The NightWalker: Reborn

What did I just do?

I take a step back as Frigga gracefully stands, her hair sticking to her bloody skin.
"Come here, my darling. Let me show you what true power feels like," Frigga takes a step towards me, reaching out and I feel something inside my head. It was like a spider scratching against my mind.
"Fuck no!" I shove away, bolting back out through the door. I slammed it shut and took off running.

I tear down the hallway, smashing into a dresser But Frigga calmly strides after me, dripping blood with every step.
"Don't make this difficult, Emily," I felt the scratching in my head again.
"Why would I make this easy?" I scoffed, shaking my head "Why are you doing this? What have you done?" I pushed the dresser in front of me. And a chair and a statue. Why does she have a statue?
"This is simply the way it's always been, Emily. The way it will always be," Frigga moved the dresser with ease.
"I have to get to the others... I have to warm them," I took off sprinting.

I pass a bronze bust on a pedestal and hesitate. I can't risk it. As much as I want to. I leave the bust and just focus on getting back to the ballroom as fast as I can. Frigga is following behind me.
"Oh, will you just fuck off!"

I burst into the ballroom and looked around for the others. But the floor is a mass of vampires dancing, writhing and feeding.
"Sif! Loki! Where are you guys!" I cup my hands over my mouth as I stumble into the party. Frigga stands framed by the doorway, following my movements with her eyes. I have to lose her somehow. I look around. There's a small group of vampires in an intense dancing cluster and not too far away from them is the champagne fountain. If Assassin's Creed has taught me anything, crowds work best.

I quickly swerve to one side and wiggle into the group of dancers. They cheer at my appearance.
"Wanted to join us, lovely?"
"Yup. Totally! I love dancing! It's the best!" Enmeshed within the cluster. of gyrating bodies, I peer out between their limbs. Frigga walks through the ballroom, coolly assessing the party around her. I think it worked. I just have to find the others before she does. I sneak away and try to reach the outskirts of the party.

Even though I cannot see her, I can feel Frigga nearby, her energy spreading through the ballroom and vampires held in the party's thrall.
"You cannot run forever, Emily. Give in. Submit to me," I hear in my head.
"Yeah, I was never any good at following orders, so, no, I don't think that I will be submitting to you," With my heart pounding in terror, I keep moving. I finally spot the others toward the back wall. Right by the back door. I dart towards them, A large puddle of wine directly in my path. I don't even think about it. I gather up momentum and leap into the air above the puddle.

I land on the other side effortlessly, sprinting on. I honestly can't believe that I didn't fall over. So glad I took my heels off earlier. I push through the decadent throng, shoving towards the table where my friends are.
"Emily? What's going on?" Loki is immediately by my side, my head in his hands.
"It's Frigga! She's not who she says she is! She--" I spin around to point to the door frame. A low laugh cuts through the noise of the ballroom. Frigga is pursuing me. Still smiling.
"Just like your vision," Loki muttered. I nodded. Loki and Sif believed me.
"Whoa, what? She is... urm... very... naked," Melody drooled. I slapped Melody around the back of her head.
"Melody! That is not the important part!"
"Seems... pretty important," Melody coughed, averting her eyes.
"Will you bloody listen! I found her surrounded by a dozen drained humans. Humans that she killed and she was enjoying it!" I grabbed on Loki "There is something seriously wrong here!" Frigga walks calmly through the partying vampires, unhurried. Thor scowls and reaches for his weapon before realizing that he left it in the car. Growling, he snatches up a nearby steak knife instead.
"Just once, I would like to go to a party where someone doesn't try to kill me. Just once," Thor groaned. Melody and Sif agree with him.
"Frigga, what is the meaning of this?" Loki speaks as he pushes me behind him. But Frigga doesn't respond and I quickly realise that we're about to be backed into a corner.
"We have to get out! Now!" Sif yells. I look at my friends and it's clear right away. They all believe me "Everyone to the car!" We all sprint towards the doors of the ballroom, Frigga's gaze burning our backs as the party keeps going with loud music and drunken laughter.

As we are about to reach the doors, I spot Huggin nearby, trying to awkwardly flirt with another vampire.
"So you see, it wasn't a goose, it was a grouse," Huggin laughed. Melody really needs to teach him to flirt. I can't just abandon Huggin! I should warn him.
"Emily, Hurry!" Loki shouts from a doorway. I look between the doors and Huggin... and Frigga, who is slowly advancing. I let the others run on ahead as I dash towards Huggin with my hand out.

