Just as a side note, all gods and goddesses I put in this story are real Norse gods. Enjoy!
Disclamier: I do not own Avengers.
Kayla woke abruptly to the sound of someone knocking on her door. She yelped as she fell onto the floor with a loud crash. She glared up at Loki.
"I don't remember saying 'come in,'" she snarled.
Loki pulled Kayla up, and leapt out of the way of Kayla's swinging leg. "Last night, after you left, Odin announced your tutor."
"Who is it?" As Loki left the room, he called uncomfortably. "Get ready. We start in ten minutes in the garden."
After the door swung shut, Kayla turned to Neoma. "Fat load of help you were just now. Next time Loki touches me, claw him to death, will you?" At Neoma's replying meow, she added, "You don't happen to know who brought me in last night, do you?"
Neoma squeaked excitedly, but Kayla ignored her. When Kayla perused her drawers, she found a green shirt with sleeves that covered her shoulders. It was cotton, and it clung to her skin as Kayla slipped it over her body. She yanked a pair of jean shorts from her pile of clothes from Midgard. She turned to Neoma for inspection. "Well?" Neoma cocked her head, but meowed nothing.
Kayla walked out of her room, nervously fingering her hummingbird charm. She entered the garden and found Loki waiting for her. They started without saying much, and Kayla tried not to kick Loki as he gently touched her arms to correct her stance. They went over mental and physical exercises, but still no ice. After an hour, Kayla was getting impatient. She shifted her feet wider apart and brought up both arms. With a roar, she thrust forward both arms and was rewarded with one drop of water that froze to the tree she was aiming at. Kayla growled.
Suddenly, a swirl of snow knocked her over and smothered her completely. Kayla panicked. It wasn't just a small layer of frost. It felt like it was very tall and quite thick. It was like swimming as she struggled to the surface. She hit the surface and gulped air.
"Hmm. Sloppy. I was expecting something a little more explosive from you, mortal," Hoor gloated.
"Don't get too cocky!" Kayla spat as she leapt from the snowdrift.
"Oh. Tsk, tsk. I see you're still in those distasteful Midgard clothes. Well, not that they're hiding anything. The thing to hide is your face."
Kayla's blood pounded in her ears. She screwed up her face and concentration, put her hands forward, and blasted Hoor with ice pellets the size of BB's. Loki, who had burst through the snow moments before, smiled widely. Kayla fought furiously with Hoor, but hardly used her abilities. She mostly used her training to kick and punch Hoor, who tried to use his snow to throw her off balance.
Kayla felt her stomach wound hurt every time she tried to use her ice. She knew that the energy in her body circled in her abdomen, and the wound was directly in the path the energy took to stream up her arms. The wound interfered with all her powers, and because of the turbulence of energy, it refused to heal properly. She was starting to get tired. Even though her powers didn't work correctly, she could still feel air molecules move.
Kayla felt Loki come up behind her. Then next thing she saw was a mild ball of energy push Hoor away from her. She turned to Loki and saw him look down at her with pride.
"You did it. You not only made ice, but you fought with it. I think we know what fuels your powers now. Emotion."
Hoor stood. Kayla turned to him. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Mortal scum. You will never even come close to comparing with any of the Æsir. Look what you've done to this beautiful garden. Akuji!"
As Hoor strode away, Kayla's visage melted into shock and horror. "HOW DARE YOU?" she screamed at Hoor's retreating back.
Kayla pulled together all her rage, fear, and devastation. She let loose a barrage of water, ice, and snow that mingled with one scream of defiance. She lifted her arms, and Hoor was brought back in as a frozen statue, but his head was free. Hoor was terrified.
"How dare you call me that!" Hoor just smiled and dissolved into snowflakes.
Kayla turned and ran down the hall. When she reached her room, she leaned against the outer door frame and her body shook with sobs. A hand rested gently on her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. "Why did he call you that?" Loki asked.
Kayla pulled away from him, disgust in her eyes. But green eyes met gray and she answered him. "Akuji, loosely translated, means living dead."
"I'm so sorry, Kayla." Loki said softly.
Kayla pulled away. "Good night, Loki."
She slipped into her room where Neoma sat on the bed, looking lonely. "I'm sorry, Neoma. I've been busy. But now, I need your help. What I am going to do about Hoor? He can't keep treating me like this. I'm seventeen. I need to handle this maturely. Any thoughts?"
Neoma squeaked and disappeared under the bed. When she returned, she was dragging a string.
"Fine," Kayla grinned. She grabbed the string and swung it in front of Neoma's nose. The lithe kitten jumped and batted it. She hooked it in her claws and bit it ferociously. Kayla's light laugh drifted out of her door where Hoor stood, dagger in hand.
Ooh! I can't wait to write what happens next! Even I don't know!
Thanks for reading! It means so much to me! Please review. I live on reviews.