Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Upon entering her “quarters” they were greeted by more tall, beautiful blonde women, their hair plaited with silk ribbons as they rushed up to her and bowed, further making her squirm.
She felt like she’d been shot out of a cannon to a time when women were subservient, and it left her uneasy. She didn’t want maids and servants.
Dom held up a hand in protest. “I don’t want to offend your customs, but if you haven’t already been told, I’m Dominique, and you really don’t have to bow. Maybe we could just fist bump?” she asked softly.
The women tittered amongst themselves, clearly unsure how to respond, until one brave woman, another blonde with flawless skin, stepped forward and held her fist out.
“I’m Sigrid, Mistress Dominique, and we know what you’re thinking,” she offered with a light laugh and a secretive smile.
Dom cocked her head. “And that is?”
She’d never been very good at hiding her emotions. She didn’t want to insult them, but she also didn’t want them to think she was the kind of person who expected to be waited on hand and foot. This throwback to a long-ago era where women were treated as lesser beings left her unsettled.
A breeze blew in from the arched open window, lifting Sigrid’s hair as her very blue eyes twinkled.
“That we’re nothing more than the staff of the gods and their castle.
While our appearances and customs may feel antiquated to someone like you, from the very modern Midgard, our form of employment isn’t much different than perhaps what you’d call hotel staff in your world.
“We’re fairly employed, we have days off, vacations, comparable salaries and kind employers. Though our appearance may represent an era of subservience, that isn’t at all the case. We’re quite empowered here in Asgard, aren’t we ladies?”
Each of them nodded their equally blonde heads in agreement. “Girl power!” one of them declared.
Breathing a sigh of relief she was almost certain she heard the OOPS ladies share with her, Dom chuckled and set about asking their names and offering introductions.
When she’d met everyone, they escorted her to a bathroom the size of Manhattan, decorated in pale green and gold marble, complete with an inground bathtub they could play volleyball in, and waterfall faucets in copper.
A floor-to-ceiling mirror covered one wall, as the scent of berries and sage wafted to her nose in tendrils of steam.
Gorgeous silken tunics in all colors hung on a rack, satin ballet slippers beside it, forming a line in pale rainbow hues.
Sigrid stepped forward from the group of four who she guessed, were there to aid her and said with a smile, “Your bathroom, Mistress Dominique. I hope it’s to your liking.”
Dom’s eyes widened at the size of the place, fighting a gawk. “This is mine?”
Sigrid’s cheeks blushed brightly on flawless fair skin, as she brushed her white-blonde hair from her face.
“Whenever you visit us here in Asgard, this is where you’ll stay.
We hope you find it enjoyable.” She pointed to the rack of clothes.
“Of course, we only had an estimation of your size, but we prepared these for your arrival in colors to suit. Should they need altering, you only have to ask. Also, if you need anything—anything at all—simply ring that bell by the bathing area. One of us is always available to tend to your needs.”
Dom knew her mouth had fallen open. There might even have been a little drool slipping from the side of it, she was so astonished.
Snapping it shut, she instantly stood up straight. “This is amazing, Sigrid. Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
Sigrid almost curtsied then stopped herself with a grin and instead winked.
“Blessings to you, Mistress Dominique. We’ll leave you to your bath now.
” She turned to the other women, clapping her hands.
“Come, ladies. Let the good lady tend to her bath.” They scurried out of the bathroom, leaving her with the women of OOPS.
Nina was the first to make a sound when she whistled, rocking back on her heels. “Damn, Thor’s Stand-In, this is the shit.”
Marty breathed a dreamy sigh as she hooked her arm in the crook of Ninas. “The shit it is.”
Wanda clasped her hands together and smiled. “It’s absolutely sumptuous. What a delightful turn of events.”
But Dom knew what all this pomp and circumstance meant. “Except, all of this is just because they think, if the opportunity rises, I can save the world. I don’t deserve this.”
“We can save the world, Dominique. The gods wouldn’t have chosen you if that were not your truth.”
Dom held up MC, eyeballing him with a roll of her eyes. “I can barely catch you without landing toe up, buddy. That does not deserve a bathtub the size of the pool at the local YMCA.”
She hadn’t earned any of this attention, this luxury. It felt wrong.
Marty tugged a strand of Dom’s hair with a cluck of her tongue. “You’ll learn, honey. You will. You’ve only been at this less than a week and already you’ve vastly improved. Keep in mind, we didn’t become the badasses we are in a day.”
