Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Avengers.

Authors note: Due to the Unknown being copywritten on wattpad three times, I now have both the Unknowns on there if any of you prefer to read on that platform. Both will be updated at the same time so no need to worry. Thank you BlackRose2017Z who brought it to my attention. Thank you to those of you who reviewed and to the new followers and favourites.

Chapter 18

"You still haven't told me what we are doing here," Dahlia said as she and Hela were back on Midgard, in a forest, or what seemed like a forest. They had gone through the portal and were immediately surrounded by green land. The surrounding areas were beautiful; the light touched every leaf on the trees and the clear hills and sky and gave it a calming feeling, but they walked away from the beauty and walked towards a darkening part of the land where the tangle of trunks hid the light from reaching anything, even on a clear day.

Hela answered her, "you have been having trouble detecting other Horcruxes, even with the help of the locket, you're getting too many visions at once and now it's out that he really is back, we need to find them fast. There's a shack up ahead where the Gaunt family lived, Voldemort's mother's side, if he's using sentimental places, I've narrowed it down and this should be one. Voldemort came here to find out his true heritage and wasn't happy at all when he met his uncle Morfin and discovered the truth of his parentage. He died not too long ago in Azkaban, framed for the Riddle family murders".

The two moved around the tangles of tree trunks that were blocking the shack and finally saw their destination. Its walls were mossy and many tiles had fallen off the roof so that the rafters were visible in places. Nettles grew all around it, their tips reaching the windows which were tiny and thick with grime that gave Dahlia the impression that even when people lived there, before it was abandoned, it wasn't well taken care of.

They approached the shack and Dahlia saw the skeleton of a snake hanging from the door and she looked to her sister in shock. Hela said, "Morfin Gaunt was extremely disturbed and violent, even on Niflheim he isn't all there, we are trying to fix him. He used to nail snakes to the door".

"Here I thought the family would respect snakes by being able to speak to them".

Hela waved her hand, not wishing to touch the door, and it opened. They walked inside to see the house, or rather shack, contained only three rooms. There were two doors leading away from the main room which served as the living room and kitchen combined. There was a fireplace with a filthy armchair in front of it, the walls a dirty stone grey while the kitchen had a grim black stove and squalid looking pots and pans around it. The whole house was filled with cobwebs and bits of leaves that must have blown in but was mostly filled with dust, so much so that they could see their footprints on the ground.

"What exactly are we supposed to be looking for?" Dahlia asked.

"Well I'm hoping you know," Hela replied then instead of looking around as the two sisters stood in the main room, she looked to Dahlia and said, "I'm hoping that you can sense a Horcrux if one is here. You destroyed the diary, you've been working with the locket and you've been strengthening your hold on the Horcrux inside of you, understanding it more. If we are close, you should be able to sense it".

Dahlia gave a slight nod and looked around, not wanting to touch anything in the grim old shack so she put her faith in her magic that she wouldn't have to. She closed her eyes and focused on the Horcrux, not like she did with her father in order to track them down, that would take too much magic and she never did it without her father in case she got lost in her mind and he was there to pull her out. In a way, she was picking at the Horcrux within her, drawing out hints of its magic, hoping to draw some connection to something in the house.

Hela watched as her sister focused and saw flakes of purple light magic emitting from her hands. She watched as the flakes of magic made their way around the house but just as soon as it began, it was over. Dahlia keeled over clutching at her chest and Hela was just fast enough to catch her so that she didn't fall to the dirty ground.

"Dahlia," Hela said filled with worry, "Dahlia, what's wrong?"

Dahlia managed to stand alone but Hela kept her hands on her arms just in case. Dahlia took a few deep breaths before replying, "dark magic, there's so much dark magic here, so much pain happened here, it's wrong".

"I know," Hela said, "but the universe is wrong, there is not a planet out there that doesn't have both good and bad. As much as people have tried, it is impossible to have pure peace and harmony because there is always someone who disagrees. We can only help those who have been hurt and wronged and punish those who commit such crimes".

"And the people that escape punishment, it's not fair".

"That's why I am here. All those in the nine realms, if they come to my world, I make sure they are punished accordingly. Outside of the realms, well I am a big believer in everyone gets what they deserve. It may not be the way you want but the universe has a way of punishing those who deserve it. Now, are you okay?"

