Chapter 14

Under the Mountain

He came as quick as he could, arriving as close as he dared to the caldera. He directed his backup to the periphery outside the pit, knowing that whatever he might find inside it would be easier to maximize his advantage (or at least his story of it) if he were alone. He approached the entranceway cautiously. He could simply not imagine who or what would be causing trouble now; after all, it had been ninety-four years since they had disposed of the last visitor to disturb this place. But on arriving he was relieved to see there was no need for concern. Everything was in order, with nothing but a deranged man hammering the floor.

"Open, OPEN I SAY!" the man shouted, desperately pounding the floor as he knelt beside the sigil.

"You - are in the wrong place," Sirsemion said walking toward him malevolently. The man continued hammering the floor not looking up.

"I know where I am," he replied.

"What is this about?" the demon demanded.

"You know. Urd. I want her back," the man said.

"You . . . wait. You're Ta-ku-mi, aren't you? Yes I remember that name. She kept crying it out. I couldn't understand the rest . . . alone in the dark. At first I didn't know what it meant. Then I understood, she must be calling for someone - someone she hoped would come for her - but of course you never did."

Takumi looked down saying nothing, trying to blot away his tears. For he was completely undone by his words.

"Does it bother you to hear?" the demon said smiling.

Takumi felt himself trembling. So many nights during his imprisonment he had promised himself what he would do if he ever came face to face with the instigator of his misery, the one responsible for Urd disappearance. But now in the presence of this creature grief overwhelmed him. He could not even summon the strength to look at him. For whether he liked it or not, he was no longer the man he had been all those years ago. Time had changed him; no longer willing to risk all that remained in order to ease his own suffering. Here in the chamber, he had no chance against the monstrosity before him. And there was Sora to consider; Skuld and Tai too. He rose unsteadily. "I'm done with you," he said sadly, finally walking away.

"Smarter than you look . . .," Sirsemion mused. "Leaving will certainly extend your life - for a little while. You're sure you don't want to hear - the details?"

Takumi wiped away his tears. Though he had prepared himself for this possibility, the words the creature spoke still sliced through him like a knife dissecting to the bone. Even after all this time he still had no defense against it. He walked on blindly toward the cave's entrance trying to reach it before breaking down completely. But it was no use. The pain was too great. He stumbled.

'So it is as I was told,' Sirsemion thought. 'Disgusting.'

With great effort the man rose. "I said I'm through with you," he said reaching the entranceway. "But I don't think she is," he murmured passing out of the chamber.

Siremion's eyes shot to the seal, but of course it was already far too late. "No, no - there is no need for you to move," the voice purred behind him like some great demonic cat.

"HILD!" That – that's impossible!"

"For you perhaps. But me? . . . well, who knows what's impossible for me? When you place yourself against someone like me it's best to expect the unexpected. The trinary spell your group used against me that day was good. But give me a century or so to think about it and . . . you'd be surprised the improvements I can make." Her spell had paralyzed him from the neck down, its strands entwining him as though held now by talons of steel. She strolled now to face him as he looked at her with unbelieving eyes; his face a mask of terror.

"It can't be! The seal is-."

"Inescapable? Is that the word you're searching for? Clearly you have no idea whom you are dealing with. She stepped close examining him. "They say the pain within the core of the demon realm is unendurable . . .," she said reaching down to take up a piece of volcanic rubble. "Ah but we know that's just an old wives tale, don't we? After all, I endured it - for more than a hundred years," she seethed. "Though to be fair I did have something to hold on to. I wonder if your level of resolve is similar?" She watched his eyes, flickering over the edges of the walls. "Oh, if you're waiting for your associates to join us, I can assure you they won't be - ever."

The true dimensions of his predicament began to set in upon him as she continued to pace. "As I'm sure your slow-witted mind is now beginning to consider, there is of course one rather significant drawback to entombing one in the core of the demon realm: Anything which is not destroyed - only grows stronger with time. So if an entombed entity were ever to escape – ah but why worry about that?" she smiled shaking her head. "I think you begin to see why entombment is so rarely employed - risked only for those you truly wish to suffer." She looked at him as though trying to discern the choicest cuts of meat. "But who would ever worry about such a thing? I mean it's not like the victim could open it from inside; or could they?" she said as though reading his very thoughts.

