Chapter Eleven #2
"Not for me," Thor said. "I hope I can keep myself from peeling the dress off you until we are alone."
Elle blushed, and he took her hand.
“I’m going to warn you, if my brothers hit on you, I may hurt them.”
She frowned. “I don’t want to cause issues between you and your family.”
He leaned in and kissed her. “You’re worth it. Maybe I should take the goats with us. They’ll be sure no one bothers you.”
She chuckled. “Even you.”
“True. No goats then.”
She nodded.
"I want to prepare you," he said as they walked down the stairs. "My dad's place can be... a bit... much, if you haven't been before."
"What do you mean?"
Thor scratched his head. "It's a gentlemen's club. It caters to men."
"And?"
"There are women dancers, and not all wear clothes."
Elle's eyes widened. "Oh."
"There's nothing bad going on. He doesn't allow prostitution or anything, but he likes pretty women, and he's always had a thing for burlesque shows."
"Burlesque?"
"It's like a stage show. A play, kind of. With singing, and dancing, and the women aren't always fully clothed."
"Oh."
Suddenly, Thor didn't want to take Elle to Valhalla's Throne anymore. Someone of her delicate sensibilities shouldn't be forced to witness things like that.
"We don't have to go," he said. "I'm fine not going."
"No," she said quickly. "I want to."
He cocked an eyebrow at her and pulled her through the portal.
"I don't mean like that," she said. "I've seen enough naked women in my lifetime. I want to go because it's your family."
They walked toward the exit of the Raven Weaver with all eyes upon them. "Are you sure, because I'm still open to taking you to my second favorite restaurant instead."
"I'll take naked ladies over raw fish any day."
He laughed. "Not that restaurant."
They walked down the muggy street and headed toward the sounds and bright lights of Valhalla's Throne. The tall brick building came into view. Edison light bulbs flashed on the marquee atop the building. Lively music poured out the front door, and patrons lined up outside waiting for a seat.
Thor walked to the front of the line, and the bouncer let them through.
"Thor, want some company in there?"
Thor turned to find a Helmarked named Deena ogling him.
"Thanks," he said. "I'm set."
She looked Elle up and down. "I'm always up for a threesome."
Thor's hand tightened on Elle's at the thought of someone else touching her- even a woman.
He ushered Elle into the club. "We’re good."
* * *
"What's a threesome?" Elle asked as they stepped inside.
Thor coughed. "Uh..."
But Elle stopped listening almost as soon as he spoke. The scent of smoke and wood filled Elle's nostrils, bringing back memories of Muspelheim, and for a moment, she froze. The scents and sounds reminded her of her father's great hall.
All around her, men and other beings played games like darts or cards.
Women in small, poofy skirts and little more than a bra delivered drinks and food.
They wore copious amounts of makeup and bright lipstick, and each one had feathers in her hair that matched her outfit.
The women smiled and laughed with the men, touching them, rubbing their shoulders, ruffling their hair.
The women were of every shape, size, and color.
Several of the women sported heavy leathery wings folded on their backs.
A couple more had long pointy tails poking out underneath their skirts.
More than half of the women had horns in various sizes and colors.
But strangely enough, the most interesting women in the place were the ones who appeared completely mortal.
Like the patrons of the Raven Weaver. The ones she would never have been able to tell were anything more than human.
"Are you alright?" Thor asked.
Elle swallowed hard and nodded. The whole thing screamed of a male aesthetic. Deep leather chairs. Dark smoky wood. Rustic red brick walls. Metal ceilings with beams exposed. Dim lighting made everything more mysterious and sensual.
"Thor!"
Elle turned, and a mountainous man lumbered over and pulled Thor into a bear hug.
Thor patted the man on the back. "Come on, Baldur. It's only been a couple weeks since we've seen each other. It’s not a lifetime."
“I can’t help it. It’s just nice to see you, brother.” Baldur set Thor back on his feet and turned to Elle. "And who is this?"
Thor took her hand. "Elle, this is Baldur, my brother."
"A pleasure to meet you, Elle." Baldur held out his tree-stump-sized arms for a hug, but Thor set his hand on Baldur's chest.
"No."
Baldur's light eyes sparkled as a smile twisted up the corners of his mouth. "Are you serious?"
Thor's eyes flashed, and Baldur backed up a step.
Wow. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he would fight his brothers for her.
"All right. All right. No need to get all powered up." Baldur chuckled and held out his hand to her. "Nice to meet you, Elle."
Elle shook his massive calloused hand. "And you, Baldur."
Baldur was a bushy mountain man. Dark hair shaved on the sides and braided on top and down his back. Tattoos covered most of his exposed skin, and he sported a scruffy beard, which made him feel like a giant bear. Even so, she had to admit he was extremely handsome.
"Everyone is already in the house. Even Loki brought a female. A feisty one. I like her. I think he might have finally met his match.”
Elle smiled, knowing exactly how feisty Val was. But then her smile fell… were Val and Loki… together? But Val hated Loki. Or did she? They hadn't talked much since the meeting at Frigg's, and when they had, it had only been about Thor. So, was it possible that Val and Loki...
