B L A C K H E A R T
book 2 in the 'chaos series'
after enduring the trials of the void, lusine finds herself on earth. only a matter of time before she is reunited with loki, lusine finds herself questioning things she never questioned before as s...
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thirty two "somehow, the future shone"
The eve after the battle was not one of tremendous celebrations as the Asgardians stood upon the riverside to watch the pyre of their Queen leave the shore to ascend to Valhalla.
Lusine stood alongside Thor as he said his silent goodbyes to his mother as her body was set alight to bring an end to the darkness around them by flaming arrows that rained from above.
Without a word, she reached down and took his hand, squeezed it gently and released again, just to let him know that the pain would fade and the mother he loved would never be forgotten as lanterns glowing in the night sky rose with the bringing of Odin's staff.
All eyes watched as the sparks lifted from the pyre as it floated over the top of the waterfall. The sparks were golden: a terribly sad beauty reached the heights and became one with the stars.
A funeral fit for an honourable queen who died selflessly.
The air was sombre as the crowd drifted away from one another. Thor off to do his bidding, to seek revenge for the treasure he'd lost. Casia to find rest. Olea and Florian to have a quiet evening of discussion, wine and reading.
But Lusine found that she did not wish to sit in silence when there was something unsettling that bit at the foot of her soul with pointed teeth.
She let that creature lead her by the hand all the way into the dungeons where the hollowness echoed inside the empty cells like vibration to a skeleton's rib cage.
Even her cousin had escaped in the mess of the events that had transpired that eve. Cathal would, undoubtedly, have returned to Remulan during the chaos and Lusine had no plans to ever follow. To do so, would be kissing death upon the mouth, grinning even as it sunk fingers into the heart and ripped it from the chest, still beating.
But, fortunately, one cell still held its captive.
Lusine's bare feet were hot against the stone flecked with blood, like freckles upon the youthful, toothy face, as she stood before his cell. She stepped right up to the clear wall of magic between them and swallowed as Loki turned to face her, jaw tight and face hard.
Though he appeared to soften at the sight of her, clearly not expecting her visitation.
"You do not need your illusions with me, Loki." Her voice was clear as she rose a hand to the magic. It trembled beneath her fingers, but she knew she could overcome it, thanks to the refreshment to her system through the unfortunate series of events that had transpired.
As his illusion dropped, her heart broke clean in two. This was not the seductive trickster she'd met many moons ago. This was a broken man. A boy who'd lost his mother.
He sat against the wall, hair wild and eyes raw. He had not yet spoken, but she could see all the questions behind his expression, perhaps at her presence and at her appearance that was unlike the flawless woman he'd stopped himself from loving with a whole heart.