'It was not possible. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE!'

"But enough about the past. It appears I interrupted your prior conversation. It seems he didn't want to hear the tale you had to tell. But I'll listen, if you like," she said staring somberly. "To lead you must. Children, they start so . . . and then . . . ah but you hope anyway," she muttered to herself.

She reached out as the false floor fell away, volcanic plumes now rising behind them in the chamber. The terrible force of the flames and magma now moving as though a living entity, a wall of molten rock ready for its next victim. But in that moment Hild did not seem to be herself. She seemed slowed, aged, contemplative.

"It's strange . . .," she said turning. "I put such thought into what I would do when I . . . and yet now - now I all I want . . ."

"PLEASE! I'll do anything!" cried Sirsemion.

"Anything?" she murmured hopefully.

"Of course Lady Hild!"

"Very well. They'll say I've gone soft, but in the end -."

Hope flickered in his eyes. "Really?"

She nodded at length. "I've grown tired," she said, her shoulders sagging. "Grant my request and I will let you go."

"It is yours!"

She turned raising her hand, her palm face up. "Just give her back to me . . . give back - my little Urd - and I will let you go."

It was not an order, not even a threat or command. It was simply the request of a mother, wishing for her departed child.

Sirsemion's face registered nothing but shock, blood draining from his face as fear, terrible power grew in his eyes. The muscles of his face began an awful twisting and trembling, beginning to weep as the full knowledge of the depth of her loss, and the irreversibility of his own position set in.

"Lady Hild," he pleaded, "I -."

She waved her hand as the flesh of him was instantly burned away, his body engulfed by the embrace of the searing flames of the demon realm, denaturing muscle and charring bone.

If Sirsemion had been human that day it would have been mercifully quickly. But he had the great misfortune on that day of not being human, and so his sinews melted, fusing to bone before a new and far more terrifying presence as the unyielding tendrils of the core of the demon realm embraced him, consuming and suffocating him in pain and madness as it drew him downward, down into the core with chilling finality as new seal now appeared on the floor of the volcanic chamber.

Hild walked out into the cool air of night still a few hours before dawn to find Takumi.

"So it's as we feared?" he asked.

Hild looked away saying nothing. "It appears we will be going with your plan," she said. "Though I have a few notes . . ."

"From the screaming I heard I take it I won't have to go in there and chop him to pieces?"

"No, he's gone. And he's not coming back."

"Are you sure? You did. How did you get out by the way?"

Hild fixed him with a wry look. "Well, you see the Demon Realm is a bit more autocratic than the Heavens -."

"You don't say."

"- As such, and because the leader of the realm is responsible for any/all of its members' actions, the ruler of the Demon Ream has power over all actions cast."

"So that explains how you could modify his work. But Sirsemion and his idiots didn't know that?"

"I'm sure they did. Their miscalculation was in assuming there were no remaining external representations of me."

"So your interest in me wasn't altruistic. Heartwarming. Do you know how Belldandy found this place; or why she came?"

"No," she said watching the others approach. "She may have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Takumi eyed her suspiciously as Idunn, Mara, Lind and Skuld now came down the slope toward them; Tai and Sora having been sent on to the temple for safety. "Well isn't this a cozy crew -," he said observing their intense mutual glaring.

"You should know that these are the ones Hild, the very ones that led the attack reigning destruction down on our realm," said Idunn.

"The very same," agreed Mara.

"You mean after you guys killed my sister? Both of them!" shouted Skuld.

"As even you can see now that wasn't us!" snarled Mara.

"Either that or we just sealed your patsies," said Lind.

"Leave it," Hild said approaching her old friend as Idunn lowered her spear. "It doesn't matter what they think. If I didn't say so before, you did a magnificent job. The fact that you're here suggests you were successful after I left in containing the Abyssal insurrection and its ensuing chaos."

