Protecting You

Chapter 16

"Just focus on me, empty your own head and look at me." Father orders.

Crossing my legs, I place my hands on my knees and stare at my father. Sitting in front of me, he looks blank and I search his eyes for any emotion.

"I won't loose her again." His voice echoes in my head.

I lean back and smile.

"You won't loose me, Father." I agree.

"Good. Now, let's try ice." He suggests.

"Ice? You mean the blue sparks I let out?" I question.

"Yes."

He turns around from sitting in front of me and picks up the book behind him. Loki places it on the floor in between us.

"Place your hand on it and try to freeze this book." Loki orders.

Shuffling forward, I place my right hand on the cover of the book and feel the roughness of the leather. Staring hard, I feel the power run through my body but nothing happens.

"Come on, Hattie." Loki pressures.

"I can't, I can't do it." I admit.

"But you've done it before?" He quizzes.

"Yes. But I was angry at Odin at the time." I point out.

"Okay. Try this. Odin is taking you from me yet again, he is forcing you away from me. You may never see me again, we won't play cards, no more training to teach you skills, you'll have many more nightmares and I won't be able to stop it."

I can feel the anger burning, my skin turning clammy and my hands begin to shake slightly.

"Do you remember what happened the first time? I tried to end my life. What if there isn't a guard to save me this time? What if I die? What if Odin doesn't tell you and you assume I'm still alive, until your Uncle finally tells you days later and you blame myself? Everyone will have been lying to you..."

Suddenly, I burst. The ice shoots from my hand and hits the book, pushing it across the floor and to the other side of the room. Blue snowflakes are covering the middle of the cover, lines sparking off in odd angles. Looking up at my Father, he smiles down at me happily.

Raising my hand, the blue sparks float from the end of my fingers and ascend to the air. I smile, looking up at my father as he chuckles deeply.

I hear the sound of boots making their way down the concrete stairs and I look up to see Steve walking towards Loki's cell.

"Good afternoon, Hatz." He says.

"Try it on Captain Rogers." Loki orders.

Steve folds his arms, watching me with expectant eyes.

Flashes of war, pain and death rush into my head as I glance at Steve. The sound of exploding gun fire and painful screams echo in my ears. His friend falling from the train and into the crisp white deathly snow. The agonising pain he felt from the transformation. Finally, the ship crashing into the sea, his final words to the love of his life. Dancing. The fear he felt and the disappointment towards himself for letting the country down.

"How do I make it stop, Father? I don't want to hear it anymore." I ask, looking at Loki.

Turning back to Steve, he blinks slowly and walks out of the room. But I can still feel the weight of his pain in my head, like a heavy ache.

Looking back at my father, his eyes are filled with confusion.

"I didn't know Steve felt that much pain." I whisper.