Dahlia hesitated but nodded and said, "I couldn't sense it like usual but there's something dark hidden near the fireplace. Just get it so we can go".

Hela walked to the fireplace and began to look around before she sensed that one of the bricks visible from the grey wall had a slightly different feeling of magic than the others. Hela knew trickery like the back of her own hand and it was clear to her that the brick wasn't really there. She waved her hand over it as her bluish silver magic attacked it and before she knew it, the brick was gone and a ring was in its place.

Hela took the ring in her hand and recognised it immediately. Dahlia approached and went to touch it but Hela stopped her, "don't. It's spelled, I can feel it. It will kill you if you put it on".

"I won't put it on," Dahlia said in defence as if her sister believed she was that stupid to put it on when there didn't seem to be any real challenge in getting the Horcrux like there had been the necklace.

"It doesn't matter," Hela said with a hint of sharpness, "this ring draws you in, makes you want to wear it and with the Horcrux inside of you, I won't take that chance. Besides," Hela closed her fist around the ring and said as she looked to her sister, "the ring holds many secrets, including its creators. Falcon and I".

"What?" Dahlia gasped shocked, "you created that? What's it doing here? How did Voldemort get it?"

"It's a long story but-" Hela started but she didn't finish as they both heard the sound of someone apparating outside. Hela immediately allowed her hand to glow with her magic while Dahlia got out her wand in her right hand while her left glowed with magic just the same.

They slowly made their way to the door before exiting the shack and both girls immediately calmed down when they saw who was walking towards them. In fact, the old long bearded man outside seemed just as surprised to see them as they did at seeing him. "Dumbledore," Hela sighed as she said his name, knowing the older wizard had power but not enough to actually cause harm to them.

"Miss Lokidottir, your Majesty," Dumbledore said as he looked between the two.

"Looking for this," Hela said and held up the ring between her thumb and index finger. Dumbledore's eyes were immediately drawn to it and he took a step closer but Hela stopped him as she said, "don't even think about it. I know you are one of the wizards that have longed for the power of the Hallows. Did you honestly believe that having all the Hallows would make you the master of death? No one can be master of death, it's a ridiculous notion rumoured among your people since the Peverell's were alive".

"Hallows?" Dahlia questioned, "what's that?"

"I did not come to seek the stone," Dumbledore said ignoring what Dahlia asked, "I simply came to find the Horcrux, as I assume you have too".

"We told you to forget about them," Hela said, "we told you to watch your students, protect them and your world. We told you not to interfere and we would deal with the Horcruxes, yet you are here interfering. Tell me, why shouldn't I take back all that I created, including that wand?"

Dumbledore's hand went to his wand which he held tightly, as if to protect it from being taken from him. Dahlia was confused and asked, "what are you talking about? You created his wand?"

"And the invisibility cloak you were given in first year and this," Hela said and gestured to the ring in hand. She glanced to her sister and said, "all the time you spend at the orphanage with children, none of them ever told you about the tale of the three brothers?"

"No, what is it?" Dahlia questioned.

"A story told to wizard children. It tells of the tale of three brothers, wizards, who used magic to cross a treacherous river. They waved their wands and made a bridge but before they could cross, they found their path blocked by a hooded figure. It was Death, and he felt cheated. Cheated because travellers would normally drown in the river but Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers on their magic and each had earned a prize for being clever enough to evade him. the oldest asked for a wand more powerful than existence, so Death fashioned him one from an elder tree that stood nearby. The second brother decided he wanted to humiliate Death further and asked for the power to recall loved ones from the grave so Death plucked a stone from the river and offered it to him. Finally, Death turned to the third brother, a humble man, he asked for something that would allow him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death and so it was that Death reluctantly handed over his own cloak of invisibility.

The first brother travelled to a distant village, where with the elder wand in hand, he killed a wizard with whom he had once quarrelled. Drunk with the power the elder wand had given him, he bragged of his invincibility. That night, another wizard stole the wand and slit the wizard's throat for good measure and Death then took the first brother. The second brother journeyed home where he took the stone and turned it thrice in his hand and to his delight, the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared before him. Yet soon she turned sad and cold for she did not belong in the mortal world. Driven mad with hopeless longing the second brother killed himself to join her. So, Death took the second brother. As for the third brother, Death searched for many years but was never able to find him. It was only when he reached a great age did the youngest brother shed the cloak of invisibility and give it to his son. He then greeted Death as an old friend and went with him gladly, departing this life as equals".

