Kaysa was sat down in front of the bonfire, waiting for Thor. He had gone to look for something to eat. That let her spent some time with herself. It had been three days after Loki and Kaira's exile. After meeting Thor, he led her to his room while they waited for everything to finish. Kaysa had asked him about his plans, but his answer was always the same. She needed to wait.

Kaysa was sitting near the window while waiting. It was almost midnight when Thor told her to follow him.

"Where are we going?" Kaysa asked as he led her out of the palace. All the response she received was 'you'll see'. Kaysa followed him all the way to the Bifrost. "What are we doing here?"

"Saving your sister." Heimdall appeared behind her. Kaysa was startled, though she tried to hide her surprise.

"My sister is doomed simply because she is an elf," Kaysa replied with contempt. "There is no way to save her. Odin won't just change his mind. He won't bring her back."

"He won't. We will." Kaysa turned to Thor.

"It is a somewhat delicate process. As she said, Kaira is doomed. Her soul has been pledged. Hela awaits her." Heimdall explained as he escorted Thor and Kaysa down a path on the side of a mountain.

"Hela?"

"The Goddess of Death." Kaysa felt a shiver run down her spine.

"How will we do this?" the mere thought of seeing Kaira in the hands of something so terrible terrified her. She needed to save her any way she could.

"The Goddess of Death has been promised a life. If you want to rescue Kaira, you must give something in return."

"I am willing to do anything for her." Kaysa sighed as she looked at Heimdall. He had led them to a grotto they hesitated to cross. Heimdall, however, was insistent. He could not open the Bifrost because it would get Odin's attention. But he could provide other means of escape.


This is how they reached Helheim. The cold seeped into Kaysa's bones as she waited for Thor's bonfire to be lit. She could not help but think of Heimdall's words. She needed to give something to save Kaira. She tried to remember her time reading in Svartalfheim's library. She was sure she had read something about the Goddess of Death.

"Something to change," Kaysa muttered as she tried to concentrate. "Something to change." She repeated once more.

"I thought you might be hungry." Thor interrupted her thought. Kaysa opened her eyes and found a piece of bread in front of her. She picked it up and weighed it in her hands as she shot a glance at Thor. He was sitting a few feet away from her, staring into the fire. "I know it's little, but we have to ration the food. We don't know how long it will take to reach Kaira." Kaysa had trouble understanding Thor, speaking with her mouth full. Where were his manners?

Gently, she began to give small pinches to the crust of bread. Thor, unlike Loki, was rough and gruff. She found it hard to understand why Kaira had noticed him. Loki knew how to treat a woman. He said whatever he wanted to say and projected the illusion they all wanted. After all, that was who he was. An illusion, a trickster, a liar.


Kaira felt her legs complaining of cramps. She had tried to hold her posture while she waited for someone to come and check on her. Loki had stopped trying to free himself a few hours ago. Or maybe days? For Kaira, time was uncontrollable in that place. In the silence between them, she got a better sense of the man who had managed to steal Kaysa's heart. He was flattering and handsome, but in a different way than Thor. While Thor was muscle and charismatic, Loki was more sensitive. He had witty remarks and a culture second to none. His beauty seemed fragile yet bewitching.

A sudden tremor brought her out of her thoughts. She stood up quickly and looked at Loki, hoping to see some trick to try to free herself, but he seemed to be as surprised as she was. The trembling came again with more intensity.

"What is that?" Kaira asked worriedly.

"Don't look at me." Loki shook his chains as he shook his head from side to side trying to find the source. Kaira mimicked him.

"Oh my God!" She exclaimed as she watched a figure move through the shadows. She tried to run away but fell to the ground.

"Describe what you see!" Loki demanded, unable to look towards the area where Kaira averted her gaze. Kaira described how its size increased each time it seemed to get closer. Kaira could see its elongated body crawl up to them and a shuddering shriek accompanied them throughout. She gasped as she saw the body of a giant viper come to rest on Loki. Its open mouth revealed its huge fangs.

"What is it doing here?"

"It is coming for me." Loki did not take long to realize. "The Gods have given a soul to the underworld. My soul. It is coming for it." Kaira looked closely at Loki. The viper did not move. It stood with its jaws open on Loki.

