Hi :) I am sorry for a longer pause, but school started 2 weeks ago and this is my last year in high school so there is a lot more studying and lot less time for writing. Hope you enjoy the chapter and leave a review if you did :)

Let me know if there are some spelling or grammar mistakes.

I own nothing but my OC and plot.

IX

"Fuck!" Milla cried out, breaking the silence in the house. A few birds flew from the tree a few meters from the terrace. "Oh fuck it," she said again with less volume, jumping from her chair and trying to save books and papers placed all over the table. "Damn it!" she swore again and instead of picking up the objects, she just threw them on the ground. Old and dusty books hit it with a loud thud and any other day the sound would physically hurt her, but now she couldn't make herself care.

"What is it?" Emma leaned out from a window just above the terrace. She raised eyebrows when she saw the mess and frustrated Milla walking around it as a tiger in a cage. "I'll clean it up," she offered, getting back inside.

"No," Milla shouted back but Emma was already walking down the stairs. Milla wanted to scream but all she did was taking a sharp breath and bit her tongue so hard it hurt. Emma came quickly to her, looking at the ink slowly dripping from the table and making new and new paths on papers with a lot of text on them. She sighed and bent to pick up the books but Milla touched her shoulder as gentle as she could and made her stop. "Leave it, I will do it later."

"It's not a problem for me, Milla, I can..."

"No," Milla shook her head. She took a step to the table again, tearing the writing to pieces. She lost all motivation to finish it. Maybe later, in a few days, she will make herself do it again. But not today. She won't waste another few hours rewriting the rewritten and drowning in more and more memories with every word.

"You could use, you know, a spell of something?" Emma crossed her arms at her chest again, as any other time she was trying to take care of her friend.

"No I don't think..." she sighed again, falling back to the chair. "Yes, I could." And just like that, the ink was gone and book were flying around Emma to their place back to the library. Occasionally, Milla used magic to help when she was to lazy or desperate. Right now, she was only selfish. Her eyes were fixated on the empty cup on the table and she was biting her lips, wondering why did she reacted the way she did.

"You are stubborn sometimes, you know?" Emma sat next to her, gathering all pieces of paper to throw it out later.

"Just say a real bitch, no need of sugar-coating it," she smiled. Again, she didn't sleep well and now the sudden temper drained a lot of her non-existing energy. She hadn't felt this tired for months now, and she almost forgot how awfully hard it is to continue your days with only you willpower.

Emma grinned and nodded. "Actually, yeah. But I didn't want you to shout again."

"Me? When was the last time I shouted? I don't remember."

"Well if I don't count the fuck five minutes ago, then yesterday when you broke the window in the kitchen."

"That wasn't shouting but swearing and being furious," Milla disagreed. But it was true that she had been flipping out a lot lately. Every little detail made her angry and while she wasn't deaf, she found out about the rumours in the house. They said the broken heart made her crazy and bitter. And there was one true work of art- someone believed she was pregnant and she was being moody only because of the hormones. And oddly enough, that was the first time she laughed.

"Okay then," Emma thought about it. "Then how about yesterday morning, the guards at the entrance?"

"They ignored their duties!" Milla raised one eyebrow, a new wave of anger washed through her. "They didn't lock the gates and I am strongly positive they were not even at the entrance but trying to impress that girl, Lily I believe. Why is everyone so impressed by her?"

"She is pretty," Emma shrugged. She didn't really liked that girl either. Honestly, all neighbourhood was jealous of the girl, stupid, but pretty young thing. "You were terrifying though."

"It was only a warning," she waved the topic away with her hand. The fact that staff was afraid of her sometimes and they were whispering lies made her upset, but there was no point in acting and pile the anger up. She knew what that would do, in time, she would explode and that would include magic. And honestly, she was horrified of the thought.

"Anyway, what was that?" Emma pointed at the pieces of papers on the table.

