Forsaken: Loki's Exile, #3

Chapter One

EVEN IN HER SLEEP, Bianca’s head throbbed painfully. She didn’t want to wake up, but a sense of urgency was growing inside her, making sleep impossible. Opening her eyes, she flinched at the blinding lights that shone directly at her face. They were so bright that she couldn’t see where she was. All she knew was that she wasn’t in her cell anymore. Instead of a mattress, she now lay on a cold, hard metal table. Her wrists and ankles were shackled and she couldn’t move her arms or legs.

Quiet footsteps indicated that she wasn’t alone. She closed her eyes again and focused on listening. Several people were moving around, but they weren’t trying to be stealthy. The lights had been designed to blind her and to add to her fear. Sadly, this wasn’t the worst predicament she’d ever been in. Humans were dangerous, but they weren’t as frightening as clones and droids.

I know you’re awake, witch, a man said in a wintry tone. It took her a moment to realize it was Major Lincoln, the man who had knocked her out. There’s no use pretending to be unconscious.

I’m not pretending to be anything, she said evenly. It’s too bright with those lights shining in my eyes.

Are you sure the shackles will be strong enough to hold her, Major Lincoln? a female voice asked nervously.

Bianca snorted out a laugh before the commanding officer could reply. You people have no idea about magic at all, do you? She didn’t expect an answer and she didn’t receive one. Just because I can do things no one else can doesn’t mean I have superhuman strength.

Really? Lincoln said skeptically. Then how did you manage to heal so quickly from a fractured skull?

How do you know it was fractured? she shot back. Maybe you just bruised me badly.

Your bruise is gone, he said flatly. There is no evidence that I hit you at all.

She frowned, wishing she could look in a mirror and see her miraculous recovery for herself. If it’s any consolation, I have a hell of a headache, she told him, but refrained from mentioning that the pain was already fading. What’s with the lights, by the way? Isn’t it a bit of overkill?

They’re to blind you to prevent you from using your magic against us, the female said.

Opening her eyes a sliver, Bianca saw the lights hadn’t been created by flaming torches as she’d expected. I’ve never seen lights quite like those before, she said. They were white and harsh to her eyes. They were similar to the ones Sylvia’s pack of female raiders had used to light their metal town, but even brighter.

They run on electricity, Lincoln informed her. We have several large generators that power our machines.

Through her eyelashes, Bianca saw the lights were attached to metal stands. Three of them crowded around the table. Beyond the lights, she could just make out the major and several other people watching her. Are my friends okay? she asked.

You mean your thralls? the unknown woman spat.

Felicia, Lincoln said in a warning tone. Your friends are fine, he told his prisoner. They have all asked their guards about you.

Bianca was surprised Loki hadn’t broken out yet. He couldn’t be enjoying his captivity, but if he displayed his ability to use magic, he would be strapped down to a table next to her. What did you tell them? she asked. That you panicked when I told you who I am and you tried to crack my skull open? Her tone was bitter and she didn’t try to hide it. This was the type of treatment she’d learned to expect.

Why shouldn’t Major Lincoln kill you? Felicia asked. You are the spawn of the Devil!

I’m the spawn of a normal human woman and a rapist called Craig, Bianca spat back. I’m the first Caldwell woman to even have magic since my great-great-grandmother. My entire line has been treated like outcasts for no good reason.

There was silence for a few seconds before Lincoln spoke. Clearly, there is a good reason. You yourself admit to being a witch.

So what if I am? she said in near despair. That doesn’t make me evil. It just means I can do a few neat tricks.

What sort of tricks can you do? he asked.

She can enthrall people, Felica said. Like the poor souls she bamboozled into bringing her here.

Bianca sighed, but she didn’t deny it. It was probably for the best if they thought her friends hadn’t come with her willingly. Maybe they would let them go, after they killed her of course.

Well? Lincoln prompted. Describe your abilities.

I can animate things, Bianca replied.

What sorts of things?

Things that are relatively small and that aren’t alive.

You can’t take possession of people?

Nope.

Have you tried to take control of someone? he persisted.

Yep. It didn’t work. I can only make non-living things move.

He seemed to be fascinated despite himself and moved closer. Squinting, she could make out his outline between two of the lights. What sorts of things have you brought to life? he queried.

They aren’t alive, she corrected him. They just follow my orders until I withdraw my magic from them.

Just answer the question, he said in a tone that told her he was losing his patience.

Thinking back, she tried to remember everything she’d ever animated. I’ve animated fabric, rocks, rope, small pieces of metal and other things like that. She didn’t tell him about animating Mack, or her daggers. She also didn’t mention the boulders she’d cobbled together into a creature that Loki had called a golem.

When did you first discover you could use magic?

When I was seven.

Your mother should have strangled you at birth, Felicia muttered. She has unleashed doom upon our world.

Bianca rolled her eyes and immediately regretted it when the lights speared into her orbs. My friend, Zan, thinks I’m supposed to save the world, she said. He believes it’s my destiny.

