Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 52

(By)

After the past few days, as long and tiring as they were, we all decided to get some rest to regain our strength and give our minds a break.

I slowly walked back to my chambers, not quite sure if I'd even be able to settle my mind and body. Once there, I decided to take a long hot bath, hoping it would loosen the knots that covered my body. The past few days have made me realize what a mess my life has become. And there's no one to blame but myself.

I dried off, not knowing how much time had passed, and fell onto my bed. I remember the many times Anna had laid here beside me, and my heart ached for her now. It ached even more when I thought about what she was going through, and all she had already been through.

I had to shut the thoughts away when I thought about her beside Loki, looking up at him with those beautiful eyes in a way I had always longed for her to look at me.

I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would take me away and that I would be graced with a dreamless slumber.

"No time to rest when the Prince of Asgard is missing."

I shot out of bed and on to my feet at the sound of the female voice. I spun around trying to find where my intruder stood.

"Show yourself." I said sternly, ready for a fight.

I heard a laugh from my left and turned to see a figure step out of the shadows. They were dressed from head to toe in black, a hood hiding all but their mouth. Their- Her- skin was a dark blue, her lips the same shade as her skin.

"No need to panic. If I had wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already." She said. Her voice was slightly rough, and was filled with anger and attitude.

"Who are you?" I asked. How did she even get in here?

"Doesn't matter. Would you rather know who I am, or why I'm here? I bet I can guess your answer." She said flatly.

I relaxed my shoulders and stood tall, but I refused to let my guard down. "Go on then."

"That's what I thought." Her mouth turned up at the corners, the way evil, sinister people smile. "I am here to deliver a message, and it will be your job to make sure that, in turn, the message is delivered to the Queen."

"And why can't you tell her this message yourself?" I spat.

"Because my Master wishes to utilize you. You are quite good at what you do. And you're good at staying hidden, in plain sight even."

"You're master? And do I get no say in the matter?" I asked.

She chuckled, her shoulders shaking slightly. I noticed that she kept her legs apart and her knees slightly bent, so that if anything happened, she would be ready to take action. "Of course you have no say. You lost that right when you signed your soul away to him all those years ago."

My knees gave out, and I didn't even try to stop myself from falling to the ground. My breathing grew dangerously quick, as if I couldn't get in any air, and I couldn't focus my vision.

"So it was him, who took Leolin? Who let those souls out of the In-Between to kill innocent Asgardians?" My worst fear had just come true. The most dangerous being in the world was beginning to take control. And I couldn't do anything about it, because I had agreed, when I was younger and naive, to do anything he wished, at any time. And all I wanted in return was power over some domain, and a throne when it was all said and done. He had given me the ability to absorb the power of any other being, and keep that power. But that process resulted in the other person or being dying.

"What do you care about Asgardians? You're not even one of them. You're quite the opposite of a noble, strong, beautiful Asgardian. You're weak, and pale, and stupid. You signed your life away to get a power you don't even take advantage of. You're useless." The woman spat.

I shot up and lunged at her in fury. I stumbled in my blind rage and missed her, as she simply stepped out of my way. I fell back to the ground on my hands and knees, and my vision blurred with tears.

The woman laughed behind me. And I suddenly felt her breath on my neck and heard her voice, soft, in my ear. "I haven't even told you the message yet."

I turned to glare at her. She backed away and waited as I got to my feet, shaking. She folded her hands in front of her. I waited for her to speak.

"No doubt you've heard of the infinity stones?" she asked, her lips still smirking.

"Of course." I said take aback. "A set of extremely powerful stones, and if one were to possess them all, they would be invincible. The universe would belong to them."

"Very good. You paid attention in history class!" She said. I felt my shoulders tense. "My Master is in the process of collecting these stones-"

"Yes. But they will be useless together without the gauntlet." I interrupted. "The stones are dangerous by themselves to those who don't know how to use them. And you will never get the gauntlet." It was my turn to chuckle now.

"That's where you come in." She laughed evilly. "You do remember what happens when you disobey my Master's orders, don't you?"

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse.

I gritted my teeth. "I remember."

"What happens? Tell me, so I know that you are not lying." She grinned even more.

"Everyone I love dies. And I will rot in the In-Between with the worst monsters in the cosmos, doomed to be forever tortured."

"Indeed. So you will do as your told then?" she asked, her voice stern.

After a moment, I slowly nodded my head. "Yes." I felt my heart breaking. I was about to be the traitor I had always feared I would grow to be. "But I cannot even step foot into the Weapons vault. I do not possess Agardian blood."

"I'm sure you'll figure out something. Times ticking away, after all." She retorted.

"You still have not told me the message." I said, just realizing it.

"Ah! Yes," she exclaimed. "This is the best part!" she walked toward me, but only a few steps. She was still a comfortable distance away from me. "I am here to tell you what my Master wants from your dearest Anna."