Like a Hurricane
Chapter 9 – Run-ins
'I have spoken with father. He agreed that you can walk around in the palace and the gardens, while he reaches a decision.' Thor waited for a moment, before adding: 'Of course, your guards will be close.'
Loki sneaked a glance behind him at his two shadows. He scoffed in disdain and continued his way to the main library. It was well after midnight, and he presumed everyone was already snoring in a drunken haze, except his guards. There was a feast for Thor's return, of that, he was certain.
Suddenly, a sad, lonely sound reached his ears and he stopped in his tracks. It took a moment before he realized it was from a violin. The tempo of the piece became quicker, before slowing down again. He changed direction: his curiosity urged him to find out who played this mourning melody in the dead of the night.
It was coming from the room where they kept the instruments. Rather, it was a chamber, with excellent acoustics. The door was ajar and he slipped inside silently. His guards entered just as quietly, but he hardly noticed. His gaze was on the lone figure standing in the middle of the music chamber, gently leaning into the melody, moving with it.
Chantrea was playing on the violin with graceful movements. The faint light of the stars enveloped her and Loki forgot himself in that moment when the tempo picked up – it was as if the violin was reflecting his inner struggles. Then it slowed down one last time. A single note vibrated in the air, like a final goodbye.
A sigh escaped from her as she lowered the instrument.
'What is it?' Chantrea asked, glancing back at him over her shoulder.
Loki blinked at her.
'What are your intentions?'
'What do you-?' she shook her head, before remembering their last encounter. 'Oh. That.' She put the violin and its bow down, before turning to him. 'Is it such a surprise someone wanted to help you?'
'Help me?' he whispered angrily. 'You call that help?!'
'Well... yes.'
'You and I have a very different understanding of the meaning of help.'
'I wouldn't be so sure of that' Chantrea smiled. Loki opened his mouth to retort, but she put up her hand. 'Please, let me explain.'
Loki narrowed his eyes impatiently, but nodded for her to continue. Chantrea suppressed a sigh and smoothed her hair, before speaking.
'I've... made some choices in the past which turned out to be not as good as I thought.' As Loki raised one of his eyebrows, and she could feel his patience wearing thin. 'Long story short: I've been punished. All my powers and memories had been taken from me. Except...'
When she didn't continue for awhile, Loki's curiosity got the better of him:
'What?'
'I couldn't really die. See, my kind has a very fast healing ability. And even though I thought I was human, in the middle of wars, you notice you survive things you shouldn't... Then it got worse... I realized I didn't age. I had to move location every few years, come up with new names and life stories, continuously running away. And from what?' Chantrea shrugged with a grimace. 'I didn't know, because I didn't remember. Even when the Second World War ended, I had to continue that kind of life. I thought I was cursed. Or mutant. That I was all alone and I knew if I made a mistake, even the slightest one could mean suffering for the rest of my life – which is probably very long. Humans can be very cruel.'
'How very... fascinating' Loki smirked, but his words didn't reflect his thoughts. 'Indeed, a nice bedtime story.'
'You asked' Chantrea snapped, a bit louder than she intended. Loki glared at her and she lowered her voice, reminding herself of the silent castle around them. 'Anyway, at least you'd have your memories, so you don't have to endure the same. At least you'd know who you were.'
'And what good it is to know who I am if I can't do anything to change my circumstances?' Loki asked, threateningly stepping closer to her. His shadows, the two guards followed his movements and he stopped. He raised his hands, showing the armbands to Chantrea.
'These are my shackles – I can move around, but I can't cast magic. But you know all that' he scoffed, 'because you were there when Odin explained everything. Do you know what it's like to have these on your arms?'
Chantrea was shocked at the anger directed at her and slowly shook her head.
'Go on!' he urged. 'Touch them.'
Chantrea looked at him with wide eyes.
'Do it!'
She cautiously glanced up at his demanding gaze and slowly put her hands on his wrists. She hardly touched the armbands when sudden dizziness overcame her and she had to retract her hands. Chantrea felt a void inside of her growing and felt very, very weak. She glanced up again into Loki's eyes with sympathy.
'I don't need your pity' he spat and turned around to exit the music chamber. 'But remember your contribution to this; because I sure won't forget.'
And he was gone, along with his two silent shadows.
Chantrea's knees gave in as she collapsed onto the floor.
She gritted her teeth, hoping that if at least one part of her body didn't tremble, the calm would spread out. No such luck.
