The Maid - Part 9
Pairing: Loki x reader
Warnings: Angst, mentions of violence, depression, mentions of suicide, despair, feeling trapped. Mentions of abuse and rape.
Please read at your own risk. Your own media consumption is not my responsibility. Please read and review the warnings before proceeding.
Thank you and enjoy!
Part 8
Series masterlist Main Masterlist
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Loki walks to the balcony and beckons you to follow.
You see a table with a spread ready for you. It's the most food you have ever seen and the most delicious-looking.
Trying to hide your shock and anticipation at the feast, you force yourself to sit down and intertwine your fingers.
Loki begins piling food on his plate when he realizes you have yet to reach for anything.
"Do you not like anything here?" he says to you.
"Oh, um, no no I just... I don't know what I like..." you stutter.
Loki looks at you confused "What do you mean? This is standard Asgardian food."
"I've never had... they serve the servants the scraps so..." you falter.
Loki looks to you with an accusatory stare.
"You're hiding something."
You breathe in sharply and fidget in your seat.
"How do you mean?" you question him, pushing your luck.
He's the god of lies you fool. Of course he knows you're hiding something.
"They may serve the servants scraps as you say, but you've undoubtedly tried at least the basics... even if they were in the form of scraps..." he says slowly while analyzing you.
You shift under his gaze.
"I guess you're right. I must have not realized when I ate them." you lie again.
He knows you're lying. He can taste lies.
Somehow, he doesn't push further and resumes eating his lunch.
He beckons you to try and eat. You take a few bites and your eyes widen with how delicious it is.
"Mmmm oh Norns, this is fantastic!" you say with your mouth full.
Loki laughs, and you blush embarrassingly covering your mouth with your hand.
As you're eating you start to question why he is being so nice to you. This isn't the rumours you've heard... he's said to be ruthless... selfish, and careless... but here he is eating lunch with you on the balcony of chambers fit for a princess?
You're so lost in thought you don't notice Loki watching you. He's staring at you, analyzing everything you do.
"Thank you for everything... this is a lot... nobody has ever been this kind and generous to me before. It means a lot to me." you say to him, eyes locked on to his.
You notice his entire demeanour change as soon as you expressed your gratitude.
"That is all for lunch. We're done here. I've entertained the strays enough for the day. Clean this up then start your duties as my personal maid." you're shocked by the sudden change in attitude.
"Well? Are you just going to stare at me? Go on. Do your job." Loki chastises you.
Confused, you get up and start cleaning up the table.
"Oh, and I've forgotten to specify....these chambers are not yours. You will be provided a more suitable living quarters for someone of your status. These chambers are for a queen. Don't forget your place. You're a maid." Loki says to you as he walks out of the room and slams the door shut.
You stare at the table, confused and shocked at the drastic change in mood. The room falls silent.
Did he just call me a stray?
He's right. I am just a maid. How could I ever think I could be anything else?
You feel tears prickling at the corners of your eyes and you blink them away as your mind connects the pieces.
I was foolish. This was all some cruel trick; showing me everything I will never have. The god of trickery... he fooled me into believing I could have any of this. I trusted him... blindly. The rumours are true, he is twisted; he gets off on psychologically torturing people. I had promised myself to never trust anyone but myself again and yet he manipulated me into trusting him... the king... the god of lies and mischief...
As you're mind is spiralling you feel the anger and hurt bubbling inside you when suddenly the plates on the table fly across the room and shatter on the floor.
What the? I didn't throw those plates.. did I?...
Puzzled by the strange occurrence you keep replaying the last words he spoke to you.
You're a maid. Don't forget your place.
You repeat that to yourself multiple times as you finish cleaning the lunch table. Sighing, you gather the cleaning supplies and go into autopilot as you begin your routine.
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You finish your rounds for the day and put the supplies back. Sighing, you realize you don't know where you're supposed to stay... he said to not go back to the maid's quarters but you have nowhere else to go.
You hear the flapping wings of a crow followed by its caw. It lands on the windowsill in front of you with a note attached to its claw.
Of course he would send his pet to relay his demands.
You slowly approach it and open the note. Flickers of green scatter across the page as the message appears:
'Your new sleeping quarters: The room behind the office.'
