Choices

Chapter 90
"That can't be right. You must have done something wrong." Cephera insisted to Bythora, the head medic of the healing room.
"I assure you, I did not." Her response was curt and told Cephera that she felt offended at the implication.
"I'm sorry, but something must have gone wrong." Cephera continued. Right before Bythora could reply, Odin walked in.
"What is all the arguing about?" He asked looking between the two of them.
Cephera had gone to Odin shortly after her encounter with the imposter. She'd woken him and the queen up. Odin had been irritated, but listened while Cephera told them what she could. Odin had sent her down to the healing room to have the blood, and anything else she might have caught under her fingernails, examined.
Earth was not the only place able to discern identity through blood.
Cephera chewed her lip. She could only wonder what the penalty would be if she told Odin what they'd been arguing about. But there was no other way. "She insists that the results came back and it was Loki in my room."
Cephera waited for the blow up, while Bythora waited to be backed up by her king.
"Impossible, the prisons are impenetrable, even by Loki." Odin dismissed the notion surprising both Cephera and the healer.
"In all my years of service, I have never been wrong." Bythora insisted stepping forward, her face red.
"There is a first time for everything. I'll have the prison cells double checked for any flaws, but it's doubtful any will show up. Do your tests again." Odin ordered.
After listening to Cephera's story, Odin had calmed and became concerned. They'd waited all day for the results. While the King had been doing his duty with the people, he had sent his advisor, Tyr to check up on the results. Cephera had been waiting there all day and he had a few kind words to say about her predicament.
"Perhaps it's fate." He had told her with a kindly smile. "I'm sure in time things will work out for you." He stood quietly a moment before letting her know that Odin himself would check in later.
Bythora grumbled as she left them do to a second scan of her findings? Odin looked to Cephera,
"Is there any way that Loki could have come to you?" He asked her, his face serious.
"No," she replied.
"He denied the child was his?" He asked. Cephera nodded. "He could have lied," Odin commented.
"No he couldn't." Cephera replied, sucking in a breath. She wasn't willing to tell Odin, nor anyone, about the anklet. She didn't want to be used to question Loki through it.
"How can you be so sure?" Odin scrutinized her face for answers.
"If you had seen the look of pain on his face when I told him I was pregnant, you would not question it either." She replied smoothly. Odin stood silent before putting his hand upon her shoulder.
"A great injustice has been done to you, we will find this culprit and bring him to justice." He promised. "I'll have Bythora to report right back to me, leave this place and spend some time with your sister. Eat." He urged her.
Cephera wouldn't be happy until she had answers, but Odin was right, she needed to get away and eat.
(Loki)
"How many times must I repeat myself," Loki fumed, "I have not left this cell."
His mother frowned. "Cephera is torn up over this," she told him.
"You think this does not affect me as well? The fact someone has touched what is mine. To have tricked her into bed." He growled. He knew his mother was just trying to make him tell the truth, but there was no truth to be told. He'd said it already, he was not the father.
He had no idea what was at play. Someone was truly playing with the very fabric of their suspicions to avoid capture. As Loki was known to lie and trick, it was not surprising one would point the finger at him.
"Perhaps you should be asking yourself who else this person could be." He extended his help as far as he could. "If they can assume the form of myself well enough to even trick my wife, then whose to say they cannot also be you, Odin, Thor, or even Bythora, the one you entrusted with the only sample of his identity."
Frigga continued to look at him with that soft gaze. She had already thought of that, Loki should have known. His mother had a keen mind, like him..., no not his mother. It was so easy to forget the truth.
"It is something we've been considering." She admitted. "A fact that has not helped Cephera any." Frigga added. Loki frowned, his heart ached.
But he had to push it from his mind. Even if he were free of his prison he could show her no attention, no love, no comfort. Not until it was safe, until she was safe.
Was she safe? With this mystery floating about, was she really safe?
Loki couldn't shake this foreboding feeling inside him. Something far darker was amiss, something he was sure they weren't prepared for. Even darker than Thanos and his empty, deceitful promises.
"Cephera is strong, she always has been. She'll get through this without me, she'll have to." Loki told his mother, finalizing his a opinions on the matter.
