The Infinity Stones

Ch. 9

   I lay my head on Azul's shoulder as we move through the landscape. "Virk came to me in a dream." I say quietly. Azul looks at me. "Really?" He asks. I nod and face away from Thor and Loki. "He reminded me of how only we can destroy each other. When we find somewhere to place him, away from Malekith, he will create a physical form. Violetta is far from us, but apparently Ardena is close. I'm guessing somewhere in the Nine Realms. And, Helios just might know where Psychi is." I say, repeating the message. Azul looks away. "Your positive that's what he said." Azul asks. I nod. "Yeah, I am." I whisper. "Who put me there? Who put me there!?" Loki yells. I stand and turn around, caught by surprised. Thor grabs Loki and pushes him against the front of the boat. "You know damn well! You know damn well who!" Thor responds, raising his fist to punch Loki. I take a step forward, ready to do something if needed. "She wouldn't want us to fight." Thor almost growls. I take another step forward. "Well, she wouldn't exactly be shocked." Loki admits, a smile on his face. A look of sorrow and regret fills my face. Frigga. I place a hand on Thor's arm. "Thor." I whisper gently. Thor takes a step back. "I wish I could trust you." Thor admits. He turns back to Jane. "Trust my rage." Loki whispers. He looks at me. I rub my arm, unsure if I should tell him. I guess now is a good time. "I'm sorry about Frigga." I say quietly. "I know how much she meant to you. And how much you meant to her." I say. Loki looks at me, almost in shock, before covering it up. "Before your sentence, she asked about how I knew of your mind control. After telling her, she thanked me." I explain. Loki just stares at me. I sigh. There was no point getting through his frozen heart. I sit back down, thinking on how I could save Virk.

    I kneel in our hiding spot, my squinting. "You know this plan of yours is going to get us killed." Loki says. I roll my eyes. "Scared of a couple of elves, Mischief?" I ask. "Was I speaking to you?" He retorts. "No." I say, grinning. "You still don't trust me, brother?" Loki asks. "Would you?" Thor comments. I hear the click of cuffs. "No I wouldn't." Hands push me over the edge and I fall, tumbling on the black ground. "Artemis!" Azul yells. 'I hate this plan.' I think to myself as I bang into a rock. Azul helps me up as I touch my head. "How many fingers am I holding up?" He asks. I shake my head. "Loki." I whisper. I push myself from my brother and stumble my way over. "Malekith, I am Loki of Jotunheim, and I bring you a gift!" Loki says, throwing Jane to Malekith's feet. "I ask only one thing in return. A good seat from which to watch Asgard burn." Loki says. "Traitor!" I yell. "I trusted you, damnit!" Loki only gives me a smile. "Well, you should have known better, my dear." I draw a bow, my arm shaking. Loki crosses to me before I can acknowledge it. He grips my wrist and bends me to the ground. "I'd suggest you stay down." He purrs in my ear. I look up watching Malekith lifts Jane into the air, pulling the Aether from her. A small, slim silver dagger appears in my hand. "Loki, now!" Loki releases me and removes his illusion. I rush forward, tackling Malekith to the ground. The giant grabs me and throws me off him. I get up, watching the ship leave. Eight dark elves, excluding the giant, run to us. Annoyed, I put a burst of energy through the ground and the dark elves turn to black ash. I pull out my twin daggers and run to the giant. "Azul!" I call, ducking beneath it and slashing it's legs. My brother comes from a portal above, his axe above his head. The giant grabs his axe and throws him away. I jump and place the daggers into his neck. He grabs me by me neck, lifting  me up. "Go...to...hell!" I grit through my teeth. I grab the vortex bomb and set it off.  The monster looks down and drops me. I gasp, air filling my lungs again. The monster roars as he's pulled to pieces. I grab my daggers and drop to the ground. "Artemis!" I look up, Azul running to me. "Hurry, he's not awake." Azul says, lifting me up.

    I place my hand on Virk's chest, silver light shining. "Come on, Virk. Please." I whisper. After a minute, his eyes flutter open. I laugh and place my head on his chest. "You are so... I can't even think of the word right now." I say. "Thanks, sis." Virk says, sitting up. Azul grabs his hand and helps him up. "How are you, baby brother?" Virk asks, pulling him into a hug. "Terrible. But I'm sure we can give you the story later, after this whole mess." Azul says. "If only our family reunions were like this." I turn, seeing Thor with Jane, and Loki standing behind them. "If only. Jane saw a vision, of Malekith heading to Earth. We need to get there ourselves." Thor says. At that moment, a phone rings. Azul looks at me. "It's not mine. I left it at home." I say, shrugging my shoulders. Jane frowns and pulls out her phone. "Hello?" She asks. We wait for an answer. "Richard?!" I purse my lips, trying not to laugh. Azul covers my mouth to help. Jane puts him on speaker. "Oh, my God! This is amazing." Jane whispers. 'That we have signal of a foreign world? Yes.' I say. Virk flicks my head. 'Now that there's three of us, we can speak mentally, genius.' Azul says. I growl and bite his hand. He pulls it away, giving me a glare. I stick my tongue out at him. "Would you three hurry up." Loki hisses. 'Oh yay, he's alive.' Virk cracks a smile as we follow the two gods and mortal to Earth.