Chapter 14: Betrayal
~∫ Thor ∫~
Thor's head ached horribly, and he felt groggy. His eyes fluttered open, and he winced as the light assaulted him, adding to his pain. Squinting, he saw Ian sitting there staring at him. "What happened?"
"They moved us. At least, that is what I think I overheard them saying when I came to," Ian said.
"Erik?" Thor struggled to sit up.
"Over there." Ian pointed. "He's still out."
Thor's stomach started to roil as he sat up. "I think this was a mistake," he said as he lay back down. "Why did they knock us out to move us? I cannot do anything, not without Mjölnir."
"I'm guessing that was the point. With you out, they could make you lift and carry the hammer. You are the only one who can move it, right?" Ian asked.
"Yes, I believe so. My father always said only someone worthy could wield it," Thor confirmed. He decided to try to sit up again. This time, his stomach did not bother him as much. "I wonder where we are now?"
"Dunno, but we're still stuck. I think someone must have been close to finding us for them to move us." Ian's voice sounded forlorn. "I wonder if I'll ever see Darcy again?"
"We will get out of this, somehow. If I could only get my hands on Mjölnir …"
The door burst open, and Althanas strode into the room. "Ah, awake finally. We had to move you, and yes," he glanced at Ian, "you are correct. Someone was near. But they will not find us this time. Loki only has minutes left to meet up with Thanos."
"What happens if he does not make it on time?" Ian asked.
"I get to kill one of you!" Althanas' eyes glittered excitedly.
"And what will that accomplish?" Thor asked, hoping he could figure a way to talk Althanas out of it.
"To let them know we mean business." Althanas' challenged Thor.
"I think my brother is well aware of the fact that you mean business," he replied.
"Well, him and that stupid daughter of mine have been causing trouble down on Earth. That's why we had to move you," Althanas explained.
"Earth? We were on Earth?" Thor latched onto that thought, if he had only known... but then, what could he have done? "So, if we were on Earth, where has he moved us? And what is the point? If he means to kill us, why does he not just do it and be over with it?"
"Because he wants Loki and that whore daughter of mine," Althanas spat out.
"Katirya is not your daughter. She knows Taneleer is her real father, so just get that thought out of your head. Speaking of daughters, is Kyrath still here? Is she still working for you?" Thor asked, still trying to distract Althanas.
"It's none of you business where Kyrath is." Althanas started to think he was saying too much. Clamping his mouth shut, he started to pace back and forth. "So, who should I kill first? The doctor or this foolish young man?"
•£• Loki •£•
"How did they manage to move the hammer?" Katirya asked as they walked into the Bifrost chamber.
Loki shrugged. "As far as I know, only Thor can move it. I cannot image he would willingly work with Thanos, and speaking of him, we need to meet him in Niflheim. We are late as it is."
"I'm going with!" Sif spoke up.
"No. He was fairly clear that it was just to be myself and Kiri. He was not happy when Ian tagged along. Remember, he kept him along with Erik," Loki reminded her.
"Do we have a plan?" Katirya asked. "We know he wants both of us and the Stones. He has Thor. How much are we willing to part with?"
"The Stones?" Loki suggested.
"That might be sufficient, since he has the gauntlet," Katirya agreed. "I do not need them, but we cannot let him know that fact. I wonder if there is a way to render them useless?"
"Would that we had more time, let us just hope just giving him the Stones is sufficient to get him to send Thor and the others back. Heimdall?" Loki turned to speak with the sentry. "How closely can you watch what is going on? Would you be able to get us all out of there as soon as we give him the Stones?"
Heimdall considered it. "It is possible. I cannot be certain, of course, but I will do my best."
"We shall have to chance it," Loki replied. "Ready?"
Katirya nodded. "Perhaps we won't have to leave anything with him, although I would not be certain on that. We must not underestimate him, he is nothing like Fury."
Loki grinned. "No, he is not that easy to fool."
