A/N: This is VERY important! There are triggers in this chapter for rape and abuse/assault. I promise this is the only time this will happen in this story, but I needed something to fuel the simmering God of Mischief and what better than something even more evil than he'd take credit for?
LOVE IS MADNESS
Chapter 4: Uninvited
I am here and I will be forever and ever and I
I know that there's nowhere you can hide it
I know the feeling of alone
Trust me and don't keep that on the inside
Soon you'll be locked out on your own
You're not alone - I know – Jude Cristobal
Darcy was taken to the showers again for the second time in a week. The first time she didn't take her clothes off and after an hour of protesting the guard dragged her back to her cell. Literally dragged, as she couldn't keep up with his fast pace and she tripped. Her wrists were still sore so she made sure to keep up this time.
"No arguments this time Lady Darcy. The King insists you shower or he will see to it himself... and I can assure you it will not be pleasant." The guard barked. Darcy nodded stiffly.
"Can I have some privacy at least?" She snapped.
"My being here is in your interest, not mine. Besides, since it will be your word against mine, I can tell you that no woman has ever appealed to me."
"What's your name? I mean if I'm gonna get naked in front of someone I should know their name." Darcy rambled as she started disrobing.
"Sander." She looked at him finally. He was average height, dusty blonde short hair, muscular, not bad looking and thankfully gay.
"Nice to meet you, Sander. But please? If you're just on the other side of the door..." she tried her best innocent, pleading smile and he sighed.
"I'll be right out here. If anything happens, shout." He walked out before she could register that he was warning her about others, not herself or her surroundings. She shivered. No one else was in here, so why did he worry so much about it?
She undressed fully and turned the water on. She stood under the hot blast of water and sighed. Sure, she was in prison, but the little things like a hot shower made the moment seem alright.
That was until her face met the stone wall in front of her with a resounding crack. She saw stars and tasted blood. She went to spin around to see what had happened when a large, naked body was pressing her into the wall, hard. "Make a sound and I'll slit your throat." She knew that voice and she swallowed a whimper. "You frustrate and disrespect me in ways I never thought possible." His hands slid over her body roughly and painfully.
"Please don't." Darcy cried, trying to buck him off of her but only feeling his pleasure in her fighting. She went limp. Trying for a new tactic she bartered. "Loki will kill you. Thor will burn you alive and what if Odin finds out?"
He laughed, it made her blood run cold. "And how will they find out, hmm?" He licked the side of her neck. She was finding it harder to breathe not only from her smashed face but from the very real chance that she might be raped. This couldn't get any worse, she had a quick thought of just pissing him off enough to kill her, but then she realized she wasn't ready for that kind of shit yet.
"I'll tell anyone who will listen. Until they listen. So you better think twice before you keep this shit up, asshole!" Darcy found her voice. Unfortunately, her face found the wall again. "Fuck!" She shouted in shock.
"I told you to stay quiet!" She felt something cold and sharp touch her throat and a sting as he pressed the knife into her skin. She whimpered.
"Drexel, please..." He held the knife still as he kicked her legs apart. No! No, no, no... He lifted her, sinking into her and she couldn't take anymore. "NO!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and bucked around him for a split second, realizing all it was doing was continuing the assault. For the second time she went limp.
"Lady Darcy?" Sander called from the other side of the door.
"You bitch!" Drexel growled, and dragged the knife down from her neck to her right breast, cutting her with a hiss. "You're marked now, you'll always remember this, even if it wasn't the way I'd have liked it to be... Dry off and get dressed. Say nothing or you'll regret it."
"Can't imagine it getting any worse." She sobbed still against the wall, she didn't want to look at him.
"Let me put it this way, if you say anything I'll kill Jane." With that she heard him walk away and it was finally quiet in the room, except for the running water and her breathing.
