Lovers of Myth

Visiting her other case, Ivory was let into his room without any worry from the guards. The opposite of Dhuosnos. She couldn't seem to get that little fact off her mind. It went from feeling unfair to feeling ominous.

He had his back to her, mumbling just like before. Did he enjoy talking to himself, or perhaps it was a habit he didn't realize he had? Those long ginger locks of hair looked so soft she felt her fingers itch as she fought the urge to touch him.

One day she was consumed by a beast of blue and black, the next she was lost in green and gold. Her nights were full of dirty desires and her days were sinking into a quicksand mix of the exact same. She was losing it.

What was happening to her? The emotional turmoil was ridiculous as well. She felt guilt, jealousy, frustration at herself and the beings, and so much more she couldn't explain. What was she meant to do here? Seducing two gods was definitely not the plan.

An older scientist was supposed to be assigned to this case, but once again the world had other plans. Suddenly the new girl was getting thrown to the wolves. A wolf she would willingly allow to devour her body and soul. Would he be a wolf? That thought kept her mind busy for a moment as she tried to speak over his mumblings.

“Hey, are you doing ok? The boss said I’m your new lead. You didn’t like my colleague?”

Mr. Kelson wasn't pleased with putting her on this case after her first visit with the being. There wasn't much of a choice though, since it was this being or nothing now. Apparently, her current companion was refusing to speak to anyone but her. He had been so close to bonding with his previous scientist, or so they thought.

The investors were pissed and wanted them to fix this regardless of the cost. Apparently, thanks to this god's request, she was the price. Everyone wanted results and needed them. The other scientists blamed her tits, she blamed fate's shitty sense of humor. Her boss had a gut feeling there was something else there, but he wasn't speaking on anything without evidence.

Her chiseled god turned to face her, emerald eyes shimmering with golden flecks. Why did that look mesmerize her so quickly? Researching the legends on this one might just be a lifesaver for her. Facing someone who might be able to crush her with a simple thought definitely unsettled her.

Her chest tightened the moment she saw him, her heart begging for his attention in ways she couldn't understand. A flash of an image spun slowly inside her head, lovers in a dance of fate and misfortune. A sad ballad of the hearts.

“You came alone.”

She frowned, looking toward the door. What was she thinking? Why did she feel like she was forgetting something important?

Shaken back into reality she tried her best to focus on him. Was she supposed to bring an entourage? Maybe that would have been a good idea, considering the unbalance she felt within herself with him. She must be doomed in some way.

In that moment he was in front of her, pressed against her, one hand on her hip and the other holding her hand as if they might begin to dance. Her heart raced forward as she tried to keep her mind straight. Deja vu.

“Mr.Kelson was...is busy and my colleague is...was insulted by your demands. Your case was handed over to me.”

His hand softly moved from her fingers up her arm. Goosebumps covered her skin as she looked up to catch his ethereal gaze. With him, she felt free, like they were floating above all worries. With her beast, she felt heavy passion and pain. It was like two opposite worlds.

“Do you intend to tease me every time I visit you?”

Her breathy whisper had him smiling that crooked grin. He begged her curious soul to dig deeper. In that smile, she saw a spark of sadness, but maybe it was a mistake on her part. An illusion of something human she was hoping to find.

“As long as you speak to me in such a seductive tone, I will have no choice.”

Seductive? She could barely breathe, yet he found the weakness of her tone attractive. He was teasing her. Surely he was just entertaining himself. Were all the test subjects so rash?

“Your beast passed his test I hear. No noose for the blueberry giant I suppose.”

She raised an eyebrow. Was that disappointment she heard in his voice? The nickname made her wonder if he spoke out of emotion or just didn't know her beast's true identity.

“Jealousy is not a pretty color on you.”

His smile grew, clothes shifting into a suit of gold and green armor that looked war-ready. The markings on the metal looked familiar. A memory lit up her thoughts, warm rays of sun heating her and him up as they held onto one another.

The thought was gone as fast as it came on, making her feel unsure of its truth. She must be imagining things, like with Dhuosnos. How could she tell the truth from desires?

“On the contrary, I pull it off easily.”

His lips moved closer as her thoughts connected like magic. Within her memories she felt at home, wishing for nothing more than a moment of his presence. Just as she was starting to close her eyes she whispered the first thing that came to mind.

“Loki.”

It slid off her tongue as if she had said it a million times before. Just like with her beast, Dhuosnos. How did she know such things? She was refusing the truth, and still, it laughed in her face. She knew what this meant, but was too afraid to poke the bear that might be their past.

Her heart was trembling, shaking against her chest. His hands stilled, eyes widening slightly. She couldn’t stop herself from looking up into those beautiful eyes, pure gold at this point. He looked dumbfounded. She quickly tried to cover her tracks, unsure if she should be so forthright with her unfolding mind.

“You’re mysterious, can shapeshift, like to tease, and you like green.”

He raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t possibly guess his identity on things so trivial. The thought of her memory coming back seemed to itch at his brain, but he wasn't convinced.

“That’s all it took?”

