Chapter Eleven
Disclaimer: Marvel owns everything.
The Hulk stepped on two of the Chitauri, crushing the skull of another in his huge fist (Bruce's injuries didn't seem to trouble his alter-ego). Repulsor blasts downed three more Chitauri that had been creeping up behind him. Hulk let out a warning growl at Tony for stealing his victims. Getting no response, he resumed smashing the aliens, grunting in satisfaction.
Natasha and Clint were working as a team as usual, his arrows keeping most of the Chitauri at bay, while she shot any that were stupid enough to come within range. He risked a sidelong grin at her.
"That's nine to me, Tasha."
She rolled her eyes, but smirked. "I'm on thirteen!"
Steve was having a harder time of it- fighting with a broken arm isn't easy. He mentally cursed Thanos as he was forced to hide behind his shield- he was outnumbered. He repelled their fire as best he could- most of their energy blasts riocheted off the vibranium shield, but he had to be careful to avoid inadvertantly hitting one of his team. The team's hastily-thought up strategy was working though- the Chitauri were almost all gone. As the last alien fell, Tony flew a few feet into the air, scouting for any more of them. He frowned under his helmet.
"Where are Goldilocks and the other Asgardians? Nice of them to come help!"
Clint scowled. "Loki's up there, isn't he? If he's tried something, while we've all been down here fighting these things..." He craned his neck, peering upwards with his eyes narrowed. "What the heck is that...?"
"What's what?" Natasha followed Clint's gaze, but her eyes weren't as sharp as his. She couldn't make anything out, nor, judging by the confused looks on Steve and Hulk's faces, could they.
"Can't see much...just weird flashes of light. Stark, you picking anything up?"
Tony rose to hover a few feet higher.
"I can't see anything...Jarvis, you picking anything up- WHOA!" He rocketed higher at his fastest speed, and was out of sight of almost everyone in a few seconds.
Steve looked at Clint, raising an eyebrow.
"Can you see what he's up to?"
"Something's falling fast, can't make out what..." Clint's voice was distracted as he watched. "Tony's caught whatever it is. He's heading back now."
"Stark, what is it?" Steve asked over the earpiece.
"It's a she," Tony replied, getting close enough for all the Avengers to see that it was Sigyn in his arms. As he got even closer they could see that she was bleeding, her arms around Tony's neck, looking upward. "And she's really upset."
"What's Loki doing?" Clint demanded immediately. "We have to get up there to help Thor."
Sigyn shook her head, struggling to speak despite the fact that she was in pain. "No...it isn't Loki... you have to take me back up there, he's going to kill them!"
Steve helped Tony set her down. "You're bleeding, we'll deal with Loki-"
"It's not Loki!" Sigyn shouted. "Chthon has taken over that girl."
"What did Loki do to her?" Clint asked with a snarl.
Sigyn paused for a moment and sighed. "It doesn't matter. Thor and Loki need help, we have to go back. Chthon's too strong-"
A flash of red light blinded them all. They shielded their eyes, and then a shockwave of power hit them. They were all thrown back, grunting with pain as they skidded across the pavement. Clint fared the worst, a roadrash ripping his arm raw. Luckily he had shielded his weapons from the trip and bow and arrows were intact.
He pushed himself to his feet as he saw that Thor and Loki had mysteriously joined them. Both were bleeding, though Loki was clearly in worse shape. The others followed his example, clambering or staggering to their feet with various grumbles of complaint.
Steve breathed heavily, trying to ease the pain he could feel in his ribs. He made eye contact with Sigyn, then looked at Thor and Loki. He didn't believe in this 'Chthon' but... something had hurt the Asgardians, and they were plainly all injured and frightened. He turned to the rest of his team.
"Could it be that Wanda's lost control again, assuming she really is up there, and accidentally hurt these guys?" That, to Steve, seemed the most logical explanation. If Thor and the others really did believe in this ancient demon, they could easily have become convinced that something evil was at work when the only problem was a young woman with uncontrollable abilities...
Loki buried his head in his hands.
"What will it take to convince you humans of Chthon's existence?! The demon manifested while the human host was unconscious, I saw it with my own eyes! I led the girl with me to Wundagore, to find Sigyn, and forfeited her life to end Chthon's threat, yet still, he walks, having claimed her form... Thanos is dead at Chthon's hands! And still you would look for scientific explanations?"
Clint snorted in disbelief and shook his head, unimpressed with Loki's rant. Bruce and Tony looked uneasy, but said nothing.
Natasha's sharp eyes narrowed, focused on Loki. "You 'forfeited her life'?! What did you think you were playing at? Haven't you commited enough murders on Earth?"
The Avengers whirled on Loki as the rest of his words sank in for them. Every pair of eyes was accusatory. Clint actually nocked an arrow, despite his injured arm.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't 'forfeit' your life right now!"
Thor raised Mjolnir and stepped between Loki and Clint, his eyes smouldering.
"I assure you, Barton, Loki will suffer for what he has done, but at present, we all must work together. This threat is far graver than Thanos ever could have been, and I honestly do not know-"
"Wait, back up." Tony interrupted. "Thanos really is dead? And apparently this demon inside Wanda did it? I'd like to know how that's possible, if Loki says he killed her..."
"I attempted to kill her, Man of Iron. Obviously I did not succeed."
