Chapter 4
Thor sat in the holding cell, listening to his integration. He looked up at Agent Phil Coulson and now understood what happened when you crossed men like him.
"You made my men, some of the most highly trained professionals in the world, look like a bunch of minimum wage mall cops. That's hurtful. In my experience, it takes someone who's received similar training, to do what you did to them. Why don't you tell me, where you received your training? Pakistan? Chechnya? Afghanistan? You know, you strike me more as the soldier of fortune type. Where was it? South Africa? Certain groups pay very well for a good mercenary like you."
Thor said nothing.
"Who are you?" Coulson went on. "One way or another we'll find out what we need to know. We're good at that." He removed something from his pocket and glanced at it. Facing Thor, he added, "Don't go anywhere."
When he left, Loki entered the room. For a moment all Thor could do was sit there, stunned.
"Loki? What are you doing here?"
"I had to see you."
"What's happened? Tell me? Is it Jotunheim? Let me explain to father…"
"Father is dead."
Thor felt his stomach drop.
"What?"
"Your banishment. The threat of a new war. It was too much for him to bear." In a gentle tone, Loki explained, "You mustn't blame yourself. I know that you loved him. Laena and I tried to tell him so, but he wouldn't listen."
"What about Celaena? Is she all right?"
"She's immensely shaken. It hasn't been easy for her to speak with anyone. Lately, she's started blaming herself and refuses to see otherwise. She misses you, but she needs time to think. What happened in Jotunheim is still troubling her."
Thor looked up at him without saying a word. The silence was killing him. If he had considered it before, he never would have goaded Celaena into joining them. The news of their father's death had been one of the last things he'd expected to hear, let alone the revelation that he'd traumatized his sister.
Loki said, "It was so cruel to put the hammer within your reach, knowing that you could never lift it. The burden of the throne has fallen to me now."
Thor's body trembled and his eyes threatened tears. "Can I come home?"
"The truce with Jotunheim is conditional upon your exile."
"Yes, but... couldn't we find a way to..."
"Your mother has forbidden your return," Loki cut in. "This is goodbye, brother. I'm so sorry."
"No. I am sorry. Thank you for coming here."
"Farewell."
Thor watched him disappear.
Loki meandered through the cold wastelands of Jotunheim, slowing himself, learning everything he could about his place of origin. When he got closer to Laufey, he thought: You. You're the one who so callously abandoned your own flesh and blood.
He never told Celaena that he was coming here. She was intelligent and carried a big heart, but she forgave too much. Loki didn't forgive. He punished.
Sometime before, after reeling from the revelation that Celaena was half-mortal, Loki had conjured up enough sympathy to speak with her about the recent news. And his mind created the possibility of Odin having a mortal lover. Why else would he have kept the child from a life on Earth? So he could unite that realm too? The only other person who knew what really happened was Eve – and that person had been dead for years.
He moved through the temple. At the other end of it was Laufey, who observed him from his throne.
"Kill him," Laufey ordered.
Loki stared at him and replied, "After all I've done for you?"
"So you're the one who showed us the way into Asgard."
The corners of Loki's mouth twitched. "That was just a bit of fun really. To ruin my brother's big day. And to protect the realm from his idiotic rule for a while longer."
"My men are dead, and I have no Casket. You are a deceiver."
He turned his head a little, not realizing how close Laufey was until his hands were around his throat. Loki remained standing his ground and hissed, "You have no idea what I am."
His eyes turned red while a deep blue spread across his face. While the guards continued to stare at him, Laufey felt his stomach drop.
"Hello, Father."
Laufey let him go, and watched as Loki's body slowly returned to normal. Intrigued, He sized up his son.
"Ah, the bastard son. I thought Odin had killed you. That's what I would have done. He's as weak as you are."
"No longer weak. I now rule Asgard, until Odin awakens. Perhaps you should not have so carelessly abandoned me."
Laufey paused, looking him right in the eyes.
"Or perhaps it was the wisest choice I've ever made. I will hear you."
"I will conceal you and a handful of your soldiers, lead you into Odin's chambers and you can slay him where he lies."
Laufey studied him.
"Why not kill him yourself?"
"I suspect that the Asgardians would not take kindly to a King, who had murdered his predecessor. Once Odin is dead, I will return the casket to you…"
Laufey rose from his throne.
…" And you can return Jotunheim to all it's uh... glory."
"I accept."
The evening was heavy and oppressing by the time he returned to Asgard, and Heimdall was already giving him a skeptical look.
Feigning innocence he asked, "What troubles you, Gatekeeper?"
"I turned my gaze upon you in Jotunheim, but could neither see you or hear you. You were shrouded from me, like the Frost Giants had entered this Realm."
"Perhaps your senses have weakened, after your many years of service," Loki suggested.
Heimdall's eyes lit up. "Or perhaps someone has found a way to hide, that which he does not wish me to see."
