Chapter Seven:

It was awfully quiet that night, especially since Svadilfari had fallen asleep after nearly pounding their door in in his drunken stupor. Angrboda kept Hela's mouth covered as her little girl cried as quietly as she could, hoping not to wake up her angry "father". With her free hand, Angrboda gently ran her fingers through Hela's hair, humming very softly to soothe her child. After a few hours of near-silence, Angrboda slowly slipped her hand off Hela's mouth and she whispered to Hela,

"You stay here." She said and Angrboda quietly stood up from where she and Hela were hiding in the dark corner of the little girl's room. She slowly tip toed to the door, pressing her ear against the wood, hoping to hear either nothing or snoring. Her heart felt as though it were going to pound out of her chest and it got so noisy she was worried she wouldn't be able to hear her husband's snoring. She wished she could have taken her heart out of her body just for a few seconds…

Much to her surprise, she finally heard Svadilfari snoring. She couldn't tell where it was coming from, but she knew that he wasn't too close to the door. Angrboda turned to Hela, who was still silently weeping. She motioned for her daughter to come to her side, and immediately, Hela ran to her mother's side as quickly (and quietly) as she could. With Hela's hand in hers, Angrboda gently pressed open the door. Immediately Svadilfari's snoring grew louder and Angrboda hoped that would mean that her husband was in an even deeper sleep than she'd originally expected.

"Don't make a sound." She whispered to Hela. Hela nodded. "We're leaving."

Hela didn't want to leave… She especially was not leaving behind all of her toys and gifts that Loki had given to her. She treasured them with her life, and being such a small child she didn't understand why she and her mother had to leave. She didn't know what was wrong with her "father" and she didn't understand why they had to be so quiet. Where would they go? What would they do? Her mother didn't have a job, her mother didn't have any friends of her own that Svadilfari didn't know about. Hela wished that Loki would come back and that she and her mother could go live with Loki.

Angrboda dragged Hela out of her room, all the while, Hela quietly fought against her mother, not wanting to leave behind her dolls and toys. Angrboda didn't have to scold Hela. She simply raised her arm as if to hit the little girl and Hela instantly complied. As much as Angrboda felt that Hela was a burden, she truly did love her girl, and all the while was praying to God that her husband wouldn't wake up as they were leaving.

Angrboda grabbed Hela's coat and shoes, not even taking the time to put them on while they were still in the house. She grabbed her own coat as she slowly twisted the front doorknob and pressed open the door. She let Hela out first, then waited a second or two, carefully watching her husband who was sleeping on the couch, a bottle at his feet. When she was certain that he was asleep, she closed the door behind her.

"Mo-"

"Don't say a word." Angrboda scolded Hela. Hela didn't understand why she was being punished. Still, she followed her mother to their car, opening the door and climbing into the backseat, being as silent as death. Hela watched as her mother opened the driver's door and hopped into the front seat, throwing their coats and shoes in the back next to Hela. She didn't waste breath talking to Hela about where they were going, she just started the car and took off as quickly as she could.

. . . .

"I don't think there's a lot you can do." Thor said. It wasn't that he didn't want to help; it was just that, he wasn't too sure if he should get involved in a domestic affair such as the one Loki was finding himself in. He wanted very much to help, in fact. But he didn't know much of what he could do to help.

"Thor, please…" Loki wasn't one to beg, but his daughter's life was clearly in danger and he was desperate.

Thor listened to Loki's ideas, but none of them made any sense. Loki couldn't leave America to go to Germany because of his job; his contract with Abhilasha prevented him from leaving so suddenly. Without him, Abhilasha would never "learn" English. He was trapped. But Thor wasn't.

"I trust you, Thor." Loki said. "You're the closest I have to a friend. I will pay you to go to Germany and bring Hela here."

"I doubt that would work, Loki…" Thor was hesitant of bringing a child that wasn't his across the ocean. "I don't speak a word of German. I don't know your child and I don't want to get in trouble with the German police or anything."

"Thor…" Loki began, but Thor cut him off.

