The bloody light from the sky cast eerily shifting shadows everywhere. Freyja swore she saw things flickering between rocks. She stumbled as Faraldar pulled her along, his grip tight on her elbow. The rope he had tied her with chaffed her wrists, and under her heavy cloak and dress she was sweating profusely.

"I have to stop," she gasped as Faraldar jerked her upright. "Please."

Faraldar released her arm, and she gratefully stopped, fighting tears. He pulled his canteen off and opened it. Freyja reached for it, but he brushed away her hands and held it to her lips, his free hand curling into her hair as he steadied her head. The water tasted bitter and Freyja choked on it.

"Let me go home, Faraldar. Please."

His expression went cold. "This is our home now."

"Please-"

"No!" Faraldar stood.

He began pacing, his wild eyes locked on Freyja. He ran his hands through his black hair desperately. Freyja kept her eyes on him, trying to think of a way to incapacitate him so she could escape this cursed place. She was terrified about what he might do, or try to do, and held her bound hands against her belly protectively. She spied a rock nearby shaped like a spearhead and wondered if she could grab it before he reached her. Faraldar began muttering frantically, but she did not listen to his words until she heard Ve's name.

"...never his, always meant to be mine." Faraldar nodded several times. "I just had to get you away from your liar of a husband, and make sure your interfering brother was out of the way. Cursed Heliopolitan, interfering in our love, turning you away from me, when I alone truly loved you. But my master understood, when he first spoke to me on Nornheim." He stopped and crouched down in front of her. "He helped me arrange all this, so we could be together always. You and me and our child. I love you, Freyja, as you have always loved me. Just admit it!"

"I never loved you," she spat, and the wild gleam in Faraldar's amber eyes blossomed into anger. He struck her across the face.

"Admit it!" he shouted. "Lying whore, sharing his bed when all you wanted was mine! Leading me around in circles like a puppy on a rope-"

"The baby!" Freyja screamed, cowering, as Faraldar raised his fists.

Faraldar stopped, and a stricken look came over his face. "Freyja- I am sorry."

Freyja breathed hard. She pushed herself away from Faraldar, letting the tears start flowing down her face. How far was the rock? She could not look, could not let him onto her plan- "Faraldar, you are frightening me. You were not like this before. You were gentle and sweet. What happened to you?"

"I saw truth. I saw majesty. I saw power," Faraldar told her, crawling after her like a cat stalking its prey. "You were bound to a man unworthy of you. Pig scum! The Aesir are all pig scum. They ripped me from his mother's arms, a tender babe, and she wept and pleaded and they took me still. Trained me to believe that the Aesir were all-power, all-righteous. But HE taught me the truth. Aesir are nothing."

Freyja let her tears increase. Faraldar's expression was cast in bloody shadow, making his eyes look like hollow sockets and his teeth red. "What- What are you going to do?"

"The day shall arrive soon when the nine realms shall know about the weakness of the Aesir," Faraldar hissed as though unaware of Freyja's words. "I will drink the blood of their king and prince."

"Is what you told me true? About Ve, being unable to father children?"

Faraldar suddenly focused on her face. He reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks. "Yes. He cannot have fathered your child... but not because of a childhood injury. I lied about that. You would not have accepted the truth, not then, not before we were safe here."

Freyja struggled to keep her breathing even while still letting tears flow down her face. "What, then?"

"He is cursed," Faraldar grinned an insane grin. "HE saw to that, so that you would not be burdened with that scum's spawn in your womb. Ve is cursed and shall never have a child- you see HIS cunningness now? HIS benevolence? We have a child now, you and me."

"What does you master get in return?"

"HE shall sit on the throne of Asgard, and HE shall take the realms into his power and they will all see what I saw. The cursed Heliopolitan will not stop him this time."

"What does this have to do with Atum?" Freyja's leg touched a loose rock. She stopped her retreat, heart leaping. She nudged the rock. It would be the right size to fit in her palm-

"Your brother," Faraldar spat out the word as though it was poison. "He would turn you from me. His blessing on your marriage, binding you to the oaf Ve- You are mine. HE promised me that. Fair Freyja's love and body and soul would belong to one man, and one man alone."

He launched himself forward. Freyja twisted to the side, snatching the rock with her bound hands and smashed it against Faraldar's face. He grunted in surprise and pain. Freyja scrambled to her feet and started to run. She had not gone far when Faraldar had caught her. He twisted her to the ground, pinning her with his body. She caught his throat in the ropes between her wrists, but his lips twisted in a snarl and pushed harder on her.

"I will taste your flesh again," he growled, his voice guttural as she twisted the ropes against his throat harder.

"The girl is not yours, foolish one."

