Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 65

(Leolin)

I tried to shake the vision from my mind as I walked with determination to Stark Tower. 

I had work to do. 

I lost count of the amount of little Midgardians I bumped into. I didn't bother to tell them sorry. They would be dead soon, anyway. 

And all because of what I was about to do. 

I was the prince to the Universe. Master had already promised me that. 

I would achieve more than my father. I would be more powerful than my mother. 

I would not go soft like either of them had. 

My mother had practically been an assassin, and a good one too, when she was on Midgard. But then she had all but lost that when she was brought to Asgard by my weakling of a father. He was supposed to use her, not fall in love with her. 

I would not make the same mistakes as my parents. 

I would win. 

I would walk in and out of that building, and succeed in my mission. 

I would plant the seeds that needed planted. Seeds that could not be uprooted. And then I would walk away and watch as the cards unfolded. 

I barely registered my surroundings as I walked through the large glass doors. I was immediately surrounded by humans, men and women, in suits as fine as mine. I pushed my hair back and walked up to the front desk. 

I had an appointment. 

"Hello! How may I help you today?" The receptionist asked. She was young and pretty, with a little freckle above her top lip. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a perfect bun and her nails wer painted a simple red. 

I smiled a dashing smile at her, "Yes, darling actually, you can." I threw in a wink, for good measure. 

I watched as her cheeks reddened and she broke eye contact, trying to hide her smile. "Oh? And what exactly would that be?" 

I took a chance and leaned over the counter, and put a finger under her chin and ifted her face to look at me again. Her face deepened in color. 

Oh, how easy it was to manipulate these little girls.

"I need to see Mr. Stark." 

Her eyes widened at my words and she stood. I leaned back and put my hands in my pockets, grinning at her. 

"I am very sorry, but unless you have an appointment..." 

I waved a hand up to stop her. "Believe me. Just go and tell Mr. Stark that he will want to meet with me." I shugged my shoulders and flashed a mischeivious grin. "Tell him that we share common enemies. He'll know what I speak of." 

As I spoke, I watched as her body quickly succumbed to my words. She nodded her head and picked up the phone and dialed. I watched her, pretending I was interested in her. She avoided eye contact as someone on the other line answered. Her hand shook slightly. 

"There's a man here, says he wants to speak with you."

A response. 

"Yes, I know. But he told me that you share commone enemies. Said you'd know what that meant." 

Silence. 

And then she hung up. 

She turned to me, and smiled slightly. "He'll speak with you know. You have no more than 30 minutes. 17th floor, last door at the end of the hall." She sat back down and began typing on her computer.