End of an Era - Avengers: Endgame

Ten - The Price of Death

The Realm of Death - Space

Millennia Ago

So much death. Despite their ruthless missions in the past, in the wake of her son's untimely death, Adonia had never felt so close to death before.

The mission continued - conquests raged across the galaxy, massacre after massacre, balancing planet after planet, bloodshed following bloodshed. Lady Death had asked for death, and so their missions would fulfill her request.

After carrying out their set invasions, and following countless more deaths and bloodshed, they journeyed to the realm of Lady Death herself. Despite her hatred for the place and dislike for the other woman, Adonia was insistent on joining Thanos this time.

"Be careful," she cautioned him as they arrived at the realm gates. "You know she lied to you last time, promising her love in return for mass death by your hands."

He said nothing, just strode right through the gates and into the realm - as though he were welcomed here. As though he were expected.

Their path was lined in bones - all of Lady Death's victims over the millennia. While the souls of the dead were transferred into the Soul Realm housed inside the Soul Stone, their remains were transferred to the Realm of Death.

"Thanos..." Lady Death's chilling voice swept across the room like a cold gust of wind, rattling the ancient bones. "Back so soon."

Thanos knelt forward in a bow. "My Lady. Thank you for welcoming us into your realm."

Adonia just rolled her eyes.

Lady Death's form tended shift - well, forms that is. She had two of them: one, a purely skeletal body, and the other a pale-skinned, dark-haired woman in a long purple cloak. She was currently taking the form of the latter.

"You are always welcome here." Her chilling smile fell into a cold frown as her dark eyes fell upon Adonia. "But she is not..."

"This business concerns us both. And she was insistent."

"Yes, I did not want to miss out on this - fun. Love what you've done with the place, by the way." Adonia gestured around them to the endless shadows, bones, and skulls. "Those shadows are new, aren't they? And I don't recognize you, have we met?" she added, speaking to the skull closest to her.

"Even in mourning you are still your same, snarky self."

"Yes, so it would seem. And on that note - you know why we're here. We have done as you wish - surely you have sensed the dead entering your realm."

"Yes, I do, know why you are here, that is. And yes, your victims have been countless. You have added much death to my realm."

"You're welcome."

"Though not quite." At these words, Adonia's smirk fell, while Lady Death's smirk grew wider. "We do not have a deal."

"Then you are not honouring the terms of the deal you made with us."

"With Thanos, not with you."

An army of the dead rose out of the bones - Death had them surrounded.

"You'll have to send more than an army of walking bones," Adonia threatened. "Now honour your side of our agreement."

"But you see, I cannot. You should know, oh Infinite One, about the destiny of the Stones. Some things, good or bad, are just meant to happen. And as you always say, 'Everything happens for a reason'..."

Adonia had had enough - more than enough. With a yell that echoed throughout the hall and endless tunnels of bones, she drew her blade and lunged forward, swinging the weapon at the now skeletal woman. "Bring him back - bring my son back! BRING HIM BACK!!!" Thanos struggled to hold her back from attacking the lady of the realm.

"You promised!"

"Oh I never promised anything - and never to you."

Adonia turned to Thanos. "You said she would, for the price of only death."

Thanos did not need to say anything - his expression said everything: Lady Death had never promised.

Adonia shook her head. "You said-"

"You were growing upset. I wanted to put you more at ease," he tried to explain.

"'Put me more at ease'? Our son is dead - I will not be 'at ease'. Never again."

Lady Death just sat back in her throne of bones, smirking as she watched the couple argue.

"Adonia, I didn't want to upset you any further-"

"No - you got my hopes up, which is so much worse." With that, she stormed out of the hall, glad to be rid of the realm of death.

(And borrowing a bit from the Infinity Gauntlet comics! :)

I imagine Lady Death's realm to look a bit like the catacombs in Paris - I haven't been, but have seen pictures, and would like to see it!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)