CHAPTER 1

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CHAPTER 1 Hel of Asgard

Hel sighed as she filed another request. These ghosts can be so boring. Always whining..., she rubbed her forehead. The young woman was head of her own realm of dead people – Helheim. "And what a glory it is," she mumbled to herself. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is some kind of hotel. 'Oh, could we perhaps have it a bit warmer, my wife cannot feel her bones anymore.' 'Excuse me, where do I register for Bingo?'" Feigning a gag the goddess of death shook her inky curls. As if having to save my father from constantly worse situations isn't tiring enough. At least I get to see Uncle Thor's Midgardian friends more often now. A small smile ghosted over her rosy lips. Black Widow even left me messages with her last few victims. Even though I had to battle the Valkyries to get them. Maybe I should show her how to communicate with me on less deadly terms?

Leaning back in her chair, until she balanced only on two legs, the young woman let her dark curls spill over the back of the chair. Absentminded Hel brushed her hands through her long tresses as she allowed her thoughts stray. "If only, if only," Hel mumbled to herself. "If only there was a way I could start my plan earlier… But no, I need to wait. There is no other way to do this. It must be an opportune moment. His soul is not ready. Yet."

Sighing, the young woman dropped back to the ground. Her desk was littered with new requests fluttering down from the ceiling in a constant stream. It seemed every single ghost needed or wanted something. She quickly sorted through the papers, making separate piles for applications to be allowed into Helheim, requests for something and complaints about fellow inhabitants. Since when did I beg to be a Midgardian, who is only allowed to leave my study to sleep? I really need some responsible people to take this off my shoulders for a change – only then I'll have to read applications first…

Someone knocked on her door. "Yes," Hel called absently. In her head, she was already wording the announcement, that her office needed some extra help and whoever had experience with it might send their qualifications in. Completely lost in thought, Hel didn't even hear the door swing open and neither did she hear it click shut behind whoever was bothering her. Only when the shuffling of feet stopped at a short distance before her desk did the goddess look up.

A sigh escaped her lips as she realised just who was standing before her desk on nervous feet, wringing his hands. The ghost before her appeared as an old man, face full of wrinkles, his eyes nearly disappearing, his hair grey. "Is it that time of year again already?" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "What can I do for you this time, Son of Hoffer?" The old man bowed his head before her. At least he had learned how to approach his goddess. "My lady, I was wondering, you see, my cat was always very loyal to me and I fear what will happen to her without me..." Hel rolled her green eyes. "How often do I have to tell you: I have no time for your foolish wishes. Every other day one of you ghosts comes bothering me. Am I not giving you a home? A place to rest?" Her pretty face contorted in rage. "And you dare beg me for more?!"

"Yes, you are very generous Lady Hel, however my Milly-"

"Is destined to die in a battle with dogs!" Hel snarled dangerously quiet with bared teeth. "She is not on my list. So, if she dies someday – and believe me, she will die, because all things die – then the Valkyries will have to decide, if she is going to come with them to the feast of Valhalla or if they send her to me, thus to you by extension." She sucked in a much-needed breath. "Until then, Hofferson, I can and will not do anything about your wretched cat! I am not stupid enough to battle the Valkyries over a puny animal. I am sorry, but this is not how the system works. If you wish to go against fierce warriors, then please, for Odin's sake, just do it – but leave me out of it."

During her outbreak, the old ghost had whitened even further and backed away from her form. Although Hel looked like a young woman on the outside, she was older than most ghosts the goddess had taken under her wing. And once she got angered she tended to show her true colours. Her skin had turned into an icy blue, her normally green eyes clashed with sunset red and her inky hair seemed to flow in an unnatural breeze around her shoulders and back. She looked fierce and dangerous. Hel looked every bit the daughter of a frost giant she was.

Upon seeing the fear her transformation had inflicted upon the poor ghost, the young woman took a few calming breaths, closed her eyes and slowly morphed back into her humanoid self. There is no use in scaring them unnecessarily. Calm down Hel. They are your responsibility. You are here to help them, not scare them. You can scare the living, but not your own subjects…

There was another knock on the door and it opened once more. A shining blue ghost in the costume of a messenger entered the study. "What?!" Hel whirled on him, her eyes, again, spitting fire, her teeth bared in a snarl. The ghost didn't break a sweat, seemingly used to her mood swings. He merely shot the old man before her an annoyed look. "Your Ladyship." He bowed deeply to her. "I have come with urgent news."

"What is it?" Hel snapped. Without blinking the messenger looked back at her. "Your father. He fell in battle." Hel groaned, hiding her face behind one hand. "Where?"

"Svartalfheim. Sword through the heart," the messenger replied steadily. Hel shot him an exasperated look. "I should put a leash on him."

Without another look at the ghost before her desk, Hel whisked her things together, clothing herself in battle gear and a green cape with a swish of her hand. "Get him out of my study," she said to the messenger ghost in passing. "But-but my Lady," cried the old ghost. The young woman whirled around to him with a scowl fixed on her face. "Listen up old man: I am not in the mood to deal with your cat. She isn't on my list and I am not getting myself unnecessarily involved with the Valkyries. Now off you go and don't you dare come back until the hundred years are up!"

Ignoring the shocked look on his face, she turned back around and stalked out of her palace. Here I come Dad., she grimaced. Maybe I should stop telling him not to die on me. He seems to take that way too literally. Or, if I just take him with me and strap him down? Maybe that'll stop him from tumbling into death again and again.

Dead people jumped out of her way left and right. Whenever Lady Hel wore her armour, she was on urgent business. And save the poor soul who happened to cross her path when she was in this mood. A small smile found its way onto her lips. "They say dead men tell no tales. Let's see, what Dad has to say to that."