While Hela and Thor were clashing like two forces of nature below on the plaza, Devil and Loki were facing each other at the rostrum above. Loki was slowly orbiting Devil, holding his knifes on both hands, like a wolf looking for the best opportunity to attack his opponent. Devil kept a watchful eye on him, but didn't initiate an offensive himself.

"I assume that you are well aware that you will not leave this place alive, no matter the outcome of the duel between my two siblings," Loki hissed.

"...said the fly to the spider," Devil countered. "Prince of fools, what if I told you that right now, you are just dealing with the most external of many layers and that at the very core, the power of a million imploding black holes would be waiting for you?" Devil asked in a haughty tone and with raised eyebrows.

Loki laughed: "Imploding black holes? I would answer that you sound pretty self-destructive!"

"Me? Isn't the side you are on usually the side that loses? I assume that must be the influence of your self-defeating belief that you are unworthy. Unworthy of becoming the King, unworthy of winning or gaining anything of value, nothing but a burden for your companions."

Loki swallowed with a barely hidden glimmer in his gaze, but then narrowed his eyes and changed the topic: "What exactly do you hope to gain from helping Hela? There is no place for mortals in Asgard. Once my lunatic and murderous sister got what she wanted, you will be of no more value for her and she will dispose of you like of an annoying appendage, that's for sure."

With an unfathomable facial expression, Devil slightly shook his head. "My goals are beyond your understanding."

Devil's gaze left Loki's eyes as he looked down to the plaza instead. The Goddess of the Primordium had already gained the upper hand against her younger brother and was shining in a demonstration of absolute dominance. Hela's innumerable repeated fisticuffs mercilessly battering into Thor's face, who now was kneeling completely helpless before her, were executed with such lightning-like speed and with such vicious force, that upon impact they resounded earsplittingly like machine gun shots from the walls of the surrounding buildings.

Loki recognized the opportunity and launched forward in another attack. Devil grabbed Loki's wrists and tried to wrench the knifes from Lokis hands. While both were wrestling with each other, Hela, who now was trailing the battered and senseless body of her brother by his cape behind her, was ascending the stairs to the rostrum. "Boys!" Devil and Loki, panting, bent over and holding each other in headlocks, both froze at the sound of Hela's voice. They looked up in unison into Hela's amused face. She smiled widely and was obviously in the best mood. "Brother, unhand my servant or your public decapitation will be my first official act as the new Queen of Asgard," she said with a sweet voice. Loki's eyes widened, and then he wordlessly and slowly let go of his opponent. "Now." Hela turned around to face the people of Asgard. Behind her back, Devil and Loki were adjusting their clothes while glaring sharply at each other. "My subjects," Hela addressed the gathered people, held the senseless body of Thor with one hand by his neck and raised him into the air so everybody could see him, "I, Hela Odinsdottir, the firstborn of the All-Father, have won the duel for the claim to power over Asgard and the Nine Realms against my challenger. I defeated my younger brother, Thor Odinson. I am the Queen of Asgard now." Then, Hela lowered Thor back to the floor. Besides the Warriors Three and Lady Sif, the assembled warriors raised their weapons towards heaven, and they shouted repeatedly: "Hail Queen Hela! Hail Queen Hela!" With a pleased expression on her face, Hela's eyes wandered over the cheering crowd.

Devil waved towards Loki: "Come on! We will carry your brother down so the healers can take care of him." Loki did not answer, but he stepped forward towards Thor, he and Devil lifted up the still dazed God of Thunder and then transported him down the stairs where the healers were already waiting with a stretcher to transport Thor to the infirmary. Thor tried to resist: "I'm all right, no need to..." One of the healers cut him off: "You are injured, my Prince. Just let us do our duty." Thor exhaled deeply and let them transport him away. Loki shot another look at Devil, then turned around and followed the healers and his brother.

