Angel of Darkness

Chapter 4

A slow paced clapping echoed around the throne room of the Asgardian palace, pulling the young prince's head from his thoughts. Emerging from behind one of the giant golden pillars emerged the queen of Vanaheim, an amused look in her glowing amber eyes.

"Well look at you."

"Look at me." Loki replied, leaning back a bit more against the throne, his staff gripped tightly in his left hand.

"King of Asgard." Regina chuckled, looking down at the ground as she made her way up the steps ascending to the throne. "You've waited a long time for this."

"I couldn't have done it without you."

"Indeed. But you haven't held up your end of the bargain, and, as I do believe, might not have even succeeded the throne yet."

"Excuse me?" Loki eyed her up, daggers in his emerald green eyes.

"Well, let's see. Laufey is not dead, Odin could wake up at any moment to regain the throne, and oh yeah, Thor can return as soon as he figures out he has to be selfless in order to get his power back."

"I have everything under control!"

"Don't be so naive. You do not have everything under control." Regina sneered, making it to the top of the steps, and standing directly in front of Loki. "There are so many flaws in your little plan, yet you sit here on your ass admiring your work, work that isn't even completed!"

"I'll have you know that I could easily have you thrown in the Asgardian dungeons!" Loki stood up, his tall form towering above her.

"Right, without a good explanation? Have fun getting that past your mother!" Regina leaned in close, daring him to move any further.

"I am the King of Asgard, and if I were to throw you in the dungeons, my mother would trust that I would have a good enough reason-"

"King of Asgard? You only landed your seat on that precious throne because of me. I can take that away from you just like that. But it appears, that you have a problem on your hands.."

"What?" Loki glanced over her shoulder, hearing voices from outside the throne room.

"It appears that Thor's friends have come to see your father. Have fun explaining this one." Regina leaned in close to Loki, her breath tickling his ear. "Oh and, the next time I pay you a visit, I expect you to have killed Laufey."

And with a puff of violet smoke, she was gone, her voice still ringing in the young Prince's ear.

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Present Day; Loki's Hideout

Loki was lounging in a chair watching Dr. Selvig work on the tesseract when one of Regina's agents came in. He was was about 5'7 with broad shoulders and a good build to his body. The boy looked about eighteen with chocolate brown hair and a bright smile. He approached Loki with the utmost caution, seeming unsure of how to speak to the god before him.

"Hi, um, sir, um, my, uh, master, uh-"

"Spit it out boy!" Loki growled, clearing annoyed by the boy's stammering.

"Oh Loki, chill out." Regina chuckled, coming into the room. "What is it Ander?"

"Your majesty! Um, Graham wanted me to tell you that, uh, the men are ready for the war."

"See, now that wasn't that hard?" The queen smiled. "You're dismissed Ander."

The boy scampered off, turning around the corner to leave the lab, but something stopped him. Unaware of anyone else in the room, he slid behind a large crate, hidden from sight. The teenage boy watched in horror as the god and the evil queen conversed.