Chapter 28
April held her breath as she stared up at the ceiling, tense with both nerves and excitement as she waited for the incantation to begin. She did trust the sorcerer but wouldn't put it past him to get a kick out of making her jump out of her skin with some shenanigan.
As the ceiling slowly dissolved away to reveal a beautiful night sky filled with thousands of bright winking stars, her little "oh" of pleasant surprise was swiftly snatched by a gasp as it came rushing down towards her. Or was she being sucked up into it? It was alarmingly difficult to tell and she gripped at the sofa for reassurance.
"Remember, it is only illusion," she heard the sorcerer remind her. "It is not real."
"Not real," she repeated breathlessly, as she was sent hurtling up into space, faster than the speed of light (it seemed!), passed planets and moons and through breathtaking multi-coloured nebulas. One of the planets looked a little like Earth but it sped by far too quickly to be sure. Other planets she didn't recognise. She was no Astronomer but she didn't think it was her own solar system. It seemed wrong somehow. Was it the sorcerers, she wondered. Was he showing her where he came from?
To her relief, she finally began to slow down. The illusion still continued, just at a more bearable pace. As she drifted through the velvet darkness she felt incredibly relaxed and at peace, and unexpectedly comforted. Death couldn't possibly be the end, a voice inside insisted, not with this mysteriously infinite cosmos. One day she would be reunited with David again. As tears pricked at her eyes she felt she could almost reach out and connect with his spirit but as she raised her arm to try to do just that, she suddenly felt heavy limbed and incredibly drowsy. She fought desperately to remain conscious not wanting the illusion to end, but her fatigue became so overwhelming that sleep eventually swept up to claim her.
When he was sure April was asleep Loki gently covered her with the patchwork blanket. Staring down at her peaceful form, he knew it had been selfish of him to use a sleep incantation. Initially, he had thought it best that she retire to bed, but when he ended the illusion, he did not want to be deprived of her company; didn't want her to leave him. He knew not what the future held, how long it would take Thanos to find him, but tonight he simply wanted to enjoy the warmth of a merry fire, one of the most powerful books in the Nine Realms, and the presence of this feisty, mystifying, kind hearted mortal. He layered the sleep incantation with ones that would soothe, restore, and ensure pleasant dreams. A small compensation for everything he had forced her to endure this day.
He returned to the chair by the fire and resumed the study of his book, but felt compelled every so often to lower the tome and watch her sleep.
What are you doing to me, mortal, he thought restlessly. What Midgard enchantment was this? But when she stirred slightly and a dreamy smile twitched at her lips, he found himself smiling back, wondering what she was dreaming about. Would it be terribly fanciful of him to hope he might feature in her dreams? Given his treatment of her he suspected it would not be a favourable visit. Cringing at such juvenile sentimentality he returned to his book with a frown.
April blinked open her eyes, realising that it was morning and she was still downstairs in the living room. She remembered the incredible illusions of space but nothing after that.
She felt amazing. So well rested. But she frowned, knowing that the sorcerer had used a sleeping spell on her. She had never slept this good on the sofa. She noticed that she was covered with the patchwork blanket and knew for certain that she hadn't put it there. She guessed who had.
She turned her head, looking for the sorcerer. He was sleeping in the chair by the fire, looking surprisingly vulnerable and deceivingly young for someone who had (supposedly) lived for thousands of years. It was strange to see him look so peaceful, without the weight of whatever world he came from on his shoulders.
The scars, and the story behind them, had made her see him in a totally different light, made her sympathise and begin to understand his short fuse, although she knew she shouldn't completely lower her guard. He could be lying and might actually be some criminal who had been punished for equally terrible crimes. But she truly hoped this wasn't the case.
When she realised that his book of magic was lying open across his lap, like Gollum drawn to the One Ring she couldn't resist its lure. Just a quick glimpse of its contents would be enough to sate her burning curiosity. Breath held, she slipped from the sofa as quietly as she could and crept over to him. But just as she leaned down to look at the page he slammed the book shut.
"Don't even think it!"
She stepped back, startled. "How on Earth -"
He smirked smugly. "Senses gleaned over thousands of years, my dear. I knew you were awake by the shift in your breathing."
"You were listening to me breathe?"
"Difficult not to when you breathe so loud."
She frowned down at him. "You used a sleep spell on me, didn't you."
"You are welcome."
"I didn't give you permission!"
"You needed it. Tell me you do not feel amazing and I will apologise."
"It doesn't matter how I feel, you still shouldn't have done it. It's…it's…controlling and manipulative. Will you have me barking like a dog next?"
He stood up and loomed over her, though his pyjamas cancelled out most of his menace. "Though sorely tempting, it is hardly a fair comparison."
When she continued to glower at him he sighed his frustration. "I simply wished to make amends for what I put you through yesterday. I thought a restorative sleep would be the most beneficial." He scowled back at her. "I will know not to bother in future, ingrate."
She gaped at him. He was actually making her feel guilty. "Look, I do appreciate the thought," she offered sheepishly.
He humphed and sat back down.
She chewed down upon her lip, not quite sure what else to say. She certainly wasn't going to allow him to think it was acceptable, but at the same time it had been a nice gesture. And the fact that he had actually acknowledged his bad behaviour was another assurance that he wasn't some psycho.
Better to leave it, she decided, turning away.
"April, wait."
She looked back at him in surprise.
"I…apologise. I will not do it again without your permission."
Though she kept her reaction neutral as their eyes locked, inside she was smiling. "Thank you."
Their gaze held a fraction longer than April felt comfortable with. She quickly turned away. "Anyway…I better get dressed…"
Rushing from the living room she hurried up the stairs to the bathroom. After a quick shower and change of clothes, she was still buzzing from the great night's sleep. She had never been into sports but felt she could run a marathon! If the sorcerer could bottle his magic he'd become a billionaire on Earth!
She was about to go back downstairs when she remembered his dirty clothes. She'd pop them into the washing machine before breakfast. Returning to the bathroom she snatched them up from the floor a little too zealously and a piece of paper slipped out from his trouser pocket and glided to the floor. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared down at it. It looked like a letter. Realising that it might shed some light on the sorcerer's true identity, she quickly reached down for it.
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