Chapter Fifteen
Loki stepped into the room where Sif and Nanna sat side by side, almost catatonic. He cleared his throat awkwardly. Both jumped. And glared.
"Get out," Sif ordered.
Loki held up his hands. "I'm sorry. But I think I left Hela's favourite blanket in here."
"Is this it?" Nanna asked hollowly, pulling a satin-edged green blanket from beneath where she was sitting.
"Yes. Thank you. She refuses to sleep without it..." Loki swallowed and hesitantly met first her eyes and then Sif's. "I am truly sorry for the losses you've suffered."
"I don't need your sympathy, Loki!" Sif seethed.
He held his hands up. "I know... but I would express it anyway. I know how it feels to lose a parent." His eyes were sad.
"Do you know what it's like to lose your entire family?" Nanna asked lifelessly.
Loki cautiously sat beside his sister-in-law. "No. But I do know that you're strong, Nanna. And you'll survive this."
"What, no 'it's going to get better'?"
"I doubt it will ever get better. But in time, you'll learn how to live with it."
"How?" Blue, childlike eyes met his, begging for a reassurance he didn't know how to give.
"One day at a time, Nanna. Take each day as it comes."
"When did you get so wise?" Sif asked quietly.
Loki shrugged. "I'm not wise. Just a man who's trying to make sense of life."
Sif sighed. "Thank you," she said genuinely.
Loki blinked, taken aback, but nodded as graciously as he could. "You're welcome." He shifted awkwardly. "Can I do anything for either of you?"
"No."
He stood and started towards the door.
"Wait," Sif said.
He turned back.
"Karnilla said she took the spell off me. Can you check to see if she has?"
Loki's eyes widened, but he nodded. Sif stood and moved over to him.
Nanna looked from one to the other in confusion. "What spell?"
"Karnilla cast a spell of infertility on me when I was a teenager," Sif replied brusquely. "She was trying to make me grow a child for her to sacrifice. She couldn't. That's why she went after Alti."
Loki silently reached out with his magic, checking her brain and down her spine where he had sensed that spell not long ago. There was nothing. However... "There's a new spell."
Sif's shoulders slumped.
"It's the opposite of the one she put on you before. The next time you... you'll conceive."
Sif paled. "I can't- we're in the middle of a war! Can you remove it?" Her eyes were desperate.
"No. I'm not good with biological spells, I could ruin your chances of ever having children. You'll just have to do without sex."
Sif's instinctive reaction was to punch him in the nose, but she held herself back. I don't believe this! Thor and I finally planned to have some alone time, and now I can't?! "I'm going to kill Karnilla." She stated aloud.
"Kill my aunt while you're at it," Nanna said bitterly. "Dessstroy Vanaheim. Raze it to the ground."
Loki frowned. "Say that again."
"What?"
"Say destroy."
"Dessstroy."
Sif blinked in confusion. Loki's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Nanna..." Loki's voice was dangerous. "Why are you talking like that?"
She shook her head helplessly. She couldn't even sense Set's presence at the moment, but that didn't mean he wasn't watching. "I d-don't know."
Loki thought for a second, before pointing at Sif. "Say her name."
Nanna shook her head. He knows!
"Nanna?"
She trembled. "Sssif."
Sif knelt beside her. "What's wrong? What's happening?"
Loki's eyes were cold. "Sif, move away from her."
"What?"
"I'm not sure she's completely herself right now. Step back."
I can tell them, Nanna realised suddenly. Set isn't listening! I can tell them everything! "It'sss Ssset. He forced me to wear the Ssserpent Crown."
Loki recoiled immediately.
Sif's jaw dropped. "Serpent Crown? But how... why would..."
"He isss planning the dessstruction of Asssgard. It wasss him who dessstroyed Jotunheim. He wasss trying to kill you and Thor. And-"
SSSILENCE!
"Augh!" Nanna doubled over, clutching her skull. I'm sssorry!
"Nanna?" Sif asked worriedly. "What's happening?"
YOU- Set seemed speechless with rage.
You killed my family!
I did nothing of the sssort! I told you it wassn't my plan! Now you've ruined everything!
Now we have the chance to beat you!
No, you do not. Set's voice was cold. Now you've forced me to end the livesss of my nephew and your ssssissster long before I planned to.
Nanna went white. No... No, pleassse!
"Nanna?" Loki's voice was wary. "Nanna, can you hear me?"
