Chapter 2 - One Way Ticket
"You're hurting me, Loki," she said with a slight tremor beneath her tone. The humid evening air closed in around her like fog. He stayed silent, her breathing loud in contrast. Jane gathered her wits as he loosened the grip on her arm. "I don't respond well to threats."
The proximity of his mouth to her cheek sent chills skittering over her skin.
"You are most right. Where are my manners?" He released her and grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle kiss in recompense. "Can you pardon my unforgivable actions?"
"You…you're mocking me," Jane said, face red and frame shaking. "Is accosting me late at night, not enough?"
Her uninvited guest chuckled then settled for a quirk of the lip as his laughter faded. He dropped her palm but continued to invade her personal space. She tried to swallow but her tongue stuck against the dry sides of her mouth.
"I have a proposition for you, Jane. Listen to my words in their entirety before you decide your fate." She furrowed her brows in response, but he continued, "I won't promise you safety. I can't even promise your return. But what I can promise you is the chance to see every splendor of Yggdrasil in all its ethereal glory. There are portals within the nine realms even when the tree is not aligned. Far less, however, I still know how to find them. If you come with me, you can study them—see them for yourself. Plus we can't forget all the worlds we would visit."
"Wait…what? First, you threaten me, then you invite me to explore the universe with you. What's your angle?" She shook her head and crossed her arms, but a steady, tingling warmth spread upward from the tip of her toes.
Jane had a bad habit of running head first into danger, without concern for herself, especially in the name of science. But she wasn't ignorant. She knew Loki couldn't be trusted, yet Thor had seemed so convinced of his redemption.
"I have no angle, as you would say, but you can expect the unexpected on our journey," he replied with the inclination of a brow.
"How delightfully cryptic of you," she responded with a short puff of breath and a roll of her eyes.
It was a bad idea…that much was clear. But staying on Earth would not only guarantee her a life devoid of true adventure, it would also place her squarely on the backburner when it came to Thor's priority list. Good-girl Jane. Predictable Jane. She wanted more. To be spontaneous and take risks! She wanted it to be his turn to wait for her to return.
"I accept. When do we leave?" She asked before she could change her mind.
His eyebrows shot up. Apparently, even gods could be caught off guard, but his reaction quickly morphed into a mischievous smile.
"Gather your things. We leave tonight."
"I can't say goodbye? At least let me leave a note for my friends. Oh, and I need to see how much of my equipment and books I can pack! This may take a while. Hmm, I wonder where I left my mom's old SLR camera. I could—"
"Enough!" He spat.
Light drops of moisture sprayed from his mouth and splattered over her face. Gross.
His moods oscillated at a rapid pace. Jane blinked slowly then gave a curt nod and stepped toward the front door.
"Oh, and Jane…"
"Yes?" She glanced back at him, unsure of what depravity would escape his lips.
"Are you planning on packing these for our little adventure?" His eyes sparkled with a glint bordering on evil. Jane's throat swelled and her face flushed crimson. A pair of black lace underwear, which had fallen to the ground earlier, teetered precariously from his fingertips as he leered. The offending article dangled in the air at eye level.
Jane decided she would die if she spoke a single word in response. Her cheeks burned as his gaze bore into her, a disgusting smirk plastered across his features. She huffed as she grabbed them out of his hand and silently stormed inside.
"I'll consider that a resounding maybe," he called after her.
She slammed the door shut in response.
»»-¤-««
Thor and Sif rushed to Heimdall's perch and spilled every detail of their tribulations. The Guardian informed them that Loki must have shielded the absence of the All-Father, but now that the trickster was gone, the missing king's presence resonated strongly with him.
"I sense Odin is alive but greatly weakened. He is in a place that both exists and does not exist."
"How is that possible?" Thor grappled to decipher such vague clues. As he paced along the platform, the flickering stars overhead did little to comfort his frayed nerves.
"The location is ever-shifting. He has been trapped in the Room with No Doors. It is within the world tree, but finding it alone will not suffice. The only one powerful enough to save Odin is Odin himself."
"So, there is nothing to be done?" Thor nearly shouted, his voice strained.
"There is one hope for us still. Long ago, your father placed an extension of his power within a set of objects known as the Norn Stones. The tale is long and winding, one your father planned to tell you someday; therefore, its true depths are not for me to share. What I can tell you, however, is that I see the stones on Midgard—in a place known as Germany."
Thor turned the information over in his head. He should've seen it coming. Whenever things got too comfortable, terrible events never strayed far. He already lost his mother, but he refused to let his father go too.
