He's Back!

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Fear washes over me as I stand frozen in Selvig's apartment. Odin still grinning up at me.
"I found you," He spoke again. Stumbling, I rush into the main room, screaming for the others.
"EVERYONE! WAKE UP!" I start screaming.
"What is going on?" Melody sticks her head out of her door, rubbing her eyes.
"ODIN IS HERE! HE'S BACK! WE HAVE TO GO!" I scream one more time. Selvig jerks to attention on the stool where he was drinking.
"What? He's here?" Selvig frowns. I nod as Sif, Loki and Thor rush in, weapons in hand.
"Damn it. So soon," Loki rushes to my side, I hid my face in his chest.
"Not soon enough," Thor cracked his knuckles.
"I thought he might still be roadkill on the tarmac," Melody groaned as she leaned her head back.
"Not him. He heals much too quickly for that," Sif clenched her fists.
"We have to stop him! This is our chance before he hurts someone else,"
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but our track record at stopping him is not great," Melody whinced "There's no plane to throw him out of. No stake from the tree of eternal life,"
"And I am not letting anyone die. Not again," Sif grips her daggers tightly. Thor curses and unsheathes his sword.
"The hell with this. We stand together, we fight together. We--" Thor is cut off by the front door banging open, flying off its hinges.
"We are boned," Melody groaned, ducking as a metal hinge nearly hit her. I sighed heavily. Odin strolls casually through, wearing a small, self-satisfied smile. Loki pushes me behind him, shielding me from Odin's line of sight. I place a hand on his upper arm.
"Now then. Let's try this again, shall we?" Odin smiles.

We all back up but before anyone can strike, Selvig moves, standing between Odin and the rest of us. I didn't even see or hear him draw it but a sword now rests in his hand, gleaming threateningly as he points it at Odin.
"Back off, Odin. These vampires are under my protection," Selvig warned. At the sight of Selvig, something in Odin changes. He softens, just a little.
"Eric, It's been too long,"
"That it has," Selvig agreed. Odin's hand emerges from his cloak, with a sword of his own, A razor-sharp Roman gladius, clutched tightly.
"Stand down, old friend. This doesn't involve you. You don't have to be a part of this,"
"they are under my protection. And the boy... he is mine. So you better believe that I am part of this,"
"Selvig! Get away from him! He's dangerous!" Thor goes to rush forward but Melody barely holds him back. She grips his arm tightly.
"So am I," Odin takes another step into the apartment. Selvig bars him from going any farther "I'm serious. I bear you no ill will, Odin but I will not let you hurt them,"
"Do you truly think you can stop me? I made you," Odin scoffed. Selvig's hands tighten around his sword hilt.
"And every day, I wish that you hadn't," Selvig spun his sword with a quick flick of his wrist.
"You've changed," Odin frowned.
"You haven't," Selvig cracked his neck. Odin hesitates, almost searching for words, even as he takes one step closer. The two of them stare one another down. Neither of them moving so much as a muscle.

Until they finally launch themselves at one another, blades clanging. The two vampires go at each other, steel on steel, moving so fast they become blurs. Sparks fly and the room rings with the clang of metal.
"We fought together so often. I remember all your moves, old friend,"
"And yet... you have gotten old," I watch, helpless, as the two become a furious cyclone of steel. It seemed that Selvig would stand a chance. That was until he suddenly backed away, Odin's sword stabbing through his stomach. Both Thor and I screamed out. My heart hammered painfully in my chest and when I look down, I realize that I am clutching my stomach in the same spot where Odin once stabbed me. Selvig grunts in pain and falls to his knees as Odin pulls the sword back with a spray of blood.
"Stay down, Eric. You don't need to die here." Odin turns towards Thor, who is frozen at the sight of his mentor badly wounded "You lot, on the other hand... You have to die. It is Frigga's will," Sif scoffed, crossing her arms "Something to say?"
"Never thought that I would see the day that the great Odin Borson was reduced to a mere puppet," Sif snarled, eyes blood red.
"Not reduced. Freed," Odin readies his sword. I look past him and see that behind him, Selvig forces himself up to his feet. He meets Thor's gaze, even as he winces from the pain and a tear runs down his cheek.
"Forgive me, son," Selvig whispered. Thor looks in confusion. Selvig then lunges at Odin and attacks him from behind, driving his sword up to the hilt into Odin's back. Odin yells out and moves on instinct, swivelling back, his sword a streak that severs Selvig's head from his neck.
"NO!!" Thor screams as Selvig's body crumbles to ash. Just as Odin collapses in pain, grasping for the sword in his back "BASTARD!" Thor lunges forward but Loki grabs him, jerking him back "Let me go!"
"There is no use! Selvig just brought us time," Loki wrestled with Thor. Despite Thor being larger in muscle than Loki's beanpole frame, Loki is older and a tad stronger "We have to leave now," The others begin to retreat, hauling a furiously screaming Thor with them, even as Odin collapses to his knees.
"I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU!" I back away to follow, my eyes locked on Odin as he stumbles, hissing with pain and rage. He jerks the sword out of his back and tosses it aside, blood streaking down his back.
"Damn it, Eric. You should have just stayed down..." Odin whimpers as he punches the ground. While Odin contemplates what remains of Selvig's body, I hesitate. My eyes dart between Selvig's fallen sword and where the others have run. I think I have enough time to grab it before Odin notices. That sword was Selvig, Thor will want it.
"Fuck it," Gathering my resolve, I run towards the sword and grab it. I run out the door before Odin can realise what I have done, chasing after the others. We manage to flee the apartment just as the bleeding Odin lurches to his feet, I look back over my shoulder and raise my middle finger "Fuck you!"

