Revamped!

[I know I had a game plan for how this whole story would go, but now I DRASTICALLY changed the ending and it's still freaking me out (and I wrote this author's note days ago.)] [2020: I remember that. Good times.]


Chapter 111: Swear By Blood

Asgard - A Bit Earlier

Sigyn appears in a bedroom in Asgard's palace, not going to Hel to bleed to death like she said she was going to. She and Hela weren't amicable at the moment so she chose Asgard … a realm that she's also not really on better terms with. Still, she knew Asgard would be more acceptable to her presence than Hel so here she is now.

Or so she hopes.

Sigyn looks around and is a bit relieved that nobody is there. Her head spins but she makes her way over to the vanity, accidentally knocking over whatever's there. To her luck, nothing shatters. She looks down at her body and sees that the remnants of her corset have a gash through the fabric and is a darker shade of black due to congealed blood. She tears off the edges and wipes away as much as she can. Usually, a wound could be healed with a spell but since it's from Apollo, her spells won't work. That's the downfall of being destined to die at her cousin's hand.

She looks up at her reflection and barely recognizes herself. Her skin is paler, covered in streaks of her blood. Her lip is cut and her cheeks are hollow. With every breath, she's pulled back to the chaos of the fight, the terrifying sight of Apollo about to end her life, the echoes of her friends that continue to reverberate in her blood as it exits her body. Gazing up into the darkness, she sees herself as a creature driven and derided by vanity, and her eyes that once burned with anguish and anger at the prime of her master plan are dried out. She longs to wash the battle from her hair and get rid of the blood that has dried and clumped some of her hair together. But at least The Serpent Crown is still on her head.

And she sees that she's still bleeding.

Sigyn curses under her breath as she scrambles for some clean fabric to press against her wound. Her eyes flicker up when she notices the lights turn on, and she curses again. Sigyn turns on her heel and sees Freya standing at the doorway, obviously since Sigyn now realizes that she appeared in her bedroom. Sigyn tries to read Freya's face and she isn't sure if it's mad or surprised. Her face is somehow irritated yet inviting at the same time.

"If only we could escape this life with so few scars…" Sigyn says.

Freya slams the door and storms over to Sigyn. Once she's standing right in front of her and sees all the blood up close, she opens the bottom drawer of her vanity and pulls out a first aid kit. She opens that and she and Sigyn start rummaging around it. Sigyn heaps some wipes to clean off her face as Freya wipes the wound. In all honesty, Sigyn was expecting Freya's right hook.

"I have been trying to contact you," Freya mutters angrily.

"Sounds like your personal problem," Sigyn replies.

"Why do you have that crown?"

"Matches my outfit."

Freya groans in annoyance. "What's wrong with you?"

Sigyn laughs a little too cheerfully for her situation. "Have you met my parents? I have so many issues."

"Sigyn, I'm serious. I was looking for you."

"Well, I'm right here."

Sigyn's smile disappears when Freya slams a hand on the vanity, causing Sigyn to jump a little. Sigyn sees Freya's stern expression and shivers a little until Freya's features soften up.

"Where have you been?" Freya asks gently this time. "I have been covering for you but it has been months."

"I will explain when the time comes," Sigyn mutters.

"Make that time now."

Sigyn gives her a nasty side-eye. "You know, I'm okay."

A small laugh escapes Freya's mouth as she turns her head. Sigyn rolls her eyes, feeling offended at that reaction as she pulls out an empty needle from the first aid kit and fills it up with antibiotics to kill an infection that may or may not be there.

"Okay?!" Freya repeats sarcastically. "Sigyn, please, you didn't trip over your shadow. You aimed Apollo's axe at yourself."

"In my defence, you and I had a plan," Sigyn states, raising her hands in innocence.

Freya's laugh is louder this time. "No, you had a plan. I was trying to sweep your gigantic mess under the rug."

Sigyn rolls her eyes as she looks back in the mirror and at her wound. She holds the needle in her hand and is shaking. She's never done this and doesn't know how. Thankfully, Freya doesn't hate her at the moment and takes over. She does remember that Freya's mother was a palace nurse before she passed away so she probably knows what she's doing and even if she doesn't, she still knows more than Sigyn will. Sigyn glances at Freya's face and it's unreadable again but concentrating.

Sigyn leans against the vanity. At first, she still tries to be tough and stay upright but after a minute, she can't take this pain anymore so she eases her way back into the chair, grunting from the effort.

"Does it hurt?" Freya asks, still not looking at her.

"What do you think?"

"Apollo got you good."

"He sure did."

"How is he?"

"Screwed up."

