Chapter 2: The Nightmare

Loki never liked the idea of a nanny. He had thought Father had done away with all ideas of them when the last one hit him, but obviously that was not the case as he was standing in the throne room in front of Father with Thor at his side.

"There is someone who has offered to help take care of you for a while." He explained more and then asked. "Are you both okay with that?"

"Of course Father!" They chimed in unison. He was not okay with it what-so-ever but like usual a carefully trained mask hid his true emotions from those around him. They were dismissed.

Loki lay reading a book on the floor. It was a very interesting book, something that intrigued him deeply- Magic. When he wasn't reading he was practicing his skills or exploring Asgard. However he couldn't focus on the book today. It wasn't Thor and his friends making a racket while fighting imaginary monsters that distracted him. The idea of the nanny kept coming to the front of his mind.

He sighed and snapped the book shut, handing it to a guard to place back on the shelf. He needed some time to think. He walked out of the room, he thought he might be able to warp to the place he wanted to go to. But then changed his mind, the spell was a complicated one and he hasn't tried warping more than a few feet yet. He shuddered eliminating the consequences of failing a spell that complicated from his mind. They were not pretty images.

The trees stretched over the river, protecting it from the heat of midday. Fish swam in the clear water and birds sang in the trees. The place was not far from the palace but was not well known. It was Loki's spot, a place to escape from his family, especially Thor, and think. He took of his boots and hopped across the stones to the middle of the river. He stretched out on a particularly large rock and allowed his toes to dangle in the water. The sun that filtered through the trees warmed his back and made the water sparkle.

The nanny's just never payed much attention to him. Allowing his thoughts to flow freely calmed him. Thinking his way out of tricky situations had always been his strong point. Just like every one else. He recalled bitterly. It was always Thor, Thor, Thor. Oh Thor wanted to go out and play outside, okay. It never mattered if Loki wanted to stay inside and read. Thor wants to show you a new fighting move he has learned. Okay. But if Loki wanted to show you a new spell he'd learned, oh Loki I am busy right now. It's all Thor's fault he thought. Green energy sparked around him with his anger. The birds stop chirping and the fish disappeared. The sun dropped behind clouds.

Tears welled in his eyes and ran down his cheeks, each droplet making a little "plink" as it hit the water. The energy stopped and he clenched his hands looking into his reflection. Was there something wrong with him? Did he do something wrong to deserve being ignored. "I hate you, Thor!" He screamed and the birds exploded out of the trees, cawing and yelling as the went. His angry face turned to shock as he realized what he just said. "No I don't, I don't hate Thor." He whispered. "It's not his fault everyone pays attention to him." Loki rolled over on the rock and looked up at the sky. Rain dripped onto his face, washing away all evidence of his tears.

He stood and hopped back to the bank, pulled on his boots and trudged home. The pouring rain reflecting his inner feelings that he hid from the rest of the world.

He hated the nanny. It didn't matter how much she tried to be nice to him or how much she tried to get his attention he knew she would be the same in the end. She would end up gloating over Thor. He wanted her attention, but he didn't want it because he knew if he grew attached to her, she would hurt him in the end.

At first he would play pranks on her, setting her cape on fire, making a bad smell follow her around. But she always just smiled and laughed about it asking about how he did such a cool trick. How did she always know it was him? But as time went on his pranks grew more and more violent. He set spiders loose in her room, her worst fear. He would disappear for hours on end so she would grow frantic and worried then reappear before dinner. He tainted her dreams with nightmare after nightmare each night. But nothing warded her off. He was at a loss for what to do.

Loki was falling, falling through blackness. Above him Thor and Father looked down with sad faces. He reached for them but they did nothing. Why wouldn't they help him? The scene changed and he was standing in a strange place he had never seen before. There were monsters all around him and one reached out and touched his face. Suddenly an immense pain racked through his body causing him to convulse.

Loki shot up in bed a small squeak emitted from his lips. His face was covered in sweat and tears streamed down his cheeks. He curled up in the corner of the walls and pulled the blanket up to his chin. Shadows swarmed around his room reminding him of the monsters in the horrific nightmare. Thor's soft snores above him reminded him of their growls and the memory of the pain the inflicted still coursed through his body.

Suddenly the door to the room opened a crack and a figure stepped in, closing the door behind it. It moved toward the bed, silently quickly. Loki's eyes widened and he shook with fear. He tried to slow his breathing hoping the creature wouldn't notice him. The figure stood close to the bed and peaked into the top bunk. Then leaned down to look into Loki's bed. Loki pushed himself back into the corner as far as possible.

"Loki? What are you doing up?" Kayla's soft, concerned voice drifted from the figured. Loki threw his arms around her neck and sobbed into her shoulder. Startled that the boy who seemed to despise her so much would do this, she didn't react for a moment. Then she realized what was happening and wrapped her arms around him. She rubbed his back and whispered "Shh. It's alright. You're okay now. I'm here." He pulled his head back and stared at her with large watery green eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hated you. I'm sorry for putting spiders in your room and an-" he sputtered through his sobs. She brushed her hand against the side of his head pushing his dark hair back away from his face.

"It's okay. I don't mind. But lets go to a different room before you wake Thor up." Loki's eyes widened larger than they were before. It wasn't Loki be quiet or you'll wake Thor up or Loki shut up you'll wake Thor. She was offering to help. He pushed his face into where her shoulder and neck connected and cried harder. She scooped him up into her arms and softly walked out of the room. Rubbing his back and muttering "Shh. It'll be alright. You're okay."