Chapter Twelve: Duality
"The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere."
-Xun Zi
"I found a few texts." Edith announced as she re-entered the bookshop where she'd left her 'husband' earlier that afternoon. At first she wasn't sure it was the right building, if she hadn't seen him seated in a chair for people to puruse merchandise she would have thought it impossible for it to be the same place. Much of the room was organized and there were makeshift signs stating what sort of books there were.
It was getting close to sundown and she was uncomfortable being alone after dark. As much as she thought of her mind being as sharp as any man's, she also recognized that she wasn't as strong as many of the 'unsavory' sorts that the older gypsy woman had warned her of. If she wasn't so aware of that issue she probably would have turned around and left again...whatever had happened probably wasn't good.
"Good, good." Loki remarked offhandedly, the way he muttered when he wasn't actually listening and off in his own world. The room was much as it had been that morning but he had a small pile next to him as well so he must have done all right. His eyes were intently scanning through lines of text as he sat in the only open chair looking through it.
"Is this your husband? He's been here all day. Please buy something before we close...but we need to close." The short middle-aged man was heavy for his size and looked as though he was ready to beg her to get rid of the 'good Baronet'. She smiled and nodded and he let out an audible sigh of relief and waddled slowly toward his register.
"Thomas dear..." Edith stated as she moved closer but he still wasn't looking at her. "...we should be going."
Once she got close enough she leaned down to hiss in his ear. "Loki, what did you do to this poor man?"
"What? I told him he needed to organize the place and helped with some suggestions." Loki answered, glancing outside at the light and picking himself out of his seat before sweeping up the books he wanted, leaving two others on the table. "I may have inferred I would have him removed from the lands nearby with my status if he didn't comply."
"You are a horrible person." Edith hissed. "I apologize for my husband sir. I will not let him kick you out of your business."
Lines vanished from the poor tormented man's face, then reappeared when Loki stepped up to put the books on the counter.
"Right right..." He went straight to adding them up.
"Oh calm down Edith...the man's business will be better for it." Loki replied. It wasn't a lie, having something so organized probably would help him...but he looked ready to fall over. It was lucky he hadn't had a heart attack with all the running Loki likely forced him into. Edith continued to frown at Loki as they paid and headed outside with their books.
"You shouldn't do that. A baronet doesn't have that sort of power." Edith commented. "Besides, we don't really need to get the masses here against us. We should head to the inn...it's getting late and we can get something to eat."
Loki didn't argue, following along as he considered his poor options. The main book he was interested in he had already read a fair amount of waiting for Edith. He recognized several of the themes. The place being of importance, it recognized the concept of mystical places of power which most of the others didn't. It also had recognized the idea of a strong spirit being more important than the death itself. He had a few suggestions to go with but he didn't really know what would be important to the mad ghost. He remembered something of the sort from a book he'd read decades ago on Asgard. Destroying items of importance to a spirit lessens their connection to the world even through a place of power. He was fretting over the subject all the way back to the hotel and to their room. It was more simple than he would like but it was what they could afford until they knew how much it would cost him to repair this machine.
"You are distracted." Edith pointed out. She was learning his mannerisms better than he would like but he nodded in agreement to her observation nonetheless. "The attendant asked if we wanted food. I just told them to bring soup and bread."
"Add wine." Loki remarked. "It's going to be a long night."
"I'm not sure we should afford it." Edith frowned at the idea. So far she'd escaped him asking about her own spending but she hoped to continue to do so.
"It'll be fine...I should be able to work up some form of defense against Lucille." Loki answered, "I agreed to suffer the quarters, I doubt I'll do so well unless I have alcohol to aid my ignoring it."
"That's not really suffering it." Edith argued.
"It is." Loki replied, seating himself as he opened back up the book to turn to the page where he'd left off. "Start gathering your own notes as well."
"..." Edith was quiet, she knew he was focused for a reason. This was his world after all, not hers. At least he was asking for her help as opposed to telling her she should fetch or carry things and be un-involved. Of course, he could do so with a bit more kindness, but he wasn't her Thomas...who would have been sweet in his attention to her...
She ordered what he asked from the attendants and got to work as best she could...but her first book was more dry than expected...so instead she found herself staring at Thomas.
Edith sighed at the memory of her first meeting, when her Thomas spoke so well of her writing...then the other times together...the dance, the chats in the park, the enjoying of each others company. Then her father was attacked...by Lucille. It all changed and she was left with this...whatever it was.
