A/N: Hello, everyone! I've started this while I still have another fic running, so forgive me if updates become iffy . I hope you guys enjoy this, though!

Loki Laufeyson had everything he could have ever wanted-a castle all to himself, every book imaginable, the riches of ten thousand men… The spoiled king had all that he desired. His material possessions were more than enough to sate him. Family? Loki had none-but why would a man with everything need a blood bond? He lived quite comfortably on his own. All alone. The solitude was a comfort to him. Peace and quiet-that was his favourite thing about living in the farthest reaches of Jotunheim. One dreary day, however, there was a knock at his palace door. Curious, Loki decided to answer. He assumed it was a lovely lady or two desperate for a good time, or maybe even someone to share a drink with. Loki wasn't fond of company, but if it granted him personal pleasure, then he could accept it. Upon opening the door, a haggard old woman stood on his doorstep, shivering from the unforgiving blizzard that raged on. Loki glared into her glassy eyes and sneered at her decayed skin and burlap clothes. Looking closely, the woman didn't even seem to be withered by old age, rather death itself. Her yellowed, rotting skin and sunken eyes made her look like a walking corpse. Before she could utter a word, he slammed the door in her face. The youthful king had no business with a peasant. Another knock made him groan. Loki chose to ignore it, but the banging persisted for several minutes and didn't stop until he threw open the heavy door. "What?!" he hissed, his emerald orbs flickering with spite.

"Please, sir," she began, her voice cracked. "I've lost my way and the weather is unbearable."

Loki snorted with laughter. "And you expect me to allow you into my home?" What a fool, he thought to himself.

"I haven't any money, but I can offer you this…" A bony hand reached beneath her cloak to pull out a bright red rose. "Please…" She held up the flower and met eyes with the king.

"Is that all?" the king scoffed. "A measly flower? Your brain is as apparent as your beauty," he taunted with a cruel smirk. "Be gone! I refuse to bargain with someone as repulsive as you!" He grabbed the brass door handle, only to have the woman jab her foot in the doorway. "You are horribly naïve, Loki Laufeyson," she gravely taunted. She reached for her shawl and covered her head with the forest green fabric. "I must warn you that looks can be quite deceiving."

Loki eyed her curiously as she lowered her head and removed her hood. He suddenly couldn't look away as he saw her once withered fingers become delicate like a maiden's.

"To find beauty, you must look deeper." She confidently raised her head and stared at the king as a new woman, elegant and goddess-like. "For true beauty is found within."

The king's eyes widened at the witchcraft he had just witnessed. Her skin now held a healthy glow and her wide, bright eyes mesmerized him. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered-far more beautiful than any woman he had ever shared a bed with. How the hag performed such a miracle meant nothing to him. All Loki desired was the youthful lass that stood grinning at him. "Forgive me, my lady," he smirked. "Please, do come in…" He further opened the door for her, welcoming her into his home.

The woman giggled and shook her head. "You're a shallow man, aren't you? So horribly shallow," she remarked with a click of her tongue.

"You should forgive me!" Loki urged her. "If I had known this was a trick, I would have allowed you in sooner."

She narrowed her eyes at the hopeless king. "And make me your night's entertainment?" she scoffed. "You've shown me what you are, Laufeyson. I look inside you and see only hatred." Loki began to snort with laughter. "Look at you-living alone in the lap of luxury. You're cruel, spoiled…you see others as toys, do you not?"

Loki responded with a sideways smirk. He wasn't about to argue with the truth-especially not to a beautiful lady.

"What would happen if others saw you for what you are on the inside?" she hissed. The dark-haired woman drew a mirror from beneath her shawl and shoved it in his face. "Underneath that pretty face, you're a monster!"

A faint glow emanated from the mirror, making Loki squeeze his eyes shut. "What the hell?" he gasped.

"From this day forward, you will be as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside!" the woman threatened. "However, I'll show you some kindness," she cockily added. "If you can find true love and have that person love you in return by the time the last rose petal falls, then I will grant you your good looks back." She held up the bright red flower in her free hand.

"Get away from me this instant!" Loki shouted, waving his hands in his face to stop the now blinding light from reaching him.

"Time is ticking, Loki," the enchantress taunted. "Will you find love, or forever live as a hideous monster?"

The mirror dropped to the ground with a strong gust of wind. Loki opened his eyes and found that the stranger had vanished. "Damned woman," he swore under his breath. The king looked down and found the mirror at his feet along with the rose. He carefully lifted up the gold-framed mirror, only to have it clatter to the ground a second time. Staring back at him wasn't his flawless, fair-skinned face. Loki charged inside to find the nearest mirror just down the hall. He figured his eyes were deceiving him-the mirror had to be magic! When he cautiously approached his own mirror, he nearly fainted upon staring into an unfamiliar set of blood-red orbs. The reflection's pale blue pallor made Loki cringe. He stared down at his shaking hands and discovered that the mirrors weren't playing tricks on him. The blue hue of his skin was very much hideously real. A blood curdling scream erupted from his throat and he smashed his fist into the mirror. The stinging pain from broken glass couldn't awaken him from the nightmare.

Loki Laufeyson had become a monster. A repulsive, revolting monster.