Prices to be Paid- Chapter 3
Just a warning: this is an uber long chapter so yeah…
Chapter 3
Around 3 A.M, Rebecca slipped out of her room. She padded softly down the hallway towards the sitting room. The fire was still lit and food was still left from dinner. After the incident in the bathroom, Rebecca hadn’t left her room and Loki didn’t try to coax her out. She sat down in his chair and started picking at the leftover food. Starring into the fire, Rebecca’s eyes started to tear up. Everything bad always happened to her and it was always in some way her fault. It always was. No matter how many times her psychiatrist would tell her it wasn’t her fault, she knew it was.
Her mother’s death was her fault. Her older sister’s death was her fault. The death of her foster family was her fault. Everything was her fault. She could never forgive herself and every night she relived the nights when the people she loved were taken away from her. Sighing, she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on top of them. Bruised faces, pools of blood, screams and cries haunted her sleepless nights. There was no escape. Now, she was forced to live with a man who turned himself into a monster and she had to pleasure him in order to get the information that Odin wanted. There was no way she was going to be bed by Loki, Rebecca had seen what happened when a man wanted pleasure.
There was a soft knock on the door and shortly after it creaked open quietly. Rebecca stood up and walked over to it. She peered through the door way and saw Thor standing there innocently shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Stepping outside Rebecca smiled warmly at him, Thor was the only friend she had here.
“Hi,” he whispered.
She whispered hi back.
“My brother, have you found out anything about him?”
“Yeah, he has a wicked temper and a giant ego.”
“No, I meant-“
“Shush, I know what you meant, and no.” Rebecca paused and looked down at her feet. “You guys really chose the wrong person for this.”
“Maybe, but we got an unexpected bonus.”
She scowled at Thor, “Does anyone else know?”
“No.”
Rebecca looked at him warily.
“I promise.” Thor looked at Rebecca. “What happened to your cheek?”
She raised her hand and touched the bruise that was forming on her cheek bone, “Oh, this? Don’t worry about it, I’ll get it healed up.”
Thor stepped forward, “Did he hit you?”
“Kinda, but I hit him harder.”
“Good, maybe you can, what’s the phrase? Knock some sense into him?”
Rebecca laughed silently.
“Rikes is still ranting about the number you did on him the other day.”
“Good, let him fear me.”
Thor chuckled.
“Loki misses you, Thor. I can see it in his eyes. It’s a look I’ve had for a long time.”
Falling silent, he studied Rebecca’s face.
“Are you still going to see your girlfriend tomorrow?”
Thor grinned and nodded.
“Good. Well, goodnight Thor.” Rebecca turned around and walked back into the chambers before she spilled to Thor about the connection her and Loki shared. Curling back up on the chair, Rebecca pulled her photo album onto her lap and started to leaf through the pictures. In all the pictures everyone around her looked happy, but she recognized the eternal sadness in her eyes. In all of the pictures she was always with someone she loved and she knew they loved her back. Rebecca always knew that she was loved by those closest to her but they never stayed around for long. It was a curse sometimes. She scoffed, maybe I’d be better getting it on with a demi-god. After all he is immortal.
Rebecca’s mind traveled back to the bathroom before the fight. By God could she tell Loki was an Ice Giant, his descent was very prominent in some areas. She went back to leafing through the pictures and fell asleep with the album open in her lap.
—-
When Rebecca awoke she was still curled up on chair. The dinner platter was no longer on the table and it was replaced by breakfast. Sitting next to plate was her photo album, closed. Rubbing her eyes to focus in on everything, the fur blanket slid off of her shoulders. Wait, fur blanket? Rebecca looked at it confused and then she saw Loki sprawled out on the couch across from her. It dawned on her that he probably put the blanket on her.
Standing up quietly, Rebecca gathered up the blanket and laid it over Loki, he had a thing for sleeping with no shirt on and he looked rather cold. She padded over to the bathroom door and peered over her shoulder to make sure she didn’t wake him up. Smiling, Rebecca stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Rebecca walked over to the mirror and gazed into her own eyes and then surveyed her face. She had taken a few hits yesterday. It was funny, she didn’t feel them at the time. Slipping out her silk nightgown and her panties, Rebecca stepped into the water.
It was absolutely horrible here. There was no energy at all. Sighing as she relaxed against the edge, Rebecca wished there was more energy here. It was all so tame. Stone and rock offered nothing to her, it was a surprise she managed to heal from her last beating. The bathtub was a bust too; the water flow was anything but natural. She was Rebecca of New Jersey and was burdened with a glorious curse. Rebecca laughed at herself for her pun.
