Loki furrowed his brow down at her. "Of course I love you. How could I not? You war with me, and you test my patience, but I could not live without you. I love you more than I've loved anyone for centuries. In a different way than I've ever felt. Have you not seen it in my actions toward you?"
Paige nodded and smiled. I have. She kissed him softly, then pulled away, a new thought occurring to her. Wait. How can you love me after only knowing me for five days?
Loki laughed ever so softly. Paige looked at life in such a practical manner, hardly ever the romantic fashion. "Five days is plenty long enough to see one's character, one's hurt and flaws, and fall ever deeper into this person's enchantment."
Satisfied with his answer, she hugged him. But what if you find out something about me on the tenth day that you don't like? Or the twentieth? Will you still love me?
"Of course! I do not foresee our love to be an easy one, but I've no doubt it will be worth every moment of discomfort."
Oh, there will probably be plenty of that. But we'll just have to work through it. She gazed up at him, all her love and admiration sparking in her steely eyes.
Oh, gods, how he had looked for a woman who would say that sort of thing and mean it. Most didn't give him a chance to prove his affections, at the first sign of trouble they turned away. Paige was not most women, and for that he was more than grateful. Unable to constrain himself, Loki pulled Paige close and kissed her soundly.
From the piano room, a melody played, loud and melodic. Notes that escalated and held and moved together in a rhythm hypnotic as the night. Loki knew the melody from prior visits to Midgard. Moonlight Sonata.
Paige stopped and pulled away, her eyes wide. She knew that tune. She'd played it herself hundreds of times on her violin… for the man she once claimed she loved. Would she now truly give up everything she'd ever worked for? Everyone she ever loved? No. I... She took a physical step back, her mind flooded with memories. I can't. I can't.
"Can't what, little one?" Loki studied her. What had changed? Had the music broken the spell? He rather thought it enhanced their little rendezvous. Why did she choose now to leave?
I can't do this. I'm sorry. With tears in her eyes, Paige turned away from him and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She didn't know where she was going. All she knew was she had to stop the sound. Stop the playing.
"Little telepath?" Loki followed after her, matching each step forward to each of hers backward. Where would she go now? "Paige!"
She continued on until she reached the piano room. Of course the doors were locked. Stop playing. Please. I can't take it. she broadcast, sinking to her knees. Her guilt overwhelmed her. How could she so easily reject Drake? The one man who'd always been there for her. Wanted her when no one else did. Understood her like no one else. Her very best friend.
Kitania looked up from the piece she played from memory, her sights locked on the closed doors. Great. Just the woman she wanted to see right now. Not. If she had her way, she would ignore all of them for the duration of her time here. She just hoped Loki let her go home soon. She had played her part. With a huff, Kitania set her fingers to playing the piece again. She had to finish it.
Loki stopped at the end of the hall. How could one moment of ecstasy turn so suddenly? He rested his gaze on Paige, curled by the door like a caged animal. Was that how she saw herself? Tentatively, Loki attempted to meet her eyes. "Paige?"
She couldn't look at him. How could she? Torn between the man she loved and the man she owed her life to. How can I love you if it means betraying the man who loves me?
Loki swallowed. Of course. Of course she would think Drake still held her in highest regard. She didn't realize he owned the shadows and sought their demise. That he believed she had betrayed him and would stop at nothing to see his revenge played out in a battle far beyond her comprehension. She knew only that her heart was torn and would never be whole again until she made her decision final. He must give her space.
"I will check on our other visitor," Loki declared. He turned for the out-of-doors, desperate for a gulp of air. He could not look at her like this. She would not return his love, not when her Drake had been so faithful until now. But... he must allow her a chance to make amends. He flicked his fingers, and the piano room doors unlocked of their own accord.
I'm so sorry, Loki.
He could not accept it, not like this. Uncanny, really, that the moment he found courage enough to speak of his love, she rejected it like week-old bread and feasted instead on the memory of a boy who could never do her service. Loki sped his pace and disappeared through the doors. He could not allow her to see his hurt, his vulnerability. Let her work it out, herself. Another imperceptible finger twitch sent the piano room door sliding open to reveal the healer. Surely, she would have something to ease Paige's troubled thoughts.
/ /
You'd better have a good reason for playing that song.
Paige lifted her head and locked the healer in her sights, glaring daggers through her tears. She could easily strangle the woman. Squeeze the life out of her without ever lifting a finger. But Kitania's ability might yet come in handy. It was the only thing saving her.
Kitania didn't let Paige's little outburst deter her. Spoiled little princess got everything and everyone she ever wanted. She probably didn't know what it was like to live on the streets and fear someone would attack her in the middle of the night. Nor did she understand the feeling of having no one. No one to love her or hold her or even talk to her. No one but an obsessive tutor who should have been in jail. Kitania sniffed and blinked back the tears. No matter what Paige said or did, she had to finish this piece. Loki would more than likely kill her, and the only thing Drake had ever asked of her was to play Moonlight Sonata. She had to fulfill that promise before her demise.
At the sound of the resumed song, Paige stood and lifted her arms, the doors of the room flying open of their own accord and slamming back into the wall. Inside the piano, the strings held fast, frozen stiff. Paige could control her anger no longer. She stormed into the room and grabbed Kitania by the throat. Answer me! Why?!
Kitania slammed her fists against the frozen keys and let the sob escape. She had to do this. What did the little imp at the door not get about that? She reached for the keys again. "Don't make me stop. Please! It's the only thing he asked! Don't make me stop."
He?! He asked you, did he? She tightened her grip. What do you know of him?! Don't you dare insult me like this! You know nothing!
"Let me go! I have to finish. Please! He never asked for anything else!"
