The NightWalker: Reborn

I don't understand

So off I go to where the two guards are guarding the subway entrance, each holding a rifle in their hands. I'm getting a strong hint of whiskey and what seems to be a very strong scent of weed.
"Can vampires even get high?" As I get closer. I start giving myself little pep talks "I can do this. I can do this," I square my shoulders and head to the entrance, wearing my gruffest, most confident expression. I walked right past the first guard. Easy. The second guard stops me, a hand on my chest.
"Hey! No one gets in without the password,"
"The... password," I slap his hand away. Why is there always a password? I stand frozen before the unchained guard, who is glaring down at me expectantly. Why does the nobhead have a password to his den?
"Did I stutter?" I swallowed and looked. I wonder if the others are watching. Loki is probably pacing like a madman. Wearing a hole into the concrete "Look girlie. You're acting really shifty. Are you sure that you should be here?" His gaze travels up and down my outfit. If Loki is watching, the man is gonna die if he tries anything. The man licks his lips.
"Eyes up here, buddy," I wiggled my finger.
"You look like you are one of us..."
"Uh... because I am," I put my hands on my hips.
"Then what is the password?" He hisses at me. The first guard comes and joins us.
"Oh, fucking joy," I mumbled. I hate being put on the spot.
"What the hell is the goddam fucking hold up? Say the fucking password," The first guard shoves me. I glare at her. Both guards reach for their blades and I resist the urge to take a step back.
"I... the password is..." As I stare into the guard's eyes, I feel a familiar sensation within my mind. It's the same feeling I get when those stupid memory shards turn up. Please tell me that there isn't one about to pop up.
"Well?"
"You better say it before we gut you like a fish," the second guard warns me. My heart pounds in my chest as my vision begins to tunnel. Time seems to slow as I continue to stare into the guard's eyes. Going deeper and deeper.

Suddenly, I find myself within a bizarre landscape, with no sign of the guards or Punisher's den.
"Where the fuck am I?" The whole area seems to be made of a red swirl. I look down at my hands. They seem real enough but when I go to grab my upper arms, my hand passes right through. Okay, now this is getting weird. It's like all connection with my body has been severed "This is... new and so weird. It's like I am a ghost," I go to place my hand on my heart but my hand goes right through me "Did I die? Am I a ghost?" No. I can't be. I remember death. Death hurts. Okay, this is a dream. it has to be. I just need to wake up. I go to pinch my arm as hard as I can but then I remember that I am still in the void. Also, I don't feel pain. Like nothing at all. This is very weird.

As I examine my surroundings, I notice that there are little portals in the air all around me. They seem to be branching off into dead ends. I carefully approach one, seeing a familiar background through the hole.
"Is that Hela's frontroom?" I take a step back, feeling quite uneasy. I am getting a very bad feeling about this. But since there is no other way, I take a deep breath and step through the hole.

The portal stays open behind me as I find myself back in Hela's home.
"Just as creepy as ever. I do not like this. Not one bit," But no sooner as I say creepy, Hela herself comes around the corner "Bollocks," I need to hide. I go to hide behind a pillar. Hang on... Hela's dead. Sif and I killed her. We double-staked her.
"I said I wanted it neat! Not on the rocks! Come here, Bennet. I am going to break your face!" I watch as she storms over to a man, grabbing him by his chin. Hela lifted him in the air.
"I... I am sorry! Please forgive me,"
"It's the guard... He's one of Hela's house boys," I step out from behind the pillar since no one can see me as I'm clearly in memory. I cross my arms as I lean on a pillar, watching the scene before me. This vision thing ain't like the others. Normally the vision is forced but this... this seems different. Hela drops the guard.
"Make it again! Correctly this time," Hela smashes her glass next to the guard's head. The guard ducks just in time as it shatters by his head "And pick that up,"
"Yes! Right away my mistress!" The man scrambles away. Hela smiles as she turns on her heels and walks away. Backhanding another vampire that doesn't do anything.
"Poor bastard. Hela was such a bitch," I slip back through the portal and I return to the bizarre landscape.

I look at the remaining portal. So it seems that all these portals belong to the guard's memory.
"This must be his... mind palace or something," I had no idea my powers could do this. Is this because I am a vampire now? I take another look around, getting an idea. If these portals are indeed his memories "Then the password to the den is in here somewhere," But where the fuck do I start? I walk along the main path and study the different portals. Wondering which one to examine. One portal shows a basement while the other shows a club "Fuck it... hi ho. It's off the murder dungeon I go,"

I poke my head through the memory portal and see the guard kneeling in the dim light.
"That's it... squeal for me," I hear him whisper. As I get closer, I realize that he is torturing another vampire, burning emblems onto their skin as they scream.
"Oh god. Nope, I need to get out of here," This ain't the place. I hurry out of there and back to the mind palace.

