Choices

Chapter 23
Cephera paced her bedroom floor her hands clammy as she played with them. She was beyond nervous. They'd sent an invitation to her coming of age celebration and she wasn't sure if Loki, Thor and his friends would accept. It was more Loki she wondered about. Being her teacher he might not care. The thought disappointed her and she hoped she'd be wrong.
They'd be here in a moment if they did come, and she wouldn't know who had arrived until she ventured downstairs. She'd barred up in her room in against for almost a week and after that she was sleeping on bed rest. No one but her father, sister and a couple of maids had seen her or spoken to her.
Looking in the mirror she could see the changes in her body. Nothing substantial to make her a different girl, but just enough to be noticeable. She was wondering how her friends would react. To the people of Mechanova it wasn't anything new, but to the Asgardians it was different.
Her sister walked into the bedroom wearing her most scandalous dress and smiled. "Ready?" She asked.
"Did everyone come?" Cephera asked. Seraphina rolled her eyes but nodded.
"They are waiting downstairs." She replied. Cephera wiped her hands across her silver skirt to smooth out non-existent wrinkles. Her father had the dress specially made for her. Even though most of her clothes were custom made this dress topped the cake. It was everything she loved and more. Her father knew how to spoil her. The dark red against the silver was brilliant, she was not okay with the dip in the chest but she hadn't complained.
King Yorin was waiting outside the bedroom door and upon seeing Cephera in her dress for the first time he grinned and pulled her into a tight hug. "You look beautiful." He told her beaming with pride.
"Thank you, father." She replied smiling back.
"My little girl is all grown up now," He said pretending to sob. She poked him in the stomach sharply and he gasped and bent over holding his stomach.
"Oh, sorry," She said. She'd become stronger than she'd once been. She had to be careful how much pressure she exerted on her touches.
"No worries." He assured her kissing her forehead before standing up straight. Together they all made their way downstairs where the entire kingdom was gathered in the grand ballroom awaiting her arrival. She'd made arrangements to have her friends kept outside to greet her before she went in. She wanted to see them before she was swallowed up by the crowd.
Reaching the threshold of the room Thor stood with his warriors three, but no Sif and to her relief Loki was stood with them.
(Loki)
Loki was apprehensive. It was almost anticlimactic having to wait. He wasn't sure he liked it. The sound of footsteps had them all looking toward the far hall and from it walked in the King and the twins. Loki's eyes went right to Cephera. She had changed. Not much though. Her face thinned out, her rounded cheeks and chin was now pointed and lean. Her frame curved in more at the waist and as she drew closer his eyes fell to her chest. Physically she changed very little, even her chest had grown but marginally. Her cleavage clearly larger but not enough for him to have noticed had she hadn't made such a scene about them when they had been turned into opposite genders. After they'd turned back he had made a point to examine her more closely.
Though she hadn't changed much she looked more a woman than a girl. She held that allure that a woman should. Even her expressions on this newly shaped face were created differently. He remembered what Thor had said and it seemed they were all waiting for him. Loki stepped forward with a smile. "I'm glad you're alright, and I'm glad you've invited me here." He told her. "You look beautiful Cephera."
"Thank you." She replied a blush spreading across her nose and cheeks. Did she blush that easily before? The use of her name in such a casual manner seemed to have caught her off-guard. He would normally call her princess or princess Cephera. He didn't often use her name and definitely not so informal.
"I agree." Thor said sweeping in and kissing her hand. The warriors three followed suit.
"I hope you boys are ready for a wild ride. You haven't seen a party until you've been here." Seraphina told them. Laughter ensued with excited agreement as they all walked into the room. Loki took up the rear where Cephera had situated herself.
"I haven't changed too much have I?" She whispered to him. He could see her nervous feelings spread over her face.
"No." He replied. "You're perfect." He added the second words without thought and felt awkward afterwards.
"Hardly perfect... but thanks." She smiled wide. Loki could do nothing but nod. He felt he'd put his foot in his mouth. Once inside, Cephera was swept into the crowd eager to see her and offer their heartfelt joy. Loki moved around the room with Thor for a bit before he was drawn to the sandpit in the far end of the gardens attached to the main ballroom. Inside people were wrestling and outside spectators watched. Thor stripped his party clothes down to his pants and jumped into the pit. Loki ignore them and moved back inside as the warriors there stayed to cheer Thor on.
"You must be Loki." A silky male voice said. Loki turned to view a tall, firmly built man with silvery blond hair and bright blue eyes. He was a very handsome man.
"I am. And you are?" Loki inquired in return as the man joined him to look around the room.
"Krystoff Fevour." He replied. Loki had a hard time keeping his face passive. Cephera hadn't told him about Krystoff and he didn't want to give away that he knew.
"Nice to meet you." Loki extended a hand to greet him, but Krystoff blatantly ignored it. Already Loki didn't like him. Krystoff placed his hands behind his back and looked off in the distance. Loki followed his line of sight and it rested on Cephera.
"Coming of age is a pivotal moment here." He told Loki. "It's what distinguishes the weak from the strong. She's stronger now though it could never fix her disability." Loki gave him a quizzical look. "She hasn't told you?" The self satisfied smirk that crossed this mans face made Loki want to hit him. He was a smug bastard.