She nodded, leaning on her spear, "The Watchers and their sympathizers kept us busy for 2 years after you left. Then all went quiet. I can see now why. You must have taken out a good chunk of his command structure. We looked but . . ."

"No need to concern yourself with that now," Hild said.

"We, the Realm, began to recover - looking for the leaders, searching for you. We were making progress. Then, twenty-two years later, without warning . . . all hell broke loose."

"Belldandy. A parting gift from Sirsemion," Hild mused.

"It seems so. And so for the last 94 years we have been at war with the Heavens . . ."

"I admit my prior fiasco with Urd made me fear repeating the same errors. Following the attack she became my highest priority, for I knew they would kill her. I could bear no one else to do it given the risk and avoiding their tracking."

"What about the army?" asked Takumi.

"They were needed to aid our forces in the demon realm," replied Idunn.

"And now?" asked Skuld.

"We believe we have a plan which could set things back on the right track, provided we work together - scary as that thought might be," Hild muttered looking at the collected crew.

"How? I don't have any more sisters to kill," snapped Skuld.

"I see one," growled Mara.

"Except that her back isn't turned, which seems to be the only way you can get them," observed Lind.

"Speaking of unprovoked attacks, how many fell to you the first week you invaded the Demon Realm?" asked Idunn.

"Look if we're going to start re-litigating who killed who we're going to be here awhile," mused Takumi.

"Shut up!" they replied.

. . .

Takumi and Skuld returned to the temple to find Tai and Sora deep in conversation around a blazing bonfire in the courtyard.

"What are you trying to do burn the place down?" asked Skuld.

"Just be happy it's the only thing we're seeing," said Takumi.

"Gross," they replied.

"We lit the fire to bring everyone in -," said Tai.

"Let's face it, it's big news," said Sora. "Hild has been found!"

"You mean released," Skuld corrected with a look to Takumi.

"-Who told us a couple of things we should know!" he added.

At that moment the ninjas appeared out of nowhere, one on the temple wall, one on the roof and one sitting atop a bird.

"Hey stop that," shouted Tai pointing. "We talked about that!"

"Maybe the wrong target was hit?" suggested Takumi.

"- And maybe it wasn't," replied Skuld. "I still don't trust her.

I mean she's basically Satan!"

"There are things that seem strange I'll admit," agreed Takumi. "The whole business of Belldandy seems odd. She just happened to find the tomb? And Hild said she knew nothing about any of it? Seems unlikely. Something doesn't ring true."

"Tell them Sora. It's time," Tai pleaded.

"If you know anything about this - it's way past time!" Takumi said sternly.

"It was all my fault!" Sora cried. "I'm sorry! I'm the reason she died!"

"How is that possible?" Skuld said kneeling beside her.

"It's true. One night - after the Valkyries brought me to the temple Belldandy asked me about it, a spider-like scar she noticed over my ribs when she was bathing me. I told her it had been bright red right when I had gone into the forest with Hild; and that she had used her power to minimize it. After that it stayed in the form Belldandy had found it. But on my 21st birthday it once again grew bright. That was when Belldandy knew something was wrong. She knew I was weakening."

"Did you know about any of this Skuld?" Takumi asked.

"Skuld had a 3-year-old at the time," Sora replied. "Belldandy told Lind and together they searched. They thought it might be related to Hild, or at least she would know how to treat it given what she had done. Over the following years they searched for her trying to investigate its source. We now know that Belldandy was the first to eventually discover Hild's resting place."

"I still don't see why you think you're responsible for her death," said Takumi standing on the other side of the fire. "Anything could have happened to her on that day."

"No. On that day - the day she died, the scar on me faded, disappearing entirely, and never returned. I think somehow she gave her life to heal me," Sora said.

"Did you tell anyone?" Takumi asked.

"I told Tai," she said as he took her hand. "I told him he and Keiichi must hate me!" she cried as he hugged her.

