Chapter 14
14
While Widow searched out Thor, Luka unconsciously changed the water in her glass to mead. She took a sip before realising what she’d done. The goddess stared into the golden liquid, wondering. Where and when had she learned to do this? Sighing, she picked up a pen to write down the vision from the training room.
As she held it over the blank page of her journal, another struck. Her sitting at a desk, quill in hand, a pot of her personal ink beside her. She dipped the quill in and began to scratch out a spell in runes. “My own research,” she whispered to herself. “I was a frœdimadr.” She sobbed silently. “Is that what happened? An experiment gone wrong?” Sighing, she wrote down both visions, then closed the booklet.
When she woke from her rest, it was time for the evening meal. It was fairly quiet, just Luka and Thor in his kitchenette. She made no mention of the visions from earlier, saying she wanted peace for the rest of the night. She would read until sleepy and then turn in.
Next morning, Luka decided to distract herself with something different. The goddess took one of her books out to Thor’s balcony after breakfast. Realising she wanted to be left alone, Thor kept Rogers company on a trip to visit Bucky in treatment.
As soon as he left, she materialised the business card she’d hidden from Pepper. Reading it over once more, her curiosity prompted her to use the Starkphone Tony had given her. The goddess called the photographer, intending only to speak with the mortal to gain information. He was so enthusiastic to meet, he convinced her to come to his studio that day.
She got his address and directions, then changed her clothing to a russet gown and forest green travelling cloak. Before she left, she called Happy, (with Friday’s help in getting his cell number). After being assured by the security man that the photographer was legitimate, she headed down and out.
Teleporting to the sidewalk outside the Tower, she looked about for another taxi. In only a few minutes, one pulled up as she stepped to the curb. Her lifted hand signalled to the driver to stop. Luka grinned to herself; her second trip outside on her own was starting off well.
*
Shocking his staff, fashion photographer Bryce Weber stopped in the middle of a shoot to go and greet some strange woman who just appeared on his doorstep one afternoon. She claimed she had spoken to him a week or so earlier at a restaurant in Queens. And somehow, she convinced his receptionist to inform Weber that she was awaiting him... right now, downstairs.
Delighted to have her in his studio and effusive in greeting and showing her around, the photographer took only a moment to cut short his previous business. He told the fashion model they could continue the following day, right now he had to convince this new lady to let him take portfolio shots of her. Righteously angry, the model snorted and gathered her things. Nose in the air, she stomped out, brushing past Luka with a hiss.
“You need not have interrupted your work just for me,” Luka crooned sweetly. “I would have enjoyed watching you execute your profession.” She smiled at him coyly.
Getting exactly the reaction she expected, the mortal gushed happily. It was no trouble at all. He was anxious to ‘shoot’ her, couldn’t wait to show her portrait to friends in the fashion industry, and so on.
“And what of the lady you just dismissed so summarily?” Luka asked. “She did not appear pleased with you.”
“Oh, she’ll get over it!” Brice waved away any concerns. “I’ll give her a break on her next sitting.” At Luka’s confused frown, he chuckled, “You’ll understand soon.”