A/n: Hey, readers. After a whole month, here's the next chapter! What happens when two conniving minds meet each other? Read on!

Chapter 9

Katherine would have hit the ground face-first had Steve not wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her as soon as the gateway spitted them out. Her tummy was still doing somersaults from the bumpy and rapid travel and glancing at Steve, she could tell he felt the same although he seemed to be holding up better than she was.

Used to travelling by Bifrost, Thor strolled toward a tall dark-skinned man in a golden armour and a broad sword and greeted him.

"Heimdall, I thank you for accommodating my friends and I." he said.

"Your father has just left on urgent matters in the Nether Realms. Best you go now." the man said, his golden eyes unseeing as they turned to the other two. They seemed to linger briefly on Katherine before Thor ushered them from the Bifrost and along the rainbow bridge.

"Doesn't see women much, does he." Katherine said snidely as she easily matched their steps.

"Heimdall is all seeing and all hearing." Thor explained. "He knows who and what you are."

"So he knows we're the good guys here, right?" Steve asked, not realising that the statement was not for him. "Can we trust him?"

"With my life." the prince answered. "Heimdall and the Allfather have given us their permission to carry out this mission outside of their rules. We must hurry."

They arrived at the cavern in a mountain that stood on the edge of a cliff and beyond the sharp job were crashing waves of Asgard's rough seas. The cavern was pitched black but their heightened eyesight's could make out the beginnings of a flight of stairs heading downwards.

Katherine grimaced, memories of a tomb grave stirring from the depths of her mind. "Now would be a bad time to tell you I am afraid of the dark right?"

"Very." Steve said, staring into the abyss.

"Only the fallen foes and betrayers of Asgard are sentenced to the Deepest Prison." Thor said as he led the way into the cavern. "Its surroundings are created in the image of Niflhel where the living has no power over the dead. It is in this hellish prison my brother will pay for his crimes, forced to endure the torment of spirits."

As soon as they reached the bottom of the steps, the temperature dropped to freezing and the entire wall room was coated in white blue ices. For Steve, it only brought back memories of crashing into the ice and he had to suppress a shudder. Upon their entry, blue fire ignited along the walls, lighting the way of a crystal pavement that led to the other end of the room. The pavement hovered over nothing, a trench so deep the bottom was simply a looming darkness.

Katherine was sure she could hear something moving below.

And at the other end was Loki, imprisoned in a wall-less, cage-less cell that no one could see, touch or taste. The bitter taunt of freedom laid out before the prisoner had broken many before him but Loki merely sat on the floor, his legs crossed beneath him and his eyes closed.

Thor looked torn as he glanced at Steve. "Beyond this ledge, time and space holds no boundaries for its prisoners here and the whispers of the dead have been said to have driven many mad. Loki's mind might not be…present."

"I have to try." Steve replied grimly as he stared at the pathway, trying not to think about the bottomless pit beneath his feet. He tapped his earpiece. "Katherine? You copy?"

"Loud and clear, Cap." she answered on the other end, pressing another set to her ear. A Tony Stark gift. They hadn't been sure the device would work in a different dimension but now that it did, it beat shouting at each other from across the ravine.

Nodding to them, Steve started making his way across the pathway, the crystal shimmering with each step he took closer to Loki. The temperature became noticeable as his breath began to condense in front of him. The air was thinner near the center and even he was panting by the time he reached Loki. Whispers of unfelt wind drifted in his ear, telling him to turn around and leave. He ignored it. Now he could only hope Loki was lucid enough to give them the information they needed.

"Well, well. If it isn't the soldier."

So Loki does recognize him. "Hello, Loki. I see taking up meditation agrees with you."

"Being in this…prison has allowed me time to reflect on my own thoughts." the God of Mischief said pensively as he slowly rose to his feet. "A fitting punishment I supposed to have only myself as company. Tell me why has my brother sent a mere human to speak with me while he loiters behind?"

"Maybe because you are not worth his time. Not since you tried to destroy the world he favors." Steve answered as he took in the near-frail form of the god. Only months have passed since the attack but Loki looked as though he has been locked up for years.

