Life's Requiem {Book 1}

Chapter 8: Icebound

It was impossible to tell if daytime had come, being in this underground shelter. The hard, dirt floor did not agree with Loki's back and he sat up, pushing himself against the wall. At least he was not withering away in the heat for everyone to see.

Why was I born the way that I was? I hate it...

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he tried to dispel the throbbing in this skull, the screaming in his subconscious. He did not want this dark magic to weaken him, and when he began to regret it, he replaced the thought with finding the Fractals, having them all in his grasp, obtaining enough power to... to... well, he didn't exactly know what. He never gave it much thought and just craved its power. Maybe he had a few ideas, but would never admit them. Not out loud.

When his eyes were caught by Jennica waking herself and sitting up, the armor naturally pulled itself around him to hide every ounce of emotional vulnerability. The look that he had must have either appeared cold or monotonous, but he gave her a nod of acknowledgement before looking away and pretending she was not even there. Thor and the Kujoyo were still asleep.

Jennica also sat against the wall, chin resting on her knees, wondering if she should have spoken a word, at least something to Loki. He was ambiguous and seemed to carve a canyon between himself and any person he came across. Maybe it was best to leave him alone. Leave him for his brother to deal with. She heaved a sigh.

The silence and awkward tension in the room was unsettling. If Cammy were with them, she wouldn't have wasted a moment in waking everyone else up, but that was not in Jennica's nature.

What is your nature? Who even are you?

She never worried about those questions, never wanted to know why she wasn't human living on a human planet. But if she was a danger, that danger had to be eliminated. And Oveaus... he was out there, lost and afraid. The brother she had never known needed help. Her heart wrenched in thought.

How can you love someone you've never really met?

She did. That was all she knew at the moment.

Loki began to feel very unlike himself. Either he was too exhausted to function or his armor was breaking. It had been years since he had dealt with emotional battles as strong as these. Maybe it was the silence, the fear of being around creatures that looked like Ebony Maw. Maybe it was remembering Thanos or perhaps it was helping Thor on a quest solely for the good of all realms. Maybe he was just confused.

"Rāvelî xäch itorrę!"

Morning was announced from the top of the stairs, waking Thrai Maw up and startling Thor. The Kujoyo seemed to be the only one who handled sleeping on the mats without any back pain, but none would admit to theirs. In gratitude, they rolled up their mats and thanked him for his hospitality.

"If you happen to find Fárbauti," Thrai Maw began as he led them back to the world above, "do what you can to convince her to return. Vadella misses her greatly."

"If she is as kind hearted as you said, I am sure she will." Jennica spoke through the wind that blew the purple sand and tangled her hair. A storm was approaching, and not one with rain. Ugly black clouds blocked the sun.

Thrai Maw took her hands. "May you find the answers you are looking for."

His eyes were so kind, and Jennica was touched. Even with knowing of her Fractals, he had not asked for them, did not seek to use them to benefit his village. She had never felt so selfish until finally looking at selfless and seeing its true nature.

"A storm comes!" The Kujoyo guard shouted in her language above distant thunder and howling.

"She is right." Thrai Maw ushered the group away. "Go to Jötunheim! You don't want to be caught in all of this!"