Sorceress of the trees: I answered in pm but will also do so here for others who might read it...

Why does Seraphina dislike Kat? Seraphina had never had a good impression of Kat. She doesn't like Kat's prissy attitude and whorish ways. There is also an unspoken jealously. Once Seraphina had been Cephera only one true friend until Kat. This coupled with the fact I couldn't have everyone getting along is why.

Loki's dreamer: Diana and Cephera are currently getting along but it is hit or miss. Their relationship is strained to some degree but isn't that a part of growing up :p

Poodle warriors: I enjoy your constant thought on the matter of the villain...as for people splitting up from stress...I can't promise anything there. *evil laughter*

Doctor Loki love: glad this one was more balanced. The never ending questions of who...or hell even why?!

Kat snowstorm: yes lighter tones must happen at some point. I enjoyed writing it for a change. So dark lately. And the twins are now six.

Sidney loves fiction: believe it or not I have the villain caught scene rough drafted out. Lol. Been done for a while now. And yes super excited for the new baby as well. This baby is gonna stir things up. :p

Chapter 78: Insulted

Loki had insisted that they start their search for information with Cally. Thor was a bit hesitant. He knew Loki was a bit biased against her due to their past history. Thor was worried trouble would brew if Loki didn't watch himself.

Thor didn't want to jump to conclusions. He had done so quickly in his youth and got nothing in return but pain. Thor thought of Jane and had he been in the same situation with her would he still feel the same way. Could he think with a clear mind?

Decidedly he thought he would not have held it together either. But Thor was worried for Loki. Wanting to prove himself to his family as worthy had once sent him on a spiral into madness. He hoped this would not come to that.

Thor walked behind Loki and soon found himself at Cally's front door. She had settled herself in a small home just outside the palace. A servant answered their knocks on the heavily embellished wood. "Yes." She said politely with a small curtsy.

"We are here to see the Lady Cally." Thor announced importantly.

"I'm sorry the mistress doesn't wish to be disturb by anyone." The servant said clear and politely making to shut the door. Loki thrust his foot between the doorway stopping the door and the servant in their tracks.

"This is not a game. We will see your mistress or we will have her taken from here by force." Loki threatened. The servant girl seemed to be contemplating the situation. Finally she stepped back and held the door open for the two of them.

They entered and stood in the small sitting area. "I will fetch her." She said and with another curtsy she scurried off. Thor looked around. The home was clean and looked almost unlived in. Everything screamed new but nothing screamed used.

They stood there a moment until the girl arrived back. "Follow me your highness'." She beckoned. They followed her.

Stepping into a large room Thor saw Cally sitting in a chair near a window. Her hair was hanging down and her face was turned from them. "Lady Cally. We wish to have words with you." Thor said. Loki had agreed that Thor could lead the conversation were Cally was concerned.

"I gathered that much." She said with dry sarcasm. She did not offer them a seat.

"We would like to know your whereabouts two days ago."

"In regards to what?" She asked still not looking at them.

"We are asking everyone the same question. We are attempting to discover the truth behind the attack on Prince Devian." Thor cleared his throat. He wasn't being strictly truthful. They didn't plan to ask everyone.

"Loki's son? You think I would have had something to do with it?" Thor didn't answer.

"I think you're vindictive enough to perhaps try." Loki said when Thor stayed silent. Cally hissed.

"You think so little of me. That I would attack a child to simply enact what exactly? A revenge for leading me astray all those years ago. I suppose you plan to blame me for the loss of your unborn child as well." Cally had not moved but her hands clutched the arms of her chair. "You insult me with your ignorance and unspoken accusations."

Loki took a step forward but Thor put an arm out to stop him. "Calm yourself." He said under his breath.

"Then I will ask you straight out. Were you or anyone you know involved in the harmful acts against my family?" Loki's tone was low and dangerous. Cally stood, her body shaking. She turned to them and Loki looked taken aback and his mouth dropped open slightly as did Thor's.

Cally was not the beauty she had once been. Something had turned her once flawless skin to a pale lusterless, tired visage. The hallows under her eyes ran deep like she hadn't slept in decades. Her eyelids were half droopy and her body was frail looking. Her dress hanging off her as it was to big. This woman was not ok.

