Prologue.
"Stop! Please!" He begged in between rugged breath. His face was covered in bruises and cuts, much different from the smugness he used to wear. He was now coughing out blood.
The man in front of him, sitting with his legs crossed, raised his hand. The man who was about to give Malekith another blow on the head immediately stopped once he saw the gesture.
"Lift him up."
Two guards abruptly lift Malekith. He couldn't stand on his own. How could he? They've been beating him up for the past hour; breaking his bones and almost tearing his skull. Indeed, Malekith was in trouble.
"Now you know who you're messing with!" He hissed.
HE doesn't really like torturing someone. It wasn't on his gentle nature, but he had to teach this man he's someone who shouldn't be messed with.
Earlier that day, Malekith broke into the hotel room of the man sitting in front of him. It wasn't really 'breaking in' and more of a trespassing, for he used the room's designated magnetic key. The man's own spare. The same key given to him by his so called friend.
He haven't even touched anything yet less than a minute later, the man's guards were already surrounding the place. Now, they dragged him into this dark room to torture.
"I'm sorry!" He wearily apologize. Blood running down his nose.
"What makes you think you could steal from me?" The man grinned. He stood up and walked towards the beaten man. "Now tell me…" He bent and pulled on Malekith's hair "how did you manage to duplicate my key?"
"I didn't!" Malekith blurted out of honesty.
The man's fist rapidly landed on his cheeks and he fell backwards. Malekith shielded his arms forward before the man "I'm telling the truth!" He cried "A girl gave it to me!"
"A girl?" The man repeated with interest. He wiped the blood on his knuckles with his shirt and leaned closer "What girl?"
"The girl who'd" Malekith coughed "been robbing you again and again! Please don't kill me!"
The man tilted his head, his guards already knew what he meant. They carelessly lifted Malekith to meet the gaze of the man before him.
"The woman's name is Sif "He exclaimed. The tall man towering her. "She owed me a lot of money so she gave me your magnetic key. They carelessly lifted Malekith to meet the gaze of the man before him.
"The woman's name is Sif "He exclaimed. The tall man towering her. "She owed me a lot of money so she gave me your magnetic key as payment. She said she'd been robbing you again and again and that you're too dumb to notice. "
The man raised his brow with interest, the smirk on his face was turning in to a genuine smile. Although there was blood surrounding Malekith's eyes, his eyesight wouldn't lie to him. He saw the look of interest growing within the man in front of him. He only needed to be clever and let the blame fall on Sif. He needed the man to be angry at Sif and not at him or else he could lose his own life.
"She told me you were a rich spoiled brat!" He spat but with not enough malice to trick him. He was too exhausted and beat up.
"And you believe her?" He smiled.
"No!" He bowed down and cursed under his breath. He caught Malekith with his own words. "I-I didn't even steal anything from you. If something's missing from your belongings it's Sif who took it and not me!"
"Very well." He clasped his hands behind his back and straightened "I'll give you 48 hours to bring that girl to me. If you couldn't do it, consider yourself dead you mewling."
She felt itchy, but had to refrain herself from scratching every part of her body that touches the gown she's wearing. She have to be poised, modest and act like she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She needed to blend in.
Everyman was wearing, she's sure was very expensive tuxedos while the women wore different luxurious gowns from different fancy brands like Prada, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, hers was from Brunhilde's, her friend. She was sure Brunhilde bought it at some thrift shop just around the corner. It was classy red strapless gown that drapes on her body flawlessly. Although it was bought for probably less than 10 dollars, Brunhilde insisted that she looks elegant wearing it.
Now she only feels like a whore. Her cleave were spilling out of her dress. Every man who turns to look at him just gave her the smug look she so detest while some women simply raised their brows at her. Well, other's dresses where worse. Some women were wearing gowns that has long slits at either side, exposing their thighs and if they move carelessly, sometimes their ass.
She used to be a high roller at casino, actually she still is or rather acts like one. From the hundred dollar she borrowed from Malekith as capital, she raised the money not realizing she was spending thousands of dollars just gambling. Because of her newfound status, she was able to join the V.I.P. Just like every other gambler, she wasn't immune to losing. Sometimes she wins but a lot of times she lose. And now she's broke and in debt.
She looked down on her watch, it was now getting late. "Where's that raven haired guy?" She thought, looking at the entrance. She had been waiting for an hour or two for him. She needed to go home within the next hour or the streets will be full of crooks and snatchers again. "This will be the last time, I promised." It pains her to think that from a simple waitress, she turned into a gambler and now a robber. She had been saying that phrase for the 4th time now, and for the 3rd time she will break that promise again. It wasn't in her nature to steal and it was downright immoral. But her morals aside, she had to think first about the rent, the food their going to eat and the electricity and water bill.
It wouldn't been the 3rd time to break the promise if only she wasn't robbed in the streets for 4 nights every time she walks out the hotel with the things she stole from the hotel room of the same guy. She was robbed 4 times by some thugs, whom pushed her in a narrow corner, she was even held with a knife once. That is why she needed to leave early or else it would be too dangerous outside again.
Finally, the two wooden doors opened and out came the man she had been waiting for. He was immediately greeted by the guards and the waiters, and most of the woman in the room. All of them trying to grab his attention and probably pity, she thought as she looked at his direction. Sometimes she thought that it was a ritual that every woman in the room in the room must greet him, and that she must greet him too. But now she have to move fast. If he's already here, it only means that no one is in his hotel room. Once he was settled on a table near the other end of the room, she wasted no time and strode away towards the door, not noticing the gaze following her.