YAAAAY I GOT IT DONE WHOOOOOOOOOOP. 

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~Music~ Snow White Queen (evanescence)

Chapter Fifty-Six

~Nobody's POV~

"COME ON, PETE, HURRY IT UP!"

Jack is running through Stark Tower as fast as he can, towards the room Peter is supposed to be changing in. Jack is dressed in a dark shirt and pants, a belt fastened to his waist that has two pistols hanging at his waist, plus a sheathed knife. Even over the last few months, Jack has grown, and is now taller than almost everyone else, with the notable exceptions of Max and Steve.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" exclaims Peter, stumbling out of the room, pulling on a hiking boot at the same time. He's now fully outfitted like Jack, although his clothes are more tight-fitting, to help him be able to swing with ease. He's left his Spider-Man suit behind, not needing it on Asgard where his identity is already known.

"Yo, why are you two jokers taking so long?" calls Kyle from the stairway. "C'mon, let's go!"

"We're COMING, Kyle, hold your horses!" Jack calls back as Peter stands now with both boots on and is walking with him down the hall.

"I can't," says Kyle shrewdly. He's holding a leash that is connected to Klaka. The puppy has grown to a young dog now, and his perched ears now reach Kyle's elbow, "The horses are still in Michigan."

"I hope you realize that wasn't funny," says Jack, "Because it wasn't."

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you," says Kyle, pushing Jack down a couple of steps a bit harder than necessary.

Downstairs, most everyone else is standing around on one of the larger balconies. The only people who are missing are Thor, Bruce, and Tony, plus any Asgardians that Thor has deemed necessary to bring. Tony had guessed that Sif, Fandral, and Volstagg would be coming, not able to trust anyone else.

"What time is it?" asks Jack, jumping up and down in one spot. His hair, which has grown out slightly as well as lightened, bounces too.

Peter looks at his watch, "Ten 'til."

"Jack, be appreciative that you're off school right now," says Clint. He's sitting on a couch next to Natasha, putting arrows of all different lengths and thickness in his quiver, "Otherwise, you'd be at home doing homework."

"In your dreams," scoffs Jack, "You know that I'd be here even if I had to take a test tomorrow that would determine the rest of my educational career."

"He's right," says Peter.

"Don't ever say Jack's right," says Kyle as Klaka tries to jerk away from him, his tail wagging, "It does things to his head."

"Like what?" asks Jack with faux-curiosity.

Kyle narrows his eyes, "Like inflates it."

"Ha, ha, ha," says Jack.

Max walks over to them from where he's been conversing with Steve and Sam in the corner. "You boys ready?"

"Born ready," says Jack.

"Before-born ready," says Peter.

"What's taking Tony and Thor so long anyway?" asks Jack.

Max shrugs. "There's probably been a few bumps in Asgard. Thor had to distract Neidra first, and we don't know how that went. But Tony said that if Thor couldn't make it at 5:55, he was coming back."

"How does the owl know to come here, like in this exact room?" asks Peter.

"Because he's a creepy-ass bird," replies Kyle as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Oh yes," says Peter, "Stupid me."

Bruce pokes his head out of the portal room, "I have some movement on the other side. Tony's about to come back, with Thor or not, so I'd say to get ready."

Jack swings his arms around like a windmill, "All right, let's get ready–calm down Kyle, I didn't mean to hit your bloody cheek."

"My 'bloody cheek' is worth ten of yours."

"Oh. Right," says Jack, "Sorry, you're right, you're about to ask Emmaline to marry you."

"Keep your voice down, she's in the building!"

"Then don't insult my cheek," says Jack, "It's beautiful too."

"Jack is a supporter of the Anti-Cheek-Bullying Foundation," says Peter.

"Indeed," says Jack, "You can buy support badges for ten dollars."

"Something is seriously wrong with both of you," says Kyle.

"And Thea," says Peter, "Don't forget her. She's part of the Anti-Cheek-Bullying Foundation too."

"Or she should be," says Jack, "We haven't exactly asked her. I'm sure she'll buy a support badge though."

"Please shut up before my brain loses about fifty more brain cells from listening to the two of you," says Kyle.

A tremendous vibrating sound comes from the adjacent room. Loud voices drift out of the portal room, and seconds later, Tony and Bruce walk through, accompanied by Thor and Sif.

"Fandral and Volstagg are frequent at any banquet," explains Thor as a form of greeting, "It would be very conspicuous if they were to abandon an opportunity to regale victorious battles."

"Doesn't matter, we're glad to have you," says Steve, shaking Thor's hand, "Neidra's distracted?"

