EYLIS ※ Tony Stark [3]

11 - A GIFT

"Ranveig, I need your help."

"I know."

⁂

ANGIE COCKED AN eyebrow "You do...?"

"I was never under the impression you came to catch up over a cup of Zarg brew," Ranveig scoffed "So what do you want, daughter of Himnir?"

Angie bit her lips hesitantly. She had never been comfortable asking anyone for help but the situation was dire and she had already wasted so much time. She tried to sound as self-assured as possible, although she felt the complete opposite on the inside "Ranveig, the man I love is stranded somewhere in space. I need to find him and bring him home but I... I don't know where he is. Can you help me?"

And as expected, Ranveig's expression immediately hardened. Her words came out cold as ice.

"You want me to help you save the man who killed my son?"

"It wasn't like that!" Angie protested. She had hoped Ranveig wouldn't know the finer details of Fenrir's death — that is, exactly who shot the laser beam through his chest — but that would've been underestimating her.

"Tony was acting in self defence; Fenrir would've killed him otherwise!"

Ranveig's expression did not budge a millimetre "You have some nerve to ask this of me, daughter of Himnir."

"Ranveig... please!" she implored. In an instant, any shred of pride she might still have was thrown out the window "I know I'm asking for much but please, do it for me. For the love you had for my father... For the love I had for Fenrir."

Angie hated that she had resorted to dragging her father and brother into this, but at that point she would've said anything to change Ranveig's mind about Tony. The Witch said nothing for a long time, she simply contemplated Angie, the same incredulous expression on her face.

"Ranveig," Angie broke the silence, the lump in her throat was evident "He was the father of my daughter. I cannot lose him too... I am begging you."

The cottage was growing dim as the day faded slowly. Angie's eyes shone in the darkness and Ranveig was taken aback by the anguish written all over her face. Angie reminded her of Himnir in so many ways but this was not one of them. This tough warrior with anger issues who liked to think she was more deadpan than she really was, fascinated the Witch of Ravencliff. For one, she had something Himnir never did: a fierce commitment to whoever and whatever it was she cared about. Without a doubt, that was something she inherited from Eylis.

Ranveig's expression softened, just a little, but enough for Angie to see it.

"Give me your hand," the Witch commanded, holding out her own palm.

"Why...?"

"You say he was your daughter's father," Ranveig let out short sigh, it was clear she was doing this reluctantly "Then there's a part of him that is ingrained in you. It will help me find his trace in the universe."

Angie's eyes widened at the realization that Ranveig had agreed to help her, albeit half-heartedly. She quickly placed her hand into the Witch's pale one. The coldness of her skin was jarring but Angie was too thankful to notice.

Ranveig's grey pupils disappeared again, turning a ghostly white. It only lasted a few seconds before her gaze came back to normal, just as piercing as ever.

"He's on a spaceship, headed to Titan."

Angie's jaw dropped "Titan...?!"

Titan was formerly the home of the Titan species, now extinct. The planet was a desolate place but it also happened to be Thanos' headquarters.