Book One: Worlds Apart (Loki)

Chapter Twenty Six

Jack sleeps curled around a bottle of rum as Arkin sits with a book open in his lap, he never considered the chances, never thought that it could be even....remotely close to this. But even as he reads it he knows. His fingers trace over the lines of Kaja's face, her likeness drawn into this book, flanked by two men, a blonde and a dark haired figure. Thor, Loki and Kaja Odin's Children. He sighs and closes his eyes. There is a note that Kaja is adopted, that the royal family make no secret of it, knowing they had to, with her being older she would have been next in line, announcing that she is not Odin's by blood means that there is no question that it will be Thor next, not her. Arkin knows she would never care, she liked being in the back, hidden and secret. She's not one for the spot light. He misses her. And his mother. Least he knows Katri is with Klaus again, travelling together. He's grateful that she at least has him by her side whilst they are away. Jack mumbles slightly in his sleep and then curls tighter around the bottle. Arkin is no closer to finding out how to contact his father, and he supposes Kaja now. If she had just told him the truth from the beginning. That he hadn't jut seen a vision of his father, but grew up with him, it would have been better, to talk to someone who knew him. He sighs and closes the book. He wants to be angry with her. To be angry that she kept this from him, but a part of him understands. To him she was just a witch, a woman who was beautiful and smart and caring......she didn't want him to see her as 'princess' or 'alien'. She wanted him to see her. And he did. He adored her for who she was. He stands and moves to look out the window next to him. A view of Stockholm beyond. He has to decide what to do next. Continue this search for a way to contact Loki, a way to reach Asgard....or give it up, go back to his mother. He takes a deep breath and looks to Jack.

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

Kaja loves this view, the one from the rainbow bridge on Asgard, the one leading out into the vastness of space. It makes everything seem so little, so tiny in comparison. She sighs a little and closes her eyes. It's been almost 50 years since she left Arkin and yet the pain of doing so has yet to dwindle, she's starting to understand why Loki is still suffering to this day over his loss of Katri and Arkin. She can feel him behind her now, feel his magic brushing against her own. It's how she always knows when he's close. Made games of hide and seek as children impossible. She hums a little in acknowledgement, letting him know she knows he's there.

"What are you doing out here?" Loki asks as she swings her legs. She lifts her head to look at him.

"Was talking to Heimdall" she answers as he sits beside her. "What are you doing out here?" she counters, he shrugs and looks over the edge at the abyss below.

"Saw you" he answers, she traces the lines of his face, the pain and grief permanently etched into place. She wants to tell him about Katri and the others. She really does. But he's not ready to hear it. And he is definitely not ready to hear about Arkin. With how Loki has been feeling recently he will snap and someone will pay for what happened, and that won't end well. For anyone. So she's waiting for the most opportune moment to announce to him that his lady love and their son are alive, and better then that, basically immortal. She keeps it all to herself. "Is this about that mortal of yours?" he asks her looking to her, she gives him a sad smile and shrugs. "You don't talk about him much" he points out.

"About as much as you talk about her" She argues, Loki snorts a little and looks away from her.

"That is different" he whispers.

"Not really" she counters. He glances to her. "Neither of us can be with who we want to be with...." they share a look.

"Tell me" he asks of her. She takes a breath and nods.

"He name is Arkin" she offers. "And he's a werewolf"

"Well..." he looks away and smirks a little. "Sleeping with the beasts, I'm actually rather impressed" She smirks back knowing the irony of his statement.

"I met him when he went looking for his birth parents" she adds. "Hoping I could find them for him...."

"Did you?" he asks, she nods.

"His mother...." she answers softly. "He was still plucking up the courage to talk to her when I left him"

"Why did he need courage to approach her?" Loki asks.

"It had been a long time and he wasn't sure how she would react....he didn't know that she did not gave him up willing"

"She wanted him?" Loki asks, she nods.

"More then anything.....but her parents took that choice away from her, they lied to her, to his father too...." She stares at him. "They were happy, in love, excited.....and they ruined that by ripping her baby from her..." Loki closes his eyes and looks away. They fall into silence as he processes, the boys story is tragic that is sure. "Tell me" she whispers, and he knows what she wants, she shared, now it's his turn.

"She was beautiful" he starts. "So full of light...." Another reason for Kaja holding off on telling him about Katri, that girl that he fell in love with, is so very long gone, and the woman, the vampire in her place is so twisted by her own grief and pain that to Loki she'll be unrecognizable to him. Neither ready yet. "I would have gone to the ends of the nine realms for Katri" Loki voices. "And my child" he adds, voice breaking a little, even all this time later, everything hurts to think and talk about them.

"You would have been an amazing father" Kaja assures him. "The kind that's there with their children getting into all sorts of trouble" Loki chuckles weakly and looks to her. "It would have been mayhem...." she adds, he touches her arm.

"I never did thank you" he admits. "For what you did for me"

"Loki" she states and shakes her head.

"I know we're not blood" he continues. "Father has been very clear about that" he mumbles.

"It is so I will not get it into my head that I could be queen" she points out. "Not that I desire a throne" she adds and shrugs.

"My point is that you did not have to take that punishment for my mistake"

"Loki, you were hurting" she reminds him. "And you lashed out when someone made a comment, any one of us would have done the same thing...."

"Your punishment was harsh" he argues.

"No" she counters. "It wasn't....it had to be shown that I am not above the laws of Asgard just because I am of Migardian heritage" he sighs and looks down. "I would do it again" she adds. "And I do not regret it...it brought us closer as friends" he nods in agreement. "And it lead me to Arkin" she kisses his cheek and smiles. "One day you will find your love again" he shakes his head as she stands. "Who knows what she'll bring with her" she comments and walks away smirking.