We escape through the streets and scramble into the guardian's club within minutes. As soon as we burst through the doors, the music stops. The dancers scatter. The guardians shoot to their feet.
"What is the meaning of this?" Mantis spoke up.
"Everyone... Selvig... ash... cramp..." Melody clutched her side "Odin... stabb... apartment... I'm... dying..." Melody collapsed on the floor. I dump the sword on the couch.
"Poor choice of words there, Mel," I hissed. Melody apologized from the floor "He's back. He's back... He can't be here," I started panicking, running my hands through my hair. Loki wraps his arms around me as I fold into him, burying my face into his neck and trying to still my racing heartbeat. We heard a clang of metal on the floor. Startled, we look around and see Thor standing there, catatonic.
"He's gone. He's really gone..." He kept repeating. I pulled away from Loki and wrapped my arms around Thor, hugging him tightly.
"Thor, I... I'm..." Loki placed a hand on Thor's back. Loki seems just as rattled as the rest of us. Thor crumples to the floor on his knees, head buried in his hands.
"Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?!" Gamora demands. Sif steps forward, hands curled into fists.
"Odin tracked us down. He broke into Selvig's apartment and... killed him. He killed Eric. I saw it with my own two eyes," the guardians react with shock. Mantis gasped as she sunk down onto the couch and Quill's jaw dropped.
"Eric Selvig is... deceased?" Gamroa stumbles, grabbing a chair to steady herself.
"Yes. I am so sorry... We couldn't save him," Loki looked down at the floor.
"He gave his life for us. He brought us time to get out," Melody sniffed as she stood up. Gamora covers her mouth with a hand.
"Eric... how... how can he possibly be dead," Quill muttered.
"And Odin... that... that..." Gamora slammed her fist through a table, letting out a howl and a lot of words that sounded like Japanese but I wasn't too sure. The moment lingers, long and heavy, before Loki speaks at last.
"Odin was incapacitated but he will recover. Will you help us stand against him?"
"Stand against Odin... our maker...?" Mantis looked at the other members of the guardians and had a silent conversation. Why do elder vampires do this? So annoying.
"Selvig's blade genuinely weakened him. And he wasn't using any of his heightened powers," Sif explained as Loki walked in front of Thor and me.
"Sif's right. The effects of drinking the vial seem to be gone. He's still powerful but he can be beaten. If we all stand together, we--"
"No," Mantis shakes her head mournfully "I'm sorry. But we cannot take arms against our maker. It goes against all of our codes,"
"He killed Selvig! One of your own!" Sif snapped. Gamora shrugged. I saw Sif's hand curl into a fist.
"And yet... our laws remain laws," Nebula frowned, standing behind Gamora.
"I have sworn off fighting. I will not break my vows," Quill backed off "All we can do is offer you a place to hide. I don't think Odin would dare strike with all of us here. But that is all we can do," They obviously don't know Odin well enough. He doesn't care about anyone else.
"How can you..." I go to step forward but Loki waves me down, looking grim.
"Thank you. We appreciate the generous offer of sanctuary," His eyes say it all... this is a good deal. Best not to disturb it. Loki gestures to the rest of us to the opposite side of the club while the guardians huddle together, mourning the loss of Selvig.