"Oh," Milla forced a smile. That was even better topic. "Because Felix stole my originals of travelling between realms, and I was to naive and never made copies, I was trying to remember and find all I could to compose new ones."

"He robbed you?" Emma raised her voice which made Milla look at her. She was hardly ever loud.

"Not really, he just took what he needed."

"And you are defending him again."

"Maybe that is my curse."

There was disbelief in Emmas face and she abruptly stood up, taking the cup from her hands and walking back to the kitchen. She was always upset when Milla mentioned him. More when she was protecting him, less when she was cursing. And everytime it broke Milla's heard a little more for she knew how well they got along. Loki was not used to friendship and didn't realise that he would hurt Emma too. She missed him, Milla knew that for sure after reading her mind a few nights before when Emma refused to talk to her. She was thinking about the way that little God made everyone laugh and knew exactly what to say in every situation and even if she was trying, it felt like if was hopeless. She missed his flattering comments and mocking about her and Johnatan. And Emma was desperately trying to protect everyone else that she started focusing on the anger and not understanding. He disappointed her and that was all she saw there.

Actually, no one really realized how much and how fast Loki changed their the everyday life until it was too late.

"Where is the best aunt in the universe?" a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts again and Milla was thankful. Emma was right in one thing and that was him being on her mind too much.

Andrea entered the terrace with a year and a half old baby in her one arm and a bag full of toys in the other. They hugged and little Adam smiled widely when Milla took him into her arms. He was heavier than the last time but otherwise, he was still the happy child. He reached for her long hair and she let him, ignoring Andrea's threats. That little pile of fluff made Milla smile genuinely and that was a huge success. Andrea knew that too so she let them play.

For a long while, they talked about nothing only making silly faces and trying to entertain the little one. Emma joined them for a bit when she brought coffee and even Johnatan stopped by to say hello.

"Do they really think we didn't notice?" Andrea whispered when both the guard and the maid left.

"I believe they failed to notice either," Milla replied, handing Adam a wooden cube. She leaned on her elbows and looked at her friend from the ground.

"Yeah, maybe, but they will someday," she shrugged and looked at Milla, sudden concern in her eyes. Milla sighed, knowing what will happen next. "How are you holding up?"

"Good actually, thank you," she said quickly. "And I would appreciate if we talked about something else, please. I am already tired of Emma's care."

"Fine. I hate this post break-up depressions."

"We didn't break up," Milla protested.

"No, but you behave like you did," she sipped her coffee and smiled. "You should go out sometimes, get some fun."

"There is no reason why."

"Come on girl, I know what you are doing. And you can't function like this for eternity."

"Nothing changed with my life, Andrea," Milla frowned at her, trying to stop those little monsters waking up in her head. Not again, please just not again.

"I heard you are not sleeping. And you are rude. And working non stop," she made a little pause after that and looked directly to Milla's eyes. Andrea was never the one to discuss feelings with. It was an uncomfortable topic for both of them, for different reasons. Andrea never knew what to say and Milla didn't always thought she said the worst things. "That sounds like a broken heart."

"Like you could possibly know," she said a little bit too rough and made little Adam look at Milla with a sign on fear in his eyes. Immediately she smiled and showed him a wooden horse toy that caught his attention again. Then she turned to Andrea again, who looked offended. "I am sorry but love isn't something you are good at."

"You know I loved Adam's father," she murmured, looking into her cup. "But yes, you have your own ways of dealing with heartache and I had mine. I won't push you into anything just like you didn't push me. Promise."

"Thank you."

"Have you heard about that attack on our beloved prince?"

Milla was glad Andrea changed the subject. "Yes. Apparently, the boy would be dead if there weren't a few Guardians by accident." And Loki, she thought with a flash of fear. She still had no news from Aaron.

"As far as I know, the boy is useless in physical business. I am pretty worried about him becoming a king one day."

