A new life; A captain America Romance; Book two

Chapter 25; You win

I blink my eyes, rapidly, struggling against Loki's grip. What did he just say? I try to peer up to him, trying to study his face. This is another trick. It has to be. But the conviction and glee in his eyes tell me otherwise.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" The power and anger in Tony's voice ten feet away makes me jump. Loki sniggers and licks his lips in delight.

"Hmmm, maybe I should let Mr. Barnes explain. It'd be a shame to not let him have his full faculties just as he's about to destroy the Avengers." Loki snarls and slowly peels the staff away from my throat to point to Bucky's chest. In the brief moment of freedom, I try to release myself from Loki's grip but I can't. Exhaustion and shock makes it impossible. All I can do is stand there, my body numb and my mind reeling.

Bucky's eyes return to their original shade of ocean blue as he shakes his head and takes in the damage around him. His eyes meet mine, then Tony's, then Steve's, He raises his gun in panic and aims at Loki's head and fires. "What did you do to me?" He screams. I recoil and shut my eyes but the bullet never reaches him. Bucky screams in pain and is forced onto his knees by Loki's free hand. His face is contorted in sorrow. I lock eyes with Steve and his chest is heaving. There's a look of horror on his face. His eyes plead with mine.

"Bucky, what is he talking about! Tell me right now!" Tony is furious, his face is now the same colour as his Iron man suit. His eyes dart, hopelessly between Bucky's and Loki's before reaching mine. I can't speak.

Tony lunges forwards and grabs Bucky by the collar, shaking him violently. "You killed my parents?" Steve launches himself at them, pulling Tony back as the rest of the team stare on in shock.

"Tony! He didn't know what he was doing! He was brainwashed by HYDRA. He had no control over his actions!" Steve tells, trying to pry Tony away from a devastated Bucky whose eyes are now scanning mine in agony. I can't look at him. I let my weight fall against Loki in defeat. Did Steve know? "Tony stop! He's my best friend, Tony. You have to stop this!" But Tony's beyond reason. He powers his thruster on his right palm and aims at Bucky's chest. Steve punches Tony now, sending him hurtling back through the air.

Loki has silently signalled for the agents under his control to join in the action. Nat and Sam fight and kick their way through the men as Loki throws his head back in delighted cheer. Sam floors three agents and jumps into the air and body checks Tony, sending him tumbling to the ground.

No! This isn't right! It's not meant to be like this! I thrash against Loki, trying to break Free but Loki presses his lips to my ear and whispers. "Finally, finally you'll see what weak, useless beings these so called friends are to you. They'll rip each other to shreds and there's nothing anyone can do about it. I've won. And now.. just because you've really inconvenienced me, I've decided I'm going to make you mine." Panic and terror are washing over me as I try to comprehend Loki's words and as I look on at the scene in front of me. My brother and the man I love, about to kill each other.

My head is killing me. How could this be happening? Bucky, my friend, killed my father? What does Loki mean; make me his? I'm pulled back as the the ship suddenly shakes, violently and I feel light headed as it jerks and screeches. It's plummeting downwards. I strain my head to look out the window and gasp as I notice just how close the body of water beneath is getting. The force of the falling aircraft sends the team falling forwards and crashing into the wall opposite us. "Guys! Stop this! This isn't the time. If we don't get off this ship now we're all gonna be at the bottom of the Atlantic!" Nat screams as she tries to peel herself off the floor. "Tony! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Ellie please forgive me!" Bucky screams as Tony's thruster hits him square in the chest. "No!" Steve bellows and grabs Tony by the ankles, nearly turning blue in the face trying to pull him off Buck who is now unconscious from the force of Tony's blast.

Loki yanks me by the hair, pulling my head back so that I'm staring into his evil eyes. "I had hoped I could convince you to join me without having to do this... but as always, you humans always insist on the hard way." It's like everything is moving in slow motion. Loki raises his staff and presses it against my heart. Steve desperately tries to get to me but agents are coming out of no where, attacking him. I close my eyes and wait for it to happen, for Loki to take over my mind. But, nothing. I open my eyes in confusion.. I'm still me? It hasn't worked? Loki scrunches his face and pounds my chest harder with the staff. He can't believe it. "Well, you've officially just become the most interesting person in the room, Ellie. But you're weak... Wanda did confirm that you still don't know how to use your powers.... Lucky me. But I suppose we'll just have to do this the hard way, after all." A vicious smile stretches across his irritated face as a dagger materialises out of thin air. "But first, I think I should get rid of my competition, don't you?" His forefinger glides across the dagger as his eyes lock onto Steve. Oh, God. No!

"Steve!" I scream in anguish as the dagger flies towards him. He whips around and gasps.

I'm trembling. But not in fear, in absolute rage. I feel my hands vibrate and let the wave of energy wash over me. It's taking over me. All the pain, anger, hurt and betrayal. Everything I feel, bubbling to the surface.

Loki is so preoccupied, marvelling at the chaos he has created that he doesn't seem to notice me. I can feel the electric current escaping my finger tips. I spin my body to face him and suddenly a flash of the brightest bluest light burst from my hands. Loki's face drops as a his body is sent flying across the room. I can hear him scream in frustration as the dagger hits an invisible wall an inch away from Steve. I turn to Loki and lock my eyes with his as he struggles to pick up the staff that is lying a few feet away from him. I raise my hands and summon everything have inside of me to send my energy towards him. He's hit by my invisible wall and to my shock and amazement; he can't move. He fights against the wall of blue light, thrashing and yelling in anger.

I can't see the others. I don't dare turn my head to look at Steve and the rest of team. I know if I break my eye contact it's over. The ship continues its rapid, terrifying decent and I have to press my back against a nearby railing and wrap my leg around it to steady myself and not let my shield falter.

Loki screams and tries to break through my barrier. My body is exhausted and I'm starting to feel weak but I hang on. I fight with everything I have to keep him away.

"Tony! Tony, stop! We have bigger problems right now. You need to get out there and try to slow this ship down or we're all gonna die right here!" I let out a sigh of relief when I recognise the voice of Nick Fury yelling at Tony as he shoots at several manipulated agents.

My eyes are still focused on keeping my shield in tact but I hear Tony reluctantly scream in frustration and I see a flash of red from the corner of my eye, flying out the shattered window. "Sam, I need help slowing down the propellers!" They're gone, then but the ship lurches again, dropping hundreds of feet in seconds.

"Ellie!" Steve screams for me but my eyes are starting to close. I can't hold it anymore. My grip is loosening and Loki knows it. The last thing I see is his malicious smile when I feel something press against my chest.

"Steve, I can't hold him much longer! Get out of here, now!" I scream at him as he fights his way through a handful of agents. "Ellie, no!" He tells. His eyes are on fire. Loki knows I'm losing it. He knows he has me. The shield breaks and I collapse to my knees.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, before a wave of calm engulfs me. I let it take over and feel my knees buckle. Someone catches me and I'm pulled into the crippling darkness.