Chapter Nine: Words

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."

-Rudyard Kipling

The past week they'd spent getting to England and as discreetly as possible figuring out the routes they needed to get to the Sharpe manor, otherwise known as Allerdale Hall. Given he had to feign a lot of ignorance or manage to suffer through people that seemed to know this body he was quite happy to have the moment of somewhat respite. The bouncing wasn't exactly enjoyable, but it could be worse.

"Where are you from?" Edith had promised to keep her questions to a minimum until they'd reached the manor. Now that they were well on the way to the destination in a bumpy carriage ride Loki supposed she'd decided it was as good a time as any to get back to her curiosity. She'd earned the right for some answers. Though he wasn't sure what his mother would even want him to discuss.

"I'm from another world." Loki replied. "You wouldn't be able to even see my planet from Midgard even if you had the strongest telescopes there were. Only certain magics or specific objects allow visions of worlds so distant."

There was Heimdall as well, a seer in his own right, but Loki wasn't overtly fond of the grim gatekeeper so he left the example from his explanation. She was staring at him, as she had come to do once in a while when he'd stated something odd for this time. He smiled slowly at her silence. "Well, you did ask."

"You mean there are other worlds out in the stars?" Edith asked. She'd read some of the recent studies on the stars, and knew there were other planets. "Do you mean another planet like Venus, or Jupiter?"

"Not exactly." Loki replied. "Asgard is a realm fairly unique from what I've seen of the universe. Midgard has it's place in the scheme of the world but humans are a prideful race – thinking themselves alone in existence."

"Well, not really...people have believed in other things like god and angels...and spirits, for a long time." Edith felt the need to argue for her own races benefit. "If you're not like us...what do you usually look like?"

"We look a lot like humans, many races do. However, Asgardian's are stronger and have much longer lives." Loki explained. It didn't hurt to explain such basics as far as he was concerned. Even if she ever told someone, and her promises to not had been strong, no one would believe her.

"What do you mean? Do you have an example?" Edith was curious. "You mentioned magic before...do your people all have it?"

"Well, no. Magic is frowned upon and physical capability is what is most desirable on Asgard. They did inspire the vikings in the few times they visited earth after all." Loki stated, a little bored but knowing this was likely going to be a long conversation – they still had a while in this dusty carriage.

"I...see...but why can't you do magic now?" Edith asked.

"Human's aren't particularly skilled with magic to begin with...and this body has no prior experience. What I know how to do, and what it is capable of are very different things. I have been trying to train it when possible...but I haven't gotten more than some basic spells to work successfully." Loki answered, amused when her brows raised.

"Your serious? Show me something." Edith demanded. She wasn't certain if he was simply trying to trick her or this was some lie. She wanted to see what he could do.

"If you insist my lady." Loki replied, holding a hand out to her, a rose slowly materialized within it out of golden light. The stem, the thorns, leaves, eventually blooming into a brilliant blue flower. Edith's mouth dropped in shock at the image in front of her. Edith stared at the image,blinking several times as if it might wipe it away, eventually blushing slightly and reaching for it. Jumping back slightly when he hand went through the stem and the image shattered into light that faded swiftly away to leave nothing.

"It's not real." She remarked...

"Well, illusions done well look real enough." Loki commented, holding a hand to his brow a moment...even something that tiny left his mind pounding with pressure. Humans were such weak creatures...

"I was convinced." Edith admitted. She glanced out her window, suddenly quiet after the show of power. If she was just mad, then this was the most glorious hallucination her mind had yet concocted. She was still nervous some days that none of this was real...that all these strange things had never happened to her. Perhaps she was really somewhere in a Boston hospital in a coma...then again there were aspects that made it feel more real...

"Can you actually create anything?" Edith asked. She wanted to find some further connection to Thomas...some reason her husband had been the target of this alien influence. If all the man crafted was illusions how much was he lying to her still? Her Thomas was a builder...a dreamer perhaps, but he was someone that wanted to create.

"There are more real effects that are possible...but not yet for this form. Even a tiny effect is currently difficult. After a while I'll build a constitution toward the art." Loki explained, though he was curious at her silence. She accepted all of this with a readiness that he would not expect from any human he was still paranoid. Seer's were rare even in their time, the most powerful of them was Heimdall of course...his abilities outreached any other ever known. Of course, he was born Asgardian...something that gave him a considerable advantage over other races.

"What about me...what I am. Can I learn more?" Edith had wanted to ask for a while...waiting to work it into the conversation had been difficult.

"Of course, anyone can learn to better master what they have if they take the time and put in the work." Loki answered. "No skills, even mystical ones, are perfected without training. I am not a seer, but I know enough of magic that I could possibly teach you a few things."

"Really?" Edith was nervous and hopeful at the same time...her heart skipped a beat at the prospect. Wasn't magic witchcraft? That was evil...well...it was hardly the time of the trials...and tools weren't inherently good or evil...it was what one used them for.

