Monster Among Us
By: Darkest Ember
Chapter 4: Dinner With the Devil
Jane could hear the faint sounds of elegant voices and clinking swords in the distance. As the rest of her senses awoke, so did a dull throbbing behind her forehead and the burn of strained muscles. Her eyes shot open shortly thereafter, but much to her surprise she hadn't been lying in a bed.
Thick, textured pages stuck to her cheek as she slowly sat up and took in her surroundings. It wasn't difficult to determine that she was in a library of sorts, but she was struggling to explain why she'd fallen asleep there if Loki had been lurking and threatening her.
Unless it was all a dream, she thought. I haven't exactly sleep well since I got here…what if all those times I thought I saw Loki were just insomnia-induced illusions?
Of course there were some details that discredited this new theory, but she was more than happy to overlook them for now. She gathered the large books and did her best to return them to the proper shelves. Recharged with positive feelings, Jane practically skipped through the castle halls.
For the first time since she arrived, Jane felt relaxed and more like herself. She was given the opportunity to explore this exciting new realm and had every intention of doing just that. All she needed to do now was find Thor.
When Jane left the table, Thor resisted the urge to chase after her. Her second time spent in Asgard wasn't going as smoothly as he had hoped. There was still a looming feeling of danger as a result of her thoughts regarding Loki. Thor knew that his brother was dead, but something was still nagging in the back of his mind.
"You worry for her, don't you?" Sif asked. It was as if she could read his mind from just a mere expression on his face.
Thor turned to her and laughed softly. "It's ironic isn't it? Each night we were apart, I worried for her safety. Now that we're together again, that concern has not yet subsided."
It was difficult for Sif to sympathize for Jane, but she couldn't stand seeing Thor in such a state. She reached across the table and took his hand in hers. "It's understandable, Thor. She's not of this world…danger could befall her much easier than any of us."
"What have I to fear? The Nine Realms are at peace. Asgard has recovered from the dark elves' attack. There should be no danger here."
"Why don't we go watch the young warriors practice? Maybe we can give them some tips or share tales from our many battles," she suggested.
"Yes, I'd very much enjoy that," he replied.
He convinced himself that everything would be all right. Jane probably just needed some solitude to acclimate to her new surroundings.
Although the sun was starting to set, several groups of young boys were engaged in mock combat across the courtyard. On one side of the courtyard, boys no older than ten were fighting with wooden swords, while the older boys on the opposite side fought with real swords.
Despite what Jane considered to be a dangerous situation, they all appeared to be enjoying themselves, even Thor who stood watching on the sidelines. She remained hidden behind a large, colorful bush for a few moments longer. Of course this would be where she'd find Thor.
And of course he'd be here with her, Jane thought bitterly. Even though she could feel strings of jealousy boiling in her veins, she smiled. She'd rather deal with normal drama such as this than be haunted by Thor's demented brother.
Knowing it would be pointless to continue hiding, she emerged from behind the shrubbery and approached them. "Jane! Where did you wander off to?" he asked, greeting her with a tight hug.
She should've been bothered that he didn't sound distressed in the slightest, but the overwhelming feeling of love and security that accompanied his embrace erased any of those pesky concerns. "I actually spent some time with Heimdall. After we chatted, he mentioned that there was a library here, so I checked that out in hopes of learning a little more about this place."
A hint of relief passed through his body. "That's excellent! Did you learn anything interesting?"
Jane doubted it would sound good to say that the page she'd fallen asleep on related to ghosts and the underworld. She made up something about the bi-frost and then acted embarrassed about falling asleep. Thankfully, their attention quickly turned from her whereabouts to the students in the courtyard.
"Sparring was always my favorite lesson," he said, glancing at her with a grin.
"I know," she blurted, recalling the potentially imagined conversation she had with Loki. She mentally cursed as her skin burned beneath his confused expression. "Err…I mean it just makes sense. I've seen how invested you get in your fights."
His look of uncertainty lingered a moment longer before that grin busted out again. "The rush and exhilaration that comes with a battle is unlike any other experience," he said, returning his gaze toward the young warriors.
As she mimicked his gaze, Jane found herself wishing she could be a better fighter. She leaned up against a stone wall and thought back to the battle in London. There was no denying that she displayed feats of courage that she didn't realize she possessed. Not to mention her intelligence and devices led to Malekith's demise.
