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Rain.
"Fucking rain" I sighed as I struggle to manoeuvre the dense forest of Jotunheim. Being a half-breed is difficult enough. I need to find him. I don't know where to even start, but all I know is that I need to find him. My mother always told me that if something were to happen to her, I needed to find him. Unfortunately, she never told me who he was. Just his name and that he was a warrior. Although, I did have somewhat of an idea of where I could find him. Mother always said that I would find my father either at the bottom of the barrel or fighting in a war. I often wonder that if I would my father, would I find the other half of myself? Find who made me the way I was. Or find my real family. Wherever he may be. Right now, I just wanted to find a drink.
As I sit under a hollowed-out tree near the outskirts of Jotunheim's main city, I wanted a drink so damn bad that I could hardly see straight. It wasn't often that I got my cravings like this. I tried suppressing the other half as much as I could, but sometimes, I needed to satisfy that other half. Granted, I didn't like it, but it still needed to be done. Maybe I could get lucky and find a stray cat to drain dry, but the Frost Giants had done a number here. Or maybe it was all the other realms who decided to attack Jouhtuiem.
I try to stay out of the city as much as possible. Rumours had gone around about King Byleistr and his forces being defeated but I never really saw much concrete evidence until now. I figured that if there were Frost Giants here, he would be, too. Fighting them. Just like when he met my mother 21 years ago. However, that wasn't the case. Instead, I come up empty-handed and with the worst fucking craving for food I've ever had.
"I'm so... hungry" God knows there were plenty of corpses on the ground I could feed on, but I wanted something less cannibal. And I was no scavenger.
"Well, well..." a soft, seductive voice broke the quiet under my bridge. Her green eyes pierced into my very being, "What have we here? Yet another pathetic little Frost Giant. Looks like we missed one in the battle"
"Or I am just that good at hiding," I felt for my dagger in my belt. Being raised by my mother alone, we had to defend ourselves from the beast of the land. I knew who I could and couldn't trust in this world.
"You smell... different," the woman covered her nose as she gagged, "Like tainted blood" She grabbed me by the wrist. Immediately, she got the results of what she was looking for. I went to stab her.
"Hey!" I yelled as the woman easily held my hand in place, her grip tightening.
"You're not just any pathetic little Frost Giant, are you?" The woman smiled. She gently pushed me away.
"Only half of me is," I nursed my wrist.
"You're a mongrel?" her green eyes only grew bigger as she walked closer to me.
"I believe the correct term is Hybrids," I corrected her, "But yes, I am"
"And who would leave such a precious little thing like you out here?" her long, pale fingers caressed my cheek, I pushed her hand away
"And you thought that I was a pathetic little Frost Giant" I reminded her, crossing my arms.
"Things change," she continued to look me over. I'm not sure if she was sizing me up for a meal or not. She seemed much more...I don't know. Dignified.
"Look, I'm not looking for trouble. I'm just passing through," I showed her my hands, showing her I mean no harm.
"Who do you serve?" she jumped down my throat.
"Serve?"
"Who is your master?"
"Myself," I assured. Bitch was getting on my nerves with all these questions "I'm merely a drifter. So let me dumb it down for you. I have no master" She looked me over once more.
"What's your name, little Hybrid?" The woman walked around me, playing with my long red hair.
"Aurora Layladottir," I introduced myself. I kept the dagger in my hand, in case the woman got too close.
"Aurora," she repeated, She waved a hand and the black dagger-looking thing on her head disappeared, revealing her long flowing back hair "I like it. Why don't you come with us for a while? I'd love to talk some more."
"Where are you going?" I'm not saying I trust her, but she might know where he could be.
"My palace in Asgard" She extended her hand to me, I was unsure if I should take it "I can offer you a place to sleep and a warm drink. You look like you could use both."
"Asgard?" I thought it over. It was where the AllFather was. But then I also heard he was dead. Asgard was one hell of a trek from Jotunheim. But this woman, she brought provisions. And if she's headed toward her palace, a bed to sleep in would be nice. How long has it been since I last slept in a real bed? mother has been gone for many full moons now. According to my back, it's been a while.
"What's your name?"
