Behind Locked Doors

Chapter Seven

The next morning, you woke up sore, just like the first morning after.

As you walked into the kitchen, you had a smile on your face. You'd even left your arms uncovered.

"Well good morning, sunshine! It's good to see you smiling again. What made you so happy?" Your father asked, looking surprised.

You waved a hand. "Oh, just feeling loved..."

His face fell when he saw your wrist.

"Sage."

"Yeah?" You turned around from the tall metal fridge.

"Come over here, please."

You sighed and did as he asked.

"What's up?"

"Don't play games with me, Sage. We're done. This is over. I'm taking all the sharp objects in your room, and in your bathroom. I don't know why I didn't just do this the first time. I guess I trusted you." He gave a humorless laugh. "Big mistake."

He looked closely at the bandages. "These aren't the ones I bought."

He looked up at your face, as if trying to see into your eyes.

"Who's been helping you?"

But you refused to say, instead just looking forward to when you would see Loki next.

---

Most mornings started this way. Sore. But it was always worth it, especially when you remembered what Loki had done the night before to make you that way.

Loki had escaped capture, and spent every night with you. He'd started bringing his own protection with him, once he'd found out that your father had confiscated the pills.

But in your third month of doing this, you stopped getting your period.

You didn't mention it to Loki. It was probably just one of those things. Not very important. But he noticed.

"Sage?"

"Mmm?" You were lying on his chest, with both of your clothes lying on the floor next to your bed.

"Don't we usually take the last week of the month off?"

You tensed up slightly.

"Never mind. We can discuss it later. But I feel like I should tell you..."

You looked up at him. "What?"

"Sage, I must return to Asgard. I can make up for my crimes by completing tasks and being watched by the king's guards. But I am not going to be permitted on Midgard any longer until I have completed my sentence."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry, my love."

"Does this..." You swallowed. "Does this mean I won't see you anymore?"

"You can come to visit me, but I can no longer visit you. You can also send me letters. I promise to be faithful to you, Sage. I will miss your presence each minute that you are not by my side."

"I love you, Loki."

"As I love you, Sage."

"When do you have to leave for Asgard?"

"In ten minutes."

"Oh, Loki..."

"I know, my love. I know."

You held each other for the next ten minutes, until it was midnight.

Loki dissapeared in a flash of light, looking at you with great love and sadness in his eyes.