I. Beyond the Mist

The walls of the castle Takestov looked upon the ceremony that was about to start.

In her luxurious obsidian dress, the queen of the misty continent walked through the imposing hallways. Her cold gaze played with the eyes of the trumpery souls that couldn’t sacrifice even a piece of their nail to another human being. That’s why they were here, in the coldness continent of the Nine Realms. A place were mist had eaten and swallowed spirits and sharp, teeth-like rocks surrounded the land. Not to prevent someones entry but to hinder the most feared creatures to leave.

Just one person had the power to obtain the kingdom of Hel, she which shared its name and therefore his soul itself. The daughter of the cunning god Loki and gelid giant goddess Angrboda. Chosen from the mighty god Odin himself as the only one capable enough to detain the cowardly souls in one place. But, as it seemed the queen believed in an upcoming overpopulation.

The chains made a harsh sound whenever they neared each other. They held the prisoner firm against the marble wall.

An agonizing scream filled the Takestov tower. ”Don’t even try.” The queen found herself in front of her newcome soul, another member of their uncanny continent.

The eyes of the immortal shone with fear. His jaw started to shake as he was trapped in front of a monster. But the fear lost its grip on him, as he remembered who he was. ”Hel.” Growled the young man, his words sounding like a prayer. A sweet, sweet prayer too see the light of sun again. Hel’s horse-laugh echoed through the room. He was crazy for believing that she would that lightly let her father’s present leave.

”Your father.. I haven’t met a bigger crank-.” Hel interrupted him. ”Oh, thank you. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have such good opinion about you.” She touched the shoulder of the immortal, just above his deep cut. Her sharp nails clenched the wound as hard as she could, stopping when his screams became unbearable. She enjoyed herself too much, as she took the god’s pain away.

Upon exhalation her lips quivered and a smug smile spread across her face. ”Better?” The words didn’t sound caring at all. A deep voice defied her feminine curves and long elegant legs. The dress revealed her left leg, its upper part was composed of a lacy corset, barely covering her breast, emphasizing her collarbone and skinny arms. Sickly skinny. The queen was a perfect image of an walking corpse. But something in her sharp gaze incited carnal thoughts.

”You can go to Muspellheim! Maybe you’ll get a tan there.” Roared the immortal, his eyes fixed on the queen. Just for a moment he gave up and peered aside.

”Baldr, tell me how painful it was to be defeated by a mistletoe? Such low fall for such a big god. Or should I say ‘god’s son’?” Exclaimed the queen, eyes gazing at the archway that separated the two rivals from the rest of the world.

The immortal Baldr furiously looked at the queen. A burden pressed his lungs, making it hard for him to breathe. Is this how his story will end? Tied to the walls of an shred castle. Condemned to spent the rest of eternity in the worst realm of them all- Helheim, a home for the dishonored deaths and rotten souls will be the place were the son of the famous god Odin spends his immortal life? No, that’s not how things supposed to be, that’s not how his story should end.

Baldr once more looked at the icy blue eyes of the queen that stood before him. ”Hel, I’m innocent. Let me go.” Horse laughter filled every centimeter of the tower. He was truly mad if he believed the queen of the underworld would let him out of her shackels.

With one twist, Hel took Baldr’s sword from his belt and chopped the metal chains off. The disintegrating sound of metal urge blood from the ears. ”You’re free. But You won’t leave Helheim, that I promise you.” Moaned the queen in his ear.

Head held up high she went through the archway and found herself on the balcony. Addressing to her people, she let her voice became deep and carved in sharpness and authority. ”Outlawed souls, deviants and all of you others who had protected your own instead of domesticating foreign. Know, until I’m on this throne penance won’t be! Not for people nor gods. Here lays equality, but my equality! This place accepts your real faces!” Whilst she chanted the last words, Hel took off her elegant black mask, letting her other part of the face look at her people. All her spivs and rotters.

Beautifully oval face with pronounced cheekbones and deep set icy eyes started to lose itself in the middle, taking in a more scary appearance. Turning into scales with rich cobalt color and ragged eyebrows, which like an epidemic spread onto the other prettier part of the face. But despite her monstrous appearance, the queen held her feet firm to the ground.

She brandish with her honey blonde hair and let her iconic mask fall to the floor. ”This I promise you. Here no one will condemn you!” As soon as she said the final words the crowd went wild. Screaming and praising the name Hel.

”How do you like that, god’s son?” She turned her face to Baldr, tauntingly smiling at him. She was like a hyena posing as a house pet. Nothing more but a fox dressed up like a chicken. Oh, and she was good at it.

Still with fear in his eyes Baldr held his gaze upon his new queen with certainty that he would never back down or praise her as well.

—————-

Hel had been sitting in the luxurious dinning room completely alone, leaning on the table of smooth mahogany. Morning light started to fade into the afternoon rays of sun, as much as it managed to get to the remote continent.

Mist had covered Helheim like a mother shielding its child. Maybe she had been exactly that to this continent, a guardian.

Hel had moved the steak from one part of the plate to another. The gods weren’t used to eating, but in the dull days the queen had to please herself with human amusement. She took a sip of wine that was the color of blood.

As she drain the cup till’ its last drop, her gaze eloped at her father’s portrait. Glorious Loki glanced at his daughter with cold eyes, looking as she consumed the human pleasures. But as always, he wasn’t here. She was completely alone, dinning with herself.

Bitterness filled Hel’s mouth, bitterness so strong that she only hoped her uncle would fell it as well. Was she truly protecting the Underworld or is she banished here to rot? That question lurked in Hel’s mind ever since she got here. In the cold nights when the only thing that the queen wanted was someone’s warmness. Once again she took a sip of wine, this time from a full glass. The one which stood besides an empty plate, right before Loki’s portrait. Ugh, As if he would ever come and dine with her..

The queen laughed at the thought that went through her mind. Monster. That’s what she was. Maybe the nail-sharp rocks weren’t there just for the evil souls and fiend? Ha! With that thought she could live, knowing that she was so dangerous that even the god Odin feared her.

She drank up the bloodied wine just like the elves did. She could feel as the liquid filled her entire body. Her index finger removed the last drop of wine from her glass and placed itself between her teeth. She hadn’t had an interaction with another human being in a long time, especially men.

She soared herself from the chair and walked to the colossal doors. Stopping just to think her decision through. Why waste time on a human when in the dungeon lays a god? Someone equal to her. Finally, an adventure worth her time.

Ready to lose extra energy, the queen lowered to the prison that looked liked a mine. Excited to have fun with the young god.