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NYCTOPHILIA

Chapter 5

"I got ice in my veins,

Blood in my eyes.

Hate in my heart,

Love in my mind."

-Unknown-

The convergence was drawing closer. Malia could feel the pull as the worlds' slowly moved on their path to alignment. Soon the Aether will be in her reach, under her control. Time was now of the essence and she had wasted enough of it on trivial sentiments and a past that could never be.

Her eyes drifted to the wall and her thoughts to the man hidden behind it. Now she knew and understood why she was so drawn to him ever since she saw him through the Mind Stone. They were destined to be together, soul mates, something that could never be now. She could never be that innocent and pure girl that he once loved. That girl was destroyed, tainted and not even a shadow of her existed anymore. She clenched her fists as the memory of the man that forced himself on her and took her innocence washed over her. She could feel the bile rise in her throat as she imagined feeling his dirty groping hands on her body again, the feeling of shame, weakness and indescribable pain. His dreadful words again clear in her mind.

"You are nothing! Just a pretty face and when my men and I are done with you, you will be but a whore and no man will ever see you as anything more than that. They will worship your body and use you to satisfy their own lustful needs, but no man will ever love you. You're worthless! WORTHLESS!"

She shook her head, desperate to rid herself of the dark memory. She had to focus and stop lingering in the past. She had a task to fulfil and although she knew this will tore open even more old wounds for him and also for her, she could not falter now. Not when she was so close. She had to remove the connection with the Other from his mind. The Mad Titan cannot know of her existence just yet, not until the Aether was hers.

With that thought she walked determinately to the wall he had created between their cells and with a wave of her hand it vanished. Malia took in the destruction in his cell before her eyes settled on him.

Loki's back was turned to her, his head bowed, shoulders slightly slumped forward. He looked so lost and for a moment she hesitated. She closed her eyes and willed the guilt mixed with empathy back to that dark place in her, repeating over and over: Love is weakness. Love makes you vulnerable. Love leaves you open to defeat!

His back straightened as he sensed her presence behind him and turned his head slightly in her direction. She stepped into his cell and stopped a few feet from him. The tension in the air was threatening to smother her and she inhaled a deep breath, waiting patiently for him to acknowledge her.

"You seeked me out for a purpose. What is it?" He asked his voice cold, emotionless

She slowly took another step closer to him before she answered.

"We have a common goal." She paused and waited for his reaction, but after a long silence she continued.

"We were both wronged by the same man. Our choices, happiness and self-worth destroyed by his actions, his hunger for power and control. And I know that the same hatred that runs through my veins and desire for revenge runs through yours. Together we will be unstoppable, our power unchallenged. We will take everything from him, we will lay waste to his golden city, we will end his rule and we will concur the realms and they will all kneel to their true king, you!"

She took another step closer to him.

"I know why he took you in. How he raised you in a lie and how that lie pushed you into the path of the Mad Titan. I know what the Mad Titan and the Other did to you. I know, because I saw it through the Mind Stone and I know that you will give everything for the change to make them pay, make them suffer and scream in agony as you have."

She watched as he raised his right hand from his side and stared down at it intently.

"Then you know what I truly am. A Frostgiant." He breathed out and the tone of absolute anguish in his voice tore through her like a tornado.

Loki turned around so quickly that she almost took a step back in surprise, but when her eyes met his, it was not the familiar emerald green that stared back at her, but two red orbs. His face was a light blue and strange ruins covered his skin. She could feel the cold that emanated from his body, her breath a light fog that filled the air in front of her.

"Now you see me, Malia. Now you see the monster!" He hissed out glaring down at her, willing her to look away in disgust.

He was laying himself bare before her, vulnerable, true and it almost pained her to proceed with her plan, but she had to do this.

She closed the distance between them and placed her right hand on his chest. He turned his face away from her and she reached out to touch his cheek, but his words stopped her.

"Don't touch me. I will only hurt you." He whispered as he closed his eyes and the revulsion for himself washed over his features.

She ignored his warning and gently placed her palm against his cheek and forced his head to face her again. His eyes opened and he stared back at her with trepidation.

"Loki."

His name but a mere breathless whisper as it fell from her lips. She raised herself on her toes and leaned closer to him. Their lips only a breath apart and she could feel his heart race under her palm. She hated herself for doing this, for hurting him even more.