Dumbledore cleared his throat then said, "you know the story well".

"Of course. Death and I wanted to know if the truth was being told, of course it wasn't. We don't just take souls for no reason".

"It's not true?" Dahlia questioned.

"Some of it," Hela said and shrugged, "the truth is, Antioch, the eldest and Cadmus, the second brother, both craved power. They believed in a power beyond Midgard's knowledge and believed in life after you die, so they tried to attract our attention, necromancy mostly, but that didn't work. So, they went on to kill people, five people drowned in a river and before they killed them, they gave them a message to give those who have power after. They want power. It was only when the fifth person died that they truly gathered our attention. It was a child, a little boy".

Dahlia gasped and shook her head.

Hela continued, "Falcon and I were still children ourselves, we barely looked older than the boy but killing a child got our attention. We appeared and found all three brothers. Ignotus the youngest brother was there but it seemed he tried to stop his brothers before they killed the child but was unsuccessful. They were surprised to see Falcon and I but Ignotus was smart, people still believed in us back then and he said my name. The eldest two thought they deserved a prize of some kind for getting our attention so we gave it to them".

"You tricked them," Dahlia said knowing they wouldn't give them a prize but punishment.

"They killed a child, they deserved to be punished. Falcon and I created the wand, the stone and the cloak but for different reasons. The wand we created because we knew the kind of man Antioch was, his greed and pride would be his end soon enough and all those who craved power after him, who hunted for the wand, would fall to its power. The wood for the wand was actually created from the first tree created on Niflheim after I took the throne, the first tree that grew. Ignotus did go home and see the woman he loved".

"It can show you spirits?" Dahlia asked and gestured to the ring, "is it connected to Niflheim? Is that why she went cold, like my grandparents did at Hogwarts?"

"No," Hela answered, "the people they see aren't real. The stone connects with impressions left of people that have died, so you can talk to someone who has gone, they'd have their memories and attitude but they'd fade soon enough. A matter of days at most. Ignotus didn't know this but we didn't care, driving him to insanity is what he deserved for trying to cheat us and killing a child. The stone was really from Niflheim".

"But the youngest, Ignotus, he didn't do anything. Why punish him?"

"We didn't. Ignotus was smart and did try to stop his brothers but he saw us and we couldn't have him going around telling people what happened. His brothers went around and said they defied Death and got the wand and stone but wouldn't tell anyone how thankfully. Ignotus was the only one we gave a gift to, seeing that his heart was true and that he said he feared what his oldest brother would do to him because he tried to stop them. We gave him a cloak made from real true born Thestral hair, he could hide from everyone but he couldn't hide from us and we certainly didn't hunt him. Ignotus did keep the secret and the truth died with him. We kept the wand, stone and cloak here on Midgard for people to learn true power but also to punish those who crave power as it never turns out well for them. People passed along their stories but it was Beedle the Bard that created the tale of the three brothers, his was the closest and the one told to children. But it's not children that just listen, is it Dumbledore?" She looked at the elder wizard then said, "We don't monitor the Deathly Hallows as you call them but we are aware of people who put as much research into them as you did, Dumbledore. You wished to be a so-called master of death".

"No," Dumbledore said.

"You wished for power and that lost you your sister. Now tell me, give me a reason why I shouldn't strip you of that wand".

They could both see that Dumbledore's hand tightened even more on the wand, as if he was going to strike at any moment but he must have known if he did, it would have little effect on the wand's creator. Hela wanted an excuse from him, he had caused her family trouble, planned on making sure her baby sister would become a sacrificial lamb in the war, she wanted to hear his reasoning for keeping a wand so powerful.

The reason didn't come from him through, Dahlia stepped in and said, "Hela, don't".

"Why are you defending him?"

"Because like you said, he was told to defend Hogwarts, to defend the wizarding world. Voldemort is afraid of him and I don't think it is because of that wand. You take that wand and the people that need defending have one less defence on their side. Hela, please, we have the Horcrux now, let's just go home".

