Chapter 2

She ran like the hounds of Hell were on her heels. Unlike her pursuers, she knew the campus very well including all of its hiding spots. But she wasn't sure if they would do her any good with the device that could locate her heat signature in their possession. She made her way to a drainage tunnel and quickly went down into it, making sure to cover up the opening once she was inside. She could hear them getting closer and ran to what
appeared to be a dead end but was in fact a secret room she had discovered six months before. It had become one of her hiding spots which she kept stocked with enough food for at least a week. She pushed the unseen button and the door slid open. She slipped inside then closed the
secret door behind her sealing herself inside the small hideaway.

Xxx

"She's gone!" Jane cried to the group in surprise. "The heat signature just disappeared!"

"How?" Stark asked perplexed.

"I don't know. But she knows this campus well. She went to school here so she knows all its secrets especially since it's been abandoned for the past year," Jane said trying to explain how Darcy could have just up and disappeared from their radar.

"Well, we have to find her! He is not going to be happy if we return once again empty handed," Steve said to the group, causing them all the nod in
agreement.

"I say we split up and look for her. She couldn't have gotten very far. Jane where did you lose her signal? We will start from there," Natasha said
trying to be practical.

"I lost it over there," she replied pointing in the direction of a very visible storm drain.

"Alright then we will start there," Clint said, walking over to the drain, the others following shortly afterwards.

They all made their way down into the tunnel and activated their flashlights so that they could see.

XXX

Darcy's relief was short-lived when she heard voices just on the other side of the secret door. She prayed to whatever deity would listen that they wouldn't find the switch. There was only one disadvantage to her hiding place, as it didn't contain an exit. Which effectivly trapped her where she was.

"Please don't let Doctor Banner go all green and mean, please," she prayed softly, then heard the familiar roar of the Hulk.

Normally she wouldn't mind seeing the Hulk but now was not one of those times. He was the only one who could possibly break through the wall
and get to her. She could heard the pounding on the walls surrounding her and hoped that the walls were thick enough to hold off the big guy.

She heard the full group then and gulped. She knew they had her trapped and that her time was up. She debated just surrendering but decided against it, if they wanted her then they would have to come get her first. She didn't ask to be the object of the kings desire, she didn't ask for any of this. She especially didn't want to face a possibly irate king. Who knew what he would do to her for defying him for the past year.

"Darcy we know you're here somewhere. Show yourself," Jane called out.

'Like Hell, I will show myself!' she thought to herself at Jane's words.

"Lady Darcy, we mean you no harm," Thor called trying to comfort her in some way.

'Right, you only want to take me to the man who wants me to be his baby making machine,' she scoffted silently.

"Miss Lewis, don't make this harder than it has to be," Steve said.

'Any harder? You have me cornered with no way out!' came the voice in her head.

"I don't think she's here," Clint said, just as the device in Jane's hand came back to life.

"She's here, alright. She's on the other side of this wall," Jane said pointing to the wall in question.

"How could she have gotten behind there?" Clint asked, "We combed the entire network and we all ended up right here."

"There must be a secret door that opens up to the other side," Tony said logically, all the while looking for the lever that would open the door to the other side.

"So how are we supposed to get to her if she's hiding behind the door?" Natasha asked Jane, as she too scanned the surrounding walls for a possible button or lever that would open the door.

"We don't," Jane explained.

"What do you mean we don't? Jane, you heard what Loki said. We have to bring her in before morning."

"Yes, I am well aware what the king ordered, but she has to come out on her own."

"Well, she could be holed up in there a long time Jane. Especially now that she knows that we know where she is."

"True, but she does have to eat and if there is one thing I know about Darcy, it's she loves her food. At some point her stockpile will run out and she will have to come out. It might not be tonight but it will be sometime in the near future."

Knowing Jane was right, Tony told them that he was going back to inform the king that they had found her but she was holed up behind a wall. He was also going to tell the king that she wasn't going to come out no matter what they did or said to cajole her to do so.

Xxx

"Your Majesty," Stark greeted the king.

