Please take note: the songs Cephera sings will be the stuff we are all familiar with. Though I am sure they are not the kind for Asgard in this story they are simply because I cannot write songs and it also gives you a sense of what it all sounds like. A feel for it so to speak. :p

Anastasia96: happy to see you like this one and that you also found enjoyment in my last one.
Soirblanche: glad you like despite all my errors. I appreciate your input. I will think about a beta but to be honest I really enjoy learning to fix my mistakes on my own so I am less likely to make them again. :p I will be returning to those chapters tonight and keeping an eye open for those errors and maybe others. I am confused though. Why a comma after "Welcome to Asgard," if that was all he said? Thanks again for the heads up.

Chapter 6: Butterflies and Wolves

Her next few months had gone by Loki free. She didn't see him except in class and he didn't write her any more notes or send her anymore gifts. She had worn his last gift though. She had used it in the rain several times now.
She never did tell Kat. Today they sat eating dinner in the soft grass silently. The silence wasn't by choice though. The instructor had cast this spell over them. She had an announcement and hated interruptions.
"As you know, once a year, Odin holds a masked ball for all students and Nobles within the castle walls. This year is no different. The ball is at the end of the week. Everyone is required to wear a mask and no one is to get drunk. I will not be humiliated by drunken students in front of my peers." she warned them. "Further more I want you all to help decorate the ballroom using the spells I am going to teach you today." she clapped and everyone's mouths were unsealed.
Cephera smiled wide. Finally a party she could dance at. Possibly even sing. Two things she knew she was good at.

***

Loki was in the throne room when the large group of students were escorted, by their instructor, into the grand ballroom. He followed. He watched as she set them in groups.
It seemed levitating objects and sticking things to walls was on the agenda today. He watched as they were made to decorate the rooms high ceilings and walls. The rain girl was amoung them. She really couldn't handle her magic well.
She had already dropped a few things when her nose began to bleed.
He wondered how she had gotten this far. He took pity on her to some degree. She tried hard, this he could tell, but she seemed to be plagued by some weakness that buried her possible potential. He wondered if it was a mental block.
Outside her classes he was always amused to watch her in the rain. When it rained he found himself on his tower balcony waiting for her to emerge into the courtyard. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her wearing the dress. Outside of class he found her strangely mysterious and that in turn peeked his interest. So far he had turned up no information of the girl aside her name.
The dance would be interesting. He planned to be there. He usually was.

***

The end of the week couldn't have come sooner. She slowly laced up the front of her gown. She had chosen a dress of violet and white lace and silk. It hung off her shoulders and clung to her waist to her hips and then cascaded outward. There was a slit up the right side with white ruffles tumbling out. She had her hair half up in curls on her head and let the rest tumble down her back in its natural wave. She placed a thin metal worked mask over her face. The mask was the design of a butterfly and black with violet and clear stones in the wings.
She took one look at herself and left for the ball. She arrived to meet Kat at the door, on her arm was her new boy toy. She was in an exquisite dress of royal blue and white. It brought out her blue eyes. Her curls hung down with only one side held back by a blue clip. Her mask was a peacock.
"Wow, look at you!" she exclaimed her face bright.
"I was about to say the same about you." Cephera replied, they laughed together and headed inside to mingle.
She had no date and so danced herself around the room. She was happy to do it. She didn't mind dancing on her own. She had a few of her classmates ask her to dance but they lasted only a song before she was alone again.
She didn't get bored. She kept herself entertained just enjoying the lull of the music. As the night went on she made her way to the band and gave them a sheet of music to play. She used a spell she had found useful over the years to make her voice loud like a microphone.
The room didn't notice what was going on till she began to sing a song called Set fire to the rain. Mechanova had access to all routes of technology. Though she no longer lived on earth she still enjoyed its music. The moment the first words left her mouth all eyes were on her.

***

Loki had been watching her. Dancing with herself was something he had seen her do many times now and was not surprised by it. However he was surprised when she began to sing. By the sound of it, magic was not her first passion.
She descended the stairs away from the band and twirled. He would have fun with this. He strolled from his perch against a far wall right up to her, took her in his arms and spun her. Her smile widened. He danced her as she sang. The faster part of the song he spun her often. She was light on her feet and fit nicely in his arms.
When the music slowed she dared look up and looked into his face. He wore a wolfs mask and had, for once, not been wearing his armor. When she recognized him she stumbled a step before catching herself and composing her features back to singing strong.
He grinned his usual grin and twirled her again. She followed him easily. On the last notes of the song he twirled her out and jerked her straight back in, catching her round her little waist forcing her body teasingly close. The song ended, he released her, kissed her hand and walked away.

***

She stood dumbfounded as the wolf walked away from her. Loki had left her quite speechless. She hadn't expected him there much less expect him to dance with her. The back of her hand tingled from his kiss and she willed the blush to leave her face.
No one seemed to have noticed the exchange but her. What was he playing at? She had been there now for months and had met him alone twice, and had gotten a few notes and a gift. He seemed to enjoy the few fleeting moments he had to make her feel awkward and confused.
He certainly didn't seem to seek her out completely. She could only assume this was part of the mischief she had heard all about, that he enjoyed so much. She suddenly glared at the back of his head, now over near the food. He was pouring up a drink. She set her face to a cute smile and walked over.
Without a word she took the drink from him with a twirl, nodded her head once at him and walked away. He didn't follow and she wasn't sure what expression he wore but the somewhat flirty move made her feel all giddy inside as she took a sip of her beverage. It tasted better when it was someone else's. She laughed inwardly.