Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 81

(Loki)

The small ball of light headed straight for me. 

But it came so fast, there was nothing I could do to dodge it. 

It hit me square in the chest. 

I felt myself fall to my knees, but my vision was suddenly flooded with different images. I saw the blue light travel through space. I saw it enter a planet. Midgard, to be exact. I saw it rush past cities and farms. On and on and on. Then, nothing. Pitch black. 

And then there was a laugh. 

And then all I saw before me was the glow of two red orbs and the gleam of metal. "I'll be waiting. Soon, it will be time. I will rule the Universe. And all will bow to Ultron."

Leolin's voice. 

But mechanized and angry. He had revenge and death on his agenda. And he was on Midgard. 

And then, just as fast as the light had entered me, it exited, and I was brought back to the present. 

I must have just been in the way, then. 

No time at all seemed to have passed. I breathed heavily and looked back at Leolin just in time to see him fall back to the ground. 

As soon as his knees his the rock, he transformed back into my little boy. Into the son I loved and wanted to protect. 

I wasted no time running towards him. 

Angrily, Thanos growled and ran towards us, but not before I reached Leolin and wrapped him in my embrace. 

"STOP!" Suddenly came a voice. 

I followed the sound and found By in between Thanos and I. 

Only...

It wasn't By. 

Not technically. 

"You son of a bitch." I growled at him. 

He stood, his hands spread out towards each of us, as if we might collide at any moment. 

"I know. I know. I-" He stammered. 

"Don't." I hissed. 

Because this was not just By in front of me. No. It was my Frost Giant of a brother, Byleister. 

Of course it was. 

The Runaway Prince. 

"I'm so sorry." He breathed. 

"ENOUGH." Thanos roared. "GIVE ME THE BOY!" 

"We can make a trade! Make me the vessel." By bargained. I looked at him in disgust. He had lied. He had lied to me. He had lied to Anna. 

The mother fucker had slept with my woman, my Anna. My own brother. If he didn't die in this, I would most definately kill him. 

"ARGH!" Thanos growled, knocking By several yards to the side, as if he were no more than a pesky insect. 

Suddenly, several armored men surrounded us. They began pulling me off of Leolin. I panicked. No. NO. I struggled against them, kicking and swinging, but they had some unnatural strength that kept me in their grips. 

Terrifyingly, Thanos once again grabbed a hold of Leolin's, little Leolin's, hair and yanked him back. He yelled in pain, but his eyes immediately found mine. 

"It's okay, Daddy. Really. Let him. You will beat him another day. I can't grow up, because I will turn into that monster. I don't remember him, not anymore. But I still feel it. I still feel the hate and the anger and the need for spilled blood."

"No." I whispered pathetically, pleading. 

"And no matter what I do, or how you raise me, I will turn into that man." He began crying, the tears flowing easily. "I don't want to turn into that horrible man, Daddy." His little hands were shaking. 

"NO." I screamed at Thanos, terrified. No. NO. 

"Daddy, I love you." My little soldier smiled faintly, his little hands now balled into fists. He was trying so hard to be strong. "Tell Mummy I was the bad me when I died." He took a shuddering breath and tilted his chin up. 

I screamed. 

But I didn't hear it. 

Not over the sound of my breaking soul as Thanos gripped my son tighter and pulled the knife out in front of his neck. 

I screamed and screamed. I kicked and fought. 

Anything. Anything but this. 

Oh, Gods. 

ANYTHING. 

But my prayers went unanswered as Thanos slit Leolin's throat, his young blood spilling all over the stone.