We have finally reached Part III!!! I am so excited to reach the events of the movies!

I am honestly itching to just jump to the next book which will follow The Avengers, but I am controlling myself.

I hope you enjoy!!

A M O R A

"Just a little farther. You're almost there."

Sweat beaded at Amora's brow and made her hands slick as she gripped the bars, attempting to put her injured leg to some use. At the end of the two parallel support bars stood Loki, his soft voice urging her forward.

She gritted her teeth as she took another step, easing more weight onto her foot. However, the sorceress was primarily trying to bite back a sharp remark. Her friend's careful tone made her practically bristle with annoyance.

"That's it--"

"Will you please stop," Amora snapped, but Loki's shocked face immediately filled her with remorse, "I'm sorry. Your help is much appreciated, but I do not need your cooing me like an injured bird."

His lips quirked. "But you are an injured bird."

With an exasperated sigh, Amora adjusted her grip and focused on the end of the bars. Frustration fueled her forward, making her clumsy steps somewhat quicker as she stumbled towards her goal. The alarmed prince opened his mouth and let out a few partial noises to dissuade her, but gave up forming a full sentence against her determination. He instead rolled her wheelchair closer to await her finish.

Panting, the woman leaned heavily against the rods and gave him a defiant look. "See?" Amora waved a hand weakly at the distance that she had traversed, "not fragile."

"I never said that you were fragile," Loki's smirk betrayed his attempts to hide his amusement at her indignation.

Amora turned and eased herself into the seat. "Well, you implied it," she countered playfully, crossing her arms in mock anger.

As he began to push her wheelchair back to the main area of the healing room, Loki asked, "So what does the rest of your day entail?"

During Amora's long and monotonous stay in the healing halls, he had always found time in his schedule to ease her boredom. Thor, Sif, and the Three made frequent visits as well, but not nearly as often as the younger prince.

"I am to assist in training the apprentices on potions and bandages this afternoon, and your father wishes to speak to me about Midgard and the Tesseract later this evening."

Amora could feel the excitement bubble within her at the thought of investigating her visions further. Initially, she had thought that the king would believe it to have been a strange dream, but upon mention of this fearsome titan--Thanos--and the Infinity Stone, he automatically viewed it as a top priority.

"You know that I do not think that your little trips are helping your health," Loki's voice was laced with apprehension.

Over the past few years, Amora had regained enough strength for more complex spells--Frigga's continued lessons had also helped immensely--and she had recently begun taking frequent travels to Midgard.

"But it is so fascinating, Loki," she gushed with excitement, "They are so much like us and their progress has grown exponentially."

He scoffed. "How are they like us? We are far superior."

"Well, they live like us," she offered, "They are born, they grow, they have families and make achievements, and then they die. Just like us."

"Give or take 5000 years," he quipped with a cheeky smile that only grew as he dodged the light smack of her hand.

Rolling her eyes, Amora shook her head at his relentless mischief. She opened her mouth to speak, but the breath was stolen from her lungs as a sharp pang erupted into a burning inferno within her leg. Everything became unfocused as pain blinded her. No, no, no.

Drawing in ragged breaths, she attempted to still her body and ward off this episode. Over time, they had become less frequent but no less potent. The relentless waves of torture rolled through and she gritted her teeth to suppress a cry. Muffled words attempted to reach her ears but nothing could pierce the heavy veil around her.

Thankfully, a cold touch wrapped around her injured calf, only serving to offer some coolness in a pathetic fight against the blaze tearing through her system. After what felt like an eternity, the pain began to dull, the ringing in her ears gave way to soft words of comfort, and the darkness in her vision dissipated to reveal a distressed Loki kneeling in front of her.

"It is alright. I am right here," his gentle words continued; his cool hand was wrapped around her scarred leg.

Breathing heavily, she finally focused her gaze on him. Seeing this, Loki relaxed and let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Are you alright?" his words dripped with concern.

Amora nodded wearily when she abruptly let out a soft chuckle, causing the prince's brow to knit together in confusion. "What is it?"

A smirk creeped up on the brunette's features as she said, "Someone might get the wrong idea, seeing me out of breath with you touching my leg."

Loki's eyes widened for a moment before a grin overtook his face. "Does my touch make you breathless?" he asked mischievously.

Amora's cheeks could not have turned a deeper shade of red. Quickly recovering and using her good leg, she kicked him in the stomach.

Letting out a sharp "oof", Loki held his hands up in surrender before returning to his original position behind her wheelchair and pushing her back to the healing halls.

* * *

"Midgard may have made a few meager advances in technology, but they are far from any capabilities of harnessing the power of the Tesseract," Thor scoffed.

To protect the man's feelings, Amora suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Both princes were so blind to the true natures of other realms, choosing to accept ignorant stereotypes.

"That, my son, is where you are wrong," Odin gently corrected, "Both Heimdall and Amora have informed me that the mortals have made great technological bounds."

Wishing to prepare Thor for his impending rule, the Allfather had the prince join their discussion in Amora's private bedroom in the healing halls. However, the boisterous son had been more than happy to add his own thoughts to the evening meeting.

"Yes," the brunette attempted to add some more reason to the conversation, "one Midgardian in particular--Tony Stark--will have the technology within the next few years."

Odin gave her a nod of approval. "Continue your search of possible targets of Thanos, and find out what more you can about this Stark. If he possesses such capabilities, then he may play an integral role in the coming course of events."