He had to be bluffing. There was no way he had any way to actually kill her best friend, right? She grabbed the soap and began scrubbing until her skin burned, then she toweled off. She tore part of the towel and pressed it to her sliced skin on her breast and tightened her shirt over it to apply pressure. She hoped the bleeding would stop before anyone noticed. Looking in the mirror she couldn't hide her obviously broken nose or the small slice on her throat. How was she going to spin this without saying anything about what really happened? 'Oh, I was just shaving my hipster beard and slipped.' That wasn't going to work. Shit! Shitty, shitballs!
"Lady Darcy, it's time to head back." Sander called from the door as he stepped in. She quickly pulled her hair in front of her neck to hide the cut and grimaced. "Lady Darcy!"
"Yeah, I slipped on some soap and fell into the wall. I'm graceful like that." Darcy lied.
"Let us go back to your cell and I will call for the Healer." Sander took Darcy's hand and led her back. She didn't want to hold his hand, but she didn't want to let go either. She felt like she was tainted and dirty and he felt wrong touching her. She knew better than to remove her hand, though. He may cuff her and she wasn't sure she could handle any further restraint.
Sander deposited Darcy in her cell and promised to be right back with the Healer. She didn't turn to see where Loki was because she truly didn't want to see his beautiful face looking at her with disgust or worse - pity. She really had to start listening to people when they talk. Sander had said he was there for her protection and she ignored it. Odin has warned her about causing trouble and she did what she wanted. All this shit that happened she put on herself and she was pissed and mortified. I provoked Drexel and was warned about that, too... when will I fucking learn? She couldn't stop the tears from falling. She was in a lot of pain but she wasn't sure what hurt more: the physical injuries or the mental ones.
"Don't just stand there. You're making me nervous." Loki drawled.
"Fuck you, God of donkey tits." Darcy growled. She didn't feel like putting up with his bullshit right now.
"I beg your pardon!" He was behind her, she could feel him. Her body responded before her brain told it not to and she swung her fist back and connected soundly with his manhood.
"Unf!" He moaned and stumbled, falling into her.
"Get OFF!" She screamed and Loki stumbled back a bit looking at her with confusion and rage. How dare she strike him! He was a God! He collected himself and grabbed her shoulder, twisting her to face him.
"What in the actual fuck...happened?" All his anger disappeared with the appearance of the girl standing before him. She looked atrocious! Her nose was smashed and her eyes were bruising and she had an ugly cut on her neck. He could also see what looked like towel tucked in her tight wrap. "Darcy?"
"I fell, OK? No big deal... Sander is getting the Healer or whatever so I'll be fine." She shrugged.
She was a terrible liar. "I'm not just the God of Mischief, girl. I'm also the God of Lies. Try again." He glared.
"I can't..." Darcy whimpered.
"You can, and you will." He seethed.
"Drexel...He...I...no, I can't. He'll kill Jane." She whispered. He heard all he needed. She watched as he seemed to shimmer, glowing in a dark green haze as his fists clenched at his sides and his jaw set tight, his eyes full of hate.
"Drexel has no power over you or anyone else. How did this happen?"
"It was all my fault. Don't... don't worry about it."
He stepped closer to her and before she could protest, he wrapped her in a tight hug. Her face pressed tightly into his chest, and though it hurt, his smell and the feeling of him made her feel safe. "I talked Sander into giving me privacy. He warned me it was a bad idea. It's my fault just like everything else." She cried.
"Nothing that happened to you today was your fault. Did he..." Loki didn't have the stomach to ask outright. But he needed to know.
"Yes." Admitting it had her in hysterics. He held her tighter and he muttered something she couldn't understand.
"Show me your injuries." He purred and she pulled away. Did he think that voice was going to help get his way? She was never taking her clothes off again. He could sense her discomfort and sighed. "I won't hurt you, Darcy."
She almost believed him. Sighing herself, she stepped away from him and pointed to her face. "So he smashed my head into the wall while I was under the shower. He did it again when I got mouthy..."
