Author's Notes:
I know it's been a long while since I updated, but life gets in the way as you well know. I thank you all for sticking in there and ensure you that more action is coming. Please send me your thoughts. Reviewing is caring.
*The characters in this chapter belong to their respective authors, mythologies, and CH, & AB.
**I OWN NOTHING**
Chapter 64
SPOV
"And do we know the name of Loki's child?" I ask after I've calmed down. The bastard has been using any and every being he can to cause as much terror and pain for mine and innocent people for what…as revenge for taking his limelight for like two fucking seconds.
After my resurrection, I learned all about mythology; mine and all the others included. I was never stupid, but once I released myself from my Christian restraints, I realized that all the pantheons had constant themes. I interpret this to mean that the personality and idea of the being exists, but it was put into a package to fit those who worshipped could identify with.
Nowadays, most follow only one God. Whether Jesus, Allah, or Buddha; the fact that they believe in something is what is key. With the supernatural community making its existence known to the modern world, the old religions have reemerged. Some crave the attention of worshipping pets while others (myself being one of them) don't; it's the balance that must be maintained, but Loki has used the cards hidden in his sleeves to piss all over that. Now it's my turn to piss on him and make it all right again.
"We do not, but we have an image." My mother's floats her magic in the air as we look upon the young looking woman who is Loki's puppet. I immediately thing of the database and about Eric telling me about the genius we have in Bergman.
"I'm going to find this vampire and secure her to bring Loki out of his hole, and then I'm going to unleash Eric all over his pathetic ass for fucking with us." Now, we plan.
EPOV
Knock, knock, knock…
I know by the auras and minds of the guards that it is my maker and his brother.
"Enter."
They walk in and take in my state of mind. I can feel their worry, their melancholy over the situation…their pity. I hate fucking pity.
"Thank you for doing what you could to protect what was ours." I tell Alex.
"Your Head of Security is an honorable warrior and I cannot say no to a challenge, I am afraid. Pamela told me that she was ready to shut the club down to avoid it being used as a target again, hence why we were there to get her belongings from the safe. We did not get a chance to access it before the attack."
"It is of no matter. Fortunately, I purchase one that would withstand such destruction. I will have Karedon send someone to retrieve her belongings." I reply absentmindedly.
"Sookie will fix this." Godric states.
"I know. However, feeling my child's hatred for me is almost unbearable. Can you imagine how it would feel if I felt that way towards you?" I ask him.
"I do not have to imagine. I know the feeling well. And I fear that one day soon, she will make her displeasure impossible for me to ignore and all that I love will be at risk." I have no words to say to his confession. She will no doubt unleash hell upon us all. She just does not know that when she does so, it will be mean her true death.
"Everything will work out for all of us." Turning his attention to my maker, "Come brother. Dawn is approaching and we both need to feed before resting for the day." Godric nods and kisses me on the forehead.
I lie back again and close my eyes. Waves of love and reassurance flow through the bond I have with my sons. Then, I drift off to unknown lands.
Eric's Dream
A woman…petite, with long blonde hair and slight masculine features. Still feminine in a multi-striped satin pajama set and bare feet is looking over the balcony rail across the Bosporus Strait.
Suddenly, she gets the feeling that she is not alone. She looks about her, but sees nothing. Turning back to the water, she thinks about what she wants next. She has money. Her unusual beauty adds to her mystique and is considered exotic. She has many suitors who beg to be at her side, though she entertains none. A distraction she is happy to do without. They cannot give her what she wants most. The one thing she wants more than anything is the very thing that is impossible to have due to her nature. A child.
Another being…a male, watches her silently. She does not know that her most intimate thoughts are being examined in detail to be used to motivate (or more like manipulate) her to his will. Feeling the time is right, he steps out of the shadows.
"It is not as impossible as you think."
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?!" she screams. Although she is proficient with many different weapons, her talents lie in hand-to-hand combat. She sizes him up, determining the best means of attack.
"Do not waste your energy dear. If I wanted to harm you, you would be ash already." Examining the dirt under his nails, he looks up at the vampiress. "Besides, that would not be anyway to greet family." His evil smirk makes her uneasy, yet intrigued all the same.
The scene disappears as a feeling of weightlessness comes over his mind. As the sound of music from his human life can be heard, he finds himself sitting on the edge of a blazing fire.
"Det tog du tillräckligt länge" (It took you long enough) says the man to my left. Looking over, he realizes that the man is more of a boy. He looks about 17 winters old, give or take a year.
"Väntat länge?" (Been waiting long?) I ask him.
