Vagary

Chapter 7: “The Frog and The Scorpion”

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“ Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never

be here again”

- HOMER, THE ILIAD.

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Late Fall, 1655, Mielesznica, Poland, Earth

The dry fall leaves were scattered around as harsh November winds blew. The countryside foliage with oranges and browns looked lovely, the favorite season for the little girl in the woods. She was focused, searching under the leaves with the short stick in her tiny hand. After digging and searching, a bright smile appeared on her rose-colored chapped lips.

Her hands carefully dug out the roots of a white mushroom, then she reached down to the pocket of her dress to pull out a small knife inside a leather sheath with a fabric pouch. After carefully cutting out the mushroom, she quickly put it inside the pouch. But before getting up, she was startled by the loud crunch of smashed leaves. She swiftly turned back with the knife she was still holding showing her treasure in her pocket.  

“Who is it?” She called out to the person hiding behind a nearby ash tree.  When no sound came in reply, she slowly toed forward toward the tree. After five steps, with a swish, a girl looking only a few years older than her came out with a bow aimed at herself.

Her gray eyes widened with horror as she quickly turned her hands upward, ”Woah, easy! I have no intention to harm you!” 

The other girl tilted her head to the side, as sizing up her opponent. “ What are you doing here, girl? Who send you here?” 

After realizing the big slash on the girl's leg and her battered appearance, “No one did! I am only picking up mushrooms, put your bow down, please.” The small girl pleaded, “I am not looking for any trouble. I will leave, if you let me go I promise, I won’t tell a soul about you.”                                                                             

“Why should I believe you, a stranger?” The other girl asked with animosity. Her stand never wavering, she tilted the point of her bow, “ If you don’t want to  be shot, you’re coming with me, girl.” Her eyes as black as her long braided hair glowed with a dangerous glint, “Trust me, I never miss.”

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May 12, 2013, Avengers Tower, New York City, Earth

“Ha! Suck it, Thor!” The joyful laugh echoed through the airy room as the blond prince sulked. 

The voice system of the giant television on the wall cheered with the score of game audio celebrating. 

“Damn Midgardian tools,” 

“Don’t put the blame on the tech if you don’t know how to best me,” the other blond man sitting next to him on the big couch sassed. 

“We will see about that!” his opponent replied, aggressively pulling the joystick controllers.  His striker managed to take the ball and pass to the assist again, both men extremely focused on the screen were playing more and more aggressively as Thor was getting closer to the score.

Clint did his best to stop his opponent but the alien prince did get better from the last time they played. He couldn’t get days off easily as it used to be. New darknesses lurked on every corner of Earth ever since New York.

 Since their famous guest came, the tower residents had a new rule: One Avenger would remain back in the tower. He thought to himself, When did he get this good, who taught him and when?

 As both of them held their breaths for the score, the screen and the room turned black with a fizz sound.

Both men raised with frustration “OH, COME ON!!”

“What's going on?" Thor exclaimed, trying to peer through the darkness.

Prem shook his head, his gaze fixed on the empty screen. "Something is amiss."

Clint sighed his senses on high alert. "Power outage. Jarvis is out too. Something's not right."

Shaking his head, "Looks like we've got bigger problems than PlayStation now."

“I’ll inform the team and check out for any threat. Where are Nova and Loki right now?”

“They should be still in the library, “ the white feline murmured.

 With a nod of agreement, Thor replied, "Let's go find Loki and Nova."

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The library of Avengers Tower was a vast place as expected from his owner.

Like many other times for the past one and a half months, Nova sat across from Loki, both immersed in their research, 

Nova had remembered detail over detail from her vision, every time a terrifying glimpse shook her to the core. They were all in mass, ancient markings and, symbols merged in together like a scramble. 

Loki, ever the skeptic, was wary of the cryptic symbols she had deciphered so far, even though it didn’t stop him being an ass most of the time. Most of the days, they studied alone. Some days, Prem and Thor joined them in the search for answers.

"This is futile, you know," Loki remarked, his tone bitter. "Chasing after legends and fairy tales won't bring you any closer to understanding your visions."