The club portal was just as bad. But he wasn't torturing someone in that one. He was making them scream for a different reason. Granted the other person was making fake noise. It was weird. I shake my head and move on.
"This dude is fucking weird," Either way, onto the next portal. I will just have to keep sticking my head through the portals. That is until I finally catch a glimpse of something.
"Is that Punisher?" I take a deep breath as I quickly enter the portal.

I can tell from that memory that it is recent. New York is still in ruins all around me, swarming with chaos. Humans run and scream as vampires give chase. Now, where is that guard?
"Come back here!" The guard shouts. There he is. But as I turn towards his voice, I see that Punisher is nearby, laughing and watching the bloody spectacle.
"Hey! you! I like your style," He whistles at the guard, summoning him over with a few flicks of his finger.
"Who the fuck are you?" The guard frowns.
"A partner... if you hear what I have to say" Punisher crosses his arms as he leans on the tree next to him "The name is Punisher and I am the Alpha of the unchained,"
"The what?" The guard cocks his eyebrow.
"Unchained. We're a community, A way of life. No rules or clans. Only chaos and pleasures," Punisher holds his hand out "Wanna join?" The guard eyes him for a moment.
"No makers? No masters?"
"Hell no," The guard grins as he grabs Punisher's hand.
"Oh, I am in,"

I leave the memory and notice the path ends just ahead.
"I need to find that password" But I know I am getting close. These memories are fresh. I enter one of the most recent ones.

The guard stands attention before the unchained den, sword in hand. Someone approaches him.
"Password?"
"Benny, it's me," The other man points to himself, confidence radiating off him "Let me in,"
"Still gotta give me the password, Paul," The guard sighs.
"Fine... Abaddon," Fuck yes. I got it. From what I remember from religious studies Abaddon, also known as Abaddon the Despoiler, once named Ezekyle Abaddon, is the Warmaster of Chaos, a Chaos Lord and the greatest Champion of Chaos Undivided in the galaxy. Basically, giant nobhead. I hurry out of the memory, feeling triumphant.

"Abaddon! That's the password," I go to skip away but then I stop and look around. I suddenly realized something. I have no idea how to get out of here. Right, I need to figure this out. I close my eyes and concentrate. I just need to tap into my BloodKeeper powers. I meditate as I reach out to my physical body, reestablishing a connection "Come on body, where are you?"

Through sheer luck, I find myself back in front of the unchained guard and the den. It's like no time has passed. While that was so goddamn freaky, that was so cool as well. I can't wait to tell the others.
"Say the fucking password," the guard hisses in my ear.
"Alright, that does it. I don't know who the fuck you are but you don't belong here," The guard draws his blade.
"I know the password!" I yell out.
"What?" the guard lowers his sword by about an inch. I put my hands on my hips.
"The password? It's Abaddon," I speak clearly and clearly. The first guard shrugs and walks away but the second guard narrows his eyes at me.
"What took so long?"
"Your face put me off. Maybe you need to work on your manners," I cross my arms. He grunts as he finally steps to the side.
"Whatever. Go on in," I poke my tongue out at him. Keeping my heartbeat steady as a rock. Once I turn a corner, I lean against the wall.
"That was way too close," I hurry down the stairs and into the den.

As I get my bearings, I realize that Punisher has refurbished the abandoned subway into a sort of makeshift bar. Chains hang from the ceiling, as well as cages where people in skimpy clothing dance to techno music. There are vampires everywhere, drinking or dancing. Some are huddled together, In one corner is a massive pile of tangled limbs and sweating bodies.=As I walk through the bar, on the far side, I can see vampires feeding off humans. Some of the humans look ecstatic but others look terrified. And there are a few on the floor that look dead. I lick my lips as I watch the blood drip down someone's neck. I then shake my head as I spot Punisher near the feeding area, a drink in his large hand. I go to the other side of the bar and as I try to find the back door, something catches the corner of my eye.
"Oh for fuck sake. Why here?" I turn to a dart board and lying next to it is a memory shard. I look around and it looks like no one has noticed me yet. I creep up to the shard. I can smell gunpowder and dust. As well as two familiar faces dressed up in cowboy outfits "Sif? Loki?" Biting my lip, I reach out and grab the shard where I am quickly transported through time, to a memory of a dusty old saloon.

The year was 1887 in the state of Arizona where at the time cowboys ruled the Wild West, A small mining town called Devil's End resided. It had a population of less than 200. It was practically a ghost town. All the people here are the children of the original settlers. A roughed-up outlaw gestures to the corner of the saloon with his gun. The frightened townspeople rush to obey.
"Into the corner! Go on, get!" The outlaw laughs gruffly and signals to two members of his gang "You know what to do,"
"Aye, boss," The gang members grin and start to take the townspeople's wallets, jewellery and buckles.
"Hand it over, missy," A gang member rips the pearls off a woman's neck. One man tries to defend another but he is shoved into a wall.
"Y'all best do what he says. That's Jake Lockley. AKA, MoonKnight and his men. Best stay quiet 'less you want your throat slit open," A gang member speaks, scaring the locals even more.

