Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 34

(Anna)

We kept walking, deeper and deeper.

It was slow going, as Loki's body was mysteriously weakening.

I was terrified to find out what Lady Maleah had to say. I planned on avoiding my bitch of a mother, though. I had no need of her words or her glares. She still probably wanted to rip my throat out for killing both of her sons.

I had no regrets about that part of my life. They had both desearved what came to them.

Finally, we reached the bottom-most level of the dungeons. The two women had been put in a large, singular cell together.

Even at the end of the hall, I could tell that Mrs. Anderson (I refused to call her by anything else) was a complete mess. Her hair stood in various tangles and her face was extremely pale, her body obviously frail. And then there was Lady Maleah, who stood up the moment she saw us, not looking any different than the last time I had seen her.

I looped my arm through Loki's, to help him seem stronger, someone to lean on, and to comfort me. We approached the cell. I tried my best to keep my head high and not to even look at Mrs. Anderson, but I could feel her stare from the other side of the cell, as her gaze burned into my skull. I tried to keep my breathing slow and even.

"You asked to see me." Loki said, in a strong voice. His face was still green, and he tried not to seem as if he were leaning on me.

"You don't look so well." Lady Maleah said quietly, taking a look at him.

"Thank you, I did not realize it. Now stop with whatever riddle is about to come out of your mouth and just speak. There's quite the situation up there, and I really should get back to it." Loki said, not taking any of her shit.

She sighed and put her hands in front of her. "I am so glad you made it back." She said fondly.

"Stop it. You're not his mother, quit acting like it." I said abruptly. I didn't have time for this either.

She glanced at me before turning back to Loki. "Your life force is draining." She said bluntly.

"Amazing." Loki rolled his eyes, and my breathes were no longer even. "Go on." He said, a hint of anger and annoyance in his voice.

"When you were in the In-Between, the beings there fed off of your life force. You were in a stupor for a long time, due to the amount of magic you have in your blood. They fed off of you."

"So why the effects now?" I asked.

"It never would have mattered had they stayed in the In-Between. But they've been let out somehow, and they are using the life force they stole from Loki." She said gravely.

"So, I'm weak. I-" Loki began.

Lady Maleah interrupted. "You will die. You get weaker with every passing moment." Her eyes were wide and serious.

"So what the hell do we do?" I said, frustrated. "Don't just bring us down here if you're going to tell us that he's dying. Help him." I heard Mrs. Anderson scoff. I shot a look at her, making it known that I detested her. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her cheek bones protruded too far from her skin. I slowly turned my attention back to Lady Maleah.

She was staring at me. "You have to make peace with each soul. Not kill them, but make peace. They still your life force, Loki, because they were angry with you. You must make peace with each one, and they will leave the bodies they possess and go to Valhalla."

Loki groaned. "And I'm supposed to know the bodies they are in, how?" he asked.

"So Mangog is not in fact possessing all the the bodies." I said.

"No, he is not. People will come after you, Loki. That is how you will know."

"I am not exactly fit to fight at the moment." Loki said, annoyed.

"I am." I told him, holding on to him tighter.

"No. Absolutely not." He said, glaring at me, his eyes wide and his nostrils flared.

"I will not do it alone." I told him quietly. "I'm not trying to be a hero. I'm trying to save your life."

"You never let me save you." He told me, sadness invading his eyes.

I pursed my lips. "You saved me from Mangog." I paused. "And I am very glad you did."

"Make Thor do it." He said. He sounded like a child, pouting his lip.

I laughed. "Alright. Alright." I said, just to appease him. His eyes were starting to droop. I had to keep him awake.

"How do I make peace with them?" Loki asked Lady Maleah earnestly.

"That, you'll have to figure out for yourself."