Hey everyone! here is the new chapter. I appreciate the reviews a lot, so thanks to all those who left one! :)

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Chapter 4

Elena's POV

Whatever SHIELD does, it does in style…..was I the one who thought that a while ago? Well, let's just scratch that because whatever SHIELD does, it does it in a 'nowhere-on-earth-to-be-found-ultra-classic-stylish-way'. The apartment in front of me, if you can call it an apartment, is the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon. I am gorging the entire thing with my eyes, which I am sure are the size of saucers by now.

The elevators open to a lobby lit by muted lights which bathe everything in warm golden hue, the walls are decorated with various small clusters of paintings which when looked at individually don't make any sense but as a whole they paint something inexplicably beautiful. Shining Waterfall at noon, a cliff overseeing Sunset, dark and mysterious forest glinting in moonlight, a golden city in the center of a vast sea. Every single scene…..breathtaking.

There are glass doors that slide open to a very large hall that has been done in a tasteful manner; the far wall is entirely glass, looking over the skyline of the city. There are plush black sofas strewn with dark green velvet pillows adorning the center on three sides and facing a fireplace on the far left wall; the fireplace has been done in dark wood that almost matches the color of the sofas. There is a coffee table in the center, at the heart of which sits the most beautiful assortment of flowers; everything in it is green, the flowers, the leaves, the added wilderness yet all of it stands distinctly.

The walls are a delectable cream color, with an enormous bar on the right side of the entrance. As we move deeper into the hall I can see a dark mahogany door just beside the bar, guess it must be the kitchen. Where the glass wall ends at the far right end of the hall, there is a sturdy looking wooden staircase that melts into a hallway, I can only assume houses the rooms. Everything is surreal, quite, warm….but there is a different word that keeps popping in my head…home. Yeah, home, if I ever had to design my own house and money was not a constraint I would design it just like this.

So this is what being royalty means, you kill hundreds of people on an egoistic rampage and all you get is a slap on the wrist and of course…a mansion to live in.

"I take it you are seeing this place for the first time too." I can hear a smile in his voice, though it's taunting or not I can't tell because I am still taking the scene in while the two guards are making a small station for themselves on the left corner besides the entrance. But when I turn to face him behind me he is not there. Confused I whip around and find him sitting at the couch facing the entrance and looking at me with a smile…..which almost looks genuine and dare I say friendly. When did he get there?

"Sorry I went ahead and made myself comfortable while you were too busy ogling something that is far beyond your station of life. Its okay look away, I am generous like that." And there he is...with the infuriating smirk and wink in place, how could I even think he would attempt at being friendly. I decide not to give him the rise that he is so desperately looking for, though.

"The place looks amazing; I guess being royalty really helps. It must have been a top notch decorator to have assembled something so beautiful at a week's notice." I say in the most normal voice I can muster while still probing around the hall. It really is amazing.

"Oh certainly top notch it was, in fact the best. I made sure of that." There is a hint of smugness in his tone that piques my interest.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask him, going to sit on the sofa in front of him.

"It means I designed the whole thing." He says in a very nonchalant way that is so in conflict with the way his eyes are glinting. But anyhow it stops me in my tracks because I need to look at him and make sure he isn't kidding. There is such a personal touch to this place; something very comforting and there is no way it could be the work of someone who slaughtered people without any remorse.

"And I am supposed to believe that?" My tone is as devoid of buying this load of crap as I am.

"I didn't design it for you to believe; I designed it for my own comfort but by all means run away to the mighty god of thunder and ask for confirmation, if you like." I can't see his expression since he is now flat out lying on the couch and looking at the ceiling.

"How?" the disbelief is quite evident in my tone.

"You don't actually suppose that I am as powerless as they are making me out to be, do you? Are you that dumb, mortal?" and with this he slowly gets up, walking towards me with slow but confident steps all the while looking me dead in the eyes.