"I will take care of it. I will save Father, and I will find Loki. Send me back."
"There is one more thing." The deep, solemn voice caused Thor to pause.
"I no longer sense her anymore—your mortal woman. She is either gone or being shrouded. Either way, I fear the worst."
Thor clenched his teeth, his usually bright demeanor darkening. Loki. Enough was enough. He would no longer allow his brother to hurt the people he loved. Determined to save his father and Jane, he turned to go.
"Sif, you and the warriors take care of Asgard in my stead. You have my trust and my debt," he said quietly as he gave her a light pat on the shoulder. She flashed a sad smile in return, stepping back as the beam of energy engulfed him.
»»-¤-««
Jane grinned as Darcy kicked her feet up on an adjacent chair while enjoying the last of a chocolate milkshake. The astrophysicist's fingers formed little dimples in the fresh bread as she bit into her turkey sandwich. She was grateful to have a friend there for her beyond the scope of work. Several months had passed since Thor returned to Asgard, after the Battle of New York. Even though she kept busy trying to build the Einstein-Rosen Bridge, she still enjoyed the extra distraction that their lunch dates provided.
"So, did you hear about those crazies planning an open mission to Mars in 2023? Who would do that? One way trip just to go down in history. It's a death sentence!" Darcy said between sips on her straw.
"Hm, I read about that. Honestly, it isn't feasible now, but time will tell. They'd have to find a solution to the radiation exposure during their six-month journey to the planet—not to mention the issues with air supply, hygiene, and waste, to name a few. I won't even get into the prospects of necessary funding."
"Exactly! I'm not surprised. It's laughable that anyone would risk so much to go to Mars."
"Well," Jane hesitated, "I wouldn't go that far. Despite the logistical problems with the trip, I don't think someone willing to go would be demonstrating a lack of sanity."
Her friend abruptly stopped drinking and set her cup on the table, eyes wide.
"Hold up, Jane. Are you saying you would go to Mars if you had the chance? Please tell me you're joking."
"I wasn't exactly saying that but now that you mention it…yeah, I would."
"WHAT?"
"I'm serious. I know it seems ridiculous," Jane sighed as she folded up the now empty sandwich wrapper, "but what you may not understand is that physics and astronomy are more than just hobbies to me. They are my life. To be able to ascend beyond this earth and actually see and experience the elements I've studied most of my life would be the ultimate achievement. It sounds cliché, but we are born of stars, Darcy. I would give anything to be among them in this lifetime."
Her assistant studied her, chewing on the edge of her lip.
"Would you really leave your mom, your friends, your Thor? No round trips. No refunds. No take-backs."
"Thor is gone if you forgot. He may never return," she snapped a bit harshly, hating to be reminded of his absence. Darcy winced.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be short. We were talking hypothetically, anyway. But yes, I would leave it all behind. It may seem cold, but I know my dad would've supported it. It's what he would've wanted. It's what I would want. What is my life if not for exploration and the love of knowledge?"
"I could think of a few dozen things, but I won't argue with you. I know your dad meant a lot to you; I'm sorry Jane."
It'd been quite some time since Jane's father passed away, but talking about it still bothered her a great deal. They'd been close until he died. He had studied physics at Culver University, alongside Erik, which led Jane to follow in his footsteps. She had always looked up to him and missed him daily. Jane was determined to do something impactful with her studies. Making a promise to herself, she decided long ago that if the opportunity to do something truly great presented itself—she would take it.
»»-¤-««
That conversation had only been a couple years ago, but it still felt like a turning point to her. The memories of her father brought a warm sadness that spread through her chest. She and her mother had never been close, so losing her dad was all the more difficult. She hoped he would be proud of her, but her confidence in the situation vacillated.
What are you doing? You've gone off the deep end this time, Jane, she chided herself as she stuffed flannel shirts, jeans, and a sweatshirt into a duffel bag. What do you have to lose, though? A whole two friends, a long distance unofficial boyfriend and a career that is stalled on the same project forever?
Her negative inner monologue didn't stop her from throwing household items into her bag. Leaving everything behind scared her but also brought a new found freedom.
Loki flickered back into her mind, bringing forth two distinct images. His violent, frightening actions in New York forever marred his reputation, but Thor always forgave him. When they had freed him from prison he fought valiantly alongside them and protected her in the face of the dark elves. Could even the most corrupt of creatures find redemption? That dilemma plagued her, but she finally let it drop without an answer.