"Now, let's visit my throne room." Hela had descended the stairs. The jubilating people, who had been standing around the market place, had swarmed forward and filled the plaza to the brim. When Hela stepped towards them, they formed a corridor for Hela to pass through. Hela relaxedly walked towards the royal palace, Devil followed a few steps behind her. Hela shouted towards the people: "I declare a feast to celebrate my glorious return and my victory!" For the first time, the corpulent Volstagg joined in on the cheering of the people, while his friends turned their heads towards him and considered him with odd looks. "And tomorrow, my crowning ceremony will take place!"

Hela and Devil were now standing inside Asgard's gigantic royal throne room and were looking around, both seemingly dwelling on their own thoughts, while the royal servants were busy to set up a huge amount of tables and chairs, enough to allow all citizens of Asgard to join the upcoming feast in the evening. Hela walked to the stairs leading up to the royal throne and looked up to Hlidskjalf, the aureate high seat of the All-Father, which allowed its holder to oversee all the Nine Realms and which now would belong to her very soon. Gungnir, Odin's spear and instrument of rulership over the realm of the Norse Gods had again been placed against the armrest of the throne chair. Rays of light were shining through the large windows and were bathing the symbols of Hela's life-long yearning and desire in a golden glimmer. All she had ever wanted was now in reach and tomorrow, after the crowning ceremony, would rightfully belong to her.

Devil had quietly observed Hela for a few minutes as she was just standing there, without moving, staring mesmerized towards the glittering seat of power. Then, he sighed and looked around. He desperately needed a drink now. He walked towards a table at the wall on which stood a lot of jars and pots made out of mountain crystal and filled with liquids. "The nectar of the gods," he thought while pouring himself a drink from one of those shimmering containers into an artistically curved glass. The beverage looked like liquid gold, had a sweet taste and seemingly a high percentage of alcohol. After a few sips, he immediately felt a relaxing warmth spread into his limbs. He lit himself a cigarette and then saw Loki coming towards him. "Making ourselves at home, are we," the God of Mischief remarked. Devil smiled. "How is your brother doing?" Loki shrugged. "He had no serious injuries and will be released later this afternoon from the infirmary." Devil grinned. "That's great news! I'm sure he doesn't want to miss the victory feast of his sister, so he can congratulate her." Loki laughed. "Surely not." Devil took a drag from his cigarette while Loki turned his head towards Hela who still was standing motionlessly and looking up into the light emanating from the throne. "At the fulfillment of her dreams..," he whispered. "Jealous?" Devil asked mockingly while exhaling some smoke. Loki turned around. "I wouldn't dream of it, mortal. I have no interest to carry the weight of an entire kingdom on my shoulders." Devil raised his eyebrows but did not answer back. "Anyway, I still have to look how my father is doing," Loki sighed. "Give him my best regards," Devil said with a smirk. "Yeah, I'm sure he will be happy to hear that..," Loki waved his arm and walked away. "Good luck explaining to him that his banished and disinherited daughter has taken over his kingdom," Devil shouted after him with a chuckle, but Loki didn't react.

