Chapter 7
A firm knock on the door interrupted Erica who was dazedly walking the full perimeter of her new bedchamber.
The young woman stopped what she was doing and turned towards the door just in time to see it open for but a moment while an unfamiliar, well-aged woman strolled inside.
Erica quickly looked the stranger over- though her hair had been tied back, the dark hair streaked with silver was unmistakable. Skimming her face, Erica noted the woman's responsive grey eyes, her long and narrow nose and smiling lips that were thinning from age.
She was dressed in a simple, sleeveless garb of charcoal grey with a snow-white apron tied about her wide hips. When she spotted Erica observing her, immediately, she offered her a crooked smile while bobbing a brief curtsey, "Good evening, M'lady." she greeted. Her voice had a quirky ring when she spoke.
Puzzled at the formality, Erica civilly nodded once in acknowledgment, "Good evening..."
The older woman started forward, "Queen Frigga sent me to be your Lady in waiting." she explained, "...but you may call me Iris."
Erica's reddish brows rose with astonishment, "Lady in waiting?" she repeated. Erica never had one of those before. She never really needed one when growing up-she was far too independent and preferred to do things on her own. "Th...I really don't think that's necessary, Iris."
The older handmaiden shook her head stubbornly as she continued approaching, "Nonsense...to serve is what I do best." Iris insisted as she took a long moment to give Erica a good look-over, "Now look at you, M'lady...your cloak is still on."
"Huh?" Erica quickly looked down on herself. Iris was right. "Oh...it is..." So overwhelmed from this day's events, she had completely forgot she was even wearing it.
Iris clucked her tongue once before she reached a wrinkled hand out towards Erica, "Better let me have that, M'lady. We need to get you ready for the night."
Seeing no room for argument, Erica's hands came up and dutifully worked the clasp of her heavy black cloak free from her around her shoulders before she passed the garment over into Iris's awaiting hands who then draped it over an arm and smiled satisfyingly.
"Don't you feel much more comfortable now?" the old servant asked.
Erica blinked quietly and returned her answer with an easy shrug, "I suppose so."
"Suppose? Hmm..." Iris mulled the younger woman's statement over for a second, "I bet a nice hot bath will soon have you feeling as right as rain."
"Highly doubt that..." Erica thought to herself persistently, "How does that work here by the way?"
Iris turned away with a curt laugh and shuffled herself over to the cherry-wood wardrobe where she proceeded to hang up Erica's cloak by sticking it on a hook that was built into its side. "I see you haven't been shown the bathing room yet."
"No I haven't..." she answered bluntly, "...where is it?"
Again, Iris gave another brief laugh as she angled herself back towards Erica and fixed her with a most peculiar look, "Why, it's in here, M'lady."
"What?" Erica's red-gold head swiftly looked about the chamber. "Surely you jest..." she stated as her eyes met wall after wall after wall. There was no bathing room anywhere.
Amused, Iris smiled, her grey eyes flashing as her chin proudly rose, "Think so?" she returned as she turned on her heel and walked over to the west wall of Erica's room where she stopped right before a drapery of pink damask that was hanging decoratively. Using a single hand, the old woman drew the material back, and a much smaller, more narrowed doorway that had been carved into the marble was revealed.
"After you, M'lday..." Iris informed good naturedly as she stood off to the side of the entranceway.
Speechless, Erica unquestioningly moved across the floor to where Iris stood before she hesitantly ducked under Iris' arm and passed into the newfound room. The old maid followed closely behind.
Instantly, Erica's nose was hit with a heavy mixture of steam and something else-something sweet, almost floral, as she stepped into a beige circular room, smaller than her actual bedchamber, but still decently sized considering its purpose was just for bathing.
And speaking of which...
When Erica had imagined what this room would look like after being told there was one in her very chamber, she had pictured it looking the way most bathing spaces do-simple, containing a single tub.
What she discovered far outreached her expectations.
"Oh my..." There was no tub at all...in its stead, lied a great pool.
Erica silently eyed the bathing pool with incredulous eyes. The sight was unbelievable. Five times the size and depth of a regular bath, the steaming pool had been carved directly into the granite floor-its rectangular perimeter was trimmed with gold accents.
Stepping up to its edge, Erica gazed down into the bath and slowly found herself starting to frown.
The water was purple.
Shifting her blue skirts, she carefully dropped to her knees so that she could dip a hand beneath the pool's surface. Erica's fingers grazed something that resembled silk and with the palm of her hand, she scooped a decent handful.
Tiny purple flowers, some intact while others were just petals, floated lightly in her watery hand and stuck softly to her skin.