"You made the worst mistake possible." Thor grabbed Loki by the throat. "You already knew that He could not take control while Maximoff was conscious and aware. To force her to surrender consciousness, in the place where He is strongest... how could you be so idiotic?!"
"This is how the Mighty Thor fights?"
Everybody looked up to see Wanda strolling casually towards them. But it wasn't Wanda. Her eyes were glowing white, a red light pulsing off her body. A wicked grin was on her face and her gaze flickered over all of them.
"Perhaps, my sister's little son, you will do better when joined by your mortal allies? This shall be most entertaining. The only question is should I pick you off one by one slowly, or should I rip your bodies apart as a message to the rest of the world?" Her - his? - gaze focused on Natasha. "The littlest one first, I say."
"What's the fun in just killing us?" Loki staggered towards the demon, ignoring his injuries. "Would it not be more entertaining to watch our feeble struggles?"
Chthon laughed. "Are you thinking that you can kill your little lover and yourself before I can, Loki Laufeyson?"
Loki winced at the name.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice that you pushed her off the roof up there? You attempt to rob me of my fun will cost you painfully."
"Oh, I thought I was going to 'Long for something sweet as pain'," Loki shot back.
"What are you doing?" hissed Sigyn.
Chthon narrowed his eyes. "Are you deliberately trying to increase my anger, little god?"
Loki grinned. With the blood pouring down his face he looked like a deranged madman. "Do you think that this has escaped Atum's notice?"
Chthon burst out laughing. The gathered heroes and Gods shivered at how like Wanda's laugh that sounded, when the person speaking clearly was not the young woman. Steve heard a strange sound, barely audible. Was it just the wind? He glanced around. Nothing was moving,there was no breeze...
There! It sounded almost as if someone was whispering into his ear. He had a sense of urgency, but couldn't make out any individual words. No-one else seemed to have noticed. Where was the whisper coming from...?
The Archdemon regained control of himself, finally preventing himself from laughing.
"I care not if this matter has caught Atum's attention, little Prince. Perhaps you have forgotten how you and your lover were unable to leave Earth? No-one is leaving this realm...and nothing will be entering it!"
The maniacally gleeful look faded from Loki's face. He exchanged a despairing look with Thor and Sigyn. Atum was the only reason they had escaped Chthon, centuries ago. If he truly was prevented from reaching Midgard now...
Dread coiled in Thor's gut, but he did his utmost to hide it. He looked around at the faces of his friends and allies. In all of them he saw determination, and resolve. He could see fear, as all their beliefs crumbled around them, but he knew they would fight for this realm til their dying breaths. He could do no less.
Twirling Mjolnir in a arc, he summoned as much lightning as he could. With a cry of defiance, deliberately not acknowledging that this was the body of a friend, he sent it all directly at Chthon...
Who merely raised his hand, and redirected it at Loki, Sigyn and the Avengers.
"NO!" That much electricity could kill the mortals!
Chthon laughed as Thor stood alone, surrounded by the unmoving forms of his family and allies. He/she strolled casually over to Thor, waving aside any further lightning sent at him by the Asgardian.
Crimson energy surrounded Thor, and Chthon smiled gaily as Thor's face contorted with pain. The blond god was soon screaming out his pain, calling on his father, mother, half-brother, anyone, to stop this... creature, while there was still time. No response came, save for a faint whispering Thor was sure was a hallucination, and utter despair overwhelmed him as he blacked out. Only then did Chthon release him, and he crumpled to the ground, as motionless as his 'family', and his mortal teammates.
The Elder God closed his eyes, revelling in his victory. This pathetic world's champions were done, and his Chaos would soon overwhelm the mortals who were attempting to halt it.
"Midgard is mine at last." He breathed, relishing the feeling of exultation.
"You do realise that you say that every single time, don't you?" The deep, commanding voice echoed in the sudden silence.
Chthon whirled, his eyes wild, his stolen heart beating rapidly. It could not be, he had made certain that Atum was stranded, far away from Earth...
The gold-skinned sun god stood on the rooftop beside him, armed and furious, his stance making it clear that he had not come here to negotiate. Another Asgardian- young, fair haired, beardless, little more than a boy- stood some distance behind him, his cornflower-blue eyes locked on Thor and Loki's still forms.
Chthon returned his gaze to his longtime enemy. Crimson energy wreathed his hands as he faced off with Atum.
White-hot flame encased the sun-being's fists. No-one moved.
"Strange choice of appearance. Do you not usually possess males, and of greater age than this? Why steal this one's form?" He gestured at Wanda Maximoff's body. Atum's tone was totally uninterested, as if he didn't care about the answer.
The demon actually smirked. "This host has been prepared since she was born. All I do now is claim my own."
Atum shrugged. The fate of one mortal meant nothing to him. His priority was to drive Chthon from the Earth, by whatever means necessary.
Silence reigned for a moment. Thor groaned and shifted slightly without waking. The younger Asgardian and Atum glanced his way, for a split second-
Chthon struck at them. Atum deflected the scarlet energy (demolishing yet another part of Stark Tower, not that the Gods knew that), and his face grew even grimmer. He lunged, seizing the demon by the throat. Taking to the air, he dragged Chthon away from the rooftop and the injured 'heroes'. The Asgardian boy could deal with them- Atum had more important concerns. Chthon had forgotten his place in the universe once again. It was up to him to remind the demon of it, and make sure, this time, that he left Earth once and for all!
To be continued...