Hela looked between her sister and the wizard and then simply waved her hand to open a portal before she held out her hand for Dahlia to take. Dahlia took it but before they walked into the portal, Hela looked to Dumbledore and said, "if you had found this ring, you would certainly be tempted to wear it and it would have killed you. Interfere again and you will wish you found this ring before we did".

Hela then jumped into the portal with her sister, holding her hand and the ring in the other tightly. Dumbledore watched as the portal closed and looked down at the wand, the elder wand that he longed for since he first discovered the story of the three brothers held some truth. It was true what Hela said, he was a man who kept secrets even from those closest to him, he did crave power when he was young and it did cost him his sister and his relationship with his brother. He was selfish, a man who craved power and glory all for himself but after Ariana's death, that all seemed meaningless to him but it was already too late. Regret was his constant companion and as he saw Dahlia disappear through the portal, he thought of all he could have done right by her but chose not to.

When they returned to Niflheim, the sisters barely said a word to each other as Hela kept the ring and went to her office to store it while Dahlia walked around the castle. She didn't know where to go. At first, she simply walked around the castle thinking about the new Horcrux, the story of the three brothers and Dumbledore. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore held the wand that her sister had created, that Voldemort used the stone her sister created as a Horcrux and that the same invisibility cloak she was gifted in her first year at Hogwarts was her sister's. Since the moment Dahlia discovered the truth of her heritage, she had found many connections to her family and the realm she once called home and it seemed as time went by, more and more links between the two were being uncovered.

Dahlia soon found herself stood at the top of the staircase leading to the front of the castle courtyard and she stood at the window looking out at the people going about their day-to-day lives. They had it so simple and peaceful, and they were dead. Dahlia wondered for a split second if her life would be peaceful when she died or whether she would continue to be involved in the drama that was her life.

"I'm right here, you have nothing to worry about," Dahlia heard a familiar voice say and she looked down the stairs to see her eldest brother with an unlikely guest.

"Fen," she said and as he got closer to the top of the steps, she looked at the child he had on his hip and who had her arms wrapped around his neck while he held her comfortingly. Dahlia smiled and said, "hi, Isolda!"

Isolda continued to cling to Fenrir but when Dahlia spoke, she hid her face in his neck as he said, "She's still a little shy. Isolda…blueberry," Isolda looked up slightly at the nickname. Fenrir smiled at her and said, "this is my sister Dahlia, can you say hi?"

Isolda hesitated but turned her head so she could look at Dahlia but her side was still leaning against Fenrir's shoulder. She then moved one hand and gave a slight wave before holding onto Fenrir again. Dahlia gave a little wave and smile and said, "it's very nice to meet you. My brother has told me lots about you". She then looked to Fenrir and asked, "how's everything going?"

"Good," Fenrir nodded then used one hand to stroke Isolda's back as two servants were walking past a corridor nearby and she quickly stiffened. He even placed a kiss to her forehead as they passed by which calmed the young wolf. When they were gone from sight, Fenrir said, "this is Isolda's first time in the city. We came straight to the castle, avoided main streets and used quieter ones until we got here. Isolda is staying for the weekend and we're slowly going to work on her being in the city and being around more people. Isn't that right, blueberry?"

Isolda gave a small nod.

"And why are we not going to be scared?" he asked and she pointed to him and he said, "that's right because I'm here and I'll keep you safe". Dahlia let off a small laugh and shook her head as Fenrir questioned, "what?"

"Nothing just…" Dahlia said as she smiled as she looked at her eldest brother holding and comforting the young tortured wolf as if she was his daughter, which in many ways she was, but Dahlia seeing it made it all seem real. She said, "thinking about the progress you've made in almost two months since meeting, spending most days and nights at the village, it's amazing, brother. I'm proud of you".

Fenrir didn't say anything for a moment before he smiled and said quietly to Isolda, "told you she could be sappy".

Dahlia gave him a playful glare as it did seem to make both her brother and Isolda smile then she said, "well, Isolda, if my brother ever annoys you, just come tell me. He has two sisters that will happily tell him off. Remember that".