Yet she still felt so…helpless. Would intelligence alone be enough to combat the god of mischief? He would never suspect her to have any physical training or combat skills…provided he was something more than a figment of her imagination.
"Do you think you could give me a few pointers sometime?"
"Pointers?"
She laughed. "Yeah, you know like tips…a little personal training?"
Now it was Thor's turn to laugh. "What for?"
"Self defense," she replied, surprised that he didn't immediately agree.
"But you have me here to protect you," he said, wrapping an arm around her torso and pulling her flush against his body. "So long as I am around, no harm shall befall you, Jane Foster."
Cruel, cold gusts of winds blew flurries of snow across the barren land. Jotunheim's drastic weather and arctic temperatures would've been difficult for most visitors to endure; but Loki was no ordinary visitor.
As he approached the throne, several frost giants growled at him from within the icy confines. Loki wasn't sure which form they would loathe more – that of the man who defeated them in merciless battles or that of the man who killed their former leader and nearly destroyed their world. As tempting as it was to return to his true form, he decided it best to remain under cover. He may not look like himself, but that didn't mean he couldn't employ his usual tricks.
The frost giant that now sat on the throne was not nearly as menacing as Laufey. This new ruler, Fafnir, glared down at one of the many enemies at Jotunheim, yet it didn't deter Loki in the slightest.
"You must be the new ruler," Loki said, keeping a healthy distance from the frost giant. "I am Od–."
"I know exactly who you are, Aesir," the giant interrupted. "Though I am unsure why you are foolish enough to show your face here."
"The realms are finally at peace, and I realize that I never formally apologized for my sons' mistreatment of your realm."
"Take your remorse elsewhere. It will do you no good here."
Loki was more than happy to drop the sappy speech and cut directly to the chase. "Perhaps if you will not entertain my apology, you would consider a plan of attack."
Fafnir leaned forward as if he misheard what Loki had said. "Didn't you just speak of inter-realm peace?"
Loki inclined his head in agreement and took a few steps closer. "Indeed it is true that the realms are calm, but how long will that last? The more I think it over, the more I truly regret stopping your kind from inhabiting Midgard. It is the weakest and most troublesome of all the realms."
"How do you expect me to believe this nonsense? Your own son has teamed up with Midgard's pathetic team of warriors. You think I will believe that you would willingly invade the land so dear to Thor?"
"It is Thor's attachment to that realm that will be his undoing some day," Loki said with an exasperated sigh. "After learning that Malekith would be going to Midgard during the convergence, I tried to deter Thor's pursuit, but he chose treason over my ruling. I purposely avoided any further interaction with the dark elves, hoping that they could make some much needed improvements there."
Aside from the howling wind in the distance, the only sound that could be heard in the throne room was the low, disapproving murmurs coming from the frost giants hiding in the shadows. Fafnir was still a new ruler, and many had their doubts that he could ever live up to Laufey.
"This is a most unexpected surprise," Fafnir murmured. "Why is it you've come to us with this information? What would the frost giants gain from joining your crusade?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Loki smirked. "Imagine all the power…the servitude…the reverence."
"I will consider your offer, Asgardian," he replied, refusing to address the supposed All-Father by name. "Should we choose to align with you, we will send word to you."
Loki glanced around at all the hostile, red-eyed faces. He was incredibly outnumbered, yet he didn't feel a sliver of fear. He knew it was foolish to underestimate the power of Earth's Avengers. This battle on Midgard would benefit him in every way imaginable – the frost giants will eliminate some of its overpopulation, and the Avengers will surely slaughter several of the giants.
Two of the species Loki loathed will tear each other apart while he watches from a throne atop Stark Tower. He couldn't help but grin as he returned to the bi-frost.
At first, Jane felt insulted that Thor would not give her the lessons she asked for. She didn't expect to become strong enough to lift a sword overnight, but that didn't mean he couldn't teach her a few defensive maneuvers.
As twilight approached on her second day in Asgard, Jane quickly forgot about that dispute and found herself finally feeling less awkward amongst Thor and his companions. But the best part was – she didn't give a single second's thought to Loki. Without any haunting encounters, Jane found her level of excitement returning to the height it had been when Thor first appeared on her porch.
