The Old Gods | Book 2

Twenty Six: Heart of Manhattan

The tower which stood among some of the tallest buildings in downtown Manhattan stands elegant and modern with over 90 floors and a large platform that overreached the curve of the building. On the side of the building are large letters plastered reading 'STARK' for all of the city to see. A pretentious building for a pretentious man.

Loki takes his wife from the jet that hovers just above the platform of the building and helps her down. The jet slowly takes off and flies into the sky again. They can see most of the city from the horizon. The gentle winds howled up the side of the glass building gently caressing the shaking windows. Loki takes his wife into the building.

It smelled new and clean. The furnishing modern and minimal. To the left of them is a raised bar. "It is very simple." she pointed out. It is nothing like the golden corridors and detailed baroque white marble palaces she is used to.

"This is temporary." he tells her. Letting her stroll ahead as she admired the floor-to-ceiling panned windows that gave her the view of the city beyond.

"It will suffice." she replied.

"Everything I do, I do for you." informed Loki. "All of this. Is for you. And if you wanted, I can give you the realms."

Sigyn pushed for a smile. "There is something you should know." she kept gazing out at the horizon. "While you have been away Many things happened since."

"Oh?" he inquired.

"In my time of grieving, I have wondered Midgard." the goddess went on to say. "In search for the Nornir. I came up with nothing but dead ends."

"Yes?"

"In my search I found Forseti."

"What did his mad ramblings say this time?"

"He said many things, Loki." the goddess turned on her feet to face him across the floor. "My meeting him, he said he finally understood everything and everything that has happened led up to the very moment so that he could understand what he needed to do."

Loki huffed with a heavy breath getting bored.

There was no easier way to say. "Forseti abdicated the throne." Sigyn said, then waited for his reply. Nothing. He just stared at her. She shifted. "The throne of Vanaheim then fell unto me; then next heir in line."

Loki's eyes shifted away thinking. His jaw muscles clenching. His grip adjusting on the scepter in his hand. He looked back to meet her gaze. "You are the crown Princess of Vanaheim?"

"I am heir to the throne." she answered. "Yes."

Loki started chuckling and his chuckling turned to laughter. "My want and desire for the throne of Asgard led me to my peril. My mission to overturn Midgard so that I could rule this realm with you in my stead, has led to your crowning?" he sounded defeated and disappointed. "Not even my brother was crowned heir, not before you! You who ascended so easily. Everything just falls straight into your lap, doesn't it? It always has."

"Loki." warned Sigyn. "I do not want this. I don't want to rule the realms. I don't want Midgard. It's not too late to stop. We can still go home."

"Home?" he laughed. "Where is that? Vanaheim, where you belong now?"

"It is with you!"

"There is nothing in the nine realms I wouldn't deny you. And you still continue to deny my birthright to rule?"

"We can rule Vanaheim together."

"As your king consort?" he spat. "Second to you?"

"What would be so wrong with that? You would still be my king! We would still rule together as equals."