New Game

Chapter 3

     A girl of blue skin and robotic parts walks up the mystic stone steps, her head bent low as she walks up them. She approaches a rock throne that is suspended in air and bows before it. Placing her hand over her chest she says, "Father, someone is here to see you."

     The chair turns to reveal the person sitting on the throne. His dark blue eyes looks down at his daughter with dissapointment. If only she was his favorite. His golden armor shines from the light of close by planets. "Who is it, Nebula?"

"He said his name is Loki," she replies and dares to sneak a peek at her father.

   Thanos narrows his eyes. "Bring him to me."

   Nebula rushes to fetch Loki for her father and returns in no time at all. She pushes Loki forward to her father. Loki stumbles but doesn't fall. He throws Nebula a nasty look and then turns his attention to Thanos.

"What do you want, Boy?" Thanos taunts.

"For starters, better hospitality from your daughter."

    Thanos sneers, "How dare you!"

    Loki pulls something out of his cloak and extends it to Thanos. Thanos freezes and looks down at the flimbsy piece of paper in Loki's outsrteched hand. He nods his head to Nebula for her to bring it to him. Nebula retrieves the piece of paper and hands it to her father who takes it and glares down at the paper.

   A picture of a beautiful woman with long silky brown hair and dark blue eyes looks back at him. She laughing with, what Thanos guesses, her three friends. Two of them are men while the other one is a female. They all smile and laugh at the camera. Thanos notices that one of the men has his arm rapped protectively around the long haired woman.

"What is this?" Thanos demands and looks at Loki.

    Loki smiles, "Just, something I thought you would be interested in. That's all."

    Thanos narrows his eyes at Loki and tucks the picture safely into his pocket. Nebula tries to see what is on the piece of paper put can't. "What is it, Father?"

"Where did you get this?" Thanos demands.

   Loki's smile grows wider, "Oh, here and there."

   Thanos stands, literally stands, and points a large purple finger at Loki threateningly. Nebula nearly has a heartattack at the sight of her father standing. "Don't play games with me, Boy! Tell me where they are or I will lay waste to Asgard!"

    Loki wrinkles his nose in disgust and anger, "They're safe, for now. But I can have them ordered to be killed whenever I want! So, I would shut your mouth, unless you want them both dead," Loki snarls.

   Thanos narrows his eyes at Loki, "I'd be careful, if I were you. You won't be able to keep them both locked up in your prison. And when they escape, I will be there to kill you."

    Loki smirks, "I think not."

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     Loki leaves Thanos to his own thoughts. He looks over the vast sea of planets and ponders what his next move shall be. He's planned his whole life out from the very moment he could talk. So far, everything has gone according to plan. Except for her.

   Thanos could never have prepared himself for her beauty. She was like a diamond in a room full of rubies. She was the only one who could challenge him and live. She was the only one who could see behind the beast. Then, he had to go and lose her.

    Thanos clenched his fist and slams them down on the arms of his throne in anger. Nebula jumps from her perch on a rock and looks at her father skeptically. It's paining her not knowing what's on that piece of paper. Perhaps it has something to with her.