Loki's dreamer: that's right not long now.

Sidney loves fiction: pins and needles. Wait till the chills start. Lol.

Doctor Loki love: can't wait to read the new one already. Hehe. I'm pumped. It is another Cephera Loki and I posted a short summary at the end of this chapter to give you an idea of what it will be about!

Poodle warriors: glad you think you're ready...:p

Sorceress of the trees: I agree. I always saw angels as being very complicated. Hehe

Chapter 88: To Lose my Guardian

"Try again." Loki urged his daughter. Diana did as she was told. She concentrated on pulling the magic from deep inside herself. In a wave of light she threw a fireball across the room. It was small but it was better then her last attempt. "Better." Loki told her. "Again." He said. Diana didn't complain. She repeated the action. It was like this a lot lately. Ever since their mother had that dream about Vicerial he was intent on making sure they were strong. Devian was off on the other side of the room trying his hand at spells himself.

Loki was focusing on Diana today and Devian tomorrow. He was taking time from Kat to train his own children. Sometimes Loki allowed Diana to watch him as he trained Kat. She seemed to enjoy it. He even let Diana train against Kat though the blond would hold back on his daughter which Loki was both grateful for and irritated over. How would his daughter become strong if everyone took it easy on her when enemies would not. But he didn't bother telling Kat any different as he knew she would not change the intensity in which she used her magic against the child.

Loki watched his eldest daughter continue her practice with the fire balls. Just seven more months and she'd be ten. Time was going by much to fast for Loki's liking. In less then a decade she would be considered a woman and there lies the other problem...boys. No one would ever be good enough for his Diana. That's if anyone would have the fiery warrior princess. He hoped she'd be like her mother and wait for the right man to come along before giving anything of value to them. And by value Loki meant her virtue.

It was true he and Cephera hadn't been married before they coupled but at least ten years later they were still together and she had been over a century old. He didn't expect Diana to keep it that long but the longer the better. Loki wouldn't have to kill any cads for spoiling or hurting her. Loki shook his head of the thoughts. Her age of womanhood was still many years away but it was hard not to realize just how quick time goes by.

Then there was Devian. Loki didn't have worries about him. Devian was very studious and smart beyond his years. He had a calmness about him much like his mother and strong mind like Loki. He felt Devian would make smart choices where woman were concerned. But still he would have to talk to him someday just to make sure. The talk to Diana would come from Cephera. Cephera herself didn't get a talk. Their mother had clocked out mentally long before the girls had been old enough for it and Seraphina had been forced to assume the older role and neither girls thought much about boys. Especially after they found out about who Seraphina really was. He was sure living with King Yorin was a big reason Cephera had not partaken earlier in life. And not even his wife knew when her sister gave her virtue up. Loki dragged his brain from his current thoughts and focused back in his work.

The twins room was quite. The twins were with their father and Seria with her mother. Shiaji was circling the room in unrest. His senses were twitching. Something was wrong. His tail was swaying back and forth as he began to sniff out the cause. Cephera was with Odin and Frigga for the day and so the guardian had stayed behind in case the twins should return unattended.

The cat could think and could feel to a degree most hadn't realized. Back years ago when Loki had begun to show interest in his master he had urged the romance. Something about it felt right, like loki was safe. That was what Shiaji did. He could sense danger from safety but not always. Something's were masked to him depending on the magic used to do it. He growled a low throaty growl when a mist entered the room.

He waited watching with his blue eyes as the mist retreated and Shiaji followed transforming as he went to his full size. He was still very graceful in his movements as he stepped down the hallway toward his masters bedroom. The door opened on their own and he padded softly inside. He looked about but there was nothing to see. He followed the mist all the way out to the balcony where it dissipated and he was once again alone.

Shiaji watched the balcony split beneath his feet and before he could jump back it caved in and he fell. He hit the ground hard on his feet looking around but there was nothing to see. Shiaji let off a growl that rumbled through his entire body warning off anyone who might come near. But there was no one around to come near. The gardens below were currently empty.

His eyes scanned around him as he carefully padded across the grass. Then he felt it. He had felt it before and wasn't sure what to make of it. A confusing menacing feeling that tickled his magically heightened senses. Shiaji stopped and arched downward ready to pounce, stretching his paws out in front of him and extending his nails.

Cephera walked with Seria holding her hand. It had been a nice day spending it with Odin and Frigga. The attention and time spent with their grandchildren was always well deserved and enjoyable. Cephera liked watching the joy spread over their faces. They entered the children's room were the twins had just settled in. "Kitty?" Seria said looking around. She had become fond of sleeping curled up with Shiaji.

"Shiaji." Cephera said looking around and then to Diana and Devian. They both shrugged. "Shiaji." She sent her mental summons and waited. When he didn't show up she also began to worry.

"He wasn't here when we got here." Devian said to her before she could ask.

"Weird. He never takes off on his own nowadays." She said. In fact since the kids were born he hadn't ever wandered off. He was always close by watching over them as Cephera had asked him to do. Cephera took a moment and said goodnight to her kids before leaving them to look for Loki. She found him in their room.

"Were the children in here?" He asked her intensely.

"Not that I know of. Why?" She asked.

"Someone's destroyed the balcony." He said pointing a thumb behind him. Cephera hurried over and found the balcony was indeed half gone.

"Shiaji." She said and her heart clenched slightly.

"The cat wouldn't have done it." Loki told her sighing loudly.

"No I mean Shiaji's missing I came here to see if you've seen him and instead I find this." She passed a hand over the ruins and then carefully tread outside to look down. Loki got the same worried look and was fitting the pieces together much like she had. Something was not right.

"Go to the room with the kids." He said taking her by the shoulders. Cephera nodded and left Loki to search for the missing guardian while she stayed inside.

Hours passed by before she got to her feet at the sound of boots on the floor down the hall. She bolted to the doorway and looked out. She could see Loki carrying her small guardian and she knew something was wrong. Loki's face told a story she wasn't sure she wanted to hear.

She waited anxiously for him to reach her and when he did he passed the cat over and she could see his lighted core was dimmed so much it was barely viewable at all. Something had happened to the soul within him and he lay still in her arms. "I found him in the gardens. There was evidence of a struggle."

"And so it begins." Cephera said remembering what the angel had said. Their enemy was closing in.

"Perhaps we can send word to your father..." Cephera was already shaking her head.

"You cannot replace the soul that keeps him alive. To do so would still be to lose him completely. It's like someone else taking over your body. It still wouldn't be up you. He may still get stronger once more." She said hopefully kissing the cats head.

"Mother maybe my magic would work." Devian said. She hadn't heard them sneak up behind her. Seria was still fast asleep.

"I don't think it works that way." Cephera said grateful for the suggestion but sure it wouldn't help.

"Don't cry mother." Diana leaned around Devian and wiped Cephera cheek with her hand. Cephera hadn't realized she was crying. "At least he still lives." She wiped her mothers other cheek and both children hugged her at the same time.

"We will end this." Loki promised her taking hold of her from behind in one large group hug.

New fic coming right after this one is done here a the summary.

Loki/OC! Loki and Cephera have been dreaming about each other for over 200 years bit neither had ever met...until now. However neither is what the other expected making it hard to get along and they can't seem to get away from what their dreams want from them.