Chapter 3
Next morning...
Thor lays his hand on her shoulder. “Tell me Kali, why are we here?”
She smiles, “Well don’t you want to see how your bet ends up? I sure do. I put an extraordinary wager on this race and I’m not gonna see how it turns out from home or from a bar.” Besides, I have to meet someone here.
She ducks her head and makes her way through the crowd. The closer they get to the door the closer people get to them. People bumping into each other on all sides. One person to her right almost trips her, but someone catches her arm before she can create a domino effect.
Looking behind her, it's Loki. “Thanks.” she nods with a smile.
She zooms past the crowd. Wanting the best view in the house, she makes sure to sit in the middle of the stadium in the middle row. She can see Jex, the man she owes, in his private booth smoking a cigar, his shiny cane glaring into her eyes. He catches her gaze and a small smile forms on his lips and he waves his fingers off his head in hello. She narrows her brows and tilts her head back.
Let the game begin then.
“We’re wasting our time.” Loki sighs. She keeps her head facing the track but her eyes look over to him, sitting behind her. Only for you, she thinks.
The sound of the horn shooting off comneses the games. Her heart is racing, her palms getting clammy. So much is riding on this it's starting to get to her. She can't fail. She made a promise.
There’s 12 hover cars, Jai Racers, that all race in semi circles. They must pass through different regions, all of which have different obstacles and they get more difficult as the race continues. Ki’ ra the racer in a blue vehicle, is the champion, the one that everyone is bidding on. Well everyone except Jex. There's a bit of money when you play people up only for them to be wrong and you to be right. But all this betting and the end result lies in that racer. If he chooses to stay a champion then she's screwed. Looking over to her right, the goons with Jex flash her a unison smirk, which only makes her squirm in her seat.
Would they eat her? That might not be so bad. Maybe they might kill her quickly and then it'll all be over. But the idea of someone eating her is a bit terrifying. She'd rather her corpse just float in space. Chilling in space.
“Come on. Come on.” The drivers disappear into the underground, now the whole audience watches from the large screens above the stadium.
Speaking of the stadium it just comes to her attention that there are a lot. A lot. Of people in the stadium. She knew she talked to a lot of people, but what about Mr. La Bron James over there? How many people did he talk to? She loves, perhaps with air quotes, pleasing a crowd, but this is quite a bit of people to also disappoint. So many powerful, rich, greedy people. And then there are the others.
This used to be much easier. She guesses it's not so different from other times, but why is it harder now?
“Kali, how long is this race? We don’t have time for this.” Thor's voice hovers above her.
She rolls her eyes, “Thor, do you want my help or not? If so, you're gonna have to work for it. You don’t get to just come here and start barking orders like the prissy little prince you were.” She sighs at the narrow brows and tilted chin on his beautiful face, a pang of guilt biting at her throat. Perhaps that was a little meaner than she intended. She turns up her brows with a frown ready to apologize but the person on the speak catches her attention.
“Player Number Seven rounds the corner in a hurry. With almost 70 meters ahead of the other players, he’s the one to win folks.” The speaker spits off. The whole crowd cheers, while her finger twitches. She starts to pick at the dirt under her nails. She can just feel the gaze of the bald ugly eyes of Jex's goons.
Luckily, Number 5 is catching up quickly. The last region is coming up, this is the last chance for Number 5 to pass him. Let’s go.
“Well, you are right Kali, Number Seven is a marvelous contender.” Thor pats her shoulder. It sounds a bit forced, but it seems his mood has lifted a little at least.
“Yeah he’s great.” A breathless chuckle comes out instead of a confident one she intended, but her focus is all on the screens above she doesn't bother to care about anything else.
Come on Number 5.
“Oh wait folks, it looks like Number 7 has caught himself in a bit of a tangle. Number 5 is now right on his tail. The last stretch will tell who will win.” The crowd started cheering, yelling off Number 7 or Number 5, but all she can hear is Number 7. It's deafening. It physically hurts with each pounding to her ears.
Only 30 meters to go, so close. Number 7 is now right beside Number 5. He better slow down that little piece of shit.
8 meters and-
“Look at that ladies and gents, Number 5 just got in the lead. After 6 wins it looks like Number 7 might lose his streak.”
A grin comes onto her face. The physical ache of the noise calming down. Now that’s what she likes to see. Come on baby come on. Looking down she notices her thumb nail was digging into her skin, creating another half crescent moon scar. That realization is cut short when the loud blaring of Number 5 passing the white line goes off and the crowd boos
“Yess!!” She throws her fist into the air, jumping out of her seat. Usually, she'd contain her excitement, but she also doesn't usually partake in races, mostly cards, so this is probably her first win. She clears her throat and awkwardly chuckles as some of the people around her give her questioning looks like she's crazy.
“I’m just really excited to use the restroom now.” She rubs the back of her head then tucks her sore hand into her pocket. That was lame. Really Kali? You really are a bad liar.
A deep voice clears his throat by her side. When she takes a step back she can feel a very large body standing right behind her. Looking up she can see the face of one of the goons. The other comes up in front of her and does some type of low growl. She lets out a breathy chuckle, rolling her shoulders and stepping away from the goon.