"Well, at least he is intelligent. If war comes, there are others who could lead the army," Milla lied down on the floor and lifted Adam to the air. The child started to laugh, and clap with those little hands of his. And again, somehow, Loki broke to her mind and she remembered how beautiful he looked when he hold him. The image that would probably never repeat again.

"What war?" Andrea was confused.

"It is just a possibility, don't worry. Whoever wants to kill the member of royal family declares war to the crown."

"Please don't tell me you are going to investigate that."

"No, of course not," Milla smiled. She got murderers of her own to find and until somebody asks her to find theirs, it is not her business. Although, Aaron told her that those cases could be connected. But she didn't feel that important for someone to hire assassins for her. At least she hoped that Christopher's idiocy was only his and not one on command.

"Milla? There is a man outside, he wants to see you," Emma came again with a puzzles expression on her face. Apparently it was not someone they knew and for some reason he was making her uncomfortable. She was fidgeting and when she looked behind her shoulder taking a step back, for that man was slowly walking to them, uninvited. Milla's mood dropped below zero as she recognized him. Instantly, she became Lady Milla, with a strict look and cold gaze and harsh voice. She stood up, never looking away from him. And he was smirking.

"Andrea, how about you take Adam for a walk to gardens," Milla said slowly, not taking her eyes of the man. The baby sensed the nervousness around and started whimpering as Milla handed him to Andrea. "Emma, would you please brink a cup of tea for our guest."

"Oh, I won't bother you for long my lady, no need for a tea. Thank you lovely," he walked past Emma and took a seat. Andrea looked at her friend and left the room hesitantly after Milla nodded. Truth was this man was as dangerous as an annoying fly. But she didn't trust him at all.

When everyone left them, Milla sat down in front of him and crossed her legs. She tried her best to look as someone he would not like as an enemy. "I believe you have something for me, potion master."

"Oh yes, my lady," a sly smile was formed on his lips and flames of malice were dancing in his eyes. He was visibly looking forward to tell her the news but for some reason, she just didn't believe he was going to tell her the whole truth. "I learned very interested facts, indeed."

"I'm listening."

"I asked my friends to ask their friends about you," his eyes started scanning her body again. "And someone wants you dead no matter what it costs."

"I did not pay you to tell me what I already know." She started to be impatient. That man disgusted her, he thought he was cunning and clever but in reality, he was only a pitiful being trying to get attention of the more fortunate people. Her, in this case.

"Easy, my lady, I am getting there," he laughed at his own joke and looked somewhere behind her. Milla never stopped looking at him though. "One of my sources told me about a man, tall, black hair, who offered to pay a great amount of money for a poison as strong as it could be. Do you know who I am talking about?"

The man Christopher met a few times. That man was never too good in making plans. "Continue." She ignored the question.

"The poison is Arsenic, often called "The King of Poisons", it is undetectable type of poison from Midgard. It was mixed with a plant named Aconite, that cause suffocating and a few more causing paralysis. You were very lucky, lady Milla, that would be a terrible death. Your body paralysed, but your mind still wide awake, terrible, terrible pain. What a powerful weapon one drink could be and yet they still call poisons the weapon of women and cowards."

"Did your friend tell you something else? About the stranger maybe?"

"All he remembered was a foreign accent and a remarkable tattoo of a rose on his left wrist." He said instantly and for the first time, he looked in her eyes. According to her experiences, people assume that when somebody in lying, they never look in your eyes. But the truth is, they always do. To make you believe their words. That was enough for her to decide to enter his mind.

"Was there no one with him?" she asked, making him think about the truth. It was really easy to slip through his weak barriers without him noticing. And she was right again- everything he told her was a lie. Well prepared, but still a lie. There was nothing midgardian about the poison that was supposed to kill her. It's name was Gentle Kiss, a pleasant one for the deadliest snake venom in this realm combined with the sweet taste of a few types of toxic berries. Apparently, it is colourless and tasteless in alcohol and almost impossible to detect. The rat in front of her promised a fortune to his "source" and yet when he got the information, the other one was murdered without a second glance.

