The pain was immense, not only because rows of teeth flared up my skin and flesh but then came the burning sensation. Hidden beneath the pain was my conscious being, unable to scream or object; I just was. I expected her to drain me, like a vampire from the movies I've seen, sucking me dry. But instead, a burning liqueur surged through my veins, tearing through every inch of my body, boiling me from the inside, and for a second, I panicked; what if she was killing Drifta?
I didn't know how this wolf thing worked; I was unsure if she could be found inside me, like any other organ. My fingers were trembling, and a spasm-like sensation attacked my muscles, and I felt how I lost control of myself bit by bit.
But despite all the pain, despite that Nida what the one to inflict all this on me, her arms reached around me and carefully helped me down when my knees gave in. Kneeling on the wet and dark floor, all that kept me up now was her tight embrace.
The tunnel vision shrank in, and my eyes landed on Loki. Dark shades closed in, and the last thing I saw was Loki, plucking his nails, looking bored out of his mind. Blinded, I was left in complete darkness, but I didn't faint or slip into the everlasting anything. Trapped inside my body, I still had a vague idea of myself and kept my hearing. The sounds were dimmed and unclear, but I wasn't completely cut off from the world.
"Didn't you say she had a wolf?"
Nida, that strange creature's voice was right above my ear. A cold, soothing sensation spread across my cheek and kept spreading down my side.
The cold ground calmed the burning and stilled my boiling intestine. A gentle hand slid over my back and adjusted my limp body, and it surprised me that Nida handled me so gently.
Slowly my body reacted to the soothing surface, and whatever it was that had raged through my body had vanished. To my surprise, I felt strong and rested-no lingering ach or exhaustion after what I just went through.
"Yes? I know they gave her a wolf."
"I didn't sense her. How do you know they gave her the thunder wolf anyway?"
Laughter infused with amusement and loathing sent a shiver along my still-warm skin.
"Eos,"
"Selene's sister? She would never betray her family; you were made a fool of."
"Of course not, but I found her bastard son. The one she hid for the world, even her sister and the rest of the Gods. Let us say we made a deal. Instead of betraying her sister, she would tell me when the Thunder wolf emerged, and I gave her son back. Alive and in one piece was something she insisted on."
"I assume she demanded the boy back before she talked? Then why are you so cocky now? There is nothing keeping her from telling Selene!"
"Oh, I expect her to run straight to her sister, crying on her knees. But what difference does that make? I know whom she gave the wolf to."
"And what if she doesn't return?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
"Her body was filled up with wolfsbane and Ergot. He must have fed it to her; there is no chance all of that came off a cloth! Even my skin itched and burned, and I'm not a wolf, Loki!"
Nida's voice sounded angry, but my head was still stuck on Selene's sister, my missing wolf, and the fact that Toke somehow had managed to get so much poison in me. How was this possible? Why would he do that when he claimed he wanted his destined Mate and all that? My head was fuzzy; everything was spinning around, and nothing made sense. Could Toke have tried to kill Drifta just to make sure I never became any more than a weak, fragile human? No, that was insane! Selene herself told me the mate bond is much stronger between the beasts, and my having a wolf would make sure I was trapped by his side to the end of my life if he marked me. But then again, Fury left him; he has no beast himself.
Small, blinking stars appeared before me. Scattered on a dark surface, it reminded me of the sky where I met Selene and Drifta, and for a second, I thought I had gone back there. But the image became clearer, the uneven surface, pieces of stone sticking out, small creaks in the wall. My sight was back; I could see again! Blinking to make sure I wasn't dreaming, I forgot to listen to them, right now they didn't matter! With deep breaths, crisp air filled me with strength. My mind cleared, and I felt like I rushed forward, claiming back my own flesh and blood.
Still a bit wary, waiting for something to hurt, I sat up. Slowly took in the cave, and it was like I saw it for the very first time. There was so much more here than I saw earlier! The color of the water was one thing; some streams were light blue, others green, purple, or colorless, filled with shimmering flakes. What I thought resembled stars were actually small beetles. Small and slow-moving creatures crawled up the walls and above my head; when they stretched their wings out, the light flickered.
Nida's voice caught my attention. They had not noticed me, and I tilted my head to the side, watching them. Especially Nida: now I really saw the beauty of her skin. All of her skin had that scale pattern I noticed earlier; shimmering green colors changed as she moved, and dark green swiftly turned almost see-through green when her muscles tightened under her skin. And her hair, her hair was incredible! A hair commercial playing out in slow motion, it floated in the air, freely but at the same time following her every move. Thick black hair, so healthy and shiny!
"You are taking it too far! All this for a joke? Can't you just cut his beard in his sleep or something?"
"Of course not! Not after I cut Sif's hair; I can't even get into his house! I need this to be epic, something he will never forget, and, most important of all, suffocate that boasting ego of his."
Loki's voice hissed in response, and my anger flared.
"All of this for a prank? Are you sick?"
My voice boomed, and both winched and looked at me. Shock, surprise, and utter disbelief was the only thing that met me. God or not, he is a disgusting being!
"You ruined Fury's life, kidnapped me, spent goddess know how long in Toke's mind.. For a prank?"
I was shouting now, my fists clenched, and a strange sensation of power surged through my body. Then a whisper inside my head stopped me. No, not a whisper, more memory, a note left behind.
'Pretend she's dead, your wolf`
"You killed my wolf for a stupid joke?"
My voice trembled, and I had to grit my teeth not to laugh when Loki's face paled. So at least he has some kind of emotions!
"No! No, that can't be! She's not dead! Call for her! I need her! Fuck!"
Oh, never mind.. no emotions, just his plans going down the drain. Then a thought hit me,
"And my blood? What the hell do you need my blood for? Or is it useless now that you murdered my other half?"
I chose the harsh words deliberately, wanting to strike him, see him flinch, maybe even a hint of regret flashes through that cold body. But no.
He paced back and forth; he even forgot to keep his neatly combed hair in its place. Muttering and cursing, and I still could not believe it. A prank...
"Search for her! Now!!"
"I did; she's not there."
Nida stated with an emotionless response like she could not have cared less, but I took notice of the grin playing on the corner of her lips.
"Dispose of her and start over."
"No.. Fuck. Pull that mutt out of her then!"
"You know they don't stay in their human mind when they die, idiot! But, if you need her that bad, talk to Hel."
I raised a brow when his lips tightened to a line, seemingly ponderings something before he muttered,
"We are not on talking terms for the moment."
"Then take her back and find a new thing..."
"Can't, He still needs her blood."
He abruptly stopped in his tracks, and I could quite literally see the light bulb turn on inside his head as his smile grew!
"Of course! He still needs her blood! Perfect! Come, we have a dragon to visit!"