The Witch He Loved

Chapter 59

"You're staring again, Love." He says from his desk, scribbling something down on paper and then looking back at the open book. I can only see his side profile from my place on the bed but my book had begun to get boring so I had abandoned it for what I considered a better past time. 

"Outstanding observation, as always." I grin as he frowns at me but he turns back to the paper and book. "I can't help wanting to watch my husband. What are you working on so diligently?" 

I get up from the bed and walk to him, looking over his shoulder I slide my hands over his chest so I'm hugging him from behind. 

"It doesn't matter." He slips the paper into the book before shutting it and turning his face to mine, my eyes narrow at him. 

"What are you hiding?" I lean over him and try to pick up the book but he places a hand on it quickly and it vanishes. I frown at where his hand now sits before I let go of him and stand up straight. "So you are hiding something." 

"I'm not hiding things from you." He says as he stands and pulls me between him and the desk, lifting me so I sit on it. One of his hands leave my waist and cups my face, turning up to his. "It's a surprise." 

I frown at him for a moment longer before I concede, willing to leave him to his scheming. 

"Fine, I hope you intend to hurry up with it though. I don't like waiting for things." He laughs at me before he opens his mouth. 

"Kathy?" Loki seems to have frozen in place, his mouth lingers open and the voice that said my name wasn't his. 

"Loki?" I shake his arm but he doesn't move. 

"Kathy wake up." The voice says again, it almost sounds like Ragnar but that doesn't make any sense. My head spins as I look around the room frantically for him. 

"Ragnar?" 

"Kathy wake up!" 

I'm jolted and my eyes crack open. I'm in the stone basement again, curled into a ball with my head on Ragnar's leg.

I had been in a happy memory, one from just a few days ago. I wanted to go back.

"I'm sorry but you've been asleep for too long, your breathing slowed down too much." 

"Time?" I push out, realising then just how much had been taken from me, even talking seemed to put me out of breath, I doubted I'd even be able to move my own body at this point. 

"A couple of hours have passed since we last spoke. I'm not sure the exact amount though." 

A couple of hours and I've already deteriorated so much. 

"Dying."  

He sighs, his hand rubbing over my arm. 

"I know. Don't give up yet." I wish it were a matter of giving up but it's not. Everything in me wants to live, to see my friends and family again. To spend my days with Loki. 

I don't reply, to tired to continue our talking. A knocking happens above us before silence. If there are people talking I can't hear them but maybe Ragnar can, his hand freezes on my arm. 

I'm faintly aware of yelling getting closer but I'm focused on pushing air in and out of my lungs. 

Ragnar scoops me up and pulls me into him right before the door caves in beside us, my head drops as it's left unsupported, my eyes focusing on the cuffs connected to my wrists.

Someone is thrown at my feet and there is yelling all around me but my ears don't seem to be working properly, everything sounds so far away. 

Ragnar lets go of me and slowly lies me against the floor before moving away from me, the stone touches my cheek and it feels odd, like it's not that cold anymore.