Chapter 16 – Weapon
"Kiera!" Thor called out. "Kiera, are you hurt?"
Kiera coughed. Kiera's head had smacked the floor hard. She touched her fingers to her forehead and saw that her hand was now smeared with fresh blood. "I'm okay. I've got a bit of a headache, but I'll be fine. You alright?"
"What happened?" Thor demanded, extricating himself from the rubble.
"I think the Fire Demons got impatient."
Thor stood up and extended his hand. A soft whirring sound grew louder until Mjolnir flew into Thor's outstretched palm.
"We must make certain the citizens of Asgard are safe." Thor reached down to Kiera, helping her to her feet before striding to the window and looking out into the thick smoke. Kiera followed and peered out beside him.
At first Kiera could not make out much of anything. It was as if all of Asgard was enveloped in a dense cloud. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she caught her breath in horror. Outside the window stood an army of Fire Demons clouded by billowing smoke and shrouded by a wall of flames that completely surrounded the palace.
"Holy crap on a cracker," she muttered.
Kiera turned to see Jadef running down the corridor toward them.
"Are you hurt?"
"No, we're fine," said Kiera. "What do we do?"
"They have the palace completely surrounded," Jadef said, breathing heavily. "The guards were able to seal all entrances before any of them got inside, but I fear for the people of Asgard. Our best warriors are within the palace walls unable to defend the civilians."
"What about the sentries outside the palace?" Kiera asked. "Couldn't they help?"
"Unfortunately, we do not have eyes outside at the moment. We can only hope that the people out there are safe. Their attention seems to be on the palace."
"So we're stuck in here?"
"Their focus is Odin. They will undoubtedly try to gain access to the palace. Our barricades will not hold them long.
"Great, we're like sitting ducks."
Thor and Jadef raised their eyebrows in confusion.
"Ducks, you know, they're like birds that - "
Another explosion hit, rocking the palace. Thor instinctively shielded Kiera from the force of the blast.
Jadef stood, brushing dust from his cloak, his hair thick with ash. "We'll have to get out of this corridor and find someplace more secure."
"The servants!" Kiera cried, standing up hurriedly. "If the Fire Demons get inside they won't stand a chance!"
"Niva is gathering the servants together to find a safe place to hide. If all goes well they will be unharmed."
"Where are the rest of the warriors?" Thor asked. "We need a plan of attack!"
"I believe most have gathered in the Great Hall. At this point, I believe that's where we should convene. It will be safer there."
"House of Odin."
An ominous voice boomed through the halls of the palace. Kiera froze. The voice sent chills up her spine.
"Your actions have threatened Muspelheim and provoked war. Our numbers are great. Your people will perish unless you turn over the Weapon you have created and intend to use against us. Hand her over or your realm will burn."
Kiera's heart sank. She locked eyes with Thor, his eyes narrowed with determination.
"I fear they are referring to you, Kiera."
Kiera nodded.
Thor's empty hand balled into a fist. "Rest assured we will allow no harm to come to you."
"Thor," Kiera took a deep, shuddering breath. "Unless I go out there they'll wipe out Asgard. Thousands of innocent people will die because of me, I have to."
"No," Jadef said quietly. "I believe this is a ploy to force our hand. They are still after Odin and even if they do take you they will attack regardless. They mean to weaken our side by taking you, the perceived weapon. But trust me when I say the people of Muspelheim are not men of their words."
"So what do we do then?" Kiera said.
Thor grasped Mjolnir tightly. "We fight."
Loki awoke to a tremor and a burst of light. Disoriented, he tried to go back to sleep. When another blast rocked the dungeon, he opened his eyes and half crawled to the front of his cell. Bits of rock scattered across the floor and a small hole had been blown into the wall of the prison. Smoke poured in through the hole causing him to gasp and choke. The sound of crackling flames filled his ears.
Smoke filled the room making it difficult to see. If the palace was on fire as it seemed, he had no way of escaping. Everyone would be too preoccupied to remember that he was trapped in the prison, and even if they did nobody would risk their life to save him after what he had done. He tried and failed to magic himself outside the bars of his cell but to no avail. While Kiera's fire made him feel stronger, this fire was agonizing even from a distance. His Jotun blood could not bear the heat. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he crouched as far from the fire as he could. Beginning to panic he desperately tried cutting the chains around his wrists loose on the stone walls of the cell. After several minutes the smoke began to make him dizzy. He coughed as it filled his lungs and winced as it scorched his skin. There was a magical quality about the flames that was not normal for fire.