"Well no wonder the room smelled so sweet..." Erica thought to herself as the studied a flower. The pool had been filled with lilacs.
Erica had heard about baths such as this but she never had the luxury of experiencing one for herself. The idea of bathing in flower petals was a nice thought, she supposed, but it also seemed too far-fetched.
Bathing was suppose to be a simple pleasure. Why does it appear that even the most simplest of pleasures here will completely over the top?
"Damn blue-bloods..." The curse had slipped free before she could stop it.
"M'lady!"
Hearing the old maidservant gasp horrifyingly at Erica's choice of words, the young woman unashamedly rose back up to her full height. "Forgive me, Iris..." she apologized trimly, "...that was suppose to remain an unspoken thought."
The aging maid 'tisked' softly as she shook her dark, fading head, "The Queen had warned me you would be in an off mood tonight..." she spoke as she bustled over, "...however, I never guessed you would be the brazen type...go ahead and turn around, let's get you undressed and bathed."
Numbly, Erica complied and soon felt hands touch her as Iris set to work on the lacings of her gown. Even though the air in the room was warm and thick with steam, Erica still found herself shivering lightly when the back of her blue gown was completely open.
"M'lady..." Iris spoke from behind, causing Erica's head to slightly turn over as she listened, "...where is your corset?""Ah, corsets...apparel forged from the pits of hell themselves." Erica smartly thought to herself as she gave a soft shrug, "Didn't wear one." she answered.
"Hmm..." Iris helped Erica free her arms from her gown's sleeves before allowing the rich blue dress to fall away, "If I may be bold, M'lady..."
Naked, Erica modestly covered her breasts with her arms as she took a step towards the pool, "You may."
"You're going to be difficult one, aren't you?"
At the question, Erica found herself smiling as she laughed to herself, "I guess that depends on what you mean by difficult."
"Uh-huh..." Iris returned with another shake of her head, "...well, no matter. Into the bath, M'lady."
Following the instruction, Erica stepped up to the gold trimmed edge before carefully slipping into the heated water. The purple-petal water reached her hips when standing.
"Now while you finish bathing, I'm going to go prepare your bed and lay out your nightwear. I'll be back shortly."
Erica silently nodded her head while Iris quietly swept herself from the room.
Releasing a heavy sigh, the young woman moved out into the pool's center. "Fancy baths...ladies in waiting..." Erica's red-gold head dropped back with exasperation. This kind of lifestyle just wasn't her-and yet, this was how things were going to be from here on out.
Until she married at least...then things were going to drastically change once again.
Erica quietly scoffed. What was it her parents had said? Make the best of the situation?, "Easier said than done..." This whole array was utterly ridiculous. And what's more, one sure fact was becoming clearer by the minute.
"I do not belong here..." The words came out in an unheard whisper before Erica dejectedly submerged herself beneath the pool's lilac-covered surface.
Less than an hour later, Erica found herself sitting before the fire, clothed in a brand new night chemise of ivory silk. The gown for the most part was simple in design with the exception of the baby blue trim that ran along the low neckline and sweeping hem. A complimentary dress robe of the same blue was draped across her lap, waiting patiently to be donned.
The young woman at the present moment was keeping herself occupied by weaving her copper-colored curls back into a side braid, the way she did every night before going to bed. The only thing different about this night however was the fact that Erica was nowhere near being tired.
How could she sleep? She was away from her home...her parents...seemingly every comfort she had grown to know-nothing felt normal to her anymore.
And that revelation left her feeling restless.
"I've turned down your bed, M'lady." Iris called over to Erica as she finished rearranging the pillows upon it.
"Thank you, Iris..." Erica answered quietly as she secured the end of her braid with some ribbon, "I'll be there shortly."
Iris nodded her dark head, "Very good." she stated as she started moving away from the grand divan. "Will you be needing anything else tonight?"
The young woman shook her head as she steadfastly kept her eyes upon the orange flames in the hearth, watching as they danced and flickered along the burning logs. "No, Thank you."
"Well then by your leave, M'lady..." Iris respectfully announced, "I shall call it a night."
Pulling her eyes away from the fireplace, Erica spared a brief glance over at the older woman and nodded, "Of course." she answered before looking away again, "...have a good night, Iris."
The old maid dipped into a curtsey that went unseen by Erica, "M'lady." With that said, Iris moved across the floor, opened the chamber door and quietly disappeared.
