The Siren's Mark (Loki Romance)

Chapter Six

My head pounds with a fury as I slowly wake up late the following morning. It takes a few minutes for the slightest bit of light pouring in from the window not to burn my eyes, but I eventually make it out of bed. For a few moments, I simply sit on the edge with my legs hung over, trying to piece together what happened last night. I'd be lying if I said I haven't been in this situation before—recently—under different circumstances, and I've never had luck remembering what happened without being told. 

Okay—so there was the mission, the knives, and then... poison. That's when I texted Pepper from the car, I recount inwardly.

I drag my phone off the nightstand and open up my texts with Pepper.

Sat, 10:44 PM/Cerys: They dropped it and I fell on it, blade was slender

Sat, 10:45 PM/Cerys: There was a little bit of green after it cut

Sat, 10:47 PM/Pepper: I know which ones you're talking about, I don't know why they had them. They're supposed to be prototypes, they weren't supposed to use them in the field. I'm out the door, don't fall asleep

And then, the newest one.

Sun, 9:07 AM/Pepper: Hey, let me know when you're awake.

I press my lips together, remembering how it'd become hard to write out normal texts. Coherent sentences became strenuous to formulate, and I'd resorted to the short, clipped ones on the screen.

After reading through them, as well as a good morning text from Michael, I rub my fingers over my temples as I get up from the bed, and wander out into the apartment—after changing out of last night's dress. From there I spend half my brain power trying to consider what else I might remember, and after noting the empty state of the apartment, the other half is dedicated to feeling thankful for it. It is Sunday morning after all— I'd go out too if I had the energy for it. Breakfast, most likely, after a night of drinking, which I'm sure my roommates had.

Okay—knife, texts... Loki, Rita... I grimace bitterly as the memory flashes, revealing the very last thing I remember from last night—seeing them walking toward me just outside the apartment.

My eyes flicker toward the cereal box on the fridge, but my stomach protests the impulse to eat. The idea of anything other than water is nauseating, so I opt for that instead, before perching myself on one of the barstools. Moments later, quiet footsteps shuffle across the hardwood floors.

"Hey," Rita murmurs quietly as she strolls around the counter, still in her pajamas, and arms crossed over her chest. "How're you feeling?"

I blink up at her and nod. "Fine," I fumble my fingers a bit as she stares at me. "And, uh... Well, since you're asking, I guess that means you saw some stuff last night."

Rita glanced down at the counter, and movement twitched in the corner of her lip as she looked back up at me. "Like you almost dying," she says flatly, and my shoulders sink as she pauses. "Or... Loki holding your hand and shit."

I furrow a brow. "Wait what?"

She shakes her head as she sighs. "Never mind. You're okay and all, though?"

"Um," I look off to the side awkwardly, still considering what she said. "Yeah, I think so... Did he, or—did anyone talk to you about what happened?"

"Pepper said I need to keep it quiet, pretty much threatened me, honestly..."

I'm almost tempted to smirk, stifled only by the way that Rita's face sinks heavily.

"No one's going to hurt you, Rita."

"Yeah," she breathes out. "Well... glad you're okay," she says as she  saunters around my side, heading back in the direction of her room.