The Beginning Of An End

Chapter 20

The moment I heard the news, I immediately stood up from the seat, despite the effects of the drugs and alcohol. My mind was racing with so many thoughts as I had trouble gathering them all together to form a coherent thought.

"H-how?" I stammered. I thought we were safe. I thought Loki would be safe. "How many?!" I yelled.

Abaddon looked at me with odd concern in his eyes. Even he did not see this coming, so how could I? He frowned as he looked away as if trying to gather more information from down in Hell. "There's...a dozen of them." He responded as he slowly stood up. "You can't go alone over there, Asmodeus."

"Dozen..." I mumbled as I sank my face into my hands. This couldn't possibly be happening. It felt like everything that I thought I had control over was slowly slipping through my fingers. If I lose Loki to them, we would all be screwed. All of us. Collectively. "I have to go though."

"I'll go with you." Abaddon said firmly and it had taken me aback. I was about to question it when he added, "there's no point in hiding anymore. You helped me with Lucifer, I will help you with Loki."

A glimmer of hope rose in me upon his words and if I had not known him, I would have hugged him. I still couldn't believe that he was going to assist me but there were many things that stopped making sense. It was a high time I stopped questioning these series of absurd events that were snowballing into the end of the world.

"Alright, let's go." I said quickly after. There was no time to waste anymore. Abaddon swiftly nodded and opened a portal as we hurriedly went through it. At this point the high-pitched noise from the void portal didn't bother me at all.

We arrived in front of Hell's palace, but the Norse gods had already advanced far inside. Glancing behind, I noticed Astaroth lying on the ground. My eyes widened in shock and I bolted over to him only to find the blood spewing out from a hole in his stomach as he lay there with eyes open but not moving a muscle.

A familiar fury ignited within me as I witnessed the demise of one of the mightiest demons, all at the hands of those blonde bastards.

"You need to be smart..." Abaddon began with his speech but I couldn't stand around any longer. I bolted towards the door of the palace as I heard Abaddon screaming out my name behind. I knew what he was going to say but I couldn't stop myself.

I ran through the entrance and noticed the twelve of them standing at the center of the hall. I stopped myself in tracks as I gazed all around me. All demons seemed to be gone somewhere. Probably instructed by the Devil to gather somewhere so maybe they were somewhat safe for now. Loki could've been with them too.

"WHERE IS LOKI?!" At once, a very familiar voice thundered through the room and a hand clutching a hammer rose in the air as he slammed it against the floor. The floor immediately began cracking, creating a line all the way to the entrance where I was standing. Well... I probably should have been smart. They all turned around to face me and I glanced next to me to check if Abaddon was there. Thankfully, he was.

"You! I recognize you!" Thor said with his loud and hoarse voice as he took one step at the front. He seemed the most bothered by all this. The other eleven of them seemed angry but definitely not as much as Thor. My gaze ventured towards the last god in line and I squinted as I saw him. Odin. If there was anyone I could recognize it was him. He appeared the oldest out of them all, with only one eye open, the other one covered with a patch and a long white beard.

I wondered why he was here. I thought he didn't want to intervene with destiny. But maybe this was part of destiny.

"Hello, Thor. Long time no see." I said as I forced a smile. "And I see you brought your company. How nice of you. Why don't you all stay for a cup of tea?"