Beth and the Beast

Chapter 3 - Distracting Eyes

People where whispering around her when Beth got back into consciousness. There was another voice besides the voice of Jane and the man she thought was Thor. It sounded like a man. She opened her eyes and suddenly the talking around her stopped. Jane, Thor and a dark-haired man in a green cape looked at her. Beth got up from the floor and shook herself up. >>I'm sorry I scared you. It was never my intention to do so.<<, Thor said. Beth looked at Jane with a big question mark on her face. Jane took a deep breath and started to explain >>So now that you're here I might have to explain what's going on. Beth these two guys are Thor, God of thunder and Loki God of mischief from Asgard. Thor is my boyfriend and to be honest, I have no idea what Loki is doing here, but he just appeared right after you fainted.<<

Beth looked at her in total disbelieve. That honestly could not be true. Her eyes started twitching again and she said down on the chair. Again, she looked at the three of them totally shocked.
>>You should give her something to drink. She might faint again if you don't take care of her properly.<<, Loki said. Jane got behind her desk, pulled up a bottle of water and handed it over to Beth. She took a few sips and put the bottle down. Then she looked at Thor and Loki. >>Are you real? Am I dreaming? Jane could you please explain what is going on?<<, she asked and reached out for Thor's red cape to see if he was real or just some kind of illusion. Loki smiled and said >>Isn't she just a sweet little pet?<<. >>Don't call her that!<<, Thor shouted in his direction. Beth still didn't know what was happening. >>She looks like I could have some fun with her mind. So why wouldn't I call her pet?<<, he explained. The word pet sounded so vile but also really good out of his mouth. Loki's smile got more and more designing. It was almost like he would want her to think that, and Beth just couldn't help but give in. Thor gave his brother an angry look. >>...to get back to the story.<<, Jane interrupted. >>A few years ago, I met Thor while he was in exile here on earth. He promised me to come back and he left me waiting and when he came back, I cot cursed with something called ether. After that Thor lived on earth with me. But he was gone again for a few months, and just showed up today. And apparently, he brought his badass brother with him.<< Beth had heard her talking but to be honest she was kind of distracted how good-looking Loki was. He had something she had never seen in any human being and she wanted to get behind his secret. When their eyes met, she startled at her chair. It felt like he had just looked right into her mind. >>Beth? Did you listen?<<, Jane asked. Beth had to gather her thoughts before she could answer >>Uhm... Yes. So, it seems you got some things to talk about. I'll just leave you to it.<<. She stood up, waved at Thor, ignored Loki and left the room.

On the other side of the door she stopped for a moment. She could still feel Loki on the other side of the door. Somehow it felt like she couldn't get away from him, but she needed to get back to her workplace. When she was ready, Beth started walking through the library and to her desk in the "Nordic Myth and Saga" section. Still, it was hard for her to think clearly. What did Loki do to her? Her father told her stories about Loki and Thor when she was little. How Thor had Mjolnir and Loki could play with people's minds. Ever since then Beth was obsessed with those stories. She knew That Thor was part of the Avengers and was living on earth from time to time, but she never would have expected to meet him in person. Loki was usually up to no good, so Beth assumed he was here to plan something. >Why am I thinking about that so much? I need to focus on my work.<, she thought to herself and tried to read one of the papers on her desk. But then she suddenly felt a cold, thin hand on her shoulder and turned around. Loki!

>>I'm not surprised you can't stop thinking about me.<<, he chuckled with a narcissistic tone in his voice. He walked around her desk to sit down on a chair. >>What are you doing to my mind?<<, Beth asked. Loki leaned over her desk and looked into her eyes >>Nothing you wouldn't want to think for yourself. I can feel that you like it my pet.<<

Beth covered her mouth with her hand to not show him her expression of shock and a slight smile she couldn't stop herself from, but he probably already knew how she felt. >>You are totally right there in your head behind those beautiful brown eyes, longing for me to get into your thoughts. And probably even further into you.<<, he smirked. The more time he sat in front of Beth, the more she lost control of her thoughts. Losing control felt strange and she wanted to resist it. >>Go away! You shouldn't be here. Don't you have some city to destroy?<<, she asked while turning around with her chair. As if that had any effect, but at least she wouldn't have to see Loki's perfect blue eyes. For a short moment she closed her eyes and tried to take back control of her thoughts. Then Beth felt a hand gripping her wrist and the next thing she saw was Ladies Pavillon in Central Park and Loki being there with her. >No!< That was the place her parents had their first kiss, when they started dating. When her family visited her uncle in New York they had always gone here. The last time Beth had seen the Pavillon was with her ex-boyfriend. A memory she'd rather forget. How the hell did Loki know?

>>I thought you might need a break so I thought we could get to know each other a little better. I saw this place in your memory and it looked pleasing, so I took you here.<< Beth regret everything she thought in that moment because she would give Loki a solid ground to start from, but her memories couldn't be put away that easy. >I miss Jack. I know he wasn't the right one for me, and he would have never loved me the way I deserved to. But I miss having someone around.<

Loki suddenly took her hand and pulled her body close to his >>I know you've been hurt. I felt it the moment I saw you. I will never let that happen to you my pet.<< She pulled herself away from him because he was just too much. >>My name is Beth.<< she told him. Loki had his evil smile back on and looked to the ground. The sun was shining on this beautiful Tuesday in September. Central Park looked stunning in the fall and Beth couldn't help but notice that Loki perfectly fit into it in his green-ish clothes. >>I know a lot about you Loki, God of mischief. My father told me all the stories.<< Again he came really close and looked into her eyes with his. He grabbed her wrist and said >>You humans always think you know it all. But not this time. I wanna know you.<< There was silence between them as they looked each other deep in the eyes and you could feel a tension surrounding them. Beth tried hard not to think anything. The only thing she could really think of were his ice blue eyes and how they were staring right into her mind.

Out of nowhere Thor entered the scene. While pulling Loki away from Beth he said >>Do me a favor brother and leave her alone. You hurt so many Midgardians already, and I don't want Beth to be the next.<<

Loki laughed and justsaid >>As you wish brother. Farewell Beth, my beloved pet.<<, hebowed and then disappeared. A sudden feeling of sadness made its way into Bethand she slowly started walking away from Thor. He followed step and caught herright before she could enter the next subway station. >>Beth promise meyou'll tell me if Loki ever visits you again. He's up to no good. He never is.I want you to be careful.<<, he explained. 

Beth looked at him and justnodded and ran down the stairs to the subway.