The Light that Shines Within

The Library

Let's just say that my reaction to Loki's library was less than articulate to say the least. There was a lot of gawking, gasping, stuttering and other equally embarrassing things I did because of all the shelves upon of shelves of books that Loki owned. Two balconies circulated above us with completely loaded shelves. Then there were shelves on the ground floor of the library, a circular table sitting in a corner with a stack of more novels on its surface. A fireplace roared in the room's right side and making it feel like I was back home in my library at the Tower. For ten straight minutes I went through the embarrassing motions of gawking and gasping at his impressive collection. What was more embarrassing was Loki was watching the entire time with a half-amused, half worried expression on his face every time I went to look at him. But eventually, I did calm down enough to ragain my composure. 

"I...I think I'm good now..." 

I said evenly, hands being held in front of me gracefully to make up for my moment of breaking character there. Loki only smiled at me in the middle of the room. "So, how do you like it?" He asked teasingly. There was just humor in his tone. I rolled my eyes. scoffing at him. Looking around and gesturing with my arms out wide, spinning in a circle happily. "Do I like it?!"  ​​​​​​I asked incredulously. "Its the most impressive collection of volumes I've ever laid my eyes upon!" I exclaimed looking back at him. "This is amazing!" Loki laughed at my enthusiasm, shaking his head. "I'm glad you think so." He spoke softly to me.

"Would you like to browse my collection as I ask questions?" 

I nodded with a small smile and took his outstretched hand for me to take, walking me like a true gentleman to the first bookshelf in the corner, below a balcony. I began to gaze at the many multicolored leather spines in gold lettering. I felt Loki move beside me when I moved, his eyes on me, watchful of my emotions for some reason. 

"First question?" 

He "hmmed" in thought for a moment, then asked his first question. "When were you born?" I actually smiled at the memory it brought me. I sighed to myself, here we go..."I was born on October 31st, in the 1700s." He nodded, then asked again. "You said in the great hall that your family was wealthy?" Again I nodded to him in response, my eyes still gazing at the books as we walked and talked together in hushed voices. "Yes, and my sister got it all...you heard most of my story in the grand hall actually. Not much more to be asked about my childhood Loki." I wasn't being rude, but quieter than our hushed tones. Almost quietly begging him to not ask any more of it. "Of course, Cassandra." 

"Thank you." 

We walked together in quiet silence, but whenever I glanced at him I could tell he was still thinking of things to ask about me. "What have you done all these years? After becoming what you are today?" I laughed and looked up him as that memory came to my mind. "Once I came to the New World with my family, becoming a vampire after that I was many things actually." I shook my head to myself and counted on my fingers as I listed them off. "A gypsy, a nurse, a saleswoman. Then in the war I made American Flags and worked for Hydra once kidnapped. There were other jobs in between but nothing ever lasts long when your a vamipire in the shadows." Loki "hmmed" again at my responce, a smile appearing on his face. We rounded the corner of the first shelf and I began to look at those as we talked. My eyes still glancing up at him every so often to show him I was listening to him and paying attention. Also, because I just wanted to catch his eyes sometimes. I loved seeing his gaze meet mine, holding for a blessed second. Then flickering away and maybe seeing a god blush at a simple vampire's eyes on him. 

"The....person...you are today..." He spoke timidly.

I smiled up at him to let him know it really was ok. "Go ahead, you can say it loki. I do." I understood his nervousness about asking me though. Usually I would have shut up or snapped about my condition. But with him....I was safe to talk it felt. This nervousness hanging around us in general these days as we treaded unknown territory with each other, new to us both. Being friends was already a new experience for him. We were standing there, looking at each other uncertainly for a full minute before I began to browse the shelves again. Talking about memories I'd have rather remained buried to most people besides the god at my side was new to me too. I spoke again, sad and remorseful. "You want to know what happened, in more detail, don't you?" He nodded at me slowly and I plunged right into it.