Nanna fought against Set's coils wrapping around her consciousness, threatening to take control away from her. She looked up in fear and her blue eyes met Loki's ice-green ones.
"Sif, get out of here," he warned, calling on his magic and fires as Nanna rocked back and forth. "Go tell Thor. Tell everyone."
Sif ran out of the room without another thought. She was worried about Nanna, but she was no match for Set. Loki will protect her, she reasoned to herself as she raced to find Thor.
"Nanna," Loki said gently, keeping his distance. "Everything is going to be alright. I promise." Liar.
A hissing laugh came from Nanna's mouth as her blue eyes turned green.
Loki backed away. "Set."
"Hello, whelp."
"This is unexpected. I don't believe we've met before."
"No, but I've heard many ssstoriesss of you, Atumssson..."
"Farbautijarson," Loki corrected. "Why are you talking like that? From what I've heard when you're in a host you speak normally, and it's only your snake form that has that lisp."
"Sssomething is broken in young Nanna'ssss mind. What, I do not know."
Loki stored this information away in his mind. it could prove useful. For now though, he needed to keep Set talking... "Why Nanna? She's only a girl!"
"Ssshe'sss my sssissster'sss granddaughter, and ssshe carriesss a child. I have been looking for a new hossst, and inhabiting it now givesss me better control after hisss birth. Although, come to think of it..." Set's green eyes became cunning. "Your little girl paired with thisss child would give me a more powerful hossst, if they ssshould have a child together."
Loki went white. "I'll die before I let anything happen to my daughter!" Too late, he realised that was a poor choice of words...
Nanna-Set raised a brow. "Well, that was an invitation if there ever was one." There was no warning before a blast of energy struck Loki's chest.
Loki thought he yelled in pain, but wasn't sure- the scene seemed so far away... Something caught around his throat; Nanna's hand, but it seemed less slender when it was cutting off his air supply. He thought he was struggling, but he really couldn't tell if his body was obeying his brain's commands. Black spots darted across his vision. He could hear Set laughing as he struggled to stay awake...
There was a sudden searing heat across his face and Set's laughter turned to a repressed scream. Loki struggled to open his eyes.
"What?" It came out a hoarse whisper, his throat still hurting from the strangulation.
"Let. Her. Go." he heard a low, deadly voice growl.
Loki couldn't remember if he was holding anybody... But then he realised that the voice wasn't talking to him. He couldn't really make any sense out of what was happening. The voice sounded familiar, but for some reason, he couldn't put a name to it... he felt so drowsy...
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Sif burst in on Thor and Balder leaning over a map, arranging troops for the march on Surtur. "Thor!" she gasped. "Nanna - Set!"
Balder went white.
"Nanna's been possessed by Set!" Sif managed.
Thor jumped so violently he knocked the map to the ground. "What?!"
"Loki's with her, but he's going to need help. She wore the Serpent Crown."
Thor grabbed Balder. "Stay here. Alright?" He took Sif's hand, pulling her out of the room. "Where?"
"Balder and Nanna's rooms, but-"
Thor broke into a run, dragging Sif with him. He prayed that he wouldn't be too late! Loki couldn't stand against Set... He could not lose his brother now! They burst into the room.. and promptly froze. What they saw was definitely not what they'd expected!
Nanna was sitting docilely on the bed, her eyes blank while Atum knelt over Loki, apparently trying to revive him.
Thor lurched forward. "What happened? What are you doing here?"
"I sensed something was wrong with Freyja, Gaea called me here, and when I arrived I sensed Set's presence. They'll both be fine. At least for now. Where is my sister?"
Thor and Sif exchanged horrified looks. Neither of them wanted to tell Atum what had happened to Freyja and her family.
He advanced on them slowly. "Where is my sister?"
Thor swallowed hard. "She's dead."
Atum stopped in his tracks, flames blazing in his eyes. "What did you just say, half-brother?"
"I'm sorry. She was murdered, along with her daughters except Nanna. Their husbands, their children were killed as well. And Frey... they're all gone. I'm sorry."
Atum's face went hard as stone and cold as ice. "On whose orders?"
Thor swallowed. "They were on Vanaheim. We took it as Gullveig declaring her break from Asgard, but we don't know-"
"Put Nanna in a secured room, but don't let anyone near her. Loki should wake soon," Atum interrupted, and then light blazed from him and he disappeared.