Knowing of her love for science and remembering how she interacted with the healers during her last visit, Thor took Jane down to the medical wing to examine more tools and observe healing procedures. It was so refreshing to be back in her own element, even if it did involve otherworldly devices.
Her happiness continued to grow as they made their way to the great hall for supper. She drank ale from an oversized mug and tested the food with bold curiosity. She even shared a civil conversation with Sif. Having been so lost in the conversation and merriment, she didn't notice Odin enter the room and sit at the opposite end of the table.
"So, Lady Jane," Fandral began, "Thor was telling us that you've had the err…dearly departed on your mind lately."
Jane glanced incredulously at Thor as if to say, 'I can't believe you told your friends about that!' She couldn't bring herself to consider the idea that it was real, so she laughed it off. "It is true, I thought I was hearing Loki's voice, but it was all just a weird dream…or daydream I guess."
"It's probably the first time a maiden has dreamed about him," Volstagg joked.
"He doesn't really come off as the charming type," Jane added, ignoring the remnants of unwanted sexual tension that she recalled from those imagined encounters.
"He may have been a silver tongued devil, but what good did that do him?"
All this mention of his brother made Thor feel plagued with guilt and anger. He didn't want to think of the ways he could have acted differently to prevent the catastrophe that was the last year from happening. He glanced up at Jane and tried to think of a different direction to take the conversation, but his friends seemed hell-bent on continuing their jests.
"Odin" also chose to stay out of this discussion. Loki's internal rage was making it very difficult to consider: What Would Odin Do. Would he defend his mislead, though virtuous-in-the-end adopted son?
In the entanglement of his thoughts, Loki didn't realize he was losing his control over the illusion. Jane gasped as a sudden ache spread around her neck as if an invisible hand were choking her. Bruises from Loki's fingers flickered like a flame across her neck.
"What's wrong, Ja–?" Thor asked, but stopped short once he noticed the flickering bruises. He may not know much about human afflictions, but Thor was sure that bruises did not appear and disappear like this.
Prior feelings of concern and uncertainty returned in Thor's mind. Maybe there was cause to worry for Jane. It would seem that something was truly amiss in Asgard.
Although Odin looked reserved on the outside, Loki was absolutely seething inside. Not only had his grip on Jane loosened, but he also couldn't maintain his own illusions. He mentally cursed as he watched Thor coddle Jane once the bruises reappeared.
He'd been having so much fun toying with her head earlier. Was the game already over before it could truly begin?
No, he thought, glaring in their direction, I know exactly how to fix this.
Loki had impersonated people before, but separating himself from his illusion would be a new experience. One little slip up was not going to be enough to ruin his façade. Once everyone's attention returned to Jane's supposed insanity, he'd be back in the clear.
The twisted smirk that appeared on Odin's face probably looked misplaced, but no one seemed to be paying him much attention. It was as if he weren't sitting there with them as the Warriors Three continued their jesting at Loki's expense. Despite Jane's protests, Thor insisted on making sure she was safe.
And just like that, an imaginary version of Loki separated from his true body, which maintained the form of Odin. Loki drew in a deep breath as he glanced down at his familiar attire. It was refreshing to be back to his own form, even if it wasn't real.
Unseen by all but one in the hall, Loki glided down the table until he came to a stop right behind Jane's chair. His icy fingers clamped down on her shoulders, causing her to let out a small shriek. Because of all the chatter, her miniscule outburst went unnoticed, even by Thor who had resumed consuming his meal.
She saw his hands on her and nearly screamed again. Despite trying so hard to convince herself that everything involving his torment was a dream, she still found herself glancing at the opposite end of the table to find Odin sitting there with a mildly amused expression on his face.
As his grip tightened and he bent down closer, she fought the urge to yell at him or stab him with a utensil. The only thing restraining her was the fact that everyone would surely think that she's insane if she started swatting or yelling at the thin air around her.
"Do I make you speechless, Miss Foster?" he sneered. His eyes scanned across the table before landing back on her. "Oh, I see! You don't want everyone to think you're talking to yourself. Not to worry, I'll make it seem as though you're not saying or doing anything."
