Hi! It has been a long time, I know, sorry. But at least this chapter is a bit longer :) I really, really enjoyed writing this, you will hopefully see why :) So leave a review if you enjoyed it too. Have a nice day!

Let me know if there are some spelling or grammar mistakes.

I own nothing but my OC and plot.

XII

It had been a long day and a lot longer night. He was up only because the strong coffee Aaron was forcing them to drink regularly. Loki told him that using all of his men at once was the stupidest idea he could had had, but he wasn't listening. They had a lot of work and as he said: "I can't let people commit more crimes. This has to stop."

And what crimes that were. Out of nowhere, the quiet in the town fell apart. There were constants reports of everything from little thefts to murders. The moment they arrested or killed somebody for the crime, they were called to another place to do the same. So far, Loki had been called to two murders and two frauds, four rapes and one domestic abuse. He killed two of the rapers before anyone realised what was happening and stepped in. It took three men to hold him and calm down. That was the only one anybody was talking to him. They sensed his anger and walked on tiptoes around him. Well, everyone except Aaron. That man was pleased by Loki's flame and was only laughing when he threatened him. Loki broke his nose at around midnight. Aaron put a dagger in his shoulder. They were even.

Most of the night he spent at whorehouses and other bars making friends. In other words, he paid for drinks of other men and women and asked seemingly innocent questions. Everyone was gladly answering. But their words were meaningless, not worthy the effort. The whores were much more useful. They were laughing, falling to his knees and doing whatever they could just to make him pay a little more than usual. Pitiful beings. He remembered all those girls who craved his attention back in Asgard and for a while, his head started aching. He found them entertaining back then. If he visited this place only half a year ago, he would have so much fun and no regrets in the morning. Now, for some reason, he had to act as best as he can just to smile and not storm out of the door. He kept reminding himself that this is important. This could help. At least he found out who was the man Milla went with the night before. And he found out where she lived. But no one knew anything about the other man, Sebastian.

When he left, the sun was already raising. He felt like he could use a beer and privacy of probably empty bar at this hour. Loki still hadn't allowed himself to think about Milla he saw the day before. Or Becca. He was struggling with names here. Who was she? Was she only pretending to be a whore to get attention of that Noel? And why him? Was he playing any role in her plan? And, most importantly, what plan was that? Or what if Milla was just her character and he fell in love with an image? No, he couldn't think of this, it was other way around. But she was playing this role so good, every gesture she made, every face and words she used, it would convince anyone that she was using her body as a living. Even when she got drunk and broke the glass unintentionally, or bumped to chairs on her way out. It all looked so natural. And when Joel came back to their table, he was lost in her smile and she was the only thing he could talk about. Loki had to drink constantly only not to punch him and yell that she was his until he understood.

And then there was this moment. Those seconds when she was looking directly at him. He should had looked away or tried to cover his face, or hide, but he did neither of it. They were looking at each other, his heart fiercely beating against his ribs and a part of him hoped she would walk to him. For that while, he didn't care if she would scream at him, slap him or kill him. Whatever she would do, the look in her eyes would probably hurt more than any other wound. But she walked away and the little shake of their head told him she didn't believe it could be him.

First man from his watch came to the bar, then other two and then another five. They all looked like hell, tired but in need of alcohol to wash away the guilt caused by their not very kind actions. They nodded to Loki and sat right next to him. He heard them talking about some burned house which made him sigh. He never liked fire and could only imagine how helpless those truly good men must had felt when they could do nothing but watch as flames killed a few servants trapped inside. Loki was glad he wasn't called there.

"The guy who owns the house was at some party only a few blocks away," Joel said in low voice. The usual joy in his words was gone. "It's weird how nobody noticed anything until it was too late."

They fell into silence again. More men came back and brought only more bad news. Like the whole hell broke loose.

It didn't though. Not yet.

Loki was listening to the conversation between a few guys next to him. He couldn't link voices to names nor faces and looking up was only unnecessary effort. He watched the glass still half full and was trying to block sounds around him. To turn off his mind at least for once, since there had not been one peaceful second since he found himself in that now destroyed inn. He closed his eyes, hoping that would make it easier, but it only makes his other senses sharper. Again, he wished he had never been raised as a warrior in family of Odin. Countless times he wished that, to live a simple life without rules he saw in the streets. Of course, Odin was the only reason Loki was still alive, but apart that, what good did he do? Where he trained to the point of exhaustion with his brother to use all kinds of daggers and swords, other boys were running around the city with wooden sticks and playing. And when his tutors were reminding him of all the mistakes in his behaviour and talking endlessly about the courtesies, they were jumping to the water after having mud wars. First, he even hated the magic he began to show at the age of seven, because that meant more hours he had to spend learning. His brother never complained, not even when they were alone and talking about childish secrets. They called him spoiled, just because he wanted to do something from his own will. They had been always saying it didn't fit a prince to behave like that. And when he screamed that he never wanted to be prince, that they have Thor and he will be the king, his father hit him for the first time in his life. And then again when he started crying.