"My friend recalled nobody my lady," he answered. In reality, after the boy died, he tracked down the mysterious buyer. He was well hidden, but people tell you remarkable amount of information when you use the right words. Milla knew that and used the ability when necessary, but this one used mostly threats and when it didn't help, he got people who used physical force. She saw hideous pictures of people he was interested in, bloody and frightened. It was hard not to shiver or kill the man on the spot.

The man who ordered the poison was, in fact, tall and black haired, but there was nothing foreign about his accent. He was sceptic about the man at first but when he told him about the poison, he greeted him as an old friend. The stranger's name was Jakk, a smuggler and thief. He was paid by somebody named Sebastian to get a poison as powerful as he could find and then deliver it to Christopher. He got the money and that was the end of it. And sadly, the end of his life as well.

"Well, not as sufficient as I expected the information to be, but I thank you," she stood up and so did he. "The money was well spend."

His eyes lightened as she said that. He was so pleased with himself, proud that he fooled the woman no one could lie to. Another achievement that will ensure him more power. And maybe, he could find this Sebastian and tell him about the lady that can't be killed. About her weak spots, some people she helped. Maybe he will get a lot of money from this. Oh, what a wonderful day it was when she stepped into his shop with drugged eyes and a frown on that beautiful face.

She was smiling at him as she walked by his side to the entrance. They passed Emma again, who looked up from her book and with mistrust. "A beautiful maids you have, my lady."

"It is a nice girl, yes," Milla nodded, not stopping. She was angry and did not trust herself fully to stay in the house with this man for a second longer. She opened the door for him and her eyes never left his face. He thought he won. "Thank you, again."

"Anytime my lady. If you need something more, you know where to find me."

He started whistling as he walked down the stairs with hands in his pockets. She found eyes of the guards standing at the entrance and nodded towards the fat man. They took the hint and the moment he passed them, they sized them and knocked him on his knees. He cried in surprise when Jon disabled his every move and Erik took both knives he kept in his pockets. The confused and hurt look on his face made her smile in victory. She slowly walked down the stairs.

"Oh, I know where to find you," she said in low voice. Her eyes were darker as seconds before and she somehow looked taller and older. "You thought you can lie to me?"

"No, no my lady, I didn't, I swear..." his confidence was gone, replaced by a shadow of fear.

"I am sure you know about the fools who tried it before." She stopped only a step in front of her. Jon made the man stand and she studied his face for a little while. Good, he was afraid. And he should be. She was so angry. "And in addition, you killed two men and tortured at least a half a dozen others. You know what that means in our realm."

He was quiet for long seconds. "How?" it was the only word he could manage at the moment. There was nothing of that cunning fat man in front of her. He was a naive idiot as so many others before him.

She ignored his question. "I hope you will enjoy the trial," she stepped even closer, looking directly in his eyes. He tried to step back but Jon pushed him back. "Enjoy your power in prison."

"My lady, please..."he started again.

"Once, maybe I would listen, but today is not the day," she turned around after she sensed a presence of another people. Andrea and Emma were both looking at the scene. Wonderful. "Oh and one thing, one more thing," she said almost gently raising a little hope in him for a split second. But only until she swiftly turned around and slapped him hard. It felt so good. Thank God she wore that big ring. His cheek reddened and blood appeared on his lip while girls gasped, Jon chuckled. She loved that man when it came to violence. "That was for those disgusting things you imagined you would do with me. I will make sure I'll be sitting in the first row at your execution."

The shadows hid him from pry eyes and unwanted attention. He shouldn't be there. He should be with the rest of the Guardians outside the city, resting after a long journey. But he volunteered to get the prince back to the palace and after spending some quality time in the kitchen as a reward, he didn't feel like going back to those loud lot. His feet took him to well-known side streets, lost in thoughts but still careful that nobody could see him. For a second, he was sure he saw Andrea and little Adam crossing the market. The boy was taller than the last time he was him and a lot certain on his tiny legs as he walked around his mother while she was talking with some older gentleman. And before he realised, he followed them and found himself across the street looking at Milla's house.