Thor blinked rapidly. "Right... Sif, stay here with Loki for a minute. I'm going to relocate Nanna, then I'll come back. Bor knows what I'm going to tell Balder..." He led a blank-faced Nanna away with a sigh.
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Atum arrived in Vanaheim's palace and quickly made his way to Queen Gullveig's chambers. He would find out the truth before acting rashly... His blood boiled, but his heart froze. Freyja, dead? It couldn't be...
Gullveig was painting when he slipped into her chambers without her noticing. It looked like a serene scene, her and her father Njord near a waterfall.
"Proud of your father, are you, girl?" Atum's voice was acidic.
Gullveig whirled with a shriek. She paled when she saw Atum and dropped her brush, smearing paint onto the carpet, as she closed her dressing gown, covering her nightgown. "What are you doing here?"
"The brother and sister we share were murdered here, along with our nieces and their families. What do you think I'm doing?"
Gullveig backed up rapidly. "I... I don't..."
Atum advanced slowly. "Why were they killed?"
Gullveig raised her chin defiantly. "They murdered our father!"
"Your father raped his own kin!"
"He didn't rape me!" she shrieked. "He wanted me to know I was beautiful!"
Atum froze, face contorted in disgust. "WHAT?!"
"He loved me more than any of you would understand! We knew you'd twist it, make it seem disgusting but it was pure, and beautiful!" Gullveig shouted. "And they took him from ME!"
"There is something seriously wrong with you. He was your father!"
Gullveig's face twisted into a sneer. "As if that makes a difference to you! Father always knew why you doted on Freyja so much!"
Atum's eyes went black as onyx. Gullveig had a split second to register that he was angry before the back of his hand cracked against her face, sending her flying.
"DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT FREYJA LIKE THAT!" Atum roared.
Gullveig groaned in pain. "You're going to kill me no matter what I do."
"Yes, but I will not let you die with a false delusion of Njord. He was a swine. He beat his eldest children, abused you, took advantage of who-knows-how many other women, and forced himself on his own granddaughter. Not to mention the fact that he was instrumental in Odin's death."
Gullveig looked stunned. "You're lying... he was a good man!"
"He was an evil man."
"Liar!" Gullveig pushed herself to her knees. "And as for Sigyn it's a good thing I never got my hands on the little slut! Trying to steal him away from me-"
Atum's hands flamed.
"Freyja cried out for you, you know. When I made her watch her children and grandchildren die. The youngest first. They wept and begged. Frey stood silent, but Freyja called for you."
Atum's rage only increased. "Do you want to die slowly and painfully? I was going to make it quick, but I am reconsidering that now!"
"I killed her myself. After I let all my loyal guards at her-"
Atum grabbed the woman by the hair; it burst into flames.
Gullveig screamed as her skin began to burn next. Atum was so incensed, he hardly heard her cries. Not that it would have stopped him. Freyja died in pain, after being tormented... she called for me, and I wasn't there... my little sister...
"You will burn!" Gullveig screamed.
"You already are." Atum's voice was dark.
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Sigyn was deposited on a bedrock in a landscape that constantly was changing. She shivered, knowing where she was. "The Flickering Realm."
"Yes." Chthon's voice came from right behind her. "Welcome to your new home, niece."
"My prison. Not a home," she corrected coldly. "Don't pretend otherwise."
Chthon's hand circled her waist and he pulled her back against him. "I will admit I'm a tad disappointed that you gave in so easily."
Sigyn's hands clenched. "We never agreed on new terms of the deal."
"Deal? Why would I need a deal now?"
"You can't touch me."
Instantly, Chthon let out a howl and withdrew as Thoth's protective spell activated. He glared at her, teeth bared. "What have you done, wench?!"
"Thoth put a protective spell on me. You can't touch me unless I say you can."
Chthon snarled and raised a hand to slap her. Before contact was made, a small pulse of energy formed between them, blasting him away. Sigyn's heart raced. She felt like, for the first time, she had power!
"Now, we will negotiate new terms," she said.
Chthon snarled at her. "Get on with it, then."
Sigyn swallowed heavily. "No more killing."
"What?"
"If you want me, then you won't kill another living creature."
"Absurd!"
"Then you're never having me."
Chthon glowered, stalking towards her again. "I don't need you, I could take Gaea again. Or your mother. She would be pleasing, from what I saw during your conception."
