Redemption

Bad News

Nobody tells you just how loud the silence is. At that moment, I felt like I could hear everything and nothing at the same time.

The man standing over everyone was unlike any other man I'd ever seen. Sure, he was just another man, but something about him called to me. Like a supernatural pull that just couldn't be explained.

I was only one person back from him, and I could almost touch him if I reached out, but I resisted the pull. He could kill everyone here in this lot and there wasn't a single thing anyone could do, it seemed. He was strange, wearing some golden helmet with giant horns - that kind of look ridiculous at first glance, but the longer I stared, the hotter it looked. A scepter of some sort in his hand, almost matching the gold of his helmet. His eyes were a striking blue, and his black hair almost looked like a pine tree's branches.

The leather he wore looked like some expensive cosplay work, and I wondered if maybe he was just a drunk that got too rowdy in his night of fun.

"Is this not simpler?" The man spoke, his voice flowing over the crowd like silk. "Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."

I couldn't help but giggle at the bizarre words he spoke, what little sense that he made. His eyes snapped my way, and I gasped, eyes locking with his. Shit.

His eyes seemed to shift between a glare and a caress and back again in a matter of seconds as he looked at me. "You there," he growled, aiming the scepter in my direction. "Stand."

His simple demand made my insides quiver, but I stood, not removing my eyes from his. I was smart enough not to speak, though. Who knew what this nutjob would do, that scepter looked pretty damn sharp.

"Your name." He didn't lower the scepter, and the man in front of me slithered out of the way, giving a wide girth between myself and the standing man.

"Eris." I put my head up high, not wanting to look intimidated even though my body was shaking without my will. "Eris Finley."

"Eris Finley..." he crooned, lowering the scepter. "I am Loki of Asgard. You will come with me." With that, he turned his back to myself and the crowd and stalked off.

I stood there with my mouth open, watching his receding back. A couple of steps passed and then he stopped, "I said that you will come with me." The growl made me step after him, swallowing hard as I caught up to his side.

"Loki?" I asked him after he started walking again. What a strange name.

"Loki Laufeyson, if you want specifics." He replied dryly, stepping up to a black BMW sedan. He threw the driver's side door open after tapping it with the scepter.

"Get in", he growled, not looking my way.

My eyes widened as I watched the car come to life, wondering how in the world that had happened without a key. This guy definitely didn't look like he owned a car this fancy. I grumbled to myself about my luck as I ran around the car, sliding into the seat. I was grateful I decided to wear simple black jeans and a shirt today.

When I got in, I noticed his helmet and scepter were gone, but I couldn't see them in the car anywhere. His black hair caught my attention in the dim lighting, and I couldn't help but stare as I buckled.

As soon as the seatbelt clicked into place, his foot slammed on the gas and he spun out of the space. "So, Eris Finley," he sounded like he was testing my name on his tongue, and my thighs forced themselves together. "Who are you? And to laugh at me, in public, no less."