The Poisonous Cure

Chapter One-Little Witch

"Old enough to trick you, sweetheart. Don't worry, it'll wear off." I flick him off and turn around, rushing away as fast as I can go in my heels. Luckily, my apartment is just around the corner. Sighing in relief, I shut the black door behind me and head to the right where the bosses room is. He's everyone's first stop when we get in. I knock lightly on the green door, the only one in this place that doesn't have chipping paint, and step back to wait. A minute passes, then another girl answers the door and gestures for me to come in after she steps out. I can practically feel the heat of her hate radiating from her blue eyes and she makes sure to flip her blonde extensions before flouncing out and shutting the door.

"Is that my favorite girl?" I hear the deep voice of Strike coming from behind the thin shutter doors cutting across the middle of the room. He'd taken over two rooms down here, one for meetings adorned with leather couches, televisions, and bars. The other is his personal room equipped with a bed and desk. If he's in that room, it's bad news for me. I swallow and put on my most convincing smile, then head to the shuttered doors.

"Yes, sir. I've got a little something for you." I say coyly through the door, hoping he'll come in here instead of inviting me in.

"Baby girl, I've been waiting for you to get back. Why don't you come on in with your gift and nothing else?" He asks and I shut my eyes in dread, but instantly strip as per his instructions. Grabbing the money from my jacket, I open the doors and smile. Say what you will about Strike, he is not an unattractive man. His curly, caramel colored hair is always tousled from sex and his thin, pink lips are usually stretched into a satisfied smile. He's tall as well, at least six foot one and has always been fit. Right now, he has on pressed black slacks and a completely unbuttoned white shirt to show off his chiseled chest. His green eyes fix themselves on me and have always reminded me of a snake's scales, or perhaps that's just the man behind them. "Hello, gorgeous. What's this gift you have for me? Other than your lovely presence, of course." Strike asks in his signature smooth, soft voice, sliding off the bed lithely and heading over to me. I do my best not to flinch when his hand glides down my cheek. See, what the other girls don't understand is that I'm not Strike's favorite because I bring in the most money. I'm his favorite because I fear him the most and he knows it. I hold up the wad of money in slightly trembling fingers and he grins in a way that could be mistaken for affection. I know him too well for that.

"It was a good night tonight." I tell him simply as he slips the money out of my fingers, then takes my index in his mouth. He sucks and pulls off with an audible pop, as if licking a delicious sauce off my fingers. Perhaps he can taste the fear pouring off my skin and feeds off it like a leech. I let my hand fall back to my side, but don't dare wipe his saliva off yet. His hand falls a little further down and he lets his thumb rest on my jugular, so I know he feels it when I swallow nervously.

"Ah, this is perfect. Thank you, sweetheart. You've always been my best girl." He coos and squeezes my neck just enough to be vaguely threatening. I make sure to keep a smile on my face as I stare into his eyes. Strike lets the wad of cash gently skim over my collar bone and in between my breasts as he bites his lip. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to enjoy you this morning. I have business to attend to." He laments and I do my best to pout instead of sigh in relief. The next thing I know his lips are on mine and his tongue is violating my mouth. Instantly I return the kiss, patiently waiting until he's done. We part and he sighs, his spicy breath staining my nose as well as my mouth with his scent. "Since I'm so happy with you today, I'll give you two hundred dollars. Now, get your fine ass some sleep." He slaps my ass for emphasis and smiles when I yelp. I'm quick to take the money he offered and get out, barely slipping my clothes back on before going back to my room. The best girls are on the same floor as the boss, so my room is just down the hall in the back-right corner.

I sigh in relief once I'm inside and immediately scrub my hands and rinse my mouth with a shot of tequila. Next, I change into a comfortable dress. Rule one of being here, no matter where you are or what time it is, always be ready to see the boss. My room is small and cozy. The one safe place I have in my crazy ass life. Walking in, all one can see is a narrow hallway that leads to a miniscule sitting room furnished with just a couch, coffee table, and television on the half wall that cuts the room in half. On the other side of that wall is my bed and a floor to ceiling window that leads to a small alley not even big enough to fit a grown man in. The wall itself is actually a built-in bookshelf that I just use for clothes. Across from my bed is a bathroom that's probably the same size as my couch. I'm just thankful for running water and an unclogged toilet. Some of the girls have to share a bathroom and I'm immensely glad to have mine to myself. Beside the bathroom is a kitchen of the same size that has almost no counter space, but has a fridge, oven, and microwave. The walls are mostly white, other than the chipping where some of the walls meet. My bed spread is a dull grey and my couch is tan. Really, the only color in my entire apartment are the clothes I have stacked in my bookshelves and the only lights are can lights. I kneel down on the wooden floors and tap in a little circle for the loose board. The hollow knocking sound alerts me to it's hiding place and I put pressure on the other end, causing it to tip up. I tuck the two hundred into a cleaned sauce jar I use for my savings. I've got to have collected a couple thousand by now. Quietly, I put the board back and head to the kitchen to grab a can of tuna. After opening it and mixing it around, I head to the window and open it with a scrunched-up nose from the smell. My little kitty appears instantly, letting out one small mew before coming inside.

"Hi, Ghost. How's it going?" I greet him affectionately and set the tuna down by the door, tickling his cute little black butt. He blinks his amber eyes up at me then starts eating happily. While he eats I head into the kitchen to fix myself something to eat before crashing. Ham and cheese is my go to and I basically scarf it down before collapsing on my bed and instantly falling asleep.

* * * * * * * * * *

*Loki's POV*

"You were bested by a young, scantily clad, girl?" Thor asks me once again and I'm forced to nod, causing his booming laughter to echo through the room.

"She had magicks, you oaf." I hiss, irritatingly staring at the pictures on Stark's screens as he flips through them, clearly withholding his own laughter.

"Ah, so you were bested at your own craft as well?" Thor teases me once again and slaps my shoulder when I don't respond. "Perhaps you're slipping, brother." He hypothesizes, but my attention has passed from him and is completely on the screens in front of me.

"I don't understand why the hell you were in that neighborhood anyway. Alone. Especially at five in the morning!" Tony adds and I roll my eyes at the two of them.

"There!" I exclaim as soon as the young girl's face appears on the screen. Stark freezes the image and taps on her face so it takes over the entire screen. "Found you, little one." I whisper with a grin.

"Alright, Friday, could you pinpoint the exact location of our Matilda?" Tony asks as he heads over to where Thor and I stand.

"Yes, sir. Right now, she's in a building of, if I may say so sir, ill repute." The screen focuses on a tall red brick building and brings up a picture of her at a tall window.

"God, she can't be older than sixteen and she's working the streets?" Stark asks with concern as I stare at your face curiously. How can you possibly have magic? Magic powerful enough to stop me for over a minute?

"We should retrieve her." I postulate and step back, crossing my arms over my chest. Stark and Thor stare at me in surprise.

"I'm shocked to see you showing emotion towards another person, Reindeer Games." Stark comments and I smirk.

"Ah, yes. Because you're an expert on feelings, Stark. Especially mine." I shoot back before Thor can scold the both of us.

"Calm down, the both of you. Now, I agree with Loki. Let us retrieve this girl and question her." Thor surprises us both by backing me up, but I take the support when I can get it. My eyes drift back to the little girl on the screen.

"I'm coming for you, little witch."