"You may call me Hela Odinsdottir" She gave me a little bow. I knew of Hela. She was the Goddess Of Death. Mother referred to her as a cruel bitch. If she resides in the palace then Odin must be dead "Now that we are well acquainted, does that mean you are joining me for Asgard?"
"Well, I can't exactly stay in Jotunheim," I gestured to the remains of the small village, "I'll go."
"Let me show you to your new home, dear Aurora" Hela smiled with a glint in her eye.
"Ok." I wasn't sure if I was betraying my Frost Giant half or enabling my other half. This place was my home but I need some sort of answers.
"Tell me, Aurora," Hela and I started down the road with her forces behind us. Although, one of them smelled odd. Compared to the others. He smelt of magic, "What brought you to Jotunheim?"
"Other than the fact that I was born here," I rolled my eyes.
"I mean, what brought you to the city of Kirkjufell," Hela asked. I let out a heavy, heartfelt sigh.
"I lost my mother a few moons back. We were outcasts because of me. I have been on my own ever since. And I just... ended up here."
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother," she took my hand, squeezing it gently. The woman looks like she kill me with a flick of her finger but she was being nice. I wasn't used to nice "What did she die from?"
"She got really sick," I forced back the memories of her frail body laying in her bed, "Her body couldn't take it."
"Was she where your Asgardian half comes from?" Hela asked. I shook my head.
"Mother was a Frost Giant. My father, if that's what you want to call him. He was Asgardian"
"No love loss there, I assume?" she wondered. I sighed as I looked at the road ahead.
"I'm out looking for him," I confessed, "Mother was living in her home village when a group of men visited it. The village chief claimed that my father raped my mother and she had me nine months later. Though I don't believe him. Mother never muttered a word of hate against him. Just said that it was the wrong time. It's been her and me ever since. Well, up until some moons ago. Now, it's just me, I suppose. So, to answer your question, no. There isn't."
"Do you remember what his name is?" Hela listened closely, just as curious about my father as I was.
"Yes," I swallowed the lump in my throat "His name was Volstagg. And if I ever meet the cock wart in person, I will deliver unto him a slow, painful, and torturous death. For what he did to my mother. For abandoning us. For cursing me like this. He deserves to suffer, Hela. And who better to make him suffer than the product of his disgusting act than his own daughter?"
"Well, Aren't you just the powder keg of anger and emotion? And over Volstagg of all people!"
"You know my father?" I perked up. Hela may be more useful than that promised drink and a bed.
"I knew him," Hela put a hand on my shoulder. I flinched at her touch "I'm so sorry to tell you this, Aurora, but Volstagg is dead. It looks like your quest for vengeance is over." My heart sunk to my feet. I ran off behind a rock to violently throw up. I'm glad the son of a bitch is dead, but someone else had his blood on their hands. Someone stole my kill.
A moment later, Hela appeared next to me, moving my hair away from my face. How can the Goddess Of Death be so kind? Was my mother wrong about her?
"Easy child" Hela lead me to a rock and sat me down, she order her men to bring some fresh water.
"Hela, Do you know how he died?" I pleaded with her.
"I do not know whose hand he died by," she told me, tucking my hair behind my ear "I, myself, may have had a hand in it. I did throw him down the stairs. He had intentions of sleeping with me that night, but I had other plans. Not to mention, some dignity. Or he was going to kill me. Unsure on either account"
"Someone took my kill" I growled, settling myself in the next breath, "But I'm glad he's dead. May my mother's eternal paradise be his never-ending hell."
"Volstagg was a pig," Hela gagged, "I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot stick. I don't believe that the wood doesn't deserve that."
"I wish someone told that to my mother" I rolled my eyes as a guard came back with a small flask "Thank you," I nodded as I took it and drank the whole thing.
"I like you, Aurora," she took my hand back, "I have a feeling that you and I are going to be good friends."
"I like you, too, Hela."
"Because you don't know any better," a voice from the back mumbled under his breath. Hela turned and glared at him.
"Excuse me?" Hela snapped "Did my little brother say something?"
"No..." The man lowered his head. His dark hair fell over his face.
"Do you need a muzzle?" she snarled.
"No..." The man backed away.
"Good," Hela brushed him off before facing me "Ignore him. He was stupid enough to betray the previous ruler of Asgard king for me. And even stupider for falling for the simplest of tricks. God Of Mischief my ass. Bless his heart, though, he tries his best." Hela mocked. I glanced over my shoulder, trying to get a better look at him. To no avail,
"Who is he?"