Smiling, "Man kan säga att. Då igen, har du en ovanlig kompis, så du har varit upptagen."(You could say that. Then again, you do have an unusual mate, so you have been busy.) The mention of Sookie by this stranger, makes me cautious. But I do not have time to process this as he continues.
"Vad du såg innan du kommer hit var en glimt av det förflutna. Även om du är omedvetna om konsekvenserna, du är inte utrustade för att erövra det som ligger framför oss. Åtminstone inte ännu."
(What you saw before coming here was a glimpse of the past. Although you are unaware of the implications, you are not equipped to conquer that which lies ahead. At least not yet.)
"Yet?"
"Ja. Du ser de som sparring där borta?" (Yes. You see the ones sparring over there?) He motions in front of us, pass the roaring flames. I nod. "De är delar av din kompletta själv. När du har gått med dem, kommer du att bli mer gud än vampyr. Du kommer inte längre att vara en halvgud." (They are aspects of your complete self. Once you have joined with time, you will become more god than vampire. You will no longer be a demigod.)
His statement leaves me reeling. How will this affect the bonds with my bloodline? The confusion must have been on my face or this being is telepathic.
"De kommer inte att förändras. Du kommer att fortsätta att känna dem i ditt blod, förmodligen starkare än du redan gör just nu. Det viktiga är att du kommer att ta din plats som en sann, kapabel beskyddare för vår Goddesss. Och det är vad du vill, ja?" (They will not change. You will continue to feel those of your blood, probably more strongly than you already do at this time. The important thing is that you will take your place as a true, capable protector for our Goddess. And that is what your want, yes?) he asks.
"Ja!" (Yes!)
"Utmärkt! Allt du behöver göra är att besegra alla fem av de lysande krigare där och du kommer att vara hela." (Excellent! All you have to do is defeat all five of the glowing warriors over there and you will be whole.)
I do not wait to be told twice as i launch over the flames and face a boy surrounded by a green aura.
SPOV
After a couple of hours of strategizing with the Goddesses, I leave the office to begin shoring up our defenses. It's 7:30am and quiet throughout the palace. I walk the halls of the guest rooms, using my mind to find Amelia and Rowan. Although I didn't discuss this with them, I put Pam under a stasis spell while we hunt and capture Loki.
Eric will need to be able to focus. And if he feels Pam's twisted feelings, his anger will rule him and i need his genius mind and warrior spirit. I'm not worried about curing her, but i need Loki and Alex to do that. What I am worried about is what it'll take to secure Loki. I know what the myths say, but don't want to sacrifice innocent beings in order to punish the guilty. I push those thoughts to the side for later consideration.
I visit both their rooms and they agree to meet me for breakfast. While it's cooking and they're getting dressed, I summon one of my Valkyries.
"How may I serve you, Mistress?" Signy says as she appears in front of the dining room table.
"I have a task for you. Sit and let me explain." She looks confused and very uncomfortable with my request to sit, but she complies stiffly. I tell her that I want her to find two specific individuals in Asgard and to take them to my Mother's temple. Once this is completed, she is to return to me to report. She bows to accept her mission and disappears just as Amelia and Rowan enter the room.
"Good morning ladies! I hope you're hungry." I say in greeting. They look at each other, then join me just as the kitchen staff starts to bring in the food.
EPOV
I do not want to discredit a worthy opponent, but i have the strong impression that the other glowing beings are not going to be as easy to defeat.
We have been batling for quite a while. His technique is somewhat sloppy, but he has a determination that I would say I had at his age. How curious? Before I can ponder on that thought further, he swings too wide and I easily disarm him. He looks over at the others, who have stopped their own sparring to watch us. They whisper to one another, but say nothing to my opponent.
He drops to his knees in defeat. I do not like how he seems ostracized by the others for his failure to beat me. I extend my hand to help him to his feet. As soon as he grabs it, I feel electricity begin to flow into me. I look into his eyes just as he smirks. Then, his entire being is absorbed into me.
The sensation reminds me of the first time I flew on my own. I had been working on this ability of almost a full century before that fateful night. We were in Tuscany. My maker had allowed me to feed before him. Once I was done, he let me go out into the fields to enjoy the night's breeze. I focused on the moon. Imagining that it was the face of my soul mate, beckoning me to come into her open arms. And before I knew it, I was propelling up into the sky towards that ever glowing exhiliration and triumph I felt then and feel now are superb. I want more and cannot wait to have it.
While I have been distracted by this new addition to my nature, the others around me have been arguing. The one with the blue aura seems to think the other three are wasting time. He tackles me at the knees, much like I would have done as a youngster, but I do not fall. Using his momentum, I take us both airborne and throw him over my head. He ducks and rolls, then pops back to his feet in a crotched stance. Impressive.
We exchange a smirk, then hit one another like a clap of thunder.