Loki started to pace, a stir in the air around them causing a low whisper. "No, no, no. Weak. Humans, weak." he muttered, shaking his head. "Illusions you say…"

"Loki." Steve called. "Loki!"

"Stick to the script, Cap. Whatever is affecting Loki could affect you if you don't hurry." Katherine advised. She could pick up on the raspy whispers that filled the chambers and sensed they were more than just spirits tasked at tormenting their prisoner.

"Loki, I am here because some old friends of yours are attempting to take over the world again." Steve said.

"Yes, so I've heard." Loki muttered, shaking his head to erase the voices. He noted the surprised look on the captain's face. "The spirits talk."

"Then you know why I am here."

"Perhaps you could enlighten me, Captain." Loki said, dropping down once more into a sitting position. "The spirits talk but only in riddles. They like taunting me that way."

"Funny. I thought it would be the other way around." Steve commented. "The Chitauri are working with vampires and werewolves now. Do you know anything about that?"

"Interesting. Vamprys. How…resourceful of them." Loki said thoughtfully.

"The vampires stole something. Jewels said to contain magical properties. Would you know what use the Chitauri has for them?"

"I don't suppose they are looking to fashion jewelries now would they…?" the god suggested nonchalantly. "There are many uses for cursed jewels, Captain. Too many for me to begin."

"Then maybe you better start talking." Steve suggested, stepping forward.

"Talking? But that's all they do!" the god suddenly wailed. "Talking and talking in circles. It all makes no sense!"

"Loki's mind is losing its grip on reality." Thor murmured in concern.

"I don't like this." Katherine frowned, reaching up to touch her earpiece. "Cap, ask him if the jewels can be used to open portals."

"Can they be used to open portals? Is that how they are getting in, Loki? Is there another Tessarect? Where are they hiding their mothership this time?" Steve asked, feeling his heart rate rising as the seconds passed. Drawing in air to speak was becoming harder. He needed information. "Answer me, Loki! What are the Chitauri up to this time?"

"The answer is right in front of you, Captain." Loki whispered. "But you refuse to look! Don't want to see. Don't want to listen."

"I am listening but you make no sense." Steve snapped. "Tell me what I want to know right now or else I am giving up your reindeer hide to the Chitauri."

Loki laughed, shaking his head. "Do you think me a fool, Captain? You won't place another world in danger at my expanses, let alone a world that is home to one of your own teammates. No. You're gonna have to do better than that." the god gleefully chuckled before his tone turned wistfully.
"I was there, I had it. The world in my grasp. Only to be foiled by a team of misfits!"

Steve tried to form words but found himself struggling for air. "No more games! Answer my question now!"

"Steve, listen to me." Katherine spoke, her voice cutting through the foggy haze that seemed to cloud his mind. "You're losing focus."

"I need more time." Steve groused. "Loki -!"

"Loki is stalling you!" Katherine snapped.

"You look tired, Captain America. I did not think it was possible." Loki interrupted, his tone sane once more. "But you are after all still human and the spirits tell me they have taken a liking to you. So much energy they say…"

Blinking sweat from his eyes, Steve realized that he had fallen to one knee. A pressure continued to build on him, pushing him down and the air seemed so thick and yet scarce.

"The spirits of death are draining him of his strength! I must retrieve him." Thor said, lifting his hammer.

But before he could even take a step forward, a ghostly form materialized before him, its feature a veil that revealed only glowing yellow eyes.

"No…" it hissed. "Odinson is not permitted to set foot within the prison of the betrayer."

"Step aside, spectrum!" Thor snarled. "Captain America is not the sinner here. Release him at once!"

"Loki's punishment requires him to spend eternity in isolation! This man has broken the laws anointed by your ancestors, Prince. He must pay with his life!"

"As crowned prince of Asgard, I command you to stand down!"

"I cannot. The spells that encase these walls dictate that no living being shall enter unharmed and that does not omit you, Asgardian prince." the ghost said. "Leave now."

