Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 69

(Anna)

It was cold. It was windy.

That's all I had to distract me from everything else going on inside my head.

By sat by himself on a large rock, staring into the distance. The cold wind didn't seem to bother him as he sat there, his hair blowing in the breeze.

Loki was pacing several meters away from By. He kept ringing his hands and taking in deep breaths.

I swear he hadn't blinked once.

I sat near him on the ground, cross-legged, watching him.

"You're going to run a deep groove into the dirt if you don't stop." I told him, folding my hands in my lap.

He stopped long enough to glare at me, the wind blowing his dark hair across his face, but not covering his threatening eyes. He continued pacing, faster now.

I glared back at him, even though he didn't see it.

"I'm serious, Loki." I said, changing my tone so that he knew I wasn't fooling around. That, and he knew I meant business when I said his name.

He stopped and looked down at me.

"Are you just going to sit on your ass all day?" He said snarkily.

"Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to tell me what's got you so worked up?" I asked, ignoring his inquiry.

His mouth tightened, but his eyes softened. The next thing I knew, Loki sat down, crossing his legs, in front of me.

"I don't see how you can stand to do this..." He started.

"I'm not standing." I said, smiling slyly at him.

The corners of his mouth lifted. "I mean," he said, giving me a look, "just sitting still in one place, with all this," he motioned with his hands, "going on." He frowned.

"There's nothing we can do but wait. So why worry? Physically anyway." I shrugged my shoulders. "We know what we have to do. We just have to wait for our invitation." I reached out for his hand.

He smiled at me, though the light didn't reach his eyes.

"What's on your mind, Loki? Besides Leolin?" I asked him.

"What isn't?" He retorted, irritated.

I sighed. "We know what happens next. We know what we need to do. Then this will all be fixed."

He shook his head, "It's more than that, Anna." He looked down.

"Then what is it?" I reached out and took his hand. "Tell me." I pleaded.

He took a shallow breath and then looked at me with sad eyes. "Something's not right here. Something feels...off." He swallowed.

I leaned in close. "Oh. Believe me. I know. I am well aware that none of this will probably go as planned. But I can't do anything to change it. All I can do is fight. So I will."

He sighed, chuckling lightly. "How did a girl from Midgard become the strongest woman in the universe?" He smiled at me.

"Because she was rescued by a man who was very much like herself." I sat up on my knees and put my hands on his knees, resting my forehead on his. "Tortured, alone, and sad. But strong and smart, and oh so very handsome." I felt his breath on my face as he let out a small laugh.

I leaned back and sat my behind on my feet. I reached out and touched his beautiful face. I knew every curve, every line. I looked into his piercing eyes, that no matter how many times I saw them, they always sent the butterflies in my stomach on a stampede. This was the man I loved. And I would love forever.