They entered the portal, appearing in Niflheim. No one was there. The rocky terrain was dark, with many spots where someone could easily hide.
"So…" Loki looked around, staying close to Katirya.
"YOU are late!" Thanos' voice boomed.
"I am truly sorry, but it is all my fault," Katirya spoke up, looking around as she tried to locate the person that went with the voice. "Loki had a difficult time finding me."
"Well, it doesn't matter. I killed one of them already," Thanos sneered as he walked out from behind an outcropping of rocks.
Katirya and Loki exchanged a quick glance.
'Ian?' Katirya thought.
Loki shrugged. He knew that of the three, Ian was the most expendable. "If you continue to do so, you will have nothing left to bargain with."
"I do not need anything to bargain with. YOU are now both here, I have all that I want or need. Give me the Stones!" he demanded as he advanced on them.
"I do not think so," Katirya replied slowly. "Where is Thor? I will not hand over the stones until you release him."
"You have no choice!" Thanos shouted.
'The gauntlet, do you see it?' Loki asked Katirya.
'No.'
Loki suddenly sent a blast of energy from his hands towards Thanos.
"LOKI! What are you doing?" Katirya shouted acting alarmed at his behavior.
Thanos suddenly dissolved.
"I thought as much," Loki said quietly. "Thanos, or whoever is here…"
Kyrath walked out. "It's just little old me. Had you fooled, didn't I, little sister?"
"Kyrath, where is Thor? And the others?" Katirya asked.
"You're not getting them. Thanos did say we could kill one of the prisoners if you were late. I don't know who Daddy decided on, but it doesn't matter, does it?" Kyrath smirked. "You're all going to die anyway."
"What more does he want?" Katirya asked, sighing heavily. "Loki and I are both here, along with the Infinity Stones."
"You know… he wants you, although I don't know why, when he could have me instead. And he wants those Stones, and Loki," she crossed over to Loki, extending a hand towards him, running it down his shoulder to his hand. "I asked if I could have you," she sighed. "Since she killed my husband, I need a new one. You look like you'd be lots of fun." She looked at her sister. "Is he?"
"Kyrath, seriously?" Katirya rolled her eyes at her sister's behavior as Loki pushed Kyrath away.
"Sorry, Ky, but Thanos promised him to me," Hela's sultry voice came from behind Loki and Katirya.
"Ladies, please, until Thor is released, nobody is getting anything," Loki quickly sidestepped away from Hela, not pleased at her appearance.
Kyrath huffed. "Between you and me, I don't think he plans to let your brother go."
"Really?" Loki looked at her mockingly. "You just realized that?"
"I told you she wasn't the smartest of the family," Katirya quipped.
"I am too smart! You're the dumb one." Kyrath retaliated.
"Girls, girls…" Hela stepped in between them. "No fighting…" then she eyed Loki. "Then again, fight away. I'll keep him busy."
Loki backed away. "Kiri, I think we need to leave. If Thanos is not going to show up…"
"I am here…" Thanos appeared without warning. "Hela, leave!"
Hela shot him a look, but finally flounced away.
Loki wondered if he had been there all along. "Where is my brother?"
"In time, in time," Thanos slowly moved towards Katirya. "Ah, lovely as always. You shall make an excellent mate for me."
Katirya stepped away. "Where is Thor? And the mortals?"
"As your sister said, we've killed one of them," Thanos looked at her, pretending to be sorry. "You were late after all."
"I said I was sorry! I did not know you were finally ready to deal with us. You led Loki on a merry chase. Now, tell us where Thor is, or we are simply going to leave."
"I will just kill them all," Thanos replied.
"And what will that get you? If you think you stand a chance of touching these stones, you had best release Thor and the mortals." Katirya stared at Thanos as she spoke, her body rigid, challenging the man.
"Fine!" Thanos sneered. Waving his hand, Thor and Erik appeared, bound in heavy chains. Loki was quick to notice that Ian was absent. "Now… where were we? Ah, yes…"
"Loki, no!" Thor shouted when he saw his brother. "Go back. I am not worth being rescued. He has stripped me of my powers somehow."