After pulling Thor to his feet, we join the others in the corner.
"This is so messed up. They should be helping us," Melody stamps her feet as she points to the guardians.
"Cowards. Every last one of them. Cowards," Thor snaps. Sif squeezes Thor's shoulder.
"Let's just focus on recovering for now. Once we rest, we'll figure out a plan," Sif spoke softly. Thor jerks away, stalks over to a couch and collapses, head in his hands.
"Do you think he will be okay?" Melody spoke, glancing at her clan leader. Everyone shrugged.
"Hard to say. Losing a mentor is difficult. No matter how long you have been turned," Sif sighed.
"I'll go talk to him," I smile at the others as walk over to Thor.

As I join Thor, I place a gentle hand on his back. I don't even know what I can say to him.
"Hey," I spoke in the most soothing tone I could manage "Thor, I know it doesn't mean much now but I am so sorry..." I feel Thor's breath hitch, his voice thick with tears.
"Why did he have to do that? Why did he throw his life away?" Thor gripped his hair.
"He was saving you. Saving us all. Thor, he loved you. You know that, right? He loved you like a son. He died to save you. To give you a chance at life. That was his choice. Maybe the choice he was making all along,"
"I just can't believe he's gone,"
"He's not gone, Thor. So long as you remember him, he won't be gone. Not really. You will carry his memory with you wherever you go and there is also this," I pull Selvig's sword onto my lap. Thor notices it and sits up straighter "I had just enough time to grab it before we ran here. I figured you might want it," With shaking hands, Thor takes the sword from me. Tears fall from his eyes. He ran his fingers along the blade.
"Selvig loved this sword. Almost as much as he loved science. It was the one possession he kept from Japan... for hundreds of years," Thor placed his head on the cool steel.
"I think he would want you to have it," Thor turns the word over in his hands, staring at it with reverence.
"For all his flaws, when it mattered most, Selvig took this blade and fought for those he loved," Thor slings the blade over his back, clicking the strap into place "When I wield this sword... I will think of him. Always,"
"Just let me know if you need anything, okay?" I wrap an arm around Thor, squeezing him tightly. I then hear a low growl. I look over at Loki and smile.
"Finally! I thought you were broken," Melody cheered.
"Not quite," Loki rolled his eyes, winking as he looked over at me. I leave Thor to mourn. I place my hands on the base of my spin and groan. My body aching and exhausted as my own emotions spiral through me.

I wander aimlessly until I go downstairs and find an empty bedroom. I sit on the edge of the bed and stare at nothing. Eventually, the door is pushed open and two people walk in.
"Emily," I look and see Sif and Loki standing at the door. I give them a forced smile "Darling, are you alright?"
"No. Not really," I sniff. Loki and Sif come inside the room, sitting on either side of me. Loki places a hand on my knee.
"What happened was terrible and out of our control," Loki sighed "This is what Odin does. He kills. He takes. He destroys," Sif picked some fluff out of my hair.
"I just feel like this is all my fault," I wiped my nose on the back of my hand.
"Firstly, You are not to blame for any of this, Emily. I want you to understand that and secondly, How is this your fault?" Sif scrunched her nose.
"What if Odin tracks us through me somehow?" I stared at my hands.
"Darling, he overheard us talking on the plane. He knew we were going to Tokyo. It only made sense that we would come and seek the guardians," Loki squeezed my knee.
"I guess..." I still can't help but feel tired, and worn down, although having Sif and Loki by my side is helping. I sigh heavily and lean my head on Loki's shoulder. He wraps an arm around my waist to support me "I hate this. I hate it..."
"I hate it too. There's nothing we can do but accept what's happened and try to prevent it from happening again," Loki kissed the top of my head. Sif shakes her head, brow furrowed.
"We just need to come up with a concrete plan. We can't keep hiding forever,"
"Sooner or later... he will find a way to get us. Or to smoke us out," Loki leaned his head on mine.
"Why is he like this? How could one person be so monstrous? So cruel?" There's an uneasy silence, Loki and Sif exchange a look over my head "You know, I hate it when you two do that look. Stop having eye convos and tell me what you know,"
"For so long, I always thought that's just who he was. That this was endemic to his nature. but now, seeing Frigga... I can't help but wonder what she did to him. How much of him is her," Sif leaned slightly back "He always spoke so fondly of Frigga. He worshipped her. Believed everything she believed. Built his entire identity around her,"
"Around a lie," Loki scoffed.
"You sound like you feel bad for him," I looked up at Loki. He shook his head.
"No. No matter what level of corruption, he is still responsible for so much that has happened," We then looked at Sif. She knew the man better than anyone. she was married to him for 2000 years.
"I don't feel bad for him but I can't help but understand him," The three of us sit there in silence for a quiet moment before Loki and Sif stand up.
"We will let you get some rest, Emily. We are all going to need it," I hesitate as they begin to leave, wondering if I can truly stand being alone right now. Nah. I need some company and a damn good distraction.
"Loki, wait," I reach out and grab Loki's wrist.
"Emily?" he tilts his head at me. I licked my lips.
"Could you... would it be okay if you stayed with me? I don't want to be alone," I looked down at my shoes. Loki smiles and quickly looks over his shoulder. Sif smiles and walks out the door, closing it behind her.

