This is the sequel to Creation, so if you have not yet read that, go read it first!
Other than that, enjoy and review!
The galaxy above Asgard is shimmering with mourning.
Thousands of stars, all bright in colour, seem to sparkle with less brilliance than I remember. Perhaps they sense the despair surrounding me.
Below the terrace that I stand on, the Æsir hold lanterns on the long stone dock; Balder is to receive a boat funeral on the largest ship in the realm for remembrance of his once golden life - God of Beauty and Purity to the Midgardians so long ago. The Aesir weep and they talk about Balder—the most beautiful, the most gentle, the most wise of them all apart from Odin and Thor. "He was much loved by all the realms," I hear someone hum below the balcony, "He was admired greatly. A glorious man."
The royal guards - the Einherjar - are adorned in their usual gold armour. Flames on long torches cast an eerie glow across all their faces. I look beside me. The distant flames seem to accentuate the gaunt features of the god standing next to me.
"Loki," I say, placing a hand on his arm. "You must go. They are waiting for Odin."
On cue, his body transforms with a green sheen and suddenly I'm looking into a ghostly face of the dead All Father. I nod. "Go."
My creator moves away, motions sleek and nimble in the old man's figure. For the first time I wonder where the real Odin is. Where his body lies rotting. As soon as the thought enters my mind I shake it away - I've no time for such terrible thoughts.
Loki moves swiftly down the steps and to the waters edge, wordlessly. I follow close behind, moving in beside Sif. Her stature is strong and tall - fitting for a Goddess of War. The goddess's face is firm as she eyes the giant ship. I know what she's thinking:
No one here will be strong enough to roll it out to sea.
Glancing around me, I soak in the majesty of my surroundings. The ambiance is overwhelming. Solemn faces look past me and to the ship as Balder's body is placed onto the boat. He is draped in cloth and surrounded by bouquets of Lavender, to represent admiration and beauty, and White Calla Lilies for his magnificence and purity. Hah. His purity. I recall the swift motion of his hand striking me across the cheek only days before, and have to bite my tongue. Truly, he was a rough man. Though I cannot lie, he did not deserve to be killed.
As the body is lowered into the ship, we all wait and hold our breath. Loki stands at the front, Odin's image giving him powerful authority. Then he bangs his staff against the dock before the men attempt to move it into the water.
"No."
He lowers his eyes, catching mine for just a second. Then Loki pulls his gaze back up to the crowd.
"None here posses the strength to move the ship onto the water - which is why I have requested help from the giantess Hyrrokkin. From Jotunheim."
Murmurs ripple throughout Asgard.
"She is a danger," A voice calls out. I recognize Volstagg. His big red beard even more red against the light of the torches.
"She is of enemy blood!" Another voice cries.
"She is sent here to help at Odin's bidding," Sif insists. Though the doubt in her voice is not hard to miss. Their voices drown out, overtaken by a sudden groan. I turn and see the bifrost spinning. It moans as it picks up speed. Then a blast of white light appears, and the giantess emerges from the golden sphere. My held breath swells in my chest.
"Lo - Odin. Are you sure of this?"
The unpatched eye swivels down to me from Loki's place at the top. "Auzreha, you always doubt me."
I see Sif's forehead crease at our words. Her gaze moves up and down me as she scrutinizes me, but her attention is pulled away quickly as the female Jotun crawls across the rainbow bridge. I shoot Sif a snarl as she turns away. I don't like her.
Hyrrokkin is big. Like, talk about the great blue whale much. Her weight trembles the ground so much I'm afraid the bridge is going to shatter. She sits upon a fierce white animal, with claws that are razor sharp and teeth that look like they're the size of my hands. I take a cautious step back. The reins on the beast wriggle and writhe, hissing and hooting. Snakes. The reins are living snakes.
I step closer to my creator, voice low so no one else hears. "What is that thing and why is she here."
"That, dear Auz, is the giantess and her wolf."
"I'm not blind, Loki. Why did you bring them here? To Asgard."