“Hey, guys. How's it goin?” They just tilt their heads. Her body feels tight and no amount of shifting helps. “Bathroom break?” She shrugs and grins. The goons don't look amused, instead they yank her with a snarl.
“Hey let her go.” Thor's voice booms over the crowd's boos, laying a hand on one of them. The goon ignores him and starts to carry herbook,
“It's okay Thor. They're just taking me to see their friend.” She shouts over her shoulder. They squeeze her arms tighter till their fingers are starting to crush her. She only grimaces but chuckles to cover it. “Come on.” She barely manages to say before the goon wraps his dirty sweaty hand over her mouth.
They take her into the box and throw her to the ground. Mr. Jex Laja is already waiting for her like this is some type of drug deal and she's his package. His face is resting into a permanent cocky, I’m the boss kind of face and it makes her curl her fists. They're going to wish they didn't try to humiliate her so much.
“Are these your friends?” Behind her, Thor and Loki shuffle into the box, the goons hands all over them. Both of them are ready to fight Thor more than Loki. Thor is one more hand on his chest away from punching everyone out of the box. His face reminds her of a boar's face.
“More or less.” She wipes her shoulder and stands up straight.
“You never disappoint me, my little lucky charm.” He cups her face and kisses her forehead. At least his claws don't dig into her chin again. She can smell the expensive woody cologne radiating off of him, however, and it makes her dizzy.
She pries his hands off her, “You might never want to call anyone that ever again.” He chuckles at her sarcastic comment and wraps his arm around her shoulder. Seriously, what is up with this guy and being handsy?
“I’m throwing a party tonight and I want you to give me a show. This win is all because of you my dear.”
“Sorry, but I already have a date with these two.” Yes, a party. The words she's been waiting for.
He pinches her chin again, glaring at her through lowered brows, “You will give me a show tonight.” His face lights up again, “Your friends can come with you.” Threatening to cheery, no wonder people fear him.
She glances at the boys and sees both of their stern faces. She smiles like he's not being pushy, “Okay, I will give you your show,” he begins to smile, “in fact, I can plan the whole party. I love parties and besides you probably have more important things to deal with than party planners waving their binders in your face.”
He puts a hair behind her ear, the action sending a cold shiver down her spine. If she didn't like people touching her before she really hated that. “I bet you do, darling.” Her skin crawls at that, but she tries to smile in return.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot. I mean we’ve done a few deals, but I always got the feeling you didn’t trust me. Perhaps after this business arrangement, we should get to know each other better.” He inches closer to her face. Why are you playing into it Kali? Her mind is screaming at her, but her mouth doesn't seem to listen.
“That sounds lovely.” She can feel his ghost face under her knuckles. His smug little face. A nice broken nose would look good on him. She has to remember why she's doing this though, end the plan too early and she'd risk everything she's been building towards. But after this party, it'll all be over and she'll be back on her ship and she can relax.
“What time do you want me?” She smiles sweetly. She gags on the inside.
He snaps his fingers, “What time is best for me?” A small man, with a hunch, tries to hurry and open some type of pad of paper. The whole scene reminds her of some type of cartoon.
“How ‘bout three hours after sunset? Make sure everyone is there. I love the public gaze. We should make sure that everyone knows about your victory today.” She spider walks her fingers up his arm and bats her lashes at him. He smiles and tips her face up a little higher with his fingers under her sore chin.
“I know you can manage that.” He snaps his fingers to his men. “Let us go, I must prepare for tonight. I think the color red would look good. What color was that racers car again?”
“Purple.”
“Ah, perfect as I said purple would look good." Their voices fade as they get farther and farther away and into the crowd.
“You made a deal with that man? What kind?” Thor always sounds so demanding when he hears something he doesn't like.
She sighs, the weight of that mans presence lifting off her heavy shoulders. “A big one. Sorry, you lost 30 units. But I now have a party to plan in less than 12 hours, so I’m gonna have to catch up to you guys later. There is a wonderful shop downtown that sells the best clothes. You can find a suit for tonight there.”
“I have no need for that.” Loki adds.
“We don't need to go to this celebration at all.” Thor cuts in.
She rubs her neck, "This is the last thing I need to do. Come to this then I promise I’ll leave with you the second it's over. Or you can wait at my apartment, but you know I never break my promises." Thor searches her face for what she can only assume in a lie, but he must know by now she sucks at lying. Most of the stuff she says is the truth and right now she's being honest. She just needs a little more time. Her hands twitch to reach out and grab him to tell him everything, to relieve some of the pressure off her shoulders, but she can't.
They both seem to think about it for a minute. Both looking at each other like they have the same thoughts. Knowing that they had some squabble before, they seem to be pretty civil with one another right now. Or from what she's seen. They look at each other like brothers would when they have a mutual quiet understanding of what the other person is thinking.
"Alright, but we must leave the second it's over.” It's clear that Thor wants to say so much more. She can almost see the words clawing at his throat, but for once he chooses not to.
She grins, “No problem.”