Freyja's heart leapt before she realised that the voice was not Atum's. It was darker, colder- a shadow seemingly materialised over Faraldar and pulled him off of her. Freyja tried to push herself to her feet, but the shadow fell on her. It was as heavy as iron and pinned her to the ground. She gasped for breath.

"Master-" Faraldar was groveling amid the rocks. "You swore-"

The shadow began to laugh. It left Freyja and towered over Faraldar like a hurricane. "You took the promise of the Great Liar and believed it. You deserve your fate. The little one shall remain here, as punishment to her brother for interfering for so long in my plans."

"She is mine! You swore! You- You swore, you helped me give her a child-"

"Fool. Ve is not the one cursed to be forever unable to father a child."

Faraldar opened his mouth to speak, but the shadow suddenly dove. Burrowing itself into the guard's mouth, nose, surrounding him completely. Faraldar did not have time to scream. Freyja watched in horror and his flesh melted off his bones. The shadow burst out of his chest, giant claw-like shapes surrounding the body. And then, as though clothing the bare bones, the shadow coalesced. The vague shape took form. Soon a man stood before her. A man that looked almost identical to Atum, save his shoulders were more broad, his body more chiselled, and his skin was blackened and charred, like burnt meat.

"Welcome to my realm, little niece," he said. "There is no need to be frightened, not yet. You will remain whole for a while longer. It is good that you and I will be able to talk, before the end."

Freyja's throat was dry. "Chthon," she breathed, knowing what she had been trying to deny since Faraldar had told her where she was. Her mother's brother had planned this all.

"Yes. Here, you do not need to be bound." He waved his hand and the rope holding Freyja melted. A sinister smile twisted his lips. "You are as lovely as your mother, my sister. And as foolish. Stand."

Trembling, Freyja obeyed the order. Chthon casually walked forward, and grabbed her wrist. He yanked her close, trapping her in one arm, and pressed his hand, fingers splayed out wide, against her belly.

"How does it feel, little one, to know that your mother has condemned you with her foolishness?" he murmured and then looked up at Freyja. His eyes glowed red. "And how does it feel for you, knowing that you have condemned your child, yourself and your brother?"

Freyja could not stop herself from crying in fright. "Please do not hurt my child."

"Oh, I shall not hurt her. There shall be no joy in tormenting a little creature that cannot scream yet. She will end. I will hurt you, though, after my son has paid the price of his insolence."

"Your son?"

Chthon replied with a smile and yanked her wrist up. He pulled back her sleeve to reveal the jeweled bracelet that Atum had given her on her wedding day.

"Did you forget about this, fair Freyja? Or were you waiting for a time to use it when my servant could not stop you?" He did not wait for a reply. Gripping her wrist, he squeezed until she cried out. "Call him."

"I do not-"

"CALL HIM!"

"ATUM!" Freyja screamed, overcome with pain and fright. "ATUM SAVE ME!"

#

Atum stumbled, falling to his knees as an overwhelming sense of terror and pain came rushing through him. He heard Freyja's voice screaming. Save me. An image pushed into his mind; Freyja surrounded by a flickering landscape. A shadow held her fast. Atum's heart stopped. Chthon. Chthon had Freyja-

Do you see now? The final piece of the puzzle. Your beloved little sister.

Freyja. He had been so distracted by plots and murders that he could not see what was so obvious, so in front of him.

She is alive and whole, for now. Her and her child.

Atum saw the shadow wrap around Freyja's throat. She screamed. NO!

You know how to save her. Say it.

Atum panted. Freyja's fear was palpable and bitter in his mouth. Do not dare hurt her.

The shadow wrapped tighter. Say it or I shall crush her. I shall have fun first, though. She will make good sport, will she not? So beautiful-

DO NOT TOUCH HER!

Say it. Or is your pride too important?

Father. Atum closed his eyes, forcing the word to be sent to that evil, dark shadow. Father, please.

The shadow released Freyja's throat. Come to me, my son. Come to my realm, and I shall release her.

Release her from what?

A laugh. Killing her quickly is better than the alternative, is it not? I am waiting.

The vision left him, and Atum pushed himself wearily to his feet. More than likely, he would be going to his death. He was a match for Chthon in this dimension, where he was born, but in the Flickering Realm- he had never been in the place before, but it was created for and by his uncle- Father. Chthon would be stronger there, and what sort of dark creations would be waiting for him?

No matter. Atum let his light burst from him, burning his light tunic instantly. Golden armour plated him like a second skin, and he focused his energies. Freyja needed him.

#

Freyja sat amid the bleeding rocks, trying to stifle her terrified sobs. Her arms were wrapped protectively around the gentle swell of her belly. Chthon stood off to one side, the red sky reflecting off his blackened skin, making him look as though he was soaked in blood. He could be, for all she knew. He had killed enough.

