'Highness, you need to know something.'
After we had ducked inside an abandoned warehouse, James tried to get my attention. However, I was still staring into an abyss, with my eyes widened. My mind kept replaying the recent events.
'How to make sure nobody else dies? I'd would very much like to know that!' I shrieked. Trembling. Clamping my hands together, with my nails digging in my own skin.
'Highness, you really have to listen to me.'

I didn't listen at all. Instead, I kept looking around, trying to come up with a way to fix the mess we'd landed in. 'No, no… I need to get to T'Challa. He'll know how to secure the area. Whatever these rebels want-'
'Elissa!' he didn't shout, not really. But his usage of my name was enough to shut me up. James took me by my arms so I would look at him. 'Elissa, please, you have to listen to me. These are not rebels. They are part of an organisation called THEMIS '
'THEMIS…order…' I stuttered. 'I have never heard of that.'
'That's because it is top secret information, and you weren't supposed to learn about it until after the coronation, when you're officially queen. They can even execute me for telling you this, but you've got the right to know… Especially considering the circumstances…' He didn't even wait for my response. 'THEMIS contains people from many underground organisations. It was founded as part of HYDRA, but grew and left when many members of other terrorist groups joined. All they want is power, to create their world of order.
They plan on using treasures hidden in your country, Elissa. In the vaults underneath your palace.'

The flood of words dizzied me. I slumped down on a splintery crate.
'Vaults? We only have a bunker…'
James sat down on the crate beside mine.
'That's what everybody's supposed to think. There are many vaults there, filled with very valuable, very dangerous goods. Even special weaponry that countries like America want to store away safely.'
America? We were their safeguards, and still they had treated me that badly? Immense indignation flared up inside me.
'Why don't they do it themselves?'
'It's your countries history. You said this country must be blessed by the gods, and it is. Marerra has had a long connection with the people of Asgard. That's why it has always been wealthy and prosperous. And that's why the vaults are made with Asgardian technologies.'

Finally he was silent for moment, allowing me to proses all he had said. A bunch of information, that didn't seem to make sense in my head. Yes, I had seen the videos of the Asgardian people fighting battles on our grounds, but seeing it on screen made it no more real than seeing Luke Skywalker swing his lighters. Pixels on a screen. Not that different.
T'Challa's skills were more than weird enough.
'Asgardian technologies… 'You mean magic.'
In a very tired way James' mouth turned into a smile.
'Most people prefer the term Asgardian technology.'
'Yeah, but that means magic, right?' I urged. 'And they have given us more magic, haven't they?'
'I'm afraid so. It's a small energy source. That is, in comparison with the other alien energy sources that we've seen on earth before. THEMIS wants it.'
'Shit,' I muttered. My foot kicked backwards against the crappy wood. Something snapped. 'Shit.' Why? Why couldn't I be queen of a normal country? Why did my country have ancient secrets with magic? 'Why Marerra?'
Some sound echoed through the warehouse. A weird, fluttering sound. James' head snapped around. Immediately he was standing again. A small, winged creature emerged from the dark, and hurtled over our heads. Just a bat.
'Most stories say it was the marriage between an Asgardian royal and Marerra's queen.'
'Obviously,' I rolled my eyes, 'the dramatic love story between a human and a god. Why not make me the grand-grand-grand-grand-grand daughter of a god?'

More sounds in the background. Now I rose too. James moved very close, already positioning himself as my living shield.
'Why can't they help us now? They got us in trouble in the first place.' I hissed, nervously studying the dark.
'It's not that easy, Elissa. We can't summon them whenever we want.' His eyes screened the darkness around us. His voice became even quieter. 'We have to keep moving. The palace must be secure.'
'Great idea.' Even through my whispered tone the sarcasm was explicit. 'Yes, very good idea. One little problem: we're surrounded by people who want to kill us, and we've got no way to get there!'
Instead of snapping back at me, James only put his arm around me, and pushed me with him as he went around the room. Annoyed he hadn't responded, I huffed silently. I knew that I was only behaving like this because it helped me forget my fear. Anger stopped me from thinking about what was really happening.

Eventually - when we had almost reached the spot we had started walking - James stopped, and wrapped his hands around a large, damaged rag, and whisked it away. Underneath, as it turned out, stood an old motorcycle, covered in dust. When James traced his hand along the hide, the words "Harley-Davidson" appeared.
'Does it work?' I asked, a bit awed. It seemed unlikely we would be so lucky.
'No,' James crouched down, 'but I can fix it.'
Immediately he started fidgeting, turning screws and tugging at metal parts. He did it with quick efficiency, and it seemed like he had clear ideas on what was wrong with it.
'Should I… should I stand guard?'
'No. Stay here.'
Then the other side of the motorcycle was inspected. I wasn't really sure what he had done to the vehicle - I was too busy thinking I heard or saw something in the shadows. Eventually, a low, rumbling sound erupted from the Harley-Davidson.
'The moment we come out of this building, we'll draw the attention to ourselves. I need you to keep your eyes open.'
I nodded determined. 'Got it.'
James sat down on the motorcycle. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes kept darting around. Yet, somehow he seemed in place, with his hair wilder than before, some strands honing in front of his face, and the determined gleam in his eyes. He held out his hand. Holding on to his strong arm, I got up after him.