"You people have brought me here because you want my help. You are as weak and pathetic and helpless as all the other realms think you to be. I am a god; you will always be on my mercy. Weaker than me. Depending on me. You and your wretched race will do well to accept that soon. As for your question about the how, well considering how valuable my knowledge of the oncoming threat is, I do get to make demands and have them met with." His voice that kept on dropping an octave with every sentence is barely above a whisper now but I hear every word distinctly and clearly, not because he is standing right in front of me but because of the frightening edge that has taken hold of it, his eyes are almost crazed with pitiless delight. What is this man?

I know that little monologue was supposed to make me quake in my boots and I admit I feel a little bit threatened but here's the thing about me….when I am afraid, even the tiniest bit, all of my self-preservation instincts fly out of the window. And now I am beginning to see why Fury set me up to this job. He doesn't want a babysitter he wants someone who can give the maniac a taste of his own medicine. At least that's what I think. So I do the only thing that I think is deserving of this douchebag.

I laugh.

And it's not a suppressed, mock, make-do laughter either. It is a hearty laugh….. Because I honestly can't believe him right now. I look up and see a slight confusion pass his features. I bet this is the first time that speech hasn't had a desired effect.

"You can't seriously mean all that? You came to earth with all the power you could muster; I mean you had an army of gory extraterrestrial beings for god's sake! Not to mention the pretty good head start you got because we were unprepared….you had everything working for you yet all it took was five of our people and yes, how can I forget your own brother….who volunteered to put a stop to your shenanigans through any means necessary and seeing how you are who can blame him….to beat your ass to the ground and send you packing to where you unceremoniously dropped from or should I say back to the place you were thrown out of." By now the laughter has slowly ebbed out of my words and just to make sure my point comes across loud, clear and serious I step in a bit, a mere few inches between us now. I drop my voice as low as he did but if his stony expression is any indication I am sure he can hear me very well.

"Therefore my-dear-not-so-welcome God, YOU will do well to remember that we saved this world once. We can do it again, with or without your help. But since your pathetic self can prove to be of help and it will do some good to redeem that horrible personality of yours, we are giving you a chance. The fact that we didn't hulk-smash your ass the minute you step foot here this morning should only be seen as what it is….generosity towards a prisoner and not as some sort of weakness that I am sure your deluded brain is making you see this as. And as for me and my wretched race….well let's just say that we like our Gods strong and powerful and not beaten to a pulp by a group of soldiers, who quite frankly take pride in being human."

He hasn't said a word or moved an inch all through my speech but his eyes have changed considerably, they were piercing before, sure. But right now, it is like watching a snow storm unfurl. But I stand my ground while I say the next few words, raising my voice so that the agents who are standing alert to the entire exchange, waiting for my command can hear me crystal clear as well. I keep my eyes trained on him though, so that he knows I am not one who will take his shit silently.

"Set the station, put in a formal request for an ankle monitor and have it here within an hour. I want all the movements of the prisoner within the apartment tracked and reported at the end of the day. The prisoner is not to move, eat, sit, drink or even go to the bathroom without informing one of you. He is to be accompanied at all times and everywhere. Nothing is to be given to him, no form of entertainment without my permission." I know it's unauthorized but he needs to understand that he is on watch and that he needs to take things seriously.

His expression hasn't changed a bit but I don't stay back to see if it does, I move towards the exit with sure steps to collect my copy of his profile from my desk. Though I can't help but notice, all the restraints that I just put up didn't bother him in the least. I thought for someone royal it would be utterly discomforting to lose things like these. So I stop at the entrance as a totally different idea strikes me….what better to cause discomfort than…but it might be too cruel.

Oh. What the hell.

He called my race wretched. Let's show him how wretched we can be.

I turn to the guards by the door, who are looking a bit amused and say in a considerably audible voice, "On second thoughts, we are not monsters, are we? Give him some entertainment to pass his time by." I pretend to think for a while. "Oh yes! Get him a CD of Justin Bieber's latest album and play it at a volume that he can hear in every nook of the apartment." I wink at the guards who are barely containing their laughter now. Finally feeling satisfied I step in the elevator and as the doors are closing, I catch a glimpse of loki's confused face.

If only you knew what's coming.

There you go! another chapter...do let me know what you think :)

PS: apologies to any bieber fan :P