"A girl calls and asks, 'Does it hurt very much to die?' 'Well, sweetheart,' I tell her, 'yes, but it hurts a lot more to keep living.' " –Chuck Palahniuk, Survivor.
"Who the hell are you, and how did you get here?" I haven't let go of Oma's hand, I won't do much good in my state, but I would rather die than let someone else hurt Oma. The figure chuckles and I feel like I know the voice but I can't place it. She steps into the dim light and though I try to stop all reaction I know she sees the widening of my eyes.
"Hello Cameron." I avert my gaze from the woman; she looks like some of the carvings I had seen in some of Shield's files.
"Lena." I manage out she smiles, though it's strained...She looks sick.
"I am glad to see you recall your ancestry—"
"Why are you here?"
"I'm dying." I was short sweet and to the point and it added a whole new what the fuck to the plot.
"What do you mean you're dying...I thought Asgardians were immortal...or at least could live a lot longer than humans—"
"I failed." She is leaning against the wall again like it's too difficult to even stand. "Failed what—"
"I don't have much time," she pauses taking a breath she looks worse...like some how she's dying with every second that ticks by.
"I can only keep my form here for so long...I have chosen you Cameron." I stare at her now more confused than ever.
"Chosen me for what?" I manage to stand still not releasing Oma's hand as I watch Lena who pants as she crumples as if her legs have broken. She leans her head back her skin looks gaunt in the sparse moonlight.
"To take my place, the next Siren the true Siren—"
"What the hell do you mean true Siren!?" I'm getting hysterical now she's not making sense, this isn't helping either of us.
"Why the hell are you here, Loki already did enough damage to me! I don't want your powers I already have a shitty enough life—"
"You'll be able to save her." My rant freezes on my tongue.
"What?"
"You will be able to save Klara if you take my powers." My gaze breaks from her deep green one to look back over at Oma, who remained comatose during this conversation. She deserved this gift way more than I did, but then again would she even take it...
"Alright." Lena let's out a breath of relief? Gratitude? I didn't know at the time...it was probably release. She then opens her eyes, which have dulled, and reaches out a slim bony hand. I assume she wants me to take it...It means letting go of Oma's but...Only for a few moments. I tell myself. I let her warm fingers slip from mine and approach Lena who still holds out her shaking arm. I hesitate and she grimaces. "Time runs short now or never." I take in a breath then lash out my hand to grasp hers. It feels like I've grabbed onto a branch, there's no warmth in her grasp and just as soon as I grab it I feel faint and the world darkens.
Waking up isn't better I'm in...a cave of some sort Nordic runes decorate the rough rocky walls. I hear the distant, constant drip of water, but for the few seconds of panic, I am alone till I notice around me lights. Candle lights at first glance but then I noticed the hooded figures holding them aren't holding candles rather just floating flames. My heart won't calm, I am almost tempted to let Camilla take over till I spot a face I know from old faded pictures.
"Oma?" I ask scrambling up and to where she stands, she doesn't reply rather she looks back at me with worry in her eyes and tears streaking down her cheeks. I'm confused.
"Oma?" She disappears then her light dies and then the others around her flash and die as well. I watch in horror as once again darkness surrounds me, my breath hitching. I almost hyperventilate until another light appears this one covers the cave in a deep green hue. I turn Lena stands in a pool up to her waist her gaze focused on her flame. I approach part of me wanting to get closer to the light the other part wants to punch the hell out of her. But as soon as I step into the pool I am plunged into it's waist deep depths. I can't move...Oh fuck I can't move! Where it was deathly silent suddenly the others return and their voices haunting and lovely all mix. Low tones and high mixing seamlessly as Lean walks forward her flame floating above as she takes my chin in her bony hands. Tilting my face to look up at her, she takes a breath and her own song wraps itself around me. I had never felt the pull of the song but now it was so strong suddenly my mind wasn't my own any more. As she sang wisps of...energy is the best my brain could think of floated from her lips and passed into mine. At first I didn't feel anything different but then I felt warmth it wasn't painful but it wasn't pleasant either. It remains in my throat and chest. Swirling around never cooling never moving to anywhere else until the song ended and with a gasp of pain Lena released me she disappeared as did the others I guess whatever ritual they had been here for was done. I was alone again but Lena's light remains now a light blue color.
"Cameron." I turned the water sloshing around me, Oma...well younger Oma stood there offering me her out stretched hand. Which I took happily, but as our fingers touched the world warped again and instead of a dark gloomy cave. I was in a field the sun high in the sky and wind warping the tall grass around me. Standing I looked around silent mountains in the distance, a village just at the base of those peaks. "Come on!" I turn a group of children runs by me, they laugh and leap through the high grass. A girl at the lead with pretty blonde curls and eyes a bright green she turns ignoring the boys that have been following her.
"Come on Klara!" My eyes widen and my gaze turns following hers just as another rushes by me. Brown hair bounces in the wind as she catches up to the group she smiles at the other girl taking her hand but not before her gaze turns to meet mine. I'm awe struck as the girl smiles then rushes away the sun is bright as I attempt to watch them, burning away the field and a new scene unfolds. A house better yet a mansion, but there's a comfortable homey feeling to it. A woman rushes by a sundress flowing around her and a sun hat on her head as she holds a hand over it to keep it from falling. I follow her as she exits the huge mansion and into a spacious garden. There she finds an older man who smiles brightly as she
approaches.
"Klara come take a picture!" She laughs and sits before the camera, I recognize the pose as she smiles but her attention is caught at the perfect moment. She looks away to stare at some birds chirping in the trees. The flash goes off and once again the world turns, just as young Oma turns to look at me. But I am not in a place where I feel any joy, or calm. Cement walls and a perpetual feeling of cold permeates this place. I wander along the corridors knowing I need to find her, before something...or someone else does. I enter what looks like an office. Oma is sitting at a desk a book in her hands she at first doesn't react to my entrance. As I approach though her gaze turns up, and she gives me a weak smile as I move to reach out to her. A figure emerges from the dark a gloved hand grips her shoulder, I know it hurts her because tears fill her eyes. My own fear reflects hers as I slowly lift my gaze to the man behind her. Thankfully the vision falls away like the others before it, this scene is new. Oma with a baby in her arms she is rocking back and forth as the child cries on and on, but the smile never leaves her face. As a young Grandpa Jo walks in smiling to his wife and child she offers the baby to him and together they coo over the now sleeping baby. The world shifts one last time and there is little me hiding as Grandpa Jo comes in pretending to be some sort of monster. I clutch onto my Captain America bear and then we both jump out he feigns surprise and scoops me up into his arms. Oma comes in her smile is small but it's loving. She hugs us both laughing as I offer her my bear. The scene fades a sudden sharp pain in my neck and something is ringing high pitched and familiar but I can't place it.
The scene fades and suddenly I'm back in the hospital room, there are others in the room. I'm being pulled away I can't help her I can't do anything...I can't even scream as a sharp pain spreads from the back of my head to the front. Darkness clouds my vision and all I see before it claims me. Is Oma...Alone.
Huge thanks to WinterLife America for betaing.