To Love A God
Chapter 2 – What Happens Now?
She sat at the table, a plate full of food sitting in front of her, but she couldn't manage to eat a bit of it. A man had come to get her that morning, a well outfitted guard, to escort her to the dining room to have breakfast. She poked at the waffle on her plate, her chin resting in her hand. She was too distracted to eat. All Rika could think of was Loki and her dream.
Her cheeks turned crimson at the memory of it. She put her hand over her eyes, trying to cover herself. She couldn't believe it still haunted her. She tightened her crossed legs, trying with all her might to stop the ache that started to grow in the pit of her . . . she blushed, moving on from that thought. She flipped her waffle over on her plate, why couldn't she stop thinking of Loki?
She let her fork drop on her plate and let her face drop into her hands. She took a deep breath and commanded her mind to shutup, she needed to focus on finding a way out to get to her sister.
She pushed her plate away and leaned back in her chair. Her simple, quarter sleeved, knee high blue dress that Loki had given her was soft against her skin and, to her surprise, was actually rather comfortable. She wore a pair of black flats and pinned her hair back with a blow a shade lighter than her dress. She actually felt really pretty.
She looked sideways at the guard, wondering if she had any chance of getting passed him. She frowned, probably not, he was armed with some kind of automatic weapon she didn't recognize, not to mention she had no idea where she was or how to get out of there.
She sighed, "There's not a way I could get you to let me out of here, is there," she asked the guard, not really expecting an answer.
As she guessed, he made no response, didn't even turn to face her, or even shake his head. She shrugged her shoulders, it was worth a shot. She looked around the room, taking in the layout.
It wasn't very large, really, but it was large enough to hold fifteen people, tops. The ceiling was about eight to nine feet high, colored cream to match the off white walls. It was bare. No windows and only two doors, one to the kitchen and one to the hallway which led to her room and many others. The table was long enough for ten, four one each side and two on either ends. She sat on the end closest to the hallway door.
She looked back at the guard and stood, noticing he came to attention and watched her when she did so, "I guess I'm ready to go to my next chore," she huffed. The guard turned and opened the door for her, letting her through first. Two more were in front of her, leading her down the hall as the one from the dining room took up the rear.
Just as she thought, they took her back to her room. The one to her left opened her door and she walked in, ignoring the sound of the lock after the guard closed it. She looked around, sighing. She was going to die of boredom. At least that's what she thought until she saw a book lying on the vanity across the room from her. She slipped out of her shoes and walked toward the desk that held the book.
It was old, of that she was certain. The binding was a cracked and aged black leather, rough to the touch, with golden patterns etched in the corners and along the sides, making never ending knots. The pages were ragged and yellowed from their exposure to the elements over the however many years it had been. It was beautiful, she thought as she gingerly picked it up and flipped the cover open.
There was no writing on any of the pages, she noticed as she flipped through the aged paper. She closed it and looked at the spin, looking for any title, but found none. Why would someone have bound this book and not written in it? She softly ran her finger over the cover, feeling the age and history in the roughness of the leather. It was truly the most beautiful book she had ever seen.
"I had hoped it would please you," came His voice from the door.
Rika clutched the book to her bosom as she yelped and spun around to face him. He wore a regular outfit now, a green tee-shirt, a black leather jacket and black jeans with black boots. His hair was its usual sleeked back look as he stood in a wide stance, his arms behind his back.
"It's . . ." she trailed off as his words sank in, "It's for . . . me?"
"Yes," Loki replied evenly. She saw no emotion in him, but she felt like he was hiding something back.
"Why?" Rika asked as she clutched it tighter to her, afraid he would say no and take it away, but why it meant so much to her she had no clue.
"It's . . ." Loki looked to his right down at the floor, like he was choosing his words with the most care, "Do you humans often look your gift horses in the mouths?"
She knew he had changed the subject on purpose, something about it made him uncomfortable. What was this book to him? An old family relic? Or heirloom? She couldn't take this from him, it was much too valuable.
"I'm sorry," Rika said and looked down to her feet as shame filled her, she should be thankful he would have given something so precious to her, but she felt as if it came with strings, "Thank you, it's quite lovely."
Loki looked up at her, walking in the silent way he always did, "I wish to make your stay here more comfortable," Loki said steadily, his eyes showing nothing but her reflection as she looked deeply into the deep green expanse that was his never ending gaze.
