Chapter 4: Aberration
~ß~ Katirya ~ß~
Katirya stared at her city of her homeland. She had dressed in clothes that proclaimed both her marriage to the King of Asgard, and her Cartherion heritage. The dark blue-black cloak was clasped at her neck, thrown back over her shoulders. Her hair was worn long again, only this time a mixture of emeralds were twined through the small braids in her hair. Her leather bodice, and long skirt were black, accented with emerald green and gold embroidery. She wore the ornate gold belt that she had worn when she first arrived in Asgard; the ancient runes upon it were of Cartherion origin. Upon her brow the emerald tiara, the bride gift of Loki, had replaced the one with the Cronuth stone. This time, however, she was armed with a light sword along with her small dagger.
She glanced at the others in the party, and started to laugh.
Sif took a quick look to see what has caused her amusement. She discovered that there were now three elderly men traveling with them, and just her and Katirya were sporting any weapons. Loki had changed into an elderly man, and along with Sean and Greiwaldt, hobbled along with a cane for support. Fandral had managed to secrete his weapon, she had no clue how, but he looked more like a fop than a warrior.
"Good job, gentlemen. We shall certainly have them trembling in their boots," Katirya said, her voice full of amusement.
"Do you have all the Stones?" Loki asked.
Katirya patted a small bag attached to her belt, nodding. They had removed the Mind Stone from the scepter, making it easier to travel with. She led the way towards the gates, pausing to close her eyes slightly, recalling her flight from the city; fear for her life had driven her from her homeland. She had watched her mother murdered in front of her eyes. She knew far more now than she had then; she knew the whole scene had been orchestrated in an attempt to get her to marry Thanos. She shuddered slightly, then felt a comforting arm wrap around her waist, pulling her close. She looked up into the face of her new husband, and smiled. Confidence flowing from him brought her the courage she needed.
Taking a deep breath, she proceeded to enter, heading directly for the Council chambers.
Two guards stood at the doors to the chambers, barring the entrance. "I am sorry, but the High Council is in session. No one is to enter, on the express orders of Queen Katirya," one guard spoke up, staring at the group in front of him.
Katirya looked at him with amusement. "Really? Then, since I AM Queen Katirya, I give myself permission to enter. Now, if you will please stand aside…"
The guard's eyes narrowed as he inspected Katirya, "You are not the queen."
One of the Thirteen appeared, and with no effort, moved the guard to one side, while another held the second guard, allowing access to the doors. Katirya swept past, pushing open the doors allowing them to slam into the walls.
"They do come in handy occasionally," Loki commented.
"VERY occasionally," Katirya replied, as she led into the Council room, "more of a nuisance if you ask me."
Loki stood just inside the door, motioning to the others to wait with him, allowing Katirya to proceed forward alone.
All heads turned towards the disturbance at the door. "Who are you?" a shrill voice asked. The speaker, a woman, was seated at a throne at the head of a large table. Thirteen other men and women ranged around the table, clearly the representatives of each of the ruling families. A group of thirteen hooded and cloaked individuals stood ranged behind the speaker.
Several began to titter as they observed the party that accompanied Katirya. Seeing that only the two women were armed, they considered the group an amusement rather than a threat.
Katirya had crossed half the distance to the table when the Thirteen materialized, providing a menacing counterpoint to the rest of the party. Each one was cloaked in black. They appeared to float above the ground as they followed Katirya.
"Hi, sis. Good to see you too," Katirya spoke as she advanced on the Council.
"Sis?" The woman stood up. "Who do you think you are? And what is this rabble you bring in with you?"
Katirya had reached the table, stopping just short of it. The Thirteen stood quietly behind her. "Well, I am Katirya, and someone here has been demanding I return, so here I am," with a flourish of her arms, Katirya mockingly bowed towards her sister. "Now, who do you think you are?"
"I AM Katirya, Queen of Cartherion. I am the supreme ruler because I control both the Cronuth Stone AND the Thirteen," the woman announced imperiously.
"Really?" Katirya spoke sarcastically, staring at the group assembled behind her sister. "Is that what you call the Thirteen?"
Kyrath blustered, "Yes, they are the Thirteen. What nerve of you to suggest otherwise. I command them. This rabble you bring along with are just an illusion. You were always known for your tricks. And who are these pathetic people who accompany you?"
Katirya turned back to face her party. "Ah, yes. Well, I am sure you know Micarian, your brother, and my half-brother."