That seemed to amuse Isolda as she pulled her head away from Fenrir's shoulder and smiled at her alpha wolf then looked between both siblings, seemingly much more comfortable with Dahlia after seeing how comfortable Fenrir was.

"Little miss brave now," Dahlia said noticing Isolda's sudden confidence. She then asked, "do you need anything for her stay? I know you might not want to go down to the shops but I can".

"No, I think we're good, but thank you. I'm just going to show Isolda around, you can join us if you like?"

"Thanks, but I was thinking of going to find dad. Hela and I went to Midgard and found another one".

She didn't want to say Horcrux in front of Isolda and Fenrir clicked on as he gave a slight nod and asked, "any problems?"

"Dumbledore showed up but didn't cause any problems. Seems he was hunting them like we are".

Fenrir tried not to change his emotions from being happy and caring for Isolda's sake but it was hard when he said, "if I remember, he was told to stay out of it".

"He was. Don't worry about it, Hela already warned him off and it turns out she has the perfect leverage over him".

"Well papa and Jora have gone to the Apex Citadel, researching more into the soul problem. I doubt they'll be back before dinner so if you want them go there".

Dahlia sighed and said, "so same as usual then. They spend as much time there as you do at the wolf village".

Fenrir shrugged and said, "and for good reason".

"Not really. Hela has looked over every book possible since she found out about my little problem. Dad and Jora spending all this time there isn't helping, they're just looking over things trying to find answers when Hela already has".

"But you know Jora and papa, they have to do something, they can't just sit around. Besides, Jora lived on Midgard for a thousand years, surrounded by their magic and papa has thousands of years on Hela. They may read something that Hela has but see it differently or know something that could help along side it. I'd be right there with them helping if I knew I would be of any help but we all know papa and Jora are far more logical than us".

Dahlia gave a small smile and said, "true".

He let one hand go off Isolda but still held her as he reached out for Dahlia's hand and held it and said, "you're always one to have faith, I'm now telling you to have faith. If there is anything to be found in that library, papa and Jora will find it and all of this will be over".

"Thank you," Dahlia said with a squeeze to his hand.

He then let go and said, "now are you going to the Apex or are you going to help me show this little one around?"

Dahlia thought for a moment before she looked to Isolda and asked, "can I come with you for a little while?"

Isolda smiled before she nodded.

Dahlia then looked to her brother and said, "I'll come with you for a bit. I'll go get Jora and papa before dinner, we both know they'll run late if no one reminds them to come back".

"Off we go then…" Fenrir said and off the three went to show Isolda the castle.

The Apex citadel was a place of learning and growth in knowledge for all those who wanted it and almost a second home to those on the council who studied the history of cultures of the nine realms and logged the current events as they progressed. Dahlia had never been before; she had no reason to go to the Apex when the palace library had everything she needed for her studies and her teachers brought her more when needed.

She flew there on Eclipse as Eclipse knew where the Apex was having been taught the main areas of Niflheim in her training. After more than an hour of flying, Dahlia arrived at the Apex and saw from above its beauty. It was stood high on top of a rocky mountain; the Apex was a large castle with five towers whose inwards angles were connected to a sixth in the centre of the castle courtyard. The centre tower was the highest point and at that point was a diamond jewel on the top showing everyone far and wide, and those flying, just where they were. The sun made the diamond shine and Dahlia was certain that the moon and the stars would make the diamond stand out just as much. Dahlia saw others flying around the citadel and noticed how they weren't flying to or from it, they were flying around it as if they were keeping guard and she knew they were guards. As she went lower with Eclipse, she saw a place to land where other Thestrals were being kept and as she got closer to the ground, she saw at least a hundred more guards scattered around the grounds, guarding the precious knowledge that lied within.

Eclipse landed and a servant came and bowed before Dahlia got off and took the reins. She walked towards the entrance of the castle and two guards opened the large arched doors and as she entered, she lowered her hood from the cloak she was wearing and stopped at the entrance hall. White marble and golden statues lined the walls, statues of beings and creatures that Dahlia recognised but then others that she wasn't as familiar with. Dahlia could only assume they were creatures and beings she had yet to encounter or read about belonging to the realms or they were from outside of the realms.