While the gang continues to rob the crowd, MoonKnight slides onto a stool at the bar. The bartender quakes in terror.
"What... will... it... what will it be sir?"
"Whiskey. And make it snappy," MoonKnight clicked his fingers. The bartender squeaks as he spins around.
"Right... Right away," The bartender begins to pour the drink but his hands shake. MoonKnight narrows his eyes.
"Something the matter, Fred?" MoonKnight tilts his head.
"No, sir... Not at all," The bartender tries to put the drink on the counter but it slips from his hand and the drink spills onto MoonKnight's lap.
"You goddamn sack of grain!" MoonKnight shot to his feet.
"I'm so sorry! I'll make another," The bartender backs up as MoonKnight leaps over the counter in one smooth motion.
"Don't bother," MoonKnight sinks his fangs into the bartender's neck in a spray of blood.
"Let 'im have it, boss!" The gang cheers and hollers as MoonKnight drains the bartender of blood, the man's eyes rolling back into his head.
"Pl... ease..." The bartender cried out in a gurgle as the townspeople cried out. Horrified as MoonKnight removes himself from the bartender's neck and lets his corpse fall to the floor, Blood dripping down MoonKnight's chin.
"Now that is what I call a drink," MoonKnight cheers as he stamps his head on the bartender's head.

The gang is still laughing and revelling in the carnage when the door to the saloon suddenly swings open. Those piercing red eyes peered at MoonKnight from underneath his black-brimmed hat, the figure sighed heavily as he leaned casually against the wall of the saloon.
"Y'all better hold it right there," One of the gang members spoke. The man laughed as he flicked his hat out of his eyesight. MoonKnight shoulders tensed up as he glared at the man.
"Loki, What the hell are you doing here?" MoonKnight demanded to know.
"I've been on your trail for some time Lockley," Loki pushed himself from the wall. Lockley had been on the run from his maker for almost five years but he had been an outlaw for much longer, coming up on fifteen years "You have certainly made a name for yourself since you fled New York," Loki glances at the corpse of the bartender, clearly unimpressed "Poor Fred,"
"What do you want, Loki?" He then glances at the other members of MoonKnight's gang.
"I see you have gone and turned these fools as well," Loki waves at the gang members, who growl and bare their teeth.
"Who are you calling a fool, pretty boy?" One of MoonKnight's Gang snarled. Loki chuckled as he stepped forward, hand on the pistol holstered at his belt.
"It's time for you to meet your punishment, Lockley. You can't keep terrorizing these poor people,"
"Says who? Odin? That tyrant thinks he can control us all but I have had enough! I refuse to be his lapdog like the rest of y'all," MoonKnight replied. He was itching for a fight, drew his gun and the others followed suit.
"Suit yourself," Loki cracked his neck.
"Marc. Steven. Go get him," MoonKnight's men attack as Loki draws his pistol "Die, you servile scum," Lok shoots at the oncoming gang members, making the townspeople scream and scramble for cover. One of the men grabs Loki but Loki is faster. He quickly spins and throws him through the window of the saloon, where a shard of glass stabs through the guy's chest "Goddamn pig!" MoonKnight lunges at Loki, fangs extended.

But before Loki can even lift his pistol, a broken-off half of a pool cue stabs MoonKknight through his heart. Standing by the pool table with a smirk on her face is Sif.
"Fancy a game, Lockley?" Sif smiled, tilting her head so slightly to the left.
"You... cunning... bitch," MoonKnight growled.
"That's me alright," Sif rips the pool cue out of Lockley, making him scream as he dissolves into ash.
"Just in time," Loki nods with his hat. Sif simply rolls her eyes as she drops the cue.
"You owe me a drink," She turned her head towards the rest of the gang members. The three human members had already bolted out the door "Let's take care of these gentlemen first, shall we?"

Loki and Sif make quick work of the rest of the vampire gang, dropping them like flies. With the last man down, Loki holsters his pistol and wipes a fleck of blood from his cheek.
"What should we do about..." Loki gestures to the townspeople who are beginning to crawl out from under tables, shaken and wide-eyed "This lot?"
"We have our orders," Sif's gaze meets Loki's.
"That we do," Loki nodded. He watches as a young child hides behind her mother's skirt.
"And yet..." Sif looks at the people and lets out a sigh "I say we leave them. No one will believe them anyway," Loki offers Sif a small, relieved smile that he did not have to harm anyone. He glances back at the child, poking his tongue out as he and Sif walk out of the doors of the saloon.

