"She's having a panic attack, everyone back up!" Natasha instructs, but I'm not having a panic attack. Well, I might have had a small one, but I'm in control now. I'm just not stopping myself from all this worrying.

"N-no... I am fine," I say, my words lacking breath. "I am not having a panic attack." This doesn't settle them and they back up still, wondering what I'll do if this isn't a panic attack.

I just leave for my room, deciding I can't be around these people anymore. At least not for tonight. This is all too much. I was starting to consider Loki almost like a friend, but if he was the reason why I had to hide for over a century, why I had to experience so much pain just because I came into contact with someone, why I can't live the life I want to live... I can never forgive him.

He's also the reason why my parents were killed. When people discovered that touching them turned them to stone, they claimed they were practicing witchcraft and burnt them at the stake. I was lucky enough to have been hidden by them as a statue, them covering me completely with stone of my own creation.

The next rainfall washed it away, but I was alone in the forest for the rest of my life, relying on hypnotised animals to keep me safe and cared for since I was so young and still grieving my parents, who had died all because of something that was beyond their control.

Loki killed my parents.

I threw the modern dress off of my body and pulled on some sleepwear. I chose this one myself; another white cotton nightdress. There's just something about these that I love. Maybe it's the soothing feel of the cotton or the fact that it's more from my time period but is still just revealing enough to be classified as modern.

Without hesitation, I clambered into the soft bed, laying face first into the pillows. When the tears escaped, I didn't stop them. I have to hold my tears in around others, act emotionless to drive them off in order to protect myself, but when I'm alone and there's nobody to fool I can do as I please.

So put on the mask,
Don't show them you're afraid,
Keep your heart inside,
Tie it all up in chains,

Wait until you're alone,
And then don't hesitate,
Just don't let them know,
That your heart's bound to break.

That was part of a song used by the Stone Sirens when we wanted to remind others of our tricks; keep away from others who weren't like us, keep our emotions in check so they don't see weakness, act emotionless so you appear unbreakable. They were truly words to live by, in my experience.

I continued to repeat those lyrics several times over, muttering the words quietly. As a siren, I had a naturally melodic voice and could sing anything like a professional. The words that held such familiarity to me comforted me and eventually I was able to wipe my tears, put on a blank face and get some sleep.

When I woke up I saw Loki at the end of the bed, watching me sleep. "What do you want, monster?!" I hissed furiously. "I wanted to apologise," he said. "But you were asleep, so I waited until daylight. But you were still asleep, so I waited for you to rouse."

"You are the reason why I have faced so much pain and rejection!" I snap. "You are a monster! You cursed us all! You let us all be killed for our mere differences! You hurt us all!" I lost it, then continued in Tamatari.

"Rote ins dark realm, demonius exex! Florfire akin Babe-aestro! Florfire akin Babe-testro! Demonius exex! Florfire akin Stone Sirens! Rote ins dark realm! Rote ins dark realm!"

I followed up with a seemingly endless string of Tamatari curses. Not the magical kind, the kind that Steve disapproves of. He just sat there, listening to it all, still and silent. He looked shocked and afraid. He should be afraid. He should fear me.

I only stop when Wanda rushes in, sees what's going on and uses her magic to enter my mind. I didn't have my walls up, they'd broken down when I'd lost my focus on keeping them up due to my yelling at Loki, so I'm susceptible to her powers.

I start to see things thanks to her powers. The room melts away and is replaced with a ballroom, filled with people. A memory from my past. I'll never forget this day. It was the last ball I ever went to, the last time I set foot outside of my forest in that century. It was the day they discovered I was a Stone Siren.

I was seated in the corner, alone as usual, tapping my toes in time to the beautiful classical music. I always forced myself to go to these balls so I could observe humans and learn more about their unique cultures and mannerisms.

A man walked over to me, his demeanour and staggering walk helping the half empty cup of alcohol to prove that he had had too much to drink. There was always one of them that went over their limits.

"May I have... this dance... mi'lady?" They asked, barely able to stand still, slurring with every word and pausing to remember how to speak every other word. "I would prefer to stay seated, but thank you for such a generous offer," I politely turn them down.

But they take it as an excuse to try and haul me up. Just before they reach me, though, Wanda pulls me out of reliving the memory. I just look at her blankly for a minute, trying to regain my senses.

"I did not mean to show you something that would hurt you," she says in an apologetic tone. "It... it is quite alright..." I stammer hopelessly. "I understand why you intervened when you did. I apologise for my actions. I forgot myself for a minute."

"I would have done the same," she admits. "You have the right to be upset about this. Take all the time you need to calm down."

With that, she left the room, leaving me in a mess on the bed.