Heart Of Stone

Chapter 55

"Attuma." My voice is clipped, cold and sharp, not sparing him so much as even the smallest glimmer of hope that I will go easy on him. "The Stone Siren," Attuma mused, looking at me thoughtfully. "You are even more beautiful in person."

I don't bother to reply, but sometimes silence is more powerful than words. But when he doesn't say anything either, I have to ask the obvious question. "Speak; what is it that you want?"

"I want you, of course," he smirked wickedly. "I am not to become a mere prisoner of war," I snap. "Oh, Of course not," Attuma shakes his head. "I wouldn't dream of allowing my Queen to be a prisoner."

I pause. "... Queen?"

Attuma chuckles, giving me the chance to see his sharp teeth. "Of course. You are a powerful creature of the sea, at the end of the day. You deserve respect, which my Atlantians would all be more than honoured to give to their Queen. Think; have any of them attempted to harm you? Or have they simply attempted to escort you to me?"

Now that he mentions it, I realise that he's right.

Attuma smirks, thinking he's got the upper hand on me. "Oh, and of course one could never be a Queen without her crown."

He shows me a sparkly crown that appears to be forged from onyx, a dark purple gem stone taking centre stage. It looked a lot like my Asgardian charm, as far as that was concerned.

It's then that I realise his plan; to bribe me into working for him, held in place by a fancy title.

"It is indeed beautiful," I admit, staring at the crown. "And there are so many more jewels where this came from," Attuma smirked. "So what do you say, my dear? All the treasure in the ocean will belong to you, all the Atlantians in the sea will obey your every command. Simply accept this crown and come with me."

I look at it, silently debating what to do. I first block my mind just to be on the safe side. I don't want to be his Queen, obviously, but this might be a good chance to defeat him.

And... you know... the gems are shiny...

Loki suddenly runs onto the balcony, looking at us. Attuma's smirk turns to a scowl. "Back to curse the Stone Siren once again?"

This caused Loki to flinch as though he'd been slapped, but he did his best to mask it. "Get away from him," he said to me, gesturing me over.

"No."

His expression gains a look of mild shock. "Excuse me?" "I said no," I repeat. "Attuma is right; you cursed me and my entire race. You are the reason they are all dead - no, you are the reason they were tortured and then murdered as public entertainment. My parents... even my parents were lost because of you. My own flesh and blood. You are a monster."

He seems confused, shocked and even slightly hurt by my words, but then it seems to click that I'm being deceitful. I suppose he is the trickster god, after all.

"There is one more thing." I walk over to Loki and remove my Asgardian charm, handing it to him carefully so as not to get hurt.

Loki deliberately brushes his hand against mine.

The moment I scream in pain, Attuma comes over quickly, looking both surprised and annoyed. He inspects my hand carefully. I don't bother to try and hide the stone, he'd see it anyway.

He swiftly punches Loki, who falls back. I almost rush over to help him, but hesitate, knowing it'll give up my cover, so I just settle for a shocked gasp that I don't have to fake.

"We should go," Attuma says, placing the crown on my head. "Come, my Queen. It is time to meet your new subjects."

I simply nod and allow him to escort me back down to the fight. Upon seeing me wearing the crown and standing beside Attuma, everyone stops and stares.

"Lexis?" Steve asks, looking shocked and betrayed. "Goodbye, Steve," I say flatly, not even glancing in his direction. "I am leaving to somewhere where I can access my true power, not have it diminished here around you."

He seems shocked that I've said this, but it's enough for me to pass him without a problem. Tony proves a different matter, going as far as to take me in a vice-like metallic grip.

I only sigh. "Get off of me, Stark. I have places to be." "You're not going with fish stick over there!" He snaps. "If you think you are, you've got the brain of a car and not just the name of one!"

"But the charm of a siren," I remind him. Before he can react, I part my lips and start singing a lilting, hypnotic tune that puts him under my little spell. "Release me," I say. He immediately obeys, moving away from me.

"I'm impressed," Attuma says, watching. "Such power all in such a voice." "It is the way of my kind," I nod simply. "Though they also tend to be in water."

"Then let's go," he nodded, leading the way. I walked along beside him, the crown on my head glinting under the streetlights as we walk. People are shocked to see me with Attuma like this and whispers of me being a traitor go around, a mere spy sent to tear apart the Avengers. I want to tell them that this is all a ploy, a simple trick to get to Attuma, but even if I tell them telepathically they'll still act differently and I'll be caught out. That was why I didn't tell the Avengers. I'm just lucky that Loki can take a hint.

But if people truly believe that this is real, I can get real reactions. If I get real reactions, I'm less likely to get discovered as a... what are they called? Double agent.