Hey guys! Before I start, I just wanna give a shout-out to Austin and Ally Go 1 Direction ! I've known her for about 5 years now and she's such an incredible friend, one of the most amazing girls I know with the best taste in guys:) Not to mention a freaking amazing author too! Go check out some of her fics and I promise you that you won't be disappointed!
Anyways, onto the chapter!
My eyes open slowly from slumber and my mind awakens with a peaceful feeling. To my surprise, sleep is wonderful. The way my body just fell into the calm torpor was quite fascinating. If I could, I would sleep forever. I sit up and rub my eyes, cracking my back in the process. As wonderful as my sleep was, I'm sure it would have been even better if I wasn't sleeping on the cell floor.
"Ah, the mistress awakens." Loki sits on the bed, arms folded with that familiar mischievous look in his eyes. I turn away – catching my reflection in the mirror in the process. As curiosity plays with me, I head over to the large glass mirror and stare at the girl in front of me. My curls are long, the colour a soft, calming brown as it falls past my chest. As I tilt my head, it carelessly spreads out upon my shoulders and shows off the red and golden tints hidden within each strand. My eyes are a deep, dark chocolate colour, with a hint of gold in them. They're the kind of eyes that look like a mystery lurks deep inside. My gaze drifts across my face: I see slim pink lips and a single freckle on my small nose, with prominent cheekbones and a small chin. Letting my eyes fall to the rest of my body, my reflection shows a tall, slender body – not extremely skinny, but not heavy either. My violet gown only flaunts my long legs. I step away from the mirror and turn back to my creator. His eyes sparkle devilishly as he waits for me to speak.
"Why did you create me like this?" I ask. "Why did you choose me to look like this?"
He frowns, dark brows knitting together. "Are you not satisfied with your appearance, Auzreha?" The way he says my name makes my hairs stand on end. I drop my gaze.
"No, I just wish to know what inspired you to create me in this way."
He makes a 'humph' sound and tilts his head. "Read your book," is the only thing that comes out of his mouth. Swiftly he tosses me 'Romeo and Juliette' and I climb onto his bed, ignoring the look he gives me. "Oh and read it out loud," He says as he sits in his chair. "I want to hear you."
After a moment's hesitation, I begin to read. Actually, it's more like I begin to fumble across letters with my mouth, taking about a minute for each word and grumbling in frustration. Loki does not help this time. Honestly, it's annoying. I've only just started reading yesterday. If he expects me to be fine on my own today then he is seriously crazy. As I read, the other prisoners howl and yell, banging their fists against the walls of their cages. The noise only makes it harder to read, causing my head to spin and my eyes to lose focus. I'm just about to demand Loki to assist me when suddenly a guard is at our window, holding a breakfast tray. On cue, my stomach growls. Casually, Loki walks up to retrieve the platter.
"Good morning," Loki sneers.
The guard stares expressionless at his prisoner through the shiny gold helmet, and then his eyes flick over to me as I turn a page in the book. Confusion drifts across his face but is quickly replaced by eyes narrowed in suspicion as he says, "Pardon me, but that book is turning pages on its own. That is not possible." He looks back to Loki, ready to call him out and find him guilty of anything.
In the blink of an eye the book flies out of my hands and hovers in the air beside Loki, whose eyes slim down to scowling slits. I gape, watching as he steps close to the glass so his face is inches away from the guard's. Loki's voice is calm but threatening:
"You seem to be forgetting that I possess the gift of magic and trickery. I can do all sorts of things that others cannot. Imagine what I could do to you…" He chuckles menacingly and I can visibly see the guard gulp in fear. The book flattens against the window with a splat, causing the guard to flinch. The watch-guard steps away from the window with a slight tremor, but his voice does not shake when he says, "Your mother will be stopping by this morning." Then he leaves. The book falls to the floor. The only thing left hanging in the air is Loki's threat.
I'm a little taken aback by what just occurred, so instead of saying something like a normal person should do I just sit awkwardly on the bed and wait for Loki to speak first. The book still lies on the floor like a piece of trash. Finally, after what seems like millennia, Loki says, "My mother" – his voice takes on a funny tone when he says that word – "is a master of sorcery. She will easily see through the barrier and she will easily see you. Unless you stay completely still. Do you understand? One slight movement and you will be discovered."
