CHAPTER 5

All eyes were on Lina. She could feel her face getting hot as she replayed what the man said over again in her head.

"Are you sure this is the woman you saw?" Thor questioned, walking over to Lina protectively.

"Well, I don't believe it was her since I'm assuming she's been here while I was gone," the man added.

Loki strolled over to Lina and looked deeply into her eyes. It was invading the way he was looking at her. It was as if he was trying to read into the deepest darkest depths of her soul. "My lady, do you have a twin?"

"Had," Lina corrected. "She passed away at birth."

Odin lowered his head. "It appears child that whatever your parents told you regarding your sister is a lie."

"Do not dare call my parents liars," she directed at Odin. Venom laced her every word. She may not have them anymore but she still stood up for her family no matter what.

"You need to remember your place whilst in my presence!" he barked.

Lina's body language didn't change. That was something she always had problems with: remembering her place. "I don't care. You called my father an ally and a friend. How could you call him a liar?"

"Come now, Lina," Thor started softly. He tried to grab her arm to guide her out of the room but she shook him off. Angered and frustrated, she stormed back to her room and closed the door. She leaned upon it and allowed herself to slide down to the floor.

*You need to listen to me more often

Her brother's words haunted her. It wasn't only him she needed to listen to. She rarely listened to her mother or anyone else who claimed they knew what was best for her. The responsibility of knowing what was best for her was only hers since her father died. She only listened to him and his guiding words.

Wishing for some kind of release from the stress, Lina changed into a nightgown and prepared for bed. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She hadn't taken a good look at herself in a long time. Her figure was frailer due to the constant training without adequate nutrition. Her curves were still there. The lines in her face that were once soft grew hard with experience and frustration. The nightgown only went down to her knees, hugging every curve as it draped her body. Many men had tried to win her over in order to feed their selfish ways, but she had stayed pure throughout the years. She was going to save herself for the one. But if she kept treating her body the way she had been, she might not win any man over at all.

~It's awfully strange how worried you are about the way you look

Lina spun on her heels to see Loki relaxing on her bed, book in hand.

"Did I allow you into my chambers?" she demanded.

"No, you were too busy inspecting yourself in your mirror. What are you expecting to see when you look there?"

Lina looked at herself again, not knowing the answer. "Maybe an inkling of my father's strength or my mother's wit," she finally admitted.

Loki did not expect a serious answer to his question. "Seeking mummy and daddy's approval are we?"

"I gained it better than you have apparently."

Loki's lips pursed and his grip tightened on the book.

"You're very affected by the words that I tease you with," Lina observed, walking over to where Loki was sitting. "For someone who loves to play games with people's minds, you're not very good at defending yours right now."

It was true. He had let his guard down nearly every time that he was around Lina. But why? He had no feelings for the girl nor did he see any form of a future with her.

"Maybe it's the lack of sleep I've been getting. I've noticed something about you," Loki said, tapping his hand on the book in his lap. "You will read this." He handed her the book. Lina flipped through the pages eagerly, her mind temporarily distracted by this quest for new knowledge. It was a book of magic and how to control it. Each hand written page contained spells, tips, and tricks for her to practice and learn.

"Did you do this for me?" she puzzled, looking at Loki.

"No. I did this for the sake of Asgard. If you ever want to control your emotions without making things break and use your power in a fight, you need to read that."

Lina sighed, walked over to the desk, and swapped the book in her hand for the one she had pulled off of the shelf the day before.

"Well thank you, my lord. I would like to be getting to bed soon so if you don't mind—"

"—you sleeping while I remain in your quarters? Splendid idea, m'lady," Loki jestered. Lina glared at him as she retreated under the covers of her bed. She sat staring at the cover of the book as she reflected back on the day she had. She thought about the woman that had committed crimes on her family. Could she really be her sister? And if she was, how many lies had her family told her?

Loki grew impatient with Lina. He rested his head on her lap, surprising her as he pulled her out of her thoughts. "Read to me."

Still surprised, Lina didn't move.

"Do you not understand what I just said? Read," Loki demanded once more.

"I fear you won't be interested in what I'm reading, my lord," Lina replied, thumbing through the tales in her book.

"Please, call me Loki," he corrected. "Besides, I could use something boring to put me to sleep."

"You don't intend on sleeping here do you?"

Loki smiled wickedly. "Would m'lady prefer that I did?"

"I would prefer if you left right now," she growled.

"No," he said. "I want you to read to me and I won't leave until you do."

Rolling her eyes, Lina began to read to him the story of Cinderella. A common maid who longed for a true love being granted the privilege of having a fairy godmother gets the opportunity to go to a royal ball. Lina spoke in detail of the dress she wore, the glass slippers that caused her so much trouble, and the evil stepmother who almost got in the way of her true love.

As she ended the story, she looked down at Loki who was still watching her. He had been doing that since she began the story.

"Do you enjoy these types of tales?" he asked.

