Darkness Revealed (A Loki Love Story) Book 2 in Darkness Series

Gone

(His point of view)

In a flash of movement, I grasp Link's arm and teleport us to just outside of Christine's chambers. The guards that were assigned to stand just outside of her room are furiously shouting as they bang themselves up against the locked, wooden doors. Another ear splitting scream pelts the air, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.

"MOVE!" Link roars to the men, but I do not even think twice. I grab his arm yet again and in the blink of an eye, we are standing just inside of her room. As I allow my vision to scan the area, I am frozen from what I see. Furniture is overturned, windows shattered, curtains ripped from the walls, debris of fabric and feathers from pillows lie scattered all throughout. Link is mirroring my actions, standing perfectly still as his eyes survey our surroundings. Despite the cracklings of the fire burning just in front of us, a deathly quiet has settled in the atmosphere around us, pressing heavily upon my shoulders. It is too quiet......much too still.

I chance a single step forward. As I do, my boot makes contact with a single shard of glass, causing it to noisily crack underneath my weight. As the sound echoes, I hear a loud gasp come from across the room. Both of our heads turn in its direction. Suddenly, a hand reaches up from behind the other side of her bed, clawing at the sheets. As it struggles to hold onto the silky fabric, I feel my eyes widen at the realization of whose hand it is. A large amethyst stone twinkles beneath the dim firelight.

"Christine!" I all but shout as I sprint to just the other side. Link follows in suit. As I turn its corner, I find her huddled up against the side of the bed in an almost fetal position. I am horror stricken at what I see. Her gown has been torn to shreds and is covered in blood. And as I allow my stunned gaze to study her, I see that it is her own blood that is responsible for this, as she has a large gash just above her shoulder. I can clearly see just how severely that her entire body is shivering as rapid gasps of air move in and out of her body. She is whimpering, still clinging desperately to the sheets. She has not even turned to look my way, as she has clearly entered into some sort of shocked state.

"Christine," I say as calmly as possible before taking a single step closer to her. She hears my muted boot against the marble and jerks her head in my direction. Her nose is bleeding, sending for more blood to run down her chin and dripping down onto her heaving chest. I feel my rage rising far more quickly than I ever have. Seeing her in this state.....Whoever has done this shall pay!

The look in her eye is nothing like I have ever seen before. She looks like a wild, abandoned animal. Almost as if she does not recognize any civilized form of life. But as I take another step toward her, she blinks. The frosted glaze of her lost expression melts instantly. I see it as it clicks in her mind. She realizes who I am.

"LOKI!" She releases her death grip from the bed and lunges at me. I meet her halfway, falling to my knees and pulling her into my arms. She is shaking so terribly, sobbing into my chest as I seal her away in a protective vice.

"Christine, who did this?!" I demand, stroking her tussled hair. She cannot answer me for barely being able to breathe in between sobs. I hear Link's footsteps as he quietly moves to hover over us in a guarding motion. I chance a look up to see that he is still scanning the room, looking for any signs of the intruder.

"Christine, my Love, who did this to you?!" She shakes her head whilst tightening her grasp on my tunic.

"I could..... not fight back,"she mutters. "I am still too weak. I was.....afraid to take a chance...." I can feel her attempting to regain control of herself, but she is far too shaken to speak clearly.

"Please, my Love. Try to tell me," I beg. She finally lifts her head away from my chest just enough so that I can have a clear view of her face. My heart stops at the look I find in her eyes. The same look she had worn the day I threatened to strike her in the face. The same look that she wore when she spoke to me of what Sethos had done to her. The same look she wore when my brot......