"Well, where is she?" Loki askedn obliously upset that Stark appeared without his prize.

"We have located her, Sire. Unfortunately, she is holed up behind a wall that Hulk was not able to punch through, though he tried."

"You are certain that she has no escape route?"

"Very sure, Sire. She has not moved from the spot since we showed up on the other side. She has basically trapped herself. Miss Foster has said
that she will have to come out eventually to scavenge for food."

Loki was not happy to hear this for it meant that he would have to wait longer to claim his bride. He sighed, "I want someone watching her until
she does make an appearance. When she does she is to be brought directly to me. I don't care if I am asleep at the time she will be brought to me.
Am I understood?"

"Yes, Sir," Stark said then left the king and returned to the rest of the team to relay the message.

Xxx

One week later, Darcy knew that she was going to have to leave her hiding spot and give up her freedom. She was out of food, had been out for
the past two days. She went to the door and with a heavy heart opened it to reveal the entire Avengers team and her former boss. She wished belatedly that she had chosen a different hiding spot, perferably one that had an escape route. She had not been thinking clearly when she had choosen that particular spot nor had she thought that they woud track her to it.

Xxx

Darcy found herself soon in the Golden Palace and kneeling begrudingly infront of the golden throne. She was made to wait for the kings appearence but didn't have to wait long as he soon appeared within moments of her arrival.

"Miss Lewis, you have caused me much grief in the past year, do you realize this," Loki fairly growled at the woman at his feet.

"I might," she replied heatedly, without looking up at him, even though she knew he was standing right in front of her, for she could see his boots.

"You need to learn your place," he spat.

Darcy was livid at this. Her place! He was the one who took over her planet and he wanted her to know her place.

"Leave us," Loki commanded and she heard the great doors shut as she was left alone with the livid king.

"Stand," he commanded her and waited for her to comply.

Darcy wanted to defy him futher, but decided it would be more prudent to do as he said. She knew that he was in a temper right now and didn't want to be punished further for her defiance. She slowly stood, making sure to take her time in doing so just to iritate him but still complying with his demand. However she kept her eyes lowered.

Loki noticed her slow response and knew she was doing it on purpose, however he was displeased to see that she had yet to look at him as he wanted to look into her eyes.

"Look at me!" he commanded and watched as she complied if unhurriedly.

When she finally looked Darcy was taken aback for a moment. She always knew that he was a good looking man but she had not expected to see the man before to be so terriffingly gorgeous. She could feel something stir deep within her but refused to believe that she wanted him in that way especially since she loathed him or did she?

He finally looked into her lovely colbalt eyes and could see many things playing within her expressive orbs. Fear, displeasure, hatred, confusion and a hint of lust all swam within her lovely eyes.

"Why do I see such hate in your eyes, my Lady?" he asked tipping her head further up as he stepped even closer to her.

She narrowed her eyes at him at that question. How could he ask such a thing! He knows why she hates him does he really expect her to answer him?

"Really? You ask me this? Do you have any idea what it's like to be hunted like some animal? I am human," she spat at him before continuing, "I
do not wish to be queen, not if it means being controlled like all the rest of your reluctant subjects. And another thing, Your Highness, why choose me when there are women who would give their life to be where I am right now?!" she railed at him accusingly.

Loki listen to her practically yell at him and a smile came over his face then. A smile that had Darcy pausing to think about her situation.

"Do you have any other objection to being my queen than you not being controlled?" he asked amused.

She looked up at him then and realized that really that was not her only objection. "No, I don't love you!"

"You can learn to do so, my darling. Besides I do not want anyine else, I want you. As to why, it is quite simply really, but I think I will make you figure out that in time," he finished with a smirk.

Darcy looked at him bewildered. What ever could he mean?

"Guards!" he shouted and two men came into the room.

"Yes, Sire?"

"Take Lady Darcy to her chamber, you know the one in which I speak. You are also to stand guard outside her door. I am taking no chances on her
escaping."

With that he dismissed the small group and sat on the throne to think about the woman who was now in his clasp.