Loki's mind is a complex dichotomy of lust and hatred. Tenderness and compassion. Satisfaction and revenge. As he dreams, the fires of hell ensnare his mind, forcing him to again brood about Thor and plan his vengeance. Loki no longer screams in the fire, aware that he is placed here to receive a message. This time, while Loki trudges through the river of souls and flame, the figure on the other side calls out to him.

Loki raises his head, exhausted from the constant fighting against the ghostly arms. The underworld god continues to yell out Loki's name, until they finally are close enough to see each other clearly.

Pluto is a humongous feat of strength and size. He towers above Loki, covered in a thick, black metal armor. His head is bald but covered in tattoos and symbols. They are unrecognizable to Loki, and are in a dialect he is not familiar with. Pluto smiles menacingly at Loki, in the same manner that the trickster used to do with Thor.

The beast of a god leans forward to Loki, who is still swimming to stay afloat in the Phlegethon river of flame. Pluto opens his lips to deliver a message, revealing a mouth with several rows of sharp teeth; there seem to be a number of throats as well, but Loki cannot tell if it is real or the light playing tricks on his eyes. The God of the Underworld's voice is booming, reverberant, and almost too loud to understand.

"Go to the Don City. There you can commune with me to assist you in taking back your crown." Loki's eyes don't leave Pluto. He nods in agreement, but is still holding his arms up from the dead souls below; Pluto gestures a single wave of his hand, sending Loki out of the flames and back into the darkness of his own mind.

Loki is naive to Pluto's own agenda.

...

When Loki wakes, Sigyn is still asleep on his chest. His heart is racing yet again, but for a different purpose; he is anxious to get moving. The tenderness he had last night is dashed away with this new order. His focus is now on seeking revenge against Thor with his ally, Pluto. As a result, his mind is again poisoned with effects from the underworld river. Loki lifts Sigyn off his chest, careful not to wake her. He walks out of the tent in search of Freyr.

The sunlight is nearly blinding to Loki's still-healing eyes. It beats down on the village, leaving hardly anything in shadow. Loki registers the heat. It must have only been springtime on Vanaheim when he and Sigyn first arrived, as now they are in the last days of the summer's high sun. So odd to have a harvest moon this time of year, but Loki knows little of how the Vanir weather changes. He finds Freyr in council with a few other men.

"Uncle, I need to enlist your help in finding the Don City." Loki does not hesitate to get to the point. He isn't quite sure how he will reach Pluto there, but is certain he won't find the city on his own. "I have business to take care of there."

"Loki, what business could you have, if those you knew think you are dead?" Freyr sees through the ruse, knowing there is something Loki isn't saying. His eyes are tipped low as they were the night before when he asked about Sigyn. Freyr dismisses the other men present at their meeting.

"What do you care of my errand?" Loki snaps back at him, but then breathes deep in calm. He cannot alienate the only kin he has in this realm. "Uncle, I cannot leave alone the treachery of my so-called family. I have a meeting in the Don City. At this point, there is nothing more." Loki's words are not a lie. He hopes the honesty will bring Freyr to his side.

For a few minutes, Freyr contemplates what Loki could be up to. He notes that Loki's attitude seems to be shifting in manic opposition at each meeting. Loki is adamant about this new request. "When do you need to be there?" Freyr asks him, with a touch of indifference. It is not his business, nor will he have any part in the trouble Loki is initiating.

"When do we need to be where?" Sigyn has awoken and found Loki with Freyr, curious to their conversation. It didn't take her long to get from the tent to here, and already the woman assumes that she will go wherever he does. This fact annoys Loki. But he bites his tongue. The dark shadow of the man from last night decides that having any kind of ruse to go there with Sigyn is a better cover than just "business."

"We should make our way to the Don City, my darling," Loki is snaking the language like only he could. He touches her hand and kisses it gently, inviting her to sit with them. Loki introduces Sigyn to his uncle Freyr, giving her slight background on their history. Sigyn knows that Loki is hiding something in this friendliness, and presses more questions.

"Loki, why would you want to leave this place in the mountains? Is there something there that you need and cannot get here?" Sigyn is naive in her interrogation. To her, they have nowhere to go, and have no reason to seek out attention from more people who could risk their survival. Why would they ever need to leave the mountain fortress where they have everything they could need to survive here, happily?

Loki ponders her question, needing to come up with a quick lie. Sigyn would be less than pleased to learn of his true intentions. He knows she would still follow even if he told her the truth, but having her strong will to lead the pack would be a wiser choice.

"We need an official, Sigyn." Loki looks deep into her eyes, wooing her into his lie.

"Loki, what for? You haven't been awake for even a day!" Sigyn's concern is genuine. To Loki, it's more annoyance. But he is cool and much more calculated than she can imagine. Loki takes her hands in his, and fakes the dreamiest face he can muster.

"Why, to marry us, my love."