A Beautiful and Twisted Mind (Loki Fanfiction)

Chapter 17.5

A/N: I call this chapter .5 because it was originally part of Chapter 17 but I thought it made the chapter too busy and didn't think it was long enough to stand alone.

It was late in the evening and I was lying on a blanket with the scenery of the palace’s garden around me when Loki and I told each other about our talks with Odin and Heimdall. I was completely taken aback with everything he told me. “Man… Odin really hates me…” I noted. It had made me happy that Loki said the things he did but it didn't take away from Odin's distaste for me and the sour taste that left in my mouth. “Alia, Odin is ruthless… but he does what he believes is right even when it’s not. But he is merely an obstacle. All that matters is keeping you safe and that’s why I’m here. And as much as I hate saying it, that’s why Thor is here too.”

I fiddled with the grass beside the blanket and stared up at the sky. Loki’s hand glided over mine and his thumb tickled my skin. “You promise you’re going to protect me? Even when Krutos comes after me?” I asked in a hushed tone. Loki rolled onto his side and cupped my cheek. “I won’t even let him touch you. I promise.”

I wasn’t a person who wanted to be fed empty promises, and corny ones at that, but I knew Loki meant what he said. Or at least, he would try to mean it. 

“Alia! Loki!” Thor’s booming voice interrupted the serene moment. Loki lifted himself into a sitting position and I hid my face with my hands. “You must come now! Something terrible has happened!” Now I was up and in full alert. Thor had found where we were and was standing in front of us. He was panting. His cape looked ragged and his hair was a mess. “What’s happened brother?” Loki asked.

“It’s Sif. She’s been attacked. Come with me.” Thor was running back to the castle and me and Loki followed behind. We ran until we reached a hall I hadn’t been in and Thor stopped in front of a weird door. “Brother, what are we doing here? There’s-“

Thor was laughing. His back was to us and his shoulders were hunched. “Oh you silly God.” But it wasn't Thor's voice. Then "Thor" started changing. I knew who it was before he even turned around. Herco. How did he do that? “Herco, how did you do that?” I asked. Loki held out his arm to protect me. The next few minutes were a blur but I remember it all. Herco lashed around and smacked Loki in the face. Then he punched Loki in the stomach and when Loki bent forward, he threw him over his shoulder. Loki landed with a thud and I screamed in horror. “Loki!” Herco grabbed me, swung open the door, and jumped. Everything was black and I was thrown into the memories of the things I felt before I landed in Asgard.

THIRD PERSON POV

Loki banged on the door and screamed. How could this happen?! He turned around and slid down the door. He needed to get Alia back and he didn’t know how. He pulled himself together enough to go find Thor. He found him standing by the throne room talking with Fandral. “Thor! Alia’s gone! Herco took her!” Loki wailed. Thor and Fandral both whipped around, their jaws on the floor. Loki reached them and was breathing heavy. He was clearly distressed and Thor grabbed his shoulders. “What happened brother? Tell me" he demanded. Loki looked at him desperately. “Herco was disguised as you. He came and found us and told us that Sif was hurt. He led us to the far corridor and when I began to question him, he turned into himself. He got me to the ground and jumped through a door with Alia. The door wouldn’t open after they disappeared. I don’t know what to do Thor. I...” Thor had never seen his brother so broken. And Thor cared about Alia too so he was trying to keep his own panic at bay. He turned to Fandral quickly. “What can we do?” Fandral asked. “We’ll figure something out. Find Volstagg, Hogun, Sif, and mother. We’ll go to Heimdall together.”