Once the door shuts, Loki takes two steps towards me and cups my face in his hands as he searches my eyes, his brow creased with concern.
"What can I do, Emily?" His thumb strokes my cheeks as he speaks. He sounds almost insistent, almost like he needs to be able to do something for me "Tell me. What is your desire?"
"Kiss me," I whispered. Loki smiles a kind, sad smile.
"I think I can do that," Loki leans forward, stroking my cheek and pressing his lips to mine. I kiss him back long and deep, as he hums a low in his throat and holds me close. I tangle my fingers through his hair and pull gently as his lips skim down my neck "Mmmmm," When I kiss him again, it's bright and hot, fueled by th relief of having escaped with our lives. Pulling away, our eyes meet. Loki's eyes, shine with grief and resolve "I wish there was more I could do,"
"Shush," I press a finger to his lips "You are already doing plenty, Loki. We're all doing what we can. Right now... being here with me... that's everything," Loki leans into my contact, his eyes never leaving mine. He takes my hand, his lips brushing my knuckles, the inside of my wrist. I feel warmth in my stomach and in my chest.
"I'm yours,"
"I know," I smirked. I pulled Loki closer to me, running my fingers along the lining of his jacket "I want to have you," Loki took a deep breath and then leaned down to kiss me, his lips fluttering across mine.
"Are you sure? Now?" Loki licked his lips. I pushed his jacket from his shoulders, flinging it to the side. Loki undoes his tie and drops it to the floor.
"Everything out there is so scary and sad. I just want to feel something else," Loki's hold me tightens for a moment before relaxing. I ran a hand down his chest and slowly undid the belt of his trousers "I want to feel you,"
"Emily..." Loki goes to speak but it quickly becomes a groan as I wrap my hand around him, clasping him gently "Mmmm," He closes his eyes and hisses in pleasure as I stroke his entire length, savouring the heat of him in my hand. Biting my lip, I add my other hand, working him and building his need with every touch, every caress. Loki groans and growls from the sensation. "Oh god... Emily... If you keep going, I think going to..." Loki closed his eyes as he panted. He grabs my hand "Stop. I want to feel you too," His arms tighten around me and the world spins. I clutch at his shoulders, only vaguely aware of movement.
"Loki..." Our mouths find each other as his hands slide along my sides, his fingertips brushing my skin. We begin to undress each other, slowly and carefully. Even though our hands tremble and our breaths shake. I skim my fingertips over Loki's chest, marvelling at how firm it is, savouring his warmth, the steady beat of his heart. Loki scoops me up and deposits me on the bed, leaning his body over mine, kissing me breathlessly until lips trail down my body. Loki caresses my thighs as he settles between them. I can feel his breath, his gentle touch, feel his head hovering between my legs. I arch off the bed and grip his hair, moaning his name "Nnngh... Lok... Loki..."
"Emily..." Our touches are both frantic and careful. It was almost like we were afraid of hurting each other. My body tingles hotter and hotter, my breath rapid, and my heart racing. He pulls up, eyes meeting mine.
"Loki... I want to be on top," I pant. Loki nods, sliding back on the bed. I move forward, straddling him.
"Gods, I love it when you take charge," Loki growled. I slowly lower myself. I ran my hand down his chest, slowly swaying my hips to an inaudible beat. I lean in to kiss him, teasing a moan from his lips "Emily, Please," Loki begged. I smirked.
"I like you begging. Do it again," I teased.
"Emily, Please," Finally, agonizing slowly, I lower myself completely onto him. The feeling is incredible, my whole body is burning "Hnnn..."
"Loki..." I watch his face as I begin to move against him, Watch as his breath catches in his throat and I roll my hips in a slow rhythm. I gasp, pressing my hands against his chest. I throw my head back with a moan.
"That feels... so right..." I rock my hips back and forth as he closes his eyes, breathing faster and harder. His hand grabs my thigh and squeezes tight. He arches his back and thrusts.
"Just... like that... like that..." As the feeling becomes almost unbearable, the growing pleasure overwhelming me, Loki sits up, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. Loki kisses my shoulders and my neck. My chest. As our bodies move faster and faster, the pleasure reaches a crescendo.
"I love you. I love you so much," Loki moans in my ear.
"I love you too," I reply. Loki gasps as his body shudders and I grab him tight, pulling him close, lost in overwhelming bliss.