"I fight everyday for a different outcome for your sentencing." Frigga told him. Loki hadn't expected any less of her, it was Odin who was the blade in his back. If his plan was to succeed, his would-be-father would have to go.
(Thor)
"Do you not think she should be here to decide for herself?" Thor asked his father, frowning.
"She will choose here." Tyr replied waving off the notion. "Cephera is not safe here, and according to you," he looked to Thor, "she is not safe in her home world either. Her and her unborn child are the responsibility of your father to protect while her husband is in prison." He reminded Thor.
"She will not want to be seperated from all she knows." Thor couldn't deny Tyr was right. He was chosen as an Advisor because of his good reasoning, but Cephera would not be happy. She'd gone through enough, and they wished to put her through more.
"The Byrfost will remain open to Midgard for yourself, Cephera, and her sister only. Hiemdall will keep a close eye on all of you when you are not in Asgard. Her purpose there will serve for both a gesture of goodwill as she helps the humans clean up the mess her husband has caused, and give her something to take her mind of her troubles," Odin said.
"And her marriage?" Thor asked. The question still unanswered by the king even after weeks of Odin having decreed, but not officially declaring, Loki's marriage voided.
"To seperate her that way would break whatever hope she has left. I will not do that. She and Loki will remain married, for all the good it will do as she may very well never see him again." Odin frowned, Thor didn't comment.
"Let me travel to Midgard first. At least allow me to prepare them for her arrival and find her a suitable place to stay," Thor said.
"The more comfortable, the better." Tyr replied nodding to Odin to approve of Thor's request.
"Very well. Cephera will be told of her task when you return."
"She will still not be pleased." Thor reiterated.
"Be that as it may, she has no choice. My concern is for her safety and that of her unborn babe, not her heartfelt needs." Odin dismissed Thor by turning and walking back to his throne where he would commence his usual daily politics.
As Thor left, Tyr caught up to him. "May I make a further suggestion?" He asked. Thor nodded. "Your lady on Midgard, perhaps it's best you place Cephera elsewhere."
Thor looked baffled. Jane had been the first person he thought of to house Cephera. "Why not?" He asked.
"Because like myself, whomever might seek to find her will know exactly where to find her." Tyr gave a knowing look, and Thor sighed. He was predictable, it would seem.
"Very well, I will seek assistance from another." He agreed.
***
Perhaps, it was because Thor's relationship with Cephera had been tainted all those years ago, that Thor wished to help his sister as much as he could. If he couldn't convince his father to allow her to stay in Asgard, he could at least make sure she had a happy place to stay while on Midgard.
With Loki in prison, Thor felt it was his duty to take care of Cephera however he could. Perhaps, their awkward relationship could mend someday.
"She's not going to like this." Seraphina warned Thor, who had told only her about what Odin was going to do. "But I agree, she needs something to do." She added.
"I as well think this is for the best. You will join her?"
"Not right away," Seraphina frowned. "Another girl has gone missing, and one has shown up just on the shore of the lake." By her tone, Thor knew the girl was dead. "Cephera will be fine, she has no problems making friends."
"Very well," Thor nodded his understanding. It was a hard time for everyone. Thor was unable to stay on Midgard due to his own loyalties to the throne and fixing up the nine realms. Cephera would be on her own for the time being. "I am sure Rorik will take time from his studies to visit her."
"I'll make sure he does." Seraphina assured him. "I won't leave my sister for long if I can help it. Especially now." Seraphina sounded very determined to make good of her word.
"I prey you find your kidnapper soon." Seraphina gave Thor a look of desperation. They all had their suspicions on the Fevours, or at least Krytoff, but without proof they had no leg to stand on to bring him to justice. A fact, Thor knew, to be eating at Seraphina.
(Cephera)
She didn't know how she felt. Happy, sad, neutral.
She smoothed her hand over her still flat belly, knowing an early life was growing inside her and that it was not of her choice.
To carry a child that was no Loki's was surreal. She wondered if Loki felt this way knowing he had children during his time kidnapped. Had Cephera put him through this confusion when she had decided to keep them without his consent?
Of course she would carry this child to term and love them no matter what, but she felt so very confused over it all. She was also afraid.