Her body was violently shaking and she turned on her side, into a fetal position. She hugged herself tightly, willing the trembling to go away.
She didn't know how long she lay there, but when the shaking subsided and she could wipe her tears, she found herself trapped with her thoughts. She remembered she went through the same thing – however not as severe as this – when she escaped from the helicarrier and used too much of her powers. Chantrea thought it was a shock to her system, after awakening from the slumber for a century and that was why her body reacted that way.
This time, it was certainly because of those armbands – when she touched them, she could feel them consuming her power. Her body had not yet recovered fully and she wondered if it ever will.
"What if it's because..." Chantrea froze as she considered her options. "No, no, it's still too soon for that. I'm too young for that!" She shook her head. "I still have time before the Waning."
She sat up, thinking and realized the seizure had stopped. As she held out her arm towards the rising sun she could see through the window, she saw her hand was still trembling. But she also knew it was as good as it was going to get. She just needed to make sure she wouldn't be found out.
Chantrea heard running footsteps coming from outside, so she slowly picked herself up and went to investigate it. She opened the door fully and stepped out.
'Oh, thank the All-father!' she heard a familiar voice as Sif hugged her. The Aesir let go of her and shouted to someone on the far end of the corridor: 'Guys! I found her!'
'What? What happened?' Chantrea asked, confused.
'I went to get you for breakfast, but you weren't in your room and I got worried' she explained, before quickly scanning her over. 'Are you all right?'
'Yes, yes of course' Chantrea nodded just as Thor and his friends arrived. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide their trembling, and turned to Sif with a smile. 'I remembered you told me you had a music chamber and wanted to visit.'
'In the middle of the night?'
'Yes, Thor.' She glanced at him. He didn't seem to believe her. 'I'm a musician – well, one of my lives, that is.'
'What do you mean-?' Sif asked, puzzled, to which Chantrea waved.
'Long story... Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make myself presentable for breakfast.'
She sidestepped the warriors and walked down the corridor, back toward her room. She brought her hands in front of her and tensed her muscles, so no one would notice her slight tremble. Chantrea suppressed a sigh. This was going to be a long day.
'What did you do to her, brother?!' Thor yelled as he stormed into Loki's room. The latter was reading a book, sitting in the windowsill. He looked up at Thor's loud entrance.
'Good morning to you, too.'
'Stop it, Loki. What did you do to her?'
'To whom?'
'Chantrea.'
'Why would-'
'Don't play games with me, brother' Thor warned him. He pointed a finger at him. 'I know you saw her last night. What did you tell her?'
'Why is that so important?' Loki asked, returning back to his book. Nonchalantly, he flipped a page.
Thor lost his patience – however little he had – and grabbed Loki by his neck, flinging him to the nearest wall.
Loki coughed. He didn't remember Thor being that strong. His back was already aching from the impact. He didn't think he could survive another toss like that.
And he felt like a rag doll, with his feet dangling a few inches above the floor. He didn't like the feeling.
'When we found her this morning – where you left her – she was trembling. Tried to hide it, though' Thor told him. He was almost snarling in Loki's face. 'Now tell me: what would cause such a reaction from her?'
'Why are you suddenly so interested in her well-being?' Loki couldn't help his retort. It was in his nature. 'I don't remember you being so friendly with her back on Midgard.'
'If it involves you, it is my concern.'
'Oh, that.' Loki tried to shrug Thor's hands off, but if his strength wasn't enough before, it certainly didn't stand a chance right now.
'Speak, brother.'
'I'm still not your brother' Loki spat, before coughing. Thor realized what he was doing and lessened his grip on Loki's neck.
Loki glared at him.
'We were just having a chat.'
'About what?'
'Nothing that concerns you.'
'I already told you-'
'Get. Out' Loki said in a frosty voice.
'Not until you answer.'
'I don't have to tell you anything. And you can't harm me, at least not until Odin makes a decision' Loki reminded him.
Thor stared into his eyes for a long moment.
'Fine' he spat, letting go of him and storming out of the room.
When the door closed behind him, Loki began coughing. He went to get a drink, but stopped in his tracks. "Why would she tremble? She didn't seem so weak; not even-"
Loki cocked his head sideways. Come to think of it, she was pretty shaken when they got on the jet, after escaping the helicarrier. At that time, he thought she was shaking from the cold. But if he recalls correctly, her reaction after fighting off the power of the sceptre was the same: shaking. She tried to hide it that time, too, but didn't succeed.