"Lady Cally. What ails you?" Thor said forgetting any suspicions he might have had.

She laughed and then coughed. "I haven't been well since his wedding." She looked to Loki and then back to Thor. "I can't sleep. I hardly eat. I'm plagued by nightmares." She said it all with a uncaring shrug of her shoulders. "It matters not. No doctor has been able to help me. As you can see I am in no condition to play villain to your wishful thinking. You are barking up the wrong tree. I had nothing to do with your families plights and I do not have information that could help you. I have not left this home since I settled in it." She all but fell back into her chair looking exhausted at the effort to stand. "Leave me. I've been subjected to enough of your insults." She waved her hand at them.

"If I find out that you are involved in anyway, I do not care that you seem to be on deaths door. I will kill you." Loki growled narrowing his eyes and turning. He left with Thor rushing behind him.

Once outside Thor took Loki by the arm and Loki swiftly pulled away. "Loki stop." He warned him. Loki halted but glared into the distance. "Loki you must attempt to calm yourself. She is in no condition to harm anyone." Thor said.

"She may look to be incapacitate but it may easily be an act. She has resources and could easily have someone working with her. I would not dismiss her so easily. I meant what I said. If she should turn out to be involved I will not hesitate to kill her." Thor sighed.

"Then for now let's move passed Cally and on to others. There may still well be someone with answers." Thor could only hope for the best of this one. He severely doubted they would turn up anything but they had to try. And if it kept Loki from running off to serve his own kind of justice then this is what Thor would do. He would not watch his brother go down this evil, uncharted road again.

The sun was setting and they had not turned up a single hint. It seemed a lot of people already heard of the incident but no one had any answers. Loki had retreated to his tower to think.

Loki had made many enemies over the years but he knew not of any that would not just attack him head on instead of these games. He even doubted Cally had anything to do with it but the other side of him, his angry unrelenting side made it difficult to not blame someone...anyone.

He wanted someone to pay for the crimes committed against his own but he had no proof and no way of proving anything at this point. He hated waiting for another thing to happen. It had been years since they last were met with such a act against them.

For a time he thought perhaps they had given up. Or that the attempt had been a one time thing. He began trying to think back to anything else that might have been an attempt to hurt any of them that they may not have thought of being relevant.

It was then he thought of Celo. The boy who tried to take advantage of Cephera when she had been drugged. Way back before he had even brought her to his own bed. He had gotten the boy banned from Asgard forever but that did not mean he couldn't have found a way back in somehow.

He wondered if this was his own way of seeking revenge for Loki having what he wanted. For Loki having a life with Cephera that was happy when Celo himself had failed to claim her.

Loki planned to track him down and see what he has been up too all these years. He had to cover every edge of this narrowing blade. Loki was determined to end this before someone else got hurt or worse.

Loki reclined in his chair. He had a hard time keeping himself calm during times like this. This was one of those times he once would have found himself a whore or a willing servant to fuck his frustrations out with. But he had Cephera and he would never betray her like that.

He was a still a man though. He still could admire a woman for her outward beauty. Kat for example was a very attractive female. Had Cephera never been in the picture he might have been tempted to bed her. Even Seraphina with all her boyish charms was attractive. But they were only thoughts and he had no need for other women.

He missed Cephera dearly and she had only been gone a day. The night before had been wonderful. The way she spoke of and demanded her passion even in these trying times was why he loved her. He had never told her he loved her. But she had also never said it to him.

It was an unspoken truth between them. A silent decree that they shared and had no need for words. They were both secure enough with each other to not need to say it allowed. He knew she knew it, just like he knew it of her.

Loki ran a hand through his hair and groaned. He couldn't wait to be next to her once more, dressed, naked it didn't matter right now. And his children, he couldn't imagine a life without them in it. If something were ever to happen to his beloved wife his children would be the only thing that would keep him from joining her. This he was sure of.

He could only hope and prey that she was safe in Mechanova. He had entrusted Kat as her bodyguard with all the magic he had taught her. He had confidence she was powerful enough to do the job right. And with her father and Seraphina there as well his worries lessened but never truly went away.

Tomorrow he would consult with Thor on the best way to approach Celo and where to go from there.