Jane considered the possibility that he was lying. Normally she would take the time to think things through – but there was nothing normal about these interactions with Loki. Frustration easily overcame caution.
"Get your hands off me," she said, speaking lowly at first.
"Why would I want to do that?"
She tried to shrug him off, but that only prompted him to dig his fingers deeper into her shoulders. "If this is real, how are you able to be in two places at once?"
"Let's just say I'm testing the limits of my own ability. Enough about me, let's talk about you. Did you enjoy your handful of hours living in blissful ignorance? Casting me off as some cheap daydream…"
"It was better than acknowledging reality," she muttered.
Loki took a few steps backward and wore a thoughtful expression. No one seemed to have heard Jane when she just spoke, but she still felt cautious. She craned her neck slightly to keep him in her line of vision.
"Reality can be rather painful, I suppose," he said softly. It sounded as if he were speaking to himself rather than his captive audience. "But it can also tell you so very much about a person."
It was disturbing how quickly his tone shifted from pensive to predatory.
Despite the tone, Jane reclined in her seat and returned her attention to the conversations taking place around her. Perhaps it was foolish of her, but she felt more relaxed now. After all, Loki didn't know a single thing about her – other than her feelings for Thor.
Keeping her head facing forward, Jane could hear Loki's footsteps shifting to her left where Thor was sitting. "You may be blinded by your love, but I assure you Thor wasn't always this knight in shining armor."
Although she really wanted to keep him out of her head, Jane couldn't help but reflect on her first encounters with Thor. Contrary to what Loki said, it wasn't really love that blinded her – it was curiosity. The images they captured on the night of that cosmic storm showed the figure of a person inside.
No human could possibly survive those winds, yet there was Thor – alive and somewhat arrogant despite being in a foreign world. The thought of him being some extraterrestrial being seemed too silly to entertain at first. Of course his personality was difficult to deal with, but Jane saw it as a challenge. She wanted to get to know him, find out more about this world he claimed to have fallen from.
Love was the last thing on her mind. Whatever happened between her and Thor was simply a pleasant side effect.
After realizing that Loki was probably intending for her to question her relationship with Thor, she shook herself from her thoughts and resumed her focus on the trickster. "I am well aware of how Thor was before coming to Earth," she replied.
"Are you really?" Loki asked, stepping even closer to Thor. Jane was deeply disturbed, knowing that Loki was standing right there, yet Thor hadn't the slightest clue. "Did he tell you about the time he went to Jotunheim, ready and willing to slaughter every monster living on that frozen wasteland, just because they ruined his coronation day?"
Jane heard what he was saying, but refused to acknowledge any of it. "No," she said shaking her head. "You're probably just exaggerating."
Loki laughed lowly, sweeping back over toward her. "Don't fool yourself. You may be mortal, but I know you to be cleverer than this. The only times you've seen him fight, he was defending you. He's a completely different person otherwise. He revels in the battle, in the bloodshed!"
Stealing a glance to her left, Jane pondered what Thor was really like in battle. Was he as merciless and wild as Loki described? She hated herself for entertaining the idea, but it wasn't entirely unbelievable – not that Loki needed to know.
"Call me crazy, but it sounds like you're describing yourself," she replied, keeping herself as collected as possible as she turned around to face him. "Remember New York? Remember all those people you killed?"
Although she had hoped to catch him off guard, Jane's reversal tactic didn't seem to have much of an effect. "I won't deny that I enjoyed the time I spent in your pathetic realm, but you've misunderstood me. I killed because it was necessary. Thor kills as though it were a sport."
Sensing that words weren't getting through her stubborn mind, Loki decided to take things a step further. He pulled her chair a few feet away from the table and placed a hand over each of her wrists, despite her many feeble protests. When he pulled his hands away, golden cuffs were locked in place.
"What are you–?" she began to ask. Loki took advantage of her trapped state and placed a finger over her lips.
"Shh," he whispered into her ear. "I'm going to show you a little collection of memories from Thor's life. Maybe this will help you better understand the man you claim to love."
All sounds of conversing and laughter drifted away as the brightly lit room became dark and silent. What appeared to be an invisible screen replaced the scenery. A string of scenes started playing in front of her, as if she were watching a movie.
