Amongst The Chaos Within
Chapter 25: Amongst The Chaos Within
When Stella and Loki returned to the tower, Stella felt a shift in the atmosphere. Well, not a magical shift but she had an odd feeling. When she walked into the 73rd floor to get her caffeine fix, she felt like the other Avengers were giving her weird looks. Tony and Natasha were at the dining table, quietly discussing something over coffee. Stella gave them a small wave and they did the same. The feeling hit her when she turned her back on them.
Did they notice our sudden disappearance last night? Stella thought. Of course, they did. But I told Natasha we were leaving early. Her thoughts went into overdrive. Does Tony Stark have any suspicions about us?
Stella met Loki outside Jericho’s holding cell after downing her coffee. She had to admit, the idea of Tony knowing what’s going on between her and Loki was unnerving. She knew the risks of being in a relationship with someone who almost blew up a city. She even felt the reservations the Avengers had about her when she showed up uninvited in this place.
Stella’s internal struggles might have been obvious on her face, since Loki asked “tell me what you are thinking” when they entered the room.
Loki knew she was thinking of something deeply.
“Hmm? Nothing.” Her expression changed into a neutral one. She watched Jericho through the monitors, though her brain was still mulling over the feeling she had earlier.
“Huh. That face looked like you were engrossed in your thoughts.”
“Nothing important.” She smirked at him over her shoulder. She stretched her neck from side to side. “I’m just thinking about when this will be over and how this will end. Long missions are tiresome.”
“Understandable.” He nodded. Loki kept a respectable distance from her. He felt like it was what she wanted right now, and he felt like someone was watching them. He also noticed that her reply was a cover for something, something she was not ready to talk about. He flexed his hands, brushing the feeling away. He then watched Jericho on the monitors. “Are you sure we don’t need help?” He asked her.
She stood straight from being bent over the control desk and looked at him. “It’s unlikely of you to be worried.”
Loki clasped his neckline and adjusted his black and green leather tunic. “I am not worried about myself. I’m worried about you.” He dropped his arms to his side. “Castle seems to be messing up with dark magic. What if he attacks you with it the moment he steps out of that room?”
She held his arm. “It won’t happen.” She tiptoed and planted a kiss on his cheek.
He looks at her, anxiety building up within. “Your confidence disturbs me. It seems misplaced.”
She gave him the side-eye. “If I had reckless confidence, I would’ve died the moment I was thrown out to fight the gorgons.”
He watched her as she left the monitoring room and turned to the screen when she appeared on it.
The glass between Jericho and Stella was untinted. Jericho got up from the cot and made a small salute to Stella upon seeing her. “Hey, Stell,” he said like he didn’t attempt to kill her.
“You wouldn’t be here if this was a different circumstance.” Stella said.
He sat on the cot and rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward. “You still hope I will return?”
She sighed, still resenting what had happened to him - or more like what he did. Jericho watched her as she trod to the door and tapped the biometric scanner with her index finger. His eyes widened when the door opened.
He ambled to her. “What are you doing, Lords?”
She remained on the spot outside the door. “I’m bringing you back to Athena.”
Jericho seemed to relax. The way he was walking was light, as if he didn't have any worry in the world. There even is a small smile playing on his lips. He stopped in front of her, his eyes lingering on her face. “Stella, I missed you,” he said quietly.
On the other side, Loki was seeing everything, but he wasn’t worried about Jericho flirting with Stella. The only thing he’s watching out is for when Jericho will start attacking her. He’ll be there in no time, for sure.
Stella squared her shoulders. “Don’t do that, Jeric.”
“Don’t do what?” He slightly raised his shoulders. “Don’t you miss the good old times? You and I?” She swallowed. “You did. You do.” He was about to raise a hand to hold Stella’s cheek when the main door opened and Loki entered. He looked at him. “Finally got to meet you, Loki. Should I call you uncle Loki?”
Loki just glared at Jericho, lips shut tight. “If you’re going to do anything, I won’t hesitate to kill you.” Loki sneered after a moment.
“JARVIS, unlock the cuffs.” Stella commanded and the cuffs on Jericho’s wrists started to unlock themselves. The cuffs fell with a clank and Jericho’s hands glowed red. Stella noticed and she threw an energy beam to Jericho. The beam enveloped him as it hit, containing the dark energy he was emitting.
Loki quickly moved forward and his arm pierced the force shield, his hand covered by his own magic countering Stella’s. He gripped Jericho’s throat hard, making the young man gasp and cough. “I said no funny business, Castle.” His grip tightened.
“Loki!” Stella placed a hand on his arm he used to choke Jericho. “Athena wants him alive.”
