#the devil outside

Their main goal was to keep him out of the city. The horns were sounding, Thor quickly tossed aside his blankets. He didn’t have time to speak with Jane, though guards were already stationed outside to answer any of her questions and keep his family safe. He summoned his hammer, which crackled with lightning as it transformed his sleeping clothes into full armor.

“Will Father be joining us?” Loki inquired, as the two ran through the castle.

“Doubtful. He has the power to stop Fandral, but he would rather me try and reason him first.”

“Would he really do that?”

Thor felt his chest ache in a way it hadn’t for a long time. “If he absolutely needed to, yes.”

The safety of not only Asgard, but the Nine Realms were more important than one person. Thor had to keep reminding himself that, otherwise this encounter would be impossible.

Thor and Loki arrived at the stables. Horses were the fastest way through the city, and before long were speeding off towards the rainbow bridge. The streets were deserted, though they saw some curious people peering through their windows. More and more guards followed until they had a small legion behind them. Once they hit the front gate, the horns silenced. The only thing they could see was what looked like dark red, billowing smoke entering into Heimdall’s observatory. The guards were instructed to stay at the entrance to the city, while Thor and Loki continued down the bridge.

The thick smoke was trailing out of the observatory and the horses stopped ten yards from the entrance. Thor hopped off his horse first, Loki stayed behind. He prayed that Heimdall was still alive. As he took one step inside, the smoke drifting midway up his calf, he saw him.

A huge, black wraith filled the observatory. It was oozing blood onto the floor like slime which turned to a misty substance as it drifted along the stone floor. The wraith had no face, but it had a large, gaping mouth that dripped blood from its black teeth. As his eyes drifted downward, he could see two figures in the mist.

Heimdall was crouching down next to the locking mechanism of the Bifrost. His hands were clinging to the sword, which was placed inside the lock. Either he let this thing in willingly, or he was trying to cast it out.

The other figure had golden hair, and he couldn’t see anything else.

“Fandral?” Thor called out.

He turned his head and said nothing.

“My prince, leave us,” Heimdall curled further into himself. “He can’t be reasoned with.”

Thor kept his shoulders broad and he stepped through into the pool of blood. “That will be for me to decide.”

“He’s right,” The figure spoke. It sounded like Fandral. “Fandral is dead.”

Up close, he looked the same [only he was dressed in dark clothes]. They had the same face, same beard, same brilliant green glint in his eyes. Though the presence surrounding him screamed otherwise, his gut was saying this was his best friend.

“I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true, I have seen it,” Heimdall said.

“Quiet!” The wraith and Fandral yelled in unison. The gurgling growl echoed through the chamber and was deafening for a moment. When the sound dissipated, it turned back to Thor. “You’re too late, prince. I’ll destroy all of Asgard before day breaks.”

Thunder crackled and boomed overhead. His hammer began to spark until a steady ribbon of electricity surrounded his arm. “You’ll have to go through me, first.”

“With pleasure.”

Thor yelled and a beam of lightning shot from his hammer directly into Fandral’s chest and he flew off the platform. Thor leap up onto the platform and watched as his friend struggled up to his feet. The wraith must have been very hardy for him to come out unscathed after a direct hit. Fandral drew the ebony blade and pressed it into the ground, helping him stand back up to his feet.

“You will die now, prince.”

Fandral launched forward, but his neck was caught by a staff lurching forward through the smoke. As if in slow motion, the staff pulled Fandral backwards and Loki could barely be seen through the body of the wraith.

“Not so fast, snake,” Loki snarled. “Let’s see if you’re really telling the truth.”

Loki pulled out a scepter - the one given to him by the Chitauri. He awkwardly pressed it to Fandral’s chest where he met a great deal of resistance. The wraith flopped to the floor, and its body bubbled over the pool of blood. “I don’t think this will hold long. Fandral, speak quickly,” Loki said as he pulled his staff off his neck.

Fandral looked as if he were breathing air for the first time in his life. He heaved and stared up at Thor - their gaze felt infinite. Loki gently kicked him into speaking.  “The sword is his power. It must be cleansed. Thor, you must go to Camelot. He’s gaining power so he can return there to rule. Thor, you have to go - you need to save everyone.”

“I need to save you,” Thor blurted out.

“No! He won’t stop. Thor - “ He choked once and gagged on his words. His hand went up to his throat and a force pulled him to his knees. Thor jumped to the ground and knelt next to Fandral. The wraith was taking shape once more, raising up from the floor. Fandral took in a long, drawn out breath, and then placed both his hands onto the floor. He chuckled under his breath. “Goodbye, Thor.”

He reached up and with a bloody hand, took Thor by the throat and pushed him back against the steps of the platform. He tried to shout, but his air supply was cut off. He looked up to see Loki and Heimdall speaking, but he couldn’t hear them. He used all of his strength to kick up into Fandral’s stomach. The moment he did, Fandral’s grip loosened enough for Thor to grab his hammer and knock him away. He scrambled up the steps where Heimdall had already opened the portal.

A blinding flash illuminated the observatory, and followed by a powerful gust of wind, Fandral and the wraith were blasted through the portal. Before Thor could even act, Fandral was gone.

Thor turned to see Odin standing before him. “What have you done?” Thor demanded, his voice weak.

“I am keep Asgard safe.” Odin’s voice was full of sadness.

“Father, he had more information!”

Odin turned his head. “I will not lose you to whatever evil has taken your friend.”

Thor took a step back and looked up to Heimdall, who glanced over to the portal, which was still running.

“The wraith will not stop if I do not act.” Thor didn’t wait for his father’s response. He walked into the portal, getting sucked out into space.

Thor had no idea where Camelot was, but the Asgardians deduced that the Ebony Blade was an enchanted Midgardian weapon. He was dropped down at the usual landing point on Midgard. He could see Avengers Tower glowing in the distance. Thor looked down at his armor - his knees and hands were covered in blood. He took hold of the strop on the hammer and swung it around, flinging himself into the air.