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Chapter 3
Traveler
My body had frozen. I couldn't breathe properly as I felt a warm liquid streaming down to my left shoulder. It seemed like suddenly thousands of flames embraced my body, and I couldn't move. My body was stunned in its place as I could feel the monster's slow breath on my bare skin.
"How… is…it… " I breathed, but the burning pain all around my throat wouldn't permit my voice to be heard clearly. " poss-possible?" I managed to ask.
"I was eager to ask you the very same question." The voice behind my back chuckled. "But is that not a fortune… I can spend my large amount of time playing with young, living souls like you." I felt the monsters head push itself closer into my hair and sniff.
I looked back at the girl in front of me. Now she had knelt on the dirt, her eyes cast down, as her slender hands trembled slowly. I couldn't see her face anymore, as it was hidden in between shadows. "Let go of the poor child." I heard a woman's voice coming out of nowhere. I glanced around the dark cave, but I could see nothing. "Stay back!" the same voice hissed.
"Mother…" the monster said, sounding stricken with shock. Then a sudden blow knocked me to the ground. The pain intensified, spreading all around my body.
"How many times have I told you not to harass newcomers?" The woman's silky voice echoed between the hard walls of the cave. I tried to roll on my back to see who was speaking. But I couldn't; even the slightest movements made it nearly impossible to breathe and made spots dance in front of my eyes as I tried not to faint.
"But I was merely making a deal with the girl." the serpent said smoothly.
"A deal?" the voice asked.
"Yes, as she is the daughter of the god of prophecy, the owner of the Angelic eye…Ahura."
"Is she?" The woman sounded intrigued.
I rolled my eyes. I could see the serpent slither around me as it made its way to the ceiling right above the wounded man.
Who were these people…? How could they see me and talk to me? How could they cause pain to my physical body? Now I was growing sure this wasn't a prophecy; it was… something different that I'd never experienced before.
"I see… she is an unwelcome-soul… "Now her voice was getting closer. "Tell me child… what has brought you to a place like this?" she asked stealthily.
I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't: the burning pain was now tightening my chest, not allowing me to inhale or exhale. I hopelessly tried to roll on my back so I could at least see the figure who was talking to me.
"It is rude, to not look at someone when they're talking to you." The voice whispered in my ear. Her cold frigid breath sent chills down my spine. With another sudden push I exhaled as much air and blood that was in my lungs out and rolled on my back to see what I thought only existed in myths.
Now I wasn't sure if it was reality or just a nightmare. My mind seemed to stop processing the situation the moment I saw the woman's face. How did I end up here?, was the question I kept asking myself.
Part flesh, naked and part corpse, bare ribs and bony structure of her body was revealed… she was the most beautiful yet the most disturbing being I had ever seen in my whole life. Of course I had heard many stories about Hel, queen of Helheim, where the dead souls screamed for mercy, begging to get a chance to come back to life.
The thought of being stuck in such a place, having a conversation with the daughter of chaos, made me forget about the physical pain that was draining every iota of energy out of my body.
"I see… daddy hasn't taken good care of his precious daughter," the woman bent to face me. Her half-bare body was pale, and her dark-as-midnight hair fell all around it. "No wonder my son got so excited all of a sudden." She licked her lips, dead and yet as red as freshly-spilled blood. "You were truly beautiful… can't even compare you to the other you… over there. "
My eyes traveled to where the slender finger of Hel was pointing. I thought I made a mistake to think the girl was me. I didn't want to believe the fact that she was real. But how was that possible, how could I be in a place where there was two of my body yet one soul of mine present.
"You tell me… how that is possible?" the smooth voice of the woman made me look at her with confusion as the tears slowly built up in my eyes.
"I…" A tear made its way down my cheek. I put my hand on my neck where the sharp teeth of the serpent had pierced before. I bit my bottom lip. "No-none of… none of these are real… "I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.
"The pain seems real enough." My eyes widened at Hel's sarcastic yet true comment.
She knelt beside me, put her hand on my chin and forced me to look at the broken couple. "This is you… fallen apart because of the poisonous sweet love that man brought to…" She brought her corpse's finger and pointed it to my heart. " here… "She smirked and then ran her dead hand through my hair. "Yet again… you're trying to save him."
