Chapter 4.
He heard the rain drumming on the windows and another sound outside, his eyes following a white vehicle as it approached the house. It stopped, the person in it getting out and he heard a knock from downstairs. He went still, hearing the knock again and the distinct sound of Elizabeth's shoes on the hardwood floors click toward the door. She was wearing a lavender skirt and a white sweater, he liked the colors with her hair but did not admit it openly to her. He had learned y observing her that she tended wear garments that flattered her often, but some days dressed down. He did not mind though, as long as she remembered he existed.
He had been there for eight days now, and the sound of anyone knocking on the door still made him tense. He was more comfortable with her seeing him nude when he bathed, and could bear to look her in the eye when she spoke to him. She helped him dress sometimes, and now he lay on the bed in a pair of blue, heavy cotton trousers she called jeans, and flannel tunic in red, green, and yellow, and a pair of black sneakers that he found her.
He managed to get out of the bed earlier when she went to a place called WalMart to get him some different toiletries, and he found her Chambers. Amazed to see that they were rather nice, the bed four posted like his, but covered in a pale rose canopy and the posts made to look like tree branches forged in metal. Her Duvet was cream and patterned in blue and pink flowers with matching pillowcases, and her wardrobe held only clothes. She had a stained glass set of French doors to the left of the bed that opened onto a balcony, the glass cut to look like dragonflies and on the small balcony was a chair and table to have tea on. He also noticed that she had her own Bathing Chamber as well, and he looked under her sink to find toiletries that she used in her grooming. He did not mean to pry, but he was curious about this Mortal who assisted him so much. He limped down the hall and found that the Master Staircase went up another floor, and down the hall a little further was another guest room decorated in blues and yellows. He looked down the stairs and debated looking around the first floor, and decided it would be best to not attempt it until his knee improved more.
When she returned with several plastic bags in tow, and she gave him several packages of short trousers that he was to wear under his clothes that were made of cotton and a stick of perfume for under his arms. He put them aside, and agreed to her demands he use them and she handed him a few books that she borrowed from the library for him to entertain himself with. He had read the first few pages of one, setting it aside and finding it dull and becoming engrossed by the second as he read about Mortals building a Church in what they called the Middle Ages.
It was becoming routine for them to have small conversations when she brought him his meals, and he was becoming comfortable with his surroundings. He had mastered the multitude of channels on the television, and sometimes found himself enjoying historical Dramas and informational programs over the other forms of entertainment that was offered.
He heard the door close, and he saw the truck lumbering down the gravel and dirt driveway. Relaxing and returning to the book in his lap and he rubbed his sore knee unconsciously. A crack of thunder arced across the sky, and he jumped and stared out the window into the storm. The lights above him flickered and he cursed Thor under his breath, wondering if this was the mark of the Oaf's arrival. Pushing the thought aside, because he knew that the fool would make no time for him. He looked up at the door, seeing Elizabeth standing in it and set the book aside.
"Storm is getting worse, we may loose the power so I am putting out candles." She said and set a jar on the table near him. "You want a snack or something? I got some cookies at the store."
"I will try them, I imagine that you will light the candles if you need to." He replied and she nodded. She walked back down the stairs and returned with a tray again with a plate for three flat, baked sweets and a cup of a warm drink on it. He smelled the drink, looking up at her and tasted it. The sweet, creamy chocolate drink coated his tounge and made him nearly widen his eyes. It was warm, and smooth to the taste.
"Hot cocoa, it is kind of good with chocolate chip cookies." She said and lightening arced across the sky. He noticed that she had put on a heavier, cream colored knit sweater and it complimented her outfit well.
"It is very good." He said and she looked at him in suprise.
"I better remember this, an actual compliment from you." She said and smiled. The roll of thunder shook the house, and the light above them flickered out and she sighed. "There they go. I better start lighting, there is no telling when it will come back on."
"Hopefully soon." He said and jumped at the next crack of thunder. She noticed and he sighed, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "I am not overly fond of thunderstorms."
"Judging Thor, I really dont blame you. Do you think this is his fault?" She asked and she shook his head. The willow tree in the yard whipped about in the strong wind and she took out a device and ran her thumb along the top of it, igniting a flame in her hand and lit the candle next to him.