The feast of Hela's victory had begun. The entire population of Asgard had come and was assembled and sat down on the countless seats and by the many tables in the throne room. Hela was sitting at the head of the main table from where she could oversee the entire throne room, Devil was sitting at her right. Opposite of him, to Hela's left, Thor and Loki were positioned. Thor had returned from the infirmary, and he still had some visible bruises in his face but apart from that, he seemingly had recovered well from his fight with his sister earlier in the day. When Thor had come to the feast, he had looked a bit embarrassed, likely because of his devastating defeat in the duel against his sister. He had nodded towards Hela, a gesture which she had returned, and then he quietly had taken the seat at her left and besides his brother. The royal chefs were busy to serve the guests with food and drink while dancers and musicians were entertaining the crowd. Hela demonstrated an immense appetite and thirst and must have devoured already an entire roasted piglet which she had rinsed down with countless horns of Asgard's best ale. Devil was enjoying a delicious goulash. Thor, Loki and Devil had repeatedly glanced at each other while eating their meals but had not spoken with each other so far. After some time of quietness, obviously decided to break the ice, Thor cleared his throat and then addressed Devil: "So, you are now Hela's personal servant?" Devil smiled. "I assume she regards it that way." Encouraged by Devil's answer, Thor continued the conversation: "I remember seeing you first in that alley back on Midgard, earlier today." "Well, I was waiting for the return of your sister to introduce myself to her and to offer her my help," Devil remarked casually. Thor exchanged a look with his brother. "Well, according to your clothes and the fact that we met on Midgard, I would assume that you are a mortal and not a god, neither from Asgard nor from Vanaheim." Devil raised his eyebrows. "Well observed, God of Thunder." Thor licked his lips. "So, are you... well, a worshipper of my sister? I mean, are there more of your sort on Midgard, an ancient cult or so, which waited for millennia for the return of my sister from her banishment? Also, might I ask your name...?" "...and about the nature of your powers," Loki chimed in, and concluded: "Magic or wizardry, I suppose..?" Devil smiled. "Those are a lot of questions. Your sister calls me Devil, my powers are neither magic nor wizardry, and at least to my knowledge, there is no hidden cult on Midgard devoted to the worship of your wonderful sibling." The two brothers again exchanged short glances. "Wonderful you say?" Loki asked with raised eyebrows. Devil looked towards Hela, who was busy with gorging on a second roasted piglet and guzzling down one drinking horn of ale after the other, and who seemingly was not paying attention to the conversation between her brothers and her mysterious companion. Devil leaned forward and with a wink and a smile, he whispered behind reproached hand to Loki and Thor: "Isn't your sister the most wonderful and awesome woman in the entire universe?" The two princes were staring at Devil as if he had lost his mind. They couldn't believe what they just heard. Loki sniggered and shook his head. Thor blinked and then stuttered: "You mean, you are helping her because you are... in love with her? She is just a maniac murder machine!" Devil pointed his finger at him: "Better don't tell your sister that you think so about her, or she probably will have your head on a stake!" "Aye, and that would simply confirm what I just said about her," Thor replied with raised hands.

Without the three men realizing it, the Goddess of the Primeval Era had stood up and had stepped staggeringly right beside Devil's chair. All of a sudden, Hela plunked down on Devil's lap. Thor and Loki tensed up in shock, but Hela didn't pay any attention to them. Instead, she embraced Devil's neck with one arm, and with her other hand she grabbed a chunk of goulash from his plate and then held it right in front of Devil's mouth. Emphatically and with a considerable slur, Hela babbled: "My little Sleipnir needs to get fed to get big and strong, so he can always carry his mistress on his back! Say aaaahhh..." Loki, who just had taken a swig from his drinking horn to calm his nerves, exploded with coughing laughter and spluttered a mouthful of ale right into Devil's face. Hela didn't even notice. Thor, who couldn't believe what he was witnessing, stared with wide open mouth and bulging eyes at the surreal scene in front of him. Devil, who now had partially recovered from his initial bafflement caused by Hela's unexpected behavior, wiped his face with a napkin while giving Loki a piercing look and then opened his mouth to speak up to Hela: "Uhm, thank you, but..." Hela took the opportunity to stuff the piece of meat between Devil's teeth, and then giggled loudly like a little girl. The chefs and servants walking around in the room and serving the guests, and then the guests themselves, had one by one taken notice of what was going on at the table and now were all frozen in place and quietly staring at Hela, her personal servant and her two brothers. The conversations in the hall had fallen silent completely and all the attendees were now following in disbelief and amusement the unanticipated events taking place right before their eyes. Devil realized blushingly that the entire crowd inside the throne room was staring at him and Hela, who was squeaking gleefully while fidgeting back and forth on his lap. He grabbed Hela by her shoulders and tried to get up. "All right mylady, I think you had a few drinks too much. It's probably better if I bring you into your room now." "Nayyyyy...!" Hela pulled her head back in protest and held on to Devil's neck, but to no avail. Devil had successfully raised Hela up with himself, but he still had to hold her by her shoulders, so she wouldn't fall over. "Relax, I will lift you up into my arms and then carry you into your room." "No way!" Hela retorted rigorously and jutted her chin out. "I want to ride on your back! Now!" Devil raised his shoulders, looked around and tried to argue: "I'm not sure if that would make a good impression..." Hela materialized a sword out of thin air and held it menacingly against Devil's neck. "No back talk! Further disobedience by the mount shall be punished with flogging!" Devil rolled his eyes and quietly turned around. "That's better!" Pleased, Hela nodded and lowered her sword, then she climbed onto Devil's back. He secured Hela's legs with his bent arms while she embraced his neck with one hand. Loki stood up and raised his hand warningly: "Now, now! I hope you don't plan to take advantage of the fact that my sister is drunk, do you? Maybe it would be better if I, her brother, take her to her chambers instead of you!" Devil laughed out loud: "Sure, you mean so you can quietly finish her off with your dagger while she is still plastered?" Loki's face took on an exaggerated thoughtful expression and he rubbed his chin. "Well, I must admit, that thought has indeed crossed my mind..," he purred innocently. Devil snorted. Hela didn't seem to mind the little quarrel at all. She suddenly slapped with her free palm at Devil's butt and crowed merrily: "Enough talk! Forward march!" Under the watchful gaze of the quiet crowd, Devil carried the joyfully buzzing Goddess of Death on his back out of the room.

