Chapter 17

A hoax.

That was what my freedom in Asgard was. I am deranged, clearly. Only a crazy person like me would prefer cannibalism, torture, a cage than to live on an invisible leash. I was never alone, guards were everywhere and I just waited for the moment when I'll be forbidden to pee alone. Odin demanded my presence at every turn. He would sit in his throne with council and yet he would ask of me to stay. All this was suspicious, but I had no other choice than sit on the staircase before his throne.

I could go pee by myself, but it seemed Odin couldn't go pee without me. I wasn't there to entertain him and I surely wasn't there to offer any intellectual opinion. He has a very boring life if he calls me to eat every meal with him. To a walk through Frigga's garden where he lectures me about freaky plants or to go to Heimdall and stalk Thor. Odin has his good moments, like when he starts coughing and I pray he'll die of old age, but those precious moments are rare

Living under bell was hard even with my abilities. There was no time for simple pleasure, little mischief as sending servants straight in the wall or making the guards juggle with their funny helmets. Restless dreams suppressed my will to try closing my eyes. I woke periodically every one hour and I always had a feeling that someone is watching me. My discomfort increased when I woke up with snakes in bed, they were rolled around my ankles.

"Lady Isabella." Maid came with my dress for today. "King also expects you to join him for breakfast."

Green, gold and black. I was part of a game without being given rules. Why red communist would encourage me to wear shades of betrayal, was beyond my comprehension. Maybe it was a symbol for something, but it is better if I don't know anything about it. There will be no king wiser than Odin, that is what Thor said, but Thor is idiotic. Odin did offer reason to relieve he has a brain in that thick head of his, but he uses it not so often.

"You can not enter." I was stopped before the doors of the throne room.

"Why?" My escort asked.

"King's orders."

What is happening inside?

"Lady Sif returned from Earth with a prisoner. Return to your chambers now, Allfather will find you later."

Lady Sif returned with prisoner, meaning she brought Lorelei. That was good, but as long as the bitch is put back where she belongs or killed. I had no personal issues with dumb bitch and I heard she only can hunt men so she is in no way any threat to me. It is sad, when her abilities are alike to strumpet spreading her legs. I didn't fear her, but I am now worried what Odin plans to do with her if I am not allowed in the throne room while he deals with her, I was until this point involved in everything.

I sent of my escort before we reached the corridor with my chamber. There I waited a few seconds before starting towards Odin's Vault. I wasn't planing to steal any of relics and overthrow King with it, I was curious what was in there. I was particularly interested in infinity stones. Beside one in my chest there should be more of them in a vault and I heard the Infinity Gauntlet was in the vault too. My mischief was very Loki and I enjoyed every second of it.

Two guards in the vault were out in seconds after they thought snakes enclosed around their necks suffocating them. Poor them, I hope the stone floor is not too hard. In the end, the vault turned out to be a huge disappointment. Things I read about were in it, but all of those were so boring. The infinity gauntlet was displayed, but it had fake stones in it and the real infinity stones were no where in sight. Casket of Ancient Winters was interesting, cold to touch at first, but then that shit burned the tips of my fingers and even worse made me think of Loki.

I wanted to hate him so bad, but instead I developed an understanding. Wicked is good. I had my share of evil creatures in my life, but this megalomaniac helped me. When my blood was boiling, he wrapped me in his cold arms, he helped me fall asleep. And now he is dead and couldn't understand it. He was Loki, he wouldn't put his life in danger, he always has a way out and a way to benefit. Something was off here.

"I see you made yourself comfortable." I guess I should have listened when the guards told me Odin will find me later.

Now I could just watch him draw closer.

"I sent guards in your chambers. When they returned without you, I went there myself and found this."

He shoved me piece of paper with: 'Did you mourn for Loki?'

"How do you explain this?"

The thing is I don't. I shrugged with my shoulders.

"Has Asgard not shown enough mercy for you?"

Well, if you ask. No, it didn't.

If I was a snake, I would now stick my tongue out. But I am not a snake and I don't have a tongue. Sad reality, I couldn't defend myself without entering his thick head and I am not sure that would be a smart thing to do. Who knows what I would see and if I would see anything at all. I opted not to dig a hole and fall into it. So I waited for Allfather to continue rambling and possibly punish me. The sight of him made my head ache and finally pieces of the puzzle I desperately tried to solve were coming into place. Odin was in front of me, across the Casket of Ancient Winters.

"A mortal like yourself needs to learn her place."

Truly, I agreed, but because I knew my place perfectly. My place was back in the dungeon in the cell next to one of false King. I grabbed the King's hand and pressed it against the casket. It turned blue.

Loki.

Loki!