A short while later, Loki and I lay beside one another as we caught our breath, then came back to cuddle. I rest my head on Loki's chest.
"Emily, I..." Loki's voice breaks. I look up at him and find him staring sadly at the ceiling. I tilt his chin toward me, forcing him to look at me.
"What's wrong? I can see the cogs turning," I ask softly. Loki breathes out and brushes the hair off my forehead.
"I just want you to know that I will do anything to make sure you stay safe. Anything," Loki rolls me so I am sort of by his side but he is leaning over me. I went to speak but Loki pressed a finger to my lips, which earned a frown "Emily, I want a future with you in it. A future together. I want to build a life with the woman I love,"
"Loki..." I put a hand against his chest "I want the same thing. I want to stay with you, Loki. I want to see more sights and travel the world. Experience everything and I want to do it in your arms," Loki smiles and holds me close, kissing my forehead.
"I promise I will do whatever it takes to make that possible," Loki cups my face. I lean into his touch.
"And you need to know that I will protect you too. This isn't a one-way street" I replied. Loki laughs softly, nodding. He then kisses me softly.
"I know. Besides, nothing I say will make you change your mind,"
"Got that right," I snuggle up against Loki and let myself grow calm, knowing that we are safe. At least for tonight.

Sleep comes slowly and when it does, I lose myself in a dream. I can see a village burning, surrounded by the bodies of the dead and dying and a frantic woman running towards it.
"No... NO!" She screams "Baldr! Freyja! What have they done?!" The woman rushes forward to a man lying on the ground, bleeding out from a spear in his side.
"Frigga..." Baldr reaches for Frigga.
"Baldr, shush. Save your strength," Frigga strokes her lover's face, tears dropping onto his ashy face.
"It was... the... sons... of... ares," Baldr stutters, blood dribbling out his mouth. Frigga's eyes brighten as her rage comes to light.
"Freyja! Where is Freyja?" Baldr, blood bubbling through his lips, points at a house... a house consumed in flame "NO!!!"
"I tried..." Baldr goes limp. Frigga rushes towards the house. There, right outside, lies a child's body. Horrifically burned. Frigga collapses next to the burned body and lets out a howl of primal fury. and something in here, some core of kindness and empathy, dies. When Frigga looks back down, she is someone else. As she stares down at her hands covered in ash, her eyes burn with fire, with rage. with hate.
"I will kill them. Every last one. Every man, woman and child. Every last human crawling this earth," Frigga rises to her feet and a terrible dark power swirls around her.


