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Chapter 17
"Who do you think you're calling girl?" The death eater asked.
"Unhand her." A smooth but deadly cold voice said.
The death eater stopped, and spun, his wand aiming at Loki's chest. Jade couldn't believe she hadn't thought of calling for Loki before. Things wouldn't have been such a close call then.
"Who in Merlin's name are you?" He asked.
Loki smirked. "The last thing you'll ever see in reality." He raised his hand, and the Death Eater crumpled to the ground, screaming and clutching his head. Whatever he was seeing and feeling must be horrible.
"Get out of here Jade." Loki said. "I'll take care of this pathetic excuse of a magic user. Inbred idiot." He would enjoy killing this fool.
Her legs were shaky, but Jade took off up the steps, and out of the dungeon. She ended up in an ornate entrance hall. She was probably in some pureblood manor. She ran out the door and saw a battlefield. She heard a roar, and her eyes were drawn to where the Hulk was throwing death eaters round like rag dolls.
She was confronted by a death eater when she stepped out the door. "Walking to your death willingly?" He taunted.
"What the hell are those cylinders on his shoulders?" Another asked.
Jade looked to see Rhodey in the War Machine suit.
"Probably just some muggle toy." The Death Eater in front of her said, reaching for her. He never touched her, but collapsed to the floor, body riddled with bullet holes from the War Machine's guns. His friend had received the same treatment.
"Run Jade!" Rhodey called, turning to face more Death Eaters. How many of these guys were there?
The team had fanned out, but were thoroughly thrashing the Death Eaters, who weren't expecting such a violent and strong attack. Tony was blasting chunks out of them from the air while Dr Strange and Rhodey did the same for the ground. Wolverine was simply cutting through them, their spells having no affect on them. Fires were all over, thanks to Johnny and Ben had joined the Hulk in throwing the Death Eaters round. Sue and Reed were working together, watching each others backs as they disabled the Death Eaters. Many Death Eaters had become either living or dead quivers for Hawkeye's arrows. It was quite a sight. But there were still more. Where the hell did they get them from?
Jade ran, and soon hit the tree line. Her one thought was to get away. The forest was surprising, but Jade knew she could use it to her advantage. She knew how to hide in a forest. One of the things drilled into her was camouflage for different areas. That way, if she couldn't fight, she could hide. Jade saw Steve fighting with his back towards her, and saw the large crevice between them. She'd never make the jump- as a human. She hadn't completed the animagus transformation, but she reasoned that now was the best time to complete it. She was glad that it was wandless magic. She concentrated on her form, and felt the shift, before landing on all fours, and continuing her run as a wolf. She picked up her speed, and when she hit the edge, she jumped, and flew over the crevice. Her front paws touched down, but her back paws fell short. She scrambled for purchase, and felt herself slipping. She barked, and Cap turned, saw her and frowned, shaking his head, before looking back round, for more targets. He thought she was a normal wolf!
Panicking, Jade shifted back. "Uncle Steve!"
He whirled round again, and did a double take when he saw her, before running for her. Just as she lost her grip, he lunged, and caught her wrist, and pulled her up. He pulled her away from the edge, holding her close to him.
"Told you we'd be here." He said. He raised a hand to his communicator. "I have her."
"What were you doing all the way out here?"
"Thor and I went looking for the ritual circle. He said it had to be around here somewhere. That way, if they slipped you past the others, we were between them and the circle."
Jade nodded. There was a snap and they turned, Steve bringing his shield round to protect Jade.
"I can't locate it." Thor said as he stepped into view.
Steve relaxed slightly. "It doesn't matter." He said. "I have Jade."
"Let's get back to the meeting point then." Thor said, his grip on his hammer tight, ready to throw it.
They were about to head off when someone unexpected stepped from the tree line.
"Professor Quirrell?" Jade asked.
"M-Miss S-stark. How p-positively wonderful t-to see you a-alive." He stuttered. "W-we w-were all v-very worried w-when you disappeared." He seemed positively terrified.
"Who are you?" Thor asked.
"He's the defence against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts." Jade said.
"A-and a-as such it is m-my duty t-to accompany a-any search p-parties f-for m-missing students."
"So there are others here then?" Steve asked.
