Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 72

(Anna)

I rushed at him with everything I had, a small spark of fear igniting in his eyes.

And then I ran into a wall.

Talia laughed as I fell back from the invisible field, my powers failing me. I heard Loki scream my name. As I got up, I glared at Thanos. The fear that had just been in his eyes had disappeared, filling with amusement.

"I must say. You put on quite a show there for a second." He chuckled. "But did you honestly think I'd let you anywhere near me?" He smiled.

My fists clenched at my sides, still hot. I glared at him, "Where is he?" I growled.

"Who?"

"MY SON!" I screamed. I waited for the tears to come. But it wasn't frustration that I felt, it was pure rage.

Talia stepped forward, as if to protect Thanos. She opened her mouth to make a snarky comment, but before she could get a sound out, I pointed a finger at her, "DON'T. Don't you take another step." I hissed through my teeth.

"So angry at your own daughter?" She said smiling, though there was sadness in her eyes.

"You want pity?" I asked. "I didn't cast you out, you died. You died before you were ever born. I didn't eat for weeks after that, you know? Didn't sleep, nothing. I was destroyed. You were never meant to live!" I said.

I saw the hurt in her face at my words, but I continued. "Why hate me? Why take my son? Why work for HIM?" I yelled, pointing at Thanos, who had sat back down on his throne, enjoying every bit of this.

"Yes, why did you help me, my daughter?" He asked her.

Talia spun around to look at Thanos in horror. "I-I don't. I didn't have a choice." She whimpered.

"Didn't you?" He looked down at her. "I gave you the option of working for me, to learn from me so that you could achieve greatness. Or I could send you on to Valhalla. You chose me."

Talia's shoulders stiffened. "I-" but she couldn't find the words.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amora shift her feet. She seemed uncomfortable. If I ever got near her-

"Don't get mad at me for a choice you made. I cannot love you, Talia." She spun back to look at me, the hurt etched in every curve of her face. "I cannot love you because you are not my daughter... You are his." I glances at Thanos. 

"I wish I had never chosen him." She whispered, as if coming out of a nightmare, as if realzing all of her mistakes. 

Thanos rolled his eyes. "Nebula, take her away. I fear she has lost her purpose."

Talia's eyes grew wide, panic setting in her face as the blue skinned woman came towards her. Nebula had a look of malicious victory on her face as she took a struggling Talia by the arms, dragging her away.

I watched her go, as she fought against Nebula, but it seemed that all the fight she had left was gone.

"But I am Queen of the Frost Giants! You made me become their Queen!" Talia yelled. I chanced a glance at Loki, seeing that he was thinking the same thing I was. What was his play? Talia had a point. Why make her Queen, go through all that trouble, and then take the crown away from her?

I turned back and looked at Thanos. "Yes. Yes, and now Jotenheim is mine. Thank you for your services." He shooed Talia away. 

She began screaming and kicking harder than before, "Wait. Wait! WAIT!" She yelled. "Let me ask her something!" She screeched.