I shoot awake in a cold sweat, gasping from the nightmare.
"Hhhhhhh!" I pant. Was that a dream or a memory? I can never tell these days. A hand gently taps my shoulder and I roll over to see Loki rubbing his eyes.
"Darling? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, Just a bad dream," After wiping the sweat from my forehead, I flopped back. My head landed on the pillow.
"What was this one about?" Loki wiggled his arm underneath me and pulled me closer to him.
"I don't know really know. There was fire and Frigga was screaming about killing all humans," I lean my head on Loki's chest.
"Hmmm, I do wonder if what happened in the dream or memory was what caused Frigga to lose all her humanity,"
"Possibly," I clicked my tongue "So, the humanity thing, is it like Vampire Diaries, you can flick a switch and boom, heartless twat?"
"More or less. I've never had to turn mine off. Sif has once or twice but that was before I met her," Loki shrugged.
"What makes a vampire turn it off?" I asked. Loki shuffled, his eyebrows knotted.
"I asked Sif decades ago and she said the first time she did it because she didn't want to deal with the guilt of losing her brother. He died a year or so after Sif turned,"
"So like Vampire Diaries then?" I smiled. Loki nods and kisses my forehead softly "Have you ever been tempted?" I sighed. Loki looked away, gazing out the window.
"Once. When I lost you. If it wasn't for Sif slapping me, I would have. The guilt was eating away at me. I promised to protect you and I didn't,"
"Loki, what happened wasn't your fault," I shuffled so I could sit up. Loki stayed lying down "What is done is done. You can't change the past, you can only learn from it," Loki sighed and shuffled so he was leaning on his elbows.
"Do not Lion King me," Loki poked my nose.
"Actually, I was thinking George R.R. Martin. He once quoted in an interview that the past remains the past. We can learn from it but we cannot change it," I poked Loki back.
"Since when do you listen to what he says?"
"I keep tabs on him. I want to know when his Game of Thrones books come out," I rolled my eyes and checked my phone. It was only 2 in the afternoon. I smile and then look down at my stomach as it grumbles. Loki moved and poked my stomach.
"Quiet you," I chuckled as I pushed Loki onto his back.
"Go back to sleep. I need to get something to eat," Even though I was shaken up by the dream, I was surprisingly hungry. Loki nodded and fell back to sleep with such ease. I hate it when he does that. It takes me about 700 different positions to get comfy. I quickly get dressed. I might as well get some of the synthetic blood from upstairs.

I creep upstairs but the guardians are all gone or in bed at this point. Even the bartender and dancers are gone. As I approach the bar, I realize there is only one person there.
"Mel?" I called. I thought she had fallen asleep at the bar by the way she was sitting at the bar. Melody turns on the barstool in surprise but her expression softens when she sees it's me.
"Hey, Em. What are you doing up?"
"I could ask the same of you," I walk around the bar and pour myself a glass of synthetic blood as Melody leans her chin on her hands.
"I dunno..." I downed the shot as Melody, laid her head on her arm, twirling a straw in the glass "I guess I couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind," I notice a rag and I pick it up and start cleaning a glass.
"I could pretend to be a bartender and listen to your woes," I wiggle my shoulders as I get into character "Howdy. So missy. What's the matter? Hard day at the old steam factory?" Melody chokes over a laugh.
"Steam factory, Emily? What era even is this?" Melody coughs, banging on her chest.
"You tell me," I smile. Melody stretches and sighs, looking up toward the ceiling. Smiling sadly as she watched the twinkle of glitter.
"Things have just gotten so bad, you know? I feel so helpless," Melody spun around on her stool.
"Mel, I think we are all feeling that way right about now," I sigh, placing the rag down. Melody nods, thinking.
"You know... we have really come a long way,"
"What do you mean?" I frowned as I poured myself another shot.
"Think about it. Not so long ago, you and I were just two broke girls trying to make rent in New York. Then all of a sudden, BANG! I'm a vampire and then you're a vampire. It's just nuts when you think about it. About all that we have been through together,"
"You're right. I am amazed we have gotten this far," I grip my necklace that Loki gifted me at Christmas and think back to the last 10 months "It has been one hell of a rollercoaster,"
"Obviously because we are badasses," Melody grins. She does this weird pose that superheroes do.
"Of course, we are," I agreed.
"Seriously, though. I don't know if I could have handled all this without you," Melody smiled proudly at me. I reach over and squeeze her shoulder.
"I don't know if I could have handled all this without you, either. Especially since becoming a vampire. You have done so much to help me. Thank you, Mel,"
"What are best friends for," Melody smiles, teary-eyed "You are the one who saved me. I should be thanking you," The two of us share a smile but I can't help the coldness in my chest.
"I am so worried, Melody. Like really, really scared. I don't know what to do," Melody is silent for a moment, gazing down at her own drink.
"You know, when Thor left me in charge of our clan, I was terrified. I thought for sure I was going to mess up. Despite being a Fury, I was never any good at being a leader. Even during school projects, I was the kid that got distracted and set the 7th-grade science lab on fire,"
"That's very specific," I frowned with a smile.
"I was so scared. I didn't want to be the reason for anyone to get hurt. But then, when Odin attacked, something inside me just clicked. It was like opening the lid on something. I just had to face it head-on to actually understand what to do. To face my fears," Face my fears? Is that what I have to do? Melody gently squeezes my wrist "Whatever you have to do, I know you can do it," I think back to Rocket's test, the last vision he used to test me. Odin grinning over me, intending to kill me... how I had to face him head-on.
"That's what I have to do," I walk around the bar and stand next to Melody "Melody, you are my best friend in the whole world. You always will be," I hug her tightly and she hugs me back.
"You are my best friend too, Emilly. always," I bite back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes as I turn away.
"Now, go see Miss Kitty and she'll fix you up with a nice hooker," I wiped my eyes.
"Em!" Melody chuckled.
"I'm kidding. I'll see you later, okay? I'm going to bed," I walked back to the main door.
"Will you please tell me how you broke Loki?" Melody asked, not even turning to face me.
"You already know how," I grinned as I smirked as I looked over my shoulder.
"What?" Melody spun around, jaw dropped.
"Goodnight, Mel," As I go to the door, I take one last look. Then creep down, through the shadows, into the night. I could hear Melody complaining that she didn't know.