Trusting Thor was probably the best thing she could have done and possibly the worst. She had told him what she was, even though she hardly understood it. She remembered how astonished he was when he saw how quickly she had healed from her first “discipline class” which was basically Rikes with a whip. Rebecca tried to wave him off saying that she was a quick healer, but it was too late and Thor was determined. You just don’t heal completely from 100 whip slashes overnight. However, for Rebecca, if she had enough energy she could heal from 1,000 slashes in five minutes.
She had always been like that, she told him. Ever since she could remember she was a quick healer and she never understood why. When she was at the beach or in the woods she felt this surge running through her body coursing through her veins. The Surge, she called it, invigorated her and made her feel strong, invincible even. Over the years it came apparent to her that natural energy is what powered her and that’s why she hated the city, everything was manufactured there. Thor swore she a descendent of a demi-god or some sort and Rebecca liked the idea of that, but by Rebecca trusting Thor, he had come to trust her. He told her things about Loki no one else knew. He briefed her on her assignment: to discover Loki’s true purpose for trying to conquer a place that he had no interest in. Thor told her about the human he loved and how he discovered a way to get back to Earth to see her.
There was something new that Rebecca picked up on: sexual energy. She never really noticed until she had spent three months with Rikes and now with Loki and did it give her energy.
There was a crashing sound as Loki stumbled into the bathroom. He was rubbing his eyes and looked wearily down at Rebecca, “Oh, sorry,” he slurred, “I’ll go.”
“No, it’s okay, you can stay.”
Loki looked at her surprised, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Loki nodded and started to undress himself. There he was again, completely naked and unashamed. Rebecca laughed as he splashed clumsily into the water, “Somebody needs coffee.”
Loki bowed his head and just mumbled.
“What did you say?”
Loki raised his voice but not his head, “I said I’m sorry for yesterday, I was a bit of an ass and I overreacted.”
“Well no shit.”
Loki turned to glare at her but was surprised at her smiling face.
“Listen, just because you apologized doesn’t give a free pass,” however Loki hardly heard her. He was mesmerized by her naked body, it was everything he imagined. Perfectly rounded breasts, perfectly curved body, perfectly toned legs; he tried to move in closer but Rebecca raised her hand, “Watch it horn-dog.” Loki backed off, he didn’t want to make her mad again, his jaw was still sore.
“So, what made you sleep out in the sitting room, in my chair?”
Rebecca studied his face for anger but only saw curiosity, “Honestly, I’m in love with your chair, it’s green, soft, and just amazing.” Loki laughed, the hu- she had a good sense of humor. “And then I was out there because being in front of a fire comforts me and plus there was food. If there is anything I love more than your chair it is food.”
“Food? Is that all you care about?”
Rebecca looked at him sheepishly, “No… Sleep is good too.”
Loki grinned, “You’re ridiculous!”
“Shush,” Rebecca splashed him. Loki made a face of mock anger and splashed back at her. It was only seconds before they were in a splash war and giggling like little kids.
“Alright,” Loki exclaimed, “I surrender!”
Rebecca flashed him the smile of a champion and flexed her biceps, “Cool, because I’m going to get dressed.” She got up out of the water, grabbed a towel, and walked out of the room.
When she entered her room, Rebecca leaned up against her closed door. No, she thought, this cannot be happening! I’m not supposed to be falling for him! Rebecca walked over to her trunk full of dresses and attempted to search for her favorite one. It was a modest dress that was midnight blue. No plunging neck line or low back. There wasn’t a slit at the waist and it wasn’t strapless. It was perfect. Hugging her torso and flowing out with one shoulder strap, Rebecca felt comfortable. Clothing that left nothing to the imagination was not her style.
Loki sat on the sofa waiting for Rebecca to come out of her room. Lunch had just been served and he felt himself wanting to look through her photo album. On any normal day he wouldn’t have cared because she was human, but with her being his only company he was becoming to care for her. There was a presence about her that calmed him but also caused his stomach to feel funny. Whenever he managed to sneak a glance at her when she was off-guard or sleeping she looked so vulnerable and he could almost feel her pain. However, when she smiled at him everything felt alright. It felt like everything he ever did was forgiven, but even Loki knew that was a long-stretch.
When Rebecca finally came out of her room and sat on the sofa across from him, Loki found himself in awe. The simple gown that she had on amplified her own beauty, Rebecca didn’t need anything that revealed her body like the other dresses, simplicity was sexy for her. Rebecca patted next to her, “Sit next to me.” As Loki walked over to the sofa he watched Rebecca pick up the photo album. He sat down at the other side of the sofa. “No, silly, next to me.”
Loki raised his eyebrows, “You’re going to let me get close to you?”
“Well, yeah. I want to show you some pictures.”
Loki took advantage of the invite and slid close to her so that their thighs were touching.
Rebecca laughed, “Someone’s a little eager.”
Loki felt himself blush.
“Hold on, is the hardened God of Mischief and Lies blushing?”
