A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

Sam

—-Loki—-

I rush to join Agent Hill hoping the girl is still in the building. She didn't run, she was in no condition to try. No, she was taken and whoever did it had better hope I'm not the one that finds them first. I don't care if they throw me in the Raft then drop the key into the bottom of the ocean, if I find them first there will be Hel to pay.

There's a commotion from the next hall over and two agents pass by being lead away in cuffs. I observe each one, carefully memorizing their faces. One sees me and I relish the look of utter terror that he displays upon realizing my sights are on him, that the girl he had decided to torment was the same one that I'd taken an interest in.

The moment they're out of sight I push agents out of my way and get to her. She's in a ball on the floor she's beaten. Allfather once told me a Frost Giant's blood has no boiling point, he was wrong. I want to race down the hall and end both of them upon seeing what they've done.

I start to but I'm instantly stilled by a small whimper that escapes the girl's bleeding and swollen lips and when I refocus on her to see her looking up at me in tears and reaching out for me the idea of leaving flies from my mind. Before I even think about what I'm doing I'm down on the ground with her scooping her up and holding her.

I find myself apologizing profusely something I don't have any habit of doing yet seeing her so vulnerable and hurt as a result of my absence has caused the sentiment to spill out of my lips without my permission. Eventually, everyone leaves us there alone and I take her back to her room.

I clean up her wounds and I begin becoming angry again as I examine them. I need to do something about the two agents that did this, but right now she needs me here. I feel so guilty for leaving. I thought she was safe here she had been before I thought this would be no different but that ended up being a lie. 'Of course it would, just like everything else!'

I sit down on the bed near her and put my head in my hands. 'I have failed yet another person.' 'Of course I have!' 'How else could it possibly go with me involved?!' 'I fail everyone at some point no matter how hard I try!'

...

"It's not your fault."

The voice is no more than a whisper. I look up in surprise. The girl is looking at me tentatively in concern. I'm not entirely sure if she actually said something or if it was just in my head it was so quiet and she hasn't spoken a word since she got here.

"...what?"

"It's not your fault Loki."

'She knows?!' 'She's known all this time who I am yet she trusted me?' I can't help it now the tears come whether I like it or not.

"I lied to you."

"You didn't know."

She's right, I didn't know. That doesn't stop the guilt. I failed. I told her she was safe and she wasn't.

"It's ok I'm safe now."

She says this like she can hear my thoughts. No, she's simply perceptive. The girl scoots closer to me and leans against me. I wrap my arm around her and we sit there in silence for a bit. Then I ask her hoping she's still in the mood to talk if not so be it but I'd rather call her by her name if she's willing to tell me what it is.

"Mortal, what is your name?"

She seems to be in a battle with herself as she forces herself to speak.

"Sam, Samantha Howlett."