"Huggin! You have to get out of here!" I grab onto his arm and spin him around.
"Miss Emily! Whatever is the matter?" Huggin frowns. The vampire that Huggin was just flirting with suddenly drops his glass, gaping over my shoulder "Oh dear! Are you well?" The vampire turns and runs. My blood runs cold as I soon realize that Frigga is behind me "I say! That was rather ru--" Huggin is cut off by Frigga's hand wrapping around his throat. Huggin chokes and scratches at her hand, eyes wide.
"Oh, is this a friend of yours, Emily? How tragic," Frigga squeezes Huggin's neck a little tighter.
"Let him go!" I yell and I wind up and kick Frigga as hard as I can in the shin and I hear the crack of a bone.
"Hkk!" Frigga stumbles back for just a second... Long enough for Huggin to push out of her grip and fall to the floor. Huggin scrambles back, staring in horror at Frigga... at me.
"Huggin! We have to get out of here!" I pulled the man to his feet.
"What's... what is happening here? What is this?" Huggin coughed as I pushed him towards the door.
"No time to explain! Just fucking run!"
"At once!" As we run back to the doors, he calls out a warning to the other vampires.
"Uh... VAMPIRE HUNTERS ARE HERE TO KILL US!! THE BLACK ORDER IS HERE!!! EVERYONE FLEE!!" A cry of fear rises in the ballroom as the dancing and grinding stop and everyone begins to run in all directions.
"Nicely done," I beamed. Frigga gets lost in the confusion and chaos and I can barely make out her frown of displeasure before Huggin and I charge through the doors.

I reach the courtyard with the others. Terrified vampires stream out of the manor, running in all directions.
"The car is just down the drive," Sif yelled.
"Huggin! Can you coordinate getting these people out of here?" Thor ordered.
"Of course, Sir! it would be my honour," Huggin rushes into the fray, directing vampires away from the house and to safety.
"Now come on, we need to get out of here as fast as we can --" Sif spoke. But before I can take another step, Frigga is suddenly before me.
"Oh, shit," I muttered.
"What the hell? How--?" Melody stutters. Loki pulls me away from Frigga. Frigga chuckles low in her throat, running still bloody fingertips across her lips.
"Please. I am the first vampire, child. I have abilities your mind could not comprehend," Frigga flicks her hair over her shoulder... Blood dripped off and formed puddles of blood on the floor.
"I can comprehend quite a lot. I have Wattpad and AO3," Melody scoffs. I smile at my best friend. Thor raises his knife as Loki steps forward.
"Frigga? What is this? I thought we were all on the same side," Loki frowns.
"Of course, we are," Frigga rolled her eyes.
"Then you should know that we do not tolerate the killing of humans," Sif snarled.
"Oh, is that what you are upset about? Those sad little ants? Please. they served a far better purpose in death than they ever did in life," Frigga placed a hand on her neck and cracked it.
"What are you talking about?" Melody crossed her arms. Frigga's hands fall to her collarbone, tracing the raised lines as she smiles self-indulgently.
"I am the first. The purest vampire on this earth. As such, with every life, I take as my own. My power grows all the stronger,"
"I beg your pardon?" Loki replied.
"Do you still not understand? You, my progeny, drink blood to maintain your youth and power. But I drink to gain power," Frigga's fangs descended "With every being that falls to my fangs, I am capable of more and more. Every being, human or vampire,"
"That is just... eww," Melody shivered.
"Do you understand? My potential is limitless. My power is limitless. So long as there is blood and there is always more blood," Frigga smiled. Her eyes wide "I can become a God,"
"I hate that I am attracted to her right now," Melody muttered. Thor and Sif shouted that now wasn't the time for her comments.
"Is that what all this has been about? Saving New York, bringing everyone back? You just wanted more victims to prey on?"
"That is horrible," Thor commented.
"You wouldn't think so if you knew what I knew. If you had this power. This raw, unending strength. I can feel every heartbeat in the manor. I can hear every whisper. Every sensation. Every touch. Every gasp. Every moan. I feel it all," Frigga closed her eyes "And the potential... oh if only you understood,"
"Understand what?" Sif frowned.
"Understood what I could do. If I were to gain more, to attain godhood... I could create a new world. I could destroy all who ever stood against me. I could topple mountains, control civilizations... I could bring back what is lost,"
"And that's where Odin learnt his ideas from," I thought. I knew she was a snake. I should have listened to my gut.
"How many more have to die for that? For you lust for power?" Loki snapped.
"As many as it takes," Frigga shrugged.
"And what about our better world? Our better future?" Loki frowned. I know he was trying to appeal to Frigga's better side. But Frigga only laughs at his fury, at everyone's expression of horror.
"You? You are just sheep who think you are wolves,"
"I knew I should have listened to my gut. I always had my doubts about you and now I see I was right. You are nothing but a fraud. You are a snake!" I scream as I push past Loki, who grabs me and holds me close to him. Frigga shakes her head pityingly at me.
"In truth, I was worried your power would let you see right through me before I could consolidate power... but it's clear that even you could only do so much," Frigga claps, flinging blood everywhere "Now then. Shall we end th--" But before she can finish, another vampire runs into the courtyard.
"Frigga! What is going on? There's a commotion inside and I lost sight of Love--" Medusa panted as she spares us all a confused glance "What... what is..." But Medusa doesn't get another word out before Frigga grabs her. Faster than I have ever seen another vampire move.
"Medusa!" I go to reach her but Loki pulls me back. Medusa screams and kicks out as Frigga tears into Medusa's throat.
"Ahh!" Medusa screams.
"Frigga! Stop this!" Thor screams as Medusa gurgles, kicking and flailing but there's nothing any one of us can do. She goes limp and pale and crumbles to ash "NO!!" Frigga wipes her lips with satisfaction.
"Delicious," Frigga smirks.
"She... she... she was a vampire," I felt like I was going to be sick "How could you?"
"Her blood was mine. I just took it back," Frigga smiled.
"She was one of us!" Sif shouted.
"She was nothing!" Frigga shrugged.
"I am going to kill you, Frigga. I am going to stare into your eyes as you die. That is a promise," Thor tightened his grip on his knife. Frigga flexes her hands as they start to glow with a faint red light.
"What in the Scarletwitch is going on?" Melody muttered.
"Oh, Thor. Never make promises you can't keep," Frigga chuckled "There is no us. There is no our kind! You are nothing like me. You are pale shadows, sad little imitation churning away on borrowed blood,"
"I thought you were the one who taught Odin that vampires deserved a better world? A world where our kind can live free and safe" Frigga bursts into surprised laughter, her chin still dripping blood.
"Odin? That sad little boy, cowering behind his shield. Desperate to be loved? He was nothing more than a tool, begging for me to break him," Frigga takes a step towards us all. I tense up, preparing for a fight "Can't you see this is all futile? Everything you do... not matter how hard you fight... it will never be enough,"
"Five to one aren't good odds, Frigga," I clenched and unclenched my fists.
"I agree," Frigga sighed, before smirking at me "Or at least, in other circumstances, I would," I tilted my head as Frigga's eyes sparkled with a terrible light.
"You are going down," I let my fangs descend.
"You want to see power, children? Do you want to see what a goddess is capable of? Then watch,"
"Nothing you do can stop us, Frigga! Right guys?" I turn to the others as I realise that they have become curiously still "Right... guys?" one by one, they begin to turn to me.

