AUTHOR'S NOTE: I must admit this was one of the most difficult chapters I've yet to write. We've reached a point in which our main characters are sharing space but there is an abyss between them. I've never had either of them be so unmade as they are at this point in the story. Nope, not even in Of Madness and Mayhem when I killed them both. I didn't think it would be this difficult to write them this way, but I'm enjoying it. I love breaking Loki and Barbara and building them back up, stronger and fiercer than ever. This chapter also features a conversation that has been long overdue between them but under normal circumstances it would never happen.
On a lighter note, we've passed 200 reviews. WOW! Thank you so, so, so much for all your support! I love you all!
Born to be a King
Chapter 30
Barbara tried to still her breathing as the servants filed out of the room. She could feel Loki's piercing gaze on her as he walked in. Cautiously, she turned her head slightly and saw Onessa whisper something to Loki before she too left the room. Then Barbara jumped to her feet at the sound of the doors closing.
"Easy there" Loki was instantly behind her, taking hold of her when she immediately collapsed.
"DON'T. TOUCH. ME" Barbara growled at him.
"Alright" he replied nonchalantly, letting her go. She tried to grab the edge of the table but her dizziness caused her to grasp at nothing and she fell backwards against him. Loki caught her and coaxed her down onto the chair. This time, she did not protest.
"Hmm. I didn't think so" he whispered in her ear.
She gave him a murderous look as he walked to his chair at the head of the table. He was about to sit down when he caught sight of her attire.
"Sapphire blue was always your favorite" he remarked, admiring her "it contrasts perfectly against the tawny complexion of your skin and the brown in your eyes"
"Why are you here?" she retorted.
"I'm here to have supper. I'm famished" he replied cordially, sitting down and lifting the domed cloche from his silver platter. He inhaled the delicious aroma of the meal, all the while smiling innocently at her. Then he reached over to lift the cloche from hers...
And his hand grabbed her wrist instead as it shot out from her lap, a table knife in hand.
"Once again, using the oldest tricks in the book" he chastised her. She was so weak that he barely needed to squeeze her wrist to get her to drop the knife. When it fell, he grabbed it and buried it to the hilt into the table. He gave her a single, sharp, warning look before becoming aloof again. He gave her another smile and removed the cloche from her platter.
"You must eat. You'll need your strength for what's soon to come" he instructed her.
She only raised an eyebrow at him, ignoring the irresistible smell of the meal before her even though she was near delirium from hunger. Then he suddenly pushed the plate in front of her.
"I SAID EAT!" he barked, and this time, his voice left no room for argument.
She astonished herself when she complied for a second time. The chains around her wrists clinked as she reached for the napkin and placed it upon her lap, then she took the fork and dug into the meal.
"Now then, that wasn't so hard, was it? All you need to do is comply and all will be well" he teased. He reached for the wine decanter and poured them each a glass full. The moment he set the goblet down in front of her, she grabbed it and downed it in three big gulps.
"Pace yourself, Barbara. You haven't had sustenance in two days"
"Why are you doing this?" she rasped through the burn of the wine on her throat.
"Because it's always been like this" he answered truthfully "you and I, sitting together at the end of each day to share a succulent meal. Except one is presently missing from our company"
"And who is that?"
"Arik, our son"
Her expression now went from contempt to mockery.
"You?! A father?!" she threw her head back and laughed maniacally "men like you don't become fathers. You don't desire it nor your deserve it"
"You're absolutely right. I always contemplated fatherhood as nothing more than my kingly duty, a necessary burden to secure my throne and establish a dynasty. It was never something I craved, and I did everything in my power to postpone my son's arrival, but the Fates thought otherwise"
"I have no desire to have children" she grumbled under her breath. Loki's brow rose at the sudden and brutally honest confession. It obviously came from the effect of the spell placed on her, but he had not expected her to admit such harsh truths.
"Is that so?" he asked.