Loki exhaled and grumbled. “Very well.” He brought his free hand to Jericho’s temple and pressed a finger on it, placing a sleeping spell on him. He released his neck and Jericho’s body floated, suspended by Stella’s magic. Loki and Stella each stood on Jericho’s sides. Stella couldn’t help but feel bad when she noticed the red marks getting dark on Jericho’s neck, but she hid her emotions from Loki, knowing too well that he would be jealous over it.
Loki’s eyes locked on hers and she took it as her cue to summon her magic to transport them to Athens. A circle of blue flames danced around them. Their surroundings changed from the holding room to the interiors of the cella in Athena’s temple. Stella closed her hands when the translocation was done. The giant golden statue of Athena crumbled into golden sand and transformed into an intricately-designed golden throne with Athena sitting on it. Stella moved forward to kneel before Athena. Loki was standing still beside an unconscious, floating Jericho.
Athena stood and moved her hand, telling Stella to stand. “Stella, my sister.” She stepped down the platform and opened her arms for Stella. Stella closed the gap between them and they shared an embrace. Then, much to the goddess’ surprise, Loki bent his knee before him as well. Stella watched Athena walk past her and was also surprised when she saw Loki on his knee.
Loki’s eyes were still on the floor when he saw the ends of Athena’s cream, floor-length dress come into his sight. “It’s an honor for an Asgardian like you to kneel before a Greek goddess.” He heard Athena say. He slowly looked up to her. “On your feet, Asgardian,” she commanded and Loki followed.
Stella tilted her head in curiosity. Loki never knelt before Athena when they visited her before and this had truly surprised her. She cocked her brow when he looked at her. Athena placed a hand on Loki’s arm. “Thank you.” Athena smiled at him.
Stella cleared her throat. “Uh, Commander? Can I have a word?” She said.
Athena turned to Stella, her smile remained despite feeling Stella’s emotional unrest. “What is it?”
“Excuse us for a while, Loki.” Stella asked him and he gave her a slight nod. Athena waited for Stella to lead the way. Stella glanced at Athena before heading to the private room to the right of the platform.
Loki was left in the cella with an unconscious Jericho and some of Athena’s guards. A knot tightened in his stomach. He saw Stella’s troubled expression and wondered what was bothering her. He had to admit, he was still learning how to read her, and this was one thing he missed. He has not noticed Stella’s emotional discord. If there was any, then she was doing a great job hiding it.
He wandered the hall. Loki didn’t know what to do. He picked on his fingerless-gloved hand, the unconscious Jericho was still floating in the middle, suspended by Stella’s blue energy. ‘They’re expecting us,’ he thought as he regarded the coated guards posted inside. They held their spears and shields as they waited for commands from the goddess. The amount of guards Athena has this time seems double than the usual amount she had when they visited before.
A new unrest stirred inside him. He kept his senses open, guards high. He was sensing danger, though he was unsure when it would strike and where it would be from. He stood next to the floating, unconscious Jericho listening, waiting.
“Is this about Jericho?” Athena asked Stella once the door behind her closed. The goddess could feel the storm within the demigod every time Stella deals with Jericho. Athena knew a part of Stella is still connected to him, same as with him to her.
Stella clenched her jaw, preventing herself from tearing up. Even though the incident had happened months ago, she felt like she had not processed everything properly. Her brows furrowed as she looked at Athena. Athena then rubbed her arm, already knowing what the demigod was feeling. Stella tore herself away from her and walked to the window on the other end of the room.
Athena quietly approached Stella and she noticed the difference in the latter’s breathing patterns. She placed a hand at the small of her back. “Stella, speak to me.”
She was silently weeping. “I held everything in for months,” she replied, still facing outside. The modern Greek city below them was oblivious to her plight. Stella placed her hands on the ledge, feeling her energy flow from her. “I lost Jericho, my best friend, my found brother. I lost him to the wrong cause. I’d rather have him dead than live with the fact that he has turned to evil.” Athena conjured a handkerchief and gave it to Stella, who received it and wiped her eyes with it. “I held everything in because I don’t want them to know that I have sympathy for their prisoner.” She tilted her head to Athena. “I don’t want them to know that I still care for him.”
Athena invited her to sit on the couch. “You’re here now. You can tell me everything. You can let it all out.”
“I don’t want Loki to find out,” Stella said when they sat.
Athena watched her. “You love him.”
Stella turned to her. “Is it a bad thing? You never told us anything about falling in love with someone who’s not from the same pantheon.”
“I’ve never heard anyone falling for someone who’s from another pantheon. This is the first time. So far, I have not heard anything from Zeu-”
“They know?”