She feared magic was used to create the child. Afraid she would lose the child to the many ailments affiliated with using magic to create life. She could be lucky and have just your average child, that would require a lot of luck.
Her chances were better to have a child like Loki had, healthy if not unnatural. If not the child could be stillborn, die moments after birth, be a demon of some kind even. So many horrible possibilities that she couldn't even continue to think of it without wanting to cry.
She'd been keeping her feelings well locked tight though. She was managing to see the little light left for her to grasp. They'd given up on the identity of her assailant. They all knew the results were untrustworthy.
She'd have given just about anything to had it been Loki, but everyone knew the improbability. She'd accepted she was carrying someone else's child, but nonetheless, her child. This child was of her blood and she would not label them. They deserved no prejudice because of their parentage.
She let her dress fall to her ankles. Finished sizing up her body before the changes began, she went over to Loki's thick wood desk. Every time she sat at it, she was reminded of him.
The many nights he spent there going over his spell books and scrolls. The meticulous way he noted everything in his hundreds of notebooks. The organization of the stacks of books upon his desk and shelves.
Cephera kept it all how he liked it, wanting it to remain as he would have.
She'd gone over his notebooks over and over over the year he was gone. She had let herself be absorbed by the work he had cherished, when she wasn't wallowing in her sadness.
She had even filled his inkwell.
She'd spent many times in the past being examined on this desk. She grinned at the thought. She'd distracted him more than once while he tried to study. Planting her ass down upon the scroll he had open, spreading her legs and lifting her skirt. He never resisted, he'd tease her for her insolence.
The thought made her yearn for him. She shivered remembering that the touch she'd experienced for the last year had been someone else, and she was ashamed that she hadn't known the difference.
As much as she tried to say it was all dreams except that last night, deep down she knew better. It had been far too real to have been dreams, she knew that now. She'd been so desperate to hold her husband again, that she'd been blind.
Cephera curled her arms on the desktop and lay her check upon them and allowed herself to doze off.
***
Damn right he'll allow it! Cephera was half outraged.
Imagine how surprised she was that Odin would call her to him only to tell her she was to remained married, but carted off to Earth on some wayward mission that was Odin's obvious way of just getting rid of her.
She was livid, but unable to change the outcome. Cephera's father refused to allow her home until they sorted out what was going on among their people.
Thor had tried to be kind, tried to be reassuring, but Cephera hadn't wanted to listen. She demanded at least one last time to see and touch her husband before saying goodbye.
Odin had been hesitant, but with the urging of Thor he relented, much to the irritation of Tyr, who thought it was a bad idea.
She tried not to let her bad mood ruin her only chance to reconcile with Loki before she left. She had made many demands upon Odin and she won each and every one of them.
She would be granted access to his cell, given one day to remain inside, the view from the outside cloaked so that no one could see in, giving them only one last day of privacy. No one could see, nor hear what was said and Cephera would be blocked from doing magic, least she try to break her husband out.
She despised that they even thought she might. She was not the type to try something so drastic.
She arrived downstairs and, with guards making sure Loki didn't try to escape, she was helped inside. Loki sat in the far corner, staring calmly.
Once she was in the barrier behind her turned black, but the lights inside stayed on.
"We cannot be seen nor heard," she told him immediately. "I am not here for answers...," she paused, almost stepping back as Loki took four long strides up to her, pulled her into his embrace and kissed her.
She was shocked. Her whole body shaking.
"I am sorry, I have no answers to give you." He told her cupping her face. "You are certain we cannot be heard?" He asked her. She nodded.
"Loki, I'm no fool. What are you doing? What are you planning?" She asked. Even though she'd stated she wanted no answers, she couldn't help but ask.
"You must trust me. What I do, I do for you, for Asgard." He insisted, holding her flush to him. "I wish I could have been here to protect you." He touched her abdomen and then pulled away. "It should not have been this way." He growled, his anger showing.
"But it is this way, and like what happened to you all those centuries ago, we must accept the outcome." She trembled. To know he didn't really hate her brought her joy, but it was bittersweet. "You know I cannot rid myself of this child, I will not." She warned.
Loki looked at her, licking his lips before drawing in a breath. "This child is a part of you, and therefore I cannot dismiss it." He replied. "You're right, if I turn from you now, I'll have failed you in every way possible. I will not. When I am free, I will take care of you both." He promised.
