Chapter 29

Blood and guts were smeared across whole Asgard. To hide me, Loki gave me to the shadows where I wouldn't be able to see or hear, but the shadows talk. I saw the warriors of Asgard disemboweled, I heard their screams, curses and menace. Away from sight, but granted in the middle of it. Even in darkness I closed my eyes, but I couldn't close my ears. Blood seeped between tiles, bones broken and hearts crushed. I felt every death as it was played in my mind. Thanos was watching and so was I.

Dire ends of all, including myself in return for little love. I almost envied Death as my short life spam denies me to be loved as she. No sane can comprehend love great as that. Only someone touched by infinity or insane as I. I understood Thanos, rather his desperation. Am I not just like him? Killing for the person I love? Killing to draw attention to myself? I am worst, because I am too proud to speak my feelings while Thanos is his knees, begging Death to take him.

Loki was fighting alongside Thor, secretly united they fought to save Asgard. They and the warriors fought in name of Odin. Waiting for all to end, I wondered how will what is left of Asgard after this hold up without King? Odin was no more. Wise Allfather saw me as I am and he would do what I firstly wanted. Odin would free me of the stone, but that is not what I want now. Time passed and it was too late now. The stone and I had become one.

Till Death do as a part. That is my truth, the only thing I will never have to lie about. The stone which destroyed my life will never be taken away from me. I vow on it, I swear on my father's grave. I swear on Loki. Sometimes I wish it could all be simple, but I love when it is complicated. He was the predator in my life, but he became a prey. I can hate him, love him, I can leave him behind, hurt him so he hurt me so badly I want him dead. Still he lives because even though the stone can erase him from my mind it cannot replace him.

Bella...

He calls me as an old friend, but it is not yet time to answer. He feels me and I feel him, I see him, but he cannot see me. The stones are with him and it tingles to have them so close. I'm beyond the point of selling my soul to the Devil to get them. I am a monster and I love one. If he only shared my views, what is a tiny little crown when one could have everything. Thanos gets the idea, but he is to sacrifice everything for Lady who doesn't like his serenade. He must be truly ugly or purple.

"Isabella!" I heard Loki's yell from above me.

"I am exactly where you left me!"

"I will dig you up now."

Good. I was getting bored down here and I needed to use the bathroom. Loki and I agreed that it is better if I am kept away from battle and to ensure no one gets to me, Loki buried me alive. It would be impractical if I am claustrophobic. And I really needed to trust Loki on this one, he could have left me to slowly die. He already dug a grave and covered me with soil, it was convenient. But then I don't get a funeral or a tombstone. Anyway, I'm not dying here.

"You took your time."

I didn't visibly acknowledge that he looked like shit. He had bloody wounld on his forehead, multiple stab wounds on the arm, torn garments and he was sweaty. That is how you come from battle or rather escape from one. Him pulling me out of the coffin and seizing me to his embrace, meant more trouble on the way. I knew very little, but I knew many will die in the destruction of what should have lasted for eternity. This is the sacrifice that can duel apocalypse.

"We cannot fight them. Those beasts have large numbers."

"What will you do?"

"I ordered my men to retreat. Asgard cannot be saved, it can only be destroyed."

Think of the atomic bomb. Loki will use power of Teseract for something alike. I understood what he was saying when he said Asgard can only be destroyed. He will sacrifice one part of it to save another. That makes me wonder where is Thor and what he is doing, I cannot imagine he would agree to this. He may not be a complete fool, but he isn't that practical. Obviously Loki has his way with words then, or Thor might not know what is about to happen until it happens.

"And what about me?"

"Before you start arguing with me on this one. I am taking you out of Asgard. There is a ship waiting for us, we'll leave through hidden passage."

Loki was pulling me through woods explaining how we'll get out of Asgard. I listened, absorbed more than just his words. Loki took the same route with Thor and Jane and I tried hard to memorise from his thoughts how exactly to find hole in the rock and get through it. I needed someone expendable, who can fly in that shit, but there is none. I didn't want Loki anywhere near Thanos, but I could only ditch him after getting out of Asgard. And that is what I did, I drained his energy and he seemed dead.

"I'm really going to miss you in death."

I knew something Loki didn't. We couldn't really escape from Thanos and neither were we actually doing it. I was a bait to lure Thanos out of Asgard, where he will meet me alone. Loki cannot know what will happen here and it is the best it stays that way for eternity. I trust him with my safety, but not with great power emerging. I am a fisherman of men, Thanos was now on my hook. He willingly came to me not knowing he is caught in the net. He was both, ugly and purple fish.

"Mortal." Purple fish spoke.

"Do you not recognize me?"

Happy b-day to me.

Review for teaser.