"Look, Loki, I get it. It's your daughter; you care about her a lot. But there isn't anything I can do to help."

Loki's begging came to a halt. Immediately, Loki's pleads became demands. "If you won't go to Germany alone, then I am going with you."

"But… your job-"

"It doesn't matter. If I get fired, then I'll just spend the rest of my days here in America. If I get fired for trying to save my daughter, then I'll ever spend the rest of my life in Germany if I don't have the money to come back."

Thor fell soundless. It appeared that Loki's mind was made up. Thor was going to go with Loki to Germany on a suicide mission to rescue a child who may or may not be in any real danger. Still, an adventure was an adventure nonetheless. Thor sighed, "I guess I will tell my boss that I will need time off."

. . .

When it came time for Thor and Loki to leave for Germany, Loki hadn't decided about telling his boss that he was going to be gone. A lawsuit would certainly be coming his way, as he was breaching his contract with Abhilasha. But this was important; he only hoped that she wouldn't press charges… But he knew better than that. Abhilasha was the type to wreak havoc on those she hated. She most certainly would press charges.

After what felt like weeks of dreading talking to his boss, Loki decided that he needed to tell Abhilasha that he was planning to fly to Germany to see his daughter.

.

"You can't leave!" She nearly screamed at him. "I need you; I have a press conference in a few days!"

"I'll be back before that. Surely you can get around with another translator for a couple of days?"

"You can't leave; you have a contract with me!" Abhilasha roared, she was definitely not going to let Loki go without a fight. Loki scoffed.

"I printed a copy of the contract…" Loki had highlighted a few parts of the contract quite a few times to prove his point. "My job description does not include me teaching you English. I am not a teacher. I am a translator and a translator only. My job description doesn't require me to be everywhere with you at all times either. It also says here that I am allowed extra spending money when traveling with you, my rooms are paid for and that I am allowed time off for emergencies."

Abhilasha quieted. "You've got to be kidding me… You're not seriously going to leave?"

Loki didn't have to respond, Abhilasha didn't give him much of a chance anyway.

"If you leave, I am terminating my contract with you."

Loki couldn't have been gladder to hear those words. He was hoping Abhilasha would someday free him from the burden of having to deal with her shenanigans all the time. It would be quality time well spent if he was able to share his unemployment with his daughter.

"Fine."

Abhilasha swore to Loki that she would make sure he was never hired as a translator for any of his friends back in India ever again. Loki didn't care. His first and only concern was Hela. He was coming for her.

. . .

Angrboda drove around aimlessly with Hela in the backseat. She was too afraid to call any of her "friends" as they were all friends with Svadilfari as well. All she knew was that she had to put as much distance between her and Svadilfari as she conceivably could. Hela was quiet as death in the backseat, the girl stared out the window; watching as they passed through city after city.

When they got closer to the border of Germany and The Netherlands, Angrboda cursed. They were trapped without money, without clothes. The only thing she and Hela had were the clothes on their backs and their car. Angrboda had no other option but to take Hela and herself to a women's shelter. If they went to a shelter, they'd have to start life over again. She didn't want to do that to Hela… And if Loki did come back, they'd have no way of contacting him.

It was their only option. Angrboda looked at Hela in the backseat. Hela's eyes were a deep, bright red color. They almost looked like blood, and in the light from the moon her skin looked blue. Angrboda shook her head for a moment. The light from the moon was playing a trick on her eyes, and she turned the car around and headed towards the police station to ask for the nearest women's shelter.

. . .

Thor couldn't believe that he traveled halfway across the globe with someone who, until just recently, was a complete stranger. He believed he was doing some good, though. Loki felt like someone he'd known forever. He trusted Loki and Loki trusted him. That was a good start. Thor was surprised at how quickly Loki was running out of the airport in Hamburg. Thor did his best to keep Loki calm as he'd never seen the cool, calm, collected Loki so flustered before. Apparently, all it took was a threat to his child's life and Loki was a stumbling mess of nerves. Every man had his weakness, he guessed.