“I know. Did you forget that we have seers looking after everyone?”
Stella closed her eyes as she sighed and fell back on the couch. “Yeah, yeah. I remember now. So.” She peeked. “There’s a possibility they know?”
Athena nodded. “But this is not our main concern right now. I asked if you love him.”
Stella stood and paced to the mirror on the opposite side of the room. A faint smile was hinting on her face. “I...I think I do.” She looked at her reflection. Her armor was dull and had a faint hue of orange. “I mean, I care for him deeply. He cares for me.” She turned back to Athena to see her standing, holding her hands together. “I don’t know...I can’t explain what I feel inside.” She was beaming, her heart feeling full all of a sudden.
Athena felt what Stella had felt. “I understand. I have been there before.” She approached her.
Stella blinked away the tears. “You fell in love with someone from a different pantheon?”
Athena’s smile had a hint of fondness. “I fell in love.” She filled a glass with water and gave it to her. “Let’s go back to the cella now. We still have business to attend to.” Stella finished the glass of water and followed Athena out of the room.
Loki’s attention veered to the door when it opened. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Stella emerge from it and walked to him, her steps light and relaxed. “Hey,” she said as she squeezed his hand. Loki froze, unable to speak. It was a sign of affection and she openly did it in front of Athena, whose eyes were on them. He slowly looked at the goddess and she just smiled.
“So -” Stella stopped beside Jericho’s unconscious floating body - “what now?” Her mood was better than when she was in the room. Loki wouldn’t know the difference, and he wouldn’t find out what happened. But that’s what she thinks.
“He has to remain unconscious until they bring him to Olympus.” Athena touched the blue wisps and it turned to gold. A gold casket encased Jericho. Athena eyed one of the guards and he nodded to some of them. They took a few steps towards the casket.
Then the guards outlining the cella moved swiftly and pointed their spears at Athena, Stella, and Loki. Stella’s brows met, wondering how the enemy could get through Athena’s nose. Nike could detect them and inform Athena. Stella’s swords appeared on her back and she pulled one. Loki conjured a sword. Stella noticed it and she glanced at him. It was a new one. Loki gave her a look that said I’ll explain later.
Athena raised a hand. “There’s no need to point your spears at us.” She moved forward to the second guards. Stella instinctively raised her blade in front of Athena, preventing her from stepping closer to the group but the latter held her hand and gently pushed it down.
Stella looked at her as she did. Loki’s sword was also drawn but was pointed at the group, ready to counterattack. When Athena walked past them, Stella lowered his sword with hers. He gave her a concerned look. She replied with a slight nod.
“I know you were sent by my brother to retrieve one of your comrades.” Athena started. “But you have to understand that Castle is under my jurisdiction now.”
“We need him back,” one of the guards from the second group said. “The commander needs him back.”
Athena raised a brow. “Your commander? Tell him he has to get through me.” She glowered at them.
“We need him now.” The guard snarled and poked his spear forward. The head guard of the first group lunged forward and pushed the man’s spear with his shield. This triggered the men from the second group, charging everyone, some impaling the guards from the first group, some slashing them with their swords.
Athena’s flowy dress was replaced by her armor, similar to Stella’s, the Aegis appearing on her chest. She conjured her shield and drew her sword. Stella parried the opposing guards from coming near Jericho’s casket. Loki did the same. His sword hitting the opponents’ swords, sometimes slashing exposed flesh. He was tempted to lash out his magic at them but decided against it. He has a high respect for Athena, so for him it felt rude to use his magic in her temple when she’s not even using her own magic. He also noticed Stella was not using her powers. He blocked an incoming sword and slashed the offending soldier’s leg.
Minutes later dead or unconscious bodies lay on the floor - half their side, half from the offending group. The demigod army stopped but kept the ends of their weapons pointed at them. “There won’t be any more bloodshed if you turn over your prisoner to us,” their leader said.
“No.” Athena narrowed her eyes to them.
“That’s not how it works, mate.” Stella quipped. The leader’s nostrils flared and lunged at Stella, locking his sword on her neck. Athena and Loki called out for her but the other demigods also got hold of them. Loki grabbed the man’s arm with his green glowing hands but Athena told him to stand down.
“Why not?” Loki hissed.
Their arms were held by the offending soldiers, knives and swords to their neck. Stella’s eyes widened when she saw the blades used on Athena and Loki. “The blades of Olympus,” she muttered.
“Or the ‘god-killer’, as they call it.”