After that, everything had changed. Loki hadn't been complaining anymore. He stopped saying everything to Thor because he was afraid he would betray him to father. Those most hated books became his only friends and adventures he never experienced became alive in his head. Frigga, his mother, started teaching him magic when he refused to show his powers to anyone else. Without a word, he learned all manners and quickly became the biggest gentleman in the court. Yes, his muscles were never as strong as Thor's, his legs never as fast as necessary, but he won as many combats as his brother. They grew up to be respected and admired princes. When did it all go wrong?

It didn't matter, did it? He found himself smirking at nothing.

The doors opened differently this time. It was not the tired pushing that never caught anyone's attention, someone came in in a hurry. Loki knew it was a woman and a man without even looking up. The way they walked gave them away easily. No matter how many times this ability to observe everything around without looking more than any other person saved him life a couple of times, but now he wanted to turn it of. Just a day of peace.

"Excuse me. I'm looking for a girl, she was here two night ago, wore a red dress I think. Becca."

He looked up instantly before he froze. Seconds slowed down to minutes as he connected the voice to name and face. They were both looking at the bartender who was saying something. He caught only "yes, she was here," and words "guardians". Loki's heartbeats were faster when he realised why Emma and Johnatan walked into this bar. Something went terribly wrong.

Emma was still talking to the man, but Johnatan turned around, clearly frustrated and worried. His eyes shifted through unfamiliar faces of tired men and then, they stopped on one familiar. Concern was replaced by instant shock and his hand was automatically reaching for the girl. Loki straightened his back and tried to get ready for the following, but failing.

She turned and her eyes followed his. There were so many emotions in that short gaze. Confusion, joy, pain, disappointment, fury. It hurt him to see that written all over their faces and he could not imagine how painful it would be if he saw Milla's face. He didn't want to think about it.

Emma walked towards him, slowly at first, unable to believe the sight in front of her. Then she moved quicker and before he knew it, she slapped him so hard he was sure he would have her palm printed on the cheek. The bar was silent. When he turned back to her, there were wet streams on her cheeks and more tears in her eyes. "I deserved that," he whispered as he was standing to face her like a man and maybe, if she was willing, to take them both outside and deal with this without unnecessary witnesses.

"Oh hell you deserved that," her voice was hoarse and low, "and a lot more you idiot."

And then, without any notice, she hugged him tight. And then she slapped him again. When she stepped back, Johnatan was still watching, frown on his face. Loki understood why he was angry, he wasn't the only one. But either way, it somehow felt good to see their faces, even if they were not smiling. Everything made a little more since with them.

"What are you doing here?" Johnatan asked while Emma was trying to dry her eyes. Loki smiled unhappily.

"I..." he started but suddenly, Lord of Lies couldn't find the right words. "I wanted to leave but I couldn't."

"So you joined guardians?"

"Sort of. They save me from boredom."

"Then why did you stay?" Emma asked but it took only one look to his face to find out the answer. Suddenly, her eyes were full of fear again. "Do you know where she is?"

Loki frowned and shook his head. "No. I saw her two nights past. What happened?"

Emma sat down next to Joel who was listening with big interest. "She went to a party yesterday and didn't come back."

Loki sat on his previous place, confused and anxious. "Maybe she stayed in another bed." Those words were bitter on his tongue but they had to be said. The idea of her being touched by other man disgusted and angered him, but the fact that he could do nothing about it made him desperate.

"No," Emma shook her head and closed eyes. "We had a deal she would always come home to sleep. It's past noon and she never showed up."

Chill ran through his spine. Something was wrong. Very wrong. "Where was this party?"

"I'm not sure, Noel took her there," when she looked at him again, there were tears running her cheeks. She was almost trembling with fear and desperation. "I should have never let her go, I knew that man was bad, why didn't she listen to me? It's all my fault, only mine," her voice was lower and lower until Johnatan hugged her and said some calming words to her ear. Loki couldn't watch, mainly because his head was full of possible scenarios and most of them had a horrible ending.

While Emma was calming down and Johnatan was not paying him any attention, Joel looked at Loki with a great curiosity. "You know Becca?"

