Hey guys, sorry for the wait AGAIN. School has started up and I have a tonne of stuff to deal with because of my GCSEs and it totally sucks. I'm really trying to write as much as possible, but it's kinda hard. Anyway, without further ado or whatever that saying is, here's the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I only own Nyx.

Loki was cold.

For the first time in his life, he was actually cold.

When growing up on Asgard, in the harsh winters when Thor and Nyx were huddled next to the fire under blankets and thick clothes, Loki had never been cold. On that day when Thor led all of them to Jotunheim for revenge, and the others were bundled up in furs, he dressed normally. He still remembered Heimdall's words: "you're not dressed warmly enough" as he attempted to talk his way past him. He had never known why he never felt the cold like others did, he only saw it as an advantage over his brother. Until he found out the truth about his heritage, that is. Then it was everything but an advantage.

But now, huddled on the stone floor of his cell in the Chitauri mothership, Loki was chilled to the bone. He wasn't sure whether it was because of the temperature or the guards outside his door, but he was shivering.

Hela had given him over to Thanos almost the second Thanos appeared. She didn't seem interested in the flirtatious attempts at conversation he tried, in fact she seemed repulsed by the very idea of courting Thanos. Not that that seemed to stop him. It was none of his business, but Loki couldn't resist being curious. He had not failed to tease Thanos about the rejection, and he had a purpling bruise on his jaw to prove it.

I wonder if anyone has noticed I'm gone yet. He doubted that any of the Avengers cared enough about him to notice, and Thor would just assume he was holed up in his room with his magic. Nyx hadn't even spoken to him since she had fought him a week ago, and even then she had been acting strange. Something was obviously going on with her, more than just Thanos, and she didn't trust him enough to tell him.

That hurt Loki more than he would like to admit. They had always told each other everything.

Before both of them supposedly died, anyways.

Loki doubted that if Nyx realised he was gone, she would even care. They obviously weren't as close as they used to be, bindings or no bindings. Maybe she didn't care about him anymore, because he had abandoned her and he was a monster. Well maybe I shouldn't care about her, since she abandoned me too. But Loki did care, he cared a lot, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Loki knew that Thanos would kill him eventually, after whatever torture he would have to undergo in the near future. He would sometimes wonder why he was letting this happen, but then he would think of Nyx and remember. Its not like he wanted to stay alive, anyway. Loki would go through whatever he had to if it meant saving Nyx, but he would make sure to annoy Thanos as much as possible in the process.

Alone in his cold and damp cell, Loki grinned to himself. This was going to be fun.

Hela grinned.

Her grin was like a skull's; all sharp edges and teeth.

As soon as the Mad Titan and the Jotun had left her realm, she had shuddered and ordered for her undead guards to run her a bath. A long bathe in the blood of the dead would cleanse her skin from the Titan's greasy touch. Hela was growing tired of Thanos and his infatuation towards her. It was an extreme annoyance and she was all too happy that it would end soon enough. Thanos would soon be dead, his armies gone forever, and she would be a lot happier and finally free from his 'feelings'. Loki would also die in the process.

Hela had been surprised when Loki appeared in her Throne room, asking to be sacrificed in order to save Nyx. The Silvertongue had never struck her as someone willing to lay down and die for someone else. He had always been a survivor, using his tricks and manipulation to stay alive. Even when he was plagued with self hatred and doubt, his instincts led him to do what he did on Asgard. Him giving up now both confused and intrigued Hela. He obviously cared deeply for Nyx. Even Hela could see that their bond ran deeper than their bindings.

She did not envy the Jotun his fate. Hela had no doubt that Thanos would make sure Loki's remaining life was as painful and miserable as possible, and then inevitably kill him. She suspected that Thanos would keep him alive, but only barely, until Ragnarok itself. And since Loki played a large part in Ragnarok, it would be advantageous to Thanos to have him under his control. Even Hela agreed that it was a horrible fate. But he was a necessary sacrifice in order for Thanos to be killed, and personally Hela didn't care much about him anyway. Who she cared about was Nyx.

Loki had known about her plans to give him to Thanos. The only way he could have known this is if Nyx told him, or if he overheard her telling the Avengers about it. According to Loki, Nyx was willing to fight to protect him. Hela suspected that Nyx was plotting against her, and using the Avengers as an army to help her. Five mortals, an angry oaf and a wayward Demon are no match for the armies of Helheim. If Nyx tries to strike against me, she shall be killed. Hela knew she had lied to the Liesmith, when she said that she would not harm Nyx. Luckily, he hadn't seemed to pick up on it. If Nyx had betrayed her, Hela was going to do as she promised: destroy her.