The three of them flicked their heads to the source of the voice. While they were fighting, someone managed to open the casket and awaken Jericho. Stella made a face of confusion and frustration as Jericho made his way to the leader of the offending group. The man bowed before him. “Job well done, Francisco.” Jericho smiled at him.
Francisco straightened. “We just executed what was planned, Commander.”
Athena let out a menacing snicker. The soldier pressed the blade to her throat. “Commander...the audacity to call yourself the Commander for a lost cause,” she sneered.
“Ares bestowed the title upon me, Athena.” Jericho casually splayed his hands.
“You were a great warrior, Jericho. Why did you let this happen? I expected a lot from you -”
“You needed only one guardian, Athena,” Jericho sharply interrupted.
Athena glowered at him. “I had plans for you, Castle. As great as being a guardian. But you had to throw it all away. You let impatience rule over you.”
“I didn’t want to sit down doing nothing and you know that.”
Athena sneered. “Such a petty reason to turn.”
Stella was not having any of it. It was then that she realized that the Jericho that she once knew was long gone. Fighting off the hot, angry tears in her eyes, her forearms glowed blue, burning the hands of the offending soldiers. She did not give the other soldiers time to react as she used her energy to yank the blades of Olympus from the others. Athena extended her right arm and summoned her sword to slash two of the soldiers holding her. A new pair of daggers appeared in Loki’s hands and he buried them in the chests of the soldiers holding him captive.
The other soldiers and Jericho tapped their amulets and they glowed, the orange light forming into human figures and solidifying into shadow warriors. Just in time, an osprey flew in and disintegrated into smoke before it landed on the marbled floor. The smoke rolled to the ground, revealing the winged immortal Nike.
It was Loki’s first time to see Nike’s other form, as it was Stella’s, and the other people and humanoids in the cella. “You look like you have seen a ghost,” Nike quipped. The shadow soldiers snapped out of their bewilderment and charged at her. Nike rolled her shoulders and her wings flexed, sending sharp silver feathers that went straight to their hearts. They died but were instantly replaced by another.
The other human soldiers continued fighting Athena, Loki, and Stella. “Athena, we’re outnumbered here!” Stella called out when some of the soldiers from their side were injured or dead.
Nike pressed her palms together and a ball of grey smoke appeared. She threw her hands and the smoke materialized into soldiers clad in gunmetal grey armor who fought the shadow warriors the moment their eyes opened. The winged immortal winked at Stella when she locked eyes with the latter before sending another wave of feather blades to their enemies.
Stella slashed and slid her way to Nike. “You know that won’t stop them from spawning!” She said when she was near her.
“It just gives them time before it tires Athena,” Nike replied. “She has to do something with those talismans.”
“I hope so.” Stella swung her sword and slashed the shadow warrior’s head clean.
“Also one reason why I’m targeting the demigods.” Nike took to the air and glided around the cella.
“Stella! Loki!” Athena called out to them. “You need to go back to New York. Your job here is done.”
“But I need to -”
Athena thrust her sword down the floor and lightning bolts appeared the moment the tip hit the marble. The bolts snaked through the legs of the demigods and shadow warriors and found its way to Stella and Loki. Before Stella could finish her sentence and before Loki could drive his dagger to another shadow warrior, the lightning bolts translocated them back to their floor in the Avengers tower. Loki almost stumbled over the couch when he landed.
He flipped on his heels to face Stella. “Did she just translocate us back here?!” He asked urgently.
Stella brought her sword up to her back and it attached to the contraption. She was already working on her translocating spell. “I’m not leaving them behind.” Her hand glowed blue. Loki flicked his hand to open the portal back to the temple but it wasn’t going through. He grunted, catching her attention. “She blocked non-Olympian magic.” Her portal opened up. Loki grabbed Stella’s arm but she slipped from his grip. “I’ll be right back.” Stella stepped into it, leaving Loki and his concerns back in New York.
Before Loki could finish saying her name, Stella’s portal closed.
The moment Stella set foot in the cella, it was a bloodbath. Nike’s magical soldiers were head to head against the shadow warriors of Ares. She slashed the shadow warrior that lunged at her, making its head roll on the floor. Stella pushed forward until she reached Nike.
“How in the world did you get in here? You left your boyfriend behind?!” Nike said in surprise when she popped beside her.
Stella blocked the shadow warrior’s sword. “You know?”
“The whole pantheon knows, darling.” Nike flexed her wings and sharp silver feathers darted to their enemies. “Well, not really the whole pantheon but it’s the talk of the town.”
“Oh, well.” Stella slashed two shadow warriors with one swing. She watched Athena fight the other shadow warriors then at the necklaces the demigods were wearing. “Why wouldn’t Athena do it?”