"I know, but we can rectify that. Katirya is fairly sure she knows how," Loki replied.
"Did you really promise to do that, my pet?" Thanos chided Katirya.
"Perhaps," Katirya moved towards Thanos, a sly smile on her face.
Loki looked sharply at Katirya. Clearly he had not expected this. What was she doing?
Kyrath laughed upon seeing Loki's look, "You really should have listened to Jane. She was right all along."
"Ah, yes, poor Jane Foster," Katirya tried to look sympathetic, but not quite managing it. "She always did say that was all I wanted, the Stones. But, she was wrong about that. I wanted more, much more! You did bring her along, didn't you?"
"Ah, yes, my pet." Thanos replied. "Jane? Oh, Jane? You can come out now."
Jane came into view, walking almost as if she were dead already.
"You do have the Stones?" Thanos asked Katirya.
Katirya grinned. "Of course I do, ALL of them," slowly she extracted six stones from her pouch.
Thor and Loki exchanged looks, shocked that she had somehow managed to get all six stones.
"All of them? When?" Loki was confused. "Where was the sixth?"
Katirya laughed. "You were all so foolish! I had that one all along. I just needed the Aether to complete the set, and you were so helpful Loki." She tossed the six Stones in the air above her hands, and with a flick of her wrist, started spinning them. "So pretty, are they not? And so, so powerful…" She watched them for a few moments, transfixed with the color and motion dancing above her hands. Then, with a snap of her fingers, the Stones dropped into her hands. She closed her fist over them, staring intently at Thanos.
"Ah, you are indeed perfect," Thanos smiled benevolently on Katirya. "I am so sorry, Loki. But she is truly mine. She was intended for me all along. I do hope you won't mind."
Lies! Loki's eyes clearly showed the betrayal he was feeling. Again. He had trusted her, loved her, and even married her. What kind of monster was she? His mind reeled with the idea that she had been playing him all along, with the sole intention of getting the Infinity Stones. WHY hadn't he listened to Jane? Why had none of them listened to Jane? His life was littered with lies from others. His father had lied, his mother had lied, and even Thor had lied. Now Katirya had lied to him. The very fact that he had trusted her implicitly and made her his queen… it made this betrayal seem worse.
His heart and mind were shattered. Odin had told him he could never rule. He clearly had been correct.
"Loki!" Thor shouted, seeing his brother's reaction, realizing what he was thinking. "No! Do not think that!"
Katirya threw her head back and laughed. "Fools! You were so easy to dupe. Both of you."
"Ah, my pet, I love how you led them around. I must thank you for delivering both of them to me. I shall enjoy watching them suffer for their stupidity, and their father's attempts to suppress me," Thanos spoke. "Now, just give me the Stones…"
"I do not think so," Katirya's look was mischievous. "I have something I want to do with them first."
"Really? Will I enjoy it?" Thanos moved to stand next to Katirya, putting an arm around her waist.
"I told you all before, all she wanted was the stupid stones." Jane suddenly spoke lucidly. She looked directly at Katirya, her eyes clear. "But no one would listen to me, would they?" She turned towards Thor, walking up to him. "Not even you."
"Jane!" Thor gasped, thrilled to see her once more back.
Katirya looked sharply at Jane, her face expressing the shock she felt at seeing Jane return to normal. "Did you…" she started to ask Thanos, trying to pull out of his hold, when Jane's face went blank once more.
Thanos looked down at Katirya, "No, my love. She is such an excellent puppet, is she not? Think of the things we can have her do to entertain us? And with the Stones, we can add Loki and Thor into the farce!" He threw his head back and laughed.
In that instant, the rainbow effect of the Bifrost shimmered, pulling Thor, Loki, Erik and Jane out of Niflheim, leaving Katirya behind.
...to be continued.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this story. The next story in the series, Redemption, is now posted.