"You have great power, Heimdall. Did Odin ever fear you?"
"No."
"And why is that?"
"Because he is my King. And I'm sworn to obey him"
"He was your King," Loki corrected, "And you are sworn to obey me now."
"Yes?"
"Yes," Loki repeated. "Then you'll open the Bifrost to no one. Until I have repaired the damage that my brother has done."
Celaena snapped to life at the sound of footsteps echoing through the palace.
"Loki? Where have you been?"
"Speaking with Heimdall," he admitted, half-truthfully.
"I see."
Loki gave her a sympathetic glance and his first thought before realizing she was slouching – a gesture that seemed unnaturally familiar – was that she was getting fed up with all the secrets and the lies. And then he noticed her slumped against a pillar and he shook his head to dismiss the illusion.
Later, much later, Loki stood on the balcony, proud and alone. He heard footsteps and much to his surprise, he saw Celaena was approaching. She approached with caution, not much, but more than she had ever shown before.
"I think you've made Father proud."
He's NOT my father, Loki wanted to say, Your father, but not mine.
The moment the Bifrost lit up, both of them froze.
"Brother…"
Her worried expression confirmed Loki's suspicion. He placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to offer comfort.
"It's all right. I'll speak with Heimdall immediately."
"Wait," Celaena said. "Whatever it is you'll need to say to him, you can it say in front of me."
He ran his hands over his face.
"I haven't got time."
Celaena watched him walk away, giving it two minutes before making her way through the hallways. She eventually heard him up ahead and continued to follow. At the entrance to the vault, Celaena glimpsed through a small crack in the door. As she kept her gaze on him, she realised he was stopping at the far end of the room.
Wait! Why is he summoning the Destroyer? What's going on?
Loki's command was enough to provide answers.
"Ensure my brother does not return. Destroy everything."
She moved as quickly as she could on foot, backing away from the door as fast as possible. She got closer to the rainbow bridge, knowing what she needed to do. For Asgard's sake.
She had to act fast.
She made it as far as the gates when she saw Heimdall raising his sword, where Loki responded by summoning the Casket. His skin turned blue and when his eyes went red, ice clung to Heimdall like an infection. He'd swung the blade halfway, but now, it too was encased by the ice.
With a decidedly pleasant satisfaction, Loki waited as his skin to return to its Asgardian colour. A moment later the Casket disappeared.
Heimdall, no.
Celaena felt a lump in her throat and ducked behind the gates.
Now what am I supposed to do?
She couldn't even begin to find an answer. She had no idea.
Loki had already caused a significant amount of destruction which he observed from the throne. The battle had been going well – Loki thought he'd finally gained the upper hand… and he had not injured any more people than he'd had to.
On earth, a defenseless Thor approached the Destroyer.
"Brother, whatever I have done to wrong you, whatever I have done to lead you to do this, I am truly sorry," he admitted, "But these people are innocent. Taking their lives will gain you nothing." He looked up at the Destroyer. "So take mine... and end this."
Loki hesitated. It was an appealing thought, but was it truly what he wanted? To face an eternal banishment on Earth was one thing, but taking Thor's life was something else entirely.
Thor knew nothing of the Destroyer's moments. He didn't even register them until he was immediately thrown back. He fell to the ground, landing with a sickening thud. As Jane Foster ran to his aid, the Destroyer started to walk off.
Thunder rumbled up ahead to which the Destroyer turned to see a mixture of light and dust covering the road. Mjonir appeared from the middle of the dust and knocked the Destroyer right off its feet. What emerged from the dust afterwards was a fully revived Thor. When the Destroyer moved to attack, he recovered his wits and launched himself into the sky. A tornado of dust formed around both of them. The Destroyer glanced at Thor before it was sucked into the heart of the tornado. It moved to attack him multiple times, but Thor managed to dodge the attempts.
On Asgard, once the Destroyer was no more, Loki marched out of the throne room. He activated the Bifrost and waited for his allies. He spoke to all of them, although he looked at Laufey.
"Welcome to Asgard."
While two of the Frost Giants remained guarding the Bifrost, Loki led the remaining three inside.
Celaena knew it was a dangerous move. So that was why she waited until Loki appeared while accompanying the Jotuns. She watched him direct them further into her home.
And his.
She desperately wanted to confront Loki about his betrayal. She also wanted him to understand her rage. Let him understand what rage truly was. She neared him and shot her hand out at his arm and held. Loki grabbed her hand and tried to pry him off, but she sank her fingers deeper into his arm.
"Get off me," he hissed.
She glimpsed over his shoulder, and as she watched Laufey disappear from view, her eyes widened.
"Why are there Frost Giants here? Why did you attack Heimdall?"
"You weren't supposed to see that."
Celaena felt a lump in her throat.
"What's going on?"
