IT'S BEEN QUIET on the ship after Loki and Thor's quarrel. The two brothers seemed to have come to terms with each other after their mother's death, both saying the things that needed to be said, and an uneasy silence has settled over them. Jane slept the entire time, while Anna watched silently as Loki navigated them through the wreckage of the Dark Elves' civilization.

She opens her mouth to speak, but Jane stirs at the front of the ship and draws their attention. Her eyes are unnaturally dark, shining with an unfamiliar color, as she blinks a few times before turning to face the sky.

"Jane," Thor says softly, moving toward her.

Anna lifts her eyes to the clouds, and she stifles a gasp when she sees a ship emerging from the cloud cover in the distance. Her nerves jump in her throat, fear racing through her veins, as she stands and moves closer to Loki. It wasn't long ago that she was blissfully unaware of the existence of aliens, but after the Battle of New York the entire world had changed. Her entire world had changed. Now, she's on an alien planet - with two aliens who are practically gods - and she's in love with one of them.

"Malekith," Jane replies.

Loki glances at Anna, wishing he'd been able to convince her to stay on Asgard. Foolishly, he allowed her to join them without any argument. Perhaps it was Thor's idea to bring her along to keep Loki in check, and - to his credit - it's a good idea. He can't risk her safety. He won't.

He lands the ship deftly after exchanging a knowing glance with Thor, settling into the barren rock behind a ridge of low mountains. They disembark quickly and quietly, none of them wishing to speak while the threat looms heavily in the air, and move up the mountain to overlook the valley below where Malekith and his men have landed.

"Alright," Thor says to Jane and Anna. "Are you ready?"

They both nod, and Anna gives Jane's hand a reassuring squeeze. Her role in this mess is far more terrifying than Anna's.

"I am," Loki replies sarcastically, earning a glare from both of the women.

The two brother's stand, making their location known to Malekith, while Anna and Jane remain hidden. Loki looks out over the valley, excitement building in his chest at the prospect, and he forces himself to remain calm. His revenge for Frigga's death cannot come soon enough.

"You know, this plan of yours is going to get us killed," he tells Thor.

Thor stares unwaveringly toward Malekith and his men, "Yes, possibly."

Loki watches him carefully before looking at Anna one last time. Her blue eyes stare up at him with such innocence and vivacity, both qualities he knows he does not deserve but will do anything to protect, and he turns back to Thor. Thrusting out his wrists, he nods down at his shackled hands.

"You still don't trust me, brother," he says incredulously.

The blonde Asgardian smirks, "Would you?"

Reaching forward, Thor grasps the shackles that bind Loki's wrists and carefully releases him. Jane and Anna stand slowly, and Anna watches as Loki rubs his hands together. His power is no doubt returning to him, the familiar sensation flooding through him, and she can see that he is holding back a smile.

"No, I wouldn't," Loki replies, conjuring a small dagger in his right hand.

He turns swiftly on his brother, driving the dagger into his side, before withdrawing the blade and tossing him down the mountainside. Thor falls down the rock in a flash of red, while Jane cries out his name. Anna jumps forward, horrified, only to grasp thin air as Loki rushes down the mountain after his brother.

She rushes after Jane, both of them skidding downward as they kick up dust, and scramble after the two brothers. Anna bites back tears as she wills her body forward even though everything in her is screaming to shut down. This cannot be happening. Loki wouldn't do this. Not to Thor. Not to her.

"You really think I cared about Frigga," Loki spits. "About any of you?"

He takes a quick jog forward and kicks Thor solidly in the face. Anna reels backward at his words, stumbling down the rest of the rocks, while the feeling of a knife twisting in her chest only stabs deeper. Her lungs are on fire, tears nearly blinding her, and she can hardly push herself off the ground to rush after Jane.

"All I ever wanted was you and Odin dead at my feet," Loki screams at Thor, his face contorted with rage.

Thor pushes himself off the ground while his eyes seek out Mjölnir. He reaches out, calling the hammer to him, but Loki raises the dagger once again and swiftly brings it down on his brother's arm. Deprived of his hand, Thor howls in pain while Mjölnir flies past and thuds to the ground out of reach.

Jane reaches him soon after and collapses to the ground next to him. Anna follows her, but - instead of focusing on Thor - she runs straight to Loki. He whips around to see her right before she reaches him, lifts a hand, and backhands her like she is no more than a pesky fly. The shock of the blow hits her more than the strike itself, and she crumbles immediately.

The fallen Asgardian prince turns away from her instantly, one arm wrapping around Jane's waist as he drags her away from Thor, and forces her upright despite her struggling. Anna clamors to her feet, eyes wide, as she stares between Loki and the newly-arrived Malekith.

"Malekith," Loki roars. "I am Loki of Jotunheim, and I bring you a gift."

He throws Jane forward with brutal force, and Anna cries out as she rushes toward her fallen friend. 

Her heart is aching, shock and terror rippling through her, as everything she believed about Loki falls to pieces. Instinctively, Loki reaches out to grab her before she can pass him - his firm grip immobilizing her before she can fight against him - and he pulls her against his chest, forcing her to watch helplessly as events unfold.

"I ask only one thing in return," he says to Malekith, shaking Anna brusquely as she struggles against him with tears pouring down her cheeks. "A good seat from which to watch Asgard burn." 

Now playing: "The Ruler and The Killer" by Kid Cudi.