Krystal

34

She points the tip of her sword towards my neck, lightly grazing my skin just enough to draw blood when I realise that my mouth no longer has the cover on it.

"Well? I asked you a question, woman".

"Krystal Vaillancourt" I tell her.

"Well Krystal, do tell me, what brings you all the way to Hel?"

"Hel? I'm in Hel right now?" I ask in disbelief.

"That you are. What crime is it that they believe you have committed?"

"I have no idea, but I'm assuming it's something to do with the man I just married in secret".

"Where is it that you were banished from exactly?"

"Asgard. I doubt I'll be getting a return ticket back there now".

"Asgard you say? That was my home once, a long time ago. How is King Odin by the way?"

"Well if the men that just sent me here were telling the truth, then King Odin is a complete asshole".

"We have that opinion in common then, so I like you already. Come, I have shelter nearby".

She pulls me up off the ground and breaks the cuffs off of me. I know I shouldn't put any trust in this stranger who I'd only just met, but what choice do I really have?

"So forbidden love was your crime?"

"Sure looks that way, although I was planning on a little visit here soon anyway"

"Why would anyone desire visit Hel by choice?"

"To kill a witch"

"A witch you say? And what pray tell has this witch done to deserve death by your hand?"

"She cursed me".

"I see".

We reach a small cave where the woman uses magic to conjure a small fire inside that'll keep us both warm. If I wasn't so full of anger now that I'm actually here, then I'd be crying about the fact that I might never see Loki again thanks to Odin.

"What makes you so certain that you can kill this witch? You do not look like much of a fighter".

"Hmmm, let me think? STAND".

She does it quickly and after her initial shock she looks like she finds it hilarious.

"SIT".

"The power to compel? A difficult power to master indeed. You must be a very powerful young witch to dare take her on alone".

"It took me a long time to learn how to compel even the gods themselves".

"You could have easily taken rule of Asgard with a power like that at your disposal".

"I don't crave power".

"Only blood apparently".

Once she removes her cloak, I notice that she's an attractive woman, apart from being a little dirty from living in this wasteland.

"So what's your name?"

"My name is Hela. You may have heard of me".

"Nope" I answer truthfully.

"Really? I am the Goddess of Death and no one has mentioned me even once?"

"Sorry?"

She looks offended and disappointed by what I'd just told her.

"No matter, my dear. My return to Asgard will come soon enough. A valuable ally such as yourself will be quite useful".

"Listen, I appreciate you not killing me, but I don't even know you, so what makes me think I'm going to be your ally?"

"I know where the witch resides on this realm, and without my help you will never find her. I would even be willing to kill her on your behalf, but you seem determined to do that yourself".

"If I don't, I stay cursed so under no circumstances are you killing her".

"I understand".

"Although I may need to borrow something sharp".

"So we have a deal then?"

"That we do, Hela".

We shake hands on it, but something tells me with every fibre of my being not to trust this woman. Unfortunately it seems that without her I might never find my mother at all.

If there's a chance I'm going to be stuck on this realm forever, then I'm going to make sure my mother wasn't alive in it for much longer.

"I take it you were the top bitch around these parts before she showed up?"

"You are a perceptive little thing, aren't you? The beings of the realm bowed down only to me before she arrived with her magic tricks".

"With my help they'll bow to you again, but once I've killed her I need to find a way to get back to Asgard".

"I cannot return to Asgard myself, or at least not yet. Although there may be a way that you can".

"I'm listening".