I look at the faces of the others, their faces are blank and blood drips from their eyes. And boy, do they look pissed. But not at Frigga. But at me.
"Guys?" Thor lifts his knife with a frown twisting his face. Melody cracks her knuckles as Sif lurches forward. And Loki bares his fangs. I turn to face Frigga "What have you done? Are you controlling their blood?"
"That was always Odin's trick. Puppet-mastering. Useful, but unimpressive. Basic," Frigga shrugged, she then walked to the wall and leaned against it "What I am going, little BloodKeeper is far grander. I am controlling their minds" I look between my friend's faces once more, twisted and frozen in agony and all I see is hate. I start to back away.
"Guys, please! It's me, it's Emily" But they can't seem to hear me. They wore ugly, vicious expressions and I see the eagerness for violence in their eyes.
"It's no use, child. I control the bloodline on the purest level. I have access to their will. Their very souls," I feel something brush against my mind, making me shudder. Frigga frowns "Yet you are able to resist me. You alone. Curious. Why can't I access your mind?"
"I don't know. Though I could feel you scrabbling around in here and trust me when I say that you don't want to be in my mind. A week's long shower won't even clean your feet," I continue to back away from the others as they slowly march towards me, hands outstretched, murder in their eyes "Loki, please... you have to fight against her," But Loki just continues to glare at me like I have become a stranger. His once reassuring presence now fills me with dread "Loki, please," When he reaches me, his hands wrap around my throat and he squeezes. I choke out his name. I remember this vision from before.
"Do you see now? Do you see the power I command?" Frigga flicked her wrist, blood splattering in front of me "Kill her,"
"Loki, no!" The grip around my throat tightens, the others ready to descend on me and rip me apart "This is not them. It's here. My Loki would never hurt me," I fling my hands up uselessly before me and a blinding flash of power emanates out of my palms.

