Monster Among Us

Walking With A Ghost

All Jane could see through her teary vision was Loki's emerald eyes alit with enjoyment at her expense. Despite knowing it would have little effect, Jane still clawed at his constrictive hands. She dug her nails deep into his skin and could feel warm blood bubbling beneath her nail beds, yet he didn't show the slightest sliver of pain.

As she alternated struggled breaths with regretting ever sympathizing for him, she wondered why he risked his own life for her twice when they confronted Malekith. Was it really all a show, put on to create a better image of himself in Thor's mind? The thought seemed preposterous, but Jane suspected it's to be expected from the god of mischief.

Jane was torn from her thoughts once she felt Loki's breath flutter into her ear. She wasn't sure how it was possible, but he seemed to be standing even closer to her than before. His body pressed into hers, creating additional levels of discomfort.

"You have no idea how long I've awaited this moment," he breathed. His lips curled into a twisted smile that contorted his features.

Yet even as his fingers closed tighter around her throat and breathing became near impossible, she couldn't help but feel curious. "Why?" she croaked.

Loki did not have to justify his actions to such a lowly mortal, but he knew that if he killed her too soon, he'd lose his single source of entertainment whilst trapped in his illusion as Odin. Without speaking, he released her and watched as she slid down to the floor, trying her best to conceal her tears and mingled emotions of fear and relief.

"Care to be more specific?" he asked, crouching down to her level. Even with less difference in their height, Jane still felt intimidated. There were so many different questions to ask, she actually had to take a moment to figure out which were most pressing to be answered.

"Why did you say you've waited for this moment? Why do you even want to kill me in the first place? I haven't done anything to you," she said, voice a bit scratchy, but still pleasantly strong.

He inclined his head, implying that she was partially correct. "Perhaps not directly, but your interference with Thor certainly complicated things. Now that we have some alone time, why don't you enlighten me? How does a single human transform an arrogant oaf of a god in hardly two days?"

"Don't talk about him that way," she replied, finally able to sit up. "After everything he's done for–."

"He has done nothing but destroy my life!" Loki roared, resisting the urge to continue strangling her. "And so have you…because of you, Thor returned to Asgard and made me out to be the villain. Because of you, my mother is dead. She died saving you."

At the mention of his mother, Loki's anger ebbed into sorrow. His eyes became glossy – a momentary display of sentiment that didn't go unnoticed. Taking a risk, Jane reached out and placed a hand on his arm.

"Believe me, I still feel guilty for what happened to her. She just told me to do as she said…I never imagined that she would've been…killed."

In a flash of movement too quick for her to process, he gripped her arm and used his hold to pull her closer to him. "By the time I'm through with you, you'll feel far more than guilt. For once, Thor did me a favor bringing you here."

Caught off guard by the sudden movement and terrified by the threat in his tone, Jane tried to pull away from him, but his grip was too strong. "Thor will never let anything happen to me," she replied, though this time her voice didn't hold as much confidence as it had before.

"Oh, I doubt he'll be very helpful now. He's monitoring the very race of monsters that he chose to save over you."

Despite his tone, Jane didn't believe he had the upper hand. "He'll see these bruises," she said, gesturing to where he was holding onto her wrist. "I'll tell him what happened."