"He is my little brother. There is another but I don't know where he is. Probably drunk in another realm. Bother are completely useless. This one is a spoiled brat that thinks the world owes him. But we do need him. He is a prince of Asgard. Raised by a witch"
"Did he know my father?" I gulped, looking at the raven-haired man.
"Most of Asgard knew your father" Hela tilted her head at me, "I must admit. Toying with my brother that is on a leash is a great bit of fun. But he loses his appeal when he loses his fight, so play with him sparingly. We wouldn't want to go and give him hope now, would we?"
"I guess not" I assumed.
"Very good" Hela grinned as she patted my knee. Wow. Hela is a heartless bitch. Then again, She is the Goddess of Death, which kinda fits the name. Maybe there's a reason why she had her brother on a leash. Maybe he was just as bad as Volstagg. But I couldn't help but wonder more about him. He is a Prince and from what I hear, is skilled with a dagger. Why doesn't he just stab Hela and take her place as ruler of Asgard? What has him so beaten down? There was more to the story and I needed to know.
"Why do you keep him?" I asked.
"Because he is fun to torment" Hela reiterated, "A piece of advice, Aurora. When you're planning something on a large scale like usurping a throne, it never hurts to have a Prince with a silver tongue in your pocket."
"You mean Odin?"
"Indeed. Being his firstborn, I held a place in his court. I served as his personal executioner and commander of the Einherjar, Asgard's army. for a while," she nodded, Helping me to my feet "But after our bloody conquest, I realized he was merely taking us all along for the ride and that he was no longer in a position to lead our kind. I took over. He was just a sad old man that didn't have the balls to do anything other than sit on his throne" I felt an aura come from the Prince. A dark one.
"Of course," I remembered hearing all about Odin and the conquest when I was younger. It broke my heart when I heard the news that the major city of Baro fell. My childhood best friend moved there. I never heard from her again.
"And all because he grew a conscience" Hela went on, "He figured that he had to defeat me. He sent his army and the Valkyries. In the end, I was defeated and he imprisoned me on Niflheim until his anticipated death a few months back"
"He imprisoned you? That's a little unfair."
"And since he was too busy being flamboyant and swimming in gold, I thought it was best to escape my prison," she decided, "It was obvious that this place was in desperate need of a leader. Someone competent needs to run things. And since the other realms have had plenty of sad old men ruining everything, I thought to myself, why not me? Odin's dead and Asgard was left defenceless. I'm sure that a woman would be more than competent and much more rational than any man. Wouldn't you agree?" As scary as she was, Hela made a point. And if we are being honest, the thought of it did make my heart skip a few beats.
"Oh, Absolutely."
"That's wonderful to hear," Hela smiled, placing a hand over mine, "Now, to you, my dear, darling Aurora. Are you feeling better?"
"Much" I nodded. I slowly stood up "Are you sure you would want a half-breed in your company?"
"My darling Aurora, Would care to see your new home?" Hela smiled at me.
"Very much so, please." I grinned as Hela offered me her arm. Together we walked through the forest as her guard dragged her brother behind them.
Volstagg was dead. And I couldn't be happier. I wasn't quite sure what Hela was all about, but the thought of helping Hela control the realms made me all giddy. I could turn them against each other. The Jotuns of Muspuliems and Jotunheim hated each other and would do anything to kill each other. I could make them wipe themselves out. It'd be efficient. I wouldn't have to get my hands dirty. I'm sure that would do my Queen proud. That is if Hela allowed me to serve her. fight in her name.
"Are you watching, Mother?" I whispered to myself. I can see why Odin and Hela went on a bloody conquest. Perhaps I should do it. I'm going to wipe every last goddamn monster off the face of this earth. Except for a few.
I really did like Hela. What I saw anyway. She was a Queen with ambition and I could appreciate that kind of drive. Especially with the intention of overthrowing the throne. By the looks of things, she may get exactly what she wants. Although, I'm curious about her methods. Maybe I should get to know her brother a little more. Maybe he could point me in the direction of the man that killed Volstagg. Just when I think my search was over, I meet Hela. It may not be over after all. Maybe it's just beginning.