"Are you frightened?" Loki smirked in a dark way that made her heart skip again...she fluttered her eyes a moment and shook her head, dismissing that idea.

"No. I want to learn. If it's part of who I am, then I want to embrace it." Edith replied, glancing out the window at the almost featureless landscape of farms and hills of the single road they were taking. She wasn't a girl that backed down easily from a challenge...she was frightened and she wanted to speak with her father or Alan...she had few other friends. Then again...what would she even tell them that wouldn't get her and this creature both locked away?

"It's not mutually exclusive to want something and not to fear it." Loki remarked, smirking at her when she glanced at him. "I'm not solely without perception. All the protests in the world don't actually take fear away. Besides, fear is good, it should keep you from going too far too fast and getting yourself hurt."

"Is that easy? To get hurt?" Edith figured it was good to know.

"It can be, but you have a fairly exceptional teacher." Loki commented, grinning at the way she rolled her eyes. "You think so poorly of me."

"I think you think too highly of yourself." Edith returned without skipping a beat. She could keep up at times with quips, which only amused him.

"I think realistically of myself...I'd say there is much I could teach you." Loki remarked, his voice dropping as he slid closer to her on the bench of the carriage, taking one of her hands.

"Uh..." Her wittiness vanished as quickly as the blush appeared on her cheeks. "No, no I don't think so. What are you doing?"

"Are we not newly weds? Should we not keep up appearances?" He asked, and when she glanced ahead she noticed they were approaching another carriage moving the opposite direction on the road.

"That's hardly needed...it's inappropriate." She hissed at him under the breath, glad the driver at least seemed oblivious to their conversation. She looked quite disturbed that he had yet to give up her hand, but unwilling to be openly seen arguing.

"I don't think so...we've certainly done more than hold hands." Loki remarked, leaning closer to her face and watching her brow furrow in her uncertainty of how to respond. As the carriage got nearer he closed the distance, capturing her lips with his own. She gasped slightly before he caught her but that just made it more amusing that she didn't stop him. She was frozen until he parted her lips with his tongue, then he pulled back, staring at her in surprise. His tongue hurt...she'd bit him...the vixen...

"Baronet Sharpe." Someone in the passing carriage greeted politely. It was a older gentleman, pulling a load of boxes, now empty. He must have been dropping something off at the manor. "Afternoon."

The man tipped his hat, apparently amused at that interaction instead of annoyed. He continued along after they passed each other but Loki had just enough mind to offer a nod. He was afraid speaking would give away he was bleeding slightly.

"Did you have to bite me?" He asked Edith with a frown once the need for the charade passed, slipping back to his side of the carriage. Feeling the slight cut on his tongue with the roof of his mouth...

"Don't stick your tongue where it doesn't belong." Edith replied, still flush from the unexpected kiss. She was not going to admit how much it had gotten her weak in the knees. It wasn't until he'd touched her lips that she remembered she should stop him. For as much as he looked, smelled, and tasted of Thomas...he wasn't Thomas. Not right now...it was unfaithful to do anything more with him...wasn't it?

"Unless you ask me to my lady." Loki remarked, amused at the glare she sent him. "You protest greatly at the thought of physical contact for someone that is so adept at it."

Edith stared, blinking in shock at the far from expected and extremely forward remark. Certainly they had exchanged...pleasantries, but she also wasn't sure what to consider it now. She hadn't realized yet that it wasn't her husband after all...

"That is...not an acceptable topic of conversation." Edith replied after several long silent seconds. "We shouldn't speak of it further."

"You'll find I rarely dwell long in the realm of acceptable." Loki answered, though he was still feeling the small gashes her teeth had left in his tongue...he wasn't ready for a repeat performance of that experience quite yet. He needed to master more of his powers in case she got so aggressive with her little fangs again.

"Here we are masters." The coach was drawing to a stop. They'd gotten distracted with their interaction so much that they hadn't realized the time that had passed. The once impressive, and now semi-dilapidated mansion loomed over them, it's shadow covering them in darkness as the driver pulled before the front door. Loki stared at the building with a slight frown – this was not what he was expecting...

End Chapter

Sorry for the long delay, life's been rough. My kid in the NICU got a bit sick recently so we've been spending most free time there. He is having a good day today so I actually felt like writing – which is good. Hopefully we'll be able to bring him home in January. Anyway, here is some more with Edith and Loki – I like that Edith stands up to him more than most would and is able to get away with it.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Thanks so much for the support. I appreciate it. The kind words from everyone who remarked really helped lift my spirits while things have been rough.

Sparky She-Demon – I'm not sure how I feel about his 'turn around' since his solution was to keep both women. (his sister and Edith)

Literature Fool – Well yes, Loki has the habit of manipulating everyone, if for no more gain than personal fun.

Myra – Yes I meant Edith.

Thephoenixanddragaon – I have some plans for the pair yet.