"Oh y-yes. T-the headmaster- led the search p-party." Quirrell said, nodding. "We'd b-better leave. Q-quickly now!" He headed off and they exchanged glances, before cautiously following. He was heading in the right direction anyway.
Jade's scar started to throb, and she raised her hand to rub it. A cold and a headache on top of psychos trying to sacrifice her? Oh great.
Suddenly, she could no longer feel Steve right behind her. She spun round to see Steve and Thor hitting some invisible force field. She whipped back round to see Quirrell He still had his back to her. He raised his hands and unwrapped his turban. She swallowed as he revealed a second face attached to the back of his head. Red eyes pierced hers.
"You are indeed powerful. But soon, that power will be my own. And there is nothing you or anyone else can do."
"Oh yeah? I doubt you've factored in Omega level mutants." Jade said. She snapped her bracelets off, just as she feel energy start to leach from her. She felt her power rush up, welling inside her, and ripping from her body. But it only seemed to get caught in a funnel, and directed towards Quirrell. Her eyes widened.
Thor raised Mjolnir and he hit the force field, just as a burst of green hit it, and the shield seemed to shatter, and the power heading for Quirrell rebounded, and hit Jade, knocking her to the floor.
Steve didn't waste time grabbing her and pulling her away, before grabbing her bracelets and then placing them back on her wrists.
"Fools! I will kill you for your insolence!" Voldemort said.
"No mortal. It is you who will die." Loki said. His expression was murderous as he approached.
"Master?" Quirrell asked. "How did they manage to interrupt the ritual?"
"Mortal magic is nothing compared to the power of Gods." Thor said, a grin forming, once more raising his hammer. "You have harmed Jade for the last time, Voldemort." He nodded to Loki and the both of them attacked, Loki sending an almost invisible spell at Voldemort, while Thor threw Mjolnir. On impact, Quirrell disintegrated to dust and a spirit flew from his body. Obviously Voldemort.
Steve stood, a nearly unconscious Jade in his arms.
"How is she?" Loki asked.
"Not well. She's got a temperature, and she's very weak." Steve said. "We have to get her back, now. She needs medical attention.
"Loki, how are you here?" Thor asked.
"I will explain later. As the Captain has stated, I suggest we get Jade away from here and to safety." Loki said. "I have already encountered many mortal wizards who have attempted to stop me. They are all… otherwise occupied." He smiled, mischief glinting in his eyes. They were of course, trapped inside their own minds, living through terrors that were deadly. The moment something killed them there, their hearts would give out. And they would feel any pain inflicted on them in their mind.
"I won't ask." Steve said, before he set off at a run towards the meeting point.
Loki and Thor kept pace with him, taking care of any threats they met. The zombies were a bit of a surprise, but the moment Johnny flew over they turned and shuffled in the opposite direction.
"Cant stand the light." Loki muttered.
They were almost to the meeting point when Tony joined them. "It's a massacre back there. The Hulk and I may have lost it. What's he doing here?" he asked looking at Loki.
"He helped get Jade out of the ritual circle." Thor said. "He's on our side."
"Well, that's good." Tony said, walking over to Steve. Jade's eyes were barely open. His mask slid up and he placed his hand on Jade's cheek. Her eyes opened slightly.
"Daddy?" She muttered.
"It's going to be just fine, kiddo. Rest now." His mask slid back into place. "I'll cover you from the air." He took off. Before they could set off again, Tony was hit with a sickly green curse. The killing curse.
"Oh you did not shoot that green shit at me!" Tony yelled, after it rebounded safely off his armour. A well placed blast from his cannons killed the Death Eater straight. Normally, being the good guy, he wouldn't kill anyone. But he was one pissed off dad whose baby girl had been hurt. Jade was the baby of the Avengers. There was no denying it. They would all do anything to protect her. Which was why, for the first time, an Avenger's mission became a bloodbath.
When they reached the meeting point, they saw the cars ready and waiting, Hank, Fury and Natasha stood ready, along with several agents.
"Hank, she needs your help." Steve said.
"Get her in the car. I'll treat her there." Hank said. "It should be easier to provide cover."
Fury sent out the signal to call the other Avengers in. It was time to go. It didn't take long for the rest of the Avengers to arrive, and then they were speeding off for the airstrip, leaving absolute carnage behind them.
A/N: please review! Loki's interrigation and more is next!