Shattered Reflection

Chapter Three

Natalia's POV

My parents leave the dining hall and not long after do Jane and Thor leave.

Loki and I take leave as well and we  walk through the palace. He takes my hand and I smile as I feel the familiar tingles run through my arm.

I feel Loki's gaze on me. I look up and blush, "Yes?"

"Nothing but the fact you're still as beautiful as ever." I blush even deeper.

"How do I respond to that?" I ask.

"With a thank you," He says and kisses me softly.

We step out onto a platform over-looking the city. I lean against the rail and Loki wraps his arms round me.

"What would I do without you?" I ask.

"I'm not sure, my darling. I'm not sure," He says and rests his head on my shoulder.

I lean into him and sigh contently. This is where I am meant to be. After some time of looking at the stars we go in for the night.

I change into night clothes and join in bed with my love. Loki pulls me closer and I rest my head on his chest, loving his cool embrace.

It's dark. My vision is limited as I stumble around a castle. It's not any castle I've been in before, but that's not the strangest part. It's empty, not a soul is around expect mine.

A wind rips through the open windows and I shiver. This feels wrong. I need to leave this place.

I rush blindly through the halls, not having the slightest idea as to where I am going. I finally find the main doors and I push them open, desperate to get out.

As I walk outside I notice something, everything seems colorless. Almost lifeless. What is this strange world?

A blue light appears in front of me, clashing with the grey around it. I reach out for it but it disappears with a wisp. Another one appears and I reach out, but that one disappears as well.

Soon I find myself following them. They lead me behind the castle as I follow. The last one disappears and I find myself at the opening gates to a small garden.

I reach out for the gates, but they push open without cause. I grow more weary of this. I walk on an overgrown path and look around. Vines have overgrown the walls and white roses grow on them.

I see a strange rock in the distance and decide to investigate. I approach it and it soon comes into view.

The stone has writing on it, but a flower has grown over it to. It's a Frost Fire Orchid. I reach out to push back the growth, but the vines curl away and I am able to see what is written.

                        Here lies
                  Princess Natalia
                             ~~~
          "An angel taken too quick."

I gasp and stumble back, falling to the ground. I hiss in pain as a thorn pricks  my hand. I pull my hand away and find a pool of blood, but no vine. I look over the blood and gasp. I can see myself. But I'm not myself. I'm someone else. What is happening!

I jump up from the ground and take off to the gate. I rush to it, but they slam shut in front me. I am about to try and find another way out, but I hear a cry.

My head whips over and it's... Me. The blond hair, blue eyes. It's all me.

She stands staring at me, as if she is paralyzed. The vines grow from the wall and clings to her leg. She starts to scream. I try to rush to help her but two of the vines pull me to the ground, trapping me.

I watch helplessly as her arms and legs are wrapped in the vines. She is pulled to the ground. Her screaming never ceasing. The roses turn red as they stop growing. She is trapped in a position on her knees. Her screaming halts.

She looks up at me, her cold eyes piercing my soul.

"It's all your fault."

"Why didn't you save me?"

"Why?"

"Why?!"

"WHY?!"

"WHY!!!"

My head is pounding and I feel tears running down my cheeks.

I cry out, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Her chanting only grows more desperate, more strained, even louder. It drowns out my own thoughts. I can't even think!

And then it stops.

I look down to see her eyes in front of me, her eyes no longer cold, but lifeless.

I look down to see a sharp branch driven straight through her. By my hands.

I've killed her.

"Natalia..."

"Natalia..."

"Natalia!"

I fly awake.

Loki is looking over me, seeming desperately worried. I cling onto him as my tears fall. I start to sob.

"Shh, my sweet. It was just a nightmare. I've got you, you're alright."

I sob into his shoulder and he sits on the bed, with me in his lap, crying on his shoulder.

My sobbing starts to cease and he kisses my forehead, "Do you wish to talk about it?"

"I'm not sure."

"It may help." He reassures me.

I nod, "Alright."

I recount the dream, telling him everything. From the castle, to the strange light, and the garden. I tell him of the gravestone and the blood.

And then the girl. I told him how she looked like me, spoke like me, screamed like me. I told him of her haunting screams as the vines pulled her down. How she kept asking why and finally, how I killed her.

After I had finished, he pulled me even closer to him. He shushes me and pets my hair.

"Look up at me." He says.

I oblige and when I met his red eyes, I smile. He's turned into his giant form again. I change myself to my golden form and he smiles back at me.

"I know how you like to be like this," He says, and it's true. I like him being in his natural form and I like being in this form. It's relaxing to me.

I trace my fingers along the lines on his perfect face and he smiles at my touch.

"Better?" He asks softly.

"Much." I reply. He slowly changes back, as do I.

We return under the blankets and I curl up into him again. Loki wraps his arm around me and somehow get even closer. Little did I know, I do not sleep this night.

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Wow, these dreams are getting graphic are they not? Although it's probably all just random, probably has nothing to do with the story at all.

Probably...