It was Muspelheim's fire.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed through the prison. He strained to listen.
"House of Odin. Your actions have threatened Muspelheim and provoked war. Our numbers are great. Your people will perish unless you turn over the Weapon you have created and intend to use against us. Hand her over or your realm will burn."
Kiera was in trouble.
Loki tore off a strip of cloth from his clothing and tied it around his mouth and nose, this time to keep the smoke from filling his lungs. He had to find a way out. The crackling flames grew louder signaling their advance toward the palace. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. Loki fell away from the bars of the cell and stumbled toward a dim light resting in the very back. Hesitantly, he reached out to touch the small ball of fire Kiera had left for him mere hours ago, still slightly ablaze. He feared it would burn his hands, but it was the only hope he had.
Loki's hands enclosed around the flames and he closed his eyes, bracing himself for the scorching heat. It never came. He stood up, holding the small fire in his hands. Warmth from the flames quickly spread through his hands to his arms. It reached his chest and spread up to his neck and down his torso until his whole body was filled with the sensation.
Suddenly, a strength he had not felt in a long time coursed through his veins. He opened his eyes sharply. He felt his strength and magic returning like a long forgotten friend. Dropping the flames, he thrust his arms apart, shattering the chains around his wrists easily. He smiled in triumph and closed his eyes once more, willing himself to stand on the other side of the bars that enclosed him. When he opened his eyes again he found himself staring at the empty cell before him that had once been his prison. He turned and broke into a run, flying up the stone staircase out of the prison to face the demons of fire.
Kiera, Thor, and Jadef entered the Great Hall to find it in chaos. A dozen or so warriors ran about the room while several guards stood at the massive doors trying desperately to keep the Fire Demons from advancing.
Frigga strode regally toward them. "Kiera, you heard the message?"
"Yes," Kiera replied.
"I must ask you not to give in to their demands."
"That is precisely what I told her," Jadef said.
"If you turn yourself in to them they will only bring further destruction to Asgard. I feel you could be a great asset to us."
"Is that what Odin told you?"
Frigga furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"
Jadef placed a hand on Kiera's shoulder. "Kiera, this is not the time - "
"They think I'm a weapon Odin created to defeat Muspelheim. He hid the truth from me since the moment I arrived here. I had to find out from one of them that I was a Fire Demon by birth!"
Frigga's eyes opened wide with shock. "Is that why you can conjure fire?"
"Don't pretend you didn't know that."
"Did not know what?" Odin said, appearing behind Frigga.
"You knew all along what I was and you trained me as a pawn against Muspelheim in case this ever happened. Well, guess what? It's not going to work out too well because I'm really not so great at conjuring fire and I'm no match for these guys. Congratulations on your master plan."
"Kiera, I know what this looks like," Odin said sadly. "We did know that Loki was not of Asgard, that part is quite obvious, and we deeply regret keeping the secret of his origins from him. We, as did Jadef, suspected you were of Fire Demon descent, but the purpose for bringing you to Asgard was not to make you a pawn. You clearly did not belong in Midgard and needed help harnessing your power so others did not come to harm from it. You needed the greatest training possible which only Jadef could provide."
"And Loki needed a friend," said Frigga softly.
Kiera blinked.
"I am truly sorry about all of this, Kiera," said Odin. "You never asked for any of this to happen. We only wanted to help you."
Kiera nodded. "Except now they think I am a weapon, so what now?"
"Our best chance is to fight," Odin said. "They greatly outnumber us, but our warriors far outmatch anyone in the Nine Realms. We should be able to hold them off and force them back to Muspelheim. I know not how they came to possess the Tesseract but we need it to return them from whence they came."
"If we open the gates and attack perhaps they will be unprepared to fight," Jadef said. "We can catch them off guard."
"I can stand in front as if we're giving into their demands," said Kiera.
"That way they will be more unprepared," Thor agreed.
"Precisely." Odin strode up the stairs so he was in plain view of the whole room.
