Elise broke down her air wall as soon as she heard the blade enter Frigga's body. She raced out just in time to see Thor throw his hammer and miss the toss. Odin rushed in as Elise felt a dark presence strike the air around her and the world froze. From somewhere inside the ship racing off, she could tell that Malakith was staring at her, a wicked grin on his face. She felt her body lift into the air, but she couldn't fight it, there was nothing she could do, she was stuck and everything around her was frozen. Suddenly she felt all light, all soul, all good, pass from her system and she collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
She awoke to a bright light shining directly into her eyes.
"Bloody hell, get that out of my face," she said, jumping off the stone table and walking out of the room.
"The king demands your presence!" yelled a guard from the room as she walked out.
"Too bad for him!" she yelled back. Thor, she needed to find Thor. Before guards found her. One small issue, she did not know where she was going. Not only was the palace huge, but she had never really explored it before. Elise let her instincts take control, but that failed to work when she found her mind wandering to thoughts of Steve, what was he doing? Where was he? Was he worried? What did he think had happened to her? She stumbled as she stepped outside, and found her way to a rainbow bridge. It was crystal, and glimmered in the colours of the rainbow, extreme in its length, it needed a cable car to get down it. She used her powers to propel herself down, after all what good was mythical blood and a serum if you couldn't manipulate air currents to traverse ground easier? A giant golden dome was at the end and she stepped inside to see a tall man in golden armor with a giant sword standing at the edge, looking out into a night sky.
"I knew you would come to me soon," said the voice, booming across the room.
"Let me guess," said Elise wandering over. "Heimdall?" she received a nod as an answer. "I suppose asking you to send me home would fail wouldn't it?" this time she got a laugh.
"The king ordered me to close the gate. Opening it would be treason. However," said Heimdall, glancing around. "I would track down your brother. He may be of some use," he whispered and she took that as her cue to leave. Chatty guy. Elise headed out and turned back, opening her mouth. "Your soldier, the captain, is fine. Trust me on that. He misses you."
Elise stormed back to the, oh it was basically a castle. It was slightly in ruins from the attack, cleanup crews were working to repair the building, ready to defend once more. She let her instincts take control once more, twisting her through corridors covered in ash. Finally she bumped into him, muscles and all.
"It is like hitting a brick wall," said Elise, stepping backwards. Thor smiled. "So are you getting me out of here yet?" she said, and he smiled once more.
"I have a plan," said Thor. "But you may not like what it includes. We go to the Dark World, draw Malakith out, get him to pull the Ether out of Jane, destroy that, we win, you and Jane go back to Earth, simple," he rambled on and Elsie put up her hand.
"You said there was something I wouldn't like. Spit it out Thor," she started to move towards the shadows as she heard a patrol guard in the distance.
"We need Loki. He knows how to get us out of Asgard through a secret passage. But you know the issue with Loki, and the issue if we involve him with you."
"I'll convince him to help. And if my charm doesn't work, I've got a knife. I will do next to anything to get away from this planet, fast. If it means making a deal with the devil, then to hell I go."
"Thor, after all this time now you come to visit me," said Loki wandering towards the edge of his cell as Elise stayed hidden in the shadows. "Why?" sneered Loki, leaning forward with a menace. "Have you come to gloat? To mock?"
"Loki enough," interrupted Thor, trying to remain calm and collected, hard with Loki. "No more illusions," he said, his tone plain. Loki looked shocked, before closing his eyes. Elise watched the vision fade away. From his composed self, he became a mess, hair unkempt, clothes ragged and the room a tip. He looked… sad.
"Now you see me brother," Thor wandered around his cell. "Did she suffer?" he asked, and for the first time, Elise could have sworn there was a hint of sadness, and compassion in Loki's tone.
"I did not come here to share our grief. Instead I offer you the chance of a far richer sacrament," said Thor, twisting his hand around his wrist. Loki cocked his head in interest, a slight smirk on his face.
"Go on."
"I know you seek vengeance as much as I do. You help me escape Asgard and I will grant it to you. Vengeance."
"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?" he said laughing.
"I don't," responded Thor. "Mother did. You should know that when we fought each other in the past, I did so with a glimmer of hope that my brother was still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me and I will kill you," said Thor and Loki grinned.
"Is that why one of your friends hides in the shadows? Too scared of me Thor, too scared off what I may do to you?" he smirked. Thro glanced over to the shadows. "Why should I help you? Go on, play that ace you have up your sleeve," mocked Loki.
"I wouldn't say I'm an ace," said Elise, stepping from the shadows. Loki rushed to stand up, and ran to the edge of his cell. The grin on his face said it all. Possessive, controlling, greed.
"Well darling out of everyone I expected to see emerge from those shadows, you rated among the least," he said, bowing slightly. "I presume it is Princess? I owe you some blame for this. Our brother there told Odin that I had, offered you a deal, and he did not take that well. His precious daughter, who he had completely abandoned. He could not see it. You hate him, almost more than I do, you want him dead," he said, stepping back slightly.
"What I want Loki," started Elise moving towards Thor. "Is none of your concern. You will do as Thor asks, because you know it is the only way you will get vengeance. However you do not win. You will not win. And if you so much as try to lay a finger on me, I will leave you begging for death at the hands of Thor. Is that understood?" Loki grinned once more.
"When do we start?"
