is wrong?"

There was a ghost. And it... it said it was going to kill you. I saw it! It was over by the window! Paige pointed at the window and brought the covers up around her neck, looking very much like a scared child. It was there! I wasn't dreaming!

Loki couldn't hold his hand back. His fingertips brushed lightly against her shoulder in a sign of comfort. He flipped the covers off and halfway turned to get up. "I believe you."

The longer he was awake, the more he sensed a foreign presence had invaded their privacy. He should have put up the shields when he brought her here. Why hadn't he guarded them well enough? He focused on trying to isolate the energy, standing away from the corner so as not to frighten her too much. But he had to know.

A hissing voice spoke from the shadows of the corner. "You cannot protect her, half-blood. The darkness in you is strong, but we are stronger. Do you think she is yours? For now, perhaps, but not for long."

All at once, the shadow leapt from the corner, flew directly at Loki, and burst into fading fragments as it made impact with his body. The fragments disappeared into the air as they fell. As quickly as it had come, it was gone. The shadow had only been a messenger, sent by its dark master.

Loki didn't even flinch as the shattering black shadow faded into the air. He'd been through worse, and he wasn't one to be frightened by a mere messenger. But, why had he been there? What did he want? And why attack him, Loki? He had always been sure to respect those attuned to the shadows. Never knew when they would be of use to one of his schemes. Why had they targeted him?

He would have to strengthen his shields. There was one Frigga had taught him that shielded against those from the Shadow Lands. He would be hard-pressed to recall it, but he would try.

He turned his attention to Paige. "He did not harm you?"

Paige shook her head. No, I'm fine. What did he mean by 'half-breed'? And what is the 'Aether'? He said they have other weapons than the Aether. What does that thing want with us? Tears began to form in her eyes. This new fear was beyond explanation. It called me a traitor and said they killed Drake. What does it want with me?

Loki folded his hands behind his back and sighed. "I am a half-breed. Asgardian by adoption, not by blood." He glanced to where the shadow had disappeared. "As for the Aether... I had thought it destroyed."

Paige barely understood his response. Quite frankly, at the moment, she didn't care. The gravity of the shadow's words began to sink in. Drake was dead, and she and her prince were next. But their lives hardly mattered in light of the tone that had already been taken. A life so pure. So innocent.

Drake... is... dead. How? How could this have happened? Why? Why did it happen? Why do they want me? Did... did they come for me... and find him instead? Did... did they kill him... in place of me? Was... was he trying to... defend me? What do they want with me?! With him?! He was defenseless! Innocent! I... I should have been there. I could have fought them. I... I could have tried! At least I have my telepathy. He was... defenseless. This is monsters and magic... he could never hold out on his own... He didn't. He... he's dead. It's all my fault... It's all... my fault. Drake is dead, and it's all... my fault. Oh... oh, no... No, this can't be happening...

Paige covered her face with her hands and began to sob. She said she hadn't loved him, but somewhere deep inside she still did. The man who had saved her, who had loved her when no one else did... that silly man who could always make her laugh, even when everything around her was so dark... the man so full of light and life that all he ever did was shine so brightly... was dead.

No. No!

The glass of the mirror across the room, along with that of the large picture window, shattered as Paige sent out a large blast of telekinetic energy. Unable to bear the weight of her loss, she fell over on the bed and curled up as tightly as she could, trying to block out the rest of the world. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped from her chest.

My best friend... is dead.

He had died while she lay in the arms of another man.

Loki knew the pain she felt, for he had been there too. He should have protected Frigga. Should have been there for the one who had always been there for him. But he wasn't. His foolish pride had relegated him to the dungeons, where he could only watch as the monster that killed his mother broke through the ancient barriers Odin had erected. He would not allow his telepath to feel the same guilt he felt.

"I know not who is responsible," he started quietly, "but if they come again, we will be ready. You must learn to fight them. Do you have a weapon of choice?"

Paige looked up at him through her tears. A... a weapon? She shook her head. Demetrius... his company makes retractable staffs. Avril Staffs. They're made out of the same stuff as Captain America's shield. They have blades that retract. I could learn to fight with one of those. She pulled the blankets tighter around her, still in shock over the loss of her friend.

Loki settled onto the edge of the bed and pressed his fingertips to his forehead. This was all ludicrous. He didn't even know what hour of the morning it was. And he was famished. But, Paige didn't look well at all. "Lay down," he commanded quietly. "You need rest. If it will alleviate your pain, I will sing a lullaby my mother taught me."

Paige looked up at him again, snapping out of her daze. No... no, I'm fine. She forced herself to sit up and wiped the tears from her eyes. I'm not a child, that I would need a lullaby to comfort me. No. She sniffled. You're right. I need to learn how to fight. This was an act of war, and they'll only return. And next time they'll send more than a messenger. I'll need more than a weapon. I'll need to learn how to fight, how to really fight.

She glanced at him. Will you teach me your magic? Just enough for me to defend myself with?

She shakily stood from the bed, having to hold onto a nearby dresser for support. Her leg throbbed and burned. She leaned over and lifted the leg of her jeans. The skin of her left leg was purple and the muscles were swollen. Yep, it was still fractured.

She stood up straight again, solely supported by her good leg and the dresser, and looked at the broken window. How early was it? The sun was barely up. It had to be just after six. Great. She was running on only four or five hours of sleep at the most, which didn't help her already poor mood. She needed coffee... definitely needed coffee. She hadn't had coffee in days.

Loki saw the bruising and knew something must still be broken, but he didn't understand what he could do to fix it. "We cannot return there. I will retrieve your things, but I will not stay when the Avengers know the location." He picked up the hotel room phone and held a finger, telling her to wait a moment. The instant the mortal on the other end picked up, he rattled off his instructions. "We need a large pot of coffee, the finest morning feast your kitchen can create, and a pot of tea – Earl Grey. Oh, and also cream and sugar." He slammed the phone back into its cradle without waiting for an acknowledgement and straightened his shoulders. "Rest, worry, do what you will. I need a bath." And he stalked out of the room to find the bathroom.

Loki drew a hot bath and allowed himself to relax, if only for a brief moment. He hadn't meant to be rude, though he realized now that he had indeed digressed to that selfish man his family (and Sif and the Warriors Three, come to think of it) hated. This was what he got for overextending himself. And this day would only get busier. So much to do, so little time. He should have thought this through further before he had started.

Paige stared after him, wondering what the heck just happened. Yep, he definitely wasn't chivalrous when he was tired. And, he had definitely just gone into 'snobbish prince' mode.

She shrugged and carefully turned to look at her reflection in the broken mirror. From what she could tell, her hair was a mess and her clothes were wrinkled. But, there wasn't really anything she could do about it.

It took her solid five minutes to limp out to the living area. She flopped onto the settee, rested her leg over the arm of the seat, and mentally groaned. The pain in her leg was getting worse from her trying to use it, but at least it was bearable.

She glanced up at the freezer section of the refrigerator and smiled. Telekinesis did have its perks. She lifted her hands, telekinetically opened the freezer, took out an ice tray, unfolded a nearby towel, emptied the cubes into the towel, and brought the homemade ice pack over to settle on her sore leg. The freezer slammed closed as she flopped back against the other arm of the settee. This was going to be a long... and painful... day.