Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 8

(Anna)

"You said that you have him in custody?" I asked, still freaking out at the fact that someone had gotten into the weapons vault.

"Yes, your highness." The guard nodded.

"I will be there momentarily. Make sure he stays in custody." I said sternly.

The guard bowed and walked away, two others behind him.

"Don't you think you should go there immediately?" Torren asked, his face appalled.

"I'm not going looking like this. I'm a mess. I'm going to go freshen up and then I'll go and deal with this Star-Lord. He won't take me seriously if I still look like this." I motioned to my mess of a hair and face. Not to mention my wrinkled dress.

Torren sighed. "Fine." Thor stood by awkwardly.

Loki would have told me I looked beautiful, no matter what. I thought bitterly to myself.

I had to quit comparing Torren to Loki. They weren't the same. I had to get that through my head.

********

I washed my face and brushed my hair, sweeping it up into a tight bun. I put on a simple black dress, the skirt open in the front to show the black pants underneath. I laced up my shoes and headed towards the cell blocks.

Torren and Thor were waiting for me outside the doors. They both bowed and I nodded my head in acknowledgement.

The doors opened and I stepped through, Torren and Thor on my heels. The hall was dark and lonely. This was where we kept temporary prisoners, and at the moment the only one we had was standing in the grasps of two guards, with another two pointing their weapons at his face.

He was definitely human. Or at least appeared to be one. He could've been Asgardian or any other species that took on the human-like appearance.

He was dressed in a dark red jacket and dark pants. His hair was short and light brown, his skin was tan, but not overly so.

He was saying something to the guards, a joking smile on his face. So, we had ourselves a comedian.

The guards that now lined the hall began to kneel to me, making the man turn to look at me. His mouth dropped open and his eyes went wide, googling at me. Men.

I stood straight and tall, trying to radiate my authority.

"When you said Queen, I thought you meant old and ugly!" he said.

I stopped in front of him, putting my hands behind my back and holding my head up high.

It was silent for a moment, as we studied each other. He scrunched his eyes at me, as if I were far away.

"Anna?" He said, surprise on his face.

I couldn't help but let my eyes go wide, my face probably losing any color. I studied him closer, trying to place his face in my memory.

There. Around his neck was a pair if headphones. The same headphones I had known so many years ago.

I looked at his eyes, recognizing them.

"Peter?!"