He crept towards her, his hand outstretched as though he was approaching a timid bird.
"Let me explain."
"Get away from me," she spat, "I don't think I can trust you anymore." Celaena knew that her words had hit home. "Did you…did you harm Thor?"
Loki didn't reply.
"HOW COULD YOU?! AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH!"
"This isn't just about Thor," he seethed. "It's about Odin. Have you forgotten that he lied about my parentage? About your mother?" His expression was different. When he neared, she realised something was off. Celaena knew that look anywhere. Hatred. "Laena, please, listen to me. You don't have to lie anymore. Not to me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Celaena screamed. "How can you be saying this? I don't care if I'm half-human and I don't care if you're a Frost Giant. That doesn't matter to me. I never let it define you. You're not like them."
"So there's a 'them' now?"
"Ever since Mother gave you the throne, I've been trying to explain. I've been trying to explain."
Loki stared at her in disbelief and she ran out of strength. He was right. She didn't have to pretend anymore. Only he knew how hard it was. The truth got easier to live with as time went by, so slowly, but she never forgot about the aftermath of the battle. At least the part she remembered. She was a talented compartmentalizer, always had been. So as she grew up she put what happened to Eve in a box and buried it until the truth about Loki unearthed it all. That was why she'd been so unwilling to go to Jotunheim. Everyone knew returning to the past was be a very dangerous thing to do. Yet how could she have let Thor and Loki face peril alone? She told herself nobody could possibly know the truth. Apart from Odin.
And Frigga.
"How long have you known?" she asked, unable to keep the terror from her voice and detected his venom.
"Since we fought that race of monsters."
"How did you figure it out?"
"You kept staring at your ankle after we returned."
Her head was pounding and she closed her eyes. Was this really happening?
"As you stared at your hand."
He backed her against the wall and summoned the Casket. She hesitated, and when she touched it, the blueness spread across her hands and face. Her eyes, however, still remained brown.
"There, now," Loki said. "You see?"
When he reached for her hand the illusion disappeared.
"I knew Odin never had an affair," he continued. "Just as you did, Laena. Eve was a mortal captive who bore Laufey a child. Somehow, despite what she endured, she grew to love you. But like she said, she was weak and couldn't give you what you needed."
"That was a private letter."
"After I was found, Eve must have pleaded with the Allfather to take you. Right before she died."
"You don't know what you're saying."
As Loki stood in front of her without saying anything, a harsh chill rattled down her neck. He stared at her with unmasked rage.
"Laena." His powerful hand clasped her jaw, forcing her to look at him. "If you care at all that you're really my half-sister, help me prove to Father that I am the worthy son. Help me destroy Jotunheim."
He pulled her into a tight embrace. It was almost a relief to be close again.
"No," Celaena said. "This will condemn both of us, and that's not what I want. You need to understand that I didn't want you to be hurt anymore than you already have been. I only wanted to–"
"Spare my feelings?" Loki snarled. "Odin's already done a brilliant job with that."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
Celaena felt her pulse quicken.
"You're scaring me."
"I'm your brother, you're real brother," Loki said, fighting tears. "You shouldn't have to be afraid of that."
"Loki, I love you. But I can't let you destroy Jotunheim. It's genocide!"
What a fool she'd been.
He came towards her, his expression contorted with madness.
"I'm disappointed in you."
She turned to Loki.
"Why did you stay quiet all this time? Did you just want to hear me confess? Was that your intention right from the start?"
Loki stayed perfectly still.
"Yes."
Celaena gave a harsh bark of laughter.
"Why? When you already figured it out."
"Because I didn't want to believe it was true. Especially after learning about myself. Laena, please, try to understand."
She looked up at him.
"I never knew the truth about you. Not until Odin confessed."
In the distance, she thought she heard the faint sound of footsteps, thundering and loud. Loki stepped forward, looking smug. He flashed his teeth at her. Clean and white.
"Loki…"
Celaena's voice was pleading now. The sky rumbled. Was it thunder? It sounded like thunder. It was thunder. Thunder that announced the arrival of a storm. How dare Celaena pity him. This pathetic little freak. How dare she stand here and disapprove of his plans. They could have been happy. All of them. Especially if Odin had given him the throne in the first place. It didn't matter now. Anger coursed through him, threatening to push itself out of his chest. He wanted her to suffer. He wanted to wipe that pitiful expression off her face. He yanked out his dagger, faintly aware of Celaena's horrified screams as though she already knew what he would do long before it had crossed his mind.
"Loki!"
He shattered completely and launched himself at her. The sting of his hand sent her spiraling. That was the moment she pulled out her Vorpal sword, clasping it in her hand. But he stopped, hesitated, and darted past her towards Odin's chambers. The thud of a body hitting the floor left her with an unpleasant terror that had her heart pounding fast inside her chest.
Mother!
She ran.