Nova shot him a glare, her patience wearing thin. "These 'fairy tales,' as you call them, hold more truth than you realize. My visions are connected to this, I can feel it."

The dark prince leaned back, folding his arms. "And what truth do you seek? The Aether is just another tool in a long line of power struggles. My father's father, Bor, was a ruthless king. His thirst for dominance led to the genocide of the Dark Elves."

Their finding led them to the Aether around a week ago, and ever since then, the duo spent every night on the tomes and scrolls that came from her and Prem’s pocket dimension. 

The woman's eyes widened at the mention of the Dark Elf genocide. "Genocide? That's what the symbols are pointing to?"

The prince nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, the Aether was at the center of that conflict. It's a relic of immense power, capable of great destruction in the wrong hands."

The young witch's mind raced, connecting the dots between her visions and Loki's revelations. "So, if the Aether is connected to the genocide, and my visions are connected to the Aether, then..."

"Then your visions may be a warning," Loki finished her thought, his eyes narrowing. "A warning of impending danger."

"Duh, I've been trying to tell you for nearly two months!" Nova blurted out, frustration evident in her voice.

Loki raised an eyebrow, surprised by her outburst. "Well, perhaps if you were a bit more articulate, we wouldn't be wasting time."

Nova rolled her eyes, "Oh because you've been so helpful with your skepticism."

The two continued to bicker, but underneath the banter, they both knew that they were on the brink of a discovery that could change everything.

Meanwhile, the room was plunged into blackness, and an eerie silence fell over the library. The sudden darkness startled them. 

Loki quipped, "Well, that's ominous. Maybe the universe is telling us to stop digging into these dark corners."

Jarvis was out of commission, leaving them in the dark, quite literally. 

Rolling her eyes, Nova retorted, "Don't be ridiculous. This is just a power outage." She whispered a spell to her palm and a light ball appeared enough to enlighten both of them.

The handsome prince’s lips curled with his trademark smirk, "Is it, though? Your visions seem to suggest otherwise."

Nova shot him a glare, but before she could respond, the room was bathed in an eerie green light. 

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Clint had been investigating the power outage for several minutes, but his efforts had been fruitless. The outage seemed to be the result of some kind of magical interference, which was beyond his expertise.

As he made his way back towards the main area of the tower, he heard the sounds of a struggle coming from the library. His heart raced with a mixture of concern and frustration. Could Loki be behind this? His gut told him something was amiss.

With cautious steps, the blond man approached the door and listened carefully. He recognized Loki's voice, but there was something else—a hint of desperation that sent a shiver down Clint's spine.

With a plan forming in his mind, the archer quietly made his way to the ceiling vents above the library. He maneuvered through the vents using his agility and training, until he was directly above the commotion below.

"You treacherous snake," the archer muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing with suspicion and anger. The thought filled him with a sense of betrayal, and his grip on his bow tightened.

But before he could dwell on his suspicions, a sudden crash from inside the library caught his attention. Clint's instincts kicked in, and without hesitation, he burst through the ceiling.

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A tall figure emerged from the green portal appeared across the Room. "Nova, dear. You need to come with me."

Confusion and realization flashed across Nova's face as she recognized the Jotun woman. "I’ve seen your arrival, Angda, can’t say it’s a surprise to see you.” The light ball in her palm changed to a steel dagger with a blue flash. “What do you want from me ?" she asked, stepping back cautiously.

"We've orders to bring you back to our coven, Rabbit," Angrboda replied. "Dead or alive."

Nova's heart raced, realizing the danger she was in. She glanced at Loki, who had tensed at the sight of the Jotun Warrior. "Loki, we need to—"

The giant woman stood before Loki and Nova, her crimson gaze lacking any emotion yet determined. "Dearest, you know it's for your own good," she said, her voice tinged with sympathy.

Loki raised an eyebrow, eyeing Angrboda warily. "And what about me? Are you here to offer me the same kindness?" he quipped, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Angrboda stared at the man coldly. "You, little runt, are a different matter altogether. Our orders are clear regarding you."

Nova, her expression conflicted, took a step forward. "What do you mean, orders? Who sent you after him? " she demanded, her voice tinged with fear and anger.

