by Thawer, Tish
Garrett scooted over, placing himself between his wife and the assassin who was inadvertently causing her pain.
“What is it? Is Raven all right?” Michael tensed.
“Raven is stable. The flames went out the second we removed her from Abigail’s presence.” Holli grinned, trying to lighten the blow of her words.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail whispered, scooting further away from the group.
“It’s okay. We now know it’s not your fault,” Holli reassured her. “The question is, how do we stop you from affecting both of us, and I think I have the answer.”
Garrett looked at Michael, who leaned forward, anxious to hear the Reaper’s plan.
“I have to go to Hell...my Hel.”
“What?” Michael cried.
“Absolutely not!” Death bellowed.
“Stop, please,” Holli begged them both. “You don’t understand what’s been happening to me. To us.” She gestured above to Raven’s room. “Having Abigail here has sparked something within me, just like Loki wanted.”
Garrett growled.
“I know it sounds like a bad thing, but in this case, I think it’s actually a positive side effect to what Loki intended to be some sort of punishment for us.” She reached for Death’s hand. “As the Goddess, I can cool the hellfire inside both Abigail and Raven.”
“What do you mean ‘inside Raven?’” Michael asked.
“When Abigail’s flames touched Raven, whether on purpose or by accident.”
“It was totally an accident!” Abigail interrupted.
Holli smiled and nodded. “When Abigail touched Raven by accident, her hellfire not only set her wings alight, but has also been burning her soul which is causing her to remain unconscious, and until we stop it, it will continue to spread,” Holli summarized.
Michael pushed from the couch and slammed his fist into the nearest column, causing a large dent in the black marble facade.
Garrett approached Michael, needing to calm the archangel’s rage, but was distracted by a green glow coming from inside the crack. “What is that?” Michael stepped back.
Garrett walked closer and cautiously peered deeper into the split. “Son of a bitch!” Garrett cussed. “It looks like when Loki slammed his staff into the column, he had an ulterior motive. Shocker.” Garrett nostrils flared.
“What’s in there?” Abigail asked.
“I don’t think it’s an actual thing. It looks like a piece of his magic, which is probably why he’s been able to penetrate all the reinforcements I’ve put around the castle.”
“So he low-jacked you?” Abigail quickly put it in laymen’s terms.
“Yes. Exactly.” Garrett huffed.
“How do we remove it?” Michael asked.
Garrett looked at Holli, who nodded and rose to her feet. “I won’t be able to do anything until we visit my realm. It’s the only place I can embrace my powers as the Goddess.”
Abigail looked between the couple, not wanting to interrupt their silent debate, but had to ask the question. “What exactly do you mean, your Hel? How is it different from where I come from?”
Everyone returned to their seats to hear Holli’s explanation. “There are multiple versions of every realm, whether it’s Heaven, Valhalla, or Nirvana––or Hell, Hel, or Bardo. The only difference is the culture and therefore the God or Goddess that’s affiliated with it. Regardless, energy is energy and we all stem from the same source.” She waved her hand between them all. “Here in the netherworld, we all coexist and can move in and out of each realm seamlessly. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, but only where you are.”
“Deep.” Abigail raised her eyebrows. “Okay, so how do we get there?”
Everyone looked at Holli.
“I don’t remember.”
29
“What do you mean, you don’t remember?” Abigail asked. “I thought being around me was sparking stuff for you?”
“It is, but only in little pieces. And, no offense, but I can’t be around you for very long because of the pain.”
Abigail scooted further away on the couch.
“So what do you propose?” Garrett asked, wrapping an arm around Holli’s shoulders.
“Unfortunately, the only thing I can do is suffer and hope that it’s worth it.” She shooed Death from his seat and scooted closer to Abigail. “No matter what, don’t move me,” Holli instructed as she stretched out on the couch, placing her head directly into Abigail’s lap.
“Holy shit! Abigail threw up her arms. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Holli groaned as she started to writhe in pain.
“Honey, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Garrett stepped forward but stopped when Holli shook her head.
“I have to try. Now please, let me concentrate.” Holli closed her eyes, and tightened her arms around her stomach, forcing herself to hold as still as possible. A few deep breaths later, she had slipped into trance and the temperature in the room started to drop.
“I think it’s working,” whispered Abigail.
“Shhh…we won’t know for sure until she wakes up,” Garrett snapped as he paced in front of the women.
Everyone gasped as Holli’s lips turned blue, along with her fingers, hands and face. The only way they could tell she was still alive was from the frosted puffs of air she exhaled. Her platinum hair, if it was at all possible, turned an even lighter white as ice crystals formed at its ends.
Holli gasped and sat up, breathing frantically but seemingly okay.
“Are you all right?” Death collapsed in front of his wife, grabbing her chilled hand and forcing her to look him in the eyes. “Holli! Answer me. Are you all right?”
Holli nodded her head. “Yes. I’m okay.” She gave her husband a small smile, then addressed the group. “I know how to get us into Hel.” She turned to Michael. “I’ll be able to help Raven soon. Stay here with her until we return.” She nodded for Abigail to join her.
Michael disappeared and Holli rose and walked to the damaged column. “I want to try something before we go.”
Death and Abigail backed away, giving her space to do whatever it was that she was planning to try. Closing her eyes, Holli put her hands on either side of the crack.
Nothing happened.
Death started forward, but stopped suddenly when thin layers of blue ice spread over the marble, shooting frozen shards into the glowing core. “There. That should do it. It’s not completely gone, but I’ve contained the power so Loki shouldn’t be able to use it to combat your protections while he’s here. In other words, he won’t be able to take Abigail or anyone else from the castle again.”
Death stepped up and ran a hand over the sealed crack. It was cold to the touch and pulsed of magic, but not the same as it did before.
“Come on, Abigail. I want to get this over with while the memories are still fresh.”
“Holli, hold on. Are you sure this is something you can come back from? I mean, yes, you may remember how to get there, but that doesn’t mean going is a good idea?” Death grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Holli let herself sink into her husband’s embrace, hugging him tightly. “We don’t have a choice. Raven won’t come of out of this if I don’t go, and I won’t let Abigail get turned into some unrecognizable version of herself.”
Abigail stood quietly, as the couple finished saying their goodbyes. She hoped Holli was right, because if this went south, she couldn’t imagine the level of vengeance Death and Michael would exact upon her.
“I promise, I’ll be fine.” Holli kissed Garrett one last time, then gestured for Abigail to join her at the gazing pool. “This isn’t ideal but from here, it’s our best choice.”
Abigail shook her head, having no idea what she was talking about, and stood quietly as Holli started to concentrate.
The blue tint to Holli’s skin intensified as she closed her eyes and held her hands
out over Death’s gazing pool. Suddenly, the entire contents shot into the air, creating a massive globe of churning water. Holli opened her eyes and said a few unrecognizable words, turning the liquid ball into solid ice. “Let’s go.” Holli said.
Abigail gasped as the Goddess reached out to the living snow globe and pushed her hand through the shifting layers, then walked forward and disappeared.
Abigail held her breath and followed Holli through the frozen shards of alternating layers of ice. Emerging on the other side, she gasped and regretted it immediately. The subzero temperature threatened to freeze her lungs with every inhale. Wrapping her arms around herself, she shuffled forward to catch up with Holli who had made her way to the crest of the hill in front of them.
“Are you okay?” Abigail’s teeth chattered after only three words.
“I will be.” Holli nodded to the frozen ice castle below. “We need to get down there, and unfortunately, until I