"It is. Children are either a desire spun from childish love or a means to an end. I have no purpose for either"
"Your treatment of our son speaks otherwise"
"I have no child and stop trying to do your voodoo magic on me to make me believe what you wish for me to believe" she rasped, but to her own surprise, she felt her eyes moisten with tears. Something deep in her chest pulled at her heartstrings in a way that was totally new and foreign to her.
"And what if I show him to you?" he whispered, seeing the tears in her eyes.
"I HAVE NO CHILD!" she shouted, fighting for control and failing miserably "and definitely not with you. I would die before birthing any spawn of yours. The universe has no need for another devious vermin like you. You only bring destruction, pain, and death. Any child of yours would only grow to be a monster like his father"
"Have care how you speak" Loki snarled at her "for you know not how deep your words go. That spawn you speak of is my heir and it was you who gave him to me. Were it not for him then everything we've done and everything we've faced would be for naught. He is the only proof that our history is true"
"The only history you and I share is the one that happened years ago and we both know how it ended. You left Earth a prisoner while I tried to pick up the broken pieces of my life you left behind. I was nothing to you, I was merely a pawn in your grand scheme and a toy you could play with"
"I took you for a purpose. I told you this then"
"Tell me something, why didn't you put me under mind control like you did that scientist and the archer? Hmm?"
"Don't you know? I greatly enjoyed watching your pathetic attempts at trying to outwit me. You had a fire in your eyes that would have gone to waste if I had forced your submission"
"You destroyed all that was good in me" she now wept openly, unable to stop herself "you took everything that made me who I am: My freedom, my pride, my body, my dignity, and you left me with nothing in your wake!"
"I know I wasn't kind to you then, but if given the opportunity to do it over I would do no differently" he said truthfully.
"Of course not. Psychopaths like you don't see nor care for the damage you cause. It's a true miracle I didn't end up as deranged as you"
"Is that truly your perception of me?"
"What other perception could I possibly have?"
"Oh, you've no idea" he sighed.
"You lost on Earth" she spat back.
"Defeat is a matter of perspective" he retorted with the same vehemence "I may not have conquered your world but I became king of the greatest realm in the universe" he said, lifting his goblet in a mock toast.
"Don't celebrate just yet" she smiled.
"No, I will finally celebrate when you bring me Victor von Doom's head. You promised it to me, you know"
"And when did I do that?" she asked with sarcasm.
He only chuckled. He refilled her wine and she wasted no time in indulging once more. It only made the haziness in her head accentuate, but she couldn't help herself. Perhaps she was trying to drink herself half to death if it meant spending less time with the madman next to her. But unbeknownst to her, she was becoming more jovial as the meal went on. She tried to cut her venison using only her fork since she had foolishly used her knife as a potential weapon, but she failed and huffed in frustration, pushing her plate away.
"Allow me" Loki said, amused after watching her fail at trying to feed herself. He sliced her venison into bite-sized pieces, and she devoured it like a ravenous wolf. By the time she was on her fourth cup of wine, her plate was empty but her hunger was nowhere near being diminished. However, her sobriety was.
"I will cut your heart out with a spoon" she slurred in a somewhat distorted drawl after she served herself another helping of meat and she observed the serving spoon as if it were something wonderful. Then she laughed at her own joke while Loki frowned in confusion as he took her plate and cut her venison once more.
"What?"
"It's not what. It's whom"
His expression of total befuddlement made her laugh even harder.
"Alan Rickman. You wouldn't know him" she dismissed it.
"How would that even work?" he asked curious a moment later, returning her plate.
"Because it's dull you twit, it will hurt more" she replied in the same slurred drawl.
"I'm sure I can ask you anything I wish at this moment" he laughed, seeing her vulnerable from the spell and highly inebriated.
"Nope, I'm a locked vault" she shook her head.
"Did you miss me after I left Earth?"
Her laughter stopped.
"No"
"Liar"
She glared at him.
"You can't lie to the God of Lies" he winked at her "and you were never a good liar to begin with." He sat back in his chair, studying her. She was crying quietly again.
"Why do you weep?" he asked her.