She barely had time to look around before an older dead Vanir gentleman with long chest-length grey hair and a long triangular beard approached and gave her a peaceful smile. He bowed and she gave a bow of the head, recognising him from functions at the palace but had only spoken briefly to him. He was the curator of the Apex Citadel. "Lord Quara," she said with a smile.

"Princess," he replied, "I was informed of your arrival. It is a pleasure to see you within these walls".

"I've been meaning to visit; I've heard many great things regarding the Apex and the work you do here".

Lord Quara smiled and said, "the work is never done, when it comes to documenting history and all there is to know and discover, there is no beginning or end, there is always something new and I am honoured to protect and preserve all that has been discovered and all there is to be discovered…now, Princess, is there anything I can do to help you in your visit?"

"Well as much as I would love to stay and look around, I'm here for my father and brother. I was told they were here".

"You would be correct. This way," he said and gestured to the larger arched corridor leading to the main tower.

They walked together and Dahlia saw only a few people in the corridors but the corridors quickly turned from white marble and gold and became books and artifacts and scrolls. There was a light blue light around them, a protection spell Dahlia could sense but not only that, she knew the spell was not only to protect what belonged at the Apex but also persevered all that belonged there.

When they reached the main tower, Dahlia froze in shock as they appeared through the entryway. The whole tower was open with books and scrolls and artefacts at every point in the circular tower. Towers of staircases above and below her and she looked up to see a glass skylight and chandeliers hanging every hundred feet it seemed. There must have been at least a two hundred people she could see but with the size of the tower and how it seemed never-ending when she looked down, they paled into the background and she could only assume there was more.

Lord Quara gave a small laugh at her surprise and said, "it is one of the oldest buildings of Niflheim, built on the remains of a castle that no one, not even the old kings, know how old it truly is. It would take someone more than one lifetime to read all that is in here, a spirit could spend eternity and never run out of anything to read".

Wide eyed, she looked back to him and said, "it must have an end".

"It does," he answered as he glanced down himself and could see no end to the tower. He then looked back and added, "but there is always more to add. Every day we discover something new, every day we add more to what we believe to be the truth. As time passes, this place of knowledge shall only grow. Please, princess, this way. Your father and brother are in a study room".

They walked down almost ten flights of stairs before they found themselves outside of a study room door and Lord Quara gestured to the door before he bid her farewell and left. Dahlia didn't even knock, she simply took the handle and opened it slowly but stopped when she heard the familiar voice of her father, "there has to be more, this is the biggest library in all of the nine realms".

"But it is not the oldest," the familiar voice of Lady Ravenclaw was heard, "when it comes to the aspects of history, we are still catching up with other realms but thanks to spirits, we are able to get much more detailed records of history and its truths but when it comes to children of two worlds, there are very few records on any world".

"Most kill them before they can be acknowledged," an older male voice said, "before they are even born in fact. The list you have is all of the ones we managed to uncover through history and as you can see, it is a short list, with their lives being much shorter".

"We've compared the Princess' magical lineage," a young male voice said.

"And her non-magical," a much older female said.

Lady Ravenclaw spoke again, "and they seemed normal from her mother's side but there are some peculiarities when we looked at it as a whole".

"Peculiarities?" Jörmungandr asked, "what do you mean?"

"Strong witches and wizards from Lily's bloodline-"

"No surprise," Loki said, "Lily was an extraordinary witch".

"She was, but it has to be said that she was Muggle-born and she should have found some difficulty with magic but she didn't, even when children raised in the community did. Her magical lineage though is unordinary when compared to others. It seems hers is filled mostly with Muggle-borns, their children for the next generation or two have magic but then it is gone again".

Jörmungandr then suggested, "it could just be an anomaly. During my time on Midgard, I heard of families who produced squibs almost every generation".

"Yes," the younger boy said, "but those families marry into their own, their inability to produce magic is due to a genetic factor and when they do produce a magical child, they are not as powerful".

Lady Ravenclaw then spoke, "we searched for similarities between the Muggle-borns born and the magical children born after and we have found only one. These Muggle-borns were born just before or at the beginning of magical wars. We have found traces of nine Muggle-borns born when magical wars occurred and they fought and contributed greatly and their children were warriors, powerful witches and witches".