"Why doesn't it attack?" Kaira asked. Loki could not give her a coherent answer. His full attention was on whatever movement the viper made. It took them a while to notice the venom dripping down its fangs. Slowly, it accumulated at the ends until it fell under its own weight, splashing Loki's chest, covered by a leather breastplate. The poison gave off an odour of burnt skin. The poison was consuming the skin of Loki's breastplate, leaving his skin visible through holes that grew larger as the drops fell. Kaira watched the scene in silence. Loki's face was contorted in pain, biting his lips hard to keep from screaming. A trickle of blood trickled from his lower lip. Kaira was focused as she watched Loki suffer. At that moment, Loki ceased to be a God to her. He was no longer the murderer who had killed her betrothed. In that instant, Loki became a simple man. A man who had won her sister's heart for the first time. Loki's howl of pain brought her out of her thoughts. She had to act fast. She had to do it for Kaysa. She stretched her body as far as she could to a hollow log a few feet away from her. She opened the rotten wood and made a small tray that she placed on Loki's chest. That way, the poison would not fall on Loki, who already had sores on his chest.


"What is that?" Kaysa asked as she felt a second tremor in the earth. They were walking up a narrow slope on one of the hills. Thor said it might be a good path, though Kaysa was beginning to doubt it.

"I don't know." Thor stopped and with his hand made Kaysa do the same.

"I think we'd better keep going." Kaysa pulled Thor's hand away after a while of waiting. She wanted to get on the road as soon as possible. She had to find Kaira. Thor had told her that they would just grab her and run away from there with her. From what Heimdall had said, Kaira was only bonded to Loki. She had not been promised to the underworld. However, there was something that was still troubling Kaysa. She did not know what. Without realising it, she took a false step and the part of the hillside under her right foot began to detach. Luckily for her, Thor was nearby to catch her as soon as her foot was dangling off the cliff. "Be careful!"

Her path continued until she came to a clear plain. Since her incident, Kaysa had decided to follow Thor. If he stopped, she did the same. She had no time to be proud. Thor proposed to rest and regain their strength for the next stretch.

"Thank you for this," Kaysa murmured after a while. Thor looked at her in surprise. "Thank you for helping me rescue my sister."

"I have to." Thor sighed as he sharpened one of his daggers. "I've realised I can't live without her." Kaysa lifted her head and saw how her cheeks were flushed. "It's ridiculous, I know. But I love her. I did everything I could to keep her by my side, but I couldn't find a way around her commitment."

"She..." Kaysa paused to think what she meant about her sister. "She is always dutiful to her duty. She accepted the marriage, even though her heart was already given." Thor's gaze met Kaysa's for the first time. She could see him secretly pleading with her to continue. "She gave it to you from the first moment she saw you." Kaysa smiled as she watched Thor's face light up. "Kaira has a knack for seeing through people. Their intentions, so to speak. She saw in you the nobility of a King, and the sincerity of the lover she had always desired. Do not misunderstand me. She is not a freeloader. But she knew it was you who should have her love." Thor turned away, hiding his face in strands of hair that fell down his sides.

"Thank you." He muttered as he continued to sharpen his dagger, though it was now accompanied by a smile. Oddly enough, Kaysa was pleased by her confession. If it brought Thor and Kaira closer, then she had achieved her goal.


Kaira felt her arms getting tired as the trunk filled up. She needed to take her mind off them. Loki was just like her. He had stopped screaming in pain, but his pearly brow told Kaira that he was having a hard time with the wound. It had begun to ooze.

"Why did you do that?" Kaira had to keep him with her. "Why did you kill him?" If she could get him to tell her the story she could buy valuable time until she could come up with a plan to escape.

"You don't care." Loki spat with a bitter smile.

"He was my fiancé and he got me involved. I demand to know."

"You cannot deny that you are sisters." Loki smiled ruefully. "Because of her. I did it for Kaysa."

"What does Kaysa have to do with Viggo?" The first thing that crossed Kaira's mind was that Viggo was taking advantage of her.

"He put her in danger." Kaira waited for Loki to catch his breath. "The night of the battle on Svartalfheim's I had managed to save Kaysa from her curse."

"What curse?"

"Malekith. He had come to her and was feeding on her energy and power. Every time Kaysa fought and used her magic, he would catch her and she would grow stronger and stronger. Soon he would finish her off in a slow and agonizing death. It took me months to figure it out and find the solution, but it was easy to catch him."

"If you caught him, why was Kaysa in danger again?"

