The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 33

Master Wong jabbed a finger at the chair across from his desk in the library. "Sit!" He ordered.

Cassandra sank down slowly on the wooden chair, feeling like she was in the principal's office. The feeling was only magnified by Master Li's glowering face. The drill instructor took up a martial position behind Wong's chair, hands clasped behind his back.

Loki stood behind her, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. "What is this about? Did someone raid the pantry?" He asked with a teasing grin.

Cassandra spoke candidly. "Maybe they are angry about what happened in New York last week in the sex shop-"

Wong's dour look had her swallowing the rest of her words. "We have a serious matter to discuss so spare me your attitude, Novice."

"Yes, Master." Cassandra replied quietly, suitably chastened. She folded her hands in her lap neatly. "Please tell us what this is about."

In response he plunked an old-fashioned key on the edge of his desk. "This was dropped off for you an hour ago."

Cassandra's stomach plummeted to her feet as she looked at the familiar key. Hands trembling, she picked up the long iron key, the steel chain sliding through her fingers. "This is my mom's." Her gaze flew up to meet Wong's. "How did you get this?"

The monk didn't answer right away making her nervous. Cassandra ran her thumb over the slightly oxidized metal, and the worn and cracked white paint at the key's base. The number Z4P9 was written in peeling gold paint. The key is the only bit of jewelry Madeline ever wore.

Madeline had never spoken of the key's history, one of the few things her mom was secretive about. For it to show up here meant that something had happened to her mom.

"The key was discovered in an unmarked envelope in last evening's mail. I went to find you, but you and the Jotun had already left." Wong explained in a cool emotionless voice. "Do you have any idea what this key is for?"

Cassandra shook her head. "No, I have no idea."

"Somebody has sent this message for you. It can be interpreted as a warning. The enemy knows who your mother is and have possibly harmed her." Wong said flatly, but his dark eyes glimmered with a trace of sympathy.

Cassandra let out a choked sob, dropping her shoulders forward. His harsh words drilled into her heart. Just like in her vision. God, what if it was true? What if her mom was dead the whole time she gallivanted around the world with Loki having a good time?

She would never forgive herself.

Loki crouched beside her chair, pulling her into an awkward hug. "The monk is making assumptions. We don't know anything for sure." The god shot daggers from his eyes at the pair of wizards. "I say we go to New York and confirm things for ourselves."

"That is a logical decision." Wong conceded. "I will not stop you but remember you must return to continue your training."

Cassandra leaned into Loki's arms resting her head on his shoulder with little care for the pair of monks watching them. She pressed her nose into the lapels of his suit jacket, the winter mint scent of him comforting and familiar.

The god gazed down at her, blue eyes full of sympathy. "Let's go, darling." He helped her to stand and led her to an open space in the library.

Cassandra slipped the steel chain around her neck and tucked the key underneath her dress. She slid on her wizard's ring and drew a portal to New York. Loki took her hand in a firm grip, lacing her fingers with his.

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Winter had descended upon the city with a vengeance. The snow fell thick and fast obscuring the world in a swirling whiteout. Cassandra could see nothing out of the cab's window as they sped across the bridge to her mother's nursing home.

The driver had the heater cranked up to the max but it did little to chase away the chill that had taken root in Cassandra.

The cold didn't seem to bother Loki in the least. He generously gave her his jacket to drape over her dress.

Cassandra squeezed Loki's hand as the cab slowed in front of the nursing home. "Well, here we are."

Loki held her hand all the way inside after telling the driver to wait for them.

A receptionist greeted them in the lobby. "Welcome to Ravencroft Assisted Living Facility. How may I help you?"

She swallowed the hard lump in her throat. "I'm here to visit my mom, Madeline Pierce."

"One moment please." The woman tapped her keyboard. "Ah, Ms. Pierce has been taken to the hospital."

Cassandra lunged forward, knocking a container of pens to the floor. "What happened?" She demanded.

The receptionist reared back, eyes wide in alarm. "Ma'am you need to step away from the desk. If you don't I will call security."

"Are you fucking kidding me? You tell me my mom is in the hospital and then threaten to throw me out?" Cassandra was boiling. The stuck-up bitch had a lot of nerve to speak to her like that!

Loki pasted on a charming smile and stepped forward to intervene. "Listen, Miss..." He glanced at her name tag. "Katie. My girlfriend is very upset. She received word her mother was harmed. Could you tell us what happened?"

At the word 'girlfriend', Katie shot a jealous look at Cassandra, but she answered Loki's question. "Ms. Pierce took a bad fall in the shower last night. It says in her file she needed hip surgery. She is supposed to be discharged in a few days."

Loki draped an arm around Cassandra's shoulders. "I see, thank you."

Surgery. A broken hip. Relieved Cassandra sagged against Loki. Her mom was alive. Her vision hadn't come true. She nearly laughed in relief until Loki smiled at the receptionist.

Katie melted into a pile of goo. She beamed back stupidly. "Of course, sir. You are welcome at the facility any time." The receptionist ignored Cassandra.

Cassandra vowed to have her mom relocated to another facility as soon as humanly possible. With people like Katie around, it made her question the level of care Madeline was receiving. They returned to the cab.

As they pulled away from the facility, Loki bit his lip obviously trying not to smile. Cassandra narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"

"Nothing. I just find this jealous side of you particularly...alluring." He said, now full-on grinning.

Cassandra flushed and looked away her nose in the air. "I'm not jealous of the receptionist. I'm angry with how she treated me."

"Hmm. Whatever you say, darling."

Cassandra swiped Loki's phone to check the hospital's visiting hours. Her heart sank. They were too late. She'd have to wait until tomorrow. "I guess we'll have to spend the night at Stark Tower and see my mom in the morning."

Loki tensed. "You wish for me to meet your mother?" He asked with a note of uncertainty in his voice.

Cassandra softened. "Of course, I want her to meet the most important person in my life."

Loki offered a pleased tentative smile. "I am honored."

Cassandra fired off a text to Tony to let him know they were in the city and on their way to the Tower. She returned Loki's phone and snuggled against him.

It was finally time to face her mom and get answers about her past.

A/N: Yay! A new chapter in honor of Black Widow coming out! I hope you enjoyed it. More to come probably next week!