I looked back at the girl in white, dragging herself to her feet, looking around hastily. Walking around the cave as if she was looking for something, as if she didn't even care that we were looking at her. She was consumed by one thought: freedom, survive… not for herself… but for her love.
I could feel all the mixing emotions inside my heart. I could feel her. She was me… I was her… yet we seemed to be so apart. My eyes shifted to the man… was he breathing? My heart stopped, and I tried to get to my feet and go to him, but Hel pushed me back, trailing her slender fingers on my face drying my wet cheeks.
"Make it stop…please…" I whispered, looking at the yellow liquid dropping on his wound. " I beg of you…" My body was trembling. " Don't hurt him! " I cried, trying to free myself of her tight grip in my hair.
"I remember you once said this when you first came here." The woman hushed me.
I looked at the girl in white, my red-rimmed eyes fixed on her figure as she stumbled around the cave. Finally, smiling faintly, she found something on the ground. She picked it up, and then I could see it was a clay bowl. She rushed to where the man was lying, and without hesitation, she put the bowl under the dropping venom, preventing it from falling on the man's wound.
"Why…" I muttered.
"You still do not get it, do you?" Hel hissed. "His soul belongs to me… no matter how much you try to save him… no matter how many choices you make to change it, it is destined. Just a couple of years from now on… He will fall and you will follow him as you rot in the deepest dungeons of Helheim… your father is going to be so proud of you!" She started to laugh. Her high-pitched voice echoed all around me, ringing in my ears. My eyes were only fixed on the couple… On him… Loki… why will all end here? No… I'd never let this happen… I won't leave you if it costs my life…
"But you will do everything to prevent this from happening." She looked into my eyes. There was an empty hole instead of an eye in the dead half of her body. The other one was a deep, unnaturally-blue eye, so piercing that it could see anyone's deepest thoughts. "You will try… although you know you can't stop him."
"I'll stop him… I won't let this happen… I won't…" I caught my breath as I felt Hel's fingers stroke my hair.
"Of course, poor child." She said, this time softly. "But you see the sisters of fate have already braided his destiny. What that has been made can't be undone… "She trailed off. "Unless… "I looked at her abruptly.
"Unless… what?" I breathed in a low tone only I could hear.
"Unless… you gave me… what I require." she sneered.
"Wh-what do you require?" I asked suspiciously.
She smiled at me, brushing a strand of hair aside from my face. "Angelic-eye…"My eyes widened with fear. "Your father's Wisdom… which shall fall upon your shoulders. He will die. And all his glory will fall into the hands of his successor." She smirked. "Your soul… in return for…"She pointed to Loki with her one existing eyebrow… "His…" She chuckled. " such a fair deal, is it not ? "
I didn't know what to say. She was asking me to betray my father's trust, to give her what only a great predictor can have. The Angelic- Eye wasn't only wisdom that my father could witness lives; it was the source of Vanaheim's power. Without it, my entire realm would have been destroyed. No Vanir could use magic or see the future ever again.
"Do not rush… you have plenty of time to give me your answer… I will accept it any time before he falls… but remember: if it gets too late, even if you tear yourself, beg me to take your soul, your powers, and your realm just to save one insignificant soul, I will not accept," She said, slowly getting back on her feet.
My body was numb. I couldn't even feel any pain, but still I could not move properly.
"Take your leave now…" Half of her body, the corpse part, was hidden in the shadows. "The mark on your neck will lead you to me, any time you are prepared to accept my offer." She smiled devilishly. "Until next time… Sigyn."
I felt my body start to compress to the point that my bones broke; I could hear the sound of breaking every part of my body. I was melting; first the pain was unbearable, then it stopped as I was completely dragged out of my physical body. I could see nothing, and emptiness filled all my surroundings.
My hands, my feet, they weren't there. I couldn't feel my body any more. As I was only an eye that could see the shallow space I was drawn through. I tried to move, tried to shout, but nothing happened. I was only a tiny piece of nothingness in the colossal galaxy.