Still, Loki could be charming when he desired it...he certainly had more faces than anyone she'd ever known. It made her wonder how much she actually knew of him...was her husband possessed by a god, or a demon? She was still hesitant as to which Loki might be.
"You are staring." Loki pointed out, despite never having looked up. His dark bangs in his eyes but seeming not to bother him as he read. Edith felt the slight flush in her cheeks and was about to reply when there was a knock at the door. She left it at that, glad for the need not to make an excuse for her lingering stares. Instead she tipped the waiter and helped bring in the wine, ice bucket, and glasses inside setting them on the desk next to a tray of cheese and fruit she'd ordered as well. "Take a break, dinner won't be ready for an hour, we can have an appetizer."
"I thought we shouldn't spend more money." Loki remarked still staring at his book.
"A bit late for that argument. Come here before I throw it at you." Edith remarked, frowning when he didn't reply, just turned the page and kept reading. A grape bouncing from his head got his attention a moment later.
"Did you just throw food at me?"
He'd seen such things at the tables after a battle in Asgard but he'd always avoided it – generally it didn't take long for food to turn to flail. He frowned as another grape bounced off his cheek.
"If you aren't going to eat it I can't imagine a better use for it." Edith replied. She usually wasn't so childish but his prudish nature had taken over completely today – it had become too much for her.
When she threw a third grape she wasn't expecting him to catch it in his mouth, raising a brow at her in silent challenge. She giggled after a moment and gestured to the table, that seemed to be enough to bring him over to sit with her.
"What have you found out?" She asked as he gave in and joined her.
"Well, I think I can get rid of her even if the priests cannot. They said they would be done by morning, so we'll see where things stand when we return tomorrow or the day after. I want time to read more of the texts we bought first." Loki replied. "If this place is a center for such activity Lucille may not be our only issue with a spirit."
"That's hardly comforting." Edith answered him, "This isn't exactly the same as a pest problem, they aren't exactly ants or mice."
"Nonetheless, that is the problem. You did say you were adverse to the idea of burning the manor down. Destroying the place of power would weaken any spirits attachment to it." Loki explained then shrugged at her constant deadpan expression. "I was merely offering."
"No. I told you before we aren't destroying Thomas' home without Thomas. Unless you want to let him out to speak." Edith suggested.
"You already know I can't do that. I wouldn't know how if I wanted to." Loki answered. "Besides, my presence may have been all that saved this body from death on the ship. I'm unsure how he'll even react once I leave. I don't know what he will or will not remember...if anything. It'll be a shock to his entire psyche I'm certain. More likely..."
"Don't...I don't want to hear it." Edith interrupted loudly. "Let's focus on Lucielle and the problems at the manor."
"You are still quite attached to him aren't you?" Loki asked, surprised at the strength of her protest. "You can still have part of him at least...but you continue to refuse. Difficult I would think given how vigorous you were in our previous intimacy."
"It's not the same." Edith shook her head reaching up to slap Loki when his fingers touched her leg but he caught it in his opposite hand. "This is cruel of you."
"What is that?" Loki asked, his tone wasn't the same as a moment before. Instead his eyes were on her locket – he'd noticed it for the first time now that she'd pulled him out of his studies. "For a woman talking about how we need to save money you are certainly spending it...that's a..."
His comment paused when he picked up the necklace in hand. His expression altered and a fearful look entered his eyes – which altered color from a deep green to a blue...
"Edith...what happened? Is your father all right?" His tone was different as well, Edith blinked in surprise as she realized it was her Thomas she was speaking with and put a hand over her mouth – unsure how to reply to him.
His arms enveloped her a moment later – he probably thought she was grieving for her father...but she was in shock by the sudden change. She could feel the difference. For the first time since before they were married – she was seeing the real Thomas Sharpe.
End Chapter
There...whee, hope folks enjoy that change. Don't worry, Loki will be back! Though for how long Thomas is here, I can't say. Hope people like the twist.
-Aura
To my reviewers:
Thanks to everyone for all the kind words. All the swift replies made my morning!
Sparky – I promise I'm working on it. I thought it would be sooner but this chapter took longer than expected originally. Which story is your Crimson Peak story?
ToLazy – I feel your laziness. I'm happy you like the story and hope you aren't too lazy to keep reading now that I updated.
Akoto3725 – Loki probably won't have kind things to say about it...whenever he gets the chance to discuss the gem...