SPOV
Breakfast was wonderful. Others stopped by to get a plate here and there, but they didn't linger. They must have sensed that the three of us were discussing sensitive matters. We discussed options for curring Pam. Unfortunately, the consensus is that Loki will be required since it is his magic that is controlling her. I told them my thoughts on getting Loki to cooperate and they were surprised by my tactics. But after I explained my reasons and the extent of this terror, they were more than understanding.
After gorging myself during breakfast, I decide to take a nap. I thought to go to our room, but I really wanted to be close to Pam. So I go to her room and curl up next to her sleeping form.
Sookie's Dream...
I've just walked into a bustling five-star hotel to meet Eric and my boys. The excitement and anticipation I feel blocks out the hundreads of minds that surround me. I take the stairs to the Mezzanine level to watch for their arrival.
As I'm waiting, I see a familiar face walk off the elevator. Alcide walks towards me.
"I thought I spied you up here. I hope I'm the one you're waiting for." I'm too happy about seeing my family to be rude, so I just giggle and brush off his presumptuous statement.
"No silly!" I say as I slap his arm. "I'm waiting for Eric and the boys. I've been away for a while so I can't wait to hold them." He looks at me as if I spit in his face.
"Since they're not here, why not let me give you something else to be excited about." He grabs my hand and pulls it into his lap to touch his bulge. Just as I snatch my hand away, I hear the piercing cries of babies I know are mine.
I turn towards the elevator to see Eric turning back into it. As his face turns back towards me, I see a blood tear track as he tries to calm our sons.
"ERIC!" I scream. I look over the railing and see him vamp out of the hotel. Having no time to deal with Alcide, I jump over the railing and run after my family. I see him round the corner, heading for the valet stand.
"Eric, please! It's not what it looked like. Alcide came out of nowhere and grabbed me."
"Do not worry. We will not stand in your way any longer." His voice is too calm. With his back turned, I see the faces of my sons staring back at me. One is sniffling wiht the saddest look on his beautiful face, his bottom lip trembling. The other is so mad that he is red in the face and screaming at me with his fist balled up. I crumble to the ground under the weight of their emotions. I bury my face in my hands to hide from this cruel world.
When I look up, everything is empty – the valet area and the street. There's not a person in sight. I riseand walk into the street. I walk further to the intersection, but something isn't right. The air in front of me is distorted. It's as if I can reach out to the other side.
I step through the distorted space into a dark, gloomy environment. I hear tones of voices; some crying out in sadness or pain while others are screaming in terror. I look into the distance and see a large green orb. It seems to be the source of the voices and their agony.
I walk up to the orb. The stench and overall aura of the orb is offensive. It looks slimy and i refuse to touch it. Using my mind, I try to penetrate it. I work hard at it for a few minutes before finally breaking through its black webs to see the core of the orb. Seated in a floating throne, a scrawny man lounges with a smug look on his face. He doesn't notice me as he is too submerged in feeling the pain from the poor souls he is torturing.
I take the chance and probe into his mind to try and discover his endgame. Jealousy and eny are the primary motivations for everything he does. He doesn't like me very much and sees my downfall as the key to his happiness amongst the Gods. He craves their attention, he lives off it as much as he does the innocents he destroys. Images of him as a young child being teased by other children for not being like them, not being as strong; typical hildhood bullying victim syndrome.
I also see him being scorned by more than a fair share of women. The theme seems to be them using him to get closer to Thor. Of course, Thor palyed with them for a while and kicked them to the curb. That is until he met Sif. Loki believes he saw her first, but she never showed him any interest. She wasn't like the rest of the girls after Thor. She wasn't easy and she knew her worth. That's wat attracted them both to her.
His thoughts of the women he did mate with are contradictory at best. While Angrboda was like his kindred sould mate and gave him, according to him, the best weapons a god could have in the forms of Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Hel; he feared her above any other being. However, Sigyn is the one who loves him the most. When he is in despair, she is the shoulder he cries on. She is the mother of the sons I have send Signy to find. And now, she is the woman I need to find myself.
I pull out of his mind and the orb. Just before I move back through the distorted space, which I now realize was Loki's attempt to influence me like he did with Pam, I create a message in the form of a blazing orb of light. I shoot it at his orb, then I return to his dreamscape.
Knowing the best way to wake up from a dream is pain, I conjure a dagger. I stab myself in the stomach, Kamikaze style and...BINGO!
I sit straight up in the bed. I look around and remember where I am. I kiss Pam's cheek and promise to free her soon. I jump off the bed and head to Eric's office. I quickly write him a note, leaving it on his desk before I head to Asgard to visit Odin.