"Disappeared on the day she died? Maybe it was something from Bell all along?" Takumi mused.

"No, knowing Big-sis if it was something she had had control of she wouldn't have waited 7 years - even if it meant her life," said Skuld.

"I suppose you're right. Something she found at Hild's tomb? Hild certainly didn't say anything about it."

"I don't think we should rely on her for much," replied Skuld.

"Still, it seems unlikely given the condition we found her in, and the fact that it faded when - well when it did. There's only one thing that makes sense -."

"I was thinking the same thing," replied Skuld. "Big-sis must have encountered one or more of the Watchers that day."

"I have to agree," said Takumi. "They would have been at the right time and place to attack Sora. Why do you think they went after Belldandy?"

"If you buried something like Hild in an everlasting Hell-pit, do you really think you'd want people coming around investigating it?" asked Skuld.

"I suppose not. Hild said something about suppressing a signal. Belldandy may have unknowingly triggered their alarm when she found the tomb and they overwhelmed her."

"Or vice versa," said Tai.

"What do you mean?"

"If mom went to the tomb and found nothing that could help Sora she must have deduced what actually happened."

"Which is?"

"It must have been one of the Watchers, likely the one that killed Urd," Tai said as the evening winds grew wild. "Knowing that she likely waited, even given the risk, knowing it would be her best chance to get the drop on the creature that hurt Sora. You say they overwhelmed her, and in the end that might be true But from her point of view she knew Sora's time was running out. Whatever she did that day, it did remove the curse. And I'm quite sure they didn't hand it over to her voluntarily."

"Meaning?" asked Takumi.

"-Meaning during combat they must have gone into a death spiral at some point, their interlocked power drawing each other down until . . . their goals were achieved."

"Achieved?!"

"Their goals were different," said Skuld. "Sirsemion undoubtedly wanted to survive above all else. Belldandy by contrast was willing to hold until she broke through the demon's core engram encoding, allowing her to shatter his active programs; no matter the cost. To do that, to break through a being at that level they both must have been close to death at that point."

"I'm sorry Tai!" Sora cried hugging him.

"She made her choice, the one she would have made for any of us," he said. "They must have hit her with everything they had. But she knew it would be the best chance."

"The harm she inflicted on them must have been grievous," observed Skuld.

"I pray she did exactly that," Takumi said grimly. "Just as I hope he burns in everlasting pain now. It would explain why they weren't on the front lines when you attacked the Citadel, or how Heaven's forces made such rapid progress in the years that followed."

"-And another could be they were cowards, or we had better leadership," retorted Skuld walking off.

"Either way it freed me. What do you think?" asked Sora.

But Takumi was focused on Skuld, watching her as she bypassed the door, exiting around the side of the house. Slowly he got up and followed her. "Something on your mind kid?" he said, finding her watching the stars outside Keiichi's old room.

"I just don't understand. Why - why she didn't contact me that day? That was always the problem. I was always the little sister. I was never really special to any of you."

Takumi had feared this day might come. More specifically that he would have to be the one to have this conversation with her. "That's not the reason Skuld," he murmured.

"Yes it is! I was never the most important thing to any of you! There was always someone else, always something else that was more important. And so I was always the one left behind until finally - finally I was alone. That's why . . .,"she began to cry hysterically.

"You've got it all wrong," he replied. "They protected you for the simple reason you were the future none of us could be."

"You don't need to lie! Just get out of here!" she cried.

"I'm telling you the truth. We should have told you a long time ago, but you were too young when I went inside. I assumed they would explain it at the proper time. Belldandy loved Keiichi. Of course she did. But she also knew that in being with him she was making a permanent choice. And she knew clearly the consequence of that choice."

She looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"In marrying Keiichi, Belldandy knew she would never sit on the high council, or any council in the Heavens. I mean, could you imagine such a thing happening under the circumstances?"

"I suppose not. But you and Urd -."