After a few minutes of preparation and a small act of thievery, I walk out of the club and into the streets of Tokyo. It's busy, even at this time of night. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
"Where are you?" Sensing a very dark presence nearby, I walk down a few alleys until I reach a dark, abandoned street. A chill runs down my spine "I know you're there. Come out," I ordered. Odin melts out of the shadows, smiling grimly.
"Well, coming to face me alone. There's a surprise,"
"The others don't need to get caught up in this. I can take you on by myself," I cracked my neck, and Odin raised his eyebrows before laughing.
"Are you sure you deserve such confidence? Surely you haven't forgotten what happened last time?" Odin speaks in a mocking tone. My hand moves to the spot where I was stabbed, completely out of my control and I falter slightly. I then drop my hand and squeeze it into a fist.
"I haven't forgotten. and that's why it has to be me," I shift into a fighting stance and Odin smirks.
"All right. If that's how you want to do it. one on one," Odin shifts his cloak aside to reveal the sword at his belt. He unsheathes it slowly, eyes gleaming in the darkness "It's your funeral... again. Do you have any last words?"
"Fuck you," I raise my middle finger at Odin. Odin sighs angrily just before he launches himself at me with frightening speed. I barely manage to fling myself to one side, rolling over the ground before popping back up to my feet. Somehow, I have to catch him unaware. That will be the only way I will get a hit. I look around the alley, finding a pipe running up the wall and a broken board on the ground. Neither seems particularly strong but they are better than nothing. No, I have something better. I reach up and touch the hilt of the sword that I may have borrowed from Thor.
"This is interesting," Odin and I begin to circle one another, his grin sharp and hungry "It's no use. This can only end in blood,"
"Yeah, yours," I whip out my sword just in time to block Odin's next attack.
"I see you have been learning, but will it be enough, I wonder?" Odin taunts. It will have to be enough. I have no other options. I have to face my fears. I can't live in fear. he presses down and I push back, our blades screeching together. Remembering a move that Thor taught me, I quickly knock Odin's blade to one side and duck under his arm, slicing across his torso "Ugh!"
"Looks like it will be enough," I quickly regroup, panting slightly as Odin disappears into the shadows. I scrunch my face yo "Are you retreating?" Chicken shit. I then feel his fist connect with my spine. Choking on a scream, I smash into the wall. What is it with vampires and smashing walls? Do they not care for public property? Odin's laugh echoes around me as he continues to hide within the darkness "That was a cowardly move. Is that how you are going to do this? You wanna fight like a coward?" It is impossible to tell where he is. I frantically look around, sweat dripping down my neck. I need to calm down. I have faced far worse. I just need to concentrate.
"You cannot beat me," I take a deep breath, remembering the training the others gave me. I remember Sif teaching me about the darkness and how to navigate it. I slow my breathing and focus on my heartbeat, making it calm and steady. Eventually, it's beating at all. Thinking I had the upper hand, Odin melts from the shadows before me, grinning "Fool. I can still smell you," Odin backhands me so hard, I go flying. Skidding across the hard ground. I struggle to get back to my feet, my head ringing as blood trickles down from my hairline. Odin growls and grabs me by the back of my neck "This has already lasted long enough. It's time for you to die a true death, this time," I struggle against him but he is a lot stronger than me and my punches are hardly doing any damage to him.
"You are... not... going to... win," I hiss as I kick the man's knee. Odin's upper lip curls in distaste.
"It seems to me that I already have," Odin begins to crush my vertebra, making me gasp and thrash against the hold. As I scrabble at his marble-like hand, I try to recall what Rocket taught me.
"As a psychic, you not only seek secrets but also understand a person's truth. The most powerful thing you can do is to reflect it back to them," Rocket's voice rings in my ears. I think back to what else he taught me. Like how to direct my energy into a psychic blast. I feel a prickling feeling at the back of my skull as I begin to concentrate. Odin's grip tightens on me as the energy travels down through my chest, my arms and into my hands.
"Hey, Odin. Two words,"
"Let me guess... fuck you?"
"No. Get fucked," I shove my hands toward Odin, letting the psychic blast crash out of me. Odin yells out as he is blown back, hitting his head on a dumpster and lying prone on the ground.
"Why you little-" Odin speaks as he stands up. With all my strength, I slam my fist into Odin's throat, crushing his windpipe. Choking, he falls to his knees. Odin's sword lies nearby. I kick it up, feeling the heft of it and before Odin can react, I drive it into his stomach "Hkkk!" Even impaled, Odin snarls, grabbing me by the back of the head, and pulling me in.
"Dude, you need a mint," I reach out, desperate and push on his face, but as my hand touches him, I feel a familiar prickling in the back of my skull.