EPOV
With each one of these beings I fight, the victory becomes both easier and more difficult. Each defeat increased my power, strength, and abilities. In turn, each opponent is stronger and more powerful than the last.
My fight with the blue one was a strictly hand-to-hand combat. Since his stature, as with the previous and soon to be opponents, is smaller than mine in both height and weight. His technique was much like that of the green one, except it was more brutal. I caught a punch to the jaw that actually made me stumble. I gained that victory by choking him into unconsciousness. I did not want to kill him, but like the first, I ended up absorbing him into myself with my forearm wrapped around his neck.
Now I am to face two at once. It seems that since I have absorbed two of their comrades, they decided I would rise to the challenge of facing two in battle. My current opponents have yellow and purple auras. While the purple has an air of passivity, the yellow one has enough agression for them both. He gives me a terrifying smile that reminds me of my child. The thought of her distracts me long enough for me to miss their blitz attack.
They are much more skilled and work extremely well in tandem. I wish I had time to talk to these creatures, but that does not seem to be the point of this.
I barely dodge a swipe at my throat as my legs are kicked from under me. I fall onto my back and roll to escape being ran through by a blade. I use my left arm to bring down yellow and the right on purple. Grabbing each by the throat, I squeez as hard as I possibly can. They both swing wildly with both knives and bare hands, but I do not let up. Purple is the first to go limp. Once yellow sees that his partner has fallen, he tries in vain once more to take my head with the blade he has yet to relinquish.
Just as the steel breaks the skin, he too falls unconscious. His knife drops to the ground. I stand, still clustching them both by their necks. Once I am on my feet, i absorb them as well. This time, the surge of their combined powers takes me back to my knees. The yellow and purple light pulses up the veins of my arms. I can feel something happening within me. Organs throb as if living. Long dead cells become active. The sensations in my body are overwhelming, causing me to struggle to...breathe.
"Det är inte över ännu?" (It is not over yet) says the remaining boy. His aura is not only more intimating in color, being red of course, but it is also the brightest. He walkds towards me with a confidence I know all to well. He kicks a broadsword to me that had been abandoned during the other fights. I catch it with ease, it's weight not being of any concern. He raises his in fron of him as he bows his head in salute. I jump up to my feet and take the same stance, mimicking his movements.
"Who are you?" I ask before we begin this fight to the death.
"Du, förstås. Jag trodde du skulle ha listat ut redan." (You, of course. I thought youwould havefigured that outalready.) He replies with the tilt of his head.
"Just wanted to be sure" I counter as we both advance on each other, trying to get the first hit.
Loki's POV
I was quietly enjoying the relaxing pleasure of receiving fellatio from one of my descendant's subordinates. I like to engage in a variety of relaxing activities when I am rejuvenating my power. Massages by multiple women, being rode by a young beauty with large breasts, soaking in a hot bath, or watching a fight to the death; all of these things relax me. Feeling my influence over those I have tricked feeds my power. Their torment is my strength. Their pain is my pleasure.
I think back to how things were before SHE arrived. I was the talk of all the realms. What was I doing? Where was I? All wondered about my happenings and I thrived. Then, that puny fairy/human cunt washed onto shore. Never mind the fact that her beauty rivals that of my mother, Frigg, and Freya herself, she was an unwanted intrusion to my blissful existence.
When I heard that she was Freya's child, I knew I had lost their attention. The other gods and goddesses live on the coat tails of Odin and Freya. They are the two most powerful, obviously. But I was part of the elite. If Thor is Odin's right hand, then I was his left. However, I learned just how replaceable I was not long after they send the bitch back to Midgard.
I snuck into Odin's chamber as he and Mother were meeting Freya. She told them that the hag's mate was his descendent. Though I hoped Frigg would make her discontent for this discovery known, but no. She was…happy? She was joyful that he'd been found. It hurt that my Mother, or the closest thing to it since Odin destroyed the giants that bore me, would want this pathetic offspring known to her mate. It was then that I began plotting to destroy her, the humans, and the worthless charade of peace between supernatural beings that this realm is trying to sustain.
Suddenly, my rejuvenation and relaxation are both interrupted. A thought not my own infiltrates my mental defenses and attacks my shields in the process.
"Enjoy your freedom now. You'll be lucky to escape with your life once we are finished with you, you immature piece of shit. The gift of being a god is wasted on you."
Her voice, both tantalizing and irritating at the same time, speaks the words from within me. How is this possible?! When did she gain the ability to get into a mind as powerful as mine?
I throw the slut off me, breaking her back in the process. Anger and pain pulse through me as her fucking words conjure up feelings that I had buried deep within me eons ago. Although she is just an insignificant speck of space, why do her words bother me so much?