Heart Of Stone

Chapter 28

"... Your father requests my presence on Asgard?" I ask after a moment of shocked silence. "That is correct," Thor confirms. "Odin claims to know of 'Midgard's Sirens' before the curse was placed. He presumed they were nonexistent after the curse, so he is interested in meeting you."

"When will this occur?" I question. "Odin is quite busy at this time," Thor confessed. "He claimed he would inform us of a date when he could set one. There should be more than enough time for any preparations, if that was warranting any concerns."

"Is there anything else?" I want to make sure of it. "Not a thing," he confirms. "Good," I nod. I'll spend my time researching Asgardian customs, then. I wouldn't want to offend anybody without knowing, especially as they have the tendency to be gods or goddesses.

Eventually the two brothers leave, much to my relief. I need a minute to process this. Then I sigh, placing my head in my hands. "How do I do this?" I murmur to myself, not sure how to go about my research.

Perhaps I may be of some assistance, Miss Grey?

I start, yelping. Who was that?! I quickly remember myself and grab my barb, elongating the tough metal. I prep myself for a bout.

I'm sorry I scared you. I am Jarvis, the tower AI. You seem to be confused about Odin's request to meet you. Is there anything I can do to help?

I hesitate for a moment, then decide that I might as well ask for help. "By any chance do you know of Asgardian customs? I would prefer not to make a fool of myself in front of gods or offend them in any way."

I can print a list of all of the confirmed Asgardian knowledge in my database.

"... please explain."

I can write down what I know about Asgard, in a sense.

I think it over, then nod slightly. "That would be very helpful. Thank you, Jarvis."

My pleasure, Miss Grey. I believe I... enjoy... gathering and sharing data. Within a moment, you can collect the list at the printer in the penthouse.

I thank Jarvis again and head off to the penthouse, glad that it's been abandoned as it's gotten later. A strange box in the corner is making strange sounds and releasing slips of parchment. While I'm a little unnerved by the noise, I carefully walk over.

It's the list Jarvis compiled for me. I muttered my thanks again, wondering if he'd heard or not seeing as I have no real knowledge of what they are exactly, then took a seat to begin my research.

It's written in English.

I can barely read English. I never read English scriptures. I know how to read the language, my parents taught me basic words, the alphabet, everything I would need to learn how to read and write if they hadn't died when they did. The only true English I've ever read is from old story books for children who were only just learning how to read and my parents helped me along seeing as I was so young and inexperienced.

"O-d-i-n..." I start sounding out the letters quietly, just like how I used to. "... Odin. B-o-r-s-o-n... Borson? Borson. Odin Borson. Odin Borson... is... the..."

"Ruler of Asgard, a realm inhabited by beings of Norse mythology," A familiar voice finishes the sentence I'm reading. I sigh slightly. Not out of annoyance, mostly out of relief that it's one less part to worry about. "I speak English fluently... reading and writing are entirely different matters. My parents were only just starting to teach me before they perished. I never had the chance to attempt to learn myself, aside from reciting the same words from the same basic 'books' over and over again."

"Why are you suddenly so interested in Asgard?" Steve asks, taking the seat opposite me. He's not asking judgmentally or because he is attempting to gain information from me. He is genuinely taking an interest.

"Thor has informed me that his father requests my presence there," I say. I hear a glass smash behind me. "Tony," I greet casually, quickly entering his mind so I can confirm whoever is behind me is not a threat. "Lexis," he replies, a little more tentatively, pouting himself a new glass of his precious alcohols.

"Why does Odin want you on Asgard?" Steve asked. "I am not entirely sure," I admit. "But he knew of my kind. It is possible that he wishes to confirm I am what I claim to be."

Steve nodded and was about to say something when Jarvis interrupted.

Sir, Loki has somehow accessed the tower's security systems.

"What?!" Tony and Steve shot up. "Lexis, come with us," Steve said to me. "We might need you to help out here."

I nod and join them. They lead the way to a room filled with what I can only describe as dozens of electronic devices that appear to be metal boxes with moving images on. Before them, Loki sits. He is staring intently at one of them, which is fixated on the penthouse.

Steve and Tony stop to see what he is watching. The Avengers and I are all there. Tony fiddles with some sort of dial, then sound is added to the image.

"- Mind Stones, Water Spirits-"

"Mind Stones?!"

"Yes. They say it was part of the staff used to curse the sirens, though it also fitted nicely with our abilities."

"This is the Mind Stone. It used to be inside the Tesseract, which was a part of Loki's staff. It is possible that Loki was the one who cursed your people, though it is not confirmed."

...

"Loki is the reason why I am this way."

This was from when I first discovered that it was Loki who cursed my kind. The way I look so panicked confirmed that I was not happy with this information. But it was far from over.

"She's having a panic attack, everyone back up!"

"N-no... I am fine. I am not having a panic attack."

I ran out of the penthouse and Tony wordlessly switched the image to my room the next day. I was just sitting up, then noticed Loki perched on the end of the bed.

"What do you want, monster?!"

"I wanted to apologise, but you were asleep, so I waited until daylight. But you were still asleep, so I waited for you to rouse."

"You are the reason why I have faced so much pain and rejection! You are a monster! You cursed us all! You let us all be killed for our mere differences! You hurt us all!

Rote ins dark realm, demonius exex! Florfire akin Babe-aestro! Florfire akin Babe-testro! Demonius exex! Florfire akin Stone Sirens! Rote ins dark realm! Rote ins dark realm!"

I spoke along with my previous words, but this time in English, translating for the others who had no idea what I'd said that day.

"Rot in the dark realm, traitorous monster. Burn like mother. Burn like father. Traitorous monster. Burn like the Stone Sirens. Rot in the dark realm. Rot in the dark realm."