Her smile was bright as she laughed a little. Did he buy the lies? He was the god of lies, mystery, and tricks. Could she convince him of her own fallacy? She played it all off so well, surely he wouldn't see through her mask. Even as she spoke she was seeing him in another world, their world. Flashing images of her body clad in white dresses of glamorous silk.

“No, truthfully when I figured out you speak Old Norse it all fell together easier. I don’t remember a lot of gods, my father was a scientist after all. Still, you stuck out for me. A prankster, your life seemed like a party. Something I envied.”

He pulled her into a hug, a hand at the back of her head and one at her lower back. She never wanted him to let go, at the same time that she was fighting back tears. Her mortal self never learned of this god, yet she was quick to hide within this flesh to avoid him. Why?

Listening carefully he focused on the guards right outside the door. They were talking to each other, blissfully unaware of the world around them. Whispering in her ear, he kept his voice low.

“No life is simply made of joy, ást. Just promise me this, you won’t speak my name ever again.”

She closed her eyes, holding onto his shirt as he pulled her into him. Once upon a time, he had begged her to say his name, now she was forbidden from it? She wasn't surprised by his cautious nature.

He smelled earthy yet sweet. It was intoxicating having him so close, yet her heart was already breaking. Even with images of him smiling in her mind, she felt like a heavy weight from the universe was slowly coming down to crush them. What was happening to her?

She couldn’t speak his name. It was an unspoken rule of certain gods, but she had forgotten such a thing within this human shell. Even as she thought that she questioned her mentality. Did she believe she could be more than human?

It was hard to tell when Loki was teasing her and when he was being serious. Did he feel something for her, truly, or was he wasting time like he used to? Holding her so intimately had her thoughts off balance. Did it matter now? She was Ivory, not her past. Their past. Ivory.

“I don’t understand. Why can’t I...”

Trying to be Ivory now, with other lives rushing through her mind, felt like holding a fragile glass while trembling. How long could she play this game? Why couldn't she just tell him the truth? Something was holding her back.

He nuzzled into her neck, kissing her flesh as he spoke softly, cutting her off. The cameras were useless in his room. After their last interruption, he made sure to ruin the connection the moment she entered the room. Still, it was better to play it safe.

“My name is my calling card. It could be used to hurt me. You don’t want that, do you?”

She shook her head, saddened by that fact. She wouldn't be able to speak his name again, not here. Not behind this mask. It hurt her, yet she understood.

“Forgive me. I would’ve never said it if I knew it could cause you harm.”

Leaning back he looked into her eyes, believing her easy enough. He wondered how much longer he could control himself with her though, those icy blue irises welcoming him easily into her soul. She wasn’t of this world, yet she knew nothing of her true origins. It was a curious affliction.

“What should I call you?”

He grinned, releasing her as he gave her space to collect herself. In truth, he had to grab hold of his own reigns as well, for fear of overwhelming her. She wanted to cry out, the pain of his absence slicing through her as if they had done this before. With all the control she could muster she kept up her innocent front.

They were back to the playful air, slipping out of the heavy stuff for a moment. She tried to keep her head on straight, her breathing struggling to stay calm. He was too much, his answer light-hearted.

“Lover, darling, baby...”

She laughed, shaking her head and playing along. This was ok, right? Just playful chatting. No trouble with this.

“Hmm, I’ve got it. Kitten!”

It slipped out too soon for her to catch. Her soul ached as the memory of him calling her just that caught hold inside her heart. She kept up her smile, wanting nothing more than to break before him but refusing to without the whole truth. This was wrong, and she needed to know what she was. Who she was. Why was she here, like this?

The heat in those gorgeous eyes caught her up in a storm of love and agony. He was on her again and suddenly the wall had her dress riding up as he leaned down to kiss her deeply. In that moment she felt the love of centuries and wanted nothing more than to love him just as she once had in their past.

After an eternity of dark passion they separated, her breathing erratic as he practically growled. One second it was all heavy intimacy and the next he was calm and light. Did he feel what she felt? Like a coin, he was flipping to the extreme suddenly and it was like a heady scent of ecstasy knocking her off her feet. How much longer could she last?

“You are too much. Something in you pulls at me. You say anything and that voice makes me want to beg at your altar.”

What was he talking about? To admit to such a lack of control before her, he must be lost to insanity. Did he see her as more than this mortal layer? Could he be lost in their love, as she was? Still, he acted as if she was not her soul. Simply a human that reminded him of someone else.

“You’ve been here too long. I’m sure your mind is...”

His grin was crooked as always, her eyes half closed as he leaned down to kiss her neck.

“We could be here an eternity and it would not be long enough. I want nothing more than to devour you.”

She placed trembling hands on his chest, pushing him back gently. He allowed it, watching her change in demeanor at the mention of an eternity with him. It took all of her control not to break right there, in his arms. She couldn't do this, not yet. The truth wasn't clear. If she was like this something had to of happened. From the pain in her heart, she fought with the idea of figuring it all out. It might be better to be ignorant.

“Forgive me, I should go.”

He wondered how she felt. What did his touch do to her? Did she want him as he wanted her? Would her memory return?

“Sleep well.”

His words wrapped her in warmth as she fled the room. The tears ran free as soon as she was out of his sight, the hall dark as her heart broke all over again.