"Because a chest could not be his prison forever. Malekith had the magic to free himself from his prison, but he needed to search again for a vessel that would allow him to return to his corporeal form. Luckily, I hid Kaysa under another guise. Malekith would not be able to find her. However, my deception did not last long enough to finish saving her and Thor had her discovered. The night of the ball, he ruined everything that I had planned."

"Thor did nothing!" Kaira exclaimed. "He was with me all night."

"That's precisely why she was discovered. If Thor hadn't been with you, Ada wouldn't have needed to get the attention of the King and Queen. Thor could have entertained her and I could have been happy. Just for one night." Loki muttered his last words.

"What's Viggo got to do with it then, why didn't you go against Thor?"

"Because Viggo gave Kaysa her powers back. Upon handing her medallion, Kaysa went back to using her powers, as usual, drawing Malekith's attention." Loki swallowed hard.

"So, Kaysa is cursed again?" Kaira was on the verge of tears.

"Luckily, I got to him first." Loki sighed.

"Are you his vessel now?" Kaira asked and Loki nodded.

"I intend to fight every day, every hour and every minute of my life to protect Kaysa." Loki's eyes were closed. "He won't use her again." Kaira felt her heart shrink. Hearing him say that oath made her body shudder. Did he really feel that much for her sister? Was it love? "Only I can touch her. Only I can have her." Or was it need? Kaira heard how his voice was only a whisper.


Kaysa dragged her feet on the dirt. Her dress caught on the branches at the sides of the path. They had been walking for hours and Thor paid no heed to her constant complaints. She needed to stop. Not for her, but for the baby, though Thor could not know that. She was sure that if he found out about the baby, he would know that Loki was its father and he would end up locking her up for life and killing the baby the moment it was born. The bastard of a prince did not even deserve to live.

"Don't be left behind. I can't keep track of the road at all times." Thor was tense, but not tired. His body was prepared to withstand such physical efforts.

"I need to stop for a moment." Kaysa sighed clutching her belly. "I can't go on."

"It is not safe. We must find a safer place. The road is dangerous." Thor tried to find a place for Kaysa to rest. He saw a clearing a few steps further. "Do you think you'll be able to get there?" Thor turned and saw Kaysa's sweat beaded forehead. "Kaysa!" He ran to help the elf.

"I'm fine. Quiet. I just need to rest for a moment. "Kaysa had reached out her hand and was preventing Thor from approaching her. She tried to take a couple of steps ahead of her. Her balance failed and she fell to her knees to the ground. Thor did not hesitate to hold her.

"We just have to get there, Kaysa. Hang in there." Thor murmured in her ear, but Kaysa felt her strength to continue slipping through her fingers. Thor put his arm around her and lifted her legs, carrying her to the clearing in the thicket. As he approached it, however, he could see the viper's shadow loom through the trees. Thor cursed and paused, trying to come up with a new plan. "It's not moving..." Kaysa tried to look up to see what had stopped Thor.

"I just need a moment." Kaysa managed to say. "Anywhere will do." She dropped her head back. Thor was still glaring at the beast with its back to them. If they circled it, maybe they would not get its attention. Thor scanned the area carefully and noticed a small whisper. He would recognise that tone anywhere.

"Kaira." Kaysa murmured. Thor watched her. It was indeed Kaira's voice.

He released Kaysa into some bushes, hiding her as best he could and assuring her that he would return for her. With his hammer in hand, he began to advance towards the snake, ready to strike at any moment. His attention quickly shifted to Kaira. She stood in front of him, hands raised and trembling. Her eyes were downcast and her foot was chained to a rock. He did not hesitate to run to her. He did not care about the snake. He wanted to show her that he had come to save her.


"What's that noise now?" Loki asked. He was no longer surprised by anything. He expected any other beast to go looking for him.

"I don't know." Kaira's voice trembled like her arms. Her eyes turned to the viper. "It's not moving." Still, the sound was getting closer and closer.

"You need to watch your surroundings. What do you see?" Loki exclaimed. "I can't keep an eye out to protect you." Kaira looked at him before doing as he had commanded. The flash of a red cloak caught her attention in the darkness.

"Thor?" Kaira would recognise that cloak anywhere.

"What are you saying, elf?" Loki looked annoyed. At that moment Thor came out of hiding and ran to embrace Kaira. He was met by a girl who did not move from her position.

"My love." He whispered softly so that only she could hear him. "I have come to save you." Kaira's eyes watered as she moved from Thor to her hands. "What's wrong?"

