Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 55

(By)

I've been pacing outside her chamber door for two hours now.

So much for a good night's rest.

I spent the entire night, after I had been left alone, to think of the best way to break the news to Anna.

"By?" I spun around at the sound of her voice. Anna stood behind me, wearing a thin black dress, with a deep green satin robe tied over it. Her hair was a wild mess and any make-up that she had had on was now smudged across her face.

After taking a moment to soak in her disheveled look, I stupidly blurted out, "I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep last night then?" I felt, oddly enough, hurt and betrayed. Knowing that she had been with Loki, the same way she had been with me. Only, I could imagine that when she was with Loki, there was more emotion involved there than there had ever been with me. And I envied that. I shouldn't be feeling what I am feeling, I know that. Anna and Loki are actual soulmates, I do not belong with her. It doesn't matter how much I want to be, it is impossible. Loki was thought to be dead and it was impossible, and now that he was back, my chances had all but disappeared.

Her mouth dropped, astonished. But she quickly regained her composure, "My love life is none of your business. And it would do well for you to remember that." She set her mouth in a hard line.

I couldn't help but rush toward her, putting my face mere inches from hers, fuming. She didn't even blink. "What? Are you suddenly going to talk to me like a Queen talks to her subjects?" I tilted my head. It was hard to stay angry when her lips were so close to mine. All I had to do was lean down...

She stepped back. "Are we really going to have this fight?" She shook her head. "I am sorry to disappoint you, By. I care for you dearly, and the time we spent together was nothing more than for me to get my mind off of the hell that my life had become. I am sorry. Truly. But don't you for one second think that I owe you anything. Because I don't. I love Loki. I always have and I always will. It will do you good to learn that now." Her chin shuddered, as if she were about to cry.

I didn't know what to say. And even if I spoke, I knew it would only make things worse. I had already lost Anna as a lover. I had no desire to lose her as a friend.

I bowed my head, "Forgive me."

"What's this?" Loki said, suddenly.

"An agreement," I told him lightly. I looked him in the eye, "I have an idea to get Leolin back, or at least to find where he is." I suddenly knew how I was going to tell them.

I wasn't.

I would let her tell them.

"And what is that?" Loki asked cautiously. Unlike Anna, Loki was groomed and well put together. He was in clean clothes, and his hair was slicked back.

"There is a witch who could tell us where he is, and possibly what they want from Anna," I treaded lightly, careful not to give away what I really knew.

"A witch? Like Lady Maleah?" Anna asked eagerly. I saw Loki flinch slightly at the sound of his birth mother's name, but I pretended not to notice.

I chuckled, "Somewhat, I suppose." I glanced at Loki. He was glaring at me.

"Who?" He said flatly.

"The Enchantress." I said softly, not knowing what kind of reaction the name would bring.

Loki's eyes immediately widened and he stepped towards me harshly, "The Enchantress? As in Amora the Enchatress?" He accused.

"The very same," I replied, keeping my distance.

Loki clenched his hands and stood up straight, "No. Positively not."

Anna ran to Loki, grasping his arm. "What? Why not? Loki, she could help us find our son!"

Loki spun on Anna and grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, making me feel defensive. I took a step forward and Loki shot me a hateful look. I froze in my tracks, my eyes wide and alert.

"Not her. She can't, she won't help. She will only seek to seduce and manipulate," He let Anna go.

"You sound as if you know the witch," I said, fed up with Loki and his high horse.

"Because I do." I heard Anna take in a breath, and I myself felt a little surprised. "She is a witch, a little trickster if you will. We often worked together on our magic skills when we were young. As she got older, she became dark and evil. She used her magic to reel in others and eventually got herself banished. She is dangerous and unpredictable. She could tell me my own name and I wouldn't believe her." Loki's neck was slightly blue. Whenever he got angry, he began to change now. He had lost control of that part of himself.

"If she is a seductress, then let me go. She won't try to seduce me." Anna said quickly, eagerly.

Loki and I laughed at the same time. We stopped and shared a look of distain.

"It doesn't matter to her what sex you are, she'll still try. She is beyond powerful, or she was when I last saw her. I don't even want to know how powerful she is now, after being left alone to perfect her abilities." Loki said, figuratively putting his foot down.

"I don't care. We need to see her. Man up and keep it in your pants, we are seeing the wicked witch and we are finding out what bastard stole our son." Anna said, raising her strong voice.

I forgot that she was from Midgard sometimes, until she got angry and spoke out. It was something I thouroughly enjoyed about her.

I tuned them out as they continued to argue on whether or not to go and see the Enchantress. My mine wandered to other things.

"What do you think, By?" The sound of Anna saying my name called me out of my reverie.

"Uh, think of what?" I stammered, feeling my face get hot.

She rolled her eyes slightly, "To go or not to go?"

"I'm staying out of this." I said as quickly as I could. I didn't want them to think that I knew anything about any of this. I had to keep my cover.

"It was your idea." Anna said, getting flustered.

I looked between Anna and Loki. Loki's eyes held immense warning, but Anna's were pleading.

"What if we don't go to her? What if send for her to come here?" I suggested. Loki's squint deepened, but his face softened. Anna turned eagerly to her lover, hoping this idea had changed his mind.

"Fine. But she plays by our rules." Loki finally said. Anna rushed at him, her arms folding around his neck tightly, hugging him. She kept telling him thank you, thank you.

My idea. Yet, I don't even get a nod of appreciation.

I decided to walk away, give them their moment. I decided to call behind me, "Better get ready! She'll be here by tomorrow!"

I gave the note to send for the Enchantress to a guard and told him to hurry.

Let the games begin.