“She has her reasons. If I were you, I wouldn't attempt to do it either.”
Then a dagger was held against Stella’s neck from behind. Her free arm was grabbed and pinned to her back. She transformed her sword into a dagger and stabbed her attacker, only for it to clank against a metal armour.
“Surprise, surprise.” It was Jericho.
With all her might, Stella bent forward, bringing him over her head and slamming him down the marbled floor. Jericho grunted upon impact, his metal armour clanking as he went down. “Stop this madness now, Castle.” Stella pressed her blade to his neck.
Jericho spat at her, making her fall back to wipe the fluid off her eye. He took this opportunity to shove Stella down the ground, pinning her down with his knee. “Now is my chance,” he sneered and positioned his dagger in a striking stance, targeting the right side of her neck.
Stella grabbed his striking arm and pressed her palm into his sternum. She concentrated her energy on his chest. She knew his talisman was there underneath the layers.
“Stella, don’t,” Jericho gasped, his eyes wide and afraid.
She narrowed her eyes. “It’s the only way.” Her hand glowed blue.
A searing pain started to burn Jericho’s insides. The talisman was burning him alive. Then, a blue lightning darted from Stella’s hand and connected to the other talismans, burning the wearer alive. Stella pushed Jericho down under her, him writhing on the floor. Tears streamed from their eyes as they looked at each other for the last time. Stella’s hand was glowing until Jericho made his last, raspy breath.
Athena watched as the guardian’s blue streams of light burned holes into their demigod enemies. She shot a worried look at Nike, who mouthed “it’s too late.”
The enemy demigods dropped dead in the cella, spilling blood everywhere.
Then silence.
Stella stumbled, sitting on her heels, when she realized the damage she had inflicted on Jericho. Her energy managed to bore a hole into his armour. Athena and Nike approached the guardian. The goddess placed a hand on her shoulder. “There was a reason why I did not do that,” Athena tenderly told her.
“I just wanted it to end,” Stella replied shakily. She brought Jericho’s hands on his holed chest and closed his eyes. Athena pulled back her hand when Stella stood up. Nike held her by her shoulders and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Stella was looking at nothing in particular as the two immortal women fixed her hair and wiped some of the blood from her.
“I have to go,” she said after a while. They both let go of her and watched her open a portal back to New York.
Loki stayed in his room, avoiding any encounters with the others. There was a heavy, unsettling cloud in his stomach that wouldn’t let him sit still. He was pacing in his room, or sitting with his elbows on his knees, hands raked through his raven locks.
He was not mad when Athena blocked his seiðr, he respected that. But he was disappointed he couldn’t help them drive the Aresian demigods away from the temple. How they managed to slip through Athena’s nose was something he could not understand. Maybe someone inside let them through?
He closed his eyes at the memory of him letting the Frost Giants through the gates of Asgard during Thor’s coronation. He brought a hand to his chest, an attempt to relieve the pinching sensation inside.
The blue glow seeping through the spaces of his door caught his attention. He walked to the door and opened to see Stella coming out of her portal. He had a peek of the cella over her shoulder, seeing Athena and Nike’s worried faces, the remaining soldiers from their side carrying their wounded comrades, the stain of blood - both from humans and shadow warriors - splattered across the hall. Loki approached Stella and grabbed her stained dagger. The portal closed behind her.
“JARVIS, turn on the lights,” Loki said in a controlled voice. The hallway lit up, illuminating Stella’s dazed look. Loki vanished her dagger into his subspace and held her by the arms. “Darling, what happened?”
Stella was still looking at the wall behind Loki. “We lost men,” she said hollowly as she looked up to him. “Athena and Nike are safe, the cella is safe.”
Stella’s distant expression concerned Loki. He wanted to ask what happened there. He brushed the liquid stain off her cheek and she tilted, chasing his touch. “You are safe,” he emphasized.
She looked up to him. “Not with Ares still out there.”
He swallowed. “Of course. But for now, you are safe. You are here with me now.”
Her eyes glazed and she crashed into his chest, hugging him. Stella didn’t know whether to feel safe or sad or happy. There were so many emotions running through her it was overwhelming. And then she was scared, scared that her energy might flare up again. She reached out to her inner energy amongst the chaos within and checked herself. Her energy was sleeping. It seemed tired.
Loki wrapped his arms around her, burying his nose to her hair. “I’m tired.” Stella stated.
“We’ll have our rest tonight, love,” he replied. “Do you want me to tell them we’re not going with them to Hesperia?”
It sounded like a good idea. Her cheek was still pressed on his chest. “Yeah, that may be a good ide-”
A glass broke, it sounded like it fell to the floor.