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Chapter Thirty-Five: The Dark World

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"I'll hold them off," Sif said, "Take her."

"Should I stay, too?" I asked Thor, prepared to fight off the guards.

"I think you've done enough of that," Sif said bitterly.

"No, we'll need you in the Dark World," Thor said, taking Jane's arm. "Thank you, Sif."

Before Loki and I could follow behind Thor and Jane, a blade was pressed to Loki's throat. "Betray him" Sif warned, "And I'll kill you."

Loki chuckled. "It's good to see you, too, Sif."

With a pointed look, Sif moved her blade, letting Loki pass. She nodded at me as I went, before turning to take on the approaching guards.

"I underestimated the number of people who hate you," I said as we followed Thor's lead.

"Part of my charm," Loki said, raising his hands.

"Does your face sting," I asked teasingly, "You know, from when a Midgardian a foot shorter than you slapped the shit out of you?"

"Tell me, does your ego sting, from when another woman caught my interest?" Loki asked, mirroring my teasing tone, "Jealously burns, doesn't it?"

"I wouldn't know," I lied, "It only took me a handful of partners to move on after you."

"So you've grown over your feelings for me, have you?" Loki frowned, "Funny, I seem to recall you telling me otherwise last night, when I had you—"

I elbowed him the gut, forcing him to stay silent. We rounded into the throne room, which had been destroyed by a Dark Elf ship during the raid. In front of the ship, waiting for us, was another of Thor's friends whom I recognized: Volstagg.

"I will give you as much time as I can," he said to Thor.

"Thank you, my friend," Thor answered, shaking his hand.

We moved to pass him, Jane and I both nodding our appreciation. As Loki moved passed him, Volstagg shot an arm out to stop him. Loki smirked knowingly.

"If you even think about betraying him—"

"You'll... Kill me?" Loki's brows shot up, "Evidently, there will be a line."

"And I'll be first in it," I spat, taking Loki by the collar and jarring him forwards. I looked back to Volstagg with an assuring nod. "I'll watch him."

"I'm sure you'll very much enjoy that," Loki teased as we ascended into the alien space ship. The alien space ship. Damn, I thought, guess this is my life now.

Thor pawed uselessly at the control panel as Jane and I hung back, unused to the machinery.

Loki approached Thor from behind. "I thought you said you knew how to fly this thing?"

"I said how hard could it be," Thor retorted.

"Well, what ever you're doing, brother, I suggest you do it faster," Loki said, as the sounds of fighting outside reached us.

"Shut up, Loki."

"You must have missed something."

"No, I didn't," Thor snapped, "I'm pressing every button on this thing."

"No—don't hit it, just press it, gently," Loki explained patronizingly.

Jane and I exchanged a look. These two were doubtless going to get us killed.

"I'm pressing it gently, it's not working," Thor shouted.

He slammed the control panel in frustration, and suddenly the ship came to life around us, lighting up and whirring gently.