A long blade appeared at the warrior woman’s hand with a flash of green. “New King of Jotunheim,” she twirled the weapon three times as she started to circle the young woman. “ His life will be a small price for the peace.”

She sent a swirl of ice towards the duo, Loki jumped both of them away just in time. The icicles pierced through the glass desk they had been working at for days, breaking it into a million pieces and scattering everything on it everywhere. 

“Nova, you need to provide me a weapon too,” Loki urgently pleaded to the young witch.  

The young woman shook her head hesitantly, “ No, I can’t,” She shook off the glass pieces on her, “ I will protect you.” 

The prince desperately yelled, “ She’s after me and I don’t have my Seidr!” He growled, his features were angry and offended. “ You can’t be this low to leave me defenseless, witch.”

The Jotun threw another blast and they nearly escaped. Nova sighed tiredly as a twin dagger she held appeared in Loki’s hands. “Don’t you dare to leave my sight!”

As Angrboda prepared to send another blast toward Loki, Clint dropped down from the vent, landing gracefully on the floor of the library.

"Stop right there!" Clint exclaimed, his bow at the ready. "What's going on here?"

Clint's suspicions were quickly dispelled as he recognized the towering figure of the Jotun warrior before him. It wasn't Loki causing the trouble—it was one of the Magpies, sent to hunt them down.

His initial anger gave way to surprise and then determination as Clint assessed the situation. "You picked the wrong tower to mess with."

"This is none of your concern, human," the Alien woman growled, her voice deep and menacing.

Clint ignored her warning, his gaze flickering between Angrboda and his friends. He could sense the tension in the room, and he knew he had to act quickly to diffuse the situation.

"Now, why don't you drop the weapon and we can talk this out like civilized beings?"

Angrboda scoffed, her lips curling into a scornful sneer. "Civilized beings?" she echoed, her tone dripping with disdain. "We are Jotuns, little mortal. We do not negotiate with our food."

With a swift movement, Angrboda lunged forward, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision, sending a swirl of her powers at the young woman at the same time. Clint reacted just in time, narrowly dodging the attack and countering with a swift kick to the Jotun's side.

Nova called through the blond man dodging Angrboda’s attack. "Clint, wait!" she cautioned, her voice urgent. "Don't touch her. Jotuns carry the frost within them. A simple touch could be fatal."

The archer nodded, keeping his distance but maintaining his aim. "Got it," he replied, eyes fixed on Angrboda.

Meanwhile, Loki had taken advantage of the distraction. With a swift move, he lunged at Nova, his own blade flashing in the dim light of the library. Nova barely had time to react, parrying his strike with her own dagger. A few drops of blood dripped from her cheek where she barely stopped his attack.

Their blades clashed, the sound ringing through the air as they circled each other. Nova's expression was a mixture of disbelief and anger, while Loki's was blank and focused.

"You know I have to do this, witch," He said, his voice low and filled with regret. "It's not personal."

Nova gritted her teeth, pushing back against his relentless assault. "Nothing personal? You betrayed us again! How is that not personal?"

“I have to find a way to stay alive,” he said while dodging the punch she threw to his chin. “ And, none of your concern is helping with that.” Their fight intensified, the two of them locked in a deadly dance of blades. 

The blond man watched, torn between helping Nova and dealing with Angrboda. He launched an arrow towards Loki, forcing him to retreat momentarily.

"Enough!" Clint shouted, moved to step between Loki and Nova. "I won't let you harm her."

Angrboda seized the opportunity and made a move towards the archer, but he was ready. He fired another arrow, this time aiming directly at the warrior giant. The Jotun dodged the arrow with surprising agility and swung her blade toward her enemy. Clint barely hit back with his carbon-fiber bow.  

Loki's face was a mask of cold as he pressed the attack, his movements graceful yet deadly. Nova, on the other hand, fought with a desperation to stay alive, her eyes locked on his as she countered each of his moves with skill and precision.

Their blades clashed and sparks flew, filling the room with the sound of metal on metal and blasts of energy from both battles. Nova's heart raced as she fought to defend herself, her mind focused on one thing: survival.

