Before I even landed on my feet, I heard Odin yelling. The two warriors were talking Frandall to the medical floor with Lady Sif leading the way. Odin was yelling at Thor about the balance and how stupid Thor's plan was. Loki glanced at me and nodded toward the door. I understood his unspoken message and left in silence. I didn't see Loki, Thor or Odin for hours after that. It wasn't until the guard came to tell me.
"Odin has fallen into an Odinsleep. The queen does not know if and when he'll wake up. Thor has been banished and Loki now reigns as king until the Allfather awakens." he told me. I nodded and sat on my bed. I heard to door close as the guard left. I stood and went to my mirror. I pulled my hair on the right side away from my shoulder. A small braid fell away from the rest of my hair. It was the symbol of the next king or queen of the Shadow Realm. I still put my hair in that small braid each day. I looked out the window and was surprised to see the sun already set. I went out to my balcony to think. The moon rose to its peak, sending Asgard into a glowing blue haze. I felt energy buzz through my blood, my senses felt sharper. I could see the whole kingdom of Asgard which used to be hard before, even with my night vision. I did the math and realized I must have turned 16 today. I looked up at the sky as I thought. I would be queen today. I fiddled with the braid. 16 is the age when a Shadow Creature got the full extent of their abilities. That's when they were considered adults. I tucked the braid under my hair again and went into my closet. I changed into a sleep dress as Loki walked in and froze.
"Sorry." he ducked his head but I saw his face. It was distorted with something, pain or anger perhaps.
"Are you ok Loki?" I asked him. He raised his eyes. I walked over and tilted my head at him.
"You've lost weight." he touched my side where my hip had created a hallow. He avoided my eyes.
"I'm fine. Are you?" I touched his cheek. He shook his head.
"No." he mumbled.
"Want to talk," I asked him. Again he shook his head.
"I'm just tired," he whispered. He glanced into my eyes. I saw so many emotions running through them it was nearly impossible to keep track of them. Fear, hate, disgust, sadness, hope and love. Fear was the main emotion I saw. I took his hand and led him to my bed. He laid down on it and I sat beside him. I stroked his hair in silence. I saw everything clearly in the night. I saw how pale he was, how he shook slightly, the way his eyes kept moving around the room. "Have you learned anything new lately?"
It was a common question he asked me. He knew I learned about other races, and on some nights it would help me sleep after I talked about what I had learned. It also seemed to calm Loki, hearing me talk.
"Mmmm, have I told you about the Shadow Creatures?" I asked him. I knew I didn't. But I had been wanting to tell him what I was for a while now. Doing it in small steps was easier for me. He shook his head. "Ok, I'll tell you about them."
I settled beside him. I leaned on my elbow, one hand in his hair. I looked down at him and thought of where to start.
"Well, the realm they live in doesn't have any day. It is night all the time. The sky only lightens slightly and darkens. Since there is no sunlight, the Shadow Creatures, and even the mortals have developed light skin and wider eyes. The Shadow Creatures have cat eyes to help them see in the dark." I glanced at him. He was still awake. Listening to every word. "Thousands of years ago, some mortals from Midgard accidentally got themselves trapped in the Shadow Realm. With no way back, the king at the time let them stay. They lived with the Shadow Creatures without any trouble. Soon there became ranks in the Shadow Realm. Mortals, half-bloods, and purebloods. Purebloods have incredible powers, powers stronger than any mortal or half-blood. They're stronger, faster, more beautiful, can see in the dark better and can use magic."
I took a deep breath. Loki looked over at me. His next question made me think. "Why do they hate other creatures?"
"Thousands of years ago the Frost Giants and Shadow Creatures met. At first, they got along until the Frost Giants betrayed them. The king of the Frost Giants took a sacred treasure of the Shadow Creatures. The queen's crown. The same crown that gets past down to each and every queen. They took the crown and killed the king. That's when the war started. For another couple thousand of years, they fought non-stop. Then something happened. It was like a mutation. From then on everytime a Frost Giant touched a Shadow Creature the shadow creature would die. No one can figure out why it happens." I ran over my facts. "A while ago your father fought the Frost Giants and stole the queen's crown and the casket."
I felt Loki stiffen. I looked down at him. His eyes flicker to me. He took a deep breath and nodded.
"I'm fine. Keep going. What do the shadow creatures look like?" he asked.
"The purebloods have white skin with black markings on them. Wide eyes with slitted pupils, translucent black wings, they are all thin and short. They lose weight really fast. They have such high metabolisms that if they miss just one meal they will lose weight." I shifted against him. He rolled onto his side and ran a hand down my side, feeling the ribs poking out.
"Kinda like you." he grinned softly. I nodded but I couldn't smile.
"That's really all I know," I told him. I couldn't think of anything else important.
"That's a lot," he told me. I shrugged. He moved his hand to my cheek and cupped my face. His hand felt like ice.
"Why are you so cold?" I asked him. He froze. His eyes locked onto mine. I forced a grinned. "It was just a question Loki."
I laid down. After a few seconds, Loki followed suit. I shifted closer to him and rest my head on his chest. I wrapped an arm around him as he circled his arms around me. His heartbeat was faster than normal. I figured it was just because of everything that had happened today. Thor had been banished to earth, Odin was in his Odinsleep and Frigga wouldn't leave his side so the throne had fallen to Loki. That was a lot for him. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my wired mind. All I could think of was ways to tell Loki the truth about me. Every scenario I came up with ended with him hating me or fearing me. I tightened my arm around him.
I sat up and blinked in the morning light. Loki was still asleep beside me. I stood and went to my closet. I changed into short black pants and a green half top. What normal Shadow Creatures wore. The Shadow Creatures wore more revealing clothing than Asgardians due to the fact the Shadow Realm was humid most of the year. As I walked out Loki sat up. He looked at my clothes and raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes and sat beside him. He used one hand to brush his black hair away from his face and sighed. He wrapped an arm around me. He buried his face into my hair and breathed deeply. I felt his chest expand against my shoulder. I turned my head so I was facing him. He looked troubled. I glanced at his hand. He was still shaking. I gently took his hand in mine and held it up. Loki glanced at his shaking hand and bowed his head.
"Loki, what is wrong? Please tell me." I whispered. His mouth contorted and he shook his head.
"I can't," he whispered. Seconds past. "I can't."
I shifted closer to him, wanting to comfort him, but he quickly stood. He stood at the edge of my bed and closed his eyes.
"I have some things to do." he left the room in a hurry. I curled my legs around me and stared at my hands. The coldness from his skin still lingered my hands. He's so cold. His skin was always so much colder even in the burning Asgardian sun. I stood and walked out of the room. I walked down the long halls to where Odin laid in his Odinsleep. I paused outside of the door when I heard Loki.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. His voice was full of confusion and disgust.
"We didn't want you to feel different," Frigga said in her soft voice.
"But I am. What do I do? What do I tell Nyx?. I love her, but now she'll hate me." Loki sounded close to tears. Fear bolted through me. I've never heard Loki sound so vulnerable. I pushed the door open and walked inside. Loki looked up startled. "Nyx."
"You're wrong," I said in a harsh whisper. The words burned my throat as I spoke them. "I will never hate you."