Sigyn went white. "No!" She knew Chthon would never get near Gaea- Atum would rip him to shreds first, but Freyja was a different matter...
"Care to redefine your terms then, Sigyn?"
Sigyn opened her mouth and then closed it. What could she say?
"How about I make my proposal, then?" Chthon murmured.
She nodded once. Wrapping her arms around herself, she braced herself, waiting, knowing she wouldn't like this...
"First off, you'll grant me permission to have you whenever I want you."
"That depends on what I get in return."
"Your uncle, your half-sister and your oafish lover get to live!"
Sigyn swallowed. "Them, and that world. Everybody. If any of them die because of you, deal's off."
"Fine. That world will be safe. And I think I want you now."
Sigyn backed up. "Wait!"
Chthon looked annoyed. "What now?"
"My mother and my sisters must be safe from you as well."
"Perhaps you should be satisfied with what I've already offered!"
Sigyn scowled. "No. I want your word that you won't ever harm them."
Chthon actually chuckled. "I assure you, I won't harm them... it's too late for that, but they're all safe from me."
Sigyn's blood ran cold. "What do you mean 'too late'?"
Chthon chuckled. "Aunt Gully wasn't too happy about her father's death."
Sigyn started shaking. Her mind desperately sought less horrifying alternatives. "So my family are captives?" They can't be dead!
"You could describe it that way." Chthon moved closer. "Does it matter? You're never leaving here again anyway."
She flinched back from him, forcing her mind back to the present. "I didn't agree you could touch me yet!"
"Allow me to or I'll go get the blue one and feed you his flesh."
Sigyn swallowed. "You can touch me then. But nothing else."
Chthon's eyes gleamed. "Too late, pretty Sigyn. You should have defined how I could touch you before you agreed..."
He grabbed her roughly, forcing his lips against hers. And instantly recoiled, howling in pain.
"I guess the spell is more specific than you thought!"
He glowered at her. "I'll find a way around it eventually, foolish girl. We have all of eternity, after all..."
Sigyn trembled at the thought of being stuck here forever.
"And," he added, "I can still touch you." He began fondling her and she repressed a shudder.
She closed her eyes, pretending she was somewhere safe, with Helblindi, somewhere warm and sunny. They were resting before visiting her family on Asgard. There were no demons, no monsters, no deaths...
"Must we play this game, Sigyn?"
"Yes. I want to know what happened to my family."
"Give yourself to me and I'll tell you."
She shook her head. "Tell me first." Then I'll know if I really have any reason to fight back...
"If I tell you, I get you. Even if you want to say it's only once.
Sigyn closed her eyes. "Fine." I have to know...
Chthon laughed as he told her about Nanna's 'gift' from Gullveig earlier that day. Sigyn went white, and she screamed in horror. Chthon reached for her.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" she screamed, too horrified by what she had learned to think about deals or consider letting Chthon have his way.
"We made a deal," he replied, his hand closing on her wrist. Sigyn didn't wait to see what Thoth's spell would do; she flamed both of her hands and shot fireballs at Chthon. He flinched back, but seemed otherwise unharmed. The anger in his face when he looked at her made her panic. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
He stepped towards her again. She knew what was going to happen, saw it in her mind's eye in a split second, and then saw all her family members, dead - in the next second vomit spewed out of her mouth all over Chthon. He recoiled in disgust.
She collapsed to her knees, vomiting again. Mor... She didn't move for a long time. Until Chthon seized her by the hair and yanked her to her feet. It hurt, but she was too miserable to care anymore...
"That," he snarled into her face, "was disgusting!"
"I'm sorry." Sigyn replied automatically, her voice dull.
"You're going to be a lot more than that!"
She began sobbing and Chthon's grip in her hair loosened. He looked pleased. Without another word, he gripped Sigyn by the arm and began dragging her towards a small building that was nearby.
"Looking forward to the consummation of our deal?" He snickered.
Nanna. Nanna is still alive, I have to get to her! Even as Sigyn's desire to fight was renewed, there was a flash of light from nearby, and a giant seven-headed snake appeared.
Chthon released Sigyn with a snarl. "I didn't send for you, Set! What are you doing here?"
"You were not anssswering me, Massster. I have a concern..." the snake huddled on the ground submissively. "I have a quessstion..."
Chthon stalked over to Set and stomped on one of his heads. Sigyn wrapped her arms around herself, not caring. "What is it?"
