Chapter 9
As Lillia walked into the lab for the first time since her incident with Loki her heart raced and she felt her hands tremble. She hadn't seen Loki in 6 days, and while she felt better about what happened she was still nervous to see him. Part of her wanted to see him so she could start getting used to treating him like a colleague, and part of her hoped she would never see him again. She took a deep breath before she opened the door to the lab, but when she walked inside she found the lab empty and dark. She was relieved and settled in to work. She wanted to finish translating the other half of the first tablet this weekend. She found an official looking envelope on her keyboard. After opening it she was pleasantly surprised to find that it was her first paycheck. It was most welcome, and she put on some of her happy work music and sat down in front of her research books.
She was really starting to get the hang of translating these tablets, and Dr. Selvig had gotten the missing books that she needed. By Sunday afternoon she had finished the last half of that first tablet. Loki's prediction was right; the tablet spoke of an unknown treasure that the Egyptians located outside of the Valley of the Kings. It was said that this treasure was brought to earth by the God Ra, but Ra was unable to speak with the Egyptians and instead lived in the palace of the pharaoh until he was ready to communicate his message. This first tablet was definitely a cliff hanger. It didn't specify what Ra's message was, it's last words were translated as, "And when Ra was ready to speak to the Pharaohs he gathered them to the city of the dead." So much for getting closer to the treasure. What the tablet did do was describe Ra in great detail, and the days leading up to his announcement. In this tablet Ra was said to be larger than most men, be fair of skin with the head of a hawk. He had with him a staff and carried the treasure with him. Proceeding Ra's appearance the sky was full of light, and flame even at night. Lillia supposed this meant there was a series of meteor showers perhaps? In any case she was going to have to keep translating to find out why Ra was gathering people and what he did with the treasure.
Lillia looked at the clock, and it was two in the afternoon. Time to head home again, and she was supposed to meet up with her girlfriends for an early supper. She had waited in anticipation of seeing Loki at some point this weekend, but she had been alone the whole time. She put away her books and packed up the replicas of the tablets. It would be good to see her friends; she was finally going to tell them the whole Loki saga.
She stepped out of the lab and looked out the office window. There was about eight inches of snow on the ground and the campus was deserted. There wasn't a window in the lab so she didn't even see the snow begin to fall. The weather forecast hadn't called for snow at all, and it had been sunny out when she started work. She had been staying at the Marriot across the road, but she refused to stay in the same room as last time. She had already checked out, but maybe she could check back in. There was no way she could drive back home today; her car looked halfway buried. She pulled out her cell phone and noticed that she had three missed text messages. Her girlfriends had canceled the supper due to the snow. The second text was from her school; classes were already canceled for tomorrow, as the weather forecasters declared that a blizzard was on the way. The final text was from her automatic weather messaging system alerting her to a blizzard in her area. Great, she was stuck in Denver in a lab all by herself. She decided to try and get back in at the Marriott. Maybe she could just walk over, it was after all just across the street.
She waited in front of the elevators and when she heard the familiar ding she stepped forward to get into the compartment. She was brought up short when she found herself inches away from walking right into Loki. She was totally unprepared for this and stood there staring at him. She could smell his musk, and it still smelled good. Loki broke the silence.
"Good afternoon Lillia, I didn't expect to see you here or I wouldn't have come. I thought you would have left already due to the snow." He was cautiously talking to her, but his eyes looked concerned. He knew she would not be making the drive home. The university was hosting an alternative energy convention and he knew that rooms at the Marriott were probably booked solid.
"I was in the lab, and I had no idea that it was snowing." She was trying hard to not be friendly to him, although he had been trying to respect her wishes. "School is canceled tomorrow anyways, so I'm just going to go back to the Marriot. It's not a problem." She smiled politely, but was careful to keep her tone cool.
"You might call them first, there is a convention here on campus and the rooms might be booked." He was trying to save her a cold walk in the heavy snow. She looked so beautiful to him, and he wished that things were different. Her blonde hair was straight today and he could smell her perfume. She was wearing blue jeans that hugged her hips, and she looked completely delectable. He reminded himself of the situation, his mission came first. He wasn't used to making mistakes; well he corrected this one the best way he knew how.
"With all this snow the convention might be cancelled, but I will call them…thanks for the tip." With that Lillia turned away to call the Marriot, she left Loki standing in the elevators. She decided she was going to use the stairs.
She was disappointed to find out that the convention started two days ago, so most of the people were already here; all of whom were staying at the Marriot. They were booked solid and she didn't know where to go. Apparently the room she was staying in was now being occupied by a professor who refused to sleep another night with their colleague. The hotel could find no available rooms for her. She would have to find another hotel in walking distance and stay there, if they weren't booked for the convention. Using her phone she got the number for three other university hotels; all of whom were booked for the convention. Where was she supposed to go? She couldn't drive, or walk anywhere. As she was trying to decide what to do she stepped off the last step and into the front lobby. She heard the elevator ding and when the doors opened out walked Loki. Wonderful, another meeting and conversation with Loki.
"Were there rooms available?" Loki's question was innocent enough, but it made Lillia wonder how he had gotten to the building. She didn't see tire tracks in the snow, or even foot prints out front.
"No, there aren't any rooms anywhere on campus. I was wondering though, how did you get here in this storm?" What did he have a secret tunnel system?
