Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Sixty-Four

The pressure that was against my chest disappeared and everyone around me melted away from me. I looked around quickly trying to reorient myself in the room that I was in now. The room was huge and one I have not been in before. Behind me was entirely windows and looked out over the deep cavern below, a river thrashing itself violently around the bend far below.

"Would you look at how beautifully this plan has worked out," Loki's voice broke the silence from behind me. I turned around quickly and faced the duplicate of me standing near the back of the room. He was smiling at me with my mouth, a sick smirk on his mouth. I couldn't bring myself to say anything, my voice didn't seem to want to work. My entire body was trembling and fear was coursing through my veins. He stepped toward me. "They think you're me and I'm you. It's brilliant," he said. It was uncomfortable and unsettling for me to hear Loki's voice coming out of my body.

"They-they can't. Ton-Tony will find a way," I stuttered, my voice broken. He tipped his head back and laughed.

"You really think that? All I had to do was raise my core temperature and they already believe that I'm you," he said. I had flashes of Thor slamming me back against the wall and Tony holding his hand. My chest constricted at the thought. He laughed again and neared me. "They will kill you, thinking that it's me. And when they realize what they've done, they will destroy themselves. I won't have to even lift a finger," he laughed.

"I-I-I'll show them. I-I-I'll hold the s-stone and then they'll see!" I shouted out. Loki laughed low in his throat.

"Oh, honey. Do you really think me so stupid? Of course you would, which is why I'll just have to do it first," he said. I looked at him confused. He won't be able to hold it, unless. A knife appeared in his hand and he slashed a violent gash into my upper arm. Blood erupted from the wound and his wrapped his free hand around it, covering his palm with my blood. As he covered his hand with my blood, he simultaneously healed the deep slash on my arm. He stepped back from me, my blood dripping down his fingers and to the floor. Before either of us could do anything else, the door was kicked open. The group stood there for a moment before flooding into the room.

"Tony!" he said, his voice back to mimicking mine. He ran over to Tony and Tony wrapped his arms around him, thinking it was me. Everything in me ached and screamed but I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even tell if this was really happening or if it was another crazy dream. I looked around in a daze, trying to figure out if this was real or not.

"I know how we can tell them apart!" Tony shouted out suddenly. All eyes turned to Tony.

"How?" Steve asked. Tony motioned toward the table.

"Only Lucy can hold the Stone. That will tell us who's real and which is Loki," he said.

"Brilliant Stark!" Thor boomed. Tony walked over to the table and picked the Stone up with his hand still covered. I watched and wanted to scream out but I couldn't. There was a vice around my throat and I couldn't force anything out. He turned to Loki and held the Stone out. Loki took it carefully with the hand covered in my blood. The heroes waited, holding their breath for something to happen.

"Ta-Da," Loki sang in my voice. Thor growled as he stalked over to me. He grabbed me by my throat and slammed me back against the glass. My teeth rattled as my vision blurred.

"Loki, stop this," he growled. I chocked as I tried to say something. I clawed at his hands but it was no use. My vision was blurring and no one would do anything. Tony was glaring in my direction but would not help, thinking he'd saved me. Loki's smile could not be contained and spilled over. This was where I would die and it would be at their hands. And I could not prove otherwise, "Show yourself!" Thor demanded. I gasped and kicked my feet to try to get a hold on the ground. Thor slammed me back against the window, a spidering crack appearing in the glass. In frustration, he turned and sent me flying through the room. I tumbled to the floor in front of Tony. I gasped and choked, trying to regain my ability to breathe. I opened my eyes to see Tony aiming his blaster at me. The charge was ringing out. I covered my head and looked away.

"No!" I breathed, my voice breaking through finally.

"Give me one good reason," Tony hissed. I looked back and caught eyes with Loki. I realized that his eyes hadn't changed colors.

"Cause I'm not Loki! I'm Lucinda Scaffer! You know me, Tony!" I pleaded. He hesitated for a moment.

"No you're not," he said finally.

"I am! I can prove it! Please," I begged. He lowered his hand slightly.

"How?" he asked.

"Tony! He's lying! He's Loki! I've got the Stone," Loki said before I could answer.

"Please let me try. Let me hold the Stone," I begged.

"Don't listen to him, Tony!" Tony looked from him to me, not saying anything.

"Tony, look at her. Her eyes didn't change colors. Please let me show you," I begged. His head snapped over and looked at him. Loki looked lost for a moment. It was long enough for Tony to snatched the Stone away. I took it and wrapped it in my shirt to wipe the blood off. I looked up at him, flashing my free hand to prove I had nothing on or in my hand before picking up the Stone. Its usual warmth rushed through me, my face running warm. He gasped and in the reflection of his mask, I could see the green in my face.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," he gasped as he scooped me up in his arms.

"Ah well, I almost got you. Really had you all going there, didn't I? I probably could have gotten a little kiss if I'd tried a little harder, really seal the deal," Loki said, his regular voice back. I watched as my face disappeared and his was revealed.

"How did you hold the Stone?" Steve demanded. Loki held up his hand, showing my blood that still ran down his arm.

"Really, you are not very observant," Loki said. Thor launched his hammer at Loki who simply disappeared.

"Loki!" he roared. Tony pulled me to my feet and held me tightly against him.

"Lucy, I'm so sorry," he muttered in my ear over and over. Having him hold me, I had flashes of images that I was not sure if they were memories or dreams. I felt my whole body trembling in fear and confusion. Loki appeared again by the windows. He looked over at me and Tony. He started laughing.

"Still trying to figure out if this is real?" he asked with a smirk.

"Loki, stop this. It is over," Thor demanded.

"Is it?" he asked. He waved his hands and soldiers and Chituri appeared around the room, so many that movement was almost impossible. I gasped and moved as far away as I could, Tony standing in front of me. The room broke out into loud, messy chaos. "Or has it just begun, brother?"