Katherine glanced at the walls, noticing the thin wisp of white smoke that rose from the blue flames. Smoke that floated and drifted to the center of the room, gliding in between Loki and Steve like ghost hands trying to smolder them.

"Step aside now!" Thor bellowed, raising his hammer at the spirit.

"We don't have time for this." Katherine snarled. "I am going in."

"Wait, Katherine!" Steve managed to gasp out, his voice weak as he struggled to get his body moving. "Stay back. Whatever is affecting me will kill you."

"That's not going to be a problem." she muttered, briefly, just briefly considered the consequences of her next actions.

Abandoning the safety of the ledge, she sprinted onto the pathway, the colours fluctuating rapidly into a darker tone as she crossed it. Immediately the spirits began to stir violently, their cries echoing through the cavern as they swooped in on the new intruder only to sense the demon within.

"Undead…impure…demon….!"

"Blood fiend!"

Loki watched as the dark-haired woman, a new ally to the Avengers it seemed, reached the fallen captain's form just as the ghostly spectrums began to take shape around them. Like his brother, he knew instantly what she was. "Well, this is interesting." he said aloud, drawing the woman's attention briefly to him.

"Steve? Answer me, Cap." Katherine urged as she shook the captain and turned him on his back. She fought down the bile of worry when he failed to respond then –

"Katherine? You shouldn't have…" he rasped, eyes opening weakly.

"Less talking." she said, slinging his arm over her shoulders and helping him to his feet. Despite her smaller frame, she easily bore his near-dead weight. "More walking. Come on, Cap."

"Fancy that." Loki sang in amusement. "The great Captain America rescued by a heinous demon, a vampire nonetheless...what an interesting turn of events."

"Katherine…"

She masked her dread with indifference as she glanced at Steve, his blue eyes fixed on her despite the pain in them. Whether the pain was physical or emotion she could not tell.

"What…is he talking about?" Steve asked, praying that Loki's words were a lie or a result of the magic messing with his head. How was she single-handedly supporting his full weight without being affected?

"I'll explain later." she said solemnly as they steadily staggered closer to the ledge where Thor stood. The air became noticeably lighter and cleaner.

"Captain, are you alright?" Thor asked as he helped the weakened man to the ground. "Are you lucid?"

"I'll be fine." Steve answered tightly, his eyes still on Katherine. "But I couldn't get anything useful from Loki."

Katherine stared across the pathway at the god who continued to smile pleasantly at them. Smoke and vapour continued to fill the cavern, the spirits hissing and cursing their rage. "Then maybe it's time to try a more persuasive method."

"How will you accomplish such a thing?" Thor asked. "Loki has called our bluff. Lucid or not, trickery and deception are still his forte."

"Takes one to know one." she said before she started making her way back across the pathway again, her steps certain and sure.

The spirits wailed and drifted above and around her but none dare venture close to her. "Inhuman. Demon…Evil." they screamed. "Vampry, you should not be here! Be gone!"

"Why are they not attacking her?" Steve asked Thor.

"The spirits of the undead can only feed off the living." the Asgardian said quietly, knowing what this knowledge would imply.

"And the gas…that incapacitated me?"

A pause. "Vampires do not need air to live."

She ignored the screeching spirits, walking until she stood before Loki's unseen prison. Even though she could not see it, her senses could sense the magic in the space between them. It was old magic, impenetrable and unbreakable by anything.

Loki broke the silence between them, tsking as he rose and stood face to face with her. "Oh, dear me. Did the good captain not know? A slip of my tongue I am afraid." he said maliciously. "My apologies."

"So you're Loki. Stories on earth spoke of you as someone to be wary of." she said at last, cocking her head to the side. "Odd. I thought you would…be bigger. Scarier."

"You of all people should know that looks can be deceiving." he said. "Vampire."

"I do. How else could I have survived this long." she agreed. "And like me, Loki, you're a survivor. It's in your instincts to do whatever it takes to live. So why don't you just tell me what the Chitauri need the jewels for and I won't give away your location to them?"

"Are you stupid?" he sneered. "The soldier has already threatened me with that…poorly fabricated lie. What makes you think it would work again?"