Freya looks at her directly in the eyes. "What have you done? I watched your and Apollo's minds rot like dogs for scraps of anything that will change your fates. I tried my absolute best to hide your mess but when Thor received word that The Serpent Crown was on Midgard, he went ballistic, especially when he came back to what we did. Yes, we had a plan, but you were so locked in your mind and I can't know what's going on in there which scares me."

"Look, Freya, I said I was sorry."

"You didn't."

"...oh, well, but I seriously owe you an explanation and an apology for everything."

"I know I won't be getting either anytime soon." Freya starts bandaging Sigyn up. "But I will be getting more bandages."

Freya turns and leaves the room, leaving the door slightly open. Sigyn takes a seat on the vanity and for the first time in a while, she relaxes and conjures up a new and clean dress for herself. She feels like she can finally breathe. Her hands hover over her bandages and something is off. Why would Freya go to get more bandages if she was already done?

"Son of a -"

The door flies open and Sigyn quickly stands up when she sees palace guards burst in with their weapons pointed at her. Sigyn backs up and sees Freya walking in after them, mouths a regrettable apology to her. Sigyn thinks that she can handle this. She's a powerful sorceress, she can take down some guards. Sigyn turns on her heel and starts dashing for the window but Thor comes flying in on the balcony, causing her to stop.

"Welcome back to Asgard," Thor tells her in a non-welcoming tone.

Sigyn raises her hands to surrender. "Call off your arms. I won't go anywhere."

Thor looks at her hesitantly before dismissing his guards. As they exit, Jane runs in and, for the first time in a while, she looks relieved after the slight panic her face showed upon seeing the crown. She heads over to Sigyn and sobs a little as she hugs her which causes Sigyn to start crying. Sure, she caused stress towards Apollo, Jane, and Freya but it was Jane who got her to realize and understand the severity of what she did. Sigyn resembles a child who was apologizing for doing a terrible deed and seeking forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry!" Sigyn exclaims as she breaks down in Jane's arms.

"It's okay…" Jane replies softly. "You're fine, you're alive -"

"No, it's not. I did too many bad things."

Jane parts from Sigyn and focuses her face on her own. "Was it worth it? Endangering the lives of all you care about? Would that have been worth it?"

"It would've if it worked." Sigyn takes a breath. "But, Jane, listen to me. You need to go to Midgard and see Apollo. He needs you more than I ever will."

Jane gives Thor a look and he nods, letting her go. Thor makes Freya escort his wife to the Bifrost so he could be alone with Sigyn. Sigyn looks at him and can say that Thor is the third angry face she's seen in just moments.

"You should go too," Sigyn tells him. "Apollo's your son."

"He's also your cousin," Thor responds.

"Can't argue with that," Sigyn says before signing. "Theoretically, I was doing a good thing. I'll give you a minute to think it over."

Thor takes her wrist and begins taking her somewhere. "Your version of good wasn't pure. It was selfish, arrogant, and destructive."

"That's a little rude to say when you don't know the full extent of what happened."

Thor stops walking and stares down at her. "So what?! The Norns call and you just think you can free yourself and die?! Only fools rush death!"

"I'm still alive!"

Thor grabs her again and begins taking her down the stairs. Sigyn willingly follows until she doesn't see them stopping anytime soon.

"What are you doing?" Sigyn asks.

"Sigyn Lokisdottir," Thor responds, "I'm placing you under arrest for robbery, your crimes on Midgard, and several other counts."

"What?!" She exclaims. "Arresting me?! I almost bled to death and you're just going to lock me up?!"

"No matter what a person goes through, that doesn't excuse their actions."

Sigyn rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

"And I'll be taking this back." He takes the Serpent Crown from her head.

"You can have it although it matches my outfit better."

Thor takes an annoyed breath as he drags her to the prisons. He walks her through the cells and all the prisoners stand and stare at the two of them as they walk down. Many of the prisoners turn their heads away, avoiding her in their sights. That reaction alone sends shivers down Sigyn's spine and emphasizes how bad her actions were: where Asgard's toughest criminals wouldn't even glance her way. The closer Sigyn gets to the end of the cells, the more Thor has to drag her against her resistance, making her boots skid against the floor.

"No, no!" Sigyn begs desperately. "Thor, talk to me, this is a little extra, don't you think? I have the right to a convicting."

"And that, I'll give you." Thor throws her into the cell and its wall forms before she could stand up again. "Meet your judge and jury."

Sigyn doesn't have to turn around to know what cell she's in. The obnoxious laugh irritates her, sending more shivers down her spine. She has to bang on the glass for Thor's attention but he leaves her there with a smirk. Sigyn groans before she forces herself to turn around.

"Hello, my daughter," Loki tells her with a snarky grin on his face. "Court is in session."


[More like: hello to you, Loki].