Loki's Daughter, Mortem and Mischief

Chapter Twelve

Sylvie had a plan, and I suppose that's all that mattered. I didn't know what it was, really. All I could gather was that I was somehow meant to slaughter my aunt. I didn't know if this was at all possible but who was I to question Sylvie's authority?

Before I knew it, or could really even comprehend it, I found myself in the mecca of Asgard. Within the village square, streets were bustling and people swarmed every inch of the street. The chaos and hustle of it all was just as I remembered it. Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of my homeland made me realize just how desperately I missed it.

It was eerie to think that within a few weeks, none of it would remain. Half of these innocent Asgardians would be slaughtered, leaving the other half to become homeless and forced to wander the galaxy. With this all in mind, I felt like I was walking through a grave yard with the walking dead all around me.

"Hela," Sylvie hissed, grabbing my wrist as she dragged me through the crowd and into a secluded ally, "Is she always this... oblivious?"

"Oblivious?" I echoed, snapping out of my day dream.

"You bumped into about twenty people out there," my father said, keeping watch of the crowd. He was beyond on edge at this point, his anxiety over this entire situation was heavily visible.

"What happens if one of them recognizes your uncanny resemblance to the crown princess?" Sylvie asked with a raised brow, "The TVA is going to kill us before you kill Hela if you keep up with this...obliviousness."

And there it was, another straw added to the camel's back. With each word that came out of Sylvie's mouth it felt as though the weight on my shoulders increased tenfold. My father was no exception to this. With every doubtful remark, the pit in my stomach grew and grew and grew. I was beginning to realize just how stupid I was for not going about all of this by myself.

"I'm sorry," I replied, faking my sincerity, "I just forgot how marvelous Asgard was, that's all."

Lying was becoming second nature to me. Every other word that fell from my lips was laced with some sort of deceit. The more I hid from the two Loki's, the safer I felt and the less they had to criticize.

"Just...keep focused please?" Sylvie sighed, showing a twinge of guilt for snapping at me, "I want this to work out for you. I really do. But you need to keep in line. Alright?"

I smiled and nodded, giving her just the reaction she so pleased. If she was truly a variant of my father, I figured I could use the same tricks on her too. Flattery was the best way to get her off my back.

"Thank you for looking out for me," I said sweetly.

"Always," she said with a quick nod. Her lips twitched as though she was about to smile.

"Hela should be arriving any minute," My father said, "I remember seeing this all unfold in the TVA's demonstration. She knocks Thor and I out of the Bifrost and arrives here. If we bombard her at the Bifrost portal, she won't stand a chance."

"That's a marvelous idea," Sylvie said, "It would have been even better if you hadn't thought of it after I did."

"Are you ready, dear?" my father asked, putting his hand on my back. His expression was full of pure concern.

"We'll be with you at every moment," he added, "You know that, right?"

I nodded and brandished my dagger.

"I'm always ready for a good fight," I replied, "And with two Loki's by my side, what could possibly go wrong?"

My father smiled softly just as I knew he would. Flattery. The easiest way to ease my father's nerves.