The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 55

Cassandra wrestled the sweater over her head, then reached for a brush to deal with the bird's nest her hair had transformed into. Loki and Tony were down the hall taking care of the release papers for both Cassandra and her mom.

Madeline had put her foot down and refused to spend one more night in the hospital. Cassandra didn't blame her. If she had to look at one more wobbly cube of lime gelatin she would scream.

Giving the pair of shoes a grim look, Cassandra propped her good leg up on the bed and tied the sneaker into place. She dropped the other one into the open duffle bag at her feet, glowering at the garish cast that poked out from her black skirt. "I'm starting to feel like Cinderella."

Only her prince was a reformed villain not the charming fairytale version.

Cassandra zipped the duffle shut and tossed it on the bed. Those two were taking too long. "I knew it was a bad idea to let them go off by themselves."

Loki and Tony barely managed a civil conversation on a good day. The rest of the time they were at each other's throats.

She still didn't understand why Tony was even here.

Knocking at the door interrupted her musings. "Oh, back already-"

Joshua Sanders hovered on the threshold with a sheepish expression.

At a loss for words, Cassandra stared at her former assistant. After the explosion at the auction house, she had tried getting in touch with him. He never attempted to get in contact with her again.

Her blood-pressure skyrocketed. "What in the hell are you doing here, in Norway?"

Josh cringed at her sharp tone. "Its good to see you, Cassandra."

"Good to see me? Cut the bullshit." Cassandra's hands shook. She gripped the armrests of her wheelchair to keep her fingers from wrapping around his throat. "Is that all you have to say after disappearing?"

Josh showing up out of the blue made her wonder if there was any weight to Fury's suspicions. Had he caused the explosion?

Josh held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Let me explain, please?"

"Alright." She bit out.

His answer better be a good one.

"I had to vanish from your life. My mother ordered me too." He ran a hand through his hair, ducking his head. "I wanted to tell you but she insisted that you had to figure out things for yourself."

"You're a grown man and still let your mother boss you around?"

Josh clutched the back of his neck, still not looking at Cassandra. "When your mother is the Lady of the Lake, refusal is not an option."

"Nimue is your mother." Cassandra repeated on the verge of snapping.

"And my father is Emrys, your predecessor."

"So, this was all a set up. Why would you do this to me?" Cassandra picked up her brush at tossed it at his head. The handle thunked him in the forehead. "Let me guess, you rigged the bomb too!"

"Don't you dare judge me, Cassandra. I love my father. It was time his power passed to another. I wanted to free him from his madness." Josh's eyes shined with unshed tears. "I am sorry about the victims of the explosion. I tried to make sure you were the only one there. The spell of transference required an enormous amount of energy. The bomb seemed like the best solution."

Cassandra felt an invisible knife stab her in the heart, Josh's betrayal cutting deep. "Are you even sorry for what you did to me?"

Josh clenched his jaw. "No. You were always my father's choice. I would sacrifice anyone for him, even you. Tell me, wouldn't you do the same for family?"

"No!"

Josh scoffed. "Liar."

"I'm the liar?" Cassandra laughed bitterly. "Everything about you is a lie! Did you even have a boyfriend named Grayson or was he all made up?"

"Grayson's real and I love him just as you love that Asgardian Prince of yours." His expression held a challenge. "I took no pleasure in deceiving you, but everything worked out for the best, don't you agree?"

Innocent people died for his family's selfishness and Josh had the gall to defend his actions? Unbelievable. Cassandra turned away. "I can't even describe how hurt I feel right now. Of course, you don't care. You pretended to be my friend planning to betray me the entire time!"

"You are young. After a few centuries under your belt, you'll understand the burden power will demand of you."

"Get out!" Cassandra lunged forward, striking out with her fist. Josh easily dodged the blow, unhampered by a broken leg.

"I never want to see you again." She hissed, dropping her hand into her lap.

A beat of silence.

"If that's what you wish. My work in this world is finished. Its time I returned to Avalon."

Avalon?

Of course.

Wreak havoc in innocent people's lives and then retreat to a fabled island paradise. Rage burned in her veins. Cassandra should call for Fury and have Josh arrested. It's what he deserved.

She lifted her head to glare at her former assistant only to find the room empty.

Josh was gone.

Gone with a little piece of her dignity.

Intense shame replaced her anger. Those poor people were dead and would never receive justice. Josh didn't come here because he cared. He did it to assuage his own guilt.

"Darling, what's the matter?"

Sharp footsteps beat the floor and Loki squatted down in front of her. When he saw her furious expression, he inhaled sharply. "What's happened?"

Cassandra fell forward against his chest all the air going out of her sails. She rested her forehead against his shoulder for a minute, breathing in his soothing scent. "I had an unexpected visitor."

Loki held her close, the strength of his embrace seeping into her. "Its alright, Sweet Cassandra. I'm here."

She reached with her mind. 'Loki...everything is so messed up.'

Loki was confused. 'Messed up how?'

'Josh...arranged everything.'

The warmth of his love flooded in. 'Tell me?'

So she did.

When she finished Loki vibrated with rage. "If I ever get my hands on that pipsqueak, I'll rip him to pieces and feed him to the wolves!"

She shook her head. "Loki, he's gone. I just want to leave. We'll have Tony contact Fury. It'll be up to SHIELD to deal with Josh."

If they could even find him.

Cassandra was finished with Josh. Though it made her wonder if she could trust anything Nimue had told her. What if... She placed a hand flat over her belly.

What if the vision of her daughters had been fake?

No...the vision had been real and true. The 'gift' was apart of the Merlin's power.

Letting doubt creep in now would only let Josh and his family win. Cassandra had to have faith in herself. For better or worse, the power was hers now.

Loki seemed to sense Cassandra had already moved on from their discussion. Tilting his head back he inhaled. "Let's go, darling. Stark and Madeline are waiting in the lobby downstairs."

He helped her into her coat and set the duffle bag in her lap.

When they reached Tony and her mom she mustered a smile for them both. "Let's go home."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter!