CHAPTER 2

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CHAPTER 2 Heir of Mischief

Standing in front of the door, the noise was even louder. It sounded as though Hela attempted to cut right through the massive wood and magic infused in it. The never-ending salve of hits led Hel to assume her aunt might throw a constant array of swords at it.

"Great. This is going to end badly." Hel summoned her magic, letting it glide up and down her arms until it settled into a second skin.

A particularly loud bang let Hel flinch away from the door. Only for her to snarl at the wood a second later. The longer she waited, the angrier Hela would get and the more vicious she would fight her. Or she could grow tired and make it easier to subdue her.Another bang shook the door. Or maybe not.Hel shifted her stance, extended her senses and allowed her magic to pull her into the chamber of death.

Inside, she materialised in Hela's back. As quiet as a shadow. The other woman was indeed firing sword after sword at the door. Hela was covered in black fabric infused with green lines of power. Her black hair looked shaggy, filthy. Still, Odin's firstborn carried herself with the calm confidence of someone used to power.

Hel threw a quick look around. The chamber looked bigger on the inside. Sickly light illuminated a desert-like landscape with ragged stones, dust and mountainous shards rising from the ground like fingers of long-forgotten giants. No wonder she wants to get out of here. This is no place for a goddess of death. It's dead, drawing our energy right from our pores.

Hel felt a short sword and a hook sword appear in her hands. Her hair threaded itself back into a long ponytail. I don't like the thought of getting near her, but the Valkyries did try to stay away as well and failed miserably. I'd rather not take any chances right now.

Somehow, Hela still hadn't noticed the presence of another goddess within her cell. Her anger was solely directed onto the door in front of her. It reminded Hel of a cat in a box, who just stared at the closed door and didn't realise the top was open. The single-minded focus on one thing could mean the distraction from a much more convenient solution.

"I don't think this is going to work." Hel's eyes widened once she realised it was her, who said it. Hela spun around. Her hair trailed behind like ash. Emerald clashed with pale aventurine. The goddesses of death stared at each other, neither looking too pleased with the other's presence.

Hela was the first to speak. "So, the All-father has replaced me." Her voice rasped due to misuse, only adding to her overall somewhat decaying look. There was not much power left in her after the fight with the Valkyries. Even with Odin's power weakening, there wasn't much of her left.

I need to do this quickly.Hel hid her thoughts behind a mask of indifference. "I don't think, I can replace you," she told Hela honestly. Because that would entail going crazy and being holed up in this prison cell. No thanks.

Hel let her eyes trail over her aunt and fellow goddess of death. Even, if they weren't related, they did have some similarities. Both favoured dark colours, had dark hair, their eyes glittering in a pale face. But where Hela's face was harsh, Hel retained a soft glow about hers. Where Hela's figure was dark and intimidating, radiating power, Hel wore her youth like armour to hide her skills behind. Make her underestimate you. It makes it easier. Her magic is limited to weapons. You can have the upper hand.

Hela seemed to come to some sort of agreement with herself. She rested her hands on her hips, a little smile playing over pale lips. "If you're not my replacement – then who exactly are you?"

"My name is Hel Lokisdottir." Hel allowed some of her resentment to slip through her carefully crafted mask. Her swords felt heavy in her hands. "And the All-father has wronged us both. He robbed us of our rightful place in life. At the top of life."

It was a dangerous game she was playing. Hela might look through her and try to kill her on the spot. Hel was not entirely sure she would be able to defeat her aunt, if she was at her full power.

The condescending smirk on Hela's lips widened. "And what exactly would your rightful place be, little girl?"

"I was cast into the shadows. Hidden away like a beast. Like something to be feared." Hel narrowed her eyes dangerously. "My father was robbed of his birth rights in favour of his older brother. Thrown into prison for trying to make a place his own. To conquer a foreign world of lesser creatures." Her lips twisted into an ugly snarl. "And does the All-father send help? Does he show gratitude?" She saw Hela's slowly lowering walls, noting the similarities in their stories. "He could have had it all – but he cast us aside!" Some of Hel's power flared with her anger, rippling through her hair.

Hela watched the younger woman carefully. Obviously, the mirroring Hel intended to lure her in with was not entirely successful. Yet. The seeds were there. She saw it in the way Hela's eyes darkened in anger. How her minor magic abilities, only honed to hurt and fight, crackled under the surface of her skin.

"It seems the All-father still has the same tactic, little sister." Hela made an inviting gesture towards Hel, almost looking caring. "Help me to rise to power and I will give you what you deserve. What he owes you."

Hel pretended to mull it over in her head for a few moments. "What exactly would you give me?" She couldn't resist the question. It was too tempting. She was a lie smith's daughter. "Forgive me, but the All-father claimed to help me as well and it didn't end well for neither me nor my father."

"You get to live under me and help me conquer the realms. Spread Asgard's reign throughout the universe." Hela's eyes gained a gleam. "We'll be feared and revered. We'll be the acme of civilization."

Hel watched her aunt fall into a world of her own. Hela was definitely still aware of her surroundings. One doesn't survive as long in a prison cell in Helheim without learning to watch your back at all times. One also doesn't survive this long in a cell without going crazy.

"Spread Asgard's reign," Hel tested the words on her tongue. It did sound good. Coming from a sociopath that is. "Bask in the sunlight once more. Soaking in the beauty of Asgard after this life in shadows." Hel allowed one of her father's smiles to tug at her lips. "But the shadows also give power. They enable us to move unseen. No one will ever see us coming, if we keep to the shadows. Get them quick, the victory would be so sweet."

Hela followed her movements as she disintegrated her swords that had hung loosely at Hel's side until now. A pleased smile curled the corners of her mouth. On the outside, Hela had reached her goal and acquired a new ally. An ally with magical abilities and a knowledge of what went on beyond the gates of her cell. An ally, who knew very little about her, it appeared. Nothing about her tricks, her deceit, her power, murder.

For a moment, the two women shared a mutual, sinister grin.

"My Queen." Hel bowed, her right hand pressed to her heart. "It is an honour to serve you."

Hela's grin turned feral, as she stared down at Hel. "Wise choice, little sister." And as silent as a ghost, Hela moved closer towards Hel, who still bowed her head. "Even, if you are not sincere." Hela leaned down to whisper in her ear. "It is a wise choice to follow me."