Loki tried to hide a grin. She would be in the most danger of her life and still have something cheeky to say.
"This," she pointed to the cut on her neck, "was because I screamed when he..." she shook her head. Loki hissed. "And this..." she pulled her shirt away and removed the blood stained piece of towel, "is to remember him by." It was still bleeding and she left her shirt open so she could apply pressure to the wound.
"I will end him, slowly. I'd like you to join me, so we can make his pain as accurate as possible." Loki was doing that glow-worm thing again.
"What?" She was confused.
"I will do to him exactly what he did to you, and more. He will beg for death before I give it to him." The sneer that spread across his face made her shiver, and she wasn't sure it was in a good or bad way. "You will be avenged, my dear."
"Careful now, you're sounding a lot like a hero instead of a villain!" Darcy smirked. How was it his evil plans made her smile when his comfort didn't. What was wrong with her?
"Oh, heroes don't torture, pet. But I do. Now, come here." Loki sat on his bed and beckoned her to him. Her legs were wobbly from the attack and from the way he looked at her right now. He looked like a shark, and she was a cute, fluffy baby seal. She obeyed though, and walked over to him. He reached out and pulled her onto his lap wrapping a strong, possessive arm around her waist. She stiffened. "I will not hurt you, that is my vow." She relaxed a little. "However, this will not be very pleasant, but I can't leave you like this."
"The Healer..."
"Darcy..." He growled. She shot her eyes to his. "Fuck the Healer."
Alrighty then! She just nodded. What kind of drugged up Wonderland was she in, exactly? This couldn't possibly be real. How could she be, you know, like 30 minutes ago and now beyond interested in the man who's lap she was now occupying. She should be afraid and disgusted by anyone's touch. She'd just been violated. But, with Loki, she was beginning to understand her feelings made no sense, ever.
"I have to touch you now. But only where you are injured." She raised an eyebrow. He didn't think her va-jay-jay was on that list, did he? Because Loki or not, no one was going near that for a very long time. It was tainted and dirty... "Trust me." Oh, yeah, sure... but she didn't move. He rested his hand oh so gently on her face and it tightened.
"Ah! Loki!" Darcy whined.
"It will be uncomfortable, your body is healing itself faster than it ever should. Just breathe in deeply." She took a deep breath and let it out. "There you go, just like that."
It felt like forever that he worked on her face when finally the tightening dulled and her face felt warm and tingly. He ran his hand down to her neck next. That hurt a lot less, but the way he watched his work intently made her stomach tighten. He was just so damn beautiful. His eyes were full of concentration and his jaw was set tightly. She wanted to lick it. What?! His lips were in a thin line as he stared at his hand. Or at her neck. She didn't care. Her neck took a short time and then she blushed when he caught her staring when he raised his eyes to speak. His lips quirked a bit at the edges.
"I'm going to touch the larger cut now. I must remove the towel to do this." He whispered and his breath washed over her in a magical, all consuming tonic and she just nodded as she swallowed a whimper. He nodded and removed the towel. His hand felt like the softest of silks as he slowly moved it to heal the large gash. Her stomach coiled again and... shit! Do not betray me like that! She bit her bottom lip - hard. He stopped his work and raised an eyebrow at her when he noticed what she'd felt. Stupid betraying nipples in the stupid tight shirt poking out to say howdy-do... fuck. "Darcy..."
"What? I didn't do anything." She grumbled and he threw his head back and laughed! A genuine laugh. She smiled and giggled. "What's so funny?"
"You are absolutely mind bending, you know that?" He smirked down at her. He couldn't help himself. He was the God of Mischief after all... "One more injury to heal..." he grinned and Darcy shivered. Ah, exactly what he was looking for. His hand ran down her side, to her stomach and began to creep lower, slowly and sensually. Suddenly the cell door clanged and Darcy shot up off of Loki's lap. "Fucking guards..." he growled to himself.