Obviously he would place me far away from everyone else to see but close enough for me to continue my work for him.
You make your way to the office and notice a door hidden at the far back behind a corner.
You turn the knob and push it open. A small room with a cot, a wardrobe and a small bathroom, with basic amenities lays before you. It was a fraction of the size of the other chambers.
Better than the hay-filled mattress and common bathrooms I used to share.
You sit down on the chair near the desk placed in the corner of the room. Scanning your surroundings you note that the walls are simply made of stone, no heating provided for the colder months ahead. Nothing you haven't survived before. A small square window in the middle of a wall sheds some bit of sunlight into the space.
On the bedside table you see a cloth with stale bread and nuts, with a glass of water.
Back to the usual menu I see...
You sit on the cot.
At least I get my own space.
You lay down and stare at the ceiling, contemplating your current situation.
I never have a choice. They are always made for me. This is my new life for now, until he decides he no longer needs me and I'm thrown into the wild to my own devices. It wouldn't be the first time.
You shiver as the nightmares from past flow through your head. Shaking your head to rid of the thoughts, you turn to lay on your side, your back still sore, amongst other injuries that have yet to fully heal.
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Over the next few days, your routine remains the same. Today you're assigned a new section, the library.
You push open the doors and gasp at the immensity of the room. The walls are lined with floor to ceiling bookshelves, a staircase in the middle leads up to a second floor with a couch and another room filled with books.
You're overcome with excitement and immediately start walking throw every aisle, scanning what books he has.
When's the last time I stepped foot in a library? Let alone held a book in my hands...
One of them catches your eye and you pluck it from the shelf and delicately open it. You sigh with content at the familiarity and protection you feel from holding a book.
A way out... mentally, momentarily... to keep my sanity and forget who I am. An imaginary shield around my heart, keeping reality at bay, daydreaming to be someone, somewhere, I could only dream of... a fairytale of course.
You breathe in deeply the smell of the book, sighing again, feeling your shoulders relax for the first time in ages. The book is filled with the same stories you vaguely recall your parents reciting to you as a child. You're filled with nostalgia as you flip through the pages, smiling at the memories.
"I didn't know you liked to read." Loki says from across the room. You gasp, eyes wide, shutting the book closed quickly and placing it back in its spot on the shelf.
You decide not to reply and start gathering your supplies again to resume your cleaning.
Loki watches you as he approaches. You're dusting the shelves when he comes behind you, merely inches from you and takes the same book out.
Your heart is racing.
How dare I touch anything that is his without permission? Another reason for punishment. Damn it, I couldn't help it... old habits die hard.
You're plucked from your thoughts as his voice carries through the room.
"A storybook? These are for children." he states as he flips through the pages.
Again, you remain quiet and continue your work.
"Most servants are illiterate. How do you know how to read?" he questions as he leans against the bookshelf behind you.
Without turning around to face him you reply "My father taught me."
"Hmmm... and who was your father?" he pushes further.
"He was once a professor."
"So, you can read higher than this level I presume. Why choose this book then, out of everything else in this library?" he questions.
You're furiously dusting, trying to distract your racing heart. Keeping your back to him "My father read them to me at night. I read them to my parents when they fell ill." you reply stiffly.
Your once nostalgic joyful moment now soured by the painful memories of the beginning of your suffering.
"Why aren't you facing me when you speak?" he questions.
You pause and let out a quick breath "I'm trying to finish my work on time, your highness. I know you highly appreciate punctuality."
"You still haven't learned that I know when you're lying?"
You huff in annoyance and turn around facing him "I'm not lying. I would like to finish the work on time to avoid punishment for tardiness, my king" you bite our rather harshly. Your eyes widen again at your outburst.
You swallow thickly.
He approaches you slightly and raises his arm. Your gasp and flinch away. Shutting your eyes tightly, arms tucked to your chest in protection.
You don't see the way Loki's body shifts uncomfortably at your instinctual reaction. He continues his movement of his arm and places the book back on the shelf. He watches as you're shaking, shrinking into yourself.
What happened to you? he asks himself.
You wait for the pain but when nothing happens you open your eyes slowly and see him staring at you with his eyebrows raised.
"Not the entire truth but close enough." he says smugly.
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Part 10
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