Thor led Elle through the bar to a red velvet curtain, beyond which lay another room.
Inside the second room, a stage stood at the end, and half a dozen girls dressed in frilly skirts, corsets, and tall black hats danced, sang, and shook their bodies at the men cheering from their plush seats.
Thor pulled her through the theater to another room.
The new room again featured a stage with dancing girls, but they wore only skirts and hats.
Elle turned from them as Thor led her to yet another room.
"How many rooms does this place have?"
"Dozens," Thor answered.
In the next room, the girls wore only hats.
Thor pulled her in tight to his side. "Sorry, this is the only way to Dad's personal rooms."
Elle nodded and kept her eyes on the floor as they reached a door and Thor knocked. After a moment, the door opened, and an imposing man stood in the doorway.
He glared at them. "Thor."
"Fenrir."
The tall man with eyes the color of glowing coals stepped aside and let them in. Elle had never met Fenrir, but she recognized him from the legends. Son of Loki, Fenrir was a werewolf more feral than humane. And he looked exactly like he'd been portrayed.
The room they walked into threw Elle for a moment. She’d expected another room decorated like the club on the other side of the front door, but it in no way resembled Valhalla’s Throne.
The space opened up like a private house tucked behind the world.
Exposed timber beams ran the length of the ceiling, their light grain polished to a muted honey sheen.
The cream-colored walls held various abstract paintings.
The floors were a creamy stone, and a thick white rug anchored the center of the room with a huge glass coffee table filled with water where two beautiful koi fish swam back and forth.
The air tasted different as well, no cigarette haze, no spilled mead.
Just the mineral coolness of stone walls, fresh water, and the rich, fatty scent of roasting meat that made her stomach growl.
As Fenrir closed the door, even the music of the club shut out as if it didn’t exist. An ample leather sectional hosted half a dozen people. Large soft-looking pillows in golds and silvers adorned every few feet of the couch, along with a shimmery plush blanket.
Val and Loki sat at a sleek metal bar on the left side of the room, and Frigg stood behind serving drinks.
Behind the sectional, a wall of French doors stood open, leading into what appeared to be a yard of some kind.
Odin tended to a deep fire pit, cooking meat and drinking from a mug while talking to two men.
It was strange because they weren’t outside, yet looking at where Odin cooked, she would have sworn it was a backyard on Midgard.
Lush grass, flowering shrubs, and even several blossoming trees rustled in a slight breeze.
Two ravens circled above Odin’s head, swooping at the meat every once in a while.
And two large wolves lounged on the grass, tails swishing as they watched the invaders of their territory.
Every inch of the space was different from what she’d expected from the Norse god Odin.
"Elle." Frigg moved toward them with a broad smile on her face. Her light pink tunic dress swished around her as she moved toward them. She hugged Elle and then Thor. "I'm glad you two came."
"Thank you for having me," Elle said.
Frigg smiled at her and squeezed her arm. "Would you like a drink?"
"Sparkling water, please," said Elle.
"Ale," said Thor.
Frigg nodded and headed back to the bar.
"Is this where your dad lives?" asked Elle.
"Most of us live where we work. Makes it easier." Thor studied her for a minute and then chuckled. “Not what you expected?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Yeah, we were all surprised by the change.”
One of the men out with Odin walked inside.
"Thor!" He jogged over and hugged Thor.
"Hey Meili, this is Elle. Elle, this is my brother Meili."
Meili shook Elle's hand with a firm grip. "It's nice to meet you, Elle. I don't think I've met any of Thor's friends since-"
Thor coughed. "Yes, well, until Elle, I haven't had anyone I wanted to meet you lot."
Meili snorted.
"I smell metal and melancholy; it must mean Thor has arrived." The second man entered behind Meili.
Thor smiled, and the two hugged. The man's eyes were the palest shade of blue, almost white.
"Elle, this is my brother Hodr."
Hodr ran his fingers over her hand, then bent down and sniffed it. Elle looked at Thor, but Thor just smiled.
Hodr kissed the back of her hand and stopped. He stayed still for a tense moment before straightening. "Even a blind man can see her beauty," said Hodr, letting go of her.
"Th... Thank you," she stammered. Elle swallowed hard. Though his eyes didn't work, she sensed he saw straight through to her soul. The sensation sent a chill down her neck.
"Chow's ready," Odin called.
The group headed out to what Elle had taken for a patio, only to find it was a giant room with a tall ceiling, where white fabric and perfectly round, glowing lights strung across beams created a beautiful, romantic effect.
At the far end of the room stood an enormous rustic wooden table that looked like an ancient tree.
Thor walked her over and pulled out a seat for her. Val slid into a chair next to her, her gaze intense. Thor chuckled and sat on Elle’s other side.
For the first time, Val appeared... happy? No. Not happy. Content maybe. And to Elle's surprise, Loki's hand slid onto Val's thigh as he seated himself next to her. Val brushed Loki's hand away. He chuckled before putting his hand right back and winking at Elle. Val didn’t push his hand away again.
Well, that answered that question. There was definitely something between Val and Loki.