"Lady Darcy, I've brought the Healer." Sander said from the entryway to their cell. "Wait..."
"You are too little, too late Guard." Loki smirked and the Healer huffed.
"Had I known she was in such capable hands I'd have never left my post, Sander." The Healer mused. She smirked imperceptibly to Loki with a nod. She was tall and willowy, light skin and shocking long red curls framed her elven-like features.
"How was I supposed to know he was...thoughtful?" Sander asked.
"Thank you, Sander. Really. I didn't know he'd do this either or I'd tell you not to bother." Darcy blushed, still feeling the tantalizing warmth of Loki's touch over her body.
"I've snuck you some cookies and milk, too. It was the least I could do for listening to you." Sander approached Darcy and Loki stiffened. She took his gifts and smiled brightly. Loki added this Sander to his short list (that was growing by the second) with new victims.
"Thank you! That's so sweet!" She threw her arms around him and he laughed but patted her on the back gently.
"You may leave now." Loki grumbled and Sander pulled away, running his hand through his hair. The Healer rolled her eyes and they left with the resounding clang of the cell door locking behind them.
Darcy whirled on her cell mate. "What the fuck, Loki? He was just being friendly!"
"Guards aren't friendly without wanting something in return." Loki admonished and she sighed. She did tell herself she needed to listen to people more, but that just wasn't true about Sander. Besides, he was probably more interested in Loki than he'd ever be in her. She giggled. "And what is so funny?"
"You! You're funny. You sometimes remind me of a jealous boyfriend." She shook her head with a wry grin. Loki stiffened. He was no one's boyfriend and he certainly was not jealous of this insufferable girl.
"I believe you are mistaken, girl." Loki smirked, but she noticed it didn't meet his eyes. Bingo, she thought. She wasn't sure why this sent a thrill up her spine the way it did, though. So, instead she turned her attention to her prize.
She grabbed a cookie and took a tentative bite. Heaven! She demolished the rest of it and took a gulp of milk. "You gotta try one of these! Better than sex!" Loki raised an eyebrow at her comment. He highly doubted that, or the sex she'd had wasn't any good. Perhaps she'd like to experiment between the two and come up with a new conclusion. For science. She trudged over with her spoils and plopped down next to him. "Here." She shoved one of the cookies in his face. He plucked the sugary treat from her hand before she shoved it up his nose. He sniffed it. She laughed. "It's not gonna kill you. I already had one, remember?"
"How could I have missed such animalistic behavior?" He grumbled, but ate the cookie anyway. It was quiet delicious. He snatched the milk away from her and took a slow sip. He was very aware that she watched his mouth on the glass and added more fuel to the fire by handing it back and sucking the sugar off of his fingers. She shifted in her position and he grinned wickedly. "You're right. They are very good. However, I do not think they hold a candle to fucking." She gasped and bit her lip with a deep blush.
"I think I'm going to take a nap." She mumbled as she rose and put the remainder of her snack on the table next to his bed. She climbed under her blankets and pulled them up to her eyes, staring at him. He was very dangerous and she needed to stay away from him. All of the feelings, sensations, experiences she had today were totally uninvited and she needed time – eons maybe – to process it all. Nothing made sense, and for that reason alone she needed to slap a warning sign on that sexy fuck's ass.
"Sweet dreams, Lady Darcy." Loki grinned, producing a book and turning to where he left off. If nothing else, this was quiet the way to spend his incarceration.
PHEW! How'd you do? Did you make it through without too many scratches? This chapter took me a WHILE to write. I'm usually way ahead of finished before the 11th hour. I wanted this chapter to be respectful and honest because of the heavy content. It was also very hard to allow Darcy to be on such a precipice with Loki so quickly after her experience but it was very important to show the pull of influence he has on her. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter. And, I do promise this is the ONE AND ONLY TIME rape will be used in this story. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
All my love,
Joie
