Kidnapped|Book 4|A novel in the Blue Moon series| An Avengers fan fiction series|

52- Stars

"Thea, stop," says Loki as she continues to yank, reddening her hands, "They will not come off, I have tried so hard already." 

"They have to!" She exclaims, refusing to stop pulling, "They have to, you have to get out of here!" 

"Thea," he says, looking up at her, trying to hide his grimace of pain, "I cannot leave. But you can. And you must."

"NO!" 

"Thea! This is a trap, Neidra wants you dead, don't you see you need to leave?!" 

"I'm not leaving, Loki!" she says shrilly. "So stop trying to make me!" 

He stares at her with both surprise and grief. Meanwhile, Wairua hoots loudly, flapping his wings raucously. 

"Be quiet, Wairua!" 

Loki jerks his head over to the white owl. "Wairua, get my daughter away from this place!"

Wairua begins to fly forward, but Thea whirls around. "NO!" 

With a twist of her hand, she sends a stream of fire at the bird. Wairua hoots shrilly, barely dodging the flames. As it is, he falls to the ground in a heap. 

"THEA!" Loki looks at her desperately as Wairua flies up clumsily, vanishing in a swirl of mist, "No, what did you just do, Thea!?"

She sits down in front of him again, biting her lip, "I'm not leaving you, Loki."

"You've changed so much," he says, sadness in his voice as he gazes at his daughter through bloodshot eyes, seeing the strength that is flickering in her green eyes, strength instead of the childish fear that he used to see, "But you must—"

He breaks off as movement comes from the direction of the door. Loki moans as in the next second, Neidra walks into the lit room accompanied by a manservant, carrying a sword that glistens in the flames of the torches. Thea throws herself against Loki, as if trying to shield him. She feels him sigh, setting his chin on the top of her head. 

As Neidra surveys the two desperate beings against the wall, Loki glares at her. But when he feels Thea begin to shake, Loki murmurs to her softly, kissing the top of her head. Thea relaxes ever so slightly, but Loki does not. 

When her eyes fall on Thea, Neidra's lips quirk up in a twisted smile. As the servant stands against the far wall, Neidra walks to the center of the room, in front of Thea and Loki. 

Her silver eyes focus on Loki, and she says triumphantly, "So she did come." 

"Neidra," he says roughly, as Thea closes her eyes, her face pressed against his alabaster chest, "Let Thea go, and I vow to you that you may use me for whatever you want, short of bringing harm to her." 

"No, I don't think so," says Neidra smoothly, walking forward. After handing the sword to the servant, she kneels beside Thea, who raises her head and glares at Neidra with burning hatred in her eyes. 

Neidra turns to Thea, and reaches forward, pinching Thea's cheek. Loki hisses at the sorceress, but Thea remains completely still.

"Thea, your father loves you very much,"'says Neidra, standing back up and looking down at the two of them, "Every mark on his body is a testimony to that, every scratch, every burn. But this is what I must draw your attention to," she points to the gaping wound on Loki's chest, dried blood clotting it.

"No, Neidra," glares Loki, "Don't say another—"

Neidra bends and slaps him, but in doing so, she also strikes Thea across the side of her head. Loki lunges at Neidra, but the chains yank his arms back painfully.