All The Little Pieces

Blood And Fear

Author's Note: This chapter contains violent content. Please be advised prior to reading, if this topic makes you uncomfortable.

Loki strode swiftly down the corridor, fists and jaw clenched tight. If what Thor had told him was accurate, if there could be guards walking around free that thought Elizabeth was a danger, he had to get to her immediately. Even the most idiotic guard was well trained and sworn and ready to defend Asgard. If they though she was a threat...he increased his pace.

"Loki, Loki! Stop!" He heard footsteps echoing behind him and turned to see Thor rushing down the hall after him. His brother was clutching a crumpled piece of paper in his raised fist.

"Right after you left, one of my men brought me a list they found while searching Belan's house. There were two guards on it that were not arrested, and neither showed up for their watches this morning.

Loki's face grew paler than normal. "Come with me, brother!" Together, they raced down the corridors until they reached Elizabeth's room. Loki pounded his fist on the door, but there was no answer. He tried the handle, and the unlocked door swung open.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" Loki shouted her name, but the room was empty. "Damn it, where is she?"

"What's this?" Thor picked up a piece of paper from the table. "Loki, someone sent her to the library."

Loki barely glanced at it before tossing it aside. "This was meant to look like it came from me. We have to find her right away."

Both men tore up the stairs two at a time. They ran out into the hall and started for the library staircase. Thor grabbed Loki's arm as he started up the stairs. "Stop! Did you hear that?"

Loki paused. There was silence, then a muffled crash and a scream. Loki leapt back down the stairs, daggers materializing in each hand. He and Thor rushed down the corridor in the direction of the sound.

"Where did it come from?" Thor glanced around wildly as another scream echoed in the hall, louder this time.

"The armoury, right up here!" Loki flung open the door to the stairwell. At a single kick from Thor, the wooden armoury door crashed inward.

Loki's knives flew from his hands. The guard closest to the door never had time to turn as one of the daggers sank between his shoulders. Before he could react, Loki jerked it out and slashed across the man's throat in one motion.

The other dagger had buried itself to the hilt beneath the second guard's breastbone as he turned from Elizabeth. He stumbled back against the wall, then crumpled slowly to the floor.

In a flash, Loki knelt by Elizabeth, cupping her chin gently. She looked up at him, tears running down her face and eyes unfocused. The right side of her face and hair was bloody, there was blood splattered across the front of her dress, and her left sleeve was soaked with it. Dark purple bruises were already forming on her cheek and lips.

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth! Look at me, look at me!" Loki's voice was desperate. "So much blood...where are you hurt...are you...please, please talk to me." He ran trembling fingers over her forehead and pushed back her hair. "Where are you bleeding?" She whimpered and raised her hand weakly to stop him as his fingers brushed a cut on her scalp.

Thor knelt beside them. "I'm more concerned about this." He gently lifted her left hand and arm. A long dagger cut ran along the underside of her forearm and was bleeding freely. "Loki, here. We need to slow the bleeding right away."

Loki had already yanked his shirt out of his waistband and was tearing a wide strip off the bottom edge. His eyes flicked to the cut and his jaw clenched. He knelt next to Thor and began wrapping the cloth snugly around Elizabeth's arm. She let out a sharp cry and he jerked his gaze back to her face.

"Loki!" Thor's voice was sharp. "Focus! You have to keep going. We need this bleeding stopped!" He glanced down as Loki fumbled with the cloth, dropped it, and attempted to retrieve it. Thor noticed his brother's hands were shaking so hard he could barely pick up the cloth. His voice became gentle and he reached for the makeshift bandage. "Here, let me get it, Loki. You talk to her and keep her conscious. I don't know how hard she's been hit in the head."

Loki shifted next to Elizabeth. She gasped and let out a sob of pain as Thor resumed wrapping the bandage around her arm.

"Shhhh, shhhh, you're all right. I've got you." He cradled her head against his chest. "No one is going to hurt you. I'm here, I won't let anything happen." He wiped tears and blood gently from her cheeks.

Thor sat back on his heels. "All right, Loki, I'm done. Let's get her downstairs."

Loki scooped Elizabeth carefully into his arms and stood. "Shhhh, look at me, no, open your eyes, look at my face, that's right."

The guard on the floor groaned and tried to grasp the handle in his chest. He was wheezing around the knife. "Please..." He reached out a fumbling hand.

Loki stepped hard on his wrist and ground his heel down. "Brother, would retrieve my dagger?"

"Certainly." Thor bent and jerked the knife from the man's chest. Blood gushed from the wound, and the man slumped over.

Loki glanced down at Elizabeth. Her eyes were dilated and her breathing rapid. He turned to Thor. "Get Elora right now! Send her to her room."

He looked down at Elizabeth as her eyes closed and her body sagged against him. "Please, please... be all right, you have to be all right..." He doubled his speed down the stairs.