"We have better things to talk about than her so-called disability."
"Ah yes. I've heard you are her magic instructor. A passion we both share. All us Mechanovians are very adapt to magic, though some of us are better than others. She wasn't born with natural magic. She's always struggled with obtaining it elsewhere, but still it doesn't deter me."
"Deter you?" Loki inquired.
"From wanting to marry her. I'll gladly take her for who she is."
"She has never mentioned you, I doubt she feels the same." Loki probed.
"No? No matter, in time she'll be mine. She can have her flings and her lovers, but in the end she'll come to me. I want you to remember that when a time may come that you think she's yours." Loki narrowed his eyes.
"I've no intentions toward her that way, and even if I did I assure you, you'd be the last thing on her mind." Loki warned. The vibes coming from Krystoff screamed trouble. He didn't seem to resemble the man in the letter. Maybe it was jealousy that made him act this way now. Perhaps Loki was just reading to much into it. Krystoff chuckled and walked away. Loki watched him weave through the crowd and disappear.
He turned his attention back to Cephera who was still chatting with an elderly looking couple. Loki did what he did best and observed. He watched as Krystoff came up beside Cephera. He noticed the uneasy glancing of the old couple who quickly walked away. Krystoff pushed Cephera's bangs away from her eyes and said something to her. Stiffly she allowed him to kiss her hand before he said something else. Loki observed the tension in her shoulders as she stood stiff and almost rigid. He didn't like how this man made her feel. His presence made her uncomfortable and it angered Loki that this Krystoff either failed to notice or simply didn't care.
"What are you doing?" Seraphina inquired distracting Loki from his careful spying.
"Who is Krystoff?" He asked pointing. "She doesn't seem happy to have him here." He added. "Ow!" Loki jumped as Seraphina punched his arm and without warning grabbed that same arm and pulled him out of the room. Loki felt as if she'd leave a bruise on him if she treated him any harsher. He was getting considerably angry with her for handling him in such a manner.
Drawing them into a secluded room Seraphina spoke in a very low whisper. "We don't talk negatively about him, or his family." She said. "They are a very important family so we must always be polite."
"Why are you whispering?" He asked finding his own voice low and secretive to match hers.
"Because the palace has ears. Spies all around waiting to catch a hint of disloyalty. Next to our royal family the Fevours are the strongest Mechanovians alive. "Look, if there is one thing we can agree on it's Cephera's safety. Krystoff is not good for her, but that doesn't mean we go around talking about it."
"Is he not her admirer?" Loki asked confused.
"Cephera is not a person of his devoted love and affection, she is a target." Loki felt a quick thump of his heart at the threat held in Seraphina's tone. "I can't explain it here. When we are all back in Asgard I'll tell you, but Cephera must never know you know. She's very self conscious about the whole ordeal, I often joke with her over it just to ease her worry." Loki nodded his understanding. "Oh and he has a sister. Cute white blond headed girl. Bouncing curls, seductively charming demeanour, if you meet her keep it in your pants." Seraphina warned.
She released her grip on his arm and she left the room giggling as if they'd been up to something. Loki couldn't see anyone around, but now that she spoke of it he did feel watched. What was going on in this kingdom? Loki rejoined the party and sat with a drink in hand. As he sipped on the sweet liquid and watched the wild dancing he pondered over everything he'd been curious about.
Krystoff was most likely a big reason Cephera was so determined to learn magic. Either to prove him wrong or to protect herself. Loki was leaning toward the latter. The guy smelled liked trouble. He gave Loki the distinct feeling that he was trying to intimidate him. Loki would love to see what Krystoff could do with magic and then show him up with his own.
"Having fun?" Cephera asked as she joined him to sit on the long bench.
"It's certainly crazy here. All these people, the fire shows, the wrestling, the dancing." He smiled and she returned it. "So besides the outward look what else happens during your coming of age?"
"The magic in my genetics grows stronger, though for me I'm not sure if that's an option. I was born able to use magic just not with any natural ability for it. Also my strength, I wasn't very strong before. A human could have thrown me around, now I could easily throw them around." She laughed. "Also, emotions have been heightened. My sister once told me that sex was never so good until she came of age... not that I plan to try that out." She flushed again.
"I'm not judging." Loki replied.
"I saw you speaking with Krystoff," she said.
"I was. Is he a friend of yours?" Loki asked.
"His father is a close man to my father. Krystoff is 40 years older than me and so we sort of grew up together. He's an acquaintance, we never hung out as friends. Everyone in the palace lives together so it's only natural for everyone to know everyone else. Kristoff's family lives far in the north wings." Loki nodded. He did notice the lack of housing on the way there. The palace itself was almost like a city housing most of its people, the markets however were outside the palace walls.
"Why does everyone live in the palace?" He inquired changing the topic. He knew by what Seraphina said Cephera would have nothing genuine to say about Krystoff while so many people were around them.
"There use to be other settlements around the realm, but over the centuries out people have been dying out and so most everyone came to move closer together, sharing the palace. I was only a young girl when this began. Some people stayed behind in the settlements, but most live here." Loki was quickly realizing he knew so very little about her people. He made a note to find out more, after all she was his friend.

Notes