"For the time being, she is. She is at the palace. Hopefully, the festivities will keep her occupied for at least several hours, ample time for us to infiltrate her mansion."

"Excellent," says Tony, looking around and cracking his knuckles, "Now we just have to wait for the pigeon so that we can–"

At that precise moment, a column of black mist appears in front of Tony and Thor, and out from the center flies the white shape of Wairua. Klaka barks, but when Kyle whistles sharply, the well-trained dog falls silent.

Wairua, hooting, drops a piece of paper in Tony's hand and then settles on top of a lamp post, regarding everyone in the room with his luminous amber eyes.

Tony unfolds the paper and reads out loud, "Wairua told us just now that Neidra has moved the three powers. We don't know where, but they're still in the mansion. Wairua can't take you directly inside the house, but he'll take you right outside the stables. There's a back door. It might be locked, or we might have broken into it already We're going inside first. Neidra is supposed to be gone, and so is Caomh, but we all know that she's bound to show up at some point or another. Plus, there are servants still. So basically, just be quiet and don't let one person go off alone. We'll try to find each other. Be safe. Thea."

Tony pockets the paper and then looks around, counting people and saying aloud, "So let's do this in threes, plus a group of two."

"How do we know we need to split up?" asks Max.

"We don't. But I don't think some goth queen's haunted house is the time to figure that out. Phones won't work in Asgard, so Jack, you might as well throw that on the couch. You can have it back when we get back, assuming we're alive."

"Nat, Clint, and Steve. Max, Kyle, and Bruce. Peter, Jack, and Thor. Sif and myself. Stick together. Remember the buddy system."

"Oh brother," says Jack.

"All right then," says Max. "Let's go."

"Does the owl speak English?" asks Clint.

They all turn expectantly to look at Wairua.

"Of course he does," says Peter, "Videl talks to him, doesn't he?"

The owl blinks, and then soars into the air above them. In a second, black mist surrounds them all, and in the next, they're gone.

*

"NO. Absolutely not."

"Shh," Thea whispers, "It only makes sense! We don't know where it is!"

"You are not going off by yourself, I am literally not opening this up for discussion."

She, Videl, and Angelique are standing beside a staircase inside the mansion. Over the past hour, they had made the journey down to the house. The rain had started again, which had helped mask the sound of Videl breaking it down. It's also beginning to storm slightly, so that thunder rumbles softly. They have found no sign of any living thing, except for the horses in the stable. This both calms them and frightens them tremendously.

"Videl," says Thea patiently, "This is going to take ages if we don't split up!"

"And you have your whole posse of Avengers coming!" retorts Videl, trying to keep his voice down in the echoey room.

"Have you seen this place?" whispers Thea, "It's huge!"

"No," he says, "Not happening. Not on my watch."

"Then I suggest you turn around."

Videl is not amused.

"Videl, come on, I can take care of myself!"

He gives her a terrible look, so she switches tactics.

"When Wairua gets here, he can come find me!"

"Oh yes, and what about when Loki shows up? What are you going to do then?"

Thea doesn't hesitate. "I'll do what I have to do. I promise I won't do anything stupid! And Neidra probably still has him drugged in the palace."

He peers at her carefully, looking for any signs of manipulation. Her face remains passive.

"I have my dagger," she says, pointing to where it's sheathed at her waist.

"Oh joy," says Videl.

Thea turns to Angelique, who is standing nearby, watching the two bicker again, "Back me up!" she says in a hurried whisper, "We don't have time to stick around here!"

Angelique turns to Videl and gives him a placating look.

He stares at her. "You're backing her up!?"

"She's right, we do have to hurry, we can't stay here," says Angelique.

"Then we can all go along quietly. All three of us."

"But it is a big house..."

"ANGELIQUE!"

She holds up her hands defensively.

"Okay then," says Thea triumphantly, "It's decided. You two stick together. But don't start making out, I doubt it will impress the gargoyles."

"You," says Videl, seizing her shoulders, "Don't you dare get yourself killed. Because if you do, then I'll have to somehow bring you back to life and then kill you myself."

"I love you too, Videl," she says.

"Shut up, idiot," he says, scowling tremendously.

*

It is indeed a tremendous feast.

Rooms are filled with tables, and tables are filled with plates, and plates are filled with food. Over a hundred noblemen and noblewomen are gathered in the halls, holding goblets of assorted drink, laughing merrily as Volstagg recounts some epic adventure, and helping themselves to the prosperity of Asgard.

