Krystal

39

The moment we step through and into the woods just outside of the palace, I cloak myself with magic to guarantee that I can remain unseen by Heimdall.

He can't warn Odin that I've returned if he's been instructed to search for me at all, and he'll most likely believe that I've died in Hel.

"So what's next?" I ask Thor.

"I will go inside and formulate a plan with my mother to aid Loki in his escape".

"No".

"No?"

I couldn't stand the thought of being apart from Loki for another second.

"Arrest me and have me taken down to the cells. I have to see him now".

I use magic to transform myself into a different, younger woman with far shorter hair so I'm now unrecognisable. This was something I'd never tried before, but it seemed to work perfectly.

"What do you think?" I ask giving him a twirl.

"It is perfect".

Thor brings me before Odin, who's still clueless that his son had even left the realm and traveled to Hel in the first place. Lucky for both of us, he can't see through this illusion even when I'm right in front of him.

"Who is this?" he asks.

"I caught this one poaching just outside of the palace walls, father".

"Is this true, girl?"

"Yes, my King. My father is very sick and unable to work. I was desperate" I lie.

"Take her to the dungeons, until I decide what to do with her".

I keep my head down and act like some meek little maiden of this realm, because that means I don't have to wear anything that will dampen my magic.

We reach the dungeons and I see Loki on the floor of his cell, having obviously destroyed everything inside in a fit of rage. He doesn't even look up when we walk past.

As soon as Thor's put me inside of my old cell, he slips one of the guards devices into my hand and goes over to speak with Loki.

"Brother, I have news of Lady Krystal" he whispers.

"What news?"

Loki quickly gets up off the floor.

"She is alive and well. Her curse is now broken".

"Thank the gods! Where is she now?"

"She is in hiding, brother, and waits eagerly for you to join her".

Loki smiles as Thor leaves and begins repairing his cell while I remain silent. It doesn't take long for him to notice this new stranger staring at him.

"So what did you do?" he asks.

"Poaching to feed my starving family".

"Hardly a crime worthy of being locked away in here".

"Perhaps King Odin is a cruel man? You are the King's son, are you not?"

"I am" he replies sternly.

I can sense that he's tense with anger at his father's recent actions because I am as well.

"I heard he recently granted you your freedom, and yet here you are?"

"I may have done something he did not approve of".

"Did you kill someone?" I laugh.

"No".

"Did you fall in love?"

"I did" he smiles.

"Is she worth being imprisoned for?"

"She certainly is".

I was so happy to hear him say those words.

"So if she were here with you at this very moment, what would you say to her?"

"That I love her with all that I am".

With that, I transform my appearance back into my normal self, with Loki looking at me in utter shock.

"I love you too" I tell him and open both our cells.

We run quickly into each others arms and I knew that I never wanted to let him go again.

"I thought I'd never see you again" I cry with my head buried in his chest.

"What happened? I feared you were dead".

"After you went with your father, I returned to my room to wait for you. Three men came out of nowhere and dragged me off into the woods. The next thing I knew, I was being thrown into a large hole and then I woke up in Hel. The men said it was under your father's orders".

"He attempted to convince me that you had fled when I realised you were gone, but I knew he was lying. That is the reason he had me put back down here".

"He knows we got married in secret, that's why".

"A clear effort to stop us from consummating the marriage. Until then it can still be annulled by him".

That gives me a very interesting idea.

"How long do we have until the guards come past?" I ask and grab the belt of his trousers.

"I will not have the first time I take my new wife be in the palace dungeons".

"Well I suggest you hurry up, husband, because your wife will become very impatient" I tell him as I lay kisses on his neck.

"We have the rest of our lives for that, my love".

"I suppose we'll have to flee to another realm, won't we?" I sigh.

"We cannot stay here as my father will continue to be a threat to us. He believes that you and I are dangerous together".

"We are, but only if we're kept apart. That's why I have to stop him".

"Stop him how?"

"Do you trust me, Loki?"

"Of course I do, but we can just leave..."

"Loki, you shouldn't have to run away from your own father. You certainly shouldn't have to leave your family behind because he can't accept the woman you fell in love with when everyone else in your family does".

I'll be damned if we're running away like cowards in the dead of night. I won't let that happen.

"I do trust you, but please do not do anything foolish".

"I won't, I promise. I love you, Loki".

"I love you too".

It felt amazing to finally declare my love for him without any hesitation or fear.

With these new powers I felt fearless and unstoppable, but I knew I'd have to use it carefully because this new magic is full of darkness.

Even witches with the purest of hearts can be corrupted by dark magic, and I couldn't risk losing myself to it like my mother did.