At first, all of the scenes were of battles – terribly gory exchanges between Asgardians and a variety of creatures. In every clip, Thor rarely looked concerned or panicked. Rather, he appeared conceited and almost excited to be covered in his enemy's blood. He and his friends – the Warriors Three – all appeared to savor it.
And then there was the Lady Sif. She was also in many of the battles alongside Thor, which seemed to strike a deeper chord in Jane's heart than the aforementioned disturbing behavior.
As scenes of Thor and Sif together replaced the battle sequences, Jane felt her stomach churn. Thor so obviously belonged with Sif – she was an Asgardian, a warrior, and a lifelong friend. What does Thor see in me that makes me more appealing than her? She's perfect for him, Jane thought with a sad smile.
With a wave of his hand, the screen and its torturous images disappeared along with the cuffs. "Did that help put things in perspective?" Loki asked.
A swirling pit of self-doubt and anxiety developed in her gut, but Jane managed to face Loki without any of those feelings showing on the outside. "It doesn't change how I feel about Thor," she replied, knowing that to be true. Her feelings for Thor were hardly affected; however, she suddenly felt rather inadequate and out of place.
Loki's expectant smile quickly deflated. "How could you still care for him after witnessing all the destruction he's caused?"
"That was in the past," she replied. "He's changed..."
"People don't just change in two days after centuries of acting a certain way," he said with a strained voice. "There's no way some mere mortal can have that much of an effect."
Jane found herself deeply amused as she watched Loki start to spiral upon realizing that his scheme was failing. "Maybe you're just jealous," she said with a smirk.
Loki didn't find any humor in her comment. He rushed over to her and gripped her shoulders tight enough to cause her to cry out. "You think you're so superior? You think you and Thor will be in love for the rest of your limited life? Well, you're quite mistaken, Miss Foster. Thor may be infatuated with you now, but it will not last. He will never love you."
Tears formed as his words stung somewhere deep in her heart, fueling her prior feelings of uncertainty. In the blur of vision, something shiny caught her eye. The fork she'd been clutching when Loki first appeared had fallen into her lap. She didn't bother acknowledging what he said or defending her feelings.
With fingers wrapped tightly around the fork, she jerked her arm to the side and stabbed his hand. Her fingers remained around the fork as she watched, almost mystified, as his blood leaked down her arm and stained her dress.
Had she not been enjoying her victory so greatly, she might've noticed that Loki didn't look angered in the slightest.
"Goodness, Lady Jane, you're bleeding," one of the servants said, causing everyone to turn their attention to her.
Loki's projection completely disappeared. She looked dumbfounded and was frozen in place with her bloody fork still suspended in air. Her body became riddled with nervous laughter as she dropped the fork. In the stunned silence that surrounded her, the fork's clatter sounded three times louder than it should have as it hit the marble floor.
While everyone awaited an explanation, Jane's eyes darted madly around the room in search of the culprit. She knew she was the only one who could see him, yet foolishly felt that if she saw him again, she'd be able to prove his existence – logic, be damned.
"Either Lady Jane was struck by an invisible enemy or she has stabbed herself with her cutlery – both of which are rather hard to believe," Odin boomed from the opposite end of the table. His voice was stern, yet there were traces of amusement twinkling in his eyes.
"Perhaps it would be best if we retired for the evening," Thor said softly.
Jane used to think that regardless of what could happen, she would always be safe when Thor was around. She doubted it would be enough to keep Loki's illusion from tormenting her. She felt so small beneath all their stares and wanted nothing more than to leave the great hall.
Thor draped his cloak across her shoulders as he escorted her. As they passed by Odin, Jane heard Loki's low rumble of laughter.
Based upon the sudden rigidness in Thor's touch, Jane was willing to bet that he heard it, too.
A/N: Tried to do more research for the background in this story...apparently Fafnir was king before Laufey, but for the sake of my story, he's the new king of frost giants lol in the next chapter, Thor begins to wonder if Loki is still somehow in Asgard and keeps Jane with him at all times, making it difficult for Loki to continue playing his game. Of course, he comes up with a solution to separate them quickly :)
Really appreciate all the comments/reads/alerts/favorites! Again, all I ask for is 3-5 comments for another update soon :)
XoXo Amber