A blast of psychic energy shoots from my hands with a rush of force, striking all of my friends.
"What the fuck did I just do?" I watched as my friends went flying backwards. Even Frigga is hit by the blast and streaks backwards, slamming into the side of her manor.
"Hkkk!" Frigga yelled out as rubble fell on top of her. I stared at my hands, there was a strange tingly feeling. The others rouse themselves from the ground, holding their heads.
"What... How did?" Melody sat on her knees. I looked at the others. Loki is already on his feet.
"Emily, are you okay?" Loki rushed to my side.
"yeah, I am fine. What about you guys?" I looked at everyone. Bloodstained their cheeks.
"I think we are okay," Melody muttered. I nodded as I glanced at everyone else.
"I... that was..." Sif's eyes flit to the far end of the courtyard. The blast seems to have hit Frigga with the most force. She lies on the ground, bloodied, slowly getting up "We have to leave! Now!" Still trembling, we sprint down the driveway, the others piling into the car.
"I'll drive!" I speak as Sif throws me the key. I get behind the wheel and start up the car. I was a little surprised that Sif threw me the key but I was the only one who was stable.
"Punch that shit!" Melody shouted, slamming her door shut.

As we peel out of the long driveway, I glance in the rearview mirror and see Friggastanding before the manor, glaring at me with hate and fury.
"See you soon," She mouths. I put my finger up at her and put the pedal to the floor.

As the car hurtles through the streets of New York, we all catch our breath and begin to process what just happened.
"Oh. My. God. Oh my fucking god," I grip the steering wheel tight, my hands still tingling from the blast of psychic energy that burst out of me "Is everyone alright?"
"I think so," Melody whispered.
"Where am I driving to?"
"I don't know. Just put enough space between us and her," Loki speaks. Thor punches the door of the car so hard the metal dents.
"Well, I'm not. What the hell was that?" Thor shouts. Next to him, Sif glowers, looking angrier and more dangerous than I have ever seen her.
"That bitch took over my mind. Used me as a weapon. No one... No one does that and lives," Sif clenched her fists.
"Agreed," Loki leaned his head back in his seat "At least now we know Frigga's true purpose and how far her power goes,"
"What about you, Emily? are you alright?" Thor speaks up. I shuddered.
"Honestly, I'm ready to get revenge. I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen," I wiped my eyes, there were no tears but there felt like there were some "I may not have expected something to happen so soon but I am ready to take on whatever happens next," The car is quiet for a moment. Then Melody chokes with a sob "Mel?"
"I can't believe she did that to us. That we almost..." Melody cried. Thor puts a hand on her shoulder as she wipes away her tears. his face is still hard with anger.
"She made me point a weapon at Emily. That is unforgivable," Thor looked down at his hands.
"Do you remember what happened? What it felt like?" I looked at everyone via the rearview mirror.
"I do. I felt her presence. I felt her infiltrate my mind. and then it was like a switch went off. One second I was determined to put a stop to her, the next... all I wanted... was to hurt you, Emily,"
"She controlled you," I sighed. Loki grows quiet as Sif stares out the window, her hands clenched into fists.
"No. It's worse than that. Odin controlled my body back in the Met but I was still myself inside. Back at the manor... I wanted to hurt you. I wanted it so bad. She didn't just control me. She changed me. Violated me,"
"It was horrible,"
"I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Actually, scratch that. Considering who our enemies are, I absolutely would,"
"We're are so sorry, Emily. We were not ourselves," Loki turned in his seat. I'm sure he would be on his knees if we were in a room by ourselves.
"Can you... can you forgive us?" Thor spoke, sticking his head through the seats.
"There's nothing to forgive. You weren't yourselves, even if Frigga manipulated your thoughts to make them seem like your own," I smiled at everyone. Melody reaches over to touch my shoulder. Thor takes a deep relieved breath as Loki nods and Sif tries to smile. Loki puts his hand on my thigh with a reassuring squeeze.
"I can't even begin to imagine what you must have felt. To think that I could have..." Loki's voice breaks. I smile softly and reach out to grab his hand.
"Hey, it's okay. I understand. I know the real you would never hurt me," I speak softly. Loki gives me a shaky smile as we continue to hold hands. Peridocly kissing the back of my hand. And for a moment we drive in silence. The severity of the moment weighed on me "She betrayed us... played us. All this time,"
"I should have known. But everything she said, everything she did... it was for the betterment of the city. For us,"
"It was like she was tending to her cattle to get them ready for slaughter,"
"I wanted to put my trust in her. To believe that all the violence, the pain could be a thing of the past. But I was wrong,"
"She preached peace just to get through to us, promising us a new age of progress but all she wants is complacency,"
"I wanted to believe her. And for a time I did. But deep down, I knew she was a snake. The visions should have been enough to warn me. All the things she said and promised. I knew it was too good to be true," I took my hand away from Loki's to shift gear "We will never have peace and progress so long as vampires like her still exist," Thor cradled his head in his hands.
"God... poor Meddie," He mutters. I reach behind me and squeeze his knee "I... I had no idea Frigga's powers extended so far,"
"Frigga told me that because she is the first, she controls the bloodline. She can control our minds. Our souls," The guys rubbed their heads.
"But?" Melody leaned forward.
"How did you know there's a but," I quickly looked at her.
"There's always a but," Melody smiled. I rolled my eyes at her.
"But for some reason, Frigga... she can't control my mind... she tried," Loki hums in thought as he crosses his arms.
"It must be because of your psychic powers. You're the reason why we were able to wake up," Loki replied. I shrugged.
"Which means you are the key to defeating her," Sif crossed her arms.
"Do you think you could do the light blast thing again?" Thor asked.
"I... I have no idea. What I did... was instinctive. I didn't control it. I have no idea how to direct that sort of power," I stared at my hand before going back to the road "Frigga was going to teach me how to use this power but then..." I point behind us. gesturing towards the manor.
"And Sylvie is firmly in Frigga's court. Which means she can't help us," The car grows silent again as everyone begins to think. But I can't stop trembling in the aftermath of what happened. Thor shifts in his seat.
"There is another psychic that might be able to help us," He stutters, speaking so low that it would be impossible to hear him as a human.
"There is? Who?" Melody frowns at Thor, who sighs deeply.
"My maker... Selvig told me about one who lives in Tokyo. His name is Rocket. He is like 500 years old and the greatest vampire psychic alive," Thor looks at the floor.
"Rocket... The name doesn't ring a bell. Why haven't you told us about this man sooner?" Sif frowned.
"One, Selvig swore me to secrecy. I wanted to honour that. I've... I've let him down enough already,"
"And two?" I look at Thor. He knows I will pull him up later about letting down comments. We all know it is bull.
"He is not excatly a man," Thor looked out the window.
"Explain," Loki turned in his seat.
"He's a raccoon. He was an experiment. That is all I know," Thor shrugs uncomfortably and looks away with a frown. Loki and Sif exchange an uncertain look.
"What do you think?" Loki asked.
"I think it's risky but what other option do we have? Frigga is far too powerful and she controls this city, human and vampire," Sif looked out the back window, glaring at the manor. It was now a mere dot in the distance. But I could still Frigga's power from here "We need to get out of here,"
"So we might as well go to Japan," Melody sighed. They continue to look at one another, having a silent conversation. Loki sighs and takes out his phone to make a call.
"Looks like I am driving to the airport," I spoke. Loki nods "So, we are going to Japan. Like, now,"
"We can't afford to let Frigga find us again," Sif spoke. Loki gives me directions to the private airship where his plane is located. And where we all change into comfy clothing.