"Of course I know Mica! How stupid do you think I am?" Kyrath snapped back.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Katirya quipped, noticing that Kyrath was no longer questioning her identity.
"So who are the rest of your wretched group?" Kyrath ignored the snide remark. "And what do you mean by 'half-brother'? Mica is our brother."
"Ah, well, it seems I have a different father. Sean and Greiwaldt are two of my other half-brothers," Katirya introduced them, then pointed to Sif and Fandral, "and the Lady Sif and Fandral of Asgard."
"And who is that old man?" Kyrath pointed towards Loki.
"Ah, him," Katirya looked at Loki, asking with her gaze if she ought to reveal his true identity. Loki nodded back subtly. "That is my husband."
"HUSBAND!" Kyrath practically screamed, "you are to marry Thanos, not … not…" she sputtered, "an old man. How disgusting!"
Katirya laughed. "Actually, I prefer marriage to the old man rather than a purple ape."
"I cannot believe you would stoop so low, to marry someone like… like," Kyrath spit the words out, "that. He's OLD, and ugly."
"Well… I suppose he is rather old," Katirya's eyes danced with amusement as she spoke. She caught a glimpse of Loki's flashing eyes as she said it, knowing she would have to pay for that comment, but it had been worth it.
"Speaking of husbands, what has happened to Mythean, my husband? He left with you."
"Oh, him?" Katirya glanced at the Thirteen, then pointed to one, "he's right there."
"That's just one of your illusions! Where is my husband? Where is Mythean?" Kyrath shrieked.
"Sorry, they are not illusions, sister. They are the Thirteen. They answer to me, and Mythean earned the right to become one when he tried to kill me."
"Mythean would never do anything like that. He was just to report back as to what you were doing. And I am the one who commands the Thirteen," Kyrath pointed to the group behind her. "See?"
"You command the Thirteen?" Katirya asked her once again.
"Yes, and they will destroy your silly little group," Kyrath snapped her fingers, "just like that, so you had better stop being so annoying."
Katirya threw back her head, and laughed. "Have at it, Kyrath! These arethe Thirteen," she waved at the Thirteen ranged behind her. "Good luck getting them to obey you. Oh… and where exactly is the Cronuth Stone?" She peered at her sister.
"I have it right here," she motioned to one of her attendants, who produced a pale blue stone. "See?" She held it up for all to see. "And if you do not leave at once, I shall command the Thirteen to remove you forever."
"Good luck with that," Loki spoke up finally. "Honestly, you don't want to get her mad. She has a bit of a temper."
Katirya shot him a grin, then glanced at Kyrath's stone, "That's the Cronuth? Really? Does it do anything other than look pretty?"
"Well, you certainly don't have it," Kyrath shot back; having noticed the tiara that her sister was wearing did not have the Stone in it.
Katirya simply smiled back, "I have it, trust me."
"Trust you? When you claim to have murdered my husband?" Kyrath looked disgusted.
"What ever," Katirya was getting annoyed with trying to deal with her sister. They had never been close, and now they were worlds apart. "Where are Althanas, and Hadriath? Why did they go to Earth?"
Kyrath's face paled, "How did you know?"
"Do you really think I have no powers?" Katirya asked. "None of you have bothered to hide your thoughts."
"You are a simpleton, always were. Mother kept you hidden in the country because you were such an embarrassment to the family. Then you went and pretended to control the Cronuth Stone during the testing…" Kyrath started to blurt out what she thought was the truth, "but you were such a fool. Father managed to send thirteen people along with you when you fled, and they reported back to us what you were doing. You just thought they were the Thirteen. These are the Thirteen," her hand swept behind her to her group.
"So, now I am a simpleton? If that is the case, then these 'illusions' of mine certainly won't stop your, um… friends," Katirya crossed her arms in front of her, looking with pure delight at her sister's discomfort. She tapped her toe in impatience, "Well, I am waiting… for your 'Thirteen' to remove me."
Kyrath waved her arms, shouting a command to her group. "Get them!" Kyrath's minions moved towards Katirya, causing Katirya's Thirteen to disappear.
"HA!" Kyrath crowed. "See, she is an powerless! I told you! Now get rid of her."
Katirya stood patiently, waiting for the group to reach her. As they did, she raised her hands; light flashed and Kyrath's thirteen went flying through the air, crashing into the walls.
Katirya placed her hands on her hips. "Next?"
