Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 83

(Talia)

There was a battle going on above us.

My knees shook as hard has the walls did, though the old man kept rattling off. It was as if he was under a spell. I suppose I couldn't blame him though, seeing as he's been locked away in here for such a long time, with no one to talk to. And, of course his favorite subject would be the secrets of the man who had doomed him, who had thrown him away like trash.

But I couldn't believe that he wasn't phased by the shaking of the dungeons. We were several deep stories underground, meaning that whatever was going on upstairs must've been huge or powerful.

Or both.

The old man, Balthazar, had told me most of what Thanos's plans were. And they were devastatingly different from what I had been told.

Leolin was going to be the vessel.

He was going to die.

I had put my shaking hand over my mouth, but the old man kept prattling on. He didn't give me as much useful information as I would have liked.

Hell, it's not like I'd ever be able to use any of it anyway.

I had zoned the man out and sat down on the cold hard floor of my cell and leaned my head against the bars.

I had zoned him out so much that I almost didn't realize he had stopped talking.

And then I heard a choking noise.

I whipped around and clutched the bars of my cell.

Balthazar's eyes were glowing blue and he was frigid. I could see every vein in his face and neck, as they protruded out of his skin in a dark black color.

"Hey!" I called to him, but he could not hear me.

Then, the light went out of his eyes and he fell to the ground in a heap. He didn't move again.

My breathing got heavier and I scooted away from the edge of my cell, trying to hide in the shadows.

Suddenly, a cloaked figure came into view. My attention immediately honed in on the hands, female hands, which were glowing with the same blue color that had just been in Balthazar's eyes. I couldn't stop myself from shaking.

The figure was cloaked from head to toe in a dark purple robe, with gold at the hems and edges.

The mysterious and murderous woman lifted her hands and folded her hood away from her face. I was shocked to see how beautiful she was. Light golden hair was tied into a tight bun at the back of her head and her eyes were a piercing blue. They seemed to spark every time they flickered.

And then her eyes landed on me.

I had to stifle a scream. I could practically feel the power radiating off of her.

She flicked her hand at my cell and the door went flying, crashing against the opposite wall, making me scream in surprise.

She was going to kill me now, wasn't she?

Oh gods.

I wasn't afraid of death, actually, I kind of welcomed it. But, I was scared of where I would end up.

Though I didn't mention it often, I still remembered the In-Between. I remember how horrible it was. How dark and alone I felt. And then, how afraid I was when I was discovered. And I didn't even want to think what I would experience if I went to Helheim. At least if I went to Valhalla, then I would see my mother again some day. I could make things right.

The unknown terrified me.

"Get up." She growled.

I just sat there, terrified.

"I said, get up!" She yelled as she flicked her hand at me, and suddenly, I was up, my feet floating a foot above the ground. I swallowed my scream.

"You- you killed-" I started, looking at the dead old man.

"Yes. I killed him. He was getting on my nerves. He wouldn't shut up." She walked into my cell and brought me to eye level with her. "I had listened up until he started rambling nonsense, and then I left to see what all the commotion was about up there." She pointed a finger to the ceiling. "Quit entertaining." She smiled horribly.

"Who are you?" I said. I bit my tongue to avoid asking other questions. I worried it would only anger her.

"Lorelei. You know my little sister, Amora." She scoffed. "And I need your help."