"Because I'm here with you" she blurted out.
"Would you rather be with the metal man?"
"Anywhere but here"
He chuckled. She hadn't affirmed his insinuation. The spell was working wonderfully.
"Tell me, how did you become entangled with him?"
She sighed, forcing her tears to dry. She shifted in her chair and grabbed onto the arm rests so hard that her knuckles almost turned white. She knew she should not divulge what he wished to hear, but at this point she didn't even care.
"When you left Earth, I returned to the Ambassador. His deal with Stark Industries fell after your invasion. So he began to look at different prospects. He had been in contact with Von Doom Industries before, and in the aftermath of the attack he ventured into finding types of energy capable of sustaining arsenal heavy enough against alien weapons. The Russian government agreed to fund Victor's research, and as a result I saw him often" she smiled, remembering those days in which she and Victor began a unique friendship.
"That doesn't answer my question" Loki said, angered at the way her face softened as she recalled the false memories implanted into her mind.
"I was aware of his interest, but thanks to you I was afraid of any and all contact with another human being. Soon after that, he granted me a position in his research team. As we drew closer I resigned often and retreated into myself, running away someplace where no one knew who I was. He always found me, and no matter how unpleasant and taciturn I was, he remained there until he convinced me to return once more. In time, I began to trust him. Trust soon became something more"
Loki rolled his eyes. "You became enamored with him" he stated, trying his hardest to hold his laughter at the ridiculousness of her story.
"I did" she said, firmly and without an ounce of doubt.
"How do you explain your transformation?"
"I was exposed to the rays of a solar cloud. It changed my entire physiology and awakened parts in my brain that up until then had remained dormant"
"Is that what happened to him as well?"
"It is. We were the only two who survived the exposure"
"Ah. How convenient" Loki mused.
"And what about you? I suspect you had a stint in a cell when you returned to your home world"
"I was imprisoned for a time, yes" he began "but when Asgard was attacked I grasped the chance to reclaim the throne. Before long, I was once again the rightful king"
"Of course. The rightful king of Asgard. Your sense of entitlement is astounding"
"My sense of entitlement" he retorted "so says the one who once said I was destined to become a god king"
Her eyebrow rose at that.
"So what happened after you finally sat on the Asgardian throne?" she asked, taking a drink of her wine.
"I sent for you" he said to her with a smile.
She nearly choked on the wine. She looked at him as if he had suddenly grown a second head.
"You were brought to me one crisp night. The gatekeeper placed you in my arms, unconscious from the effect of the astral jump on your mortal constitution. I meant it when I said you would never be free of me. I had you brought to Asgard where you remained until your purpose was served"
She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. When it came, it was hoarse and barely audible.
"And what purpose was that?"
"According to Asgardian tradition, a new king must choose a queen before the end of his first year on the throne. I ordered that you be fed the golden apples of Idunn, the magical fruit that grants Asgardians long life. You shed your mortality and you became my queen. Soon after, our son was born"
There was no response. She simply stared at him. He looked deep into her eyes, and she saw nothing but truth shining in his blue irises. She shook her head. No, it couldn't be.
In a flash, Loki rose from his seat and advanced upon her. His hands came down on the arm rests of her chair and he hovered above her, pinning her to her seat.
"You're mine, Barbara. You've always been. Beyard betrayed us and handed you away to that human wretch. He tampered with your mind which is why you remember none of this. This is who you are, not because of some random cosmic occurrence, but because I made you so"
"No..." she breathed, a new flood of tears pouring from her eyes.
"You feel it, don't you? Deep down, you know it's true. Surely you must still be in there somewhere. Come back to me..."
He gently caressed her cheek, wiping her tears away. Then to his astonishment, she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. He lowered his forehead to hers and relished in her nearness. For that brief moment, he felt that he had her once more. She looked up at him and her eyes shone with clarity.
"Loki" she whispered 'what happened to me?"
Suddenly, the sound of explosions resonated outside, breaking the moment. Barbara jumped in her seat and then screamed at the searing pain that exploded in her head.