Closing the book and placing it on the end table, she replied, "I love them."

"In that case, I'll be back again tomorrow to hear another," Loki stated as he stood up to leave.

Lina could only watch him leave with her mouth agape in surprise. Why was the prince choosing to spend time with her in this way? Surely he had other matters to attend the reason was, if his intention when he came into the room was to distract her from her frustrations it worked.

Lina's days after consisted of training with Thor, visiting Frigga, and Loki coming to Lina's room around when she'd be getting ready for bed, resting his head on her lap, and listening to her read tales from the book. He found that he enjoyed watching the features on her face when she read stories to him. She became so passionate, so excited; she gained new life when she submerged herself into these tales.

One night, Lina had been reading the tale of "Pinocchio" when she faltered in her words. For some reason, she didn't want to read this story. It was too relevant to the current times in the sense that she still had no idea why her parents would lie to her about her sister. She set down the book, leaving Loki lost.

"I'd like to continue the story please," he whined.

"I'm sorry, Loki. Maybe another time I might, just not tonight." He sat up as Lina tucked her knees under her chin, staring into nothingness.

"What's wrong, my little storyteller?" he asked. That was his new nickname for her.

Lina sighed, turning her face away from him. "It's nothing you'd understand."

"Give it a try. You'd be surprised."

"I just," Lina started. Was she going to just let herself be exposed to the Prince of Mischief? She supposed it would be alright. He hadn't tried to hurt her with information she had let slip to him during the past week of story-tellings. "I'm not sure who I can trust anymore. There are so many things in my life that once made sense that suddenly went up in smoke before my very eyes. My securities, my beliefs; everything changed."

Loki maneuvered himself so that he was sitting next to Lina and wrapped one arm around her, just as Thor had done the first time she spoke deeply to him. "Some things aren't always what they seem, m'lady. Sometimes things change and we can't always be ready for them." He shrugged. "I feel that regardless of what happens, you can't let your emotions get too in the way of your judgement."

"You sound a lot like my brother," Lina stated, her face stonelike. That whole night had been filled of things that reminded her of her family. Loki lecturing her like he was her brother and even reading these stories to Loki brought back memories of her father. He would do this all the time with her when she was a child.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she reminisced. "Consider yourself very lucky, Loki," she said.

"And why is that?" he asked, wiping away her tears.

"Because you still have a family to lean on."

His face tightened at the sound of those words, but he let it go for the night. He was in no mood to argue with her his feelings about his family. Instead, he took her face in his hands and made her look at him. "Do not worry your pretty little head about it. My father will help you take care of everything."

"And you?" she whimpered.

"And myself. And Thor. And everyone else you want or need to help you. Now stop your crying and finish my story." With that Loki smirked at her and resumed his position in her lap.

"I'd rather not tonight, Loki. Maybe another time." Lina climbed out of bed and walked towards the balcony. She stepped out and let the cool air envelope her skin. The moon cast a gentle light amongst the trees and buildings that lined her view.

Loki watched her every movement. The way the moon lit her silhouette was breathtaking.

"Loki," she asked.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Don't leave me tonight." He was taken aback by the words. He climbed out of her bed and walked over to her.

"But what if I have someone else waiting for me, m'lady?" He was joking, but it didn't ring as humorous as he thought to Lina. He leaned against her back, his breath tickling her neck.

"Then leave," she coldly replied, walking away from Loki back to her bed. "Don't let my needs get in the way of your pleasuring yourself. You can see yourself out my lord."

The words affected him more than she or he thought. He walked up to her and placed his face in front of hers, mere centimeters separating their eyes. "Then don't call on me for help should you need it, princess," he hissed.

+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+.+

"You wanted to see me?" Odin asked the princess. She strode in and curtsied in front of the king.

"I wanted to apologize for my actions the last time I was in this room. I was out of line and I shouldn't speak out of turn as I did."

Odin leaned back and took a deep sigh. "It's alright, my lady. You're in a terrible situation so your actions are justified. We are doing everything we can to fix what was broken in your life.

"I appreciate the efforts, my lord, but I'm not sure if everything that's broken can be fixed."

Her eyes cried out for help, but her demeanor showed a strong, young woman. "We've been tracking the whereabouts of this woman. She's been destroying many kingdoms in her oath to find…something."

"Something?" Lina asked. She felt so small in a room so large and regal.

"We think she's trying to find something or someone. She's extremely powerful and I'm not sure how strong she'll be once she comes to Asgard."

"Do you really think she'll come here?" Lina turned to Odin, a hint of fear gracing her strong features.

"I fear it is only a matter of time."

"I understand. May I be excused, my lord?"

Odin nodded and watched the girl leave his room swiftly.

After returning to her quarters, Lina grabbed the book Loki brought for her the night previous. His handwriting graced every page, each word poetic and meaningful. She dove into each section with eagerness and purpose. She needed to be ready for everything and anything.