Chapter 8 - Road to svartalfheim

Adrenaline still pulsed through my veins as we rushed toward the wreck of the Dark Elves' ship. Sif and Volstagg followed closely behind, scanning the corridors for Asgardian guards. The air vibrated with palpable tension. This plan was pure madness, but we had no other choice.

Thor paused for a moment and placed a hand on Sif's shoulder.

"Thank you," he said, his tone grave and sincere.

She stared at him intensely before nodding. "Make sure it's worth the risk."

Volstagg, meanwhile, shot Loki a murderous glare before narrowing his eyes at me. "And you, winter spirit—keep an eye on *him*."

I raised my hands innocently. "That's what I'm here for."

Sif and Volstagg stayed behind to hold off the Einherjar while we sprinted into the ship. Inside, the architecture was as sinister as it was elegant, forged from dark metal and strange glowing engravings. A sense of unease settled over me immediately. This vessel was anything but reassuring.

Thor took the controls, his jaw clenched as he tried to figure out how everything worked. Loki, on the other hand, lounged casually at the back, arms crossed.

"I assume you know what you're doing?" he quipped, his tone mocking.

Thor ignored the jab and began manipulating the controls. A series of symbols lit up on the dashboard as the ship emitted an ominous hum. I wasn't convinced.

"This thing isn't going to explode, is it?" I asked.

"If you keep talking," Thor growled, "I might just throw you out the airlock before you know it."

Loki burst out laughing. "Adorable."

The ship lurched upward, throwing us back slightly. Thor gritted his teeth, struggling to stabilize it as we hurtled through the palace. Alarms blared behind us. Asgardian guards scrambled into position, weapons raised.

Sif and Volstagg still held the line, fending off those trying to intercept our escape.

"We're spotted," I pointed out needlessly as magical projectiles streaked past the ship.

"Oh, you *think*?" Loki replied, feigning awe.

Thor yanked the controls, narrowly avoiding a column. He shoved the thrusters forward, and the ship accelerated violently. We burst into a wide plaza, Asgard's golden sky stretching above us.

"I hope you know how to fly this thing!" I shouted.

Loki whistled as the ship listed sharply. "Clearly not."

I gripped my staff, trying not to slam into the wall. Even Space Mountain wasn't as terrifying as Thor's piloting. If we made it out in one piece, I'd call it a miracle.

Thor flashed a tense grin. "I'm doing my best."

And his "best" sent us careening straight into a massive statue of Bor. Before I could react, we slammed into it, shearing off the statue's head, which crashed to the ground with a deafening roar.

An awkward silence fell.

Loki burst into laughter. "Congratulations, brother. You've just decapitated your own grandfather."

Thor cursed under his breath but kept flying, his eyes repeatedly darting to Jane, who clung weakly to her seat. The worry in his gaze was unmistakable.

"How is she?" he asked abruptly, not taking his eyes off our path.

I glanced at Jane. She was pale, her eyelids half-closed, breathing labored. The Aether in her veins was consuming her bit by bit. We were running out of time.

"Not good," I replied honestly. "We need to hurry."

Thor clenched his jaw and accelerated further. His hardened expression reminded me just how deeply he cared for her. He was willing to defy Odin himself, betray his own people, just to save Jane. This wasn't mere attachment—it was something far stronger.

We barreled toward the Bifrost. Heimdall, standing on the bridge, watched us approach. In that moment, Thor took a deep breath, scooped Jane into his arms, and—without warning—leaped out of the ship's open door.

"Wait, *what*?!" I yelled as he vanished into the sky.

Loki and I exchanged a look.

"Guess he wants us to follow," I muttered.

"How astute," Loki replied before shoving me out of the ship.

Wind whipped my face as I free-fell. My instincts kicked in, and a gust caught me, slowing my descent. Below, Thor and Jane had already landed on an Asgardian skiff piloted by Fandral.

I touched down lightly on the skiff's deck, my heart still racing.

Loki landed less gracefully, rolling before rising with forced elegance. "A flawless dismount, as always."

Fandral greeted us with an amused smirk. "Impressive, I must say. Thor, you know you're wanted for treason, don't you?"

Thor nodded. "And yet here you are."

"Let's just say the idea of getting Loki off Asgard makes a little treason worthwhile," Fandral replied with a chuckle.

Behind us, an Asgardian patrol closed in. Fandral sped up, but one soldier leaped aboard. Before he could strike, Fandral knocked him out cold with a blow to the head.

"Well, that's handled," I remarked.

Loki took the controls and, to my surprise, piloted the skiff with unsettling ease.

"Hold on," I said. "You know how to fly this?!"

Loki smirked. "I'm good at everything."

He banked the skiff sharply, evading one last patrol. Moments later, we slipped through a hidden passageway—our path to Svartalfheim.

Loki raised his arms triumphantly. "Now *that's* what I call a successful escape!"

I let out a nervous laugh, only now realizing how close we'd come to disaster.

We were leaving Asgard. Next stop: Svartalfheim.