Out on the outskirts of town, a dark figure on a white horse waits for Loki and Sif. Two other horses wait beside him.
"Odin," Loki bows before climbing onto a horse.
"My King," Sif smiles softly.
"Has Lockley been... taken care of?" Odin leans slightly forward. Helping Sif onto her horse.
"He is dead. So are all the men he turned," Loki grumbled.
"And the witnesses? You killed them all?" Odin asked. Loki and Sif share a quick look, a subtle flash in their eyes.
"They are all dead,"
"Perfect," Odin said, believing their lie. He turns his horse northeast "Let's go home,"

As I return to myself, I stagger back with a gasp. Looking around, I see that I am still in the unchained's lair. And it still stinks.
"Whoa," I pant a little, I rub the sides of my head.
"You okay there, sugar?" a woman in a skimpy outfit comes up to me and places a hand on my back. I tilted my head to the right. She had a pot of blood in her hand. I stood up and smiled at her.
"All good here, just a little dizzy," I replied as I flicked my hair over my shoulder. The waitress nodded and placed a drink in front of me, waving her nonexistent hips as she walked off. After pretending to drink my drink, I get back to my mission.

As I keep to the edges of the crowd, I keep Punisher in my line of sight. I look around nervously but no one seems to be paying any attention to me.
"I wonder if this outfit is making me invisible?" I am so glad that I agreed to have Melody design it. But I still need to be careful. So I can blend in, I grab a glass of... something off the tray from a passing waitress and pretend to sip it. Where is that bloody door? I could find it if people didn't keep walking in front of me.

I search for what seems forever and I finally spot the door, several feet from Punisher. I need to open it so the others can get in but how to do it with Punisher or anyone seeing me? I close my eyes and remember what everyone taught me. All that training has got to count for something. I then remember that Sif taught me to blend in with the shadows.
"Silent and unseen," I concentrate on my heartbeat and slow it down, the blood in my veins slowing to a crawl. I take a few steps into the shadows as people walk past me. No one looks at me as I cross the room. I got this. God, Sif is a damn good teacher.

As I get to the door, Someone shouts nearby. I freeze on the spot. I turn my head and see Punisher walking towards me.
"Hey! What do you think you are doing?" He bellows at me. I put my hand on the door handle.
"Urm... This?" And with a grin, I fling the door open. Sif, Thor, Melody and Loki rush inside, all weapons are drawn.
"What the fuck?!"
"It's over Punisher!" Loki shouts, walking a little in front of the group "Stand down and we won't have to kill you!" Loki orders. Punisher cackles and throws his drink on the ground.
"Council bastards!" Punisher levels his hand at everyone "Rip them apart!" Members of the unchained come at us like a tidal wave. Sif lifts her knives with a smirk.
"Oh, someone is definitely going to be ripped apart today," Sif launches herself at the guard from earlier, slicing his belly open.
"Ahhh!" A guard yells out as Loki shoots past Sif and punches his fist through another unchained's chest while Melody fires her cross bolt. Thor twirls his weapon around, slicing at anyone who comes near him.
"Kill them! Strike them down!" Loki tries to chase after Punisher but the unchained's leader is soon swallowed up by the crowd of roaring, furious vampires.
"He's too heavily guarded," I duck as I kick an unchained vampire in the nuts.
"Looks like we have to mow down these losers first," Melody right-hooked another.
"Now, that's my kind of Saturday night," Thor clicks his neck and blocks an incoming strike, disarming the unchained and slicing her head clean off. Melody fires crossbow bolts in rapid succession, aiming for throats and eyes. The unchained members go down with wails of pain.
"That's right, sing for mama," Melody smiles as rams a bolt into a guy's eyesocket. 
"That is dark, even for you Mel,"

I was so distracted by the others that I didn't realise that a group of unchained have surrounded me.
"Oh, shit..."
"Come here. Council scum," That is it. No one is bloody listening to me. took a deep breath and tapped into my vampire energy. Two unchained backed up by a step.
"Oh, I ain't on the fucking council," I unsheathe my blade and stand ready "Bring it, bitch," The unchained rush in at once, weapons raised. Thor's teachings come back to me as I block and parry, siphoning energy into my limps to move with tremendous speed.
"Nippy little bitch," Someone says as I stab an unchained in the eye before turning and slicing another across the throat. I cut off a hand and slice through a stomach, blood spraying as I attack. Feeling a presence behind me, I duck and stab backwards.
"Gah!" It was the other guard from the front door.
"Say the fucking password," I grab her by her hair and smash her face into a glass table.

The last of the unchained falls to the floor. I stand and shake the blood off my sword.
"Damn, Emily," Thor beams, taking a minute to catch his breath.
"What?" I straighten up, one hand on my hip.
"You must have had a good teacher,"
"I learned from the best," I check on the others to see how they are doing.

Sif is a deadly whirlwind with her knives. She throws one into an unchained's forehead, then leaps over his falling body to yank the knife out and stab the unchained behind him.
"I need to learn that move," I mumbled. Sif looks over her shoulder at me, tossing her hair back to show the blood smeared on her cheek.
"Survive this and then we will talk,"
"Deal," I grinned.