A few moments after Asgard's most terrible warlord and her mount had left the hall, Loki looked across at Thor and broke the reverent silence. "She is completely insane," he whispered dryly. Thor sighed and shook his head in disbelief. "Asgard is doomed!"

Devil had carried the mumbling Hela into her chambers, closed the door behind them and then stepped to her bed. Then he turned around and carefully sat down at the mattress. Hela still clung to his neck in her dazed state. Devil addressed her: "All right, my queen, we have arrived at your bed. You can release my neck now." "Noooo..," Hela muttered and just embraced Devil even tighter with her arms and legs. Devil groaned. Her arms and legs were encompassing his body like steel clamps. What now? Carefully and slowly, he did let himself fall backwards and onto his side until he and Hela both were lying down on the mattress of the bed. Devil felt Hela's hot breath on the back of his neck, and her body, heated up and deeply relaxed from all the meat and ale, radiated an intense dry warmth which made him feel like he was sitting leaned with his back against a tiled stove. He had ascended to heaven and now was in the loving embrace of his primordial goddess. "Finally, I have entered paradise", Devil realized rapturously while closing his eyes and then drifting into a deep sleep.

From behind, Hela pressed a blade against Devil's neck and hissed sharply into his ear: "What exactly are you doing inside my bed?" Devil's eyes opened widely in shock. It was the morning after and bright daylight radiated through the curtains into Hela's bedroom. "Well, I transported you into your chambers and you didn't want to let go. You were pretty drunk, you know," Devil explained. Hela huffed: "Nonsense. What are you talking about?" "Yesterday during the feast, you suddenly sat down at my lap, called me 'little Sleipnir' and tried to feed me. When I wanted to bring you into your rooms, you insisted on riding on my back out of the throne room. When we had arrived at your room, you refused to let go of me."

"What?!" Hela's hand shook slightly and unintentionally she cut superficially into the skin of Devil's neck. Then she released him with a groan, closed her eyes and pressed her palm onto her face. "You may go now. I will meet you later in the throne room."

Devil quietly closed the door of Hela's chamber behind him and then, deeply exhaling and closing his eyes, he leaned his back against the cool wood. Of course, Loki had to walk by right at that moment. With a smug expression on his face and without interrupting his tread, he asked joyfully: "Hey, little Sleipnir, what is that wound on your neck? A love bite from our snarling wildcat?" With a hearty laugh, he walked away, singing melodically: "Our little Sleipnir..." Devil stood rooted to the spot, mutely glaring daggers after Loki. This guy was toast!