"Not likely, he cannot be bothered with me. He is to be King of Asgard, and I am to sit on this planet and be forgotten." Loki replied and she frowned at his statement. She shook her head and set the glass jar back down, pointing at it.
"I think they will remember you." She replied and tapped the glass. "I only have a Vanilla Yankee Candle left. I ran sort of low from putting them in the bathrooms, it should make everything smell like cake."
"I will try to enjoy that." He said and opened his book again, turning to the page he left off on. "This book is interesting, I will have it back to you before you have to return it."
"Thanks. Paying late fees on Library Books is an expense I can't really swing right now." She replied and stood quietly for a while. He looke up at her, seeing that she was a bit lonely and he nodded. He really did not want to have a conversation with her, but he felt a bit obligated to do so. She did deserve and explanation for his presence, and to know the terms of his exile but did not want to admit his humiliation . She turned from the window, walking out of the room and he could hear her lighting candles around the house, the one next to him filling the room with a scent of sweet baked goods.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The storm lasted until well after dinner, and Elizabeth sighed as she looked out at the darkening sky. She walked up the stairs, finding Loki laying asleep on the bed and she checked the candle. Only a little bit of it had burned down, so she left it and walked toward her room. Before she could leave him, she froze at the sound of his voice and turned back to see him looking g at her.
"What?" She asked him and he grinned.
"I was saying that I was wishing you a good night." He said and she nodded, her eyes falling on the book open across his chest.
"Oh. Goodnight, I guess there is not much else I can do without light. Shout if you need anything." She said and he nodded. He turned onto his side and pulled a blanket over himself and closed his eyes. She leaving and changing her clothes for bed. As soon as she lay down, her eyes closed and she fell asleep for the night.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She woke hours later, a strange muffled sound from the bedroom across the hall and she blinked as she sat up. She heard a moan, maybe fear and anger in it as it filtered to her room. She found her robe, crossing the hall and peering in on Loki.
He lay on his back, his face contorted in his nightmare and he tossed onto his back and pulled at the blankets. Elizabeth ducked back, and he sat upright and panted to calm himself. He saw her, and she stepped out of the shadowy hall and into his room.
"You okay?" She asked him and he nodded, he looked at her in her nightgown and she licked her lips.
"I am well, no need to be concerned." He replied and she rubbed the sleep off her face. She leaned against the door jamb, looking at him and he tried not to stare at the lace and silky material of her shift. The pearl gray material tempting him to look and he lay back down on the bed.
"You sure? You were making some pretty messed up noises, sounded like you were having a nightmare." She said and he waved a hand at her dismissively.
"Yes, I am quite sure. You are hardly dressed to be in the presence of a man as well, and should worry about your modesty." He shot back and she shrugged, closing the robe around her and blinking.
"For a jerk, you sure are worried about making me look bad." Elizabeth poked back and he looked at her. "You have been cooped up for days here, not much human contact because I have been busy. Tomorrow is the Universiry District Farmer's Market, and I have a stand I set up there. Maybe you can tag along and helped bag the soaps and shampoos I make for sale here."
He lifted his head and stared at her, his eyes blinking at her proposal and he gave a quick nod. He sat up and rested his arm on his good knee, tilting his head to the side. On one hand, he had to be polite and converse with those pathetic creatures, and on the other, he was starting to feel caged in. He was needing fresh air, and missed the feel of sun on his skin most of all.
"I would like to go." He said and she smiled at him.
"Was that so hard?" She teased him back, turning and walking back to her bedroom, from across the hall he heard him snort and she laughed to herself.
"Dont believe that you forced me to that choice, I made it of my free will!" He called out across the hall and she laughed harder at the statement. Her head hurt again, and she blew off his attempt at being the one in control and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever helps you sleep." She said and took off her robe to lay back down. She looked at the darkened doorway, curling in her side under the covers and fell back asleep. Across the hall, Loki lay awake and thought about his revenge on Odin, the memory of the nightmare of Thor and and the Warriors hunting him like an animal causing him to shiver in the dark room.