My soul was free of the bony scaffold. I was free… all these feelings made me wonder, was I still alive? If yes… then where was I? And if not, why did I feel uncomfortable. Was it not the thing they called peace and… freedom? Then why did I feel so sick or…or More trapped than before … where was my soul supposed to go? Heaven… or… Hel…
I snapped my eyes open. My head was pounding and my whole body seemed like a frozen rock. I tried to stand on my feet, only to immediately fall to the floor with a loud thump. I blinked several times to get a better view of my surroundings.
I was in my chambers. The cold wind was blowing inside through the tall open window, causing the silky white curtain to dance wildly. I inhaled cold air into my lungs, but it caused me to cough as I lay on my back on the glassy floor.
"Sister, are you in there?" the Familiar voice of Sylvia made my heart calm a little.
"Yes… Sylvia." I tried my best not to sound ill or unwell.
"Tanya said, Father would like us to have dinner with him tonight." she paused, waiting for me to say something. But I was too exhausted. "Are you alright? May I come in?"
My eyes widened. I got to my feet, hardly standing and pushing my back to the door, preventing it from opening. "I am well, sister… I was just…" I didn't want Sylvia to see me like this, so I had to explain to her. I looked around my room, searching for an excuse for my delay. My eyes spotted the pile of thick books next to the window. "Reading… it is a…" I gulped. "…fine evening to read." I felt my knees start to buckle, unable to tolerate my weight anymore. I had to make Sylvia sure that nothing was wrong. "I will join you in an hour… I… will take a bath first." I said abruptly.
"Alright…" Sylvia said quietly, still sounding a little suspicious." But I mean… are you sure you don't require anything?"
"No, all is well, dear sister."
"Do you not want me to call the maid to help you prepare?"
"No!" I said hurriedly. "I can handle it myself. " I let out a soft, unemotional chuckle.
"very well…" I heard her footsteps, retreating from the door, down to the hall. "Then I shall see you at the feast." She said before her footsteps completely faded.
I let a soft breath escape my lips, and I slowly fell down to my feet, still wondering what the latest experience I had had a minute ago was. Eventually, I got to my feet again and stumbled to the tall mirror in the corner, next to my bed.
I looked at my own image. Nothing had changed: I was still the same pale girl, in her peach dress, my ginger hair falling around my shoulders, my eyes deep dark blue, still a little watery from the pressure that was on me.
I looked at the silver sun shape necklace around my neck and touched it softly with my fingertips. I then took it off and I opened the sun, revealing the portrait of my mother's face inside. it shone unnaturally… it was a little bit of her magic, left in this necklace when she died.
I looked at her face, her eyes, and her hair. Father was always right. I was so much like her. My eyes filled with tears. I closed the locket and pressed it to my heart.
"Mother… Is it true that even father cannot see me in his prophecies?" The five years old girl asked innocently.
"It is true that predictors cannot see through another predictor's life, even with the Angelic Eye… but some certain points … are clear to us… your father and I may not know what is destined for you, but we can see some different parts of your life… and do you know what I see?"The woman stroked her daughter's hair gentley.
"What?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I see a golden princess, who can change fates… Sigyn, your father may not accept this, but you were born to be different… you're The Passenger of Time…"
"What is that?"
"When the time comes… you'll find out yourself."The mother said as she planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead.
"Passenger of Time…"I whispered. Mother told me that when I was just a little child. In that time, I didn't know what she meant. but now…
I pulled my hair up and gazed at my neck. It was bitten and bruised. It was shaped as the half moon. I gasped. It was real… I went to Hel… maybe a hundred years in the future from my own time, and I had seen myself, enslaved and so broken I couldn't even recognize myself at first. And I saw Him… Loki… imprisoned by Hel herself.
After I took a bath and put on a fine evening dress in the color of light blue, I side-braided my hair, laying it off over my left shoulder to hide the mark from sight. I just wanted to avoid suspicious gazes.
With a last glance, I made myself leave my chambers. I wasn't very fond of the idea of the feast, especially now that I had so much in my mind that I couldn't even focus. I was nervous, looking for any chance to be alone. Maybe another fine vision of Loki would happen to me… beside that, I still was a little weak because of the incident.