The second she heard the door click shut once again, Erica practically jumped to her feet. Swiftly slipping the blue dressing gown on, Erica nimbly drew its front closed so that it hid the low sweeping neckline of her chemise and then secured the attire in place by tying the blue-ribbon ends together in a tight bow right beneath her bosom.
Too restless to keep sitting around with nothing to do but stare blankly around the room, Erica quietly padded across the room to the door with her bare feet. Turning the handle and pulling it open just a crack, Erica slyly peeked about and saw the corridor was completely empty. With a resolved sigh, Erica widened the space and timidly stepped out of her chamber and into the hallway.
With great haste in her strides, Erica picked a random direction and set off down the torch-lit corridor. Did she have a set destination in mind? No.
If anything, Erica had no idea just what this palace could really offer to her in all its magnificence. But presently, she didn't care.
She doesn't want to think, doesn't want to talk...all she wants to do is walk-plain and simple.
Her journey down the long palace hallways, their grand walls decorated with tapestries and weaponry that she passed all too quickly, was brought to a sudden halt.
Voices coming down the corridor just up ahead stopped Erica dead in her tracks. Voices meant people-and Erica did not wish to run into anyone tonight, especially not while she was only clad in her nightwear.
Looking wildly about, the young woman spotted a large wooden door just a few paces down and off to the right. Without really thinking, Erica hurried on over and found the door unlocked. Then she pulled the unknown door open and moved inside.
Pulling it shut behind her, Erica released a heavy sigh just as she started to pivot around, "Sneaking around on my first night..." The young woman mentally kicked herself, "...brilliant, just brilliant. As if things could not get any wor..."
Erica's voice trailed off, rendering her speechless as her eyes , widening in awe, settled in on the contents this room had supplied.
Books...shelves and shelves of them as far as the eye could see. There were even floors of them that stretched as high as the very ceiling that was at least a hundred feet above her head.
"Am I dreaming?" For the first time since her arrival, Erica actually found herself genuinely starting to smile. "A Library..." she breathed out as her feet dreamily began leading her further into the room. And what a library it was.
Erica had never seen so many books in her entire life. Now even her father's personal stash, which she had adored while growing up, couldn't hold a candle to the glory of this room.
Feeling as giddy as a child, Erica hurried on over the far end of the library where a massive stone fireplace roared with life in between a wall of bookshelves. Though this wasn't a library she was personally familiar with, it's warm and musky atmosphere was something Erica knew all too well. And she loved it.
Spying a ladder propped up against one of the shelves nearby, Erica took the liberty of scaling its steps all the way up till she reached the top shelve of books. Running a hand over the spines of the colorful books before her, the young woman smiled.
"So beautiful..." she murmured out loud. What could be more sublime than this-alone in an immaculate library where every book was perfectly aligned, its leather bindings neatly polished and clean. Her trailing fingers stopped their wandering over a particular volume. Unable to resist, Erica pulled a rich green-leather bound novel from its place on the shelf and carefully turned it over in her hands so that she could read the inscription on its front that was marked by silver letters.
"Into the Fire..." she murmured the title out loud while tracing the letters with a finger-slowly, reverently.
Well, sounds interesting enough, then again, Erica was not a picky reader. She could read just about anything with no complaint.
Turning about on the ladder carefully, Erica slowly began the climb back down, keeping one hand on the wooden railing as a guide while she used her other flip open the hardcover and skim the first paragraph on the page with her eyes. When the scent of its musty pages reached Erica's nose, the young woman drank in the pleasing aroma and smiled fondly down at her newfound treasure.
"In the midst of my life falling into disarray..." Erica murmured out loud as she fell deep into her readings, "...I have discovered a haven."
Right as Erica reached the final few steps on the ladder, the unmistakable sound of a door being thrown open startled her into awareness as her book fell right out of her hands and landed with a quiet thump upon the ground below.
Or not.
Heavy footsteps began echoing off the floor, confirming Erica's suspicions-she was no longer alone.
"Damn..." Wasting no time, Erica gathered her skirts in her hands and leapt from the final three steps on the ladder, landing softly on her feet before she quickly scurried into the corn-field rows of bookshelves and hid herself from view...
When Loki entered the library, he did not take care, as he normally did, to remain quiet and go unseen. The door behind him closed with a distinguished thud as his long, capable legs carried him forward into the splendid room.
His boots echoed eerily after him with every step that took him around towering rows of bookshelves till he neared his favorite place-the fireplace where an elegant chaise sat before the flaming hearth. It was the perfect spot for late-night reading.
And it was all his since hardly anyone ever comes in here.
Looking around, Loki found himself pleased. Everything was where it should be, just the way Loki had left it the last time he was here. Not a single book was out of...