Loki raised a vision around himself so that he looked presentable. When Elise sighed he raised his eyebrow, a cocky move.
"I have to make an effort for you darling," he said with a wink.
"The only effort I want you to make after you get me out of this place is to shove a blade through your own heart to save me the trouble," she continued, walking ahead slightly.
"This is so unlike you brother. So clandestine," whispered Loki, watching Elise walk in front. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?" he asked grinning.
"You keep speaking, I just might," growled Thor back.
"Fine as you wish. I'm not even here," replied Loki quickly and Elise turned to see him appearing as a guard of Asgard. "Is this better?"
"Better company at least," said Thor, trying his hardest to ignore Loki.
"Still, we could be less conspicuous," muttered Loki, and Elise turned to see him back to normal and Thor standing in the form of Sif. "Mmmm brother, you look ravishing," he said and Elise stifled a laugh. "Don't worry," he said looking at her. "When you become my queen, I will be loyal," he said, so honestly and truthfully it made Elise gag.
"It will hurt no less when I kill you in this form," replied Thor, and Elise could see his anger seeping through his body.
"Very well. Perhaps you prefer one of your new companies given that you seem to like them so much?" said Loki, and Elise knew what was coming.
"Oh this is much better. Wow. Costume's a bit much, so tight. But the confidence! I can feel the righteousness surging. Hey, want to have a rousing discussion about truth? Honor? Patriotism? God bless Amer-" Elise shoved him against a wall, out of the eyeline of the incoming guards. He instantly turned back into his normal form.
"Well at least I know how to catch your eye," he said with a wink, and she literally punched him.
"I will kill you. Do you understand that Loki? When it comes down to it, I will drive my blade through that icicle most of us call hearts and twist that blade until all life has left your worthless body. Do you understand me?" she snared, her tone the most intimidating Thor had ever heard, and that included his father.
"You wouldn't. Because you know that at the end of the day that cold, ruthless behavior would disappoint your beloved boyfriend."
"Fiancé. And he isn't here," she said, slapping him.
"I don't see a ring on your finger. Is he too poor to afford one? After all surely you are the breadwinner of the family," he laughed, as Thor handed Elsie her ring.
"Don't say I never do anything for you sister," he whispered as they walked off once more.
"You could at least furnish me with a weapon. My dagger. Something!" interrupted Loki, and Thor grinned. He reached for his belt before handing something to Loki. "At last. A little common sense," he said as Thor clasped the handcuffs around his wrists.
"I thought you liked tricks!" chuckled Thor, as he and Elise laughed, wandering off. They ran into Sif and Jane, who wondered across to Loki.
"You're…" she stuttered.
"I'm Loki. You may have heard of…" Jane slapped in the face. At the same time both Elise and Loki spoke up. "That was for New York."
"I like her," they said, before Elise glared at him.
"I'm Elise by the way. Thor's half sister," she said, getting that over and done with quickly. They rushed off as the guards appeared, Sif staying to slow down the guards.
"Betray him," she threatened to Loki. "And I will kill you," Loki chuckled.
"Its good to see you too Sif," he laughed, walking off. They moved towards the ship and Elise rushed on board with Thor. It was a hideously designed ship, one Thor was clearly struggling to pilot. Elise stayed back with Jane, watching the two fight. It was like two brothers. Elise felt the ground shake as they took off, Thor crashing through almost every column on the way. Despite no previous experience on such a craft, he was already a next to master pilot. Jane collapsed to the ground.
"Jane!" yelled Thor, as Elise moved to her side.
"I'm okay," she whispered, not able to handle anything more. Elise looked at her and could feel the dark energy within her, it made her feel woozy and worried.
"You know this is wonderful! This is a tremendous idea! Lets steal the biggest, most obvious ship in the universe and escape in that! Flying around the city, smashing into everything in sight so everyone can see us! Its brilliant, its truly brilliant!" he said as Elise shoved him out the back of the craft.
"That felt good," she said. Thor moved across to lift Jane up, and they moved towards the back of the craft.
"Are you sure you can handle this sister?" he said.
"Too late to ask this question now," she laughed back before jumping out the edge. They gracefully feel to Fandral and the ship below, laughing at Loki who was in a crumpled pile.
"I see your time in the dungeons has made you no less graceful Loki," mocked Fandral and Elise once more chuckled. Fandral reached an arm out to Elise's shoulder, making sure she was alright.
"I'm not that weak," she mocked before smiling as well.
"Watch your back with him. And be careful," he whispered and she nodded.
"Dually noted," she whispered back, both of them earning death stares from Loki. Loki directed them towards a cliff, as another fighter came up behind them shooting. They enacted evasive maneuvers.
"Fandral," said Thor, giving a command.
"Right," he said, grabbing a rope. "For Asgard," he finished jumping off the edge. He swung onto the ship, taking out the Asgard guards, saluting Thor and bowing before Elise. She giggled as they headed towards a cliff.
"Loki!" yelled Thor looking at the size of the gap.
"If it were easy everyone would do it," he replied.
"Are you mad?" he asked.
"Possibly," he said back, with a cheeky grin. Thor gripped Jane as Elise braced herself. The ship scraped against the edge the cliff as a rainbow light enclosed them. They emerged into a world of darkness, bleak and dreary.
"Tadaa!" sung Loki as they landed in the Dark World.