Hel (HOAM Spin-Off)

A Daughter

Loki woke to the sound of a knock on his door. He slung his arm over his eyes and sighed.

"My Lord Prince? There is a um... a package... come for you."

Groaning, he rolled out of bed. He pulled on some trousers and opened the door. The servant was pale and wide eyed, seeming terrified. Rolling his eyes, he took the strange looking basket from her. "Calm down, I'm not going to kill you for doing your job." He closed the door and set the basket down, resolved to consider it in the morning. He rolled back under the covers and closed his eyes, trying to fall back to sleep.

.....

He jumped, shouting in surprise. A loud shriek rent the air and forced him from his bed. He held a dagger at the ready, always having one under his pillow. But there was no attacker... His eyes shot to the basket just as his door was flung open. Thor brandished a sword as he barged in, eyes ablaze in his lust for a good battle. Loki ran to him, a finger to his lips. He stared at the basket, creeping towards it.

Thor's whisper made him jump. "A baby, Loki? What in Odin's name are you doing with a baby?"

He waved Thor away and pulled the blanket back on the basket. Sure enough, an infant lay on her side, curled up in furs and screaming to Valhalla. The door opened again and in came Frigga. She rushed forward and moved to take the child, instantly falling into motherly instincts. Loki pulled her back.

"Something is not right about it. I can feel it." He murmured.

Frigga glared at him. "She is a child, Loki. What could be wrong?" She reached and took the child in her arms, freezing almost instantly. A scream tore from her lips a moment later and the child fell to the ground. Loki scrambled for it, catching it and pulling it to his chest.

"Mother!" He shouted. Frigga flittered and whimpered, terrified. Loki looked down and gasped as he saw. The infant girl was silent, somehow sensing the tension. Loki stared at her half missing nose, at the decayed flesh. He took in the half grinning mouth, displaying teeth and no lips. The child was half skeleton and quite the monstrous little thing. Thor came to look and pulled back almost immediately. He took Frigga in his arms and shushed her.

"A monster." She mumbled, hiding her face in Thor's chest.

Loki's head snapped up and he glared at her. He held the child to his chest and stood slowly. "A monster? For what? For being so cursed? Is it her fault she is as this? She may not be attractive but she is as any child. She will need love and care and..." He looked back down at the black hair and pale skin. One eye was glazed over and a milky white - blind. The other was a deep black and full of mischief. She was undoubtedly his. "And a father..." He murmured.

Thor scoffed. "Surely, Loki, you cannot mean to care for the thing! Let her die. It will be easier on her than to suffer life like that."

"Thing? Thing?! She is mine, and I will care for her as she deserves." He sat in an armchair and cradled her in gentle arms. "Hel. Her name shall be Hel, and she will be respected." This last came with a sharp tone and hard eyes. Thor and Frigga hesitated but finally sighed and nodded.

"As you wish." They mumbled, knowing better than to argue with the prince. They left him. He stood and called for a servant, ordering the man to gather whatever was necessary to care for the child. He would see about a wet nurse later. For now... she would need to be introduced into the family.

After having, rather difficultly, fed her, Loki tucked her under his cloak. He hated to hide her away though. As he walked, he finally decided that he didn't care what others thought or said. His daughter would not be hidden away or masked. Not now, not ever. He pulled her from under his cloak and held her in his arms, smiling at her peaceful face. Yes, her left side was decayed and skeletal. But the right. Oh how perfect she was.