Chapter Nine
Winning Wars, Losing Battles
Loki sunk into the cushions of the couch he remembered from weeks past. Crossing his lanky legs, he closed his eyes. This wasn't going as smoothly as he had planned. He knew why of course.
Charm was never something he deemed important. It was just another means meet a goal. When he first discovered the trick, at the tender age of 300 years, he had searched high and low for an expert to learn from. However, like most of the talents he had acquired over many years, he could not find a suitable master.
His brother was considered charming, but his was an accidental charm. His brother was hardly a strategist, he worked by instinct and gut alone. It wasn't Loki's style.
He realized that part of his charm, and his brothers, was their position. Whether or not women would car to admit to it. They were princes. Money and attributes aside, they were figureheads. Women and men alike were attracted to leaders.
This mortal girl had know idea of his heritage. No matter it was actually the heritage of a monstrous race. He was still royalty.
If she knew who I really was...Then she would most likely fall at my feet. She would never be so disrespecting...so...repulsed. No...is she repulsed? I don't think so. If she was she would have never let me into her home.
He looked over his shoulder. She was still muddling around in the kitchen; had been for almost an hour. As she worked, she hummed a tune with no melody. She had not a fantastic voice. It was weak and dull. But there was some quality to it that relaxed him. Lilting almost, like a dreamy mockingbird.
"There." She muttered under her breath. She left the kitchen and sat on the couch, as far away from him as she could be. Before she had commenced in her cooking she had molded her hair into an intricate bun that wrapped around the arc of her head. "It should be ready in...oh, a half an hour."
He didn't offer any sort of response.
Ellie shifted on the couch, tucking her legs under herself.
"Would you like something to drink? Tea or coffee?"
Loki shook his head. "I have wine."
"You do?" Ellie said, surprised. Did he have wine in the store? He must have. I didn't see it in his bag. But...
As if to quell her doubt, he pulled a dark bottle from the bag at his feet. Ellie rose tentatively and took the bottle from him.
"Wine it is." She muttered. Do I even have wine glasses? Well, this is terribly embarrassing. After a swift search through her cramped cabinets, she had found one chipped wine glass.
Filling it three quarters of the way she handed it off to Eric and went back to find herself a mug. As she poured herself a meager helping she inspected the bottle.
Valhalla Vines. 1997. 1997? Quite old. And probably quite strong.
She stared into the depths of her blue ceramic mug. Just exactly what I need.
She lifted the mug to her lips and downed a large gulp, shuddering a bit as the acidic bitter tang slid down her throat. It was quite tasty. She poured the bloody liquid into her cup.
How's this for a Saturday night? Drinks and soup with an almost stranger. It's either a satuday for the books or a really, terrible stupid thing to do.
Ellie knew that, either way, she didn't care. She was done playing it safe, staying in, and being alone.
Besides, she thought. He seems to be just as, if not more, alone than I.
Loki couldn't help but grin as he held his fourth glass to his pale lips. This was...enjoyable. He found that listening to the mortal ramble on wasn't as torturous as he had imagined. She was a clever little thing. She had a strong handle on the power of words. He had guessed as much. When he had been recovering under her roof he had sneaked peeks into the dozens of notebooks, both open and hidden, scattered throughout the small apartment.
He knew that when she had served him the meal, she had planned to extract information about his own character. However, no mortal or god alike would be able to control a conversation if the god of mischief was involved. She stood no better chance than his brother, than the great gods of Asgard. Every question she shot at him he managed to slyly defect and redirect.
As the night wore on, Ellie's cheeks became rosy with wine. But her voice nor her inhibitions seemed to falter.
And then the phone rang. Ellie first glanced at the clock that hung to the left of the door.
10:23.
Who could be calling. Hmm...I neither know nor care.
She looked up at Eric, who was looking at her expectantly. Ellie waved her hand.
"I'll let the machine pick it up." She said.
"Elizabeth. Crane. This has gone on long enough."
Ellie felt the wine drain from her face. That was her father's voice.
Your mother and I are tired of this game. Catherine can wait for you no longer. We told her to give up years ago but she still has some misguided faith left in her. If you are not back her at your home by Thursday...consider yourself...then consider yourself...
Ellie made it to the phone. She picked it up with one shaky hand.
"Father," She said into the phone, liquid courage driving her. "This is not a game. I did not come out here to cause you any grief. I said goodbye almost five months ago. And...it's time you and mom did, too."
Without giving her father the grace to reply, Ellie slammed the phone into the receiver.
A bland silence swallowed the room. Ellie staring down and the phone and Loki staring curiously at Ellie.
He had seen her like this before. After one merciless day of moving objects around the house, Ellie had collapsed on the couch with a cry of rage. Then, it had brought Loki close to tears of laughter. But now...
He watched as she shuffled back over to the couch. Before plopping down once more, Ellie picked up the bottle of wine which was as empty as her mind. Setting it down again she fell onto the couch.
"I'm sorry." She said, not bothering to look at him.
He said nothing. He knew nothing of comfort. It had only ever rarely been offered to him. And now that he knew the truth of his family, he could only assume that whatever comfort had been given to him had been a lie. A falsity.
"He...my father, acts as if this shame is new." Ellie muttered. "Do have any siblings?"