The raven haired Prince's eyes fell upon an unusual site less than ten feet away from the fireplace. A dark brow of interest rose into a high arch before he slowly moved forward.
Smoothly squatting down by the foot of the ladder, Loki eyed the single book, partially open, that had fallen to the floor. The dark prince extended a pale hand towards it, catching it underneath the white pages, before he vigilantly picked it up.
His emerald gaze traced the books fine details for a moment before he raised his eyes to the shelves above. It took him but a moment to find the gaping hole that looked almost like a wound on the otherwise untouched top shelf.
"Well, well..." There was only one explanation for this. With just a single hand, Loki skillfully snapped the book shut and rose back up to his full height while a slow smile crept onto his face.
He wasn't alone...
"Is someone there?"
When Erica heard Loki's words be called out in such a knowing manner, the young woman couldn't help but flatten her spine up against the shelf that was concealing her, a few rows down.
Sweet heaven above...how did he know?
Erica's head silently fell against the backs of the books behind her as she remained silent, hoping desperately that if she didn't respond, the Prince would let things be.
"Hello, hello?" Loki called again. This time, Erica heard him start moving around once more.
Damn...
"Don't panic..." she told herself. Keeping her breaths under control, Erica began inching her way along the towering shelves. "Just...find the closest door out of here and all will be wel.."
Caught up in her thoughts, Erica failed to take notice the way the lace of her sleeve had snagged a sharp corner on a book. Without meaning to, the book was pulled free and sent plummeting to the ground at her feet while also causing the other books on that ledge to shift down entirely in place of their missing brother.
Oh, wasn't that just perfect...
Hearing the sound of disruption, Loki followed the noise, his footsteps quickening with his approach.
"Damn, damn, damn..." Erica took off in a fast scurry, down the remaining distance of the row before she quietly skidded around its end.
A moment later, Loki was peering down the empty walkway between the bookshelves and took notice of the second fallen book upon the ground as well as the disheveled sill it had come from.
From her new position, Erica heard the low, velvety rumble that was Loki's laugh just on the other side of the massive piece of furniture that separated them.
"Oh, now you're just playing with me..." Loki outwardly spoke. He wasn't complaining, of course. In fact, he was deeply amused. It wasn't every day that someone brashly presented him with a challenge.
"That's alright though..." Loki continued on as he started retracing his steps back towards the fireplace, "...I do love a good game."
Erica couldn't help but soundlessly smack the palm of her hand on her forehead.
The High Heavens clearly had a conspiracy against her tonight. It had been strictly coincidental that she had stumbled upon this library the way she had and now she's managed to get herself caught up in a game of Cat and Mouse with the God of Mischief, himself.
"There is something seriously wrong with this picture..." Erica irritably thought to herself as her eyes quickly began scanning for a way out. When she had entered the library, she had used the North Entrance, which was now at the far end from where she was. Loki however had come using a different door-which meant there was more than one exit.
Perhaps there was also an East and West entranceway, Erica thought as she lightly bit down on her lower lip.
From her current position, the West way would be the closer of the two in terms of distance. It was about a good twenty-five feet away. However, the trick still remained in getting there, without Loki finding her first.
Erica hurriedly checked to make sure the way was clear. It was. "Then, I just have to go for it..." Gathering her skirts well above her shins determinedly, Erica dashed into the open, treading only on the tips of her toes to limit the sound of her escape.
Ten feet...Twenty...
When she hit the remaining five, Erica was once again able to duck behind another row of books.
When Loki heard the light padding of footsteps scurrying across the floor, he came out of his own hiding spot just in time to see a flash of blue vanish behind another shelf that was on the other side of the room.
Chuckling, Loki shook his dark head, "Well, well...look at you go." he teased, his green eyes flashing with a hidden laughter. "If I admit that you play a good game, will you cease this display and come out willingly?"
Hearing his words, Erica bit back a snarky comment and instead sly peered around the row and saw Loki standing incredibly tall, almost proud before the fireplace. His dark back was facing her as his dark head appeared bent over something.
Silence was his only answer. "No?" The dark Prince carried on, "Very well...if you won't come to me..."
Hot breath suddenly tickled Erica's ear from behind, "I'll just have to come to you." The young woman's stomach plummeted. He had tricked her with an illusion. Spinning around, Erica found her face just mere inches from the broad plane that was Loki's chest.
Startled by his abrupt appearance, a sharp cry of alarm started to slip past Erica's lips but was instantly silenced by the palm of Loki's hand. With his other hand, Loki brought a long finger up to his mouth and signaled for silence.
