Sigil: The Agent of Mischief

Chapter 11 - Facts Revealed

Clint was thrown into a cell, stripped of his armor and weapons.  He wished that he could revert back to his real form, but he guessed that even though he was here, Emerald was still protecting him.  He stood up and ran his fingers through his hair (which was a lot longer than his real hair).  He looked down and saw the black trousers, the boots, and the golden tunic.  "Guess this is what guards wear when they're off duty," Clint said out loud.

"Suits you fine," said a smooth voice and Clint looked up.  He saw a pair of green eyes and a beautiful face with a wicked smile.  Clint was not quite sure who she was, but he did know she was trouble.  He walked up to the protective field and slammed his fist against it.  The force blew him backward onto the floor.  "I wouldn't do that if I were you," the woman said.  "Nobody can see me but you, so, you kind of look like an idiot."  Clint picked himself up and looked at his hand.  It had a burn on it. 

Where is Emerald when I need her? Clint wondered before he walked back up to the field and looked the woman in the eye.  "Who are you, and what do you want?" Clint asked her coldly.  The woman laughed and walked around his cell.

"Of course you wouldn't know me, Clinton Barton, but, we both share a common hatred for Loki Laufeyson," the woman said, not really answering Clint's question.  This statement made Clint pause.  Did he really hate Loki?  Sure, he was pissed off at him for taking over his mind and trying to destroy the world, but, from what Emerald said of her childhood on Alfheim, Loki had been a devoted and caring father.  Something Clint had lacked the majority of his life.  What did he hate about Loki?  His attitude that he was superior to them?  The fact that he was so good at being bad?  Now that he was actually faced with it, Clint could not remember why he hated him.  "You do hate Laufeyson, Barton," the woman said, bringing Clint back to the present.  "He used you and tried to get you to kill your own friends."

"Yeah?  Well what do you call what you just did?  Cleaning the bats in my belfrey?!" Clint snapped and the guards looked at him.  The woman laughed.

"I told you.  They can't see me.  They think you're insane," she told him.  Clint growled and walked away, determined to try to ignore her.  "You can't hide from your fate Clint Barton.  Emerald will keep this facade to protect you.  But you will be sentenced to death and she will incur the wrath of the All-Father to save you.  But Loki won't.  He won't waste his time helping a mortal.  He'll leave you to your fate, but that's what I want."  Clint kept his dejected pose, but now, he was listening.  "You see, since you're going to die anyway, I have to gloat," she told him, and suddenly Clint found himself on his back in the cell with her on top of him.  He could not move, no matter how hard he tried.  Magic! 

I really hate magic! Clint thought angrily to himself. 

"Loki will let you die, but that is when I will kill that Frost Giant bastard!  Once he's dead, it won't be hard at all to take the throne of Asgard for myself.  But, just to inform you, your beloved will be next," she whispered in his ear.  Clint fought hard against her magic, and successfully managed to bite her ear.  He gave it a good pull and almost bit it off.  The woman screamed and threw him against the force field.  Clint hit it and he cried out in pain.  The guards ran over and saw Clint struggling to get up off of the floor.  His tunic was burned through, and they saw the mark on his back.  Clint sagged, but his strength was not there.  He fell on the floor and fainted.

Emerald opened her eyes and moaned.  Why does that always happen? she wondered as she sat up.  Her hand went to her forehead and she closed her eyes again for a moment.  She heard a sound from beside her bed and she opened her eyes and saw Thor and Odin walking over.  Emerald huffed and fell backwards onto her mattress.  "The welcoming committee," Emerald grumbled as she rolled over and buried her face into her pillow.