After gathering her things, she took the time to write heartfelt letters to Thor, Erik, Darcy and her mother. Upon completion of the notes, she sent a brief text to her friend. She would've called, but she wasn't in the mood for a lecture.
Can't explain now. Letters at my house on the table. Please come tomorrow. Key is under the mat.
Jane took one last sweep around her cramped little home. She didn't know when, but at some point, she'd formed an attachment to it. After all the destruction in the past year, she'd decided to return to New Mexico for a while. Much of her equipment had remained there, plus peace and quiet dedicated to research didn't sound like a bad idea. She had once asked Thor to come with her, but he chose New York instead. Long distance sucked, but she refused to put her life on hold—even for an attractive god from another planet.
She barely registered the sound of heavy footsteps until his voice startled her.
"It's time."
Jane slung her bag over her shoulder and brushed past him through the open door. Taking one last look behind her, she smiled then turned forward and refused to look back again. This would be her last foreseeable night on Earth, but she hoped to return someday.
Jane unlocked her car and wrapped her fingers around the handle, only to be interrupted.
"We are walking."
"What? Why? Don't you have some kind of superior form of travel, being so powerful and all?"
He scoffed but ignored her.
Thor used Mjolnir, so what did Loki have? A broomstick? She stifled a laugh.
"I sense the gateway is near," he said in clipped tones.
He walked straight into the desert with no regard for the elements they'd have to brave. Beams of moonlight danced over the dry, cracked surface below their feet, casting an eerie glow. She fell into step behind him, duffle in tow. Some people are content with silence, Jane wasn't one of them.
"How do you know that it's close?"
He sighed. "I just know."
"That doesn't make any sense. You may be powerful, but you aren't a psychic. Is it magic?"
"Not exactly, but in a way."
"That doesn't make sense either. What do you mean?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose as they traveled.
"After my experience with the Tesseract I have…lingering effects. Some more unpredictable than others."
"Hm, I hadn't thought of that possibility. Interesting! What are the effects?"
"No more questions! Don't make me rescind my offer."
Jane filed that away for later but thought better of pushing him further. She chose awkward silence over him lashing out.
Loki's idea of close must be relative, she mused as they trudged over the desolate land. The only comfort to her weariness came from the soft blanket of night. Dawn would've brought the sweltering heat of summer down upon their trek. Just as she was about to ask if they were almost there, her guide stopped abruptly. Jane nearly smacked straight into his rigid form but caught herself. She peered around his body to get a better look.
They stood before a desert cavern, the entrance dark and twisted like free-flowing ink.
"I feel it. It's definitely here. Let's go," he said as he passed through the pitch black doorway. She followed close behind, the hairs on her nape standing on end.
As they stepped through, Loki gently ran an index finger across his opposite palm. A bright blue flame surged forth and hovered over his open hand. Jane gasped. The tendrils of fire trembled then flared in succession as he stalked his way across the stone floor. After a sharp turn to the left, the narrow cavern spilled out into a vast chamber. Stalactites jutted down from above, and various pebbles and rocks floated and spun in mid-air. The room hummed with an unknown force, illuminated by the filtered light of Loki's magic.
Jane brought an unsteady hand to her lips. It reminded her of the open portal in London, but even that paled in comparison to the beauty before them. It looked nothing like her version of Earth. Were they already beyond the stars?
"Are you ready?" He turned to look at her, his expression dark and unreadable.
"As ready as I'll ever—"
Loki didn't wait for her to finish, grabbing her wrist tightly and pulling her forward, toward his frame. They fell back into the center of the rock circle. Energy rushed through her as time slowed. She sucked air into her lungs, and beads of perspiration formed down her spine as she floated through empty space. Finally, a pair of arms steadied her, anchoring her to the ground.
Jane's chest ached as she drew another deep breath. Her exhale formed as vapor, and her joints grew stiff. She blinked to bring the dusk surroundings into focus. Rock pillars dotted a frozen, barren landscape as far as the eye could see. Soft flakes of snow landed on her eyelashes as she gazed up at the sky, watching it turn into night. Bright stars shone down, each one brand new—another planet's heavenly bodies waiting to be discovered. Her core inflated as though about to burst. All the events of the day were finally real. She landed in another world. Thor once wove stories about the nine realms, and the frigid wind biting at her skin made it clear where they had traveled.
Jotunheim.
»»-¤-««
Note: Thank you all for the reviews and encouragement! I am blessed to have old readers still around and some new ones too. Without you guys I wouldn't be the writer I am today. Your feedback is invaluable.