Horrible Terrible Things

Chapter Twelve

I groaned as my back involuntarily arched off of a hard, cool surface and moved my head to the side as my skull throbbed.

A steady pace rung in my ears and echoed around me. Everything was much too bright.

'What the fuck?' I groaned and sat up, pulling myself onto all fours where I was met with the sight of leather boots. I looked up and sank back down on my heels.

'You're meant to be dead.' The rasp of Loki's voice had me waking from my supposed concussion as I gazed up at his full height as he peered down at me on the floor. I still couldn't work out where we were.

Outside with the warm breeze against my face, surely the palace gardens of New Asgard with the stretch of manicured gardens. It just felt odd, especially Loki in his Asgardian leathers. Where exactly had Frigga thrown me?

I grunted at him as my head pounded and stuck my hand forward so he could help me up. He did gracefully but I only swayed on my feet as I grabbed my throbbing skull and his hands held me tightly by the hips.

'Thor!' Loki turned me and wrapped my arm around his neck as he held me up against him and I had to close my eyes at the glare of the sunlight.

After a moment I opened my eyes to the sound of pounding footsteps on metal and the roar of laughter. A thick figure emerged from a ramp from the small spaceship or what I assumed to be some type of aircraft carrier mere metres before me.

'Eva!' It was Thor who appeared before me and embraced me in a rough hug which had me wincing in pain.

I swatted at him as he let me go and patted the top of my head gently. I swore I saw a shared look between Loki who still held me up and my father who swept his gaze over our surroundings.

'I thought you were dead.' Thor shook his head in disbelief, 'I returned home to find you gone and when that man told us of your disappearance I thought for sure-'

'I was taken.' I cut Thor off and dropped my arm from around Loki, though he still kept me upright, his arm around my waist. I tried to keep my face from burning up with the feel of his palm flat against my hip but remained focus on what I had to tell Thor and Loki. What I had seen, where I had been and what I had been told.

'We were told the same by that man, that someone had taken you, though he had no grounds to stand on. People saw him disappear with you into the caves on the shore of New Asgard and never come out.' Thor's voice was filled with what sounded to be guilt.

I shook my head and tried to shift forward to touch Thor, reassure him that I was tricked. I thought I saw him going into that cave, that Kit had nothing to do with it but Loki kept me firmly by his side and I realised why - Loki hadn't told Thor about the Vault or what we had found there, the body and the mysterious artefact.

As if sensing my tension, Loki spoke next, 'Evangeline should first get some rest. I'm sure after all of these weeks she is a little confused, given the circumstances it's best if we get her inside and comfortable before she tells us of her escape. You remember how frightening your first kidnapping was. '

'Escape?' I questioned but Loki's fingertips pressed into my hip as a warning and I nodded and offered Thor a wavering look, feigning confusion and exhaustion. Though I didn't have to try too hard before he nodded quickly and offered me a tight smile.

'You're safe now.' Thor offered and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. He looked as if he wished to say more but stalked away. I tried to glance over my shoulder at where Thor was headed knowing that we were far from the palace - but Loki was grabbing my face and forcing me to look at him.

'Where did he take you?' His voice held a small hint of anger but his eyes betrayed him and how deep his curiosity was, 'What did he ask of you?'

I swatted Loki's hand away and breathed in deep before telling him some of the truth. How I had awoken to someone trying to kill me, how I had stumbled outside to see the crash and Kit had saved me. We had both seen who we had assumed to be Thor until I assumed it was a trap. And then I told him about Valhalla and Frigga.