Temperance rolled out of the way as Loki's sword came down beside her.
That was too close for comfort.
When the sword came at her again, Temperance turned her body to diamond, and blocked the sword with her arm.
The impact sent a jolt up Loki's arm, and he screamed in pain and anger. He swung his sword again, but this time Temperance was ready; still in diamond form, she grabbed the blade and snapped it in half. Grabbing the sharp end of it, she kicked Loki to the ground and held it to his throat.
Loki slowly raised his hands behind his head, and Temperance turned back to normal.
"Impressive," said the God of Mischief. "Even though you cannot truly kill me, you have won the battle. My life is yours."
Temperance pressed the blade to his throat. Could she really kill this man? He was now defenseless, at her mercy. Her parents were two of the most ruthless ex-killers in the world, but she couldn't bring bring herself to kill the man who had been torturing her for years?
With an angry sigh, she threw down the blade. "Keep your life," she said coldly. "But stay well away from me." She walked away.
"Temperance!" She stopped as she heard a familiar voice call her name. "Temperance!"
"Nick!" She called. "What are you doing here?"
He grabbed her in his arms. "I came to save you."
"I won."
"Damn it. So much for my night in shining armor routine."
Temperance smiled at him, but it was cut short; Loki appeared behind Nick. Before Temperance could even scream, Loki plunged his blade deep into Nick's back.
Nick's eyes widened, and he fell to the ground.
Loki calmly wiped his blade on his robes. "You should have known better, really," he said. "The prophecy said I would kill you. I apparently just had to go through him first." He disappeared, only to appear right in front of Temperance, and drive the blade through her heart.
Temperance fell to the ground beside Nick. Loki made sure she was dead, and stood with satisfaction. He started to walk away.
"You have . . . no idea . . . what you've done."
Loki stopped; the boy was still alive. He turned back. "I know very well what I've done," he said. "I've finished the prophecy."
"You've killed yourself," Nick rasped. "Turn around."
Sneering, Loki did just that. When he did, his eyes widened, and he scrambled backwards.
A large, fiery bird was just behind a young woman with wild rust-colored hair and glowing red eyes. She was floating slightly, as though gravity didn't exist.
"N-n-now, now," Loki said nervously, and the force of the bird shoved him backwards, onto his back. He sat up, and the girl got closer.
"The Phoenix is not mercifull," she said. "The Phoenix does not make bargains, so do not try."
"I -I . . ."
"Say nothing!" she yelled, the flames around her growing larger and angrier. "You will be cast out, Loki. You will be tried for your crimes when the Phoenix feels fit. Until then, you are banished, and not permitted to come back to this realm or any other. The Phoenix hereby casts you out of my universe."
With a bright light and a scream from Loki, the God disappeared.
Now the Phoenix looked towards Temperance; the flames circled her, and Nick watched in amazement as her wounds were healed; she gasped and her eyes flew open.
The Phoenix turned to Nick, but before she could heal him, Andi began to sway. She fell to her knees, breathing heavily. She looked up, her eyes red but not shooting beams. "N-Nick?" she called. "Hold on!"
She ran towards him, the other X-Men behind her, but Nick's world was plunged into darkness.
Blinking open his eyes, Nick looked around him. He was in a bright, white room, and there was an annoying beeping noise coming from somewhere.
Standing above him was Temperance, her hair pulled back off her gorgeous face, looking down on him.
"Hey," she said quietly, smiling.
"Hey," Nick said weakly.
Temperance slipped her hand into his, sitting down beside him. "How do you feel?"
"Tired. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She laid her other hand on her cheek. "Hank says you're going to be fine. Any further to the left, Loki's blade would have kill you."
"Like it did you."
She smiled a little. "Yeah. Like it did me." She was quiet for a moment. "Your sister saved my life."
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She's coping."
Nick laid his head back against his pillows. "The Phoenix."
"The Phoenix," she agreed.
Nick closed his eyes and sighed.
"You should get some rest," Temperance said.
"Temperance?" Nick asked as she got up to leave.
"Yes?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Get back here."
With a smile, Temperance turned and came back to the boy she loved.
Please rate and review! Part 2 coming soon!