"Ssshh..." he told her as a half-grin began stretching across his face, "We don't want to startle the Guard, now do we?"
Beyond shocked, Erica's chest rose and fell heavily with her breaths for air as the dark prince finally drew his hand away from her, "Prince Loki..." The young woman brought a hand up to cover her heart which was now beating wildly, violently, beneath her breast.
Loki's grin widened expectantly, "Lady Erica..." he gave a short bow from his waist. "What an unexpected pleasure." His green eyes artfully swept across the young woman's face and found her eyes gleaming now with an unspoken anger. "Ah..." Reaching into folds of his black tunic, Loki pulled forth the green leather bound book Erica had picked out, "...I do believe you dropped this."
He extended the book out for Erica to take. She eyed it for a long moment, then she eyed him while she took the book from Loki's hand.
"Thank you..." she returned coldly as her hand tightened around the book's spine.
"Your welc..."
WAP!
When Erica's book collided with the left side of Loki's jaw, jerking his head to the side slightly, the God of Mischief found himself actually momentarily stunned. Not because her blow had hurt...it didn't really. Just a sting. But it was the fact that she actually struck him that was so staggering.
Just at dinner she seemed so meek-now she was anything but.
"May I ask, what was that for?" Loki slickly inquired as his head slowly turned back towards the young woman before him.
Erica's copper head inclined itself softly as she fixed him with a hard stare, "Take a wild guess." Without waiting for him to respond, Erica tucked her book under an arm and strolled forward. But instead of moving around Loki's form to get to the door that was feet away now, the young woman made a show of charging her shoulder into his, forcefully nudging him out of her way.
"Ooo...feisty..." Loki's body followed the young woman's movements as she made her way over to West exit.
Before she could reach for the door's handle, Erica felt Loki's hand ensnare her wrist from behind, halting her exit. "Going somewhere, my lady?" he asked. Erica took one look into his emerald eyes and saw the unmistakable smug half-grin she remembered from childhood and started fuming. He was just messing with her now.
"Away from you." she declared.
"Oh..." Loki exaggerated a look of pain across his handsome face, "Your words wound me."
Erica angled her body back towards the raven haired Prince standing feet away, "Would you prefer my book, instead?"
Loki openly chuckled and shook his dark head. This woman was definitely proving herself to be something else. "You know, I don't remember you being this vicious as a child."
Erica pulled back on her hand but found that Loki was not yet ready to let go, "Funny...I'm surprised you were able to remember anything at all considering you and your brother had been all but struck dumb at the site of me."
The younger Prince's eyes pristinely lit up, "Ouch." he laughed curtly, "Is that what all this hostility is about?"
Erica frowned and gave another tug on her hand, "Loki, I swear, I will hit you again."
To her surprise, Loki arrogantly straightened up. His form easily towered hers without any effort.
"Dear little Erica..." he spoke, his voice sounding almost indisputable as his eyes trailed over her face, "...it's true. My brother and I did not recognize you when our paths first crossed tonight. And for that, you have our humblest apologies." he went on as he drew Erica's hand up to his mouth, "...I swear, that won't ever happen again. A creature such as yourself will be impossible to forget."
Loki pressed a chilling kiss across the tops of knuckles before he finally released her from his hold. Like his lips, his touch had carried a chilliness that left Erica's spine tingling.
For a brief moment, Erica didn't really know how to respond. Something she was learning fast in regards to Loki is that he was a tricky man to read-you just never really know with him.
"Would you be willing to share your company with me for just a little while longer, my lady?"
Shaken from her thoughts, Erica frowned softly, "Absolutely not." Erica replied evenly, almost instantly.
"Oh...but we were having so much fun." Loki teasingly argued.
Erica rolled her eyes, "Agree to disagree..." she answered, "...I am not in decent attire to be keeping a man's company."
"Hmm..." Loki allowed his eyes to slowly sweep the length of Erica's figure clad in her nightwear, "If this is an attempt to protect my purity, you're too late." he confessed with an easy sigh, "...I've already seen a woman or two in my time."
Erica's mouth dropped open from the audacity of his statement, "First off...I can already tell innocence is not your area of expertise..." the young woman started moving for the door once again, "And secondly, I am going to disregard that entirely, you pompous oaf."
Loki's chuckle followed after her, "To be continued then, my Lady."
"Good night, Prince Loki." Making her words final, Erica threw open the library door and stormed out, leaving behind the younger, emerald eyed son of Odin who continued staring after her, even when she was long gone from his site.