Loki's Apprentice: A Tale Retold

Chapter 20: Mistakes

"Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets."

-Paul Tournier

Chapter 20: Mistakes

Her body was exhausted and everything seemed to be spinning, but she still hurriedly made her way to the library with only one thing pushing her to continue.

Fury.

Her blood was practically boiling when she finally found the Beast at his writing desk and she slammed the book open in front of him.

He looked up at her with a brow raised in question. He tried to fake innocence, but Evelyn could see by the small smirk on his lips he relished in having control.

He had known all along, and yet he tried to make her believe that there was nothing further to learn in regard to her condition.

"Don't look at me like you do not know." She practically spat as she opened the book to the torn section. "You took the answers I was searching for and practically mocked me to find you."

The smirk melted from his face and he sat in silence for a long while before he spoke. " I wasn't mocking you, I just had to be certain."

He had a new kind of expression in his eyes as he sized her up. Something that seemed close to fascination.

Evelyn couldn't think what in the world he could find the least bit fascinating.

"Certain of what?"

"Your," he paused trying to find the right word. "Well, condition."

"What does that have to do with anything?" She asked in a tone of vexation.

"Everything!" The Beast's voice had risen and he slammed his hands into the desk in anger, causing Evelyn to jump. He rose from his seat breathing heavy and began to pace. "It had everything to do with it, child. It would decide whether I would enlighten you or not."

Evelyn was about to counter that he had no right to withhold information concerning her own self, but she stopped short when she saw him withdraw a piece of paper from his dark coat.

"I'm afraid that I have no choice but to tell you." He unfolded the paper and stared at what it contained.

Evelyn practically itched with the desire to read it, knowing fully well that it was the missing page of the Praedita.

He hesitantly removed his gaze from the paper and look to her, almost as if he already regretted his decision.

Evelyn could feel her opportunity slipping away and desperation seemed to overtake her.

"I have a right to know." She said softly.

"You don't understand." He said just as soft."I'm trying to protect you."

"How?"

He seemed to be battling a painful memory.

"The more you know, the worse your condition will get. I have seen it happen before."

Evelyn suddenly heard a faint cry of a woman, full of pain and sorrow.

"Nessa."

She found her muttering her name without thinking. The Beast snapped his head in her direction, his expression as if she had just took a strike at his cheek.