Usually, when Loki would travel to Germany, he would be picked up by Angrboda. He continued to call her but could not get through. Angrboda's phone just kept ringing and ringing. The two men had to catch a cab to Angrboda's house. Inside of the cab, Thor found that their roles had switched. Loki was anxious, he bit his nails, and he tapped his thighs as he looked out of the window of the car. Thor kept calm and tried his best to soothe Loki's fears.

"What if that monster killed them?!" Loki's thoughts were slipping out of his tongue again.

"I'm sure they're fine." Thor said. He hoped he didn't sound as though he didn't care, he certainly did, but he was sure that they were not dead as Loki was thinking. Someone had to think positively between the two of them.

"I don't sense it this time."

For a moment, Thor thought he saw a green aura floating around Loki's perimeter. But when he blinked again, it was gone. The lack of sleep and the stress of traveling must have started to mess with his mind, Thor decided. He knew that this was probably contributing to Loki's anxiety. In fact, he was certain of it.

When they arrived at his ex's home, Loki didn't waste time on getting whatever little luggage that he and Thor brought. He ran to the door, opening it with the key under the mat and shoved the front door open. He was greeted by emptiness.

Loki's heart sank. He was too late.

"Loki, they probably just left the house for a while, I'm sure they'll be back." It was becoming harder and harder for Thor to stay positive. He was beginning to sound delusional, thinking that the world was a perfect place where no one got hurt and everyone sang songs and ate candy.

Loki was speechless.

. . .

"What are you doing here?!" Angrboda asked. She was surprised that Svadilfari had found her and Hela in the shelter. He wasn't drunk anymore, but he was still just as angry.

"Why are you trying to embarrass me, Angie?" He asked. He looked charming to everyone else, but Angrboda knew better than to trust his charming façade. She was still angry herself. For a while, she didn't think about Hela's best interest. Going back home with Svadilfari meant going back to a home where Angrboda would be hit in front of Hela again, it meant going back to abuse, going back to fear… But Angrboda loved Svadilfari. She wanted desperately for it to work out between them.

Angrboda grabbed Hela's arm and pulled her little girl to her side. Hela fought and fought, screaming and crying against it. She made a point to make it clear that she did not want to go home with her "father". She wanted Loki to come get her.

"Loki isn't here!" Angrboda yelled at Hela. Hela's tears fell and Angrboda raised her arm once more before Hela's tears grew louder. Hela was able to prevent herself from wailing, but she cried inaudibly while her mother dragged her out of the shelter and back to the car.

In the car, Angrboda asked, "How did you find me?"

"It was easy. I told the police my wife was missing, showed him your picture, told him the color and make of our car and he was able to look you up effortlessly."

Angrboda fell quiet. She was happy that he'd come looking for them, but in the back of her mind, something was telling her that things were not going to be fine and dandy for them as a family. Something bad was going to happen. Angrboda looked in the rear view mirror to see Hela picking at her coat. Something about that child seemed off, but Angrboda couldn't quite spot what it was just yet.

"If Loki ever shows his goddamn face again, I am going to kill him." Svadilfari said to his wife. Angrboda chewed her bottom lip, praying that Hela didn't hear it. Hela had ears like a bloodhound. She heard everything and her tears started to fall again, she sniffed a couple of times and it pissed Svadilfari off…

"Shut it!" He yelled at Hela. Hela stopped.

When they arrived at their house, low and behold, Loki was there, sitting on the front step with a mysterious blond man. Angrboda loved blond men, although, she only told Loki that once, when she was drunk and tried to convince him to dye his hair blond.

Without a second though, Svadilfari got out of the car and slammed the car door shut, startling Hela. He angrily approached Thor and Loki. However, Loki didn't notice Svadilfari at all. Instead, he only had eyes for the little girl he saw in the backseat of the car.

"H-Hela!" He stood up from where he was sitting on the front step and he ran towards the car, but was stopped by Svadilfari.

"You little asshole…" Svadilfari said. He wasn't under the influence of alcohol this time, but it was evident, he was on something. He shoved Loki, causing the smaller man to stumble back a little. "You're going to die, Loki."