I nod, understanding completely. The only thing that I don't understand is why it is so important that I be kept a secret?
It isn't long before Loki's mother Frigga; the Queen of Asgard appears suddenly in the room. How she came in here, I've no clue. One minute she wasn't here, the next she was. She's a pretty lady. With long golden locks flowing past her waist and a gorgeous silver dress that drapes across her slender body - she looks so beautiful despite her aging appearance. I sit perched on the end of Loki's bed and watch as Loki turns away from his mother and to the window, observing new prisoners who are being brought in. His hands are folded collectedly behind his back.
"Odin continues to bring me new friends. How thoughtful."
Frigga ignores his snide remark and gestures towards the book on the floor. "The books I sent, do they not interest you?"
Loki turns, and I watch silently as he walks around to the chair. I can clearly see his fingers fidgeting behind his back, though from resentment or nervousness I do not know.
"Is that how I am to wind away eternity…reading?"
Frigga sighs, her blue eyes filling with motherly compassion as she follows him. She walks right by me, so close that she almost brushes up against me. My muscles tense and I don't breathe as she falters, eyes fluttering in my direction in puzzlement. She looks around, eyeing up the spot I sit in. I squeeze my eyes shut so tight and will my body to stay entirely still. Luckily she brushes it off and turns back to Loki.
"I've done everything in my power to make you comfortable."
"Oh have you?" Loki leans forward on the back of the chair, the tension between mother and son growing. His face takes on a mocking look, eyes glinting sardonically. "Does Odin share your concern?"
Frigga's eyebrows raise, yet she doesn not speak. Loki continues.
"Does Thor? It must be so inconvenient – them asking about me day and night."
"You know full well it was your actions that brought you here."
"My actions?" Loki waves a hand to himself coolly and begins to walk away from his mother and back to the window. His jaw is working back and forth, voice loud and clear. "I was merely giving truth to the lie that I've been fed my entire life – I was born to be a king."
"A king?" Frigga counters. "A true king admits his faults. What of the lives you took on Earth?"
Loki's eyes fall to the ground, the back up, flashing once before he brushes it off. "A mere handful compared to the number that Odin has taken himself."
"Your father –"
"HE'S NOT MY FATHER!" Loki whips around so fast I cringe. All the agony, suffering and hate built up inside of him exploding in four words that pierce the hearts of each of us present in the room. He stands still, releasing a short huff. A sharp silence spreads around the room so suddenly and cuts into connection between Frigga and Loki. I can hardly breathe the silence is so thick. Frigga gazes at her son.
"Then am I not your mother?" She whispers, voice barely audible. Her son takes a panicked breath, closing his lips only to open them a second later, focusing back on the woman in front of him. Then he straightens.
"You're not," he says simply, his words stabbing.
She gives a sad smile and a dispirited laugh that makes my heart ache as she finally realizes her worst fear has come true: her son has isolated himself from her and cast her out of his heart.
"Always so perceptive," she says, eyes shining with the threat of tears, "about everyone but yourself."
Loki moves forward, reaching his hands towards her uplifted palms but his fingers merely move through her. Frigga stares at Loki with big eyes as she begins to shimmer and fade away.
And then she's gone.
Loki lets out a broken sigh and closes his eyes. Everything in me wants to crawl away and let him deal with this alone, knowing that this is his battle. But I find myself moving towards him and tenderly placing a hand on his arm.
"Loki," I find myself saying. "Loki."
He doesn't move.
"Loki," I try again, stepping in front of him, keeping my hand on him. The feel of another person under my own flesh is riveting and alluring, but I push the emotion away, focusing only on Loki and his pain. With eyes still closed he brushes my hand off of him and softly picks up the fallen book, wiping the dust off the cover. His malachite eyes shadowed with melancholy.
"Loki," I whisper now. He looks at me, eyes cold and empty once more. Firmly, he shoves the book back in my hands. His words are icy and raw when he says,
"Do not touch me again."
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