For a while, he was just blankly staring at him, not able to understand who is Becca and why was he asking something that unimportant. "Yes. Very well. Emma," he looked at his friend again, reaching for her shoulder. "You need to tell me everything you know. If she is here to kill the one that wants her dead, she may be in danger as we speak." He did not want to think about that.

"She wore the green dress and took no weapons. She said she didn't like to dance with steel on her thighs. Oh God, I'm sorry, I don't know," she sighed. "Felix, please, find her. You looked after her all this time, you need to find her," there was so much hope in her eyes it physically hurt him.

Loki ran fingers through his hair. Emma was not helpful but he was struggling with clear mind as well. Where should he start? There were thousands of hiding places where they could take her and maybe they left the town. Or worst, she is dead and they made sure her body will never be found. No, he could not think about this, he had to find her alive. But where? He tried everything, asked dozens of people but he got nothing. Unless...

"Joel," he turned to the younger man. "You were talking about some burned house."

"Yes," he said carefully. "In the fancy neighbourhood. Nobody was home, the owner was at some party." As he was talking, he slowly understood along with Loki. In seconds, half a dozen Guardians stood up and headed to the door.

He looked at Johnatan. "Take her home. Milla will probably need some care when she comes home. I'll let you know where to meet me," Loki took Emma's hand in his and tried a little smile. "I will find her, I promise."

As he was leaving, there was only one thought in his head. I will find you, my lady. Wait for me.

"Rise and shine, beautiful!" a sweet voice in her ear caught her attention. She slowly opened her eyes, but the light was too bright and it made her shut them again. "Come on, you don't want to sleep all day, do you?"

Sure as hell, she wanted to sleep. When Milla took a deep breath, a blinding pain shot to her chest. When she tried to move, she found out that her hands were tied behind her back and her ankles to the too hard chair. She could hardly feel her fingers and her shoulders were sore and stiff. The world was spinning in front of her eyes and it was possible that she felt something warm and liquid on the back of her head. She was very weak.

"Open your eyes, come one, fix then on me. Good girl," the man before her wore a malicious smile. It took Milla a while till she recognized his face, but it was still difficult to put the pieces together. Why was she tied to a chair and why was Sebastian smiling?

"Seb, let her take her time," there was another voice, behind her, but no matter how hard she wanted, it was impossible to look that way. "I am afraid I hit her too hard."

"You hit her just right. At least she won't be able to fight back."

She tried another breath, but failed again. She decided her ribs were broken, but still couldn't understand why. A harsh hand pulled her hair and made her look up. Now she saw them both. Sebastian and Noel, standing next to each other and observing her, one quite happy, the other looking sorry.

"Well, Becca, welcome back. Or should I call you Milla?" he released her hair and made a few steps back. He always kept her eyes on her, studying her face. But no matter how weak she was, she controlled that good enough. She didn't let him see the shock and the fear she felt when she realised what he had just said. And what he said seconds before she lost consciousness. A shiver ran down her spine, paralyzing her mind for a different reason than pain. He knew what she was doing here and who she was and the fact that she was here meant that she was about to die. No.

"Oh yes, I know who you are, my love," he continued when she was only staring blankly at him. "But I admit, you fooled me for a while. And poor Noel here, you tricked him completely. Let's just hope he didn't fall in love." Sebastian take out a cigar from his pocket and lit it. "I am sure you have questions, don't you Milla? Ask then."

"Seb, she is powerless here, what if we untie her?" Noel asked carefully, as if he was afraid. Milla was quiet and didn't care about if they leave her the way she is or not. She was also observing and slowly, the choice of words and body language gave them away. She understood a lot of things at once. The fact that people feared them both was only a play, in reality Sebastian was the one in charge of things and Noel just did what he was told to do. He pretended to have this reputation of a cruel rich man, but he was only a toy in hands of the master. No doubt that Sebastian was extremly intelligent and able to use people and information they had been bringing to him. Bad people always were. Noel was being used, but she couldn't tell whether he liked it and realised it or not. The other thing she understood was why Noel kissed her on their way to party and why he looked so miserably. He knew what was going to happen. He knew she was lying. And the last thing she knew was that for sure, she won't survive this.

"No. She stays as she is," Sebastian said roughly. Noel gave up and sat on a table in the corner of the room. Milla's eyes were finally adjusting to the light right above her head and she saw the room more clearly. It looked more like warehouse, but it was empty. The only windows were high above them and there was no way she could escape. At least she knew it was dusk again. The other exits were not even in consideration, for there was only one door at the other side of the building and no fire exit. She was trapped. "So, Milla. Questions?"