Discarding her dress and walking nude towards her bath, Hela ordered a few guards along the way to prepare the armies for battle. Seven of them, thousands of us. The next time I bathe it will be in Demon blood.

Hela smirked as she stepped into her bath and submerged herself in the blood.

This was going to be easy.

I awoke to swirls of blue obscuring my vision.

Black, or even green, I would have expected. But blue?

"Nyx." The voice penetrated the barrier separating me from the world. I felt like I was underwater, all sounds muffled and all sight almost impossible. I felt and did not feel hands grip my shoulders. "Nyx!"

With an almost audible snap, the barrier disappeared and I was back in Helheim, sprawled on the floor, surrounded by confused Avengers and a -worried? Can't be- Thor.

I groaned and pushed myself up onto my elbows. "What the fuck." Was all I said. I had a pounding headache, and my limbs felt like they were submerged in water. As I hauled myself to my feet, I was hit with a wave of dizziness and grabbed onto the nearest object to steady myself. As the dizziness cleared, I realised I had grabbed onto Thor's arm. I let go immediately.

"I gave you all of the strength I could." Thor muttered.

I nodded. "I can fight. But my magic is out of use for the time being." Ignoring the pounding in my skull, I surveyed the area. The Palace wasn't too far from where we were standing. I start towards it, and the others all follow.

The mortals walked behind me and Thor, weapons drawn and looking wary. They mutter to each other, sometimes with fear in their eyes, and sometimes with awe. Thor holds his hammer so tight his knuckles go white, and keeps pace with me as I head towards where Gaum guards the entrance. I fiercely push back the pain in my head and unsheathe both of my katanas, knowing we would probably have to fight our way in. Not to mention out.

Once we are close enough to see the red of Gaum's eyes, Thor stops. Barton almost runs into him, and curses under his breath. I am about to laugh until I follow Thor's gaze, and freeze.

Surrounding the Palace of Helheim are hundreds of undead warriors, all armed with swords and axes and crossbows. They are all looking right at us.

Hela has been expecting us. She knows I have betrayed her. She is going to kill me.

"I'm guessing you guys didn't plan for this." Stark says from behind us, his voice made mechanical by the suit he wears.

"How many are there?" Rogers asks, gripping his shield.

"Too many." Romanoff says gravely. Despite her words, she loads her guns, and the look in her eyes promises blood.

"Have a little faith." Barton says, loading his bow and surveying the area for any high ground he can take. He spots an overturned tower, about six metres off the ground, and heads towards it. We all watch him go.

Stark turns to Banner. "Looks like we're gonna need the other guy." Banner nods, and I look away as he transforms into the rage monster. His deep roar penetrates the eery silence of the realm.

As I survey the armies I can see from here, I can see that they are all guarding the entrance. Protecting Hela. As far as I can see, Hela is not among the armies, so she must be inside the Palace. No doubt there would be more soldiers in there too.

I glance at Thor, but he is already looking at me. "What do you need us to do?" He asks in a monotone voice. I raise my eyebrows, surprised he's put me in charge.

"Thor, you and me need to get inside the Palace and find Loki. Can the rest of you stay out here and hold them off for as long as possible?" The mortals all nod. "Good. Hela is inside, so all you will have to face are the undead warriors. The only way to kill them is to decapitate them, as they have no hearts. Tell your archer buddy to use explosive arrows." I watch as Romanoff mutters something into her earpiece. "Hulk, I need you to clear a path for me and Thor to get in. Can you do that?" By the way the rage monster grins at me and charges towards the Palace, I take it as a yes.

Me and Thor sprint after the Hulk, through the rather wide passageway he clears by simply knocking over the warriors like dominoes. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the other Avengers spread out and start fighting Hela's armies. I don't pay much attention to them. I focus only on my footsteps and my breathing and the occasional undead soldier that manages to get close to me. I try not to focus on my almost empty magic reserves or my pounding headache.

We somehow reach the far end of the battle and sprint into the Palace entrance before Gaum, who was currently distracted by the war happening two feet in front of him, noticed us.

As we sprint down the dark hallway towards the Throne room, Thor's pace matching mine, all I can think about is Loki. He's okay. He has to be okay. Please be okay. I don't know what I'll do if he's not okay.

But that was a lie. I did know what I would do if Loki wasn't okay.

I would destroy Hela and her realm. Even if I died trying.

And there you go! Plenty of action will be in the next chapter, I promise. I'm really getting into this story and I can't wait to keep writing. Hopefully there are people reading this who are waiting for updates too. Or something.

Please review, it really helps out. See ya! :D