"People of Asgard!" Odin's voice filled the Great Hall, blocking out the sound of roaring flames. "The Fire Demons plan to force us into surrender. We will not allow this to happen. We must prepare ourselves to fight. Assume battle formation. Ready your weapons. Asgard will prevail!"
A shout rang up from the warriors and they hurried into their formation. Kiera started forward but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She looked over and saw Thor who looked worried.
"Please be careful, my friend."
Kiera smiled at him. "Of course. You've got my back, right?"
Thor grinned ruefully and nodded. He let go of Kiera's arm and she slowly made her way to the front lines. When she reached the heavy doors, she turned back to look at Odin and nodded. Odin signaled the guards who began to open the gigantic doors and let the enemy inside.
Loki's legs ached from running. Being kept in a confined space for a long time had taken its toll. He did not know what the people of Asgard would do if they saw he had escaped. With a flash of green light, he quickly disguised himself as a palace guard and raced toward the Great Hall.
He knelt down behind a statue just outside of the grand room and saw the doors to the Hall opening slowly. He glanced around to try to find Kiera and finally his eyes alighted on her. She was standing determinedly in the very front of the room at the mouth of the Great Hall.
She's turning herself in, he thought, his heart sinking.
Loki thought quickly. If she turned herself in, they would surely kill her. The Fire Demons were without remorse or guilt. His breathing grew faster and he frantically looked around the room for something he could use to protect her. Suddenly, his eyes met Thor's. He dropped his disguise, hoping, praying that his brother would see that they were on the same side. For a brief second, Thor looked surprised, then concerned.
Loki flicked his eyes obviously toward Kiera as the doors continued to open, willing Thor to comprehend his question. Thor glanced to Kiera before turning back to Loki in understanding and shaking his head.
Loki sighed with relief that quickly turned to fear. He peered from behind the statue as the doors finished opening revealing an army of Fire Demons cloaked in flames. He quickly recognized Surtur, the ruler of the Fire Demons in the front of the group. He was smiling at Kiera in a way that made Loki want to tear him limb from limb. With a quick wave of his hand, he clad himself in armor to ready himself for what was to come. He would have to thank Jadef later for teaching him that one.
"This is your Weapon, Odin?" bellowed Surtur mockingly. The Fire Demons laughed.
"Our understanding is once you take her you will leave this place." Odin's voice boomed from the back of the Great Hall. "Are we in agreement?"
Surtur's smile grew and he took a step forward. "Of course, Allfather."
"NOW!" roared Odin.
A cry erupted in the Hall and the Warriors took off running toward the army. Surtur's smile vanished in an instant. Loki saw Kiera duck out of the way and dash to the back of the group. She had only had a minimal education in magic compared to the norm and a couple of weeks to train for battle. He feared she would not stand a chance.
Flames reared to life, twisting throughout the room and engulfing several warriors who did their best to fight them off. Blasts of fire ricocheted off the warriors' shields, causing them to glow with the heat. Loki saw Mjolnir fly at the front lines, knocking dozens of Fire Demons to the ground in one go before returning to Thor's hand. Sif and the Warriors Three had engaged a large group of Fire Demons just inside the doors of the Great Hall. Odin's staff was more than a match for a few who had made their way farther into the room. Kiera crouched in a corner sending occasional jets of fire toward the adversaries. They looked weaker than her normal magic – perhaps fear was inhibiting her power.
Loki's eyes settled on the Tesseract nestled in the of one of the Fire Demon's hands. His mind raced. Then, determined, he made his way into the throng. Using the chaos as concealment he wound his way through the battleground until he came upon Kiera. He leaned close and touched her shoulder. Kiera was startled until she saw who it was.
"Loki, how did you – ?"
"Do not move," he whispered.
"What?"
"Can you swear to me you will do exactly as I say?"
"Loki, what's going – "
"Swear it."
"Fine, I swear!"
"Kiera, you must not move. Not at all. Not even an inch. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes! Now tell me - "
Without hesitating, fearing he would lose his nerve, Loki swept Kiera to her feet in one swift motion. He twisted her around so her back was pressed against him, turned to face the front of the Hall, and pressed an icy dagger to her throat.
2013 EDIT: I noticed a quite large plot hole in this chapter. Now I'm going to go back and fix it. Woohoo…
Fixed. Much better.