"Theo..." The name was a whisper from her sore, parched lips. "Theo, please..."
"Is she calling for you, Captain?"
"No Sire, the boy. The more's the pity..."
Esther frowned. The voices reached her through a dream-like haze. Her eyelids were heavy, swollen with crying. Slowly, slowly, she forced them to open. Her sight took a few seconds to adjust.
The room was similar to the dungeon she had recently been hauled from. She registered that she lay on hard stone, arms shackled, once again, above her head. Her gag had been removed.
"Well..." sneered a cold, familiar voice, "Good Morning, little one. Finally, we can have a little chat."
Esther's body reacted, straining against her bonds, but there was nowhere to go. She realised her ankles were restrained and any movement would be slight and futile. He was there in an instant, leaning over her. Smiling, he wrapped his long fingers firmly round her throat and pushed her shaking form back to it's prone position.
"Now, now, be good. You're not going anywhere, my sweet. Not until you've told me what I need to know."
From here, she had her first, clear view of her king's face. His green eyes were piercing and intelligent. His skin was chiselled marble. In different circumstances she might have even found him handsome, but for the wicked smirk that cut through his features.
He radiated malevolence, leaning over her, dominant, demanding. This was not a man to provoke. He hadn't moved an inch, staring down on her, waiting for an answer. Esther found her voice, hoarse though it was, and tried to show deference in her ignorance.
"My King, I am a mere country maid of no importance, I swear to you, I know nothing."
Her breath came in shallow gasps of fear, making her voice shake. She lowered her eyes to escape his fierce stare. He was silent after her admission. Then, the relief of his hand slipping from her neck.
"Oh my girl... That just isn't true now, is it?"
Her heart stopped at Loki's quietly snarled words.
And then sheer terror as she felt hands grasp the hem of her gown and mercilessly begin to rip.
Esther's back bowed up from the slab beneath her, begging him to stop. Tears drenched her cheeks and her strained voice grew weaker with each scream. Theoric appeared over her to pin her waist flat, making it easier for Loki to mutilate the soft cotton. He tore a long, jagged slit, exposing her left leg all the way up to the top of her thigh, before stopping. Theoric released her and Loki was over her in a second, snarling into her face as she turned it away in shame.
"You DARE to deceive The God of Lies?! I know you try to cheat me girl, and this, you snivelling wench, is the very proof."
As he growled down at her he violently palmed her upper thigh, wrenching it up against her ankle's sharp restraint. Esther cried out and begged.
"Please! I don't know what you want! Please, sire, I beg you!"
"Oh, you will beg, and scream, and submit. I will see to it personally." his voice was a low, roar in her ear, "And if you do not give me what I require of you, I will release you into the... care... of my guards, who will see to it that you are completely, and in every possible way, used before they allow you your death. Do I make myself clear?"
Her mouth opened in a silent cry as he spoke, anguish flooding her.
"WELL?" he bellowed, slamming his fist on the surface by her face.
"Yes!" she cried out, "Yes, Sire."
His voice turned to appreciative caramel.
"There's a good girl."
And Esther shivered with terrified disgust as Loki ran his tongue up her cheek, relishing in the taste of her tears.