The only thing he never let himself think about was whether or not she was happy without him. Because honestly, both answers scared him. If he hurt her, if she was somehow damaged, heartbroken, then he would feel a lot more awful and forgiving himself would be a lot harder. But if she was relieved and happy after his departure, that would break him all over again. Truth, he would be glad she is all right, but the big selfish part of him hoped, wanted her to care about him. To miss him. But it would also assured him that leaving the realm is the most important action he has to take. There would be nothing holding him back anymore.

He could find out. Wait for Emma at the market, or for one of the guards. But again, how would they behave if they saw him? He left them too without a word, and as strange as it was, he still called them friends. And maybe, they enjoyed their company too. He was never certain for whole his life there were only few moments when he felt like people genuinely liked his presence and when he felt comfortable around them. He grew up to be distant. And this was the first place in years when he forgot to be at least for a moment. A foolish idea really.

An odd looking man, dressed in fine golden and brown silk walked to the house just as he decided to leave. Emma opened the door for him but did not invited him inside like she did with Milla's clients. Maybe he wasn't a client, but a friend of lady Milla, but Emma would know him wouldn't she? But she looked more frightened than welcoming. She disappeared inside and the man looked around him, he entered and closed the door behind him. It left Loki stand with raised eyebrows. Who was he?

There was no way he was leaving now.

It didn't take long before the door opened again. The fat man walked out, a mischievous smirk on his face visible even from across the street. And then, he heard her voice. For a brief moment, he forgot how to breathe and he had to use all his willpower to remain in shadows when she stepped on the light. Sun was making her hair shine and but that was nothing compared to her bright smile. She wore a narrow sapphire dress above her ankles. She was barefoot. And beautiful.

And forbidden.

It was a bad idea to come.

He couldn't tear his eyes of her. That man wasn't important anymore, she was there, looking fit and smiling. But the smile faded in a blink of an eye and she nodded towards the fat one. Jon and Erik grabbed the stranger and made him kneel. Loki took a step forward and so did Milla, the joy in her face gone, replaced by anger and loathing. She looked just as frightening as the day she killed the one that tried to poison her.

Apparently, the fool wanted to trick her. Loki grinned- there was no way someone could possibly do that. Except him, for he could defence his mind, and he never tried. He wanted to find out why was this happening, why was she so kind one second and mean the other. And to punish that man for her, so she could smile again, a smile meant only for him. What did he do? Oh, killed and tortured, a bad combination to tell someone as Milla.

And then, she hit him. "That was for those disgusting things you imagined you would do with me," she said. Loki's blood started boiling and he took another step closed, ready to show the man what he could and could not do with her. The possessive voice in his head was stronger now, whispering that she is his. No one else's.

A firm grip of his shoulder stopped him from walking across the street. When he turned around, ready to knock off whoever held him, he saw Aaron. Loki looked at him, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"I figured out you would do something stupid when you are in town," he looked behind him, Loki also turning. Milla was walking to the gardens around the house with Andrea with Adam in her arms right behind her, asking something he could not hear. "And this was stupid."

"I know what I'm doing," Loki murmured. She was gone again. He clenched his jaw to remind him why he left in the first place.

"Of course you do," he said, not very convincing. "Go back to the others, I will ask around. Emma makes the best coffee in the whole realm, I swear to god." He walked past him, giving him a meaningful look. Loki sighed, but nodded. Aaron was right; there was no point in staying here. It looked like she moved on with her life, that she enjoyed her days even without him. She was working again and he knew she will be all right. And with some luck, she will be all right with him when he comes back.

In time, he told himself on his way back. One step after another.