"When?" She tilted her head. "Loki, don't do anything foolish. Your predicament is precarious enough as it is." She begged.
"I cannot turn back now, if you only knew...," he trailed off.
"Tell me. Trust me!" She insisted taking his hand.
He shook his head. "It is you who needs to trust me." He told her, his eyes regretful.
"I can help you." She touched his face with her fingertips.
"No," again he shook his head. "Only I can help me, and even then it's almost a lost cause. What I have gotten myself into..., I cannot allow you to end up like me. Who will take care of the little one?" He asked her.
"Loki," she pleaded.
"No, your hands must remain clean." He kissed her hands then. "It is bad enough you are in danger from this unknown man, but to have you in danger because of my choices." He bent and placed his forehead to hers. "I'll not have it."
She sighed heavily, but accepted that she'll get nothing more from him, not unless she forced him, and she wouldn't do that. Not this time.
"I trust you." She whispered and kissed him. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
This was right. This was her Loki.
A part of her wished he could wash away the touch of the other, but that was not possible, but she would not shy away from the man she married, the man she loved.
The graze of his fingers and touch of his lips. She barely felt her dress come undone as his expert fingers untied it. Her body reacting only to step back and allow the garment to hit the floor and pulling his tunic with her.
His grin was animalistic, like a man who hadn't seen a woman in decades. A hungry wide eyed look that swallowed her heart, and made her smile and fall back into his embrace.
From standing to the middle of the floor, to the bed, she hardly remembered going from one place to another. She only remembered the joy of knowing his touch. Moaning against his fingers when they found her womanhood and circled her clit.
Later, she moaned as his lips and tongue replaced his fingers and soon he filled her with his length, sLow at first. It was clear he was trying to hold on to his passions. Keeping himself as calm as possible, to savour the time he had.
She kissed him, every inch of him when he was no longer able to hold back. He came with a cry and she was content to play along his flesh. Slowly she moved down from his lips to his chest, creeping down his body to finally nuzzle his cock before licking it.
It lay limp during her attentions for only a short time before it sat rigid and hard again. She devoured him, making him groan and fist her hair while her lips and tongue worked him the way she knew how.
He allowed her to work for as long as she wished on him, before she took it upon herself to mount him. Sliding herself down over his cock once again and rolling her hips forward, grinding her clit along him bringing him and herself pleasure.
She came once this way before he sat up and helped lift her up and down along his shaft. Kissing her neck and muttering incoherent words of adoration against her skin.
His free hand grasped her breast and pulled at her nipple before he titled her to fall onto her back. He bent over her, his hips never losing their rhythm against her thighs.
She ran her hands trough his long hair, longer than she'd ever seen it. Last going off, he'd cut it short. But she sort of liked this too. Wild and free it suited his new demeanour. He was not the same man who fell from the bridge.
Together, they spend hours in one another's arms before they were spent and unable to find the energy for more. She lay across his chest gazing upward at him and he looking down to her.
"Odin is sending me to Midgard." She told him.
"For what purpose?" Loki seemed shocked, and a tad worried.
"For my own protection. To remove me from Asgard, away from my mystyer assailant. Mechanova is no safer with Krystoff and the things happening there...,"
"Things happening?" She forgot how little Loki knew. She quickly explained what was going on back in her home world. "They realize that Midgard is far easier for Krystoff to get to than here?" Loki was definitely now concerned.
"Heimdall will be keeping and close eye on me," she said. "Besides Odin has given me the mission of peacekeeper. I am to bring good tidings of help and good will to make up for the things you've done. Because Earth is creating weapons to rival other worlds, he wants the broken trust and relationships mended." She sighed.
"He chose a good one for that." He too sighed. "Be careful," he pleaded to her.
"Always," she nodded. "I should put on clothes. I've no idea how much time has passed, but I have till morning before they take me. I'd rather be dressed when everyone outside can see us once more." She smiled and he reluctantly let her go.
He threw on his pants and once she was dressed she curled back up with him again. "I cannot believe Odin allowed this."