My knees were trembling and my body was so cold, I was dizzy. I simply tried to brush it aside the moment I entered the royal dining hall.
Dinner didn't go well. I had to lie, which went against my nature. Father suspected the moment I sat at the table. I tried to be as quiet as possible, even though I never was a talkative person. But I knew he would've known something was very wrong with his daughter. Though to my surprise, he didn't ask any questions.
Not even fifteen minutes had passed when I excused myself and left the dining hall, ignoring Sylvia's curious eyes staring at me. I walked through the empty hall, making my way to my chambers. I was utterly tired; even something as easy as walking seemed to be too much at the moment. I got to my chambers and fell on my bed.
My headache was getting better but I was still anxious. I squeezed my eyes shut, opening them every five seconds in the hopes of finding myself in another prophecy of him, but nothing happened. My heart was beating fast, and I couldn't stop tears from streaming down my cheeks.
The moon was complete, the only source of light in the black sky. There were no stars there. I closed my eyes. It'd been a while since I had prayed.
"Dear Aesir, protect him from the harm… let him find the true path of his life… save…" The words hung in an empty space. I felt warmth around my body, so I let myself be free of everything as I lay on the soft bed. Suddenly peace filled my heart, and I had no worries anymore.
The golden palace of Aesir gods had tenseness in the air. many soldiers had been gathered under the Allfather's command. The queen, followed by her maidens, came out of the royal garden, now heading to the library when she saw her husband and two commanders passing across the hall followed by ten Asgardian guards.
She could feel something was wrong; therefore she made her way through the soldier's line worriedly.
"What has happened? You seem to be very anxious, my king." Her hands folded in front of her as she gestured at the guards with a nod of her head.
Allfather turned to look at his wife, trying to smile, but his attempt only led to a deeper frown on his face. "Nothing to worry about; it's a skirmish…" he looked around a little. "Just make sure you and the princes stay in the palace for the time… Heimdal has alarmed us. I am merely taking precautions." He claimed firmly.
"Why? What is that Heimdal saw? I thought we were at peace with other realms." Frigga asked worriedly.
"It's nothing but a mere beast at the edge of the Bifrost."
"A beast?" Now she seemed frightened.
"It's a flying serpent, my lady." one of the commanders said, his eyes cast down. Frigga's eyes widened.
The king looked at the commander sharply before turning to his wife, his eyes softened. "As I've said, stay in the palace, and don't let Thor or Loki leave until we are certain there is no threat." the King said firmly before he started to walk hurriedly out of the palace's gate.
"Take care." She said, but her voice was lost in between the loud and persistent sounds of hitting armor.
She looked around worriedly, searching for her sons. "Have you not seen the princes?" she asked one of the maidens.
"One of the servants saw Prince Thor and the others going to the dining room."
She smiled and nodded at the maiden before making her way to the dining hall.
"We could've drank ale, as well!" Volstagg nearly choked as he yelled with his mouth full.
"Oh, gods, I am sitting with idiots! You can't have ale yet… you're not even legal." Sif rolled her eyes at him while slicing a piece of bread. "Thor, aren't you hungry… it's a wonder you haven't eaten much tonight." she raised an eyebrow when Thor didn't respond. "Thor?!"
Thor looked up from his plate, still full of grilled lamb meat. " What?"
"Normally you'd make a contest with Volstagg on how much meat you can swallow in one second, but now look at you…" Fandral said before putting down the mirror he had been holding all night. " Cheer up a little; you've just won a battle!" he patted Thor's shoulder. "Ouch… not the hair!"
Sif had hit Fandral's head, frowning, and then cleared her throat before looking at Thor softly. "What is it, Thor? You're not your normal self tonight." She said gently.
"Nothing's wrong, my friends… just enjoy the feast." He said reluctantly, turning his gaze to the plate again.
"We can't enjoy seeing you like this," Hogan said flatly, causing Fandral to look up from his mirror with widened eyes.
"He can talk!" He cried out of excitement, but slowly distanced himself a good space from Sif to avoid being hit over the head and having his hair ruined one more time.
"My apologies, my friends. It's just that… Loki… well, I wish he would've joined us as well." Thor said, not looking at any of them.
"It isn't your fault that he always wants to be alone…" Sif looked at the others for their approval. " He … He just doesn't enjoy others' company."
"Maybe we are not good companions for him!" Thor snapped.
"Or maybe he's just jealous!" Sif said, folding her arms.
There were good thirty awkward seconds' silence after that. But it was interrupted when Frigga opened the double doors of the dining hall harshly.
"Mother!" Thor jumped out of his chair.
Frigga walked over to Thor, searching the room with her blue eyes. "Thor, Where is Loki?" She asked nervously.
Everybody in the room looked at each other with a mixture of fright and confusion.
"He… was at the training area… we were fighting before…" Thor paused, looking at his mother's worried expression. " He disappeared… I haven't seen him since then… " Frigga stopped and put her hand on her chest. "What has happened, mother?" Thor asked quirking his eyebrows.
Frigga stroked the blond boy's hair as she stepped back warily. " Stay here dear… " She looked at every one in the room. "All of you, don't leave the palace, until I find Loki… "
"Excuse me my lady… but what is wrong?" Sif asked, getting up from her chair.
"The gate keeper has observed a beast… a flying serpent…" her eyes shifted to Thor. " No Thor… you won't leave the palace, it is dangerous… "
"But Loki might be in danger…" Thor exclaimed.
"I know… that's why I'll go find him, just stay here… this is an order from our king!"
"He might be somewhere around the palace, though." Volstagg said loudly.
"I hope so…" the Queen said, cloaking her nervousness before she left the room immediately.
Thor clenched his fist. His body was tensed. "I shouldn't have left him there…"
"Calm down, Thor… we all know nothing will happen to him… he's always one for mischief." Sif said quietly, just to see Thor frowning at her. " He'll be alright. " She muttered.
His eyes were fixed on the black sky, his mind now free of any thoughts. He was enjoying the cold air of the autumn night, wet grass beneath him with all his clothes covered in muck. He didn't care at all, though; just a moment ago, he thought he had heard a whisper.
"You were born for a glorious purpose…"
The soft voice echoed in his mind. It was like he knew that voice. It was so familiar… so close… yet no matter how much he pushed himself, he couldn't remember when or where he had heard the voice. It was just… so comforting. He thought.
Loki shoved his hands behind his head, staring blankly up. an idea was starting to form inside his head. Was he born for a written purpose? Of course, he had heard many stories about three sisters of fate, who are sitting above the tree of life, Yggdrasil, braiding people's fate. But was it really true? So then, if it was written for him to be always less than Thor, he could never change it?
It made him feel uneasy… angry in a way. He punched the thick soil.
"Not fair…"He muttered.
But what if it all was a myth, and he could write his own destiny, change it as he liked? He could be a king of Asgard, respected by people, loved by… everyone. This seemed a nice theory. Only if… there were no Norns…
He relaxed a bit. Home could wait now; it wasn't so cold that it bothered him anyway. He could spend the night here.
"Not having the pleasure of seeing Allfather and hearing how he praises Thor's actions as a true heir of the throne … for just one night… can't be too harmful." He smirked. but before his eyes could get warm, he sensed an unpleasant force above himself.
A cold wind blew in his face as the cold shivers started to meet his body. The sound of a flying figure above him made him wonder what it was that was moving above at this time of day.
"A hawk…" The heavy sound of moving wings was thick, like they were wide and made out of leather. "A dragon…" But there were no dragons at all in Asgard. "Then a… "A hissing noise stunned him. He opened his eyes slowly just to be widened further at a long, leathery figure above him, miles away but its red gaze straight on him.
"RUN!" He turned back and his eyes fixed on the lone girl on the hill. She was wearing a blue silky dress. Her curly ginger hair dancing in the wind, her pale skin seeming to shine in the darkness. Her eyes fixed on the beast above them, before she looked back down at him. Their eyes met.
Her deep dark blue eyes… his light piercing green eyes.