Nina snickered. “Well, she sure as fuck didn’t, but I did.
Being a vampire just made me a bigger badass.
Listen, Mini-Warrior, you’re as tough as plenty of the bitches we’ve had as clients and then some.
We’ve seen chicks take on everything from sea witches to mad scientists.
You name it, we’ve been witnesses to it.
You’re no fucking slouch, kiddo, and if determination means a fucking thing, you’ve got that in boatloads. Lay off doubting yourself.”
Impulsively, she set MC on a nearby table and threw her arms around Nina’s neck.
“I know we haven’t known each other long, and I know you hate hugs, but support from you guys is like getting a blessing from the Pope himself.
” She planted a loud kiss on Nina’s cheek. “Thank you for being here for me.”
Nina grinned at her before she flapped her hands and pushed her away. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Now, get the fuck off me, go take your bath and get your shit together for this guy Heimdall, so we can find out what the fuck is going on.”
Sigrid popped her head back into the bathroom. “If you’d all like, we’d be pleased to offer our services to you ladies, as well. We have a charming masseuse with the most divine essential oils to ease any aches from your travel.”
Wanda tucked a strand of Dom’s hair behind her ear, her eyes gentle with concern. “You okay with that? Because if not, we can stay right here. We’ll cover our eyes while you bathe. Promise.”
Dom bobbed her head, Wanda’s concern warming her heart. “You deserve a massage. You deserve all the things—massages included. Go. I’ll be fine. I could use a minute to get my thoughts together anyway. What better way than to bathe in an Olympic-size pool while I do so?”
Marty hopped around, clapping her hands. “Oh, yay! A massage it is!” she squealed.
But Nina held up a hand and eyeballed poor Sigrid. “I’m tellin’ you broads now, nobody touches my fucking hair. No ribbons, no braids, none of it. Got it?”
Sigrid nodded, trying and failing to hide her laughter. “Of course, Mistress Nina. No one touches your fucking hair.”
As they made their way out behind Sigrid, she heard Marty wonder out loud, “Did you see some of those guys on the way in? Phew. Are muscles a pre-req here in Asgard? Because there was a guy out there twinning Jason Momoa. Oooh, wait! Do you think the masseuse looks like Jason Momoa?”
“That’s a masseur, you fucking ding-dong. A masseuse is a chick,” Nina corrected as their voice faded.
Dom couldn’t help but giggle as she prepared to disrobe and take a dip in the inviting waters of the bathtub. She turned MC in the other direction before unbuttoning her shirt.
She still wasn’t clear about what he could see, but because he was always by her side, and figuring his eyeballs were located on the front end of the hammer, she took precautions.
Though, despite the fact he could zap himself in and out of various locations, he’d never been in any way inappropriate.
“Hey, MC, you okay over there?” she asked, as she slipped into the pool with a sigh. Sigrid had been right—the water was silkily delightful. Inhaling deeply, she waited for MC’s answer as she grabbed a sea sponge and began trickling the scented water over her shoulders.
“I’m quite well, Dominique. It’s so good to be home.”
His words made her heart constrict. She’d been wondering about their living arrangements since this began. If he always had to be with her, how would he feel about staying in Long Island?
“You do know I can’t live here, right? I mean, there’s my papa to consider… But I don’t want you to be sad, MC. I don’t want you to be somewhere you don’t want to be.”
MC cleared his throat. “Of course I understand your entire world is in Long Island. Though, I do hope you’ll visit here often. Regardless, my duties are to you, Dominique. Whether in Long Island or the Maldives, I am always with you.”
As she poured a generous helping of soapy gel on the sea sponge, rubbing it over her arms, she asked, “But don’t you get a personal life, too? Like, is there a hot screwdriver you’re interested in? Maybe a sexy wrench?”
MC’s laughter rang around the enormous space. “No. A spiritual tool doesn’t have romantic interests, Dominque. Consider me akin to a eunuch. I’m strictly here to protect you and aid you in battle.”
“But you’re like family to Harvey and his father. He said as much. They love you like family.”
“And I them, Dominique. Naturally, I have attachments, loyalties, etcetera. But I wasn’t created for anything other than to aid in protecting Asgard and the rest of the world. A duty I take quite seriously.”
Dom sighed as she walked deeper into the water, closing her eyes and trying to grasp the entirety of not only where she was, but of this task she’d been given.
“Tell me about these gods, MC. What are they like?”