"Why?" Rika heard herself ask again.
"You may very well be here for a time," he answered his body so horribly stiffened she feared he would snap in half. Why was he so tense around her? What did he have to fear of her?
"Oh," she said lightly, unable to continue.
"Is there anything you might need to make it so?" he asked. Was it her imagination or was he getting closer? It seemed only a moment ago he had been at least two feet from her and now he appeared to be within at least six inches.
"Music," she answered with the first thing that came to her mind, "My music. It's all at my apartment though."
'And Azure,' she added but couldn't seem to say. She needed her baby sister, but she had to keep her safe, so away from here was the safest thing for her, "And I need to make one phone call," she added.
"To your sister?" Loki asked knowingly.
"Yes," Rika replied with desperation in her voice, "Please, she has to know I'm okay. I need to talk to her."
"Very well," Loki said simply and pulled a phone out from behind him where his hands had been, "But make it quick."
Tears gleamed in her eyes, "Thank you," she said in a cracked voice.
She walked across the room as she dialed her apartment phone.
"Hello?" she heard Azure's voice on the end.
"Azure," she said and almost collapsed with relief as tears streamed down her face, she was okay.
"Rika!" Azure demanded, "Are you okay! Where are you! Call the police! They can get you out!"
"Calm down, Azure," she said not even annoyed at her sisters hysterics, she was too relieved she was safe, "I'm safe. I'm okay, you don't have to worry about me."
"You got away didn't you!" Azure yelled, "I knew you could! I knew you would be okay! I just knew it, your special. I knew your powers would help you!"
"Shush!" Rika hissed over the receiver, looking back at Loki. His back was to her as he slowly paced around the opposite side of the room, "I don't know if anyone is listening to this, so watch what you say. Listen, I need you to get out of the city, go where we went when you were younger, do you remember the place?"
"Yes," Azure replied and Rika could hear the tears in her voice.
"It's safe," Rika continued. She had to stay strong for both of them, "No one knows about it but us, no one will be able to find you there. Go there and wait for me, I'll come for you, I swear it, Azure. I promise, I will come for you."
"Ok," Azure's broken voice replied.
"I have to go now, Azure," Rika regretted to saying, "I love you."
"I love you," Azures cry came across the phone and Rika disconnected before she could hear her sister begin to sob. It pulled at her heart, like something grabbing hold and pulling on her insides.
"I am sorry, Rika," Loki said suddenly from behind her.
She screamed in alarm and jumped back, slamming into the wall as she did so.
When she cried out and yelped in pain from hitting the wall, Loki winced. He had thought she would have heard him.
"Would you not creep up on me like that!" she yelled at him, "You could at least say something or make a little bit of sound! You don't need to be all silent and stuff!"
He looked at her tear streaked face and knew her anger was a defense to cover her pain. He knew what that was like all too well, "I did not mean to frighten you," he said softly.
"You didn't frighten me," she snapped as she wiped the tears off her face with the back of her hand, "I was startled, not frightened. Just don't do it."
She pushed pasted him, bumping into him on purpose. She blamed him for everything, he felt in her heated glare as he followed her.
"I could bring your sister here," Loki offered, "All you need to do is –"
"I would never bring my sister here," she snapped cutting him off, "I would never imprison her."
"She would not be imprisoned," Loki tried again but Rika would have none of it.
"I said no, Loki!" she shouted at him and he felt the air charge, "My sister is alone and afraid. It's your fault! I should be out there with her right now, taking care of her. But I can't because you have trapped me! If my sister is hurt, it will be on your head! She was safe before you came along! You've thrown her into the worst kind of danger all because of your selfishness! If she is harmed in any way," she said through her teeth and the air in the room chilled, the wind whipping around them, "I'll take it out of your hide."
Loki's anger grew at her threat, "You can do nothing to me," he said sternly, "I have offered a place for her, a haven for her from harm. If she is hurt, it will be because of you foolish pride, Rika, not my selfishness!"
The air grew dense around him, but he could see it did not frighten her. He advance for reasons he didn't know, but she didn't fall back like he thought she would. She pulled herself straighter, though her five foot five frame had nothing on his six foot three. He towered over her, leaning in to only a hairs breath away from her face and yet she didn't give an inch, "You do not frighten me, human," he said in a sexual voice rather than the fierce one he had meant to use.
