Lord Shadow

‘Oh…. but you are wrong. Doing this will benefit someone.’

‘You?’ Sasha ask, there is disdain in her tone

‘No’ Loki shakes his head, a mischievous smile on his face. 

Loki pointed his finger toward Sasha.

‘You.’ 

‘It will benefit you’ Sasha close her eyes for a second before opening it. She had guessed it. But she did not like being right at this time.

Loki then continue saying

‘You also were afraid of the Book of Secrets abilities didn’t you?’ she sighed and answer

‘The Broker is allied with us.’

‘That is not an answer. And…. Did my brother know that?’ 

Hearing this Sasha forehead creased.

‘No’

Loki smiles as he said

‘What do you think he would do to you if he knew you did this behind his back? Knowing his temper toward criminals in general, he would not be happy with you’

‘The decision of the Shadow Guards is under my authority. Death Monarch trusted me, knowing that whatever decision I make, I make it in the sole purpose of protecting him’ Sasha answer

Loki sighed. 

‘I know my brother. He would never kill you for this. And that is why you did this. But he still has to set an example’

His eyes look straight at her. And she looks at him, unflinching. 

His voice is deep and terrifying. It is unlike the Loki she knew. Loki had always been playful.

But now, there seems to be a darkness around him. A darkness that he himself wanted to inhabit. 

Sasha had read the plan in the letter. In that letter he outlined what he would do and why he is doing it.

That is why it is complicated.

She came here to stop him killing the Broker. But she never intended to fight with him. She knew what he had sacrificed.

She wanted to persuade him. But she knew Loki. She knew that Loki would not come to Death Monarch

Because Loki is man with all the plans. This is a man who knew what he wanted and did not hesitate to do whatever it takes to get it.

Ruthless, determined. 

That is her assessment of Loki the Trickster. Like he is being guided by some noble purpose, he would not stop and he would not change his plan to accommodate others.

And that is why she had begun contacting her operative sin secret from the beginning of her conversation with Loki

Loki is not the only one with the gadgets. She is buying time. Loki did not seem to notice it. Or maybe he simply doesn’t care

Sasha still did not know why Loki wanted her to be there. She still did not understand fully Loki plans.

And while she is talking, it seems that Loki also seems to accommodate her. Maybe this is simply theatrics. Or maybe, he had something to say. 

Probably because Sasha is the one that knew all the backstory, knew what this Trickster had done, had sacrificed for Pandemonium and Death Monarch, he wanted her to know and understand him. 

Loki then continue by saying to her

‘If he knew about this, he had to punish you. Regardless whether sacking you from the position of the leader of the Shadow Guards or showing his displeasure in other manners, whichever way he chooses, it would affect the stability of Pandemonium’ 

‘And even if he does not punish you, that would also affect the stability of Pandemonium. After all, it would show that you could do anything you want. That would attract enemies that you would not want. Trust me’

There was silence between them. 

The wind moves fiercely behind them. But it did not affect them, like they were in a separate dimension.

The rift behind Loki also seems to echoes some noise from the ground. Sighing, Sasha then said

‘There is another way. Come with me. There is no need to do this. We could find another way, Loki’

Loki only smiles, shakes his head and he said

‘You and I, we both know that the stability of the forces in Pandemonium is very fragile. One moment of carelessness is enough to induce chaos. If the forces in Pandemonium sense that Shadow Guards is being distrusted by Death Monarch, then you could imagine the consequences’ 

Sasha frowned at this thought

‘The Central Court had never liked you. The Three Army also have a bone to grind with you. Not to mention the individual ministers that was targeted by your investigation. Then, there is still other intelligence agency of the other world powers that would like to attack you when you were down. To take down the Shadow Guards would be quite an accomplishment for them. For it weakens Pandemonium’

Then Loki added

‘You are the dog that bites and barks at any enemies of your master. But if that dog no longer have the protection of its master, then that dog would get beaten to death’

Sasha shakes her head and said

‘Death Monarch would not let it go that far’

‘Yes, my brother would not let it go that far. But, the attack to you would change the status quo. Peace would be broken. And knowing my brother penchant of leaving Earth every few years, there would be casualties. What would you do…. when he leaves again?’

‘We have managed to contain it before’ Sasha said

Loki nodded and said before rebutting her again. It almost seems like Loki is teaching her

‘Yes, but still people die. Imagine if Pandemonium had an open internal instability. The schemes and plots of the court, the self-sacrificing mindset of the army, and you are looking at a lot of dead people that would get suck into this whirlpool of power struggle inside Pandemonium’

Sasha become silent. She knew this to be the truth. Loki smiles wider

‘That is what none of them understood. But I knew you would understand me. People said that Pandemonium is heaven on Earth.’

Well, Pandemonium isn’t exactly a utopia. But, the reason why it has such a reputation is simply because Pandemonium is safe. Death Monarch is here! The strongest man in the world sits at the throne of the strongest force in the world!’

He said with a bitter smile. Sasha did not interfere. She seems more concerned about Nathan behind Loki.

While he was talking, she is thinking of ways of trying to release Nathan. 

Loki continues

‘The problem of a monster horde did not affect the lives of the people of Pandemonium. We have enough elite forces to drive back and even annihilate monster hordes. We are so powerful against these monsters, that sometimes we even let some of them live so we could train soldier recruit so that they could level up.’

‘But this…place….is not perfect. As there is light, there is darkness’

‘You do not publicize how many people died because of internal conflicts that happens the last time. Unknown spies that dies in the shadows. Ministers that were framed. Soldiers who had died in the line of duty. Not to safeguard Pandemonium safety but because they were embroiled in the power struggle between the forces of power in Pandemonium. This time, if such a thing happens again, expect that casualties to rise even higher. Because the stake is even bigger this time’

He did not stop. 

It seems like Loki had a lot to say. 

Like he is leaving an advice for her. Knowing what she knows now, she believes that Loki is doing this for the continued dominance of Pandemonium

She herself did not know how to feel about this. Her own relationship with Loki is complicated to say the least.

But after reading that letter, she knew this is bigger that some enmity between her and him. This affects Pandemonium. 

There is always a hesitation in her heart after reading that letter

She did not really know when push comes to shove, would she be really unhesitant? After all, the plans that Loki had made, is not entirely harmful to Pandemonium.

Instead, it could even be regarded as a very useful and beneficial to Pandemonium development. But she still did not think that Loki had to go to this far.

For some reason, even though she herself was accustomed to the darkness that lies on the other side of the light, seeing the dark desires that not many people could see, evil scheming, terrible plots, a part of the darkness that not many people could see, she still yearns for the light.

She is inside darkness, but she was fighting for the light. She would not say she is fighting for justice or truth.

That is not what she was fighting for. She was fighting for the chance for people to live happy. She could not protect everyone. 

But she could protect a lot of people. She could protect the people she loves and the people under her. 

And now, she could protect the people of Pandemonium

A woman fighting in the darkness, serving the light. And as such, even though she knows that Loki plans is good, she at least wanted to preserve some kind of light in Loki

Because while he is someone that had been hunting her for the last six years, Loki had never meant harm for her. 

His action might have led to some bad encounters, but in the end, it is because they look at different things and chasing different things that they have a conflict.

It is not because they hated each other. 

>>>>