"I actually have a room upstairs that I stay in when work becomes too oppressive. I've been there all weekend, careful to avoid the lab during daylight hours. I didn't want to bother you, but I had work of my own to do." He was conscientious to look away, so Lillia knew that he wasn't trying to run into her. "Have you found a place to stay for the night?" He asked the question with a very neutral almost bored tone, ensuring that Lillia would not get the wrong idea.
"No, I thought about sleeping in my car, or in the lab in one of the chairs. I'm still weighing my options." Lillia didn't want to sound incompetent, but really how could she not notice that it was snowing. She just got so involved in her work as usual.
"There is another room adjacent to the one that I sleep in. It was meant for Dr. Selvig but he has never used it. There is a cot with clean sheets and blankets; it has a sink in the room. The bathrooms I'm afraid are down the hall, we'd have to share but it is much better than sleeping in a freezing car or in a chair." How awkward, why couldn't she have left already and not be tempting him with another night.
Lillia hesitated, separate rooms sure, but still it would be strange knowing that she and Loki were the only people in the building; yet they would be pretending that the other person wasn't there. What other choice did she have? The snow was only getting worse, and she could see her car getting buried in the heavy wet storm.
"Ok, I guess that will have to work, is it on the same floor as the lab?"
"I'll escort you up there, give me your keys and I'll get your luggage out of your car." He held out his hand to her.
Fine, after what he did to her the least he could do is offer her a room and get her luggage for her. She handed him her keys.
The rooms were on the top floor of the building, Loki opened one of the doors on the south side. He led her into a medium sized room. It had a small bed, a dresser, a sink and mirror, a mini fridge and a small window. It was very plain, but it was adequate. Loki set her luggage down by the dresser and turned towards her.
"My room is right next door if you need anything. There is water and food in the mini-fridge so please help yourself." He paused and then smiled a little. "I'll also be eating a mini-fridge dinner this evening." He was trying to lighten the mood, but Lillia barely smiled at him. "It is good to see you, maybe we can talk about the tablets tomorrow?"
"I finished the first tablet, and yes we can talk about it tomorrow." With that she turned her back on him to start opening her suitcase. Loki took the hint and closed the door behind him.
Lillia changed into more comfortable clothes, and she felt very tired from working for two weeks without a day off. She decided to take a nap, and planned to work on her lessons tomorrow. She loved having snow days, they were the perfect time to catch up on planning and grading. Luckily she had brought her school work with her. She got into the cot and fell into a deep sleep, she loved having naps when she knew she didn't have to work the next day.
Loki left Lillia's room feeling angry. How dare this midgardian strumpet interfere with his emotions, and turn her back on him? Had this been Asgard she would have been severely punished. He would have seen her strung up in his bedroom begging for mercy as he had his way with her. He had half a mind to burst into her room and force himself on her before using his scepter to conquer her mind; but something held him back. He didn't like what this woman was doing to him. Still, he felt like the predator who had been temporarily outdone by his prey. Her time would come, and Loki would remain patient. He had some work to do before he could rest anyways, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. Could she not become his queen when he ruled the planet? Why would she want to; she probably wasn't going to be overjoyed with him as he enslaved her fellow human beings. A relationship with her was out of the question. He could have her if he wanted once those tablets were finished; willing or not. He might just have to wait until then before he could ravish her body again. How could a mortal woman have so much power over him? The more he thought about it the angrier he became. He could still be in a relationship with her, and when it was time to enslave her planet he would keep her as his personal slave. She would serve him whether she wanted to or not. He was a God after all, she should be so lucky to have his attention.
After working on his plans for a few more hours he went into the staff lounge to see if he could find some better food than what his mini-fridge offered. He found some Campbell's soup and some goldfish crackers. This would just have to do. Maybe Lillia would like some, and he could re-kindle friendly conversation with her. Despite his frustration he still needed her to finish those tablets; he must play nice…for the time being.
Lillia seriously considered ignoring the knock she heard on the door, but seeing as it was only half past four she couldn't really claim to have been asleep. She opened the door to find Loki holding a tray with Campbell's soup and a bowl full of goldfish crackers. "I thought maybe this would suit you better than whatever is in the mini-fridge." He gave her a sweet smile, and his eyes were looking intently at her again.
"Err, that is very kind of you Loki, thank you." She took the tray from him, and felt bad not inviting him in. She just didn't want him getting the wrong idea. She wasn't ready to make nice with him.
"I made some for myself as well, if you don't want to eat alone I can bring my tray in here?" His eyes were willing her to say yes, and she felt once again that she would say yes to anything he asked of her. Just then she remembered how she felt the day after their last date. She couldn't let Loki take advantage of her again.
"Loki, I'm trying really hard to be civil here, but I really don't care to be anything more than colleagues. I'd rather that you didn't eat supper in here." She had to look away from him when she spoke, his face was too handsome.
"I understand, I was just trying to mend what I broke." He backed away into the hallway.
"I don't think I want you to mend anything." Once again Lillia closed the door in his face.
Relish it you mortal harlot, for soon you will be bowing to my every whim, and eating supper together will be the easiest of your tasks. Still, he felt a tenderness for her, and this angered him. As a King he couldn't have such weaknesses, especially towards those he ruled over. He stepped into his room to eat the miserable canned dinner alone.
