An Imposter Among Us

In Asgard, the gods and goddesses sit in council once more. Loki stands up to speak to them all.

"I have good news, and I have bad news. Which would you like to hear first?" Loki speaks, with a smile.

It's a smile that holds evil and a cruelty of an unknown kind within it.

A smile that makes everyone feel just a little uncomfortable, but it also has enough charm and charisma to compel others to want to speak with her.

It's very clearly a smile designed for manipulation. She speaks with a confidence that is...unnerving.

Olivia sits among the rest of the gods as she is shocked to see this side of him show. Her heart flutters seeing him in command like this.

Loki looks around the table at the other gods and goddesses.

He seems to stare a little too long at each of them, a look of disdain flashing across his face and a little smile gracing his lips, a smile that holds a secret cruelty.

One that makes it seem like he's hiding something very bad indeed.

"The good news, my fellow gods, is that I have solved the issue of the vision Olivia has had for a while." He says, staring a little too long at Hrafna.

His smile grows as he speaks.

"But the bad news…"

Olivia continues to sit seeing all the gods' faces glued to Loki's as he speaks. Her eyes glow with admiration seeing him wield his authority.

"The bad news is that this pesky little mortal…" Loki says, glancing down at Olivia.

"Has gone and touched the Book of the Damned. But it's all right." He says, as he gives an unnerving smile that is sure to unsettle anyone.

Loki starts to laugh then, and his laughter is...scary. Not unhinged and manic...just...scary.

Like the laughter of a predator that has successfully caught its prey. His laughter gets louder and louder as it grows into a cruel, and terrifying roar of laughter.

Olivia's heart sinks and her gut drops.

This isn't the Loki she knows...

The one that had dying devotion to her and loved her deeply....

Something is wrong...

As Loki's laughter subsides, he stares down at Olivia with the most terrifying expression yet.

Just pure hatred seethes from his eyes, and he slowly begins to stand, leaning down close to Olivia.

There's something in his eyes then, something that doesn't seem human. It's terrifying, like a predator staring at its prey.

"Tell me..." She says, leaning in close.

"What do you know about the Book of the Damned?" She asks, her voice threatening her, her cold fury now threatening to boil up his voice as she speaks.

Olivia frowns recognizing the predator like glare.

"Hilda..." Olivia hisses.

"What have you done?"

Loki smiles coldly and dangerously as Olivia accuses Hilda. Her smile seems cruel when she speaks. She looks right into Olivia's eyes, seeming to see through her soul with that look.

She seems just as scary as before and even more capable of hurting Olivia now.

It's like there's no one behind those cold, calculating black eyes.

He's not here…

Whoever is in control of Loki right now is not who Olivia knows.

There's no love, nor any devotion.

Only hatred and malice.

"...you know the book..." She says, her voice cold and calculating.

"What did you see?"

"What did you do to Loki!?" Olivia shouts as anger begins to boil in her body.

Her eyes slowly turn black with a hint of red in them.

Olivia's anger seems to anger Loki more, her cold fury burning hotter. She seems ready to lunge at Olivia if she doesn't answer her.

She leans in close; the air is electric between them as she speaks, her eyes growing brighter.

"Answer me!" Loki says the fury in her words growing with each passing word.

She doesn't shout; she's far too cold and calculating. Yet her anger is much more terrifying for all this.

"Hilda what did you do to him!?" Olivia yells as her aura grows around her.

Her eyes now fully black and red as the Book of the Damned amplifies her power and rage.

The black and red aura seems to scare Loki. She steps back as it starts to surround Olivia, she seems taken aback by her power suddenly growing.

She's even taken aback by Olivia's sudden change in demeanor.

She was expecting something much more subdued, maybe even a bit hesitant.

A look of surprise flashes across her face, and then it just as quickly goes away. Loki then straightens his back and looks at Olivia even more calculatingly than before.

Olivia stands as the powers start to consume her, gnawing at her mind and soul.

She's starting to not think straight anymore…

Rage is the only thing on her mind as she speaks her voice demonic and animalistic.

"Leave his body now Hilda." Olivia commands.

"I refuse." Hilda says, her voice very calm, yet her eyes hold a cold, dangerous kind of hatred.

She's quiet, but her eyes are burning bright with fury. It's different than anything Olivia has seen from Loki before, and in a way, that's what makes it terrifying.

"Then die."

With that Olivia disappears and reappears behind him as she touches his head, letting the power from the Book of the Damned consume them both as she goes into Loki's mind to retrieve him.

As Olivia grabs Loki she's flooded with a rush of power. The power of the Book of the Damned rushes through Olivia's soul. It's terrifying and it makes her scream.

It's a scream of pain and horror, and it sends chills down others' spines just hearing it.

She's in Loki's consciousness now, in his mind. And then just as quickly as it came, it's gone.

Olivia's vision goes blank for a moment…

What happened!?