3 | 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐃 ▹ LOKI LAUFEYSON

xvi. the truce

A M O R A

"You shouldn't be here, sister." Lorelei didn't even turn to face Amora when she entered the cell.

"Why? So I don't ruin whatever chances you have of getting another new sorceress to blindly follow?"

Lorelei shook her head, a weariness clouding her usually sharp gaze. "This," she said, waving her hand in Amora's direction, "is exactly why. You're uncooperative. You're better off elsewhere, where you won't do anything stupid like challenging an old and powerful witch."

"You know of Hela?"

"If you had even pretended to cooperate with Karnilla back in Nornheim, you would've been there to hear her gush about her 'old friend Hela'."

"And now you're hoping that cooperation will win you Hela's favor?"

Lorelei waved a lazy hand at the white walls. "Right now, she's my best chance at getting out of this cell."

"Well, perhaps I can be of some assistance." Amora paused. Was this really the right choice? With what they were facing, perhaps it was the only choice. "I need your help."

Lorelei tilted her head, something flashing in her eyes. "You want me to help you defeat Hela?" She scoffed. "Hela is a master of dark magic. It would take something much worse to defeat her."

There is no dark magic. Only magic that is too much for small minds to accept, Skuld's words echoed through Amora's mind.

"What if together," she spoke slowly, "we were able to be...much worse."

"That's not like you."

Amora glanced down. "It's what we need. What Asgard needs."

Her sister hummed, regarding her for a moment, before standing to her feet with a sigh. "Alright, fine."

"Really? You'll help me?"

"Yeah, I might as well," Lorelei examined her nails said begrudgingly, "Between you and Hela, you're less likely to betray."

"I wish I could say the same."

"Well, you can't so..." Lorelei shrugged. "There's no use in dwelling on it now."

"Alright then." Amora gave a wave of her hand, and the golden barrier of the cell fell away. As she stepped out, she heard a throat clear behind her.

Lorelei stood at the edge of her cell. "Isn't there something you're forgetting," she said, motioning to her collar.

Amora hesitated. Without the collar, Lorelei would be free to wreak havoc, but she would be no use against Hela with it on.

Lorelei huffed. "Oh, come on. I'm no use to you silent."

Watching her sister carefully, Amora stepped closer and reached for the collar. Its magic hummed under her fingers as she unlocked it and took it off.

Lorelei breathed a heavy sigh as it came off, rubbing a hand on her neck and clearing her throat. "Thank you," she said, the hoarse strain taking whatever sharpness she had intended.

Amora avoided the gazes of the other prisoners as they passed down the hall. There were a few shouts of protest, but she tried her best to block them out.

Lorelei started to speak, but a cough stole her words and shook her frame. Taking a deep breath, she spoke, "So what makes you think the two of us can on Hela?"

"It won't be just the two of us."

"Don't tell me we're going to do it through the power of hope and friendship," Lorelei said with a groan.