Disguised Beauty {Pure Illusion Series: Book 2}

Chapter 5

A/N: This is going to be a long note, but please read: A lot of you have been saying during the last two chapters "is it bad that I'm happy Theoric's dead?" To answer your question, I don't know. It's not wrong but that doesn't make it right. As much as this is a story, I could never wish death on my ex-boyfriend for what he did to me. I don't hate him and I don't hate Theoric either. Actually in the comics, I like him a lot more than Loki (read that story if you're confused by what I mean). I believe Sigyn loved him because of the idea of getting her happily ever after; the idea was stronger than the person and let her down. I wrote him the way I did because I wanted to show that yes, even prince charmings aren't the ones you're supposed to be with and yes even they can abuse their power. This is not saying Loki was better or worse than Theoric; it was never supposed to be the two pitted against each other but it turned out that way because it always seems to find a way. The story is mainly about Sigyn and her struggles, though the two play an extremely important role in her life. We will be seeing more of Loki in the coming chapters, be patient please!

This chapter is, again, sorta slow and has Sigyn still dealing with the effects of Theoric's death. It's not as heavy as the last one but it's still there. The plot is brought back up towards the end and we will move away from depressed Sigyn. Chapters 6-8 are a ride from start to finish, so be thankful for now for the pace of the story because I promise it's never going to be this smooth again..as if it were. I think you will all be surprised by how this story takes it's dark and twisted path in the chapters to come. As always, enjoy!

Today's artwork is by "goddess-of-loyalty" on tumblr.com! I just love her rendition of Sigyn and Fandral :)

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The week that followed Theoric's death was more pleasant than she could have imagined. It wasn't that she didn't miss Theoric, because she deeply did, especially today. Today would have been the day that she would have pledged her life to him. No, the week was pleasant because for once, for the first time in months, she was left alone. No one disturbed her or dared to ask her to do anything. She knew within the next week this luxury would end. When Frigga and Loki had died, the palace carried on as normal, though when Frigga died Odin was scarcely seen. When Loki had died, a small ceremony took place but otherwise it was like a party. Theoric's death had brought despair and mystery to the kingdom; everyone was searching for the traitor that had ended the Crimson Hawks life.

It was mid-afternoon when she had awoke, requesting that Eméra leave her to sleep as long as she could. She was curled up in the bed with her favorite green blanket wrapped around her, and a ghost of a memory staring at her in the face. She would wake and drift back to sleep every hour or so, the tears that flowed so freely down her face utterly exhausting her body. Sometimes when she woke, she swore she saw Theoric next to her, and sometimes, even Loki.

So many had died because of her? Her parents, her brother, Frigga and Loki. Had Theoric died for her too? Was she poison? Was she a servant of death that could have no ounce of love in her heart? Part of her feared if she let anyone get close that they too would meet their demise. Everyone she knew and loved was in danger... and from whom she did not know.

A soft rap at her door came, she dried her eyes a bit and her hoarse voice answered.

"Come in."

The door creaked softly and Skrímsli stood in the door, a soft smile on his face.

"Lady Sigyn, how are you fairing today?"

The guard and she had grown close, he never asked any questions, but simply attended to her as needed. If that meant leaving her alone for hours on end, he would. He even fetched her food for the past week; he had been far kinder than anyone in the palace had been to her lately. She gathered it had been a result to Odin suspecting that she had something to do with Theoric's death.