Fear of Losing Control (Book #1 in the Infinity Chronicles)

Chapter 10. Convincing Loki

Loki. He stands before me, wearing a smirk. His green eyes seem to stare right through me. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought. But I remember something.

That one night, or day, when I was talking with Loki, the day he showed emotion. He is a person. He has feelings.

"Thor," I whisper to him, who is now standing behind me. His body his tense, like he's ready to spring into action.

"Can you give us a minute?" I ask.

"What?" Thor says, "No, it's not safe."

"I'm fine," I tell him, "Please?"

"Be careful," he tells me and then begins to walk away with some hesitation.

I don't hear his footsteps go down the hall. He is still here, and I'm glad.

I then turn to Loki and take a breath. But before I open my mouth, he says, "Let me guess. You have no idea who you're up against so you want me to help you because I know so much."

I stare at him, mouth open.

"How did you-"

"I have my ways."

"Wait," I say, "You were there, weren't you? I mean, at the meeting."

"You are smart."

"Then who were you?"

"Who hit you?"

"Wait, Siff? You were Siff?"

"Write again."

"Wow," I say before I can stop myself, "That's pretty low."

"I thought it was quite clever," he says.

"So, you were the one who walked me from my room to the council room."

"Wow, you're on a role," he says with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"You son of a-"

"I'll take your efforts to swear as a compliment."

"Why? Why did you do all that? I mean, you pretended to be Odin for a forty-something days. You captured me and him. You snuck into our meeting-"

"Oh you forgot something," he interrupts.

"What?"

"I led your friends to you and Odin when you were imprisoned."

"Why? I mean, you imprison us, and then you lead a rescue party to save us! Why?"

He pauses, then begins to close the distance between us. As he gets closer he says, "You people run about like crazy. I didn't have to create chaos. I merely had to trigger it. If I made you and your friends so desperate, that you'd come to me for help, then I've done my job."

"Wait. So you're saying that you brought me to trigger chaos. Then captured me to make them desperate. Just so we would come to you for help?"

"I don't know why people say you're dumb."

"But why would you want us to come to you?"

"I have my reasons."

We are now close, his face is inches from mine. But he keeps it there as a threat. To strike fear into me.

"So, you'll help us?" I ask.

"Under one condition."

I groan inwardly.

"And what is that?"

"I get to keep my magic."

"No!"

"Fine then, I won't help."

"Fine! But under one condition," I say mocking him, "You must wear handcuffs at all times and always have someone watching you."

"Fine!" he spits.

"Fine!"

I begin to smile triumphantly, and then I ask, "Wait, who says I'm dumb?"