He smirked, continuing his track to the pitcher. The longer he knew her, the more she tried to hide. Loki wondered how many more secrets she had.
He will find out. And then... then, he could use them against her.
'I haven't seen you in days.' A male voice suddenly stated, startling Chantrea on the top of the ladder. She twirled around, surprised and lost her balance. She squeezed her eyes shut as she tumbled down, awaiting the impact. Chantrea decided in the light of the last week, not to use her powers if she could help it. This fall would be painful, but it wouldn't kill her.
To her surprise, she landed softly. She waited a couple of seconds to determine if she was still falling, but not. Opening her eyes, she saw Loki looming over her.
'Are you all right?' he asked, emotionless.
For a moment, Chantrea felt as if her brain stopped working and everything around them had frozen. The only thing that felt real and life-like were Loki's hands on her as he held her in bridal style. Her heart fluttered... Then she felt the draining power of his shackles and she jumped out of his arms.
'Yes, thank you' she said, smoothing down her clothes and picking up the book she dropped. There was still one thing she couldn't wrap her head around and she voiced it.
'You caught me.'
'I did.' Loki cocked his head to the side, looking at her curiously. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Chantrea knew she must seem strange, behaving like this, but...
'Why?'
'Because you were falling' an amused smile tried to hide in the corner of his mouth as he replied. Chantrea looked at him with a strange light in her eyes, but she shook her head before he could investigate the expression on her face.
'Why are you here?'
'It's a library.'
'You like reading, then?'
He rolled his eyes and looked up from where Chantrea had fallen off.
'Damn it' she cussed and started toward the ladder, again. Loki stepped away to let her climb up.
'Do you not find what you're looking for?'
She got the feeling he wasn't referring to the books, but she decided to take it as if he was.
'Exactly.' She put back the book into its proper place, with a frown on her face. 'According to the catalogue, it should be somewhere around here, but I can't seem to find it...' Chantrea mumbled, scanning the spine of the books, again, searching for the evading title.
Loki suspected the book she was looking for was in his room, which meant she wanted to read up on her own people.
'Why do you need that book?' he asked curiously and she gave him a pointed look.
'Because I like reading' she replied curtly and went back to her search.
Silence descended around them as they both looked for their books. Loki found his soon.
'It was a pleasure to meet you here' he said smoothly as he walked away. Chantrea looked after him, puzzled.
'I like blue, by the way!' he waved, not turning back as he disappeared on a corner.
It took 1.5 seconds for Chantrea to realise what he was referring to.
'Pervert!' She shouted angrily, face burning. "And I'm so, so stupid! I'm in a dress!"
Her ears picked up a quiet chuckle and she gathered her dress and slid down on the ladder, not using the steps. She hurried after him, not sure what to say, but determined to give him a good slap on the face.
She didn't catch up to him and when she exited the library, she didn't see him on the corridor, either. Frustrated, she went to the gardens, in hope that the scenery would calm her nerves. Chantrea hissed when stepping outside, and quickly shielded her eyes from the sunlight. She hadn't been outside her room for days and everything was so bright, her eyes watered.
She felt dizzy for a moment, but quickly shoved the alarming thought into the back of her mind. It wasn't as if she could do anything, but speculate about the Waning if she didn't find that particular book about her people. Uneasiness descended on her as she sat down on the ledge of the fountain nearby.
Chantrea hid her face behind her hands, letting out a tired sigh. She felt a millenia old.
Only a minute seemed to pass, but when she looked up at sound of the approaching footsteps, it was already dark. She had missed a whole afternoon.
She froze as she recognised the figure who had stepped before her. She felt the blood drain from her face.
'You do not look well, sister.'
To be continued...
A/N: Erm... happy new year?^^"
I'm so sorry for not updating sooner. I had a rough patch in the summer and, well... this chapter gave me loads of work. Really. This is actually version 3. Thank you for your patience, if you're still here, reading this. And thank you for the favs and reviews. Keep them coming, because whenever I see one, esp. if I haven't updated in a long time, I feel ashamed and an irresistible urge to continue the story...
About the violin song, at the beginning, it is Requiem for a Dream. I imagine Chantrea would perform it similar to Kate Chruscicka - search this version on youtube, it's beautifully heartbreaking. And I think it reflects both her and Loki's inner struggles.
Or something like that.
Thank you for the pre-upload-reading for Jazz and Mesmes :)
And I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading!