"I know you are wondering, so ask."

Freyja's gaze dropped to the ground. "You are Atum's father?"

"Yes."

"Mother- Mother told me that he was conceived by Demiurge."

"She lied."

"She is your sister."

Chthon glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "What does that matter? She is woman, I am man. We hungered for release and found it in each other. Atum was the result, however much he wishes to deny me the rights of fatherhood. His mother corrupted his mind. Says I forced her to share her body. But the whore gives it willingly to whatever man she desire, and can a whore be raped?"

"A woman's body does not belong to men."

"Of course it does." Chthon frowned at the landscape, and then sat beside her. "I thought he would be here by now. Does your brother care so little for you, I wonder?"

Freyja remained silent.

"You are afraid that he had decided to abandon you." Chthon brushed his fingers across her neck. She shuddered away from him. "Do not flatter yourself, my dear. You are a beauty, if one thinks of such things, but I am far beyond such weak urges of flesh."

Freyja was not comforted. "What do you want from me?"

"You? Vain little Freyja! I want Atum. My son."

"So that you can kill him?"

Chthon looked genuinely surprised. "Kill him? No, I want him to embrace his true heritage. My heritage. Have you never wondered why he has such a fearsome reputation? He has such potential, but his mother, weak wench, holds him back... But you have never appreciated my concern for your welfare, have you my son?"

Freyja twisted sharply to see Atum striding forward. He was sheathed in armour, and his expression was grim.

"Let her go."

Chthon put his arm around Freyja's shoulders. "Will I, niece?"

"Let her go," Atum repeated, drawing his sword from its sheath. Was it the same one he had presented to her and Ve? No- that one had been newer-

"Put down your weapon."

Atum hesitated a moment and then dropped the sword. Was he shaking?

Chthon stood. "It has been too long, Atum."

"Not long enough," Atum spat. "Now return my sister to her home!"

"Does a father take orders from his son?"

"I am not your son."

"Then whose son are you? Fate cannot be tampered with, boy. I have my role to play, and you have yours. Best to accept what cannot be altered."*

Atum leapt forward, face twisting in rage. The stolen body burst as soon as Atum touched it, and the shadow ripped through the air. It set on the sun god, throwing him to the ground. Atum roared, grappling with the shadow. Freyja scrambled forwards, snatching up Atum's sword, and then backed away as first Atum threw Chthon back and Chthon rebounded, cracking a rock in two with Atum's body.

Freyja watched in horror as the fight increased in ferocity. She gripped the sword in both her hands, but knew if she tried to strike, she would just as easily hit Atum as Chthon- and more likely she would die in the attempt-

She could do nothing but watch.

#

Atum focused on the shadow, lot letting it have an inch. He could feel the fire burning in his body begin to turn cold; he needed to get out of here, to get Freyja out of here. Demogorge was raising its filthy head, struggling to get out, to take over his body. That will not happen!

Gaea has made you weak.

Atum grunted as his body slammed into the rocks; they broke apart beneath him and he was soaked in a fountain of blood that burst from the land.

I will not be bested.

He flung himself up, striking the shadowy form of Chthon. He felt his enemy ripple with pain as he plunged his fist into him. Calling on his powers, he lit with a glorious golden light. Chthon screamed from the brightness of it, the heat. The shadow slunk back.

It would be the only chance he got. Atum flung out his arm, wrenching open the curtains between dimensions. He leapt forward, seizing Freyja, and flung her through the portal.

The shadow caught him before he could follow. It plunged an icy dagger into his chest. Atum's green eyes widened as he felt the blade pierce his heart. Light burst from his wound. Calling on every bit of strength he had, Atum flung Chthon away and rolled over the flickering land through the portal. He landed in cool grass. His chest burned, and he felt his life draining away.

Energy. He needed energy to heal his wounds, to stop the demon-

His eyes were clouding over; he could not see if the sky was overcast or clear- he could not even see if there was a sky. His breathing growing ragged, he suddenly sensed a bright burst of energy nearby. He latched onto it, sucking in the light. His flesh stitched back together and he felt his energy reserved rebuilding. He forced Demogorge back into the dark recesses of his soul.

He gasped, his vision clearing.

He heard Freyja scream.

Atum twisted to see his hand on her belly, pressing hard. He felt it expanding under his fingers. Freyja screamed again, writhing, as she tried to push his hand away. The seams of her dress burst. The image of a small body pressed through her skin, stretching it out. Blood pooled beneath her. Atum stared in horror.

What have I done?

Like father, like son...

..

*This line was thought up by Marvel-Tolkien Fangirl, who has graciously let me use it. Thanks.