“Give up,” Loki hissed through his teeth as pressed with the dagger, “ Live another day to fight,”

With a swift and decisive move, Nova disarmed the man by throwing herself to his broad chest, sending them and his dagger clattering to the ground. She stood over him, her own blade at his throat, her chest heaving with exertion. “I made a promise to keep,” She looked at him with sad disappointment rather than malice, her voice was far from steady. "It's over."

Loki looked up at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of defeat and defiance. For a moment, it seemed as though he might surrender. But then, with a sudden twist of his body, he broke free from her grasp and made a run for the blade lying on the ground.

The woman reacted quickly, lunging after him and tackling him to the ground again. They grappled with each other, rolling across the floor as they fought for control.

But in the chaos of their struggle, he managed to grab hold of the pink crystal necklace dangling from her neck. With a swift motion, he accidentally snapped the chain and the crystal fell to the ground, breaking into a few chunks. 

Both of their eyes widened with horror, and  “Shit!” came out from their lips in unison.

A sudden blast of energy erupted from the broken crystal necklace lying on the ground. The room was engulfed in a blinding light, and before anyone could react, the floor beneath them gave way, and they were all pulled into the swirling black vortex of the portal.

Clint's heart raced as he tumbled through the chaotic abyss, his mind reeling from the sudden turn of events. He shot one of his arrows to the ground instinctively, trying to grasp onto it, however, it didn’t stay put for long. Then he tried to grab onto anything within his reach to anchor himself amidst the chaos.

But it was too late. The portal had consumed them all, transporting them to parts unknown and leaving behind nothing but uncertainty and confusion in its wake.

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Late Fall, 1655, Near Poland- Germany Border, Earth

The half-moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the forest as the two girls arrived at a hideout near a small cave. The forest was alive with the howls and hoots of night dwellings. 

Hours had passed since her capture, and she now sat alone in the heart of the secret hideout, a makeshift camp that resembled more of a prisoner's den than anything else.

Around her, the camp buzzed with activity as three women and their huntsmen tended to their captives. These were no ordinary prisoners; they were a motley crew of outlaws and fugitives, each looking more disreputable than the last. Some were bound and gagged, others sat sullenly under the watchful eyes of their guards, all awaiting their fate at the hands of their captors, just like the little girl.

Her captor tied her down to a small tree tightly a few hours ago, then went to other two women similar to her appearance but definitely older than her. All were shaped like warriors and decorated their athletic figures with hunting knives, bows, and quivers. The little girl never saw any women quite like them.

As they walked, the women occasionally glanced back at her, their black eyes full of suspicion. They didn't trust her, and the girl couldn't blame them. After all, she had appeared out of nowhere, a strange and mysterious figure in their midst.

 The three women were deep in conversation with their hunts, their voices low and urgent as they discussed the trouble caused by their captives. The little girl caught snippets of their conversation as they passed by, words like "justice" and "punishment" sending a chill down her spine. She knew she was in deep trouble.

Desperate to escape, the child began to search for an opportunity. She knew she had to be careful, but she couldn't let herself be captured without a fight. As they passed by a dense thicket, her little fingers twitched with nervous energy, her mind racing with possibilities.

In her panic, she reached out instinctively, and to her horror, a small tendril of blue energy flickered to life, wrapping around the nearby foliage.

Her captor's eyes widened in surprise, "What was that?" she demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion. All eyes were on her, and her tiny heart started to beat at her mouth.

The little girl struggled to come up with an explanation. "I-I don't know," she stammered, her mind racing. "It must have been... a trick of the light or something."

But the oldest-looking of three women, who had been trailing behind them, stepped forward, her eyes narrowed as she studied the girl intently. "No," she said slowly, her voice low and measured. "That was no trick of the light. That was magic."

The child’s blood ran cold as she realized her secret had been exposed. She glanced desperately between the three women, searching for a way out. But there was no escape now, not with their sharp gaze fixed on her like a hawk.

“You are not a mere lost child, are you?” mused the oldest one while approaching her, an amused glint behind her black eyes. "Who are you, really? And what are you doing here?"

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