I look to the back of the room and see Loki snap the neck of an unchained before he is jumped on by another. He snarls and drives his thumbs into the unchained's eyes.
"Ahhh!"
"Mewling quim,"

I look back to Thor as he lops a head off before sliding under the swing of a massive broadsword. He leaps back to his feet and disembowels the unchained.
"Yeah, He doesn't need my help,"

I spot Melody as she reloads her crossbow and aims for a massive unchained that is heading her way. She shoots repeatedly at his kneecaps until he stumbles and falls with a howl.
"the bigger the twatwaffle, the bigger the fall,"

I scan the den, looking for Punisher amid the injured and dead. I see him all the way across the Den. His face is murderous and in his arms is an assault rifle, aimed right at my friends.
"Look out!" But he's too far away for me to stop him. I frantically think back to all the training the guys have given me.
"When you move, you need to funnel energy and pay attention to where your body goes,"
"Think of yourself flying through the air,"
"One of the most useful skills we have as vampires is the way we move. Silent. Swift. Undetected,"
Curling my hands into fists, I bare my fangs and let the energy spread through my body and down into my legs. I get a running jump, swift and silent, before launching myself through the air.

Punisher doesn't see me until I am right on top of him, his eyes widening right before I tackle him to the ground.
"Oof!" the rifle falls from his hands but as I lunge for it, Punisher knees me hard in the stomach. Wincing a little, I roll to one side, the pain radiating from my stomach intense "Get the fuck off me, you bitch," Punisher leaps back to his feet and I quickly do the same.
"Your little gang is about to be eradicated. You might as well surrender!" I snarled, fangs extended. Punisher laughs grimly.
"This is only the start of my reign, council scum," Punisher cracks his knuckles.
"For the last time, I ain't on the fucking council!" I yell at him. He lunges at me, grabbing for my throat. As his hands wrap around my neck, I reach up and grab his thick wrists "Get the fuck off me, you bastard," Summoning my newfound strength, I squeeze his wrists and I hear a series of pops.
"Arrggh!" Punisher screams. he tightens his hold and I begin to choke but I keep applying pressure until his bones give way and he lets out a scream of pain, his grip going slack "You little bitch," Punisher throws me and I roll across the ground.
"Oof!" I scramble back to my feet as Punisher takes a knife from his belt and hurls it at me. I tap back into my heartbeat, slowing it down, feeling time around me come to a crawl. Without hesitation, I leap forward, catching the knife by the hilt and I fling it back at Punisher "Oh hell yeah!" Time speeds back up and I see the deep, long gash the kife made across his thigh. He holds it as blood spurts out over his hand.
"You little --"

He doesn't get to finish his sentence as Loki grabs Punisher from behind and reaches under his mask and I hear the most horrific cracking, ripping sound.
"You don't get to hurt her," Loki snarled, His eyes ablaze.
"Ahhhhhhh!!" Blood runs down Punisher's chest as Loki rips out his jaw. Screaming, Punisher stumbles forward, blood pooling at his feet. I spot an injured unchained sneaking behind Loki with a stake.
"Loki! Look out!" Loki drops Punisher's jaw and whirls around to grab their wrist and he drives their own stake through their heart.
"Thank you, darling," Loki smiled at me. I turn back to confront Punisher, I find that he has gone. Leaving a trail of blood through the subway.
"He's making a run for it!" I got to run after him but Loki placed an arm in front of me, stopping me in my tracks "Hey!"
"Let him go. He's been defeated and he knows it,"

I look around the den, realizing he's right. All the unchained has been taken out.
"So we won?" I asked. Loki nodded.
"We won," Loki picked me up and spun me around.
"We did it!" Melody cheered, wiping blood off her boots "Now, Hayward doesn't have to call in the military!"
"We need to get her to confirm it before we can relax but yes, we did it," Thor cleans his sword as Melody waves her crossbow in the air.
"Woohoo! Number, one undefeated, baby!"
"Good work all around. The threat is thoroughly neutralized," Loki grinned but his smile didn't reach his eyes "I just wish we had gotten here sooner," As the adrenaline fades, I take in the room around us. The ash fluttering over every surface... the torture tools. The victims.
"That wanker will pay for this," I clenched my fists.
"Oh, he will. But he would never have been in a position to do this if Odin hadn't set the city ablaze"
"Someday, Loki, we will be free of his legacy" Sif reaches out, gently squeezing his shoulder "Now, let's get the hell out of it"
"Amen to that" Feeling tired yet satisfied, I follow the others back to Odinson HQ.

Back at Loki's apartment in his office, I shower in the spare bedroom with Loki while Sif and Melody take the main. (It may be Loki's apartment but Sif got the final say) Thor has gone back to his apartment as he needs a fresh set of clothes and doesn't keep any at Loki's. I sighed under the hot water as I washed all the grime, dirt and blood off me. I wrap a large fluffy towel around me and leave the bathroom.

I expected to find Loki waiting for me, but when I emerged from the bathroom, there was a package on the bed.
"Hmmm," I picked up the box and it was his amazing handwriting, the label said it was from Loki. I open it and find a stunning set of navy lingerie that I lay out on the bed "Wow," I shrug as I try it on, modelling it in the mirror. My hands ran down my sides "Damn, girl. I look fine as hell. I cannot wait for Loki to see this," With a laugh, I put my hair up in a ponytail and put on my regular clothes. Just a simple red T-shirt and black jeggings. and socks. I don't bother with trainers. I smile as I head downstairs.

