Book One: Worlds Apart (Loki)

Chapter Twenty

1914: Katri stands at the train station with Ark, a military duffel at his feet, she fidgets slightly, not liking this at all. Ark watches emotions flicker over her face.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Katri asks Ark who fiddles with his uniform hat, the war is upon them and Ark wants to do his bit. Of course he does.

"I want to do something" he admits. "I know we've not..." he looks to her. "I know we've not really had much time" she cups his cheek and brushes her thumb along his cheek.

"Without your....Kaja you feel a little lost" she offers with understanding. "It's okay, my darling, you shall come back and we'll have plenty of time"

"You sound so sure I almost believe you" Ark comments.

"No son of mine looses" she pokes his nose as Jack jumps on his shoulder. Ark smiles at Jack. "And when you get back" she starts quieter. "If you really want to know...I'll tell you about your father"

"You don't have to" he whispers. "I know it hurts" she shrugs.

"He's still your father, and we were once very much in love......" she looks down touching the bangle on her wrist, she sighs and pulls it off. "Here" she motions for his hand which he gives to her. "Your father once gave me this" she sets it on his wrist and tries to smile, it's painful. "You can have it now...."

"Katri" he states. "I can't take this from you"

"You can, I gave it to you, you have to take it" she corrects. The trains whistle blows and Katri sighs.

"I have to go" Ark tells her softly.

"Don't worry, I'll look after him" Marcel tells Katri clapping Ark on the shoulder, Ark slaps Marcel on the back with a smile. Marcel and Ark had actually taken rather quickly to one another, as had Klaus and Ark. Klaus knew how much Katri wanted her child, how much she wanted a family with Loki, to learn this just upped his anger at his mother and solidified his reasoning for letting Katri kill their mother.

"You better" Katri warns slightly. "I already lost him once" she whispers and straightens her coat.

"We'll be fine, Mother" Ark tells her taking her hand. "I'll see you soon" he offers, it's a lie, chances are it won't be soon, it'll be whenever this hell finishes. There's a call for all the troops along the platform and Ark grabs his duffel, he and Marcel walk away, Katri wrings her hands together taking deep breaths to calm herself. Her son is walking away from her before she's gotten a real chance to get to know him.

........

1918: Ark chuckles a little as he reacts to his mother throwing her arms around him. He drops his bag and hugs her back. Katri clings to the back of his uniform and closes her eyes breathing him in. He's finally back. And in one piece. She has him back. Klaus leans against a wall behind her watching warmly, his sister's been unbearable the last four years.

"I'm alright, mother" he whispers to her softly stroking her back. "I'm right here" Ark waves to Klaus who nods back.

....................

1920: Ark looks around the street as Klaus and Katri climb out of the car behind him, Jack sleeping wrapped around Katri's shoulder, his tail wrapped tight around her upper arm.

"This is a long way from New Orleans" Ark comments, Klaus nods.

"Welcome to Chicago, Ark" Klaus teases patting Ark on the shoulder.

"You didn't have to come with us" Katri offers from Ark's other side.

"There was nothing left for me in New Orleans" he assures her. "And I was lucky Mikael didn't find me" she takes his hand and nods a little.

"Yes" Katri agrees. "My son or not he would have killed you on principle.....actually he probably would have killed you just for being my son" Klaus nods in agreement.

..........

Ark sits with Rebekah waiting on Klaus and Katri who are changing in their rooms.

"I've been with you guys since 1914 and I've never seen her smile" Ark admits looking to Rebekah who nods.

"Try...she hasn't smiled since 1001 AD" Rebekah corrects looking to him. "Not since Loki and...."

"Me" Ark offers, Rebekah gives him a sad smile.

"She's not had much reason to smile" she offers. "He broke her heart the day he walked away from her, and I'm not sure it can be fixed, not even by you" she touches his arm. "My sister, your mother, is a complicated woman" she shrugs. "Crazy but complicated" Ark smiles a little. They share a look. "I know you must have thought a lot about what happened" she starts. "But Kat....she wanted you" she assures him. "She really, really wanted you.....whatever happened, it wasn't her choice"

"I know" Ark assures her back. "I know that" Rebekah nods and pats his knee.

"Come on" Klaus tells them from the doorway. Rebekah and Ark look to him and Katri.

.............

Stefan Salvatore enters a bar and pats the doorman on the shoulder as he passes. The owner of the bar, Gloria, who is on stage singing sees him.

"Guess who my eyes have just spied, ladies? Looking for a good time, Mr. Salvatore?" Gloria asks.

"Save me a dance, Gloria" He's about to grab a glass of champagne but Rebekah takes it before he does. "Ooh. Please, help yourself"

"Oh, I always do" She gets closer, licks his lips and whispers in his hear. She's vamped out. "Careful, Mr. Salvatore. You're still wearing your date. She's lovely" She's about to leave but he grabs her arm.

"No, no, no. Who are you?" She puts her first finger to her lips to tell him to be quiet. She walks away.

..............

Later: Stefan is drinking blood from a women. Rebekah joins in on the other side of her neck. Rebekah and Stefan kiss. He sees her necklace.
"It's beautiful" He comments on it.

"A witch gave it to me. Supposedly it's magical."

"And is it?"

"It brought me love, didn't it?" Klaus arrives and catches her.

"It's late, Rebekah, we're leaving" Klaus tugs her arm.

"Get off of me!" Stefan gets up.

"Who is this guy?" Stefan asks.

"Stefan, don't. He'll kill you. He's a lot stronger than he looks" Stefan is standing behind Rebekah, and has his left hand protectively on her shoulder, Katri appears behind Klaus.

"So this is the famous Stefan Salvatore" She comments looking over Stefan. "I've been hearing so much about. You're right, he does have funny hair"

"I'm bored. I want to go" Klaus tells them.

"Then go without me, I'm not your girlfriend" Rebekah complains.

"No, you're my sister, which means...You have to do as I say" Klaus pulls her over to him so the three of them are facing Stefan. Ark hovers nearby with Jack.