CHAPTER 12–DREAM

A little dream…

Hans stood on the deck of a ship. He recognized it as a Norse longboat of immense proportions, with a simple deckhouse tacked on. Ghostly figures sat, unmoving, at the oars. The ship’s sail hung limply. Everything, sights, sounds, even the very air seemed dull and indistinct.

“I’m dreaming.”

“After a fashion.” A soft, ethereal voice echoed from behind him. “I have pulled your spirit to my domain to answer for the death of Fenrir, my brother.”

Hans turned to see the source of the voice. It was like moving in molasses. Everything seemed to be in slow motion.

She wore black, or at least Hans thought she was wearing black, it could have been paint for all he could tell. It was like she was all shadow. A dark blue cape whipped about her and only when it overlaid some portion of her body did any shape beneath become apparent.

All he could really make out was her face, or at least the half that was painted blue. The other half was a black shadow like the rest of her. He would have thought the dark half absent were it not for ice cold blue eyes and the frame of flowing, blonde hair, pale as snow. Her cape and her hair seemed all that moved on the ship, whipped by a wind he couldn’t feel.

“You would be Hel, daughter of Loki, Queen of the Underworld.”

“And you are Hans Madison, heir of Thor and slayer of Fenrir.”

Hans stepped back and looked about nervously.

“Yes, I know your true name. You gave it to Fenrir freely and he is in my realm now. But the dead have no power over the living and given your name by the dead, I have no power over you. But you will answer for his death.”

“Answer?”

“Tell me truthfully, why did you kill him?”

“He attacked me. I had no choice but to fight back.”

“But why did you kill him?”

“I didn’t mean to. I didn’t want to even. I didn’t know I had that kind of power.”

“Well enough. He was ever mad in that form. You have freed him of that madness. He forgives you and so I forgive you. You may forgive yourself as well. I cannot speak for our father, Loki, for his condition is beyond my knowing.”

Then her tone changed, “But be warned, Hans Madison, your true enemy masks herself as friend. She is . . .”

The dream faded and Hel’s voice trailed off.

Next:
CHAPTER 13–FUGUE 

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Copyright AndyOH! (Andrew F. Odendhal)
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This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to persons living or dead is coincidental.