Providence Of Divinity || Loki X Reader

Chapter 24

I don't expect to come back for this, were the beginning words etched into the chasm wall. There are those who plan to destroy me, and they will certainly succeed. But they will not have what they seek. I've had this cage constructed over the many years of my rein. The Gift is almost gone, but I intend to preserve that last lingering piece of God, and use it one day to destroy all who would oppose our family. A time will come when you must retrieve it, my child. I've left this message here, stained in strong magic. Only us who have the Bloodline can read its words. Follow the Maze. A path will present itself to you. Only our blood can open the door: blood of the Beholder, of the Jotun Kings. I do hope one day, when you are ready, you will be a great ruler. 

Loki opened his mouth to spew a lie that might save both your lives.

You breathed, "the cavern."

"What?" Said Loki and Irina in unison. 

You looked over at Loki, your eyes pleading. Trust me. On my mark, break away. Run into the cavern.

You did not expect a intruding voice in your mind to reply, Okay, but It did. You gave your soulmate a faint nod, and in perfect harmony with one another, you twisted out of the grasp of your frost giant captors. They had been so transfixed, it was almost easy breaking their grip on your shoulders. 

Neither you nor Loki even tried to pull a dagger, which is what the giants had thought you'd do. You swept underneath one as Loki like likewise, then broke into a powerful run straight to the cave that the chasm wall overhung. The maze, the text had said. You only hoped it wasn't a metaphorical one. 

The giants shook off their momentary surprise and charged after you. "I hope you know what you're doing," Loki panted, already feeling short of breath.

Your enhanced endurance allowed you to feel as if you could run forever. "Just follow me."

As you dashed into the darkness, your eyes seemed to adjust supernaturally fast to the blackness, and you could see the path fork. You charged to the left, for no particular reason. Loki followed you blindly; literally and metaphorically. He couldn't see anything but the faint outline of your silhouette. Loki grabbed hold of your wrist, afraid of losing you as the tunnel darkened, and you intertwined your fingers together, gripping him securely. You kept running, hearing the sounds of pursuit behind you. Frost giant footsteps thundered off the cave wall, singing in the melody of the butts of spears striking the ground with their steps. You could hear Irina screaming orders, her voice growing distant. 

Up ahead, the path forked again, and this time you dove to the right, Loki struggling to keep up. You took a few more twists and turns until you were completely lost and the sound of footsteps giving chase died down to far-off echos in the cave. You slowed your pace. Loki released your hand and collapsed to his knees.

"Oh god, are you alright?" you exclaimed, urgent but quiet. 

Loki held up a finger, a clear sign that said, one moment please. I can't breath.

"Were we going too fast? I'm so sorry, I didn't think. . ."

Loki pulled in enough air to be able to gasp out, "it appears for the moment that I'm saddled with Midgardian energy preserves."

You bit your lip. "Good thing you're in such great shape."

He was too winded to reply. He would have killed someone for a glass of water. "What the hell are we doing trapping ourselves in this cavern?" He asked after a moment, still breathing hard.

"This is it, Loki," you told him energetically. "The text. . . It wasn't a map. It was a message. I don't know why or how but I could read it. It was in English! Or, that's what I saw it in. It said that the power. . .the Gift, as it was, is hidden somewhere in this maze."