Into Darkness

Chapter 30

THIRD PERSON P.O.V

The Goddess of Healing watched the basin of water in front of her—horrified—as Lorien crumbled onto the floor, crying out in pain. The mark on her wrist beginning to twist up her arm, inching past her elbow and growing and growing. Loki struggled to retain his sister's consciousness and the Lady Sigyn watched them both, terrified. Amora was going to kill her. The black tendrils had barely disappeared under the fabric of her riding tunic when Eir cried out.

"STOP! Please just stop. I will tell you!"

The picture of Lorien in the water stopped screaming almost instantly and Eir sighed in relief. She watched Loki pull Lorien to his chest and Lorien began crying. She was safe for now.

"The spell? You'll finally spill your bloody secrets?" Amora mused. "I should have tried that sooner."

A scowl fell across Eir's face as she tugged against the chains bounding her. "I will kill you when I get free, you insolent, little child."

Amora let out a laugh.

"That will never happen, darling. Now, tell me the spell."

~*~

LORIEN'S P.O.V

Loki pulled up in his arms the moment I stopped screaming. Cradling me to his chest and mumbling words in Asgardian into my hair.  My body racked with sobs and I couldn't stop crying.  I was dying.

"Kjære nipt, do not cry. It is alright."  He cooed softly.  I buried my head in his chest, still sobbing.  I was so scared.

"What happened?"  I barely heard Natasha's worried voice.  They must have heard my screams and entered Sigyn's home.

"The mark," was all Loki said.  He gently stroked my hair still trying to get me to calm down.

"Oh god."  Tony breathed slowly, not a single trace of amusement or joking in his voice.  "It's completely up her arm."

I quickly uncovered my head to look and a strangled cry left my lips.  I felt even more fear bubble up in my chest. 

The mark had completely covered my arm.  Twisting and spiraling up past my elbow like I had gotten some kind of sick tattoo.

"Stark, really?"  Natasha hissed and I heard a slap as her hand met the back of her head.  I had began to hyperventilate at this point, my breaths coming in short and quick.

"Lorien."  Loki muttered.  "Lorien, breathe."

I can't.......I can—

"Breathe." This time Loki ordered it. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to focus on slowing my breathing. It took several moments but finally oxygen filled my lungs regularly. I gasped and sat up, avoiding looking at my arm again.

Many eyes were on me when I finally looked up. My group's eyes were wide with concern but over all knowledge of what was happening. Sigyn's were large and horrified. Her hand was at the base of her throat, her hand clasped tightly around the charm of her necklace.