Choices

Chapter 39
"The theory is...," Loki trailed off. Amora's eyes had glazed over in boredom but her face reflected interest. He'd noticed it since he began to open his eyes. He saw how she indulged him with fake interest and he was annoyed he hadn't noticed before. He had been ignoring Thor since Cephera left and still the fight with her had plagued him. He had a few dreams about it and woke in cold sweats and worry.
Now that his attention was all on Amora he saw things he didn't like. He'd hoped he was reading into it, but he was beginning to realize he wasn't. He'd tested her the night before and she'd failed. She didn't know she failed, but she had. He'd left his spell book out, the one she made such a fuss over the night before his fight with Cephera, Amora left his bed, and while Loki pretended to sleep, Amora went right to the book.
Loki's spell to make illusions came from that book and he'd mastered the spell. While she saw a sleeping Loki, the real Loki had been invisible and watching. He'd heard her utter the word fool before she'd opened it. He'd only let her have a quick taste before allowing his illusion to stir in his sleep and startle her to close the tome.
Using me? He'd thought of those words over and over. Still not completely believing it, but slowly his eyes were opening. The hurt over realizing Cephera might have been right, wasn't the worst of what he felt. Knowing he'd shunned and hurt Cephera over it was the worst part.
"If I am boring you, feel free to leave." Loki snarled, unable to help himself. Amora snapped out of her own thoughts that had been miles away.
"Of course not love, you never bore me." Loki scowled harder.
"Do not lie to me." He near spit the words in her face. How had he not seen it?
"Loki, my love...," she attempted to put her hand to his face, but he slapped it away.
"I don't have time for you." He walked away abruptly.
"Loki?" She called after him, but she didn't seem eager to follow. Loki stopped outside the room and vanished. He left behind a second self to walk down the hall when Amora slowly entered the hallway and watched his copy go.
Loki was at a impasse with his feelings. On one hand he didn't want to believe that Amora was using him and was angry at everyone for not being more supportive. On the other hand, he had a sinking feeling, that he often tried to ignore as of late, that everyone was right. Today he hoped he would get his answer.
Watching her from just off to the side, she snarled and turn the other way. She had no intentions of chasing after him. He followed close behind, careful to not allow his shoes to make any noise. His steps steady and planned. He continued following her out through the back ways of the palace and she stopped to make sure the large doors had closed solid behind her.
Loki was uneasy out here, the grass made for loud walking and so he waited. He waited for Amora to walk far enough ahead and then he matched her steps in hopes to prevent being caught. If she knew he was there, she didn't express it. When she was part way down the path, she stopped and whistled a small unique tune.
Loki had sidestepped behind a tree, even though he was invisible he felt he needed to stay hidden in case his spell should slip. His heart raced with anticipation, he didn't like it. The uneasiness within his stomach and chest made him uncomfortable. Amora stood silent, staring off ahead of her until, finally, a smoke cloud appeared and from within it stood a tall dark haired man Loki was unfamiliar with.
"I see your empty handed, again." He near growled the words.
"I told you before that this wouldn't be easy, I knew that before I even let you in on my plan." She scowled. He grabbed her by the face and pulled her close.
"You also said he would be easily wrapped around your finger," he said narrowing his eyes. Amora smacked his hand away.
"Don't forget I didn't have to tell you about that damn book." She reminded him.
"Yes you did, you don't have the natural skills to learn half of those ancient spells without me." He retorted. Loki saw an unhappy defeated look cross her beautiful face, though he no longer saw the beauty in it. Instead, he saw an ugly rat. He'd been an idiot, Loki had allowed himself to be blinded by lusts and what he thought might even be love. Love, such a useless emotion. Why he ever hoped for such a thing eluded him. Must have been Cephera's influence and all her pretty words about how great love would be.
Cephera..., a heavy shame set in as it dawned on him that she had no doubt seen what she'd said she'd seen. Loki had been so harsh with her. Completely uncaring and violent in his words. He'd allowed his anger to cloud him just as easily as he'd allowed his affection for Amora to blind him. Cephera didn't deserve a single word he'd said.
He should have listened to Thor. Cephera wasn't like other girls. Jealously didn't drive her. She hadn't spoken not one bad word against Amora since he'd been courting her. She'd been nothing but supportive. Loki nearly thumped his head against the tree, but instead he focused on his anger and set his eyes on Amora.
She was arguing that she still had time to gain the spell book, the one Loki had seen her sneak a peek at. After a moment, the man disappeared, he didn't look confident in her words. Loki waited until he knew for sure she was alone, he knew what he wanted to do.
