ephemeral ━━ 𝘓. 𝘓𝘈𝘜𝘍𝘌𝘠𝘚𝘖𝘕 ✔

■ once

"I slept for one month." She pondered at this, her mind working at the revelation, trying to piece together what it must have been like for Loki to be stuck here for one month. "If I did, then, you were left here alone for a month?"

He sighed. "It was a mistake. I thought you would have come back safe and alive from that bilgesnipe."

Loraine furrowed her eyebrows. "Well, I did come back alive and I did defeat the bilgesnipe."

"Yet, hardly," he mumbled. "You were wounded---and a very lethal one, at that."

"And went into a coma." She interjected---her voice hushed. Across from her, emerald eyes seemed to be reading her thoughts. They studied her carefully.

"One month. Goodness sake!" She blurted. But a month?"

"The bilgesnpie had that special effect on people. Sometimes those thorns do more damage than what a coma can, you were lucky you survived," he replied, his gaze now straining to look at her.

"And what if I didn't?" She asked.

"Then I'll be locked away forever. And your kin's disaster will not be mended."

Loraine sat across from him on the table. Now sitting, she took a glance on the bloodied butterknife from the corner of the room. She made a mental note of hiding sharp things now, at least, until he's okay---if that's the word. "My kin---Freya. Was she there?"

He shook his head. "No. She wasn't in Asgard and it seemed as if she didn't even know her child was on the verge of death."

"Odd," she hesitated, then she looked at him again, carefully trying not to peek at the knife few feet behind him. Her gaze softened. "You do know I meant every single word I said Loki."

"That you'll look after me?" He examined his healed hand.

She nodded. "And that I am staying. And I am not taking no for an answer. I told you we are going to get out and we will get out. End of story."

"Story hmm? Suppose you'd do that. And what do you expect? Give a happy ending to a villain?" He leaned on his chair.

"Not all stories end, prince," she retorted.

One side of his lips twitched into a smirk. "Ah, yes. Tell me then, Loraine of Midgard," his tone shifted. "Is this your cursed task talking, or you?"

Upon hearing the question, Loraine hesitated for awhile, caught unguarded by what he asked because she hadn't really thought about that. She might as well have asked herself that question. With all that was happening---and if she had to be honest---the task of Freya as a literal task, as a reason, hadn't crossed her mind ever since she went here. Indeed, she bawled over failing this duty but it never really did relate to how much she wanted to get this prince out. The moment she fled from the healing chamber, all her thoughts and will only echoed for Loki to be freed from the dungeons. It was never about completing the mission.

So she said, "It's me." And Loki only hummed in response.

"Can I ask you something then?"

"I cannot guarantee I will speak truthfully," he pointed out.

"Fine." She shrugged. "Up to you. So, what's your deal with bilgesnipes? How did you even expect that something near that river bank, some monster, would attack us?"

Loki waved a hand. "If you must know," he said. "I had a lover once, and she was killed by it."

Her mouth hanged open. "You had a lover?"

"Maybe," he grinned. "One can never know the difference of what is true and fiction from my words."

"Well, if it's to your comfort, then I'll settle for that as fiction."

"Is it that surprising?"

She smiled. "Well in all honesty, yes. So, tell me---this fiction of yours."

Loki was silent for a couple of seconds, as if trying and reassessing what story would suit the moment. Then he replied, "Her name was Nathara. I met her during a ball held for my brother. And for some reasons, we fought in the courtyard---magic. I won, of course and she wanted then and there for me to take her as an apprentice. So I did."

"And?"

Loki cleared his throat. "Months after, we travelled to the outskirts of Asgard, and that was where I lost her."

"From the bilgesnipe."

"Yes."

"And this fiction---you love her?" She asked, her voice lowered to a whisper because what she asked, she admitted, seemed as if it was a secret.

Loki's eyes glazed over. A memory trespassed his thoughts, and Loraine saw it. "I did," was all he said.

If this fiction turned out to be true, then this must have been the reason why Loki never wanted Loraine to fight the bilgesnipe alone. He had already known this creature. And he knew just how lethal it was along with its consequences.

Then they locked gazes, and Loraine couldn't help but ask for the third time---her tone careful, "Did you kiss me?"

The god of mischief stared at her for a couple of heartbeats. Then he grinned, "Maybe."

"Why?"

"Because you may have resembled her."