As we approach the plane, it is already warming its engines. Wanting to put as much distance between Frigga and us as humanly possible, we hurry to the plane. I feel strangely numb, my mind and body out of sorts from one another. I looked at my hands, I wish I knew how I did the blasted energy ball thing.
"Emily, are you okay?" Melody asked as we sat on a bench while Sif and Loki spoke to the pilot. Thor was loading the luggage.
"Yeah... I guess I just need some time to process all of this... again," I ran my hands through my hair.
"What you did was incredible." Melody grabbed my hands "Please know that I would never hurt you on purpose,"
"I know,"
"I mean, I might give you food poisoning on occasion or stand on your toe but I would never... ever... I couldn't,"
"Melody, stop. I get it. It was Frigga in there," I flicked Melody's forehead. She then looked at Loki.
"He is beating himself up,"
"How do you know?" I looked at Loki.
"He hasn't stopped staring at his hands when he gets a minute to himself," Melody held her hand out and I grabbed it "Let's get settled on the plan and then you can rest and talk to him, okay?"
"Okay..." I start to follow Melody up the plane stairs to the door when I spot something shiny on the floor in front of me "Seriously? now?"
"You alright there, Em?" Thor spoke from behind me. I didn't respond. I glanced up at the plane and then back at the shard. Biting my lower lip. From the shard, I can sense a scene of bickering and blood, a fresh memory of Frigga as he begins her true plan. I need to know "Emily?" I still don't answer him as I reach out and grab the shard and my eyes cloud with colours as the vision takes over "LOKI!"

In Stockholm, Sweden, roughly two months ago. A group of people meet in a remote castle. Their clothes and jewellery indicate that they are clearly wealthy.
"Please tell me that the High Council actually has a solution to what is going on," A woman spoke.