Because he never asks for anything! What right do you have to him?! Paige released her and shoved her, hard – the action strengthened with her telekinesis. Kitania was easily sent to the ground. Get out!
"Let. Me. Finish!" Kitania blasted her lumen toward Paige's face. Maybe showing her the light would open her mind. She returned to her seat on the piano bench. She would finish this, and not even a selfish brat of a telepath would stop her.
Page hissed as the light momentarily blinded her. That was it. The last straw. In an instant, Kitania was sent soaring across the room. You are nothing to him. He's mine!
"You think I don't know that? You're all he talks about! But I have to do this! I owe him!" She scrambled up from the floor and forced herself to remain calm as she returned to the piano bench once more. No, she could never have Drake, because his affection lay with that idiot on the other side of the room, but she could make good on her promise to him. If the nuns had taught her anything, it was that integrity and loyalty were often one-sided. Kitania settled her hands back on the keys and started in where she had stopped.
With a sniff and a huff, Paige admitted defeat and sulked off to the corner of the room. Little, no good light-up brat. Fine. Finish the stupid piece then. Stupid pianist. The violin is better anyway. Glow-in-the-dark can't even hold a tune. It doesn't even sound like Moonlight Sonata. Whatever.
With a fury she didn't exactly know she possessed, Kitania worked her way through the end of the piece. The last chord lingered in the air like a fervent prayer. It was all she had, and now she could die content, at the very least. If it meant living in terror, she didn't want to stay alive. She knew Loki the madman, and he would end her when he was done with her. She closed her eyes and let the tears flow freely down her cheeks, soaking herself in her own sorrows.
Why are you here? Paige finally looked up at the other woman, studying her through her own tears.
The award for stupidest question of all time went to Paige Barnett. Kitania huffed violently, but managed to keep her eyes closed and contain her irritation. "Because your supervillain boyfriend kidnapped me to heal you."
He's not my boyfriend. And you healed me. Why don't you just leave?
The unladylike sound that left Kitania's mouth sounded more snort than laugh. Paige was full of ridiculous questions and demands. Who wouldn't have thought it? "In case you haven't noticed, I can't." Literally. Loki locked her in, if the gifted girl by the doors hadn't noticed. Kitania tugged at her hair. "Gah! This is worse than Edward. Worse than De's house- no. Worse than De's lab."
Paige bristled at the thought of Demitri's lab. That hell-hole on earth. Stop talking. Right now. I never want to hear about that lab again.
"Good. Cause neither do I." Her shiver was involuntary, but the memories would stick with her forever. Shadow boy in the morgue. The fountain of youth at the world's fingertips. The ridiculous vulnerability in the hall. What had she been thinking? Why had she let him see inside her to all the hurt? He would only crush her like everyone else. She needed a distraction. Kitania set her fingers to the keys and started in on Chopsticks.
Oh, gosh. Paige rolled her eyes. That's a child's song. Can't you play any real music?
"This doesn't remind me of my past. But if you have any suggestions. I may take them into consideration. Maybe."
That did pose a good question. If she could suggest a song, what would it be? Something they could play together. Wait here. Paige stood and marched out the doors, fully valuing her healed leg. It took her little time to find her violin and return with it. In the time she took gathering her violin, she never once saw Loki. No matter. He was probably still upset with her. Do you know the song 'Dreamcatcher'? Paige asked, coming to stand next to Kitania.
Seriously? The same song she thought it was? Kitania opened her eyes to cast a curious glance at the violin player. One thing she knew, music was life, and musicians only had to prove it to other musicians. "Artist?"
Secret Garden, of course. Honestly, I'd have thought someone of your tastes would have known that.
"I just have to make sure. You don't look like a Secret Garden listener to me." Not that Paige would care. She didn't seem to care much about anyone but herself and Drake. And maybe Loki, from what she'd seen. Kitania rolled her eyes and settled her fingers against the ivories again. Pure bliss.
And what's that supposed to mean? I can look however I please.
"Whatever." Kitania knew the song from memory, like most things she played. She picked up the beginning tune and worked it into the chords. Creating the semblance of a song, an illusion of a voice.
Paige easily picked up the haunting beginning chords, letting the long notes linger in the air. Then, with a flourish, her strong, sad notes took center stage, the piano accompanying. The notes were loud and long, piercing the air and wrapping around them. All sadness and confusion melted away, into the notes and out into the world.
Oh, so that was how she wanted to play this game? Well, little did she know Kitania could keep up with the best. Kitania smiled and pushed her fears and sadness into her playing. She hit the keys harder, moved in a slightly faster rhythm. Her body moved to the time of the piece, ebbing and flowing with the melody and harmony.
Paige struck the strings harder, lifting the piece an octave and pouring her frustrations into her movements. She flowed and floated gracefully, her feet hardly touching the ground as her movements twirled her round and round.
Kitania pressed her fingers into the tune, racing for the end of the piece. Her smile widened as the music washed over her. How could she cry while playing such a piece? Its composition was exquisite.
Finally, the end came. Paige slowed, letting the ghosts of past notes linger in the air as the piano finished out the piece. Living beauty in the form of sound.
Clap. Clap. Clap. From the direction of the door, the slow tempo came. Then, the most sarcastic voice Kitania had ever had the displeasure of knowing. "I'd really no idea, Kitania. No wonder they all fancy you."
Paige lowered her violin, the rest of her frozen to the spot. In all her playing, she'd nearly forgotten. Forgotten the struggle and pain. The choice she had to make. The hurt she'd caused in the man she loved. Paige remained stiff, staring straight forward with her back to Loki. How could she look at him now? After all she'd done.