Lie. Loki's mind screamed to him. He had been lying all night. He lied about his work. Lied about the home he had left behind. Lied about his interests. He knew that a day would come when he would be done with her. She would serve him no purpose and he would leave. His lies would be harmless. She was better off with them. Lies were easy. He could always lie.
"An elder brother." He said. He could almost see the words leaving his mouth.
"A brother." Ellie repeated. "Then...maybe you would understand. My sister, Catherine. She's successful. One day she had a thought. She was thirteen and I was eight. At the tender age of thirteen my sister turned her tiny thought into a business. People wanted to know who she was. Important people. She was a name before she had even graduated high school. He success was everything to my parents. They couldn't wait until I had my defining thought."
Ellie sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.
"I never did have one. My fourteenth brithday came and it was as though I was out of chances. Everyone compared me to her. Catherine has already made her first million, Elizabeth. Do you have a penny to your name? Catherine was asked to attend Harvard, Elizabeth. Do you see the futility in applying yourself?"
She looked at Loki, who was watching her warily.
"I still loved her, though. She was everything to me. She was a mentor, a friend. My best friend. My only friend. I tried every day to be like her. Until the say I realized I could never be her. Which could only mean that my parents would never love me like they loved her."
Ellie sat in another silence. She wanted him to say something...anything.
"I understand." Loki whispered so quietly Ellie could not comprehend the words.
"What did you say?" Ellie asked, raising her head. She had thought she had heard words of praise. An agreement. His voice had been soft and silent. She expected to look upon him and see pity in his green eyes. But she must have imagined it. She must have thought her hopes into existence.
Because when her smoky eyes met his, there was no pity or comfort there. Something else brewed in those emerald eyes.
A swill of emotions was running wild in Loki's head. Playing with his control, testing his limits. What had happened the last time he let his dammed feelings overtake his mind?
I believe I failed in erasing the Jotens. I believe my brother defeated me in battle. I believe I lost my abilities.
He would not allow for that to happen again. Somehow that speck of a mortal had stolen his control. Within a minute or two she had twisted her own sorrow into him like a knife, wounding him. What was it? Empathy. He had no time for such foolishness. He needed to regain control. He would not meet the same fate that plagued his brother and this father. He would not bow to the twisty ways of women.
Slinking forward on the couch, he beared down on Ellie. She did not cower at his close proximity, only stared up at him through those large dark eyes.
"Eric?" She whispered. She did not fear him, that was clear.
I do not need her to fear me, though. That would complicate things.
He lifted his hand to her face, trapping her chin in his stony grip.
"Elizabeth." He whispered, his lips at her ear. "You should not worry yourself with the opinions of...such low creatures.
He pulled back to analyze her face. As he had hoped his words had caught her by surprise as easily as a slap to the face.
"What?" She whispered. A chill ran up her spine as his thumb caressed her cheek one. It then drifted down and ran along the length of her bottom lip. She breath staggered past her lips. "Eric what are you-"
"Hush." He commanded gently, his fingers pressing against her mouth. Ellie felt a light sensation burst over her like a gust of wind. Her heart, it seemed, had flew into her head. Her thoughts her muddled and misty.
He was so close to her, his nose almost touching hers. With aching slowness, his fingers had left her lips, his hand and melded into her hair and his lips were touching hers. Not pressing into her, not kissing her, but just brushing against hers.
And then he was gone. Ellie couldn't understand where the feather light pressure had gone too. She hadn't realized that she had shut her eyes. When they fluttered open, Eric was standing by the door donning his coat.
"I apologize." He said. He seemed flushed, almost embarrassed.
A number of words clambered to leave Ellie's mouth, but none of them managed to escape. She sat, open mouthed looking at him. And then she realized he was leaving her.
She stood up herself, feeling curiously wobbly. When she arrived at her door he was already outside.
"Wait." She called. He turned and with a sleepy smile looked down at her.
Ellie couldn't imagine why she asked him to wait. She still couldn't fully understand what had just happened.
"What was it that you said?" She asked.
A breath of a laugh left him and Ellie felt as silly as a child for asking him to repeat himself.
"I said," He began slowly, his voice calm and calculated. "That you should not concern yourself with such lowly opinions."
"Oh." Ellie said lamely, still not entirely sure.
He turned to walk away again.
"Wait."
"Yes?"
Ellie bit her lip. What was she doing? She knew next to nothing about this man. But...He was rather beautiful and...was he interested in her?
There is only one way to know, El
"Can I see you again?" She asked.
Loki could not help himself. A wide and pleasant grin spread across his face. He stepped towards her. Placing his hand on her head, he knelt down and brushed his lips against her bare forehead. A shock of heat raced through his system.
"Tomorrow." He said. "I will come to call on you."
He left her leaning against her doorway. As he slipped down her stairs, his grin turned to one of mischievous joy.
Had he not asked the same question of her? And now here he was, not even a day later and he had raked onto his side of the court. He had won her.
And she had yet to realize it. I am sure that she will in come morning, I expect her to resist me as she has when she is of sounder mind. But this victory will not be vanquished so easily.
Irony. It was delicious. Add it to the list, he thought.
Loki Laufeyson.
God of Mischief. God of Trickery. God of Chaos. And...God of Irony.
What a pleasurable ring it has...
Whew! Sorry, so sorry this was later than I planned. Check out my profile there are some Shiver related goodies just waiting to be looked at. And yes, its way too short. The next chapter will be longer, much longer.
As always thank you for reading and reviewing!