“Gods have feelings too…” Loki was ashamed with himself. Why does being around her make him act like such a child?
Rebecca couldn’t hold in her laughter and let it roll out. After a few minutes of laughter and amused looks from Loki, she finally regained her composure. “Okay, it’s time for a trip down my dark memory lane.” Rebecca flipped open to the first page. On it there was a picture of a man and woman, who both looked a lot like Rebecca, smiling, there was a picture of the woman holding an infant, and then there was a picture of just the woman. She was gorgeous and she had the same hair as Rebecca, however the gray eyes came from the man.
Rebecca pointed to the first picture, “This is my mom and dad,” tapping on the second picture Rebecca said, “That’s my mom holding my older sister.” Rebecca paused and looked at the third picture. “This was taken a few years before my mom had me,” darkness crept over her face, “I killed her.” Loki looked at her in shock, but Rebecca continued, “She died while giving birth to me. It wrecked my father. He became an alcoholic and abusive. He was always angry and sad and drunk.” Rebecca flipped the page.
Pointing at a picture of two young girls, one was obviously Rebecca, and the other had raven black hair and bright blue eyes, “That’s my sister, Laura. She was my best friend. She always looked out for me and when my father would go on one of his rampages she wouldn’t let him touch me.” Rebecca took in a deep breath, “My father was a very sick man. When he was drunk enough and mad enough he would force Laura into his room for ‘daddy daughter time’… I was 7 when it first started and my sister was 12.” Loki took a second before he fully understood what “daddy daughter time” meant in her household. “My sister and I used to share a bedroom and one night he came home so drunk and so incredibly pissed off that he just barged into our room. He grabbed me by the hair and started yelling at me. He blamed me for my mother’s death and he started to hit me.
“Laura jumped on his back and started hitting him. It didn’t phase him. My father just threw onto the bed and started beating her and beating her. I tried to help her but he just threw me into the wall. I was so little and I couldn’t do anything to stop him. I just watched my older sister get beaten to death. I got see her take her last breath.” Rebecca started to choke as tears rolled down her eyes. Loki put his arm around her and brought her close to his chest.
“Somehow I managed to get out of the house and I ran down the street in the middle of the night screaming my head off. A cop picked me up and I sobbed out my story.” Loki started to wipe some tears away from her eyes. “I got placed in foster care and when I turned nine I was adopted.” Rebecca flipped to a new page where she was standing in between a happy couple and she was smiling but her eyes looked so sad. “I loved them. They were amazing to me. When I turned ten my foster mother gave birth to my beautiful baby sister Stephanie,” Rebecca pointed to picture of a chubby infant. “I protected her like how Laura protected me.”
Rebecca continued to tell stories about her and her foster family; most of them consisted of her and Stephanie. She told Loki about when she took Stephanie to Dunkin’ Donuts and Stephanie forgot to wear a pair of shorts. She told him stories all through the afternoon and dinner. All of the stories were upbeat, funny and charming, until they reached the end.
When Rebecca closed the book Loki had a question that he was itching to ask. “A while ago you said you had no family, what happened to your foster family?”
“And back into the darkness. When I was 17 my little sister was developing this thing that she wanted to be like me. She was constantly stealing my clothes and make-up and always talking about how perfect I was. I got fed up with her about something- God I don’t even remember, isn’t that horrible?” Rebecca started to play with her hands. “Anyways, she got upset because I yelled at her and she ran out of the house. My parents went out to look for her and I stayed home in case she came back. A few hours after dark my parents finally found Stephanie at the park I used to take her to as a kid. I was sitting on the porch when I saw their car coming down the street.” Tears were already starting to roll down her cheeks. “They were starting to turn into the driveway when a pick-up truck came barreling down the street and crashed into them. The driver didn’t hit the brakes he just kept his foot on the gas. My parents’ car was small, too. I could have sat on it and it would have crumpled…” Rebecca took a shaky breath, “No one survived but the truck driver who turned out was drunk… Loki, I never got to say sorry to my sister.”
Loki looked at her somberly. He never would have thought that she went through what she did. He felt the guilt tightening in a knot in his stomach. This poor girl who had nothing left to live for finally found some peace and because of his actions he took it away from her. “Why are you telling me this,” he asked hoarsely.
Rebecca looked him in the eyes, “Because I know everything about you.” The pain in her eyes stunned Loki and he couldn’t bear to see it anymore. “I’m sleepy,” Rebecca yawned and rested her head on Loki’s chest, “Do me a favor and don’t leave me tonight.”
Loki nodded as he wrapped his arms around her. He was ashamed that he once thought he could control her but now he knew she was the one who controlled him. Loki fell asleep with his arms around Rebecca but a few hours later he was awoken by the sound of a soft knock on the door.
By the way, fun fact about me, when I was five I really did forget to wear pants to Dunkin Donuts
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