Infinity

Chapter 26 Paradise Lost

"Sorry, by Thanos you mean..?"

"The mad Titan. He killed his entire race in attempt to pursue Death. He's bad news. I have to go." I say, turning away from the screen.

"Wait! You can't just leave us-"

"He's not going to come back here. There're no more Infinity Stones. However, the other four are on Asgard. He's going to attack there next."

"Ivanna! What if-"

"Thor still protects this realm! Call him to protect you!" I say, walking out the door and onto the lawn, "Heimdall! The Bifrost!"

The guardian answers almost immediately.

The light bridge pulls me back to Asgard. Heimdall looks at me with concern.

"I haven't been able to see him for centuries. Not until now." He says, pulling his sword from the control panel.

"He wants to be found." I say, "He wants the Infinity Stones. He has two of them. He has the gauntlet." My voice wavers, I look to Amria, "Go on, head back to the castle."

She looks at me suspiciously, but then nods and heads out. I wait until she's far enough away so she can't hear me.

"Heimdall, I'm scared. I thought that Thanos was a myth. A story told to children to scare them- and now he's real... He has two of the Infinity stones... two." My hands stat shaking, "I'm terrified. How can I oppose him? I can't send an army to fight him! He'll lay them to waste! I can't fight him myself! There's no one to take my place! He'll kill me and then take the other stones... and he'll destroy the nine realms. Everyone will be dead in a matter of seconds."

"Ivanna, my dear girl, calm down." Heimdall holds up his hand, "Clear your mind. Fear is what he wants. He wants you to crumble under the pressure."

I take a breath, "Call back our commanders, I need to have a council meeting, tonight. In the dining hall, I want you there too."

"Anything else?" He asks.

"Bring my Father back for this meeting, Midgard is under his protection- he needs to be informed on the decisions made in tonight's council."

"As you wish."

"Thank you." I say, walking back up the bridge, which is relaxing. The miles of bridge making hollow clicks under my feet relax me. The light rippling off of the crystal surface is always beautiful. Asgard, the realm eternal. I hope it is eternal.

Thanos, the mad titan. Cast out as a child because he was imperfect. His purple flesh stood out amongst the purity of the other titans, with white skin that looked as soft a sheepskin. He had then met a woman, one kind enough to take him in... Death.

Death sought a champion. Thanos sought love.

He fell madly in love with her, ready to do anything to have her return the feeling; and so, he went back to his home, and slaughtered his people. All of them. Nothing was left alive, not animals, not children.

He offered his people to Death as a gift, and yet, she still refused to return his unconditional love.

He journeyed from world to world, seeking ways to bring him closer to Death, killing by the thousands, everything from flies to frost mammoths.

Death continued collecting his gifts, but gave nothing in return.

His crusade was hopeless, yet he continued on, each murderer creating madness in his head. He took joy in killing, hoping that it would bring him closer to Death, and that one day, she'd see him as the champion he was. The champion he believed himself to be.