Cat and mouse (part 1) Revised version!

Chapter 33

I hadn't seen Loki for almost a day and a half.
That should have made me feel good but I instead I felt..lonely, wandering the palace by myself. I spent time in the many libraries, the gardens and even the kitchen until I was shooed out by the cooks.
I'd tried to find him for his community service but he'd effectively kept himself hidden. I knew he was close since of the bracelets we both wore, so it seemed he was avoiding me.
I looked into the mirror and held my breath as the ladies maids tightened the corset of the dress I was wearing. It was deep green with black lace covering the bodice and folds of satin cascading down between tull and the original skirt of the dress.
Frigga had commissioned the piece and I had a feeling she'd chosen the color scheme intentionally. I'd caught her eyeing her son and I a few times. She had that look mothers gets about their sons when they were meddling.
"Is your goal to make me pass out?" I asked breathlessly as I laid my palm over my aching ribs.
"Sorry miss, can't help the way the dress is designed." She said softly as her nimble fingers tied the knots holding the bodice tightly against me.
There was a knock on my door and Thor came in, dressed in bold reds and golds.
"You look fantastic!" He boomed clapping his hands.
The maid bowed her head and took her leave.
My feet slipped into black flats that matched my dress and I smiled at the god of thunder and gave him a mock curtesy.
"I've never been to a ball before..can't I just stay in my room tonight." I asked nervously.
"If you weren't there, the image we are trying to give the people would be incomplete." He said taking my elbow and leading me from the room.
"Is Loki being forced to go?" I inquired.
The way I waited for the answer wasn't lost to either of us.
"Yes, he will be attending. You will need to share dances with a great many tonight, Loki being one of them."
"And what if I don't want to dance with anyone." I muttered.
"Then I shall dance with them in your place." He teased.
I knew this was all about image and networking, but I didn't have to like it. My job wasn't done in Asgard yet, but I wasn't so sure I enjoyed being used like a puppet. By Loki or the royal family.
Thor escorted me into the hall, elegant music was being played by a band with golden instruments.
The room was large but crowded with beautifully dressed men and women.
My eyes tried not to search, but they scanned the crowd anyway.
I knew who I was looking for, but I couldn't see him anywhere.
"May I have the first dance?" Thor asked bowing at my politely.
I felt eyes on us from all directions.
My legs quivered and Thor didn't wait for my response, just took me strongly in his arms and started to sway to the music.
"Relax, you look like magnificent. They're only staring because they curious." He whispered.
"Or because they hate me."
"They fear more than they hate, but that's why we must do this. A human has never been in this hall before let alone danced with any asgardian. This is a moment in history."
"No pressure." I said giving a nervous laugh.
I found myself enjoying the dance and Thor's company. His large frame blocked the eyes of many of the patrons and he held me a polite distance away from him while still directing me through the dance.
The song ended and everyone clapped.
"You must be Anna. I've heard so much about you."
I turned and saw a tall, pale man with a pointy nose standing next to us.
"Who are you?" I asked bluntly forgetting my manners.
"Anna, this is Jeremiah. He's on the chamber council." Thor said giving me a look letting me know to not forget myself.
"Yes, I was there to witness your testimony." Jeremiah said amused.
"It seems like there's not that many that missed it." I said under my breath.
"Beg your pardon?" He asked, his tone hardening a little.
I opened my mouth to respond but he cut me off with a wave of his hands.
"No matter, would you care for a dance?" He asked holding his hand out.
I wanted to shove it away but I took his outstretched arm and he led me away from Thor.
His hand slid onto the small of my back and pulled me so close our chests were touching.
I watched him study me as we waltzed in silence.
"It's not nice to stare." I said, my voice cloaked in fake honey.
"Are all mid-guardian women so strong in their sense of self?" He asked in a polite tone, but I could hear the barb loud and clear.
"Only the good ones."
"I see, it makes sense..the troubles of the midguardians seeing as how their women behave."
I felt my temper flare and opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind when the song stopped and I was freed from his grasp.
Within seconds, another suitor stepped up to dance with me.
"My name is Barron, I am the son of Hazel and Mytar, second cousin to the duke."
I nodded, not sure how to respond.
"You are exquisite." He said smirking at me and eyed the tops of my breasts.
I cursed Frigga for the low neckline and wished I could rip off this stupid dress.
"Are you the average for how women look on earth? If so I definitely wouldn't mind more of you coming to visit." He said as if I were a circus attraction.
"America is actually the leading country for obesity." I said trying to douse his enthusiasm.
"I've heard tales from others who've been to midguard, that the women are very...promiscuous. Care to give me a first hand lesson?"
His hand slid up my back and his finger ran across my neck slowly.
"You're a fu-"
My furious sentence was cut off when delicate but strong fingers wrapped around the wrist of Barron.
I froze, feeling the anger rolling off Loki in waves.
"I think you're done."
The icy words were full of malice directed at the man still holding me hostage.
Loki let go of his wrist and glared at him, the man visibly shrank under his dangerous glare.
Barron glanced up at me and then quickly dismissed himself with a mumble of goodbye.
I looked anywhere but him, anywhere but those green eyes.