"Even before everything happened Urd and I knew there was no future for us in the Heavens. Don't you see? Your sisters knew that you were the only one who had any real future there, and as such it would be you who would eventually lead the family, protecting all of us. They all acted the way they did to make you strong, strong enough to one day lead and go on without them; because you were the only road that led to the future."

"Except I married Sentaro."

"Which is probably why they never told you any of this. By that point any such plan was so well and totally screwed up that everyone had probably given up on the family. I take it the plan to break you and Sentaro up didn't work?"

"WHAT?!"

He gave her a smile. "Belldandy's failure to contact you that day probably had more to do with the fact that you had your own family to look after, and she knew she would need someone to look after Keiichi if anything happened."

Skuld looked back at the stars and he sensed something distant in her. Something that made him feel uncertain. He wished he knew her better. But time had run out. Funny, he thought.

"I understand what she did," Skuld replied. "It was her duty to look after us. I just wish -." She stopped, walking away.

His eyes narrowed trying to perceive her thoughts. "That she hadn't prioritized Sora?" he asked.

"No, not that. You're going to have to hold things together here with her for a few days."

"You're going to the Heavens with Tai? Do you think he needs help?" he said trying to understand the feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Mmm. No. I want to go see Lind."

"You think she'll be a problem? She seemed okay when we discussed things on the island."

"Seems and is are two different things," she replied.

"We haven't talked about how all this will affect you," he said shooting her a sideways glance.

"You mean you think I might not hold up my part of the bargain?"

"I didn't say that," he replied, unconsciously moving several steps closer to her.

"You needn't worry," she said turning to fact him. "I have my own reasons for seeing this through."

"Mind telling me?" he asked as casually as possible.

"Sentaro was taken from me earlier than I had hoped. If we're successful -."

"I understand."

They walked on, out the back gate and down the alley talking for some time.

In the courtyard Tai Morisato and Sora sat alone now, quietly watching the dying flames of the fire. Hearing the receding voices Tai rose to go but Sora caught him by the hand. "Stay with me," she said.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I'm scared," she replied.

"I'll be fine," he shrugged. "And Lind will be there."

"It's just . . . so much of their plan depends on you."

"Don't worry. No matter what happens I'll make it back to the rendezvous point like we agreed."

She squeezed closer holding his hand. "I don't know. It always seems like, for us . . ."

"I know," he said kissing her head. "Come on let's go inside."

Morning found Takumi outside in the courtyard studying the temple, its trees, and Skuld as she packed through the open shoji doors. He looked away embarrassed as she looked up caching him.

"I - just wanted to ask you something. Can - I take this?" he said awkwardly, producing a picture from inside the jacket of he and Urd, looking back at the camera as they stood akimbo together along the seashore. "I lifted it from Belldandy's book," he admitted.

"I suppose so," Skuld replied. "Are you ready Tai?"

"I am," he nodded entering the room.

Following a hesitant kiss between Sora and Tai (which Takumi feared he would never get used to), Skuld and Tai took to air and were gone, leaving only the two of behind on the porch. "Funny. Last night Skuld told me she was the one always being left behind," Takumi said watching the sky.

"Did you two have a good talk?" Sora asked.

"I hope so," he replied. "She certainly did more hugging than she normally does. She told me I could take Keiichi's jacket."

"For you it's Keiichi's jacket. For me I will always remember it as Skuld's. After he was gone she would always wear it when it got cold, whenever she was out working on something in the garage."

He nodded sitting down beside her. "Well she was fond of him. Much more than she would ever let on to any of us."

"I suppose." For a moment the two sat quietly side by side listening to the echoes of the forest. "I'm going to miss you dad," she said finally, pressing a braid of her hair into his hand.

"You'll never even know I was gone, except for the fact I might become a slightly better father. No guarantees though."

"After - after it's over, can Lind still be -?"

"-Your grandmother too, assuming she's not busy instigating the world's downfall or getting locked away in some dark corner of the underworld," he replied.

"And Tai?"

"That's a more complicated discussion, one I'm sure others will weigh in on. But in the end no one can tell you who to love."

