Strife of Misfortune(Wattys2016)

Cross Roads

Egypt couldn't remember the last time she felt this terrible. Every inch of her body was set on fire. Pain burned in every vertebrae and pressure boomed in her head. It was a nauseating hellish sensation, she felt like she was dying. The pressure began to build up like a tower in her face. That tower crumpled and crashed, the remains sunk into her muscles and caused the bundle of nerves behind her eyes to swell with pain. Breathing hurt. Sitting hurt. Egypt was sure standing would produce the same effect. She was still dizzy and had just regained consciousness. She wished she hadn't.

Fuck! I could kill for an aspirin right now. Egypt thought. Not even hangovers made her feel this pitiful. She hoped her healing factor would kick in soon.

That's when, she heard a sigh and a blanket of warmth embrace her. It was only then that she realized she wasn't alone in the cell. Loki was there, swaddling her in the heat of his body. He held her close as a father would to an infant child. Egypt's head rested upon his chest and exposed her ear to the rhythms of his heartbeat. Loki was wrapping a material of some sort around her head. She examined the other areas of her body, bandages covered her hands and parts of her legs. He was taking care of her, the very thought of it caused her nausea to heighten.

Loki focused on treating her wounds. Bruises marked every inch of her body and sullied her reflection. The purple hills flashed his eyes, alien to his touch, product of another source. They were marks made not by his hands and the very sight of them insulted him. Egypt was his property to protect and to mark as he chose and another sought to land their claim. Loki took her chin gently between his fingers and observed her face. His blood boiled with unexpressed rage.

Egypt's face swelled. He traced his fingers over the bruises, they were still hot from the ferocity in the attacks. They were bruises, not marks of passion, of ownership, of mutual ecstasy. Loki gritted his teeth, he would revive the pathetic little maid who did this, only to kill her again and again. 

No amounts of deaths would satiate his anger. Thus, the scorching lava continued its course through his soul, dived into the abyss of his mind, to the shadow's' lair. They've awoken from their slumber and swam to the surface, cluttered his brain with voices.

Now's not the time to trouble yourself over trivial matters. Said the shadows. Soon one shadow took over, it was the voice of a woman.. The girl's state is a reflection of the past, a moment inaccessible to you, focus on the current issues at hand.

The shadow's words only fed his anger. Silence! Loki shouted inwardly. How dare you insult me with orders? His thoughts stung like venom, the bite of a serpent lunged in every word. You are nothing but a wisps of air! Never think you have power over me, your words mean nothing.

The shadow held back her urge to laugh. She relished in his blissful ignorance. It was Loki that was a puppet, a foolish clown prancing in her court. Her words carried more than meaning, they were strings and she made her puppet dance. The shadow kept silent of her authority, of her true intentions, she still needed Loki. So, she continued to entertain his meager position, give false truth to his folly. Pardon my saying. She said. But you've promised not to invest your affection into the girl, the very girl who've betrayed you, whose misery will bestow you with unlimited power. Do not be blinded by your emotions, she still has much to learn. I suggest that she be punished for her previous recklessness.

Loki hated to admit that she was right. He looked down at the wounded girl in his arms, the spitting image of his late wife, the bearer of her soul. She was the very girl that ripped his heart out of his chest, ran away with it in her teeth. There was no room for affection, for mercy. Only for discipline, conditioning. Loki closed his eyes and allowed his anger to evaporate. This is not a product of my affection, fore, there is none. I'm bestowing the girl with temporary kindness, fear will not be enough to subjugate her. My actions will split the girl's emotions in two, she will be forced to choose sides for copeing's sake.