A creature like you is going to save our world? Felica said incredulously and uttered a harsh laugh that was echoed by the other onlookers. How are you going to do that? she said with an audible sneer. You’re our captive and you’re as helpless as a newborn baby.

Are you sure about that? Bianca replied. How do you know I’m helpless? You have no idea what I’m capable of.

Show us then, Lincoln dared her smugly. Demonstrate why your friend believes it’s your destiny to save the world.

Fine, but just remember that you asked for this, Bianca said and gathered her magic. She squinted against the lights and focused on the one in the middle. Sending her power into it, she was stunned when it spread to the other two as well. At her mental command, all three lights swiveled around and pinned the major and his lackeys beneath their harsh glare.

Blinded and instantly panicked, one of the four soldiers who was standing guard opened fire. A bullet hit Bianca in the leg and she reacted instinctively. Withdrawing her magic from the lights, she animated the table and it flipped it over. If fell onto its side with a resounding crash. Bullets riddled it as the other soldiers were caught up in the panic, but the thick metal shielded her. The shackles came alive under her command and released her. She landed on her side with a grunt of pain. Her left shin was on fire with agony, but the pain was already fading. She peered through the rips in her pants to see the flesh wound was healing rapidly.

Cease fire! Lincoln roared. He had to repeat the order multiple times before his men finally complied. Are you still alive, Bianca? he called.

Her ears were ringing from the barrage of noise, but she heard him. Yeah. I’m alive. And now I’m pissed.

Breaths were sucked in at the threat in her tone. Before you do anything rash, remember that we have your friends in our custody.

She heard a hint of fear in the major’s tone and grinned mirthlessly. Her momentary amusement vanished when she realized she’d endangered her friends with that stunt. She was trapped in this room with dozens of armed men surrounding the building outside. She had to try to find a way out of this that wouldn’t end with her, or her friends being executed. I’m going to stand up, she said. More mutters of surprise were uttered when she popped into view with her hands raised.

How did you unlock your restraints? Lincoln asked. He held a handgun pointed at her chest.

I animated the table and shackles, she replied simply. You know I could have killed you all with the lights, right? she added. Animating one with her magic again, she made it roll towards the soldiers threateningly.

The men prepared to open fire on her again, but Lincoln motioned for them to stand down. His gaze had turned assessing as he examined her. I am beginning to see what your friend meant, he said in a musing tone. Perhaps it is your destiny to help us save this world.

At his signal, his men lowered their weapons. Now that Bianca could see his companions, she saw that Felicia was in her late twenties and was mildly pretty, with short brown hair and brown eyes. Her glower spoke of intense hatred that Bianca was well used to by now. No one on this forsaken world would ever be able to accept a witch like her.

Chapter Two

LOKI PACED HIS CELL with increasing frustration. He’d only been a prisoner for a few hours, but he was already tired of his incarceration. The soldier who had been left to guard him kept glancing into the cell nervously. He was a full head shorter than Loki and seemed to be intimidated by his height. Smiling inwardly, Loki knew it would be easy to frighten the guard into running. That would only make the others warier, so he resisted the urge.

Major Lincoln had questioned him for twenty minutes when he’d first been escorted to the cell. The soldier had done his best to grill Loki about who they really were, but he hadn’t cooperated. He’d stuck to their original story even though he knew there was no persuading the human. Zan and Ashley were loyal and he assumed they would also stick to their story.

Hearing the muffled sounds of shots being fired, he halted his pacing and cocked his head to the side. A veritable barrage of gunfire erupted and a chill went down his spine. He’d felt a pain in his temple about half an hour ago and his head still throbbed slightly. Now he felt as though his left shin had been stabbed with a hot poker.

Hobbling over to the cot, he sat down and yanked his pants leg up. He couldn’t see any wounds, but he could have sworn he’d just been shot. He went still at the implication of what he was experiencing. Ever since he’d accidentally shared his magic with Bianca, he’d felt a connection to her. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on that sense and felt her somewhere nearby. He also felt she was in pain and that she was in danger. He realized the gunfire had been directed at her and that she’d been shot at least once already.

Surging to his feet, he strode over to the door. The pain faded from his leg and his worry increased. For all he knew, Bianca could be dying right now. Seeing the guard was standing too close to the door, Loki took advantage of the man’s lack of attention. He reached through the bars and grabbed hold of the soldier by his collar. Hauling the startled human closer, he spun him around, grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off his feet with one hand. Unlock the door, he commanded.

Face turning blue from lack of air, the guard scrambled to find the key in his pocket. Gasping for breath, he inserted the key into the lock and turned it. The door clicked open and Loki threw the man against the far wall. Hitting it hard, he slumped to the ground, limp and unconscious.

