Loki's Daughter, Mortem and Mischief

Chapter Sixteen

Opening up the door, I was met with the image of my father surrounded by at least five other men and women. Tops were off, kisses were being dealt, and much else that I simply do not care to explain. At the very least, I was thankful that pants were still very clearly on.

I could hardly process it all, my face just stuck in a state of shock. Here my father was, cheating with my mother and engaging in an illustrious affair. The father I had known would've never done this. He was first and foremost loyal to my mother till the end of the earth. In her wake, he never took another lover or even considered it. He had always explained that no one could compare to her, that the love he had briefly shared with her was enough. Yet, here he was, snogging another man.

I was stunned, shocked, and maybe even a little hurt. But I couldn't say a word or even yell out at him, I was petrified even though I desperately wanted to just run away. I wished that I could just scrub the image out of my mind and move on. But no.

My father looked up and his green eyes went wide as he immediately shoved away the man atop him. He shrugged in his shirt in a hurry, barreling through the man and women who stood between him and me. I could tell by the fake smile and stunned expression that he felt caught, worried even.

"Hela, sweetheart," he said, his voice breath and riddled with worry. He hastily shut the door behind him, standing between me and the room. "Did you need something?"

"You were cheating on mother," I said softly. Though I wanted to be angry, to tell him how awful he was, I was more confused than anything. This was so out of character for him, it left me baffled. My father adored my mother. He loved her with all his heart mind and soul. But here he was, betraying her.

"No, I wasn't," he lied with a chuckle, crossing his arms as he leaned on the frame of the doorway.

"Have we ruled out you hitting your head?" he asked, "Because the more this day goes on, the more I'm convinced you may be concussed."

"I'm not concussed and you know it," I said firmly, "I saw you in there, you were snog-"

He quickly clapped his hand over my mouth, "Hela, my love, I believe it would be best if we kept this between us. The whole palace certainly doesn't have to know."

"So you admit it?" I asked, stepping away from him, "You were cheating on mother?"

"That's a very strong word," he began, trying to defend himself.

"Does mother know?" I asked quickly, not giving him the chance to speak.

"I-...I don't know," he admitted, "But it would be best if you weren't the one to break the news to her. Especially not now with her being so stressed about your coronation and all of that. By the way, how's that all going?"

"Stop trying to change the conversation," I demmanded.

"You should focus on yourself, love, you have a lot to deal with right now. Don't be concerned about what I'm doing," he said, putting an arm around me as he tried to lead me away from the room.

"How was meeting with that Grimnir boy?" he asked, drawing me forward just as the room began to erupt with noise.

"Why do you keep trying to avoid this conversation?" I asked angrily, "You were committing adultery!"

"Why don't you just scream it to the world, Hela?" he hissed, quickening his pace as he drew me into an empty room away from prying ears.

"Does mother know?" I repeated again, my voice demanding and harsh. I glared at him, crossing my arms as he locked the door behind us.

"Do you think your mother would still be with me if she knew?" he asked, "Listen, she doesn't even know I'm here right now. Alright? Let's just have this be our own little secret."

"She doesn't know?" I echoed, "What's wrong with you?"

"Darling, you're being too harsh," he insisted, "Your mother is perfectly fine. In fact, according to her, I'm with her right now discussing your coronation."

"You set mom up with an illusion of yourself?" I asked in shock, "So that you could go and do who knows what with those people? Who even were they?"

"Well having her with an illusion is much better than having her know I'm cheating," he argued, "And those lovely people were the Asgardian folk choir. They are artists, put respect on their name."

"You're sick," I said plainly, "Have you learned nothing from the past?"

"Darling, you're going to have to be more specific," he sighed.

"Don't you remember?" I began before I realized my predicament. This was not the same father that I had grown so accustomed to. This was not the Loki that was forced to watch his life on a screen, seeing each and every one of his flaws in hugh definition. This Loki hadn't even experienced the tragedies of Ragnarok, had no reason to learn from the time spent of Sakaar. The father that stood before me now was shaped by entirely different life decisions. And because of it, he hadn't learned a thing. For that, I was truly sorry.

He looked at me inquisitively before I said, "Nevermind just, you have to tell mother. You have to."

"But, it's your coronation soon and you know how stressed she already is," he began, "I can't tell her this, not now."

"How long has this even been going on?" I asked, rubbing my face. I knew he was right, there was no way we could break the news to my mother at that time.

"That's really irrelevant," he attempted before I shot him a mighty glare, "Less than three years."

"Oh my god," I groaned, "Do you even love mother? Or me? How could you do this to our family?"

"Hela, no, I love you and your mother more than words could describe. You two are my moon and stars. You two mean everything to me," he replied, his voice was so pained. It was as if even asking him that question was enough to make his heart break.

I just shook my head, "If you loved mom, you wouldn't be out here doing who knows what with the-the Asgardian Folk Choir or whatever,"  I replied before attempting to leave. I couldn't stand to see him anymore. It just made me sick.

"Hela," he begged as he stepped in front of me, taking my hands firmly in his, "You know this isn't about you. I love you more than anything, my dear."

I tore my hands away from his and pushed through him to get to the door.

"Please, just stop talking," I said, looking over my shoulder before I shut the door harshly behind me.

My skin was crawling. I was absolutely disgusted. But I was also hit with a stark realization. This timeline I had entered in trade of my own was far from perfect. There were aspects that were good, amazing even. I had my mother back, my kingdom, and now I even had Grimnir. But there was much lost as well. Such as my father's moral compass.