Frost Bite

Turning Around

"Loki, p-please..." she whispered, barely conscious."D-don't leave me... don't let me die... I'm so scared, Loki. " she winced, and he could see the pain cross her face in waves. His mind was in turmoil. There was indeed only one way to save her, but he was so afraid. What if he messed it up? He was about to deliberately cause her more pain than she had ever endured.

"I'm right here, darling." He leant over and kissed her forehead, holding her small hand in his. It was clammy, she was fading fast.

Fandral stood outside just in case anyone decided to join the party. Sif entered and immediately saw the horror of the situation. She came over and stood looking down at them, her face filled with compassion.

"Loki, you have no choice. You must do it, and NOW. " she said, not unkindly. "No matter how much it will hurt her, you MUST do it. It has to be you." she crouched and touched his arm, making him turn to her. "Amy is your mate. You and you alone must save her." he nodded. He knew it, there was no choice but he was terrified.

"Loki, please... " he could hardly hear Amy now, she was so quiet. Her face was ashen and tear streaked. The blood from her wound had soaked through what was left of her dress. At first crimson, now dark, almost black, in its intensity. She didn't have long. His eyes filled with tears, his heart tearing in two. He knew he had no choice. "Loki, my darling," she whispered, eyes closed and hand gripping his tightly. "You m-must - you must do it. Please. I don't want to die, but I will love you no matter what hap.." she stopped and went limp in his arms, a single ragged exhale echoing as she collapsed into unconsciousness.

"No!" he cried out "Amy! No!"

He could feel she was literally dying in his arms, and the desire to save her at this, the eleventh hour, kicked all other fears aside. He tipped his head back, opening his mouth wide. His teeth changed instantly, and with a cry of anguish, he bore down on her neck.

His fangs plunged into her neck, and coming to, she moaned quietly as she felt them pierce her skin. Sif, still beside them, held her legs as Loki began to suck. Her blood was metallic in his mouth, the hypnotic and heady mix of feral need and hunger taking over. He groaned as he felt himself bite harder, his arms wrapped around her in a vice-like grip. It would take all his control to do this right. His need to save her battling with the primal urges now coursing through him.

She began to thrash and moan as she came further round, the effect of the bite rousing her and the pain starting to increase. Her eyes flew open, and she screamed loudly in sheer agony. This was nothing like she had ever felt or imagined. She felt a crushing sensation on her chest, a burning in her veins and all-consuming pain in every fibre of her body.

She couldn't catch her breath, and she gasped for air, her lungs fit to burst. Loki withdrew his teeth and licked her wound gently, sealing it. She felt nothing but white hot pain, saw nothing but blackness as her vision disappeared, and then, just as she thought she would explode, she collapsed again.

Falling limply into his arms, she was dead. It had begun. Loki looked at her and closed his eyes, praying it had worked, that he hadn't selfishly waited too long. The next few moments would tell.

Silence descended over the three of them, Sif still standing guard. Suddenly, Amy opened her eyes and sat up, gasping a huge shuddering breath in. She looked at him with wild eyes, turned and vomited violently to the side. The last food she would ever consume now gone. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she shook violently, and Loki held her close again.

"Shhh," he said softly, stroking her hair, "It's over, you're going to be ok, darling."

"Loki?" she buried her face in his chest, crying."Loki? Are you really here? I'm not dreaming?"

Loki smiled and laughed gently. "No darling. I'm really here, and you're not dreaming. " He pulled back a little and tipped her chin up to look into her tear stained face. "No more tears, my love. It's all going to be ok."

"Did you...?" she trailed off quietly, sniffing and raising a hand to her now tender neck.

"Yes, yes, I did." he kissed her forehead again, and this time, she was cool to the touch.

"It hurt Loki. It really hurt." she said with a tiny touch of reproach in her voice. Loki smiled again and rubbed her arm gently.

"I know, love, I'm sorry. I did warn you, " he nudged her, and she smirked despite herself. He scrambled to his feet. "Come on, let's get you somewhere you can rest. You need to sleep now and then feed for the first - and last - time. After that, you will drink what we drink, but the first time, it needs to be the real deal." he watched her face as she processed this new information.

"You - you mean I have to drink BLOOD?" she said slowly, getting up too. Her stomach churned at the thought. She hadn't anticipated THAT.

The wound that had only moments ago threatened to kill her, still ached a little still but would heal over very quickly now.

Loki and Sif exchanged a glance, and they smiled like proud parents. "Yes, Little One, but you will bite me, and I will control you. Fear not, I will make it as pleasant for you as I can." Loki reassured her, and she nodded. She trusted him more than anyone or anything in her entire life. Her life. It suddenly struck her, and she stopped, pulling him to a standstill.

"Loki?"

"Yes, love?"

"Am I... am I immortal now?" her voice shook, with fear or excitement, he couldn't quite tell.

"Almost my love, you need to take your first drink to finish the process. But that comes later, after you've rested. Try not to think of it all at once. We have a long, LONG time to get you adjusted." he hugged her gently. "Now come, we need to bathe you and change you and see to that wound, then sleep. And yes, I will be there the whole time, I promise." he looked at her and smiled, then turned to Sif.

"Please tell Thor I am going to take Amy to the London house. We will be safe there for now. I will see him later." With that, they turned and walked away before disappearing in a green flash. Sif watched them go. As turnings went, this had been no more or less traumatic than any other. What separated this one, however, was not only the fact it was Loki's soulmate that had emerged, but also that although today's battle was won, the war was still far from over. The two of them would need every ounce of cunning and bravery in the coming days.

Hydra thought she was dead. When they found out they'd failed, who knew what their next, even more desperate, move would be.