"Because unlike Captain America and your brother, I have no concern for this world or you."

"You lie." he said although with less conviction.

"Am I? But are you willing to take that risk?" Katherine said, her voice dropping into a low purr. "I am sure Thanos will be quite happy to know where you've been hiding all this while. I might even watch when he gets his hands on the one who led to the downfall of his army."

The blood drained immediately from Loki's face the moment she uttered the name he dreaded the most. She had to be lying! But when he looked into her eyes, there was nothing there but dark amusement at his conflict. Vampires have been known to lack human emotions and most importantly, the conscious that allow mortals compassion and it seemed this woman was no different from her kind, despite her alliance with the Avengers.

"Her lies are convincing." Thor muttered as he and Steve watched. "If I didn't know she was our ally, I would believe she would actually bring about the end of Asgard."

Steve said nothing as he continued to stare at the back of the woman he thought he trusted. All those stories she told him of the past…were they all lies too? How could Katherine be a vampire? The very creature she was helping them fight. Who else in Avengers knew? Did Fury know when he assigned Steve to her?

"Your shrieking banshees are starting to piss me off, Loki. Five seconds and I walk and with me, the safety your isolation provides you." Katherine said, looking up dismissively at a spirit that snarled at her. When Loki did not reply, she turned with a shrug.

"Wait." Loki said, his shoulders sagged. "The nature of the stones. Tell me about them."

Pleased, Katherine turned back to face the god. "They are the Russian imperial stones of –,"

"Bloody Nicholas." Loki filled in. "Yes, I have heard of the stones. The violence surrounding their history is…well known amongst magic users even in Asgard. I might even have had a hand at that…."

She couldn't help the smirk that played across her face as she understood his implication. "You cursed them."

"I did. It's no secret that bloodshed instills magical properties of the stone. I just thought I would have a little fun creating havoc amidst the mortals." Loki seemed pleased with his mischief.

"And in doing so, created something for the Chitauri to wield." she reminded him. "So what are they are planning to use the stones for?"

Loki stared at her, his eyes glazing over. "Power, so much power. The magic…is strong now. I can sense it."

Sighing, Katherine snapped her fingers to catch his attention. "Hey, Loki. Attention over here, dumbass. What are the Chitauri going to do with the stones?"

"If the Chitauri are still on earth, that could only mean that they have mother ship somewhere. Ironman may have destroyed the fleet but what if one broke through? Have you superheroes ever considered that?" Loki said condescendingly. "But without the Tesserect, they require another source to tear open the veils between worlds."

"So they are going to use the stones to open the portal." she said. "Are the stones really that powerful?"

"Blood..." his words became slurred as his body began to quake and shake. "A lot of it. So red, so beautiful. Pretty stones thirst for more. You understand the value of blood, don't you. Blood is the key, vampire."

"Of course it is." Katherine said, her mind piecing together the jigsaw puzzle of the alien's grand plan. "Is that all, Loki? Tell me the truth or the next visitor you get will be ugly reptile aliens."

"That's all I know." Loki muttered darkly. "Now take your Captain and my brother and get out of my sight."

"With pleasure." she said before turning to leave.

The spirits stirred once more, encircling her as they whispered threats to her. "You'll pay for your insolence, demon. You can't run forever. Your bloodline will suffer for your actions today."

Katherine's steps faltered briefly before she brushed off the ghostly voices and rejoined Thor and a recovering Steve. "We got what we came for, boys. Let's get out of here."

As Thor helped him to his feet, Steve couldn't help but notice that the tone of her voice was detracted. And her demeanor was…cold and closed off.

"That spirit…it said something that unease you." Thor observed, having noticed the same thing as well.

"Empty threats." she said dismissively. "Spirits don't really like me."

A/N: Hm, not as long as I expected to be at time of writing but hopefully I will be able to update the next chapter soon. So how did you like Katherine and Loki's conversation? Again remember that this takes place before Season 2 of the Vampire Diaries so basically before Katherine's return to Mystic Falls.

Read and Review!