Krystal

68

We continue our training for another week and Loki has even remarked on my improvement. There haven't been any more ravager attacks yet, but it will only be a matter of time.

Loki says that they have the technology to seek out any cloaked locations, which is how they were able to find this place.

I keep thinking that I should call Stephen and Wong, but I don't want either of them getting hurt trying to protect me again.

When the phone rings, I answer it hesitantly and hope that whoever is on the other end won't suspect anything.

"Hello?"

"Lady Star?"

"Thor, is that you? You know how to use a phone?" I laugh.

"Yes, it is me. Are you well?"

"Why do I get the impression that you really want to ask me about something else? Or should I say someone else?"

"I take it you have become aware of Loki's presence?"

"Yeah, he's a real barrel of laughs".

I take a look around, making sure that he isn't listening into my conversation with Thor right now.

"My brother has not attempted anything untoward, has he?"

"Loki's your brother?"

"Yes he is. Did I not mention that before?"

"No. You told me you had a brother, but you never mentioned his name".

That means that the cold, distant dad that Loki's vaguely mentioned to me before is the very same King of Asgard that currently wants me dead.

Great.

"My apologies, Lady Star. Has he kept his distance from the house?"

"Definitely, I barely see him".

I choose to lie, even while I watch Loki walking through the lounge and into the kitchen to get himself a drink.

"I will call again now that I reside on Earth".

"You do? What happened?"

"Our mother was murdered by dark elves that were in search of an infinity stone. Loki and I came up with a plan to fake his death while avenging our mother so that he could keep watch over you. Father has only become more obsessed in his quest to locate you now that he is burdened with grief".

"Well there's nothing here to report so far".

"Good to hear. Farewell, Lady Star".

"Bye, Thor".

Just as I put the phone down, Loki comes walking in, obviously having heard me mention his brother's name.

"Thor has called to check on me, has he?"

"No, you self-absorbed god, your brother called to check on me".

"So he informed you of who I am to him?"

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Say what exactly? That my brother was always Odin's favourite child because I was adopted? Perhaps the fact that I once attempted to take over this world and spent many years locked away in the dungeons of Asgard as my punishment?"

"Sorry".

"Maybe the fact that knowing full well of my affections, my father attempted to betroth the woman I loved to Thor?"

There seemed to be a lot more to Loki than I first thought.

"So did Thor end up marrying her?"

I know I shouldn't really ask him any personal questions, but I'm curious.

"He did not. She and I wed in secret before their engagement was officially announced".

"So she's still living on Asgard then?"

"No. She is gone".

He walks away and heads outside.

I wouldn't have asked about his wife if I'd have known that she'd died, especially with his mother only recently being murdered.

Well done, Star. Great way to alienate the only person here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He's gone for a hours, so I get begin to get worried that I'd angered him enough earlier for him never to come back to the house.

I really needed him here to train me or I'd never be safe from whatever Odin sends for me next time.

"Loki!"

I decide to head out into the woods to find him after he's been gone almost the whole day now. It takes me a while to find him, but when I do he's sitting by a small campfire in the woods.

He doesn't even acknowledge me once I've sat down next to him and he continues to sit there in silence.

"I apologise for taking a tone with you before. It was inappropriate" he sounds sincere.

"I shouldn't have asked about your wife".

"You remind me of her".

"Did she annoy you too?"

"She did" he laughs and I notice a single tear roll down his cheek.

"So what was she like?"

"She was strong on the surface, but inside she simply wanted to give love and receive it in return".

"I'm sure she found it" I smile reassuringly and place my hand on top of his.

"We should go back" he pulls his hand away from mine before standing up and extinguishing the fire.