"Did any of them have any special powers?" Loki asked.

The older male spoke again, "we have searched but when it comes to the princesses magic, the light she emits, how she can have someone punish themselves without saying a spell, we do not believe this is of Midgardian origin".

The older woman spoke again, "we believe whatever magic the Asgardians used to bind your frost giant powers and appearance and give you the power to be a god and ultimately, Queen Hela a goddess…we think the light powers come from them. Unfortunately, we have very little on Asgardian biology and the matters of Gods and Goddesses and their powers".

"And the Horcruxes, where are we with them?" Loki asked.

Lady Ravenclaw answered, "same as we have been for weeks, still searching for answers of how to get it out of the princess without killing her, but all we have found involves her soul being harmed in the process which we would prefer not to do. We are still searching and members of the council are still the only ones to know of this matter, it's safer that way".

Dahlia could hear her father sigh and said, "we need to continue the search, this is the realm of the dead, there has to be something".

Dahlia then heard chairs being pushed away and she knocked on the door quickly then opened it a moment later and smiled. She finally saw who was in the room with her father and brother, it was seven members of council, four from the non-magical Midgardian faction and the other three were members of the magical one but all seven were part of the historical and cultural aspects of the council.

Everyone smiled to her in acknowledgment as they stood and Dahlia noticed some of them tried to move some papers and books so she couldn't see but she chose not to call them out on it. From what she heard, there was very little more to be learned and she could call her father and brother out on it anytime without possibly getting into trouble for eavesdropping.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing here?" Loki asked.

Dahlia gave a slight shrug and answered, "it's almost time for dinner and I didn't want you and Jora to be running late again being here. Fenrir has brought Isolda to the castle, her very first time and she's staying for a few days and I don't want her first time being there and having dinner with us with you both being late".

Jörmungandr smiled and said, "I guess this meeting is over then".

The people that weren't already stood, stood up and began to gather their belongings and books to take back to where they belonged, each person giving a slight bow to Dahlia as they left. Lady Ravenclaw was the only one who spoke as she asked, "how's your assignment on Riversons theory of the moons effect on magic?"

Dahlia hummed then answered, "almost done." This led Lady Ravenclaw to raise a brow and Dahlia then said, "almost…okay the opening paragraph is done but I have time".

"Let's hope so, your assignment is vital for our next class," Lady Ravenclaw said but then sent her a quick smile before she left.

Dahlia, Loki and Jörmungandr were the only ones left in the room and Loki grabbed a few books before he said, "Lord Quara is quite particular about these specific books being put away, I'll be back in minute and we can go".

As he left, Jörmungandr began to gather papers and other books together neatly but Dahlia came close quick and grabbed his arm and said, "I want to see it".

"See what?" he questioned as he looked down at her hand on the top of his arm.

"The list of children of multiple worlds," she answered.

He smirked slightly and said, "you were eavesdropping, you'll be in trouble if papa finds out".

"Well he's not going to find out or I'll tell him just how often you've been going to Midgard to visit the sirens. Please, Jora, I have a right to see that list".

He took a few moments before he sighed and reached for a single piece of paper and handed it to her. On just one side was a list of names and beside them, the realms in which they were a part of. There were dates of birth and deaths and Dahlia saw her name at the bottom. There were some with a line next to their names and Dahlia was about to question why but Jörmungandr seemed to know what she was about to ask.

"They are the names of children killed before their mothers gave birth to them. There are more unborn babes killed before their first breaths but these are the only ones named that have been found. There is a chance of more but there is no evidence".

"Are any of these souls here?"

Silence was the only answer given before he said, "you know the answer. Even souls of multiple worlds are considered a threat to some. But things are different now, Dahlia. No one is going to harm you, you are too well protected, no one would even dare try to harm you. We wouldn't allow it".

Dahlia couldn't take her eyes off of the list. There weren't many children, almost all of them killed on the day they were born or within the first year. It was hard to believe that innocent children were killed just because their parents were from different realms, just like Dahlia. She quickly folded the list and hid it in her cloak, not wanting her father to catch her with it before he came back. She would look at it again later and new she would memorise every name on the list; someone in the universe should remember them.

Authors note: Please review and stay safe.