The Unknown Variable

(Edited as of 5/7/14 by Espacole)

If anyone says that I own something I do not, I shall tell Thor to smite you. After all, he's quiet fond of young Penny.

Our father-daughter relationship wasn't the only one that had been flourishing in the past two months.

Mortem and I had also been getting closer. At times…okay, a lot of times, it was weird for me to think that the boy…man…whatever…that was my close friend was actually Death.

I hated to admit it…but I think I was starting to get a crush on him. He was always there…unless Tony was.

He tended to avoid my father, and personally I found that funny. It wasn't like Dad could see him; I still wasn't sure how I could see him. Another mystery with no answer; at least not one I could know.

I had so many questions about so many things, yet Mortem wasn't allowed to answer any of them…at least not out right.

I had learned not to ask about why he was always with me, or why I could see him. I also knew not to push him about why he would suddenly disappear or how he would come back and rant…or tried to. No sound every came from his mouth.

But Mortem had stayed with me. Every nightmare that I had, I would awake in his arms. Any flashback that would sneak up on me, he would slowly push away. He wouldn't keep them away completely, like he did in the cave. He claimed that it wasn't healthy to just shove them to the back of my mind. I would need to deal with them, or they could just get worse.

I believed him, but that didn't help my sleepless nights.

It was he who I confided in when I realized what was happening with my Core. Poisoning. Slow, agonizing poison was slowly creeping into my system.

He had held me as I sobbed, realizing after Jarvis' last scan that after everything, every struggle, every fight, every challenge I had overcome with my health was for nothing. I was still dying.

He couldn't answer when I asked why this was happening, or if there was anything he could do, being Death and all…but I knew he cared. I saw the pain in his eyes as he held his tongue; and it was in that moment that I realized that he cared…

It was weird…ok, it was really weird. With him being Death and all…but I swear, I knew what I saw.

Ever since I had discovered the poisoning, and realized that it was the Palladium, I had been sleeping less. Even Tony noticed, although I tried my best to hide it.

I barely stayed in the house in NM now, spending almost every night in Malibu. After I had submitted my dissertations, I finally agreed to take a small job working for Dr. Foster, twice a week and only for a few hours.

Jane was disappointed, but with my hidden account from Tony that he refilled every month, I was quiet well off.

One night, about a week before, I had awoken to find that I was no longer alone in my hidden room. I had panicked for a microsecond before I realized that the intruder was talking to Mortem, and it looked like he knew her; even if they were arguing.

I watched the white haired girl argue silently with Mortem for a few minutes before her golden eyes found mind and I winced at being caught.

The white haired girl gave a silent sigh before hugging Mortem and vanishing straight into the ground.

I had blinked, surprised. My eyebrows knitted together as I evaluated the scene I had awoken too.

The two of them had clearly known each other well, if their silent argument was anything to go by. I had spotted concern and care in the girl's golden eyes. Looking at Mortem, I noticed that he seemed tired, as if the fight had worn him out. It was strange. I had never seen him fatigued before.

"Who was she?" I asked, but Mortem just shook his head. I recognized the look on his face; he wasn't allowed to tell me.

I brought the memory to the forefront of my mind and narrowed my eyes in thought. I had been getting quiet good at getting solving the mysteries that floated around my friend. Literally.

My eyes widened as I saw a resemblance between the two, he was darker, she was lighter, but beyond that, their facial structure was extremely similar. They were the same height, and used the same hand gestures with their words; even if they weren't signing.

"What that your sister?" I asked, and the slight shift in his eyes, and the warmth that flooded them confirmed my thought. "Is she an Entity like you?" I asked, although I knew it was an idiotic question. She probably was.

Another slight shift of the eyes, yes then.

My lips pursed as I brought her features back to my mind, trying to see if I could guess what she represented.

White hair braided with flowers, gold eyes, tanned skin, bright green dress and a soft smile that I had seen a glance of as she disappeared…right into the earth.

"I'm guessing either Nature…or Life." I stated, and carefully I studied his face. The small, concealed smile and shifting of the eyes at the second one confirmed it.

"Life it is then." I stated as Mortem rolled his eyes. This had become a bit of a game for us. I usually only won when Mortem let me. He had an excellent poker face when he wanted to be.

