Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 36

(Anna)

I slipped through a small side door that not many people knew about.

I came out on the side of the castle. The sky was dark and gloomy, clouded with smoke. Off in the distance, I could hear and see fighting. If my eyes were correct, the good were winning. Near the opening of the Bifrost, I could clearly see Mangog. He was humongous. He was somehow in his spirit form, large and black and impossible to catch. Heimdall was doing his best to slow Mangog down, but it wasn't doing much good. I just wasn't sure why Mangog was wasting his time.

I suddenly felt something zip past me. It blew my hair and nearly knocked me off of my feet. I let out a scream, spinning around to see what had ran past, but not finding anything. It was too dark.

And then I heard a laugh.

It was a girl's laugh. Not a woman's or a teenagers, but a little girl's. It sent a shiver up my spine. The laugh was evil and crazed.

And it was close.

"Who's there?" I asked, and then kicked myself. Typical scary movie line, and then the girl dies soon after.

I didn't plan on dying today.

I felt it-her- run by me again, still unable to see her. She roughly ran into my shoulder, making me stumble backwards.

I'd had enough. I spun my arms around, letting fire extend from my hands. I heard someone cry out in pain. Score.

To my left, I had hit the girl. She lay crumpled on the ground, slightly singed, and was trying to get up. She was small and frail looking, with blond hair that was long, even being pulled back into a high ponytail. She was covered in dirt and dust, and was wearing an all black outfit.

She only looked to be about 7.

I stood where I was. I didn't care if she was only a child. The sound of her laugh was not one of a happy child, but of someone who was demented and crazy. I watched as she stood up. She stacked, her bones on one another, taking her time. She stretched out her neck, her bright hair flowing behind her. My hands were still hot, ready to fight with fire if I had to.

And then she opened her eyes.

They were nothing but black pits. Wide, never-ending holes of darkness. I had to suppress my urge to gasp. She was not possessed, I knew that much. This was an actual being. Demon-like and horrible. She stood tall and confident, looking at me with her terrible eyes.

"That wasn't very nice." she said. Her voice was soft and childish, the way you would expect, but her delivery was that of an adult who had rather horrible intentions.

"What do you want?" I asked, keeping my voice level. Was she working for Mangog? Or was she using him? Using the opportunity to do her own damage.

She just smiled, her teeth sharp and crooked.

"Answer me." I said. What was she?

"I want your world to end, to make way for a better, darker future, ruled by the rightful King." She tilted her head.

"Specific." I said sarcastically. "Are you with Mangog?" I decided to ask.

She laughed, throwing her head back dramatically. "No. If anything, he's with me."

"So he's a puppet."

"He's a tool. Always has been."

"For who?"

"Like I would tell you that." She folded her arms across her chest.

I smirked. "How does a little girl like you, end up like this?" I gestured to all of her.

Her face dropped, turning into a look of pure loathing and hatred. She didn't say anything.

"What do you really want? What are you trying to accomplish today?" I asked, taking a few steps toward her.

She stood her ground and chucklled. "Trying?" she laughed. "Oh, I have already succeeded." her mouth turned up into that horrible grin of hers.

"How?" I stepped closer, trying to scare the little twit.

She chuckled again. "They think someone got into the castle. Which I did. But the explosions were just a distraction. To make you all think there was something going on. I wasn't trying to kill any of you, that's not my job. My job is to make sure you suffer."

I looked at her, not sure where she was going with this. "I don't quite understand."

She rolled her eyes. "There's someone inside that castle that wants revenge. And she will have it."

I didn't bother asking who she was talking about, there was no way she would tell me. "How?" How will they get revenge, and why do they need this girl's help?

"She needed a little breaking out. And only I could do it." She smiled, waiting for me to put the pieces together.

Mrs. Anderson.

She would want an eye for an eye.

My son's death for hers.