She looked at her feet, shifting. "Alright. I'm going to let you go now," she said rising.

"Do what you need to Sora," he said as the winds rose.

"Lind will know where to find you if the time comes."

"I don't doubt it," he murmured watching her go. As she disappeared into the clouds he kissed the braid putting it into his pocket.

. . .

Peorth leaned back at the Earth Help Center, casting her arms behind her surprised at Skuld's sudden approach. "What brings you here?" she asked. "Everything alright at the temple?"

"I just need to check something - in the back files," she said.

Peorth's eyes narrowed. "What kind of thing?"

"Something relating to Keiichi's happiness," she whispered.

"You know you're welcome to search," she said leading her into the archives.

"It's not that simple," Skuld replied stopping. "I need to use your account," she said.

"A super-user account?"

"Yeah. The highest one I can get my hands on," she nodded.

"Keiichi's happiness. A problem with your new addition?"

"I hope not. And Peorth - don't tell anyone about this."

. . .

Within the Miyakejima caldera, the pit had become a hive of activity. A team of The Fallen had almost finished removing any excess refuse as Idunn put it as they prepared the site.

"You alright?" asked Idunn casting a wary eye over the area.

"I'm fine," Hild replied sitting peering over the crater rim.

"Because you look anxious. You're not nervous to talk to him after all this time are you?"

"Of course not!" Hild replied dismissively.

"Good. Because if anything he should be nervous to talk to you."

"I know."

"I mean all the procedures you suggested are the ones that -."

"I said I'm okaaay, I don't need a pep talk," she said looking off as they both laughed.

"We've come a long way, haven't we?" Idunn said looking up at the stars.

"Give or take a few civil wars," Hild replied. "Don't think that won't come up -," she muttered.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to. With Sirsemion gone we've moped up most of the remaining leaders, the realm is essentially -."

"And what about the territory we've lost, to say nothing of the people? No this is the only way; if they can hold up their end."

"You think he'll go for it?"

"Two of his daughters? I'd say he'll go for it. But who knows what he thinks these days? In truth it's not him I'm most worried about."

Idunn sighed still looking at the stars. "You were their chief strategist. The high council will always be nervous around you, no matter what the deal is." Idunn leaned her head back closing her eyes. "Do. . . you ever think about -?"

"The past? No. What would be point? We made the best decision we could on a path to freedom. I wouldn't do anything different."

"Me either -," admitted Idunn crossing her arms.

. . .

"Did you contact him?" Skuld asked looking up from the screen as Peorth entered.

"It seems Tai is on his way there now," Peorth replied.

"Good."

"Do you want me to stay?" Peorth asked.

"No," Skuld said shaking her head looking at the screen.

"I'm sorry," Peorth said finally.

"Me too," Skuld replied sadly.

The day wore on as Skuld reviewed the archival data until her reverie was broken by the entrance of a group of Valkyries. Looking over the back of her chair she recognized them all too quickly. She crouched down but they had already seen her.

"Well, well, if it isn't the flying squirrel," said Kara coming in with Syn beside her. "What brings you here?" she asked placing a heavy hand on her shoulder.

"I'm looking into these records to see if there's an archive picture that accurately captures the look on your face as you flew over the wall crashing into the sea," Skuld replied peering into the pages.

"What did you say you reject?!" Kara hissed picking her up.

"I said - is it book day at the apiary? If so the kids section is two floors down," Skuld replied sitting back down.

"No we birds of a feather just have to search this place from time to time to keep the rodent population down," replied Kara.

"Careful or we might have to turn you into a meal," she said leaning down beside her.

"What is it you've got there?" asked Rota coming up with Mist behind them. "Well, if it isn't the world's most dangerous engineer!" she said looking her over.

"-And only getting more dangerous with time," she replied.

"You're friend seems to be looking for a story. I could tell them as story - one about a couple of dodos who flew over the cuckoo's nest to land face down in the surf!"

Rota and Mist bristled.

"What's she talking about?" asked Syn.

"Who knows? She's crazy. Let's get out of here," said Rota trying to usher them out.