"Can I get a name?" I asked, he would have to verbally answer this one, and I knew there was a large chance he could not. So I was surprised when he sighed and said,

Vitam

I raised my eyebrow slightly at her name but nodded, I guess all Entities or whatever they were had strange names.

A few nights later, I brought up the argument again. Mortem had made it really clear that he couldn't tell me what the argument was about, but I wasn't asking about the argument anymore.

I was asking about entities, gods, and legends.

I threw question after question at him, asking him if this was real, or that…only to get a sad look in return.

I sighed, and was about to give up when the air around my bed seemed to warp, and a box, neatly wrapped in black fabric and tied with a red bow fell onto my bed.

I raised an eyebrow at Mortem in silent question but he just shrugged.

A letter written on grey paper slowly drifted down on top of the box before the warped air returned to normal.

After casting another look at Mortem, and when he didn't move to stop me from picking up the letter, I assumed that he knew who it was from.

My friend,

It has been quite a while since we have talked. You are most likely confused but no worries, I mean you no harm. I am just returning something that belongs to you. You won it from me long ago, and it still belongs to you. I have held onto it for you long enough.

I do hope you are well, and hope you visit me soon.
Hel

"Hell?" I repeated, wondering how that was a name. However the name also sounded strangely familiar…I just couldn't put my finger on it.

Shrugging, and deciding to look it up later, I slowly put down the note and carefully opened the wooden box.

The cloth that wrapped the box was a soft black silk of some kind, though I didn't recognize the material.

The box was engraved with numerous runes, and I instantly knew that normally, the box itself would be a priceless artifact.

However, when I opened the box, my eyes widened in shock and I was surprised that I had not fainted.

The box was lined in dark red velvet, but that wasn't what surprised me, it was the dark, solid gold violin that left me breathless.

"This can't me mine," I exclaimed softly, "I don't even know how to play!"

I had never been too interested in music when I was younger, I loved to listen to it, but playing was never my forte, to the disappointment of my mother.

I had learned how to play the piano when I was nine, but had quickly grown bored of the instrument.

It is yours. Mortem signed a small smile appearing on his face, pick it up, try it out.

"But I don't know how to play!" I repeated as I slowly lifted the violin out of the box at Mortem's look.

The Violin was light, which surprised me; it was a darker color of gold. Everything was gold, from the body to the strings and neck pad…thing.

The bow was heavily detailed, carved with runes and glittering in the light.

With slight hesitation I placed the violin beneath my chin and raised the bow. I froze, this was stupid. I had no clue what I was doing.

You can do it. Mortem stated, a smile on his face and his grey eyes glittering. His eyes usually stayed silver around me. I only saw them revert to black when he was angry.

I closed my eyes and brought the bow down to the strings. My eyes snapped open with shock as a strong clear note filled the air.

Glancing down, I noticed my fingers were no longer just hold the violin, they had moved, and was now holding a cord. Which one I had no clue.

At Mortem's motion to continue I continued to play, and was shocked that not once did the notes sound anything less than perfect.

Soon, the movements all became second nature to me, and before I knew what I was doing, a song filled the air.

The sound of Mortem clapping drew me back to reality and I froze in shock. I had no clue what on earth just happened.

Seeing my completely bamboozled and close to hysteria look, Mortem wrapped one arm around me and signed,

Some things, you can just never forget.

His answer gave me more questions than answers.

For one, I had never learned how to play, so how could I forget. Second, how on earth did he know that?

Also, another thing, I turned towards the entity and said, "Who the hell is Hel."

Yes, I did the pun on purpose.

Hehe…yeah I had been listing to "The devil went down to Georgia" a lot and this little plot bunny wouldn't leave me alone. (Also with the whole reading his face thing, I've been watching A LOT of "Lie to Me" you get a cyber-cookie if you know what that is! God, I love that show!) It is a good way to introduce the Asgardians/ᴁsir and stuff…also an excuse for Mortem to… 'teach'…her about the Gods.

*wink wink* It has nothing to do with Thor showing up…none at all…hehe ;)

Well, hope you enjoyed it. She'll find out more about Hel (not Hela, I looked it up!) next chpt.

Hope you all enjoyed it, even if it was a bit shorter than usual.

Thanks to Espacole
Cp