Chapter 38

I started rubbing my hands over my legs as I thought about that. What other powers could I end up with? Dammit my palms were still fucking itchy. It seemed it was getting worse. What the fuck was on that wall that I was allergic to? My back wasn't itching.

Loki noticed me scrubbing my hands over my jeans, over and over. "What is wrong, darling?"

"I don't know. There must have been something on that bathroom wall I'm allergic to. Maybe a cleaner or something. My palms have been itching like crazy since we left the room. It's getting worse. I just need to go get some allergy cream or Benadryl or something. "

Alarm crossed his face and he stood abruptly, knocking his chair back. It startled everyone into silence. I stared up at him wide-eyed. Why was he so concerned about an allergic reaction?

He looked panicked and grabbed my wrists and pulled me to my feet.

"Loki, what's going on?" He started pulling me towards the front door. "Wait, what's wrong? Why are we going outside? Loki?"

His panic was starting to affect me. I felt a tightening in my chest, almost as if I was about to have a panic attack. "Loki, please slow down. Tell me what's going on?"

He dragged me out the door and to the middle of the yard and had us kneel down. I saw that Bucky and the rest weren't far behind us.

"Barnes, I need your help. This is important and Ariane could be seriously hurt."

Bucky ran over as fast as he could and slid to a stop on his knees beside me.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Hold her forearm and shoulder tightly. I have the feeling this will be powerful, and we will need to keep her grounded. And whatever you do, do not touch her hands. Not yet."

Bucky did as Loki asked with no questions. I had plenty of them though. But I couldn't seem to get any of them out. My chest got tighter and tighter and it was getting harder and harder to breathe.

I started to really panic. "Lokes, I can't... I can't breathe! I'm... I'm scared. What's ha..happening?' I could barely gasp out the words, 

"It will be alright, my darling. I promise. We are here to help you." He looked behind him. "Thor, keep them back. It's almost time."

Thor's eyes widened. "Is it what you went through, Brother?" He paled at Loki's nod. "By Odin that she comes through safe. Everyone back up. Wanda you are going to want to shield tightly."

I had stopped listening. The pain in my chest was increasing and my hands felt as if they were on fire.

"Holy shit!" I heard Bucky's voice, and I looked down. My hands were actually on fire. An emerald green and royal purple fire. My chest got tighter, and I couldn't draw a breath. I panicked. I had no air! I needed to breathe! The pain got worse and worse. Tears streamed down my face as I fought to breathe, fought them to get free. I started to see black spots.

"Should it not have already happened, Brother? What is going on?" Thor sounded concerned.

"Yes, it should have already occurred. I don't understand why it hasn't. Thor! I'm scared it's going to kill her! She can't breathe and there is nothing we can do!" Loki sounded terrified.

I heard his terror and something in my chest responded to it and seemed to grow until it felt like my body couldn't hold it. All of a sudden, I could draw in air but it came out as a ragged scream. Over and over each breath was a scream of the most intense pain. No wound I had ever gotten had felt this bad. Not even when that Werewolf almost opened my stomach with its teeth and tried to eat me.

More and more screams filled the air, and I caught a glimpse of Thor holding everyone from rushing forward. In the quick look I was able to take I saw the anguish and terror on Loki's face and the pain on Bucky's. Another scream was dragged out of me. It felt like something was trying to claw its way out of my chest.

"By Odin, I beg you, let it finish and have her pain stop!" Tears were running down Loki's face. Even in as intense pain as I was in, I was still trying to shield them from what I was feeling. I tried to shut their doors, but they were pushing back, determined to share this with me. 

I gave a shriek that seemed to almost rupture my vocal cords. I threw my head back with the pain and suddenly what was trying to get out broke free. A blast of green/purple power burst from my chest and beamed into the sky. As it burst forth, I saw everyone behind me pushed back from the force that spread out around me. Trees were whipping as if caught in a hurricane. I tried to claw at my chest, but Bucky and Loki held me down. All I could do was scream as the power rushed forth. Loki was still looking frantic. I couldn't hear either of them in my head. I could feel that this power was destructive as it tried to seduce me to let it run wild and unchecked. I could not risk innocent people getting hurt. I fought the power back, determined to tame it. Instinctively I knew I had to get it under control before it controlled me. I entered into a battle of wills that seemed to last forever. Finally, I beat it back and was able to gain control. I pulled the power back into myself. It was still too much for me to hold in. With one last scream, I released the energy in a blast that was like a bomb going off. Everyone but Loki and Bucky were blown backward and to the ground, even Thor.