"If ssshe conceivesss and Atum doesssn't die, he may resssscue her and then there will be another one."
"Atum will die." Chthon held his head high, tone full of arrogance.
"You haven't sssucceeded in your attemptsss to kill him in the passst, why ssshould it work now?"
Chthon snarled and stomped on another one of Set's heads. "YOU DOUBT ME?"
"I ssssimply do not want you to be faced with another dissssapointing prodigy."
Chthon's eyes narrowed. "And this has nothing to do with you wanting to keep me out of your plans to raze Asgard?"
Sigyn's head jerked at that. She was startled out of her misery. Destroy Asgard?! What?!
"Atum will go to Assssgard, after the death of hisss sssissster. My plan and yourssss do not have to conflict..."
"What are you going to do to Asgard?!" Sigyn blurted in a panic.
"Dessstroy it."
Chthon laughed at Sigyn's horrified expression. "That's right, granddaughter. Asgard the realm eternal is going to be wiped out."
"No!" Sigyn started shaking again. Just when I thought things couldn't get worse!
"Be quiet," Chthon snapped at her, and then glared at Set. "We'll talk. After I take what is owed me from my granddaughter."
She thought she was going to be sick again.
Set raised his large middle head up off the ground. "Massster, are you certain it isss wissse to dally with flessshy pleasssuresss when Atum and Gaea are in our grasssp?"
Chthon snarled at Set. "I will do what I please!"
Sigyn glanced incredulously at Set. It was almost as if he was trying to stop Chthon taking her! But why...
"Of courssse, Massster. Of courssse there isss no way that Atum will dissscover that it wasss by your bidding that hisss beloved sssissster was brutally killed."
Chthon frowned.
"Becaussse of courssse," Set continued, still looking meek and submissive. "He wasss ssso ferocioussss the lassst time ssshe wasss harmed becaussse of you, you would be careful not to give him more reasssson to dessstroy you again."
Chthon hesitated. I hadn't thought of that... He glanced at Sigyn; she was so small, so afraid, so ready to be his! How could he wait? He shook his head. "I'm taking the girl to her new home first, at least."
Set glanced at Sigyn apathetically as Chthon grabbed her again. I tried...
Sigyn's thought were bleak. Mor, my sisters, their husbands, the children, Frey, Asgard... "I think I'm ready to make another deal."
"You haven't held up your end of this one yet."
"I want to die."
Chthon stopped and looked at her. "What?"
"If everything you've told me is true, then I have nothing left to-" Helbindi. Sigyn stopped speaking. Helblindi was still out there.
Chthon raised an eyebrow. "You want to die?"
"I... No. Not really."
He snorted and continued dragging her to the building. He shoved her inside. "Take off your clothes."
She tensed straight away and shook her head. Chthon threw her back against the wall.
"Do as I say!"
Sigyn took a deep breath. He can take my body and destroy everything I love but I won't let him break me! Raising her chin defiantly, bolstered by her newfound resolve, she stripped without the slightest shiver.
Chthon moved closer slowly, mockingly, his eyes roaming over her. "Just as beautiful as Gaea..." He gathered her clothes up off the floor. "Prepare yourself. I will be back shortly."
He left. Sigyn stood there confused for a second. What's that about? Not that I'm complaining, but why would he leave right when he was about to... It made no sense!
She huddled down into the corner, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. What now? It was cold in this room, and there were no blankets or anything to cover herself with. She began shivering, then conjured a small fire to stay warm. It didn't do much good though- she couldn't sustain the flame indefinitely, and there was nothing in the room to burn!
If I could get out of here, she thought, I could find something, maybe... Pushing herself back to her feet, she walked around her prison, looking for something that could be a weakness. She found nothing, and despair threatened her, but she held onto one little spark of hope. Helblindi. He was still out there. Once she got back to him, she could return to Asgard and prove that Chthon was lying. Her family was safe. Don't try to kid yourself. They're dead. But Nanna needs you.
An idea occurred to her- she'd read once that one could send messages, even thoughts, through fire, using a spell. But could she do it herself? And who could she contact for help? Atum. The idea came from nowhere. He's the only one who can fight Chthon with any success.
She took a deep breath, trying to remember the spell. A fiery rune appeared before her, conjured from her mind, and she focused on Atum as she held the rune in place. Suddenly, it was as if her consciousness was being swept along in a tornado. She had no control whatsoever, and could only hope that she was being projected towards Atum.