Stepping onto the path his spell vanished and Amora turned and stared as he came into her view and she knew that instant she was caught. "Loki...," she said stuck for words. She was too shocked to even create a sultry look or convincing lie. Loki had no words for her either, he only had revenge.
Staring directly into her eyes, he spoke words from his tome, words he'd come to use upon himself at one point in his past. He focused his energy at her and when he cast his spell she was smart enough to attempt to run, but it was too late. The spell connected with her back and in a smooth shade of fading light, Amora was transformed from a human, to a rat.
Not caring what happened next, Loki left her to her fate with birds of prey flying overhead.
***
'To my loyal friend,' ..., Loki growled and bunched up the parchment. Yet another one for the pile on the floor. How could he possibly convey his words to her after what he'd said. Cephera had been gone from his life for over 2 months now and with each passing day he didn't just miss her but his shame grew.
He'd told only his mother the truth of what had happened, and he'd only told her because she knew he was not himself. She'd told him to go to Cephera and speak with her himself, but Loki didn't feel like he could be strong with his words right now. He had a deep unsettled fear within him of seeing her and he wasn't sure why. He was a coward, so he wrote letter after letter, reaching only a beginning and never being satisfied with even something as simple as that.
Loki hated to grovel, but he knew he'd done wrong and he needed to fix it. He couldn't expect her to come back to him with a simple, 'I'm sorry, come back'. She'd be a fool to even consider it and he gave her more credit than that. His words had to convey his apologies and show her respect. He needed to find a way to touch her with his words.
Thor and the rest of them only knew Amora was no longer part of Loki's life, they didn't ask questions. Truth be told, they all looked ready to celebrate, Loki couldn't blame them. They'll all knew what Loki had not seen. He would keep his grovelling a secret between himself and the foreign princess. He could do this, he just needed to clear his mind and write.
(Cephera)
Cephera traversed the palace halls with her feet hardly making a sound. Her handmaiden forever present behind her. She was a pleasant but quiet girl. Loyal to her father, this they were certain. Home held no joy for her. She couldn't run wild and free like she once could. Seraphina had stopped being so overbearing and was gone out more often than not. Cephera was left to wallow in her new boring life.
"Princess," Cephera looked up as Krystoff stepped into the hall. She narrowed her eyes, she'd been waiting for this. For the fake apology she was sure was to come.
"Leave us." She ordered her handmaiden who looked surprised at the command.
"I've been directed to never leave your side...," she began.
"Then leave me for 5 minutes and only those 5." Cephera commanded a little harsher. She had things she wanted to say to Krystoff and didn't want ears to hear it but him and her.
"5 then." The handmaiden was hesitant, but left. Cephera wandered up the hall, closer to the man she once felt bad for, but no longer.
"Do not speak," she said to him as his mouth opened as she approached. "I want you to know that I'll no longer allow myself to be blind. I do not care about the affection you may hold for me, you do not touch me without my permission ever again."
"My lady...,"
"I told you not to speak." She growled in the most menacing voice possible. Over and over she played this moment in her head. Setting her mind to the task that her sister was right, she needed a backbone. She needed to stand up for herself. He shut his mouth stepping back in shock. "If you ever dare put your hands to me again, I will not stop with a punch to your face." She warned. Cephera watched him survey her, as if trying to weigh if she was for real.
After a moment he snarled. "You underestimate my yearning for you, you think you're all strong now. That you couldn't hurt someone physically, or even verbally. Even now you restrain yourself from truly threatening me. You have no blood on your hands and you never will. You don't have what it takes to stop me. I will have you. Maybe not soon, but someday I will have you. And on that day you'll wish you had just given in to me this day, for the pain you will suffer will far outweigh what originally had in store."
Cephera was near shocked to see him as he really was, that scowl and depth to his voice sent chills across her entire body. Lucky for her, he turned on his heels and left her to think about what he'd said. "Princess?" Her handmaiden asked when Cephera met her half way up the hall.
"I'm fine." Cephera insisted.
"Your father will be so angry with me for leaving you alone." She frowned.
"There is no need for him or my sister to know. Nothing happened." Cephera assured her. She had no plans to give her father or sister larger worries than they already had. Cephera would just be careful to never allow her guard to fall while she remained in Mechanova. Maybe she'd go to Earth for a while.
Her mother had insisted that the twins know about the human race. And though Seraphina thought Earth was boring, Cephera loved learning about their ever changing culture. Within a hundred years so much would be different, where for her world everything was usually just about the same. The changes on Earth was its beauty. She knew that she wouldn't be allowed to go there alone, and so she would beg her sister to join her. If her twin refused Cephera could forget her trip. Sometimes life was unfair that way. She blamed Krystoff for that and she blamed Loki for being an idiot, she could have gone with him.

Notes