"You've no idea of the guilt I threw at him to get me these privileges." She smirked. She didn't feel bad at all for throwing all she had at Odin.
"You can be one to fear from time to time." He mused. "You realize when you leave here today, that I cannot acknowledge my feelings for you. I'll not jeopardize your safety for a mere moment of joy."
She desperately wanted to know why he felt he needed to be so closed off. What was he planning and why, but instead of pushing the issue, she nodded. One day she would know, she only hoped it would not be too late.
(Mystery)
She struggled. It took her breath away every time she preformed the magic she didn't understand.
It had seemed so simple, sending the shackles and the ring, but to go herself was smothering. It rendered her body useless, weak, numb.
Each time she found herself lying upon the hard floor, her blonde hair sticking to her sweaty forehead and her entire body shivering from the cold. It took her at least a half hour to make it to her feet and months before she could even think of trying again.
She was becoming desperate, but no one could help her. There was no one left to help her. Too much time was going by and she was helpless to do what needed to be done. If only she were stronger.
(Seraphina)
"Beaten, bruised, battered, sexually abused in ways I don't even want to think about let alone explain. Internal trauma, and at one point she was pregnant and gave birth to that child." Dia grimaced.
"So she suffered," Seraphina gazed toward her father across the room. His thumb was pressed so hard to his lips, they were turning color. He was not pleased. This was murder, and murder hadn't happened on Mechanova in centuries. Seraphina had never seen it during her time alive.
Dia had nodded in response to Seraphina.
"I have never put one of our own to death before, but if it turns out to be one of our own who has done this, they will die for it," the King finally said.
"No, death is too swift and kind. Whomever did this deserves to feel what she felt, go through what she went through." Seraphina replied, her blood boiling.
"Whoever did this, showed no mercy." Dia told them. "It's soulless to be able to cause this much pain to one person. I dread to think the other missing girls are going through the same." Seraphina had, for a mere moment, forgotten the other girls as her mind was fixed on this one.
"We need to scour the lands. Every mountain crack, every body of water. All caves, nooks, carnies. The entire palace needs to be turned upside down. To hell with keeping the peace, this girl was murdered on our soil, and it's time we take action." Seraphina looked to her father. Only he could give the official go ahead.
He thought a moment. "Do it, but no one person is to be targeted no matter our own thoughts. We invade everyones privacy. I'll get together a group I know we can trust to begin a heavy search across the entire landscape of this realm."
Finally, a chance to do what she always wanted. Even if they didn't find the girls among the Fevour's section of the palace, they could find other things to incriminate them, and Seraphina hoped they would.
***
There was outrage, but not for the invasion of privacy, but for the death of one of their own in their own world.
Everyone opened their sturdy doors to allow full searches, many volunteered to help. Those who seemed to be grudged by the searches were the ones Seraphina took mental note of. They had to be watched.
She started close to the Fevour's wing, but not directly there. As much as it pained her to give them time to hide anything at all, she had to play it safe.
When she reached their hall, Demos was there, but Krystoff and his sister where gone. A thorough search yeilded nothing. "If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know," Demos offered with an odd half smile on his face.
"In fact, your son is able bodied, he may come in handy for the searches into the mountains." Seraphina replied. She'd thought about it long and hard.
She hoped by bringing Krystoff he might just show signs of nervousness when they got close. That he may very well try to lead them one way and therefore, give Seraphina the right direction unintentionally.
She'd have enough of her trusted spies around her to not worry about him kidnapping or harming her while they were gone. It was a small thread of hope, but something to work with.
Demos frowned. "Krystoff is already out helping." He replied. "Him and Katarina have been out all morning."
Seraphina's stomach dropped. She should have known. If only she could have warned the search parties, but she couldn't. She couldn't single him out. Wherever he might be, he was certainly leading them astray, she just knew it.
It didn't matter, she'd find another way. All groups would report back to her. She would compile a list of places they searched and search those in between that might have been 'overlooked', no matter how small the area.

Notes

Merry Christmas to all!
I hope you enjoyed this extra long chapter as my gift to you!
Throughout the time this story has been posted, and for some of you long before that, you all have brought me many smiles and joy. You are all my motiviation and my inspiration. Thank you from my heart. My year would not have been the same without all of you.