Timeless

◈ 4 ◈

The cool night air blew a gentle breeze toward me, as if trying to convince me to turn back. I stood on top of the sill with the window wide open and the journey ahead of me uncertain. I wanted to go back. I wanted to stay with Mother. But I made a promise to Thor, and I couldn't break it. Not for anyone.

Without another glance behind me, I jumped out of the window and onto the street below. The glow emanating from golden terraces and impressive marble structures lit the way as I made my way blindly through the city. My only sense of direction was the memory of walking to the palace after I died. It seemed like forever ago, and perhaps it was. I didn't quite understand how time worked on Valhalla. I would love to explore every crack and crevice of the realm and unravel every mystery buried deep within it, but I could do that when I died of old age or fighting for a cause that still had hope.

Right now, my focus was on getting out.

I was almost out of the city when a hooded figure stopped me. She put her hand on my shoulder and removed her cloak.

"Where are you going, Loki?"

I stepped back a bit, unsure if what I was seeing was real.

"Sif?"

She put her hands on her hips.

"Obviously. Now tell me why you're sprinting through Valhalla in the middle of the night."

"I'm on a night jog."

"Right. And I'm fishing for a winged horse in the lake. Why can't you just tell the truth for once?"

There was something peculiar about Sif that almost made me doubt if that was really who was standing in front of me. She'd never been one to be so sarcastic. I brushed a few specks of dirt off of my tunic, concealing the object hidden behind my back.

"What can I say? I'm a natural-born liar. But you....you're certainly not very witty, as far as I can remember."

Her eyes flashed dangerously at my underlying accusation. I had her cornered now.

Who could she really be? Perhaps she was Mother, spying on me to make sure that I was alright. It seemed like something that she would do.

It could also be just another Asgardian or ex-lover looking to share a few choice words with me.

She lifted her head up haughtily and glared down at me with heavy-lidded eyes.

"Clearly, you don't remember me very well. In fact, I-"

She choked on her words as I embedded the dagger deep in her gut. The illusion melted away, and a gasp escaped my lips.

"No!"

"Oh, darling. I didn't expect to see you quite so soon. What a wonderful surprise!" Hela exclaimed with a delighted chuckle.

"How did you get here? This is Valhalla."

She frowned.

"Is it? Is this really Valhalla? I expected more from you, love. Frigga did tell me how perceptive you are."

She ripped the dagger out of her gut and tossed it aside. Her lips curled upward into a deadly smirk.

I had half a mind to turn around and run back to the palace, but I had dealt with Hela before. Surely, I could figure out her next move with little difficulty. The problem was, she seemed to read me like an open book no matter what defenses I put up. She was good, and I hated that.

"What are you going on about?" I hissed.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out in good time. Just know that I'm making this easier on you. I respect you in some ways. Your determination, your character. Your survival instincts, which of course failed you, but they were quite extraordinary. What I'm trying to say is that someday, I can see the two of us making an excellent team, but you need some time to think about it, of course. I hope we get to have another conversation soon."

I brandished another dagger and raised it above my head, prepared to bring it down and split her skull in half, but she got to me first. I didn't feel the handle of her sword hit the side of my head.

I was out like a light before I hit the ground.