She closed the distance between their lips and pressed her warm lips against his cold ones. For a moment he just froze under her touch, but as she slowly moved her mouth over his a shudder went through his body and he answered her kiss. His one hand settled on her hip and the other grabbed the back of her hair, pulling her closer to him. He opened his mouth and she slipped her tongue into his and his grip in her hair tightened as he groaned softly. His other hand began to move up her back as he pulled her flush against his body, his mouth moving feverishly against hers, his want and desire pushing her to let go and give into the feelings that he was awakening in her body. But the memory that she could never be worthy of his affection, that she was forever tainted and her vow to herself that no man will ever have her again, brought her back and she lifted both her hands and placed it on either side of his face. She pushed her seidr into his and when they connected sparks ignited behind her closed eyelids. She felt the space around her shift and the next moment she could feel something solid behind her back as he pushed her against the wall of his cell.

Loki's hand slipped under her coat and she whimpered into his mouth as his touch on her bare skin almost broke all her resolve as she curled her fingers into his soft ebony hair. She was fighting for control over her own desire and she knew it was now or never. She pushed her seidr into his mind and when she found the thread that connected him to the Other she pulled it apart and shattered it.

"Arhgggg!" He screamed as he pushed her away brusquely, clutching his head and sinking to his knees, the sudden separation leaving her abandoned and wanting, her breath panting and her heart racing.

"What did you do to me?" Loki panted as he clutched his head in both his hands. His head felt as if it could explode at any second, the pain that burned through his body unbearable and he started to gag uncontrollably. It was as if he had no control over his own muscles or senses as the room swayed before his eyes. He fell to his side as his body started to convulse and it felt as if his heart was being ripped from his chest. Memories flushed before his eyes. Memories of Thanos laughing as he watched while the Other cut into his flesh, over and over again. He could hear his own screams of agony in his ears, his voice raw as he pleaded for them to stop, promised that he would do anything if they only let the pain stop. Please make it stop! Please!

A cool hand on his forehead brought him out of his dreadful recollections and from a distance he could hear a sweet calming voice coaching him to relax, comforting him and he could feel his heart rate drop, his muscles relax and the pain subside. He sucked in a sharp breath and his eyes flew open and settled on Malia's face as she leaned over him.

Anger filled him as he hastily pushed himself from the floor and had to lean against the wall behind him as the room again swayed before his eyes. She did this to him, did something to his mind, and made him weak and pathetic. He watched as she slowly rose from the floor and when their eyes met he wanted to destroy her. This was not the girl he once loved, she was gone and in her place was a cold and calculated woman that would do anything and everything to get what she desired. Frigga's words of long ago replayed in his mind.

"She is well suited for you…. Together you will concur all and be unstoppable."

He wanted to laugh and scream at the bitter irony and undeniable truth of it. Love and hate, two such extreme emotions, only separated by a thin thread. She played him yet again and he fell for it like the pitiful fool he was. They were so alike it was hilarious and the Norns could not have conjured a more perfect match for him if they tried.

"What did you do to me!" He hissed out through clenched teeth.

"I had to break the connection that the Other still had on your mind. I could not have him or Thanos know of our plans."

A silence fell between them and they just stared each other down.

"Our plans? I don't remember agreeing to assist you." He snarled as he pushed himself away from the wall and closed the distance between them.

He towered over her, staring down at her dangerously, but she did not flinch and her features stayed devoid of any emotion. She was not frightened neither intimidated by him and it sparked his curiosity even more. A wicked grin formed on his lips as a devious plan took shape in his mind.

"I will help you, but I have two conditions of my own." He said and her eyes sparked with interest.

"Name them and they will be yours." She said and Loki felt the feeling of triumph swell in his chest. What was that Midgardian saying again? Fool me once shame on you, but fool me twice shame on me.

"Asgard is not to be destroyed as I will rule from its throne. And you will rule by my side as my queen. For you will be mine and mine alone." He whispered as he watched her face pale and her eyes widen in horror as the realization hit her that there was no way out of this for she had already agreed to his terms.

Lesson number one: Never try to trick the trickster.

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A/N: Malia was just Loki'd! *evil laugh*

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