I blink and find myself within Odin's mind palace, surrounded by portals and memories. For a dude that is around 3000 years old, his mind is very empty.
"Right. Great. I'm in Odin's mind. I am going to have a major headache after this," But there is something wrong here. Something sick. Tendrils of rot and darkness envelop his mind like spiderwebs, tendrils that pulsed like veins, tendrils that drip blood. All of them radiate Frigga's power "Is this her control over him? She has been in here, all this time... like a sickness," But as the psychic connection between Odin and I strengthens, I can see Odin's eyes go wide as my own memories come to the surface and I realise with our minds bonded, he's seeing them too.


I see Frigga, blood-drenched, standing over Medusa's dissolving body. Still, a sight that I never want to witness again.
"She was one of us!" Sif shouted.
"She was nothing!" Frigga shrugged.
"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," Frigga chuckled.
"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,"


Odin tries to wrench out of my hold, trying to escape the memories.
"Stop! That's not Frigga, that's a trick... you are trying to confuse me. She doesn't... she can't..." With another strong push, I reach back into his mind palace, to there those black webs clutter his memories.


These black webs of hate are Frigga's doing. All her orders. Her control. It completely warped him over time. She altered his mind. Suppressed his empathy, his restraint. She violated him. She turned him into her monster. Without thinking, I reach towards the black webs and feel my power flow warm and gentle through me.
"Just like tending to a garden," The black webs begin to dissolve, old and brittle and filled with malice, slowly lifting the last of Frigga's hold on Odin's mind "I don't know what good this will do but I have to try,"


When I return to myself, Odin sits on his knees before me, panting, gasping, like a man who emerged from the depths of the ocean. When Odin looks back up at me, his eyes are changed. I ripped the sword out of him.
"Ow," Odin presses a hand to his head. I wish I could say I felt his pain but I don't seem to have a headache. I wonder if it's because I willingly used my powers.
"Frigga doesn't love you, Odin. She never loved you. She never intended to make a better world for vampires. To her, everyone is disposable. Including you," Odin trembles in the wake of his revelation, his mind once again his own.
"All this time... I thought... I thought we were going to make a better world... that it could only be done through sacrifice. She lied to me... she used me," Odin stands to his feet and a tear runs down his cheek. It's clear to me that the Odin that I feared... the one that killed me... is gone. The man before me is broken. I raise his sword, placing the edge against his neck and he doesn't even react.
"Goodbye, Odin," I was about to swing down when his next words cut through me, sharper than the blade I hold.
"Wait," He whispers. Despite myself, I hesitate, letting out an angry hiss, "You don't want to do that,"
"And why the fuck not? If I let you go, you will just run back to Frigga," I press the tip of the sword into Odin's neck, making a small cut "I have been waiting to kill you for so long, Odin. Give me one good fucking reason why I shouldn't shove this sword so far down your throat, you will be shitting iron in the afterlife?" Odin looks at me, his eyes sparkle with anger, cruelty and clarity.
"Because I am the only one who knows how to kill that bitch,"

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