"I guess you're right. There's no need to bore people with ancient history," agreed Skuld.

"I'll tell you when I leave," said Kara.

"No, she's right. All of you – out!" called Herja appearing with Pogn and Puror.

"Pogn you fink!" shouted Kara.

"Hah. Your sub-commander just gave you an order," said Rota.

"I said all of you. If you have time to goof off here then you have time to help at the citadel." Following some staring between members of the group they dissipated.

"Sorry," said Herja. "You know how they can be in a group."

"Uh-huh," replied Skuld returning to her book.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Just looking into a few details," replied Skuld.

"About what?"

"My sister," she admitted. "How she died," said Skuld.

"I heard - they got the one responsible," said Herja. "The one who killed Belldandy."

"Yes."

"Did he say why he did it?" she asked.

Skuld shook her head. "We never found out. It was another demon that got him in the end."

"I see. I guess it's ended then."

Skuld nodded. "It's just, there was always one thing that bothered me about it," she muttered. "How did Big-sis know where to find Hild? I mean she left that day like it was any other, with no word to me or Keiichi; no special precautions. It always struck me as strange. Almost like shewas informed of the information on the spur of the moment."

"It may be possible to find something in the communications logs," she suggested.

"No I've already tried that," said Skuld. "Nothing. It seems there were no communications from the Heavens to my sister that day."

"Puzzling."

"Yes. Until I searched her ground-based records."

"What?"

"You know, the records on Earth. The ones you didn't erase."

"What are you saying?"

"Don't. Don't even open your mouth!" Skuld said rising.

"It wasn't until I considered Urd, the day she died. Then I knew. You see I had a conversation with Hild, something I'm sure your partner told you couldn't happen - and she told us she arrived to find Urd and Sora already in trouble. You don't remember do you? After Belldandy was released, I asked you about Urd's movements the day she died; given you were 'on duty'. You said Urd was told the location of Hild's jump; location she was killed at. Something which was documented by Terran Command; so no one questioned it. Only Hild, Urd, your partner . . . or you - would know it was a lie!"

"We detected Hild's jump and I informed her of the location - that's all! Wasn't that the location where she was found?"

"Yes, but not for the reasons you claim. Hild came after Urd's arrival - because you sent her there - into a trap! Once I heard Hild's story I knew neither Big-sis or Urd would have gone to such a location on a demon's word; it had to come from someone from here. That's when I knew Sirsemion had help from our side." Skuld pressed her hand to her body as her outer layer began to change, revealing the hardened dragon scale armor. "I'm not asking you Herja. I already know the what. What I'm trying to understand is - why? Why did you do it? Why did you hurt my family?" she said withdrawing her blade.

Herja stepped back appraising her, "You must have quite a high opinion of yourself, knowingly trapping yourself in with a Valkyrie," she replied. "I'm told you're a capable engineer. But I think you're going to find this level of combat to be on an entirely different level," she said raising her hands drawing together a strand of light.

"You know the whispers Skuld: There must be something wrong with the family. I mean - two sister's disappearing under such mysterious circumstances? Imagine what they'll think – when it's three."

"I came here prepared not to leave; let's see about you," Skuld replied baring her teeth. "Especially when it involves my family!"

"Yes, let's find out," Herja said as the ball grew white hot. "And you're wrong about Belldandy. She found that place all by herself."

"Then why hurt her?"

"She was acting in opposition to our plans. She had been for a long time. I mean it's not like we could risk Hild getting out. She notified me she needed help. I just made sure it didn't arrive."

"The person who could undo all your good work . . ."

"You're right," Herja smiled. "Just like your older sister."

"I know exactly where I'm going to put your skull on the temple grounds," Skuld snapped putting a bookshelf between herself and Herja. "But before I do - Are you crazy? What is it you get out of all this?"

"That's easy," Herja replied. "I get to remove evil."

"Who? The Watchers?"

"No. They understand. The Fallen. Those of mixed divinity.

"You mean Hild's army?" she said watching her carefully.