"If I am not here, he will die." Kaira directed her gaze towards Loki. She did not appreciate it at all. He had acknowledged the guilt of her killing Viggo and he had manifested a hatred towards Thor. Thor ... Kaira looked back at him and saw the confusion on his face. "Kaysa needs him." Kaira had to be honest with herself. Her sister was in love with him and was expecting his baby. She could not raise it alone in Asgard. She needed Loki if only to hide them.

Kaysa's name made Thor remember the young woman he had left behind. He had to double-check that she was okay. He excused himself to Kaira and vowed that he would be back in a moment.

"So, your sister needs me." Loki laughed bitterly. Kaira looked at him coldly. Should she tell Loki the truth? Should she tell him why she needs him? She would be betraying Kaysa. She had no right to reveal anything to him. Kaira decided to remain silent. Her relationship with her sister could not go through any more ups and downs. She missed her sister. If she ever saw her again, she would not leave her side for a minute. They only had each other, after all.

"I'm fine. I can really go on my own." Kaira turned quickly. Kaysa was walking beside Thor, who was holding her by the shoulders. She looked pale and tired, but once their gazes met, Kaysa's face lit up.

"Kaysa?" It was Loki. Kaira was surprised to see how quickly his attitude had changed. Again, he tried to break free of the chains that held him. Kaira watched as her sister averted her gaze to him and saddened. "What's wrong with her?" He exclaimed as he continued in his efforts. "Kaira, please!"

"She's pale and looks tired," Kaira replied. Her arms and legs faltered as she watched Kaysa approach them. Loki kept calling out to her. His voice turned to a howl. The tray was tilted slightly and had spilt its contents onto Loki's chest. A bleeding ulcer formed in a matter of seconds. Kaira watched as her sister ran with what little strength she had left.

"What's wrong with him?"

"It's poison," Kaira replied. Kaysa looked at the wound carefully before covering it with her hands. "Wait!" Kaysa looked at her, "You don't have the strength. You can't do it alone."

"Then what do I do? We can't leave him like this." Kaysa could not help but stare at Loki's wound.

"I'll handle it, but you have to hold this. The poison falls out of it." Kaira turned her gaze to the snake above them. "If we don't stop it from falling on him, those sores and ulcers will keep coming out." Kaysa nodded and switched positions with her sister. Kaira reached over and placed both hands on Loki's chest as she murmured different words in Elvish.

Thor watched from a distance in delight. It was a strange thing to watch an elf recite its magic, but even stranger and more spellbinding to watch Kaira do it.

For his part, Loki had two battles. On the one hand, he was trying to fight the poison that was trying to work its way through his veins. But the worst battle was the 'poison' in his head. Hearing Kaysa, Malekith was quick to come out of his hiding place in Loki's mind. He wanted to go after her, but Loki would not allow it. As he had said, he would fight every minute to protect her.

"We must go," Kaira said as she finished healing Loki's wound. She had used up some of her energy. "I won't be able to do this again for a while and we run the risk of it happening again." Kaysa nodded. "Thor, can you think of a way to free us?"

"The chains are made of steel." Thor held one in his hands as he examined it. "I don't understand how he couldn't have broken free before."

"They are made with magic," Loki muttered. "You think I haven't tried that before?"

"Even Kaira's?" Kaysa asked looking at the chain that held Kaira trapped. Thor looked at it for a few seconds before raising his hammer at it. He had to hit it a couple of times before one of the links gave way. Although it did not break free of the chain Kaira was no longer attached to Loki. "Maybe now we just need to undo the knot around the rock."

"We don't have time," Thor said as he noticed how the earth shook. "The hammer will have drawn the attention of other creatures." Thor wrapped his arms around Kaira. "We have to go."

"We can't leave him there." Kaysa pointed at Loki. The earth shook again with more intensity.

"Kaysa, we have to go." Kaira insisted this time.

"My queen," Loki muttered, getting her attention. His voice was low, so Kaysa had to lean in to hear him. "You must go, my love. I promise I'll come back to you, but you have to go now."

"I can't leave you. You don't understand, I-" Kaysa was going to confess to him all about the baby. A black mist caught everyone's attention. The shaking was now more intense and continuous.

"Kaysa, it's late. Go!" Loki insisted in desperation. He was making a great effort to keep her safe. However, as Loki had said, it was too late. The mist was concentrating on a specific point as it took on a human form.