A Warm Hart Has A Cold Revival (sequel to A Cold God Found His Warm Hart)

Chapter 20: I Will Ask

I must have fallen asleep while talking to Aceleve. It was impossible to tell what time it was or how long we've been underwater. Roy re-entering the bubble is what woke me, and instantly it was easier to breath.

"You're back. While you were at the surface were you able to see land, or at least been able to tell what part of the day it was?" I asked. It didn't matter the time of day, but being in love with a mortal has made me conscious of something so trivial.

"Yes, I saw land. If we keep going in the direction we've been we should be able to reach shore in a couple of days. And it looked to be only a couple hours until day-break. While we were under the seasons had begun to change. When we left Jake's camp it was the end of winter. The air today was a bit warmer. The water is still frigid as fuck but, when we reach the other side it should start becoming pleasant while the sun is out." Roy explained. As he explained the seasons changing the other mortals of my team had begun to smile. Apparently they prefer warmer climates.

"Alright. Let's get moving. Do you think we will need to stop for air again before we get to the other side?" Austin asked.

"We won't if we keep pointless conversation to a minimum," Roy replied. I nodded and stood up from my sitting position. I turned back to look at my team to see if they were ready, Austin finished zipping up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. I did the same with my duffel bag and began to follow Roy across the sandy floor. Aceleve loved hearing about my adventure so far, and as I suspected she was very pleased to hear that I made some alliances, she was also very surprised that I enlisted humans into my army. As we walked I began to think back on our conversation.

"Is that wise?" She asked.

"Probably not. Humans are not as strong as my Jotens. But perhaps the Avengers seeing their own species in my army will make them hesitate on attacking. I could even use them as spies, just as I did with you".

"You're not going to fall in love with one of them are you?" she asked. I could hear worry in her voice.

"No my love. You're the only one my heart longs for." I reassured. Aceleve still being unsure of my devotion to her has me concerned. I suppose I can't blame her fully. I have been distant lately and almost cold-shouldered. How can I be sure that she is who she claims to be? However, if I really wasn't sure of who she was, why would I be continuing on this stupid quest. My thoughts continued to circle as we walked on through the murky darkness.  This part of my journey is the most monotonous. We are so far beneath the surface of the ocean that there are not many water creatures among us. The shark we saw earlier was because the ocean floor was still shallow. But now as we've come to a little past the middle of the ocean, the floor is miles and miles down from where we were at the start of our journey. My comrades also were not the most conversational. At least, not in the spoken tongue. Everyone in my troop knew sign language besides Roy and I. And per Roy's request, my comrades have been keeping verbal conversation to a minimum. Only keeping themselves company with their sign language. This silence has forced me to repeat my thoughts of my internal battle between believing what the strange man living in the woods said to me about my dearly beloved, and believing that Aceleve is actually who I know her to be. Perhaps now is as good a time as any to ask her about what Damian had said about her. About her having a forgotten son.
"Aceleve, my darling, can you hear me?"
"I am here my love. Is something troubling you?"
"Yes, I fear there is. I don't know how else to approach this as it is a very difficult subject. But, along my journey's, I have come into contact with a Midguardian named Damian. Do you perhaps recognize the name?"
There was silence for a few seconds. Unfortunately, silence like this only heightens my suspicions.
"I am sorry for not answering right away, I was thinking and trying to remember, but no. I do not recognize the name. Is he significant somehow?" Aceleve asked. From what I can perceive, Aceleve isn't lying. She sounds genuinely curious and there was no hesitation in her admittance of not knowing who Damian is.
"This Midguardian has said some very intriguing things about you my dear. Are you feeling well enough to hear the story of which he has told me?" I asked. With Aceleve being in a coma, it is impossible to tell if she is actually feeling okay and is well and not ill. I am aware that her body is unresponsive, but who knows if her mind is in turmoil.
"Yes I am fine, please tell me more about this mortal who claims to know interesting things about me."
The way she spoke reminded me of when her body was alive and she was happy and comfortable in my presence. She spoke with sarcasm and confidence. However, I am afraid that with the next words that come out of my mouth, will cause her to retreat into a protective shell and will lock away the truth from me.
"Roy and I met Damian in the undiscovered forests of Africa, I have already told you how our travels have landed us there, yes?"
"Yes, I remember"
"Right, while we were there, we came across a large group of Canadian convicts, led by a young man named Damian. Damian claims to know of you, myself, and Roy. He claims that we are very popular here on Midguard."
"No doubt, with the help from S.H.I.E.L.D."
"They're who I suspect Damian had gathered his information. Damian claims that you, Aceleve, is something called a Scylen. A shape-shifter that feeds off of the love they receive from those devoted to them."
"He thinks I'm..... a Scylen....?"
I could hear the skepticism as well as disbelief in her voice. It almost seems as though she is going to start laughing.
"My darling, I have no idea what a Scylen is. I have never even heard of one" she claimed.
"I see" I began. It is very difficult to judge whether Aceleve is lying. I am going to bring this conversation up again once we have all returned to Asguard and Aceleve is awake. I will interrogate her with assistance from Cheyenne. But for now, I believe her.
"So you have no comprehension of what a Scylen is?" I questioned again.
"No, I'm sorry. Why does he suspect me of being such a creature?"
"Because, Damian claims to be your son."
"My What?"
Disbelief was in full control of her speaking tone. I see that, if Damian was lying, it wasn't about him being a forgotten son.
"Yes, Damian claims that he is your son, and that you abandoned him, shape-shifted into the human you are now, and feed off of Roy's love and devotion towards you."
"That is a terrifying accusation. I know nothing of giving birth, or of being pregnant. I know for a fact that I cannot shape-shift. And furthermore, what would be the point of abandoning my own biological son just to care for another baby that is in no way biologically related to me.? I know that I would remember these things. And I can assure you Loki, that I have known only the life of which you found me in all those years ago in the cafe. And hear me when I say: Roy is my younger brother. I have no child except for the one I currently carry in my womb, and I am not a love-sucking leech."
Aceleve sounded very confident in her reassurances. I smiled slightly at her ferociousness. I now most definitely have no doubt in my mind that Aceleve is not whatever Damian accused her to be. Except....
"Forgive me for pushing the issue darling, but, remember several years ago, back at the orphanage with Roy, Roy said that he found an old diary of yours that mentions Damian's name. Do you recall this incident?"
"Yes, vaguely."
"What say you about writing in your diary a character named Damian?"
"I remember that I wrote down my dreams in a diary. I remember a little boy in my dream, I can't recall what possessed me to write about him or to even dream about a little boy named Damian. But, the reason I was so secretive about it all those years ago is I didn't want Roy to find out that I had been dreaming about our mother at the time. Back then, Roy believed that if you dreamed something, it would come true. And if Roy discovered that I was dreaming that our mother was alive, he would believe it to be true. And I couldn't put him through that kind of pain."
All of the words that Aceleve spoke made sense, except for dreaming of the little boy named Damian.
"Thank you for sharing your secretes with me, my love. I'm sorry for questioning you." I replied. I do feel this awful rotten feeling in my stomach. Is this guilt? Disgusting.
"I will answer any question you ask of me, Loki"
The way my name purred off of her tongue excited me and gave me a new sense of purpose and drive to finish this stupid mission and return to the only half-mortal who I have ever cared for. She makes me feel all of the emotions that have been foreign to me for such a long time, that I now crave, but only from her. I miss my sweet Aceleve, and I vow to wake her up.