"Excuse me…" Thor said. He noticed the situation going south, but because he didn't speak any German he was kind of at a loss.

"What did he say to me?" Svadilfari asked Loki. Loki remained quiet and Svadilfari shoved Loki again, this time so hard that he knocked Loki over. "Tell me right now what he said, you little bitch." Loki jumped to his feet quickly and attempted to shove Svadilfari back.

"I won't tell you shit."

It came out of nowhere. One minute, Loki was standing tall, in front of Svadilfari, who really, wasn't much taller than he was… Then the next, Loki was on the ground. He wasn't unconscious, but he certainly felt like he could be. His ears were ringing and his mouth was bleeding. He looked up to see Thor looking as though he was going to fight Svadilfari… But instead, he only saw Svadilfari holding, what appeared to be a knife to Hela's throat.

It happened so fast, Loki didn't know what was going on… Where was Angrboda?!

"Look man, I don't want anyone to get hurt." Thor said. But Svadilfari didn't speak English. He was so high he didn't even trust was Angrboda was translating to him. He didn't trust anyone. Loki couldn't hear much, but he could hear Hela's screams. Loki did his best to stand up again, but he found that from the beating he took from Svadilfari, he was much too weak.

"You hold her still, Angie…" Svadilfari said to his wife. "If she makes a move you cut her…" He handed the knife to his wife and shoved the little girl into her mother's arms. Hela screamed, not wanting to be near any of the two crazy people she was forced to call her parents. "I'm going to finish what I started…"

Thor felt helpless, but as Svadilfari made his way towards the battered Loki, Thor decided that Loki would want him to save Hela first. So, Thor approached Hela and Angrboda with caution, somewhere in the back of his mind, he was certain no mother would ever bring harm to her own child… But someone who was deluded with love might be crazy enough to do just that. He approached slowly, slowly…

"I don't want anyone to get hurt, Ma'am…" He said to Angrboda.

"Leave us alone!" The woman screeched.

There was a scream, so loud that it probably alerted the neighbors. It was Hela's…

Immediately, Hela's strength grew from that of a child, to that of a professional wrestler. The little girl grabbed her mother by the hands and threw her across their lawn. Her scream sounded primal. Angrboda hit Svadilfari and together they both fell to the ground. Loki looked up, shocked as his daughter was emitting a green aura around her… The skin of her little body began to rot and fall off, revealing what appeared to be corpselike flesh underneath. The little girl's face changed from innocent and wide eyed to wild and raging.

Her green eyes sparkled as she began to float into the air.

"Hela!" Loki called. His bloodied body and bruises began to heal right away, and he found he too, had a surge of new energy. "Hela… Wait!"

But Hela had disappeared.


Author's Notes:

A lot has happened since I last wrote anything for this story...

The biggest things were, I ended up in the hospital again for mental health reasons, my pet bunny died suddenly, and my mom was hit by a car while we were crossing the street.

Also, the new Thor: Ragnarok trailer came out, which is what gave me inspiration to write for this story. I just adore Hela and I'm so glad to see that she's going to be in Thor: Ragnarok.

So in this chapter, we see what appears to be the beginning of the characters realizing who they are. Hela already learned who she was by watching her true father's life in danger, it sort of stirred up the dormant powers in her and thus, allowed her to regain her superhuman strength and her powers. She is the goddess of death, after all. In the comics her body is half rotted and her powers are only enhanced by her cloak, which, keeps her body from falling apart and gives her her power. In this story, Ragnarok already happened, so she doesn't need her cloak for her power. That's just me using creative license.

Thor and Loki will also regain their powers in the next chapter and they will come together to stop a common enemy, who I won't reveal.

Please tell me if you spot spelling or grammar mistakes. This is un-beta'd and I usually re-read everything I write, but this time I didn't because I wanted to get this chapter posted. This was a little longer than my usual chapters, so be happy! :D

Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing! *hint hint*

- Rawiyah