Back in the conference room, Everyone seems to have freshened up. Thor's hair is cleaner and he has a blue t-shirt on and plain dark blue jeans, Melody is in her second favourite sweater and leggings and Sif is wearing a deep red suit and Loki is in his lazy mode. His hair is in a man-bun. His shirt's top buttons are undone and his tie is in his trouser's pocket. Loki starts the video call with Hayward. I flop in the chair next to Melody as Loki leans against the table.
"Well, you better have good news," Hayward snaps the moment his face is on the screen.
"Hello, Tyler. Nice to see you too," Loki crossed his arms "and as a matter of fact, I do have good news. The threat has been neutralized. All the remaining vampires in New York are part of our clans,"
"Order has been restored," Sif hopped up on the table and crossed her legs daintily.
"Oh thank god!" Hayward lets out a sigh of relief. He puts one finger up and disappears. I hear him murmur an order on the other end of the line "Stand down. Repeat, stand down,"
"How long did we really have before you sent your toys in?" Melody asked Crossing her arms.
"Miss Fury, You do not need to worry about that," Hayward shook his head.
"So, what is the next step?" Thor questioned, raising his hand.
"We'll arrange a meeting for when the sun has just set. The mayor and I will come with a military escort to make sure that Manhattan is secure," Hayward held his hand up.
"Of course," Loki bowed his head. Thor grumbled about something. I shot him a look over my shoulder. He raised his hands and backed off.
"And Loki. Thank you,"
"Our pleasure, Tyler" Loki ends the video call and we sit in silence for a minute.

Then we all cheered.
"We did it! We saved New York!" Melody ran around the room "Again!"
"For now, perhaps but there could still be more threats we haven't discovered yet. And besides, Punisher got away," Sif placed her hands behind her and lean backwards.
"Buzzkill" Thor and Melody mumbled.
"Sif, just be happy for like, ten seconds," I flick her forehead. Sif narrows her eyes at me, then smiles.
"You're right. We should take a moment to celebrate," Sif nods. Loki walks over to a secret panel in the wall and takes a bottle of champagne and pours everyone a drink.
"Here's to the end of the unchained. We have a lot of rebuilding to do but at least now we have hope" He holds up his glass. The others clink their glasses together and drink.
"I don't even know how we are going to begin putting the city back together," I look out the window. The fires already seem dimmer.
"We'll have to begin by restoring the council,"
"That's an idea... or maybe we just let it go,"
"What do you mean?" Sif turns to Thor.
"Come on, Loki. The council has only brought about problems. Maybe we need a new structure, a new system,"
"Like what?"
"I... I haven't figured that out yet. But something,"
"What do you think, Emily?" Sif asked.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Why not? You are a valuable member of this team, are you not?" Sif crossed her arms. I shrugged and shuffled on the spot.
"I think so," I grumbled, Loki wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. He whispers in my ear that I am a valuable member of this team. At least, to him, I am "I guess so,"
"Good. Then, what is your opinion?" Sif asked again. I took a deep breath.
"I agree that the council is an outdated system. It may have worked in the past but these are new times," After downing the last of my drink, I place my glass down "Perhaps it is time for a change,"
"Any ideas?" Melody asked.
"I don't know," I shrugged before I clicked my fingers "Maybe more of a democracy? All vampires get to vote for a leader?"
"You got that idea from the last season of Game Of Thrones," Loki kissed my temple.
"Yeah, well, it was the only good bit from that episode,"
"Sooo... vampire elections! Vampire campaigns! Vampire voting!" Melody chuckled.
"If I have to shake hands and kiss babies, I will hurl myself into the sun," Sif gagged, though she was smiling.
"I'll get the sunscreen," I grinned.
"Whatever happens, We will figure something out," Thor smiled. We all agreed with him.
"Right, enough with the heavy talk. This is tomorrow's problem. We're celebrating, remember," Melody rubbed her hands together, excitedly.
"Good point" We all cheer as Loki pops another bottle of champagne and we drink and laugh into the evening.

Somehow, we made it to Loki's office. Melody sat on the floor with Thor. Sif sat in one of the chairs while Loki and I sat on the sofa.
"I mean small creatures are way more vicious. That's because their anger has a lot less space to be bottled up in," Melody sipped her drink.
"Ridiculous. Give me one example of this," Sif folded her arms.
"Spiders," Thor shivered. shuddered.
"Wasps or bees," Loki replied.
"Chihuahuas," I added as I snuggled into Loki's side.
"Emily," Thor smirked as I shot him a glare.
"He has a point darling" Loki whispered in my ear. Everyone else agreed with him.
"I am not vicious,"
"Your pancakes would beg to differ," Melody spoke "Girl, you were lethal with that sword. You were amazing," Melody tried to copy one of my moves that I did but she fell on her arse, making us all laugh "Oh my god, I did this sick move with a table, please tell me someone saw it?"
"And then this dude just walked into my sword, like how unobservant can you get?" Thor laughed.
"You know Sif, there was a time you could have taken all of them by yourself. Maybe you are getting soft in your old age," Loki playfully taunted Sif.
"Watch it, Loki. I was just saving some for the rest of you,"