"They are not her army. She may have given them a home, but they are not hers."

"Yet Hild wasn't going to help you."

"Of course not. Not when her inner circle is made up of them."

"It wasn't them you were trying to get?"

"In a perfect world perhaps," Herja replied edging closer. "But they are not our priority. Hild's mongrels are locked out of the Heavens. Those two on the other hand . . ."

Skuld gasped understanding. "Sora and Tai!"

"-We couldn't just leave them," Herja shrugged. "We had to get rid of them. Of course, it would have been so much simpler if we just killed her that day. But as you know Hild showed up and ruined the party - creating yet another problem for us."

Skuld blinked not believing her ears. "You mean Tai . . ."

"Well let's face it, I doubt he would have been born if Belldandy had stayed put."

Skuld steadied herself trying to keep her focus. "Before I definitely kill your unsuccessful child murdering ass I need to ask, why Sora and Tai?"

"They could return to the Heavens, their children definitely so."

"You didn't come after my children," Skuld said scanning the exits.

"Your children stayed where they belonged and possessed a human lifespan. So it was tolerable."

"Lady - you are seriously messed up. -And lucky you didn't try harder for them after Urd and Belldandy were gone!"

"It's true that after the removal of your sisters there were a lot of eyes on them, and you did become bothersomely protective of them after that," she said moving to counter her. "But the truth is with Urd, Hild and Belldandy gone we would have gotten them long ago; had it not been for the interference of -."

"The One-Wing?" a voice whispered murderously behind her.

Herja turned but Lind struck first speaking quickly: "Herja I bind you and prevent you from doing harm," she said striking as the sigil burning itself into her. "Wherever you are henceforth, I will know." Skuld had never seen her more terrifying, her face like the countenance of death as she forced the Valkyrie commander to the ground. "You went after my daughter?" she said searching her eyes as she held her.

"She's not -," Herja began as Lind squeezed until bones began to yield. "I - I'm not alone. There are more like me! If anything happens to me - they'll know!"

"I'm counting on it," Ling replied. "And we will root them out, every one. Shall you tell me their names? No? Then we're finished here," she said throwing her back, away from Skuld.

"You're going to kill me?" said Herja.

"We do not kill our own sister, nor do we act as juries unto ourselves. No, I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to cast you out from the Heavens." She drew her hand up as they disappeared.

The three of them arrived in shadows of the petrified forest.

"Where is this place?" asked Herja.

"The only place left for you - Earth," Lind replied.

Herja stepped into the woods. "I'll simply return."

"I'd be cautious in that," Lind warned standing with Skuld.

"Yes, I wouldn't book any travel plans just yet," said the voice appearing from the trees along with several senior demons.

"What? Where is this?!"

"-The tour where you get to pay your respects to your old friends," replied the demon sitting in front of her.

"Goodbye Herja . . . ," Lind said descending the path.

"You - you're leaving me here because of Belldandy?" she asked to Lind and Skuld's retreating forms.

"Why would we care about that?" Hild said to her demons.

"No this is about the other murder you've admitted to being involved with . . . well that and the attempted murder of my granddaughter."

"HILD!" Herja gasped.

"Yes," she replied leafing through her notebook. "Well we seem to have sufficient witnesses here for the trial - is there anything else we need before we wrapping this up?" Hild said to those around her.

"We need independent confirmation that her words are indeed the truth," Idunn remined her.

"Oh I can do that," Hild said with a wave of her hand. "After all, I know I didn't arrive first there that day. Here -," she said tearing out a page from her notebook. "I have a note with my name signed on it and everything," she said letting it fall to Idunn's feet. Do you have any counter witnesses? No? Well then -," Hild snapped her fingers, igniting the goddess only to have her coalesce into a brightly glowing sphere of light.

In the distance Skuld stopped sensing the brightness of the ignition. "I thought you said Valkyries don't act as juries," she said to Lind. "That they are tried by a jury of their peers."

"She was tried by a jury of her peers," Lind scowled as they ascended.