"You know very well why. My reasoning was given in the speech."
I shake my head. "Is that all? Is that the truth? No tricks?"
Loki smirks. "No tricks."
The Æsir huddle together as the colossal Jotun approaches, not in fear but in strength, for they know they stand stronger as one. The men who were attempting to push the ship back away and give her room. Hyrrokkin snorts, her ruby eyes searching the crowd until they land upon 'Odin.' He gives her a nod and stretches his voice across the people.
"Behold, the giantess of Jotunheim. She has come to do a duty for us that no man is strong enough to do - roll the great ship out to sea. See that this will be the start of a new companionship between our realms. Hyrrokkin, may I present to you: Asgard, and it's loss of a great man."
Only I notice the curl of his lips on the last two words.
Slow and steady, Hyrrokkin slides off her beast and lands surprisingly graceful. Her head tilts up as she looks on the ship and Balder's dead body. I wonder what Loki said to persuade this creature to come.
Large hands outreached, Hyrrokkin's fingers push the ship from it's post where it sails in between the two docks, elegant and handsome. Soft hums of approval vacillate around me. The water folds and ripples under the boat. Though her gesture is so violent it conceives a single spark. The flare is so small that at first, I mistake it for just another lantern amongst the mourners. Then Sif draws in a sharp breath.
"Oi!" Someone shouts.
The fire builds and coils around the bouquets of flowers so suddenly, leaving them shriveled and dark like Hyrrokkin's face. Shocked exclamations ring out, though the boat does not stop moving. Flexuous flames hiss and pop, devouring the funeral ship. Mass confusion spreads like butter across Asgard. Loki's eyes widen, then narrow. He pushes his way through the crowd towards the giantess. Near the bridge, the white beast begins roaring and snarling at the sight of the fire.
"I will crack her skull," a voice growls behind me as the ship begins to crumble. Whipping around, I see the blonde man with the funny beard - the one who assisted the escape from Asgard only last week. He lunges forward as Sif holds him back.
"Easy, Fandral." The goddess warns. "You alone cannot defeat her."
A distant snarl sends shivers up my bones. It takes all of my will to force my head to turn and stare at the Jotun wolf as it stalks closer to where we stand, snapping at women and children. Suddenly a swarm of guards rush at the howling beast, swiping it with blades and bashing it with clubs. Sif and the others join in. And leave me alone.
I stumble back, lost and completely overwhelmed in the chaos. My feet, still bare, slip on the wet ground and I tumble. A cry slips involuntarily from me. I see the shining tower of the palace, mocking me with it's peaceful appearance. I frantically look around, trying to find Loki in the midst of all the commotion.
Sauntering, Loki stalks up the female Jotun near the rainbow bridge, too far away for me to see his expression. I stand carefully, wiping my throbbing hands on my dress. Nervous, angry vibes pulse in the air as the royal guards manage to salvage Balder's body from the wreckage.
"What have you done?"
Loki's booming voice trembles with force through the All Father's body as his staff knocks against the ground and vibrates across the land. It is strange, hearing him speak in the old king's voice. His father's voice. Though I would never dare say that to Loki unless I craved the sting of his hand.
Hyrrokkin strokes her animal, calming it's angry bellows and glancing down scornfully. All of Asgard halts, suspense growing. Every one of us wait for her answer. There is none.
"All Jotun are the same," Volstagg huffs in the silence. "No respect."
"That is no way to flatter your new king." Says Hyrrokkin, lashing a serpent.
Sif's head tilts dubiously, her hand gripping her sword "We know not what you speak of."
The giantess's head whips to Loki, brow knitting together in surprise. Her scarlet pupils gleam. "They do not know? My, what a turn of events."
Sif turns slowly to Odin's figure as Loki moves away from Hyrrokkin. He edges closer to where I stand, though the fierce woman holds her stare. "What are you not telling us, my king?"