"Barbara, what's wrong?!" he shouted with alarm, taking her face in his hands.
"Flush him out, flush him out!" she screamed, over and over again, shaking her head as she fought against the agonizing pain. But then suddenly, she went still and quiet.
"Barbara?" Loki asked concerned. Then his eyes widened when without warning she leaped from the chair.
"VICTORRRR!" she shouted, fighting against Loki's grasp.
He let her go and she made a mad dash for the balcony. She looked up, watching the vast numbers of Shadow aircraft hold Doom's forces back without much effort. The sky lit up in bright hues as the battle raged quickly but intensely. It was soon over, and she cried out helplessly when the skies went still once more. The night was quiet again, save for the sounds of desperate weeping coming from the tallest tower in the palace. Overcome with hopelessness, Barbara collapsed onto the floor, slamming the manacles around her wrists on the ground in a last, desperate attempt at freedom.
Slowly, Loki walked up to her and knelt at her side. He scooped her up and held her against him.
"Were I him, I would not rest until I had you in my arms again" he spoke into her hair "I would destroy any and all who stood in my way. I would not cower from the mightiest force in the universe. Not for you"
"You lie!" she sobbed into his chest.
"No, my love" he tilted her chin, forcing her to look at up him "I assembled the greatest army the Nine Realms have ever seen, for you. I have traveled halfway across the universe to find you. I have killed kings and queens, for you. I have laid down my life just so you could live. And when the day comes when I truly die, I will take you with me, for with me is where you belong"
"You're a liar, you're a liar!" she sobbed uncontrollably "nothing you say can make me believe you!"
"You're right" he sighed "telling you will not suffice"
He picked her up and stood. He crossed the room and kicked the doors open, carrying her out of the chamber.
"I will show you"
End of Chapter 30
CLTex: Hello Christi! Missed ya girl! Loki's recognition of Ireena's destiny will be one of the biggest reveals near the end of the story ;) Also, Arik's arrival in Verdandi will add a new dimension to what is currently going on with Loki and Barbara. Can't wait for you to see how that unfolds! Love ya too darling!
Fireelfmaiden: Thank you so much for your compliments, I am so humbled. I hope you continue to enjoy! :)
LokiGrey: Hi 'Becca! How are you darling? I'm very glad to hear that your studies are going great and that you seem to be in high spirits! I'm also happy to hear that you're still working toward a healthier you. I've also begun taking baby steps in the same direction. For a month now I've been really trying to eat as healthy as I can and working out 6 days a week. Remember that self-consciousness plagues all women, even me. There are days when I truly hate the mirror... and the scale! Lol Glad you're enjoyed the twists and turns in the story. There are still many more to come! :)
Westernfemme: Hello! So happy to hear from you! Wow I truly admire how you can juggle so many things at the same time. Not to mention going to having to drive to the university an hour back and forth everyday while taking care of your children and dealing with your family issues. It must not be easy, and I'm so glad things have calmed down for you now. Enjoy some time for yourself, you deserve it! I'm about to take a week and a half long vacation after finishing the first leg of my degree. It'll be so nice not having to hit the alarm button at 5am for a few days. I hope things with your family work out to your satisfaction. Keep the faith, darling! So happy to hear that you're still reading and enjoying the story. Stay in touch! :)
Guest(1): Backstabbing magic man? Hahahaha! Killing Ireena, eh? Hmm... we'll see ;)
Guest(2): Yup, she's a peasant, I'll give you that one. But she has a part to play in the grand scheme of things. And Loki is no fool, he will use people to his advantage. Obviously he still sees purpose in keeping her alive. You shall see when the time comes... ehehehehehehe ;)
Hiddles-Skittles: Hello Diana darling! I was very worried about doing a trial scene since it's something I'd never written before, so I'm glad that you liked it! Love ya too sweetie and I hope things are going great for you! Hope you're enjoying your summer break! Any chance of you making it to San Diego?
LisaF: Thank you so much Lisa! I hope you're doing great!