Milla looked directly at him. The blank expression changed to loathing. "You tore my dress."

To her surprise, Sebastian started laughing. "Oh, and I will do much more."

"I won't ask where I am, you won't tell me. And it doesn't matter."

"Clever girl. What a pity."

"So why did you wait till the end? You could have killed me thousand times and in thousand ways." Her voice was hoarse and her throat was burning, screaming for water. She didn't bother with asking.

"Yes, I could. But where would all the fun go?" he stood up. His steps were echoing around the empty place and made her shiver again. Truth to be told, she was afraid of the pain she will feel before it will all be over. Men like him like to play with their trophies before they get rid of them. Either way, she would like to know why.

"You would be surprised how fun I could be," she said quietly.

"I didn't kill you, because there are things I want you to know before you die. I want you to die knowing that I won and you lost," his face was now only inches away from hers. She could smell his cologne. And before she knew it, she was screaming with pain when the burning cigar touched her thigh.

It took her a few minutes until she was able to talk again. There were tears in her eyes from both pain and fury when she looked at him. The bastard was smiling again, pleased with his doing. "Tell me what you have to and let get this over with," she growled.

"Are you giving up that easily? Dull," he said, but his face was saying nothing dull was going on.

"I don't have my powers," it wasn't a question.

"I am sure you enjoyed the wine. It blocks your magic for a sufficient amount of time," he turned to Noel. "It was my friend's idea, one of the few good ones."

"So you are telling me I am powerless, unarmed and my cover is blown. So why the hell am I still alive?" she was tired. All of the sudden, Milla didn't want to struggle anymore. She was so close to the end, every second was only a waste of time she could spend sleeping. Yes, she was curious, but this drama was unnecessary and it hurt. It hurt so bloody much she wanted to cry.

"Because there is one little thing you still haven't asked," Sebastian looked annoyed by her lack of playfulness.

"Really? And what could that possibly be?"

"What gave you away."

"Ah, yes. What gave me away, love?" she tried hard to smile. Her head was pounding while he was laughing and she didn't care about the answer. I am dead anyway.

"You are making this too easy for me," he sighed.

"I am sorry," she licked her lips. "But the sooner I don't see your face, the better."

She expected the slap. A metal taste of blood filled her mouth and she would had fallen to the ground if he hadn't caught her. "If you think you are a moral winner, forget it. I have a beautiful surprise."

With those words, he started walking to the exit. Milla was silent till he left the room and that was the moment she closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. She was not sure what to feel exactly. There was hatred, anger, disappointment, fear, disgust, pain, vulnerability. So many to choose from. Milla looked over to Noel who was strangely quiet. His eyes were fixed on her and he looked guilty and powerless. She felt sorry for him even when it should be other way around. He was the one who watched this happen, but she was the one who started it. "You don't have to watch this."

"I do," he said quietly. "I am sorry."

"That won't save me," she closed her eyes again and smiled widely. I am dead anyway.

"I wanted to tell you."

"You did. I didn't listen," the pain in ribs got worse when she wanted to clear her throat. "Fuck," she cried. Noel stood up to go to her. Milla shook her head. "Don't. I will kill you if you help me." She left out the part of not having any strength for a fight. Apparently, something in her face made him back off.

"I begged him not to do this," he said after a few more minutes of silence and her heavy breathing.

"And you did a splendid job."

The door opened again and Sebastian walked back in. But this time, he was not alone. Milla wasn't looking at them, her eyes were closed and she was preparing for the following. Torture or death, which one? She would prefer torture. No matter how tired she was, how easy it would be to just give up, there was still this tiny voice in her head that reminded her to fight and live. She was desperately trying to ignore him for if she wasn't, it would make her think about all she has to lose. About all the people that she would left behind. And him.

"Oh, come on, you won't sleep during the big finale, would you?" Sebastian's rough voice filled the room again, but it was a punch in the stomach that made her open the eyes. All oxygen flew out of her lungs and a blinding pain took over her again. She would curl in a ball on the floor if she wasn't tied up. She felt the rope cutting her wrists.

"I wanted to tell you how I found out who you are. Well, the truth is, someone told me. Look up, darling."

When she did, the world stopped. Nothing could prepare her for the sight in front of her. She was standing there, looking perfect like nothing from this world. No. It can't be. She is dead. I killed her.

"Hello, Milla." Sarah said with a wicked smile on her face.

"Surprise!" Sebastian started laughing. Yes, it had to be a hilarious sight- Milla felt tears on her cheeks and was still confused, not able to process what was happening.