I can feel the alcohol making me warmer. I seem to relax bit by bit as the others chat away. I hide a yawn behind my hands. I probably should get some rest before that meeting with Hayward. As I look around the room, I notice that only Loki is looking at me. I wink at him.
"I'm guessing you need sleep?" Loki whispers in my ear.
"Can you read minds?" I turned my head slightly towards him.
"Only yours," He smiles knowingly at me. He then stretches out off the sofa "Right, We are going to bed," He holds a hand out for me "My lady?" I smile as I take his hand.
"Night guys" I wave bye.
"Don't drink the place dry!" Loki shouts over his shoulder.
"Girl, I want details later!" Melody shouted.
"Not a chance!" I replied as Loki wrapped an arm around me and we headed to the spare bedroom.

As soon as we step into the spare bedroom, Loki locks the door behind us.
"Darling, I have to tell you something," Loki smiles proudly at me "You were amazing today,"
"You think?"
"Oh absolutely" Loki nods with a big smile, walking lowly towards me "When you first turned, I worried. We all did. The transition period can sometimes take a while but you have handled it like a champion. Every time I think that I couldn't get more impressed, you prove me wrong,"
"Loki..." I wrap my arms around Loki's next as his hands settle on my hips. When he kisses me, warmth spreads throughout my body, making me feel safe and on edge all at once.
"Emily... you're incredible,"
"I kind of have to be so I can keep up with you," Loki's arms circle my waist as he brings me closer, our bodies pressed together. I shiver and open my mouth to him, letting our tongues caress "Mmmm," As I pull away, I am overcome by Loki's smile. After the excitement of the day, the victory over the unchained, I feel as if I can do anything.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Just how lucky I am to be here right now, with you," I sigh. Loki cups the side of my face, his smile softening. I run my fingers along the collar of Loki's shirt as he slips an arm around my waist.
"Emily... I swear here and now that I will do everything in my power to keep you as close as vampirically possible," His voice caresses me like touch, making me shiver "Tell me what you want, Emily,"
"What I want, is you," I move my hands down Loki's body, grabbing his backside and pulling him towards me "I want all of you, Loki," Loki smiles slyly, he uses his finger to lift my chin to kiss me. He then bends to kiss the spot beneath my ear. I let out a gasp.
"Are you sure? You're still getting used to your heightened senses,"
"Loki..." I grab him by his shirt "I am absolutely sure,"
"In that case," The corner of Loki's lips turned into a smirk. I gasped again as Loki lifted me off the ground and pressed me against the wall. My legs wrap around his waist "Tell me where you want me, Emily," He grinds against me slightly and I groan as a bolt of desire hits me.
"I want you here. right now," I moan as Loki's hands skimmed down my leg. I gasp again when he reaches my ass, He squeezes, pulling me closer.
"Yes, Ma'am,"

Loki begins to kiss my neck, biting lightly. I arch against the wall and squeeze his shoulders as each touch spirals through me. We begin to pull at each other's clothes and when our bare skin slides together, I am overtaken by a wild heat.
"I see you got the gift I left for you. You look ravishing,"
"Loki..." Loki's skin is warm and smooth. His scent floods me with a feeling of safety and desire.
"Emily... You look divine," He kisses down my throat and my breasts. His fingers dig into my thighs. I squirm and I pant against him.
"Loki... Please..." Loki plants a kiss on the inside of my thigh before he comes back up to seal his lips with mine, kissing me deeply. Then he brings his body flush against me, leaving no space between us. The ache between my legs spreads out like a firework, a whole-body experience that seems to steal all the air from my lungs.
"How does that feel?" Loki moves his hips against me, making me whimper as my entire body reacts.
"It feels... so good..."
"You feel good," Loki groans in my ear. I touch the side of his face, trailing my fingers softly over his skin "How do you want it?" Loki moves his hips again, slow and steady. I moan and lean my head back.
"Just like that," Loki holds onto my thighs as he presses me against the wall, keeping me pinned there as he slowly makes love to me.
"Mmmm... Emily..." All my other senses fall away as I just focus on Loki's exquisite touch and the way he feels against me. I arch as the pleasure washes over me, stealing the air from my lungs "How do you really want it, Emily?" Loki whispers in my ear. I dig my nails into his broad shoulders hard enough to make him grunt. Loki smirked as he moved his hips again, slow at first, a kind of torture.
"Please..." Loki smirks slyly as his pace becomes hard, almost punishing. I gasp as my body slams against the wall at my back. I lean my head back as Loki keeps his merciless pace, hardly giving me time to breathe, his fingers bruising my hips. Pushing off the wall, Loki lays me down and covers my body with his, kissing my neck. His touch spirals through me, making my legs writhe against the sheets "Ahh," I gasp as I scramble to grab the headboard behind me. 
"Ah... Emily," His voice sends a vibration through me that sends me over the edge. I close my thighs around him and pull him close as if never wanting to separate. I scratch his back as the pleasure rolls through me, taking delight in his slight hiss of pain in my ear. It feels... I cannot describe it. It is unlike anything I have ever felt before. Like I was being consumed from the inside out.