Thor offered a bright smile before his father led him out of the room. With her new privacy, Amora closed her eyes and took deep breaths. Focusing on the mortal realm, she conjured light from her hands. It swirled around her before engulfing her entire frame.

The bright lights and loud noises that suddenly filled Amora's senses were almost overwhelming. Blinking her eyes open, she looked about to see countless street lights and signs glowing, great screens advertising, cars speeding, and people bustling. The enchantment kept her presence hidden, but the entirety of this realm was at her visual disposal.

They have certainly taken their time in reaching the digital age.

And the mortals had readily embraced their new advancements. She could not help but be amused watching their fascination with their new discoveries. It was like watching cavemen boast about fire.

Well, I suppose they have to start somewhere.

A repetitive advertisement topic caught Amora's eye and she froze.

TONY STARK DEAD.

STARK CEO MISSING.

WHAT HAPPENED TO TONY STARK?

How can this be? Who took him? She would have to change her entire course of investigation now, having lost her primary person of interest. Collecting her thoughts, Amora decided, Well, I can not make this whole visit a waste.

As she walked down the street, Amora remained observant of the great masses of people and technology. New York City. This would be an ideal point of interest for Thanos to strike, she thought. Much like the last cities that she had visited--Los Angeles, London, Beijing--there was plenty of resources to take and exploit as well as people to serve as both witness and victim.

She shivered at the thought of such chaos and death. Seeing the ignorant bliss of these beings made Amora dread the imminent events even more. They do not know what is coming.

Preferring to leave such melancholy thoughts untouched for a moment, Amora visited the famed Central Park. Upon reaching an open clearing, she glanced around, as though some bystander could witness her actions, before breaking into a run. This was her favorite part about these mystical visits: the mobility. Oh, how she longed for this same level of it; the dependency on others made her feel suffocated and useless.

After a moment of childish prancing, the setting briefly grew out of focus; the picture fading and returning. She was not slipping into unconsciousness but out of her vision. A faint voice called her name, echoing through her mind. Her eyes grew heavy, engulfing her in darkness as she faded away from the mortal realm.

Snapping her eyes open, Amora was met with the sight of her room. A figure standing in her doorway drew her attention with a quiet apology. Theoric's rugged features held an apologetic smile; he braced himself on a crutch with one arm and balanced a tray of food on the other.

"I am sorry to interrupt, but I thought that you would like some dinner." He held it up hopefully and added in a sing-song voice, "It is your favorite."

Unable to suppress a laugh, Amora nodded and motioned for him to enter. Limping over the her bed, the injured soldier eased into a sitting position before handing her the food.

"Thank you, Theoric."

"My pleasure," his ever-present warm smile made her slight annoyance disappear. Her old friend had recently been injured in battle and had become a companion of hers over the past few months.

After taking a few bites of the food, Theoric asked, "How goes your search?" He had taken a special interest in the mystery that surrounded Amora.

"I have reached an impasse of sorts on Midgard," she said, her voice tinged with frustration, "I have visited the site where the Tesseract is hidden and any location that could be of interest to Thanos. And I also found a mortal who could someday harness the cube's power, but he has gone missing."

Theoric raised his eyebrows. "That certainly sounds intriguing."

"Yes, but I do not know whether Stark has been taken by Thanos or other mortals, and their intentions remain unknown to me." Looking off in thought, she continued distractedly, "I will have to consult Heimdall on his whereabouts."

"That visit will be difficult to schedule," the soldier sympathized.

Amora nodded as she swallowed another bite of food. "With the increased activity in Jotunheim taking the gatekeeper's attention, I will have to look for answers elsewhere for the time being."

Theoric's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Oh no, Amora. I know what you are thinking and I can not allow it. You told me how unkind your last discussion with her was."

"But I must find answers, Theoric. This is bigger than any petty quarrels." No matter how much this idea made her stomach churn, Amora knew that it was necessary. She needed more answers about Thanos and Karnilla.

"You know that the Allfather will not approve of this."

With a sigh, Amora lowered her gaze. "I suppose you are right," she said defeatedly.

Relaxing from his tense position, Theoric collected the remnants of both meals and used his crutch to stand. "Good. I will let you rest now."

Amora wanted to say that she was not weak or in need of so much rest, but she simply offered a "thank you" and "good night".

For a moment, she could only stare at the now-closed door. The source of her answers was easily within reach but the sorceress could not help but be hesitant. This may not even work. Time does not promise cooperation, even if it was still a possibility.

Amora let out a heavy breath and looked up at the ceiling. I am sorry Theoric, but I must do this.

Sitting up straighter, she adjusted herself in preparation. This was not even necessary; the spell would create her appearance which could be altered. Which could hide my weakness, she admitted silently.

Bracing herself, Amora closed her eyes and allowed the enchantment to consume her and find her intended source. The green light faded revealing a stark room. It's white walls only added to the silent emptiness that was enclosed. The golden barrier on one wall allowed enough visibility to reveal a passing guard, making Amora grateful for the spell's ability to hide her presence from his sight. A meager excuse for a cot sat in one corner while a hunched figure sat motionless on the opposite side.

The prisoner's lowered head lifted; red locks fell away to reveal cold, green eyes and an intricate collar encasing her pale face.

Amora took a deep breath and lifted her chin slightly. "Hello, sister."

* * *

So what do you think of the return of Lorelei?? I could not just set her aside for long; she is just too good!

Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!!

Thanks!