Loki didn’t bother to check to see whether the man was still alive as he picked up his fallen assault rifle. He assumed the guard’s face, clothing and much smaller size and left his prison. Following the link he felt with Bianca, he crossed to the largest building. The two men guarding the door nodded in greeting as he let himself in.

A large room that held several metal tables and chairs was straight in front of him. A hallway led to the left and right. He turned right and followed the hallway to the corner. He felt Bianca inside a room just ahead and knew she was still alive. Two men guarded the door. They came to attention as he reached them. Major Lincoln gave us orders not to let anyone enter, one of the men said. Both were a bit wild-eyed at hearing the gunfire from a couple of minutes ago.

I have news of one of the prisoners, Loki said.

What news? the other man replied.

One of them has managed to escape. With that, Loki changed back to his normal appearance. Before the soldiers could scream for help, he grabbed hold of their heads and bashed them together. Pushing the door open, he stepped over their fallen bodies and entered the room.

He took in the scene at a glance. Bianca stood behind a metal bed that had been riddled with bullets. Her hair was messy and blood stained her left temple, but she seemed to be intact. Five men and one woman were staring at her like she was a bug on display. Loki stepped over to Major Lincoln and put his rifle to his temple. Six against one, he said into the soldier’s ear. That hardly seems like fair odds to me.

Spine stiffening, Lincoln slid his eyes sideways to see who had the audacity to pull a gun on him. How did you get out of your cell? he asked when he realized it was one of the prisoners.

I’m a man of many talents, Loki replied smoothly. One of the soldiers made a move to lift his gun and he made a chiding noise. Now, now. I have remained patient so far, but believe me, you do not want to get on my bad side.

Lincoln felt a sliver of fear at the prisoner’s cold tone. Something told him Loki was far more dangerous than he seemed. I know this looks bad, he began and Loki uttered a harsh laugh, but I was just about to release you all, he added.

Loki squinted against the lights to see Bianca nodding. He’s telling the truth, she said and stepped around the table. The lights pulled back so they were illuminating the center of the room rather than pointing at the soldiers directly. Her power had indeed grown if she could now animate more than one object at a time.

Well then, Loki said and lowered the rifle. He didn’t make a move to hand it over. I am sure there is a good explanation for why you are in a room that looks as though it is intended to be used for torture.

The mildly pretty female soldier blanched guiltily and looked down at her feet. Lincoln had far better control and didn’t even flinch. I was questioning the witch, the major said, then flicked an apologetic look at the sorceress. I mean Bianca, he corrected himself. She demonstrated her powers and my men were startled into firing their weapons.

Bianca had felt Loki coming for her even before he’d burst into the room. His expression had been so savage that she’d thought he was going to slaughter all of the soldiers at first. His current genteel façade hid his true feelings. It seemed that he was a master of illusion in more than just magic.

Did they hurt you? Loki asked in a low voice.

She hesitated and his eyes darkened. They didn’t torture me, she said hastily before he could pivot on his heel and cut them all down.

He lifted a hand to her temple and touched her matted hair. It was the exact spot he’d felt pain lance into his head earlier. What is this? he asked and touched her unbroken skin gently.

I hit her with the butt of my gun when she told me her true identity, Lincoln admitted. Her skull was fractured, but she somehow healed in minutes.

What about your leg? Loki asked. Blood still streaked her left shin and stained her pants.

It healed, too, she confessed quietly and met his eyes. Hers were showing a hint of green, which meant she was afraid. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’ve never been able to heal like this before.

Destiny, Loki said and felt as though someone else was speaking through him. He’d never believed in fate before, but this entire adventure almost seemed to have been thrust upon him on purpose. You are learning new skills so you can achieve what your ancestor failed to do.

She’s going to save our world? Lincoln said dryly. That was the job he’d signed up for. He wasn’t happy that his position was supposedly going to be usurped by a tiny, auburn-haired witch.

Evidently, Loki said with a sunny smile. Now, since we’re all such good friends, how about releasing Ashley and Zan from their confinement? I’m sure they will be delighted to be reunited with us.

Chapter Three

MAJOR LINCOLN SENT two of his men to release the other prisoners while he escorted Bianca and Loki to a bathroom to get cleaned up. One of my men will show you to a meeting room when you’re done, he said gruffly, then walked away. The other guard remained and stood nervously next to the door. He held his gun tightly, but at least he wasn’t pointing it at them.

Loki motioned for Bianca to precede him inside the small bathroom. He was relieved to see it had actual plumbing, something he thought no longer existed on this world. Bianca moved to the basin and turned on the faucet as if she’d done it a million times before. Have you been inside a working bathroom before? he asked as she plucked a washcloth from a small stack on a shelf.

Bianca frowned as a memory of using a faucet flashed through her mind. No, she replied. But I’ve read about them.

That explained her knowledge of how to use the facilities then. He watched as she moistened the cloth, then soaped it and began to wash her face, hands and arms. It wasn’t as good as bathing in a spring, but her beauty shone forth once the grime was gone. She grimaced as she