"I should," she said unfazed by his words.
He forced his lips to hers, crushing them against his. What was he doing! Had he lost his mind! Why was he kissing her? Her lips began to move with his as he reached up and grabbed a hand full of her hair, holding her tightly against him as little shocks of static shot through him. A desire like none he had felt an equal to roared in him to take her, to make her submit to him. He couldn't stop himself from grasping her waist and tightening his grip on it, making her unable to pull away from him. When he did she cried out and he toke the opportunity to explore her mouth, deepening the kiss as he did so.
Her moans cut him to his core, making him harden against her belly. She didn't move except for her mouth, her body must have been as stunned as he was at his actions.
He pulled back, almost throwing himself away from her, and slammed into the bed posts. What was that! What had just happened? Why had he kissed her?
He could see the equal expression of shock on Rika's face, her round eyes widened in shock as she put her hand against her lips. They both stared at each other breathlessly for what seemed like hours. Both too shocked to speak, Loki still on the bed and Rika on the desk.
Loki opened his mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came to him. He looked at Rika's blushed face, admiring the way she was fighting herself on the inside, her facial features changing to the internal conversation.
Loki stood and walked for the door, he needed time to sort out what had just happened, they both did, whatever it was.
"Where are you going?" Loki heard Rika cry out in desperation then clamp a hand over her mouth, he turned to look at her, "I mean, never mind. Maybe it's best you did leave."
She turned her back to him and leaned against the desk, bending over in the process to put her beautifully round bottom in the air like a display. A groan escaped Loki as he turned away, his erection getting harder as he thought about how good she felt against him.
"I won't come back," Loki heard himself say to her as he looked to the door, afraid, he realized of what emotion might over take her, "Not unless you summon me."
With that he left, not looking back. He closed the door and forced himself to walk to his chambers. Something gripped his heart as he forced open his door and walked in, closing it and locking it behind him. He ached for Rika, to hold her, to feel her skin against his. He took off his jacket and threw it across his room. Why was this happening to him! He had a plan, for Odin's sake! Why was this woman haunting him so? What was it about her that drove his ever cell into chaos? Why did he ache for her in the very depths of his heart? Of his soul?
He had heard of this happening before, of a human Calling to a god. He had thought it myth, or in the very least impossible for him. Especially after he found out he wasn't really a god. His eyes burned, he would not cry. He slammed his fist into the wall, the very one that adjoined with Rika's. He would control this!
But the harder he fought to take it in, to suppress it, the stronger the feeling became.
He was stronger than this!
He closed his eyes and felt something hot and wet roll down his cheek. He ground his teeth together and wiped it away with a flick of his wrist. Was this really happening to him? Was he being Called? Was she his?
It can't be, he thought, it would be impossible. I'm not a god, I can't be Called.
He stripped to nothing, and crawled into his bed. He knew one way he could see Rika, knew one way he could find his answers. A gentle smile eased up his lips, he could have her there and she would not fight it, she would embrace it, embrace him.
Rika tossed and turned in her bed, covered by the sheer sheet instead of the heavy comforter. She drew it up around her face, taking deep breaths. She was so tired, but she couldn't seem to make her brain turn off. What had happened? Why had Loki kissed her? Why had she kissed him back? Why did her heart ache for that kiss again?
For some strange reason, she knew that if she could only sleep, she would find the answers. She needed the answers. But sleep wouldn't come to her. So she was forced to toss for hours more, trying so hard to push out all thought, but he was there, always there in her mind. She couldn't force him out. Was Grandmother right, she wondered, was she really Calling Loki now? Was that why he had kissed her? Was that why he was all she could think of? Was the very fact that she was thinking of him, of those soft lips pressed against hers, moving in perfect rhythm with hers, drawing more desire from her Calling him?
She let out a frustrated breath. Always more questions than answered it seemed when it came to Loki and herself.
She wanted to call out for him, to have him comfort her, but she bit her thumb, she wouldn't give in. Not until she ended the war Loki was bringing and not before Azure was safe.
She nodded as she chewed on her lip, that's what she would do. Save Earth and her sister first, then she could have Loki.