When I finally come down from my high, Loki tucks me into bed. Loki climbs into bed with me and once I've cooled down, I snuggle up against him. Loki runs his hands through my hair and kisses my forehead.
"You were holding back," I leaned my chin on his chest.
"It was kind of necessary. I didn't want to break you," Loki chuckled. Twirling my hair around his finger "And since you're a lot stronger than I am right now. It's your turn not to break me,"
"I'm never gonna get enough of this. We don't get tired. We don't have to rest or catch our breath or eat. I mean, how are we gonna stop?"
"I remember when I first joined Odin's group, He and Sif were so bad, it took a solid three decades before I could stand to be within five miles of them,"
"I think we might be worse," I climb on top of Loki. Loki grabs my waist, rubbing small circles into my hips.
"Definitely, worse," Loki bolts up and kisses me, spinning me to he is now on top. He kisses me deeply, making my toes curl. He finally pulls away "How are you feeling?"
"Mmmmm," That was all I could say, I felt spectacularly alive and also exhausted. Loki smiles softly at me. He is quiet for a moment as he runs his fingers absently-minded up and down my spine. I crane my head to look at him, his gaze is far away but he is smiling "What's that look for? What are you thinking about?"
"You, of course," His eyes meet mine and he leans in to place a soft kiss on my forehead "The way you handle yourself back there, against the unchained..." Loki bit his bottom lip "I will never stop worrying about you, Emily. But watching you today... I guess it felt like I could worry a little less,"
"I can handle myself, you know,"
"Oh, I know. You made that very clear," He chuckles, running his thumb over my cheek "But excuse me for saying that I will do everything I can to keep you out of trouble,"
"Trouble seems to find us,"
"That it does," Loki smiled at me as I yawned.
"Go to sleep, darling," Loki pulls me into his arms as my eyelids flutter shut. I feel Loki kiss me on the forehead "Sweet dreams, Emily," I drift off to sleep.

And in the darkness, I hear a woman's voice. It was starting my name. Over and over again.

I wake up slowly, blinking in the darkness. I look around as I hear my name again. I must be imagining things. Who was just calling me? I slip out of bed and look around in a haze. Loki had left a note saying he had to go to the office and would be back before I woke.
"You're late," I smile. I sit up in bed, grab my phone and play a few rounds of Candy Crush. I had debated sending word to my parents that I was alive but could wait for another day. I was still not sure how to tell them that I was part of the supernatural world. I don't really fancy giving them a heart attack just yet.
"Emily... come to me now... I am waiting for you... downstairs... Emily..." I hear the voice again. After I got dressed, I grabbed my phone and sent a text to Loki, just in case he came back.
Me: Hey, I'm just going downstairs... won't be long xxx
Loki: Why? xxx
Me: Bit difficult to explain over text but I feel as if someone is calling me xxx
Me: BloodKeeper thing xxx
Loki: I will meet you there xxx I smiled as I wander out of the bedroom and towards the elevator.

I ride the elevator all the way down to the lobby. It's dark and quiet. There's a slight chill in the air but that could be from the broken window.
"Hello?" I called out as I walked further into the lobby, trying to find the voice, waiting for the voice to come back. But there is no one here "I swear that I am be losing it," I shake my head and walk around for a bit. I can the elevator is going up to the top.
"Raaaggghhh!" I hear someone shout. I spin around as a wounded Punisher leaps through the nearest window, spraying glass everywhere.
"Holy fucking god!"
"DIE!" He gurgled. I leap to one side, grab a large piece of glass and wait for him to charge again.
"Sit your punk ass down!" I lunge at him with the glass. I manage to cut him deeply but he ignores the wounds and smashes me against the floor repeatedly before he finally throws me to the side "Hrrk!"
"Haa... Haa!" I flail but he is too strong. He wraps his massive hands around my throat and starts to squeeze "DIE! DIE!" He goes to shout die for a third time but he never finishes. His hands grow slack around my neck, his eyes wide with shock. I soon see why. A bloody hand burst through Punisher's chest, holding his heart.
"I... what?" I coughed as I heard the elevator move. It must be the others. Punisher and I stare down in horror at his heart. It beats only once before the bloody hand closes, crushing the heart into a pulpy fist. Punisher burst into a cloud of ash, billowing out across the room "What..."

As I struggle to sit up, my eyes pan up from the bloody fist to its owner. a woman smiles down at me, beautiful and familiar.
"Hello, my darling," She speaks with a thick accent "I have returned,"
"I don't understand... What?!"