Heimdall hastily pointed us in the direction of the castle and Thor flew us there, strong enough to keep both Sif and I in his arms. It was exciting to say the least.

The palace looked like nothing I'd seen before. The walls were broken and gravel with column and concrete lay shattered amongst the different hallways.

One wrath down, ten to go.

"Loki?" I stepped over pieces of concrete into the throne room.

"What do you wish to torment me with now?" He was leaning against a large piece of column.

"It's me!" I told with a grin, "It's me! I'm back!"

"I believe every other illusion." He flung a ball of fire at me. I rolled out of the way and onto a part of a column.

He stood to the challenge, "Tricky one, aren't you?"

"But it's me!" I dodged another ball of magic.

"Loki!" Thor hit a ball of blue with magic with mjolnir, "Stop this!"

"Oh…" He inhaled deeply, "It is you… Why have you brought Thor here?!" He turned suddenly angry and fierce, his eyes ablaze with madness. "First you leave, and then you betray?"

I shook my head in protest, "I came to see you! He and I want to help."

"I told you about him!"

"Believe me!"

"I never thought you were one to be back-stabbing."

"Thor came to me!"

"Her parents were worried about her mental health… they thought I could help." Thor muttered, keeping his head down.

"Mental health? Mental health? And how do you think I'm faring?!" He made a kaleidoscope of himself and hit Thor and I with a ball of ice.

The pain registered first and I was on the ground the next moment. One wall beaten wall I saw a sword that would be my very last resort. There was no way I would be able to stab him through the chest.

Next I remember seeing Thor trying to protect me. The two of them began to battle it out. Thor was big, but not dumb. The battle seemed almost fair! Loki was very talented in magic and tricks, yet Thor had a lot of brunt, and could fly.

"Stop this. Stop!" I begged.

Loki flew another ball of energy at me and I barley dodged the blow, rolling closer to the sword. I didn't want to hurt him, though.

The stress overloaded my mind as Thor gained the upper hand. I had to help but what could I do? I searched for anything but the sword, but it seemed to call me. Perhaps the sword was the answer. I lunged for it and stared at my reflection in its long blade. My lips were colorless along with my face, but my eyes had gone completely red, not even the pupils escaped. They glowed and almost blood stain shine.

This is what I came here for, or was it? It wasn't time for the prophecy to be fulfilled yet! I shook the color away but oh how my head burned. Oh it hurt!

In a quick sweep, I could feel my breath escaping my lungs.

Who were the two men now at my side, trying to nurse me back to health? Where was I? Where was my mother?

My last look was at a dark headed man. I don't know why but I started to cry when I saw his face. The blonde man put a rag on my burning forehead.

My blood stopped flowing… and I passed.

My eyes fluttered open. I lived! I actually lived! I couldn't believe it! I had so much more left to do!

Wait.

Where was I?

My core lifted me off of some ground, muddy ground, and when I looked around, it was like I could see, but couldn't. I thought I was in a mountain with a dim redish light. Was I still in Asgard? I stood, only to notice that my feet were… not on the ground!

My body glowed a sickish transparent light green. My once beautiful Asgardian robe was now shattered to where it barely covered my creepy body. I found a shattered mirror along the nasty murky train of water. My face glowed like the rest while my eyes remained a light shade of blue instead of their normal hazel. Parts of my flesh were burnt away as if I had been in an explosion and even a part of my face revealing the bone wherever it was torn away. My fingers danced along, more smooth and gentle than ever could've before.

I was hideous yet so pretty at the same time.

What happened to me? I floated about trying to find someone I could talk to, but I only found more people that looked like me!

Howard Stark, Obadiah, The Red Skull and a few other people that weren't necessarily good, yet not bad, I was able to pick out from history…. But… they were all dead… I didn't make it… I was dead.

Helheim. I was only alive in Helheim. The underworld ruled by Queen Hel herself.

I wandered around for a little, refusing eye contact if that were even possible… then I found someone I really wish I hadn't.

Laufey strode up to me.

I tried to speak, but this body refused to make words. He gave me a deathly glare to get out of his way. I nodded and moved quickly.

I expected to see Frigga, but then I realized she was much too good to come here… I had died and there was no way I was ever going to leave this watery gross cave.

"Layla…" A soft voice called.

I turned to see who it was.

Frigga had come down from Valhalla and granted me speech.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"You need to keep on hoping."

"What? I have no hope. I am dead here."

" You shall be rescued. Trust in me." She smiled a faint smile at me and disappeared.

The chills ran down my spine as I realized I was suddenly being carried downhill. The force of the water tilted. As if a rain had swept away the leaves, it also swept the souls away.

Then I felt the arms.

Arms of a living soul gripped onto my legs and arms, carrying me through the wreckage.

"Get them!" The skeletal queen shouted as my soul was carried out of Hell itself. This was a story I would never forget.

The arms—living arms that carried the dead ran through the mud. The breath contrasted the body that held the soul with ease. The heavy breathing was almost audible as the holder of the arms clung onto the limp conscience of the one alive me.

In the arms of a living soul, I couldn't move. My head was leaned against the chest, hearing the pounding heart as the holder ran. My arms hung loosely in the air and barely moved as the holder hastened his pace while my knees remained firmly in his grip.

Up ahead I could spot Thor making a way to the outside. Who was holding me? My only conclusion… it was him. I could feel his cold hands over my garments and his cold chest on my brow. I was almost surprised at how strong he was compared to what he looked like.

"Hurry up before Hel finds us!" Loki shouted to his brother who flew around, trying to find a way out.

"I am trying!" He blast his way through the last chunk of cave and pointed to the way out. Thor smirked as we past him, "So much sentiment brother. It is strange to see this. It's almost… heartwarming!"

"Oh shut up!" He groaned and carried my soul into the sunlight and oh it burned! I tried to fight against his grip. "I'm sorry." He whispered as we were transported back to Asgard and even the light from the golden cylinder burned! It burned so bad that I wanted to be dead… oh wait… I already was.

Seeing Asgard made me cringe. I wanted to stay in the hell hole so I could manage the pain. Loki and Thor rode their horses to the palace, with the god of mischief keeping me in his arms.

"Stay with us!" Thor shouted.

The gods with fury to spare rode—literally—through the palace.

"She doesn't have much time!" Loki argued. They burst through the recovery room doors where Sif was waiting by my dead body.

That was me.

The color had left my face completely along with my lips. My hair was laid on my shoulders as if I were being prepared for a funeral. The death around the room was intimate. I could feel Hela herself trying to pull me back to the underworld despite my wishes.

All before my soul could return to the shadowy realm, Loki laid my soul back in my body… and I lived once again.