There are two people, however, that are not mixing with the crowd. Neidra and Caomh stand in the shadows, and although Neidra, dressed in a luxurious green gown with sparkling gems on the sleeves, has a goblet of a crimson liquid in her hand, she is not drinking from it.

She glances at her son as the two watch over the proceedings. Neidra arches her eyebrow high. "What a lovely feast, isn't it?"

"Oh, fantastic," nods Caomh, "The roasted boar smells positively divine."

Neidra smirks slowly and then, picking up her skirts with her free hand, turns and marches from the room.

At the exit of the hall are two guards, standing rigidly at the doorway, shrouded by columns and exotic plants.

"Lady Neidra," says one of them from behind his helmet as Neidra comes to a quick stop, "Forgive me, but the guests are allowed only to stay in designated areas."

"Is that so?" asks Neidra, smiling widely, "I shall keep that in mind."

The guard nods curtly.

Neidra whips out a dagger concealed in the folds of her dress and holds it up to the man's throat, "Now let me pass, cur."

Immediately, the other man unsheathes his sword and points it at Neidra, "Relinquish your weapon immediately, or else–"

The man doesn't get to finish, mostly because a dagger comes around his neck and slits his throat. The guard falls to the ground in a gurgling, blood heap.

Caomh holds up his glistening crimson dagger to the light and inspects it mildly. As he wipes it on the guard's clothes, he says, "I do hate it when they don't listen."

Neidra looks at the other guard. "What a pity. And you both could have lived, too."

The guard, who is looking at his fallen companion, who is not quite dead, in horror, begins to shout, "REINFOR–"

The dagger pierces his neck and slices to both sides, so that he erupts in blood and falls on top of the other guard.

"Well then," says Neidra, stepping over the two bodies and joining her son. Her gown now has blood stained at the waist, as does the pale skin of her shoulders and neck, "That was unfortunate."

Neidra and Caomh walk silently but quickly to the center of the palace, avoiding other guards easily.

Neidra is humming as she unlocks the door to the tiny cell next to the throne room. Throwing the door open, she strides through the washroom and through the narrow, dark hall. Their steps echo on the wet stone.

"It's time to find your daughter!" says Neidra cheerfully, throwing open the final door, revealing Loki, still chained in the same spot as he had been when Thea had found him. He is just as dreadful looking too, all cuts and bruises, his hair matted and greasy, and his eyes closed and unconscious.

Neidra sneers, and then throws the crimson liquid onto Loki. Sputtering, his eyes snap open, rattling the chains slightly. "Wake up, dog," she snaps.

Loki looks up, and curls his cracked lips at her, but doesn't say anything.

"Her friends are fools," says Neidra, "They think that they can come to my house and ransack it, hoping to find you and her through it. Foolish, they are. I shall be ready to strike first."

"Is that so?" rasps Loki, "You plan on taking them down with just you and your scrawny pup?"

"Thank you for bringing that up. No. It will be the three of us, plus a few...friends I have logically positioned."

"I have told you. I would prefer to rot here for infinity."

"I'll see that you'll get your chance," says Neidra, "After you do one little thing for me."

He doesn't take the bait, doesn't ask the question she wants him to ask.

"You can rot in chains just as soon as you have killed your little Thea."

Not the snarl of an enraged beast could match that of Loki as he glares at Neidra with all the hatred in the world.

"No," says Loki, "I will not."

"And I'm not asking," retorts Neidra. Out from her dress, she takes out a sparkling vial. Holding it up to the meager torchlight, she says wonderingly, "I've been saving this for quite a while...for emergencies. I believe this calls for it."

"No," says Loki, eying the vial with disgust, beginning to rattle on the chains, "Don't bring that near me if you value the possession of your eyeballs."

"Hold him," says Neidra, rolling her eyes as she uncorks the glass vial.

"Gladly," says Caomh, walking forward. As Loki begins to yank, Caomh bars his chest and grabs his chin. Loki fights, shouting, but Caomh merely grins at the Prince's struggles and holds him tightly.

As Neidra walks towards him, bloody gown trailing on the wet stone, Loki begins to desperately trash and scream, his hair flying around his sweaty face, but Neidra pays him no heed.

Crouching down in front of the miserable Loki, Neidra holds up the vial and says over his yells, "Didn't you force Thea to drink that immortality potion. The circle comes around, does it not? And now with this, you'll take not only that immortality, but her life."

Loki screams at her again.

"You damned WHORE!"

Neidra and her son pry open his mouth and force the liquid down his throat as he jerks and pulls.

And then, he goes still. So still, he might be dead.

He might as well be dead. Because when he looks back up, his eyes are a blazing and burning silver.

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