His hand clutched mine tightly as we rushed from the building. I saw many an inquisitive look as we descended. Upon reaching the doors, I saw him cast a nervous glance around the street before pulling me along. "Would you mind explaining what's going on?" I complained, my breath coming in gasps.
Loki didn't respond as he looked around wildly. I noticed the intense anxiety and wondered what could possibly be so terrible that he would be afraid. "I am powerless here!" He muttered bitterly before pulling me through a throng of people that had gathered on the sidewalk.
"Thanks for that explanation. It really cleared things up for me."
The glare he gave me dried my sarcasm up. Whatever was happening was bad enough that he didn't think taking the time to explain was worth the effort. An alley was directly to our left and he took the opportunity to turn sharply. He continuously glanced over his shoulder and towards the sky, a gesture that was making me more fearful by the minute. "There is nowhere on this planet that is safe." He finally stated shortly, releasing my hand to break a padlock on a metal door to the right.
After two hits, the lock snapped open and he tossed it to the ground. The door opened with a jerk, revealing a large, abandoned room. At once, he caught my hand again and pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. He flicked on the lights and I watched as he shoved a steel beam through the handle to form a kind of barricade.
"What do you mean no where on the planet is safe? What's out there?" He dragged heavy pieces of furniture in front of the door, continuing to pause now and then to listen to the sounds outside.
"Something I'd rather not ever see."
"Which would be?"
The same screeching sounded once more from outside, the ground shaking violently. "It's not enough." He muttered in defeat. "I cannot allow..." But Loki trailed off, leaving me to wonder what could possibly be so terrible.
An instant later, I heard distant screams rise in volume. The screams were overpowered by a booming on a level I had never thought possible. Then, the screeching returned, each repetition more terrifying than the last. He shook his head in despair, striding to my side and pushing me towards the corner at the far end of the room.
"Loki, what's happening? I don't understand-"
"Someone has awoken it, Olivia!" He hissed.
"Awoken what?"
"Jörmungand!" He cast another anxious look behind him. "The beast is large enough to surround the Earth and grasp its own tail! No where is safe. I have no way to protect you. I cannot-" He licked his lips nervously and I began to realize the depth of his fear.
"Y-you're talking about the-"
"Serpent, yes!" One of the booms sounded far too close. Rubble resounded from somewhere nearby and I felt my heart rise to my throat. He pulled me to the floor, whispering words that I failed to understand. All at once, the screeching returned, practically next to my ear. I covered my ears, wincing from the sound.
The next moment, the wall across from us burst open, furniture flying across the room. I could have sworn my heart stopped when I saw what appeared. Its head was the width of at least two buildings and the height of an eighteen-story apartment building. Impossibly long fangs dripped acid, melting the concrete floor to nothing. The slithering of its tongue echoed from all directions. The snake's red eyes glowed blood red as it examined the room for signs of life.
Instantly, Loki had pushed me farther down, wrapping himself around me. I could only see through the gap between his arm and ribs. His feverish mutterings increased and I could have sworn he was pleading. The serpent's eyes found us, emitting its death screech. I closed my eyes as it drew back to strike. Expectantly, I waited for the pain of being destroyed but it never came. The screeching of the serpent and the distant screams of people halted abruptly.
My fingers still dug into Loki's shirt and I warily peeped one eye open. His hold on me released slightly as he glanced behind him. Not a moment later, he moved farther away from me, enabling me to observe our location. The gleaming, glittering, golden walls told me instantly he had done the unspeakable.
"No." I whispered desperately. Loki gazed at me sadly, stroking my cheek with his fingers. "No, no, no. Don't do this. Don't tell me you did this."
"I had to." His voice crumbled. "At least I know you will be safe."
"No. I don't want to be safe, not like this." My eyes stung from tears, a tremor erupting in my hands.
"Loki." An ancient voice commanded from behind.
"Why? Why would you do this?" I pled. A tear ran down his cheek as he drew me close, for the last time. I felt it hit my scalp as he kissed my head.
"I love you." He whispered brokenly, inhaling the scent of my neck. Then he was gone, having risen to his feet.
"Please!" I cried from the ground, grasping his fleeting hand. "Please, don't do this!"
I watched helplessly as Loki cast me a longing look, an exchange of things that could never be spoken. He let go of my fingers, turning to face his once father. A broken sob erupted from my chest as I sat on the gleaming, golden floor. The grandeur of my surroundings did nothing to soothe me. I felt a cold, deep hatred for the man sitting upon the throne rise up within me. That ancient, unfeeling disgrace of a father. I ground my teeth in anger, the emotions boiling to a new height within me.
Odin clenched his jaw as Loki approached the throne before falling to his knees. "Do you understand what you have done?"
"Yes." He replied quietly.
"You recognize what your re-appearance in this realm will mean?"
"Yes."
"And yet you implored me to bring you anyway?"
"Yes."
"Why have you done this?"
Loki glanced at me over his shoulder. "I-I wanted to ensure their safety." He replied forlornly before returning his gaze to the floor before him.
"It is granted."
"Thank you."
"Upon your banishment, I declared that should you ever enter these realms again, you would be met with your death." My world had been utterly destroyed in a matter of seconds. An overwhelming sense of moroseness flooded me, mixing with the hatred I felt for Odin. My eyes met Loki's for what I knew was the last time. Tears trailed down my cheeks as I prepared to say goodbye to my great love.