"You look like shit, honey," the other girl said, taking a few steps back to look at her properly. "But I won't lie, this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

Milla looked at Noel, then Sebastian and then back to Sarah. She was dressed in leather vest and trousers, her shiny hair falling on her shoulders. Milla told Sarah's family she was dead and her brother almost hit her for that. Milla cried for her, no matter how much they hated each other. She blamed herself for her death. She was supposed to be dead, Christopher said he killed her, all three of them, Milla killed him for that. Unless...

"How?" Milla asked in whisper. That was all she could do now.

"Simple really. But you have no idea how happy I am that I outsmarted you," Sarah moved to Noel a kissed him on the cheek. Milla clenched her jaw, stopping more tears from falling.

"What did you do?" she asked, a little more loudly.

"All right, I'm gonna tell you the whole story," she stood right in front of her, her perfect teeth shining in the candlelight. "You remember the day I met you? For that coffee? You came with that handsome guy, Felix I believe?" she waited for a nod before she continued. "Well, that was the beginning. And it all went well, you believed every lie I told you and you did exactly what Seb expected- sent me away and organized some alone party for Chris."

Milla looked at Sebastian, who was proudly smiling and noticed a dagger in his hands. The breathing became even more painful. "Yes, It was all my idea. No doubt you know about my intentions. To gain the power and sadly, it can't be done without some spilled blood." Sebastian continued. "The first attempts of your death were poorly done, so you have no idea how happy I was when Sarah came to see me."

"Yes, Millanie, I found out about this way before you. I am not as useless as I used to be, am I?" she was so proud of herself. And Milla understood that. If she wasn't the one who was going to die, she would have been proud of Sarah's progress. No, she was not as naive as she used to be. But nor that innocent. And she was sorry for that. Innocence was the only thing she could envy.

"No. You are not."

"But you know, you have the ability to destroy everything," Sarah sighed and took a step closer. "And you fucked the plan up by not dying from the poison." She leaned over and touched her neck with the long nails. Milla looked directly to her eyes and tried not to think about the pain of ripping her throat out with Sarah's bare hands.

"Magic," she mumbled.

"Yes. That is why now, you can do shit." she spoke with malice. "So," she took a step back and took the dagger Seb was handing to her. Milla's pupils went wide. "when that idiot Christopher died, and by the way, thank you for that, he was an uncultured swine, we had to think of a new plan."

"And that was?" she was really curious.

"Doing nothing," Sebastian said. "And let you find us. Thankfully, you are flawless at that."

"I am good at lies," Milla smirked. "maybe protecting people and finding out information. but as you can see," she made a noise that would have been a laugh if her throat wasn't so damaged. "I am terrible at protecting myself."

"Reckless." Noel said. "And stupid for hazarding with life."

"Maybe I have nothing to loose anymore," she looked down and thought about everyone at home. She didn't want to, but it was the only thing she had in mind. They are probably worried about her. They had a deal with Emma and she broke it. Oh, why didn't she just go home at midnight when Noel asked her to? Why was she so stubborn? How could she forget who was her host and dance so carelessly? And why, just why didn't she listen to her friend when she was trying to warn her?

When she least expected it, she felt a terrific pain in her side. There was an amount of blood that used to make her sick, slowly flowing from the cut. She didn't even realise she was screaming until she lost her breath again. Seb was saying something in the distance but somehow, she knew it was not to her so she didn't care.

"Hey, come on, don't loose consciousness now," someone pulled her hair again. The pain was excruciating, her entire insides were burning.

"I need to tell you more, my lady," Sarah's voice was pure anger and triumph now. She knew she has just a little time before Seb decided he was bored and kills her. "I want you to know, that you are dead because of me. That this time, I was smarter than you and you fell into my trap. You made my life miserable, stole the love of my life and thank God you paid for it," the blade cut both of her tights now and she screamed. "I begged you, I cried, and you both turned away and walked out of my life. You know how that hurts? Seeing someone you love walk away with another?" she cut her again, with more force and surprisingly, tears in eyes. "I decided I will find a way to have my vengeance and I did. I waited and now, you are going to die. And I hope you will rot in hell knowing that you did nothing good for this world and people died for you. That you have nothing. You trusted those friends, those silly guards you have?" another cut on her collar bones. "But are they here now? Are they protecting you from harm now? No. You are alone. You will die alone. Enjoy, bitch!" Sarah face changed to a combination af anger and pain when she looked Milla in the eyes and stabbed her and world went dark.

I am dead anyway.