~ Chapter 12 ~

Fenrir chewed once more on the Allfather's body, crushing what remaining bones left in his old body, before spitting the God out like spoiled meat. The wolf grind his fangs together as if he had something stuck between them before raising his head and roaring. The sound vibrating the Asgard.

The God pushed aside the remaining stone ruble before he could stand up properly. Bruised from the impact but otherwise fine. With a broken heart he took in the sight of his father's broken body that didn't even twitch were it lay on the cold stone floor, flickering shadows from the fire playing over it. Then he looked over to his mother and the unnatural way her body laid in two directions. In a pool of her own blood that stained her cream colored dress and golden hair. Her eyes and mouth open like she never realized what had happened to her.

In the distance, Jormungandr roared to the sky. His massive body rising from the storming water and heading toward the burning Asgard. It's body moving through the air and his head high above the ruined city. Only shadows and fire colored the streets of Asgard as the Midgard serpent hovered over the palace with a hiss. Not caring if there were injured Asgardians scuffing around in the ruins.

On the balcony Loki stood on the railing with his arms spread out, embracing the view with dead eyes, laughing, before he turned to face Thor. His normally deep green eye color was replaced with an eerie yellow color that seemed to penetrate his soul.

"You are too late to save anyone, Aesir." Loki said with a feminine underlying tone in his voice. "Asgard will pay for what they have done to our father. Nothing will remain come dawn."

Thor realized it wasn't Loki himself talking, and the only daughter Loki ever had was the Queen of the Underworld. Hela. Loki jumped down the railing and walked slowly toward Thor.

"How does it feel to see the consequences of your actions?"

"I did not do anything to cause this." his arm flung out over his home. "I did nothing to bring down your wrath." Thor forced himself not to take a step back.

"Not responsible?" Loki tilted his head. "Isn't this what you wanted?" his hands moving over his body, bruises from abuse and rape covering his pale skin, torn clothes stained with spunk and blood. "The only difference right now is that you were not the one who did it but it might as well be. When you accused father of rape you gave all of Asgard permission to do whatever they wanted to him. Including rape. Because what you say is what makes it right. You arrogance and self-righteous ways are sickening." Loki finished with a putrid face.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I love Loki a-"

His words were broken by the disgusted snort. "Love him? Didn't mean? How arrogant can you get?" Loki threw out his arm over the city. "This is all because of you. Nothing more and nothing less. You're a spoiled child. Raised by an arrogant King who couldn't wait for a reason to throw out the son who wasn't his own flesh and blood. Spoiled by a mother who didn't have the guts to stand up to her husband. And spoiled by Asgard who never blamed you for anything you did. But when father did something he was punished more severely than any other Aesir."

"It's not true. Whatever pu-"

"Sewing his lips together and laughing at him in front of the whole court? Taking us from him just because we were not born Aesir? Burning snake poison? Ridicule? Humiliation? You can say anything but each time was unjustified." Loki took a step back, closer to the gray wolf. "But this time we will protect our father."

"Wait!" Thor reached for Loki when a shadow fell over him and he had just enough time to jump out of the way before hooves smashed into the stone. A high pitched neighing tore from Sleipnir as the steed rose on it's four back legs and threatened with his front legs. Forcing Thor to dodge again before he was smashed to a pulp by the four strong hooves by Loki's eldest.

Sleipnir snorted before coming after Thor, and this time he had Fenrir behind him too.

There was a stirring in the water.

Something was disturbing the peace around him and caused him to open his eyes. He saw nothing but the calm water, only endless darkness of deep water. Then came another ripple through the water. It hit his skin and roused him from his deep slumber.

"Where am I?" Loki asked as he twisted around, trying to find anything other than water.

"You are safe here." someone said behind him. The trickster turned around and came to face with his daughter, Hela. "Nothing will harm you here."

"Why are you? Where am I?"

The woman glided closer to him. "You called for me. You will be safe here with me, there is nothing that can hurt you here."

Another stirring in the water hit him and he shuddered. "What's happening?" he asked while looking around, trying to see what was wrong.

"Nothing." arms wrapped around him and held him close. "You have nothing to worry about." Hela whispered into his ear, letting her magic work on Loki. "I won't let anything happen to you."

The relaxed feeling was coming back and Loki couldn't fight it, his eyes closed slowly and not before long he was asleep again. In the guarding arms of his daughter.

"We will protect you, father." she whispered in an oath before she turned her attention to what was happening outside. She focused her will and looked through the yellow eyes at the Thor's struggle.

When he dodged Sleipnir he came face to face with Fenrir. When he thought he was safe, a shadow grew over him and he came face to face with Jormungandr. The serpent were wrapping it's body around the castle, preparing to squeeze the last piece of life out of Asgard.

There were muffled sound of screams from the lower levels among the burning fire, but one after another, they ended without rising again. Thor felt his heart go out for his people, not able to help them. Completely powerless in his struggle against the children of Ragnarok.

Loki – or Hela, which ever was in control – had grown tired of watching Thor struggle and was looking out over the balcony. Admiring the beauty of the fire.

His eyes caught the sight of a struggling group of warriors, among them; Volstagg, Hogun, and – his eyes narrowed – Sif. The sight of the female warrior still alive sent a hiss across his lips and Jormungandr picked up on it. Seeing the face that had played a part in their father's pain, he twisted his lower body until he started to knock down buildings over each other. The effect was like a chain reaction. One house took down another, undermining the foundation of a building that came crashing down over the struggling group of warriors.

Hela let out a sound of satisfaction as she felt the souls depart their broken bodies.

"I'll see you all in my realm. Your souls will not be able to flee from your crimes." Loki said with a smirk. Hela already looking forward to the torment she could give the souls of the fallen.

In death, no one was safe from her wrath.

A scream of pain reached her ears and Loki turned around to see Thor caught with his right arm under Sleipnir's hooves. The limb crushed beyond repair.

The scream, however, reached much deeper than she had thought.

TBC