Loki does not reply to Sif. A memory flashes in my mind; Sif's sword at Loki's throat. Her vow to kill him if he betrayed them. The gleam in her eyes. And Loki's mischievous laugh.
Dread boils in my stomach.
"You are dismissed from your duties here," Loki commands to Hyrrokkin, ignoring the hesitant looks from the people. "You have done enough here. Heimdall will see that you return to your realm." A hint of a threat quivers in his tone.
The sapphire giant straddles her beast dipping her head as she rasps, "As you wish Loki."
"Loki?" Voices echo. Faces stare at Odin's image in disbelief.
Shit.
The royal guard shift positions, arming their weapons at Loki; still concealed in Odin's form. Sif's eyes widen, her lips hanging half open. Quietly, I move past bodies, attempting to reach him. Across the confusion, the unpatched eye of Odin meets mine. Hyrrokkin stalls her departure.
"Is this true?" Sif breathes.
Not breaking my gaze, Loki's emerald eyes form through the All Father's blue ones, stripping the illusion away. He grins devilishly.
"I am your new king." It's like time pauses. "Kneel, and accept this new era!"
Horrified gasps reverberate among the crowd. Anguished cries ring out. And me? I can feel the terror spiraling around my neck and squeezing out every last bit of oxygen in my lungs.
"What have you done?" I cry.
He's exposed himself. Ruined everything.
My voice draws the attention of the guards. Loki uses their momentary distraction to multiply himself - suddenly myriad Loki's surround the land. I can't see the real one anymore. One forms right behind me, gripping my shoulders. The shivering touch of metal presses against my neck. I freeze.
"Release her!" Sif demands as she charges in our direction. Multiple tall, pale, green eyed and dark haired bodies swarm through the crowd and cause a new bout of chaos. I'm not sure who the real Loki is anymore. There's too many of him. Though the firm press of the blade on my skin feels pretty real.
Sif draws her sword. "Where is Odin?"
The Loki holding me just laughs, the sound sickly sweet and dripping with ridicule.
"Please," I look up at the Loki, unsure if he's an illusion or not. "Don't do this."
"I swore I would kill you if you ever betrayed Thor," Sif challenges. "And I will not hesitate."
"Neither will I," Loki drawls.
I feel the metal dig into my throat. Hear the slice of my flesh. See the scarlet that cascades down my front. All I can taste is metallic fluid in my mouth as I crumple onto the ground. My head spins and vision blurs. I'm dimly aware of Sif and the guards striking at the many Loki's. Everything is red. Bright, burning, flashing red. Red in my eyes. Red in my mouth. In my teeth. In my fingers.
Red. Red. Red.
Blood red.
Then I'm roughly pulled to my feet, causing me to sputter crimson specks all around. I bring a hand to my neck; the warm liquid gushes out rapidly and stains my fingers. I cough and choke on my own blood.
How could he do this to me?
My body slumps, weak and dying.
"Don't be so dramatic," A balmy voice hisses in my ear as I'm dragged along. The sarcastic voice and familiar harsh grip spark my attention. Pulling me into focus.
"Loki?"
He rolls his eyes, waving his hand across my bloody body. Immediately I'm wiped clean of the wound, the pain gone. Healed. I gape, stunned.
"How?"
"Will you never comprehend magic?"
"So... you didn't..." My voice trails off as I glance behind us to where Sif lunges at the Loki who slit my throat - her weapon merely passes through him before he vanishes in a green glow.
It was all an illusion.
I barely have time to breathe a sigh of relief before my creator pushes me forward.
Nobody seems to notice as Loki and I race away - there are so many of him that I guess one more does not affect anything. Loki leads me towards the bifrost. The giantess is no longer there. I crane my neck as I run and see her and the beast viciously fending off the Æsir. The golden city is overtaken by pandemonium. Just like that I realize the depth of our situation:
The Æsir will not stop until Loki is dead.
"Quick, Auzreha!" Loki snaps. "We must hurry."
"Where will we go?" I cry.
"To Midgard."
So I follow. Because I am his creation, and that is what I do.