"You witch!" Kyrath screamed, racing towards Katirya, her arms flailing. She was about two feet from Katirya when she suddenly joined the others along the wall.
"Now, if you would please quit pretending to be me, I find it unsettling to see you thus." Katirya moved to stand over her sister. "Quit with this illusion, and you did not even manage to do it very well, you're too tall for one thing."
Loki compared the two women. They were very similar in appearance, although the one who claimed to be the queen, was much taller than his wife. He could see how others might mistake one for the other, until you watched them. Katirya, the real one, exuded power. He realized now, that was one of the features that had attracted him to her. And her confidence had grown, just as her brother had mentioned. He did not envy Kyrath.
Kyrath looks began to shift. The woman that finally lay before Katirya was a completely different woman now. The long, black hair was now a nut-brown color, and her figure was leaner, more angular than Katirya's. It was particularly obvious in her face, as the features were sharper, and less pleasing to the eye. Her eyes had changed to brown, and were narrowed into slits as she glared at her sister.
"Are you happy now?" Kyrath wailed.
"No, I still need to know why Althanas and Hadriath went to Earth."
Kyrath struggled to stand up; Loki walked up, offering her his hand. She sneered at him, "I don't need your help, old man. You need all your strength to deal with your wife…" her eyes widened and she suddenly gasped as Loki returned to his true form. "Oh… my…" Kyrath's voice expressed her appreciation of the real Loki.
"I wouldn't get him mad if I were you," Katirya smirked, "he has a bit of a temper."
"Really? The two of you must make a great couple then, but he is gorgeous," Kyrath purred. "If you ever get tired of him…"
"So… Althanas and Hadr…" Katirya cut off her sentence, her face paling as she caught a sudden thought from one of the Council members. She focused on him for a moment, "THOR! It's Thor they are after! He is in trouble."
~∫ Thor ∫~
"Jane! You're okay!" Thor rushed to embrace her.
Jane looked up at him, confused. "Of course I'm okay. I just went for a walk, what's the problem?"
"Do you know what time it is?" Darcy demanded.
Jane looked up at the clock on the wall, "It's eleven o'clock, why?"
"You've been gone for, like, seven hours! You were, like, all mad and everything. Going on about Katirya, and then you just… took off. I saw you meet up with a guy down there," Darcy pointed towards the street. "It looked like Fury, but he said it wasn't."
"I didn't see Director Fury; in fact, I haven't seen anyone, except a few bums in the park. I'm sorry I got all upset, but I know I am right about Katirya," Jane suddenly looked confused, "I… "
There was a knock on the door. As Erik opened it, Katirya entered the room; a tiny smile flitted across her lips.
"Kiri?" Thor was surprised to see her here. "I thought you and Loki went to Cartherion."
Katirya stared hard at Thor before speaking, "Thor! It's Loki! They've taken him."
"Who has taken him?"
"Thanos. I came here straight away, I need your help to save him," Katirya began to cry. "They were waiting for us when we arrived in Cartherion. I barely escaped. He has Sif and Fandral too. I fear he will harm them if we do not hurry!"
Jane blinked, staring at Katirya for a full minute before she started to shriek, "Oh my god! You! You, witch! You are lying! I saw you with Thanos; you are working with him! Just like I said all along. You are trying to get all the stones! She is evil! Bad! We must destroy her! Thor!"
"Jane?" Thor looked at Jane as she screamed like a madwoman, "are you okay?"
Jane stopped her screaming, shaking her head, "I'm fine," Jane spoke rationally, suddenly very calm, "what are you talking about?"
Thor looked strangely at Jane. "You were just screaming at Katirya, about the Stones."
"Oh, those silly stones," Jane smiled. "Do we really have to talk about them? And I wasn't really screaming, was I?"
"We must hurry!" Katirya beseeched Thor, grabbing his full attention with a pull on his arm.
"Where are we going?" Thor raised his hammer, and was about to call for Heimdall when Katirya stopped him.
"No, I can take us there. We mustn't let anyone know where we are going. They might follow us," Katirya moved closer to him, grabbing his arm. "Jane! Come here. You must come too!" She beckoned to the other woman.
Jane walked over, grabbing Thor's other arm. In an instant, they were gone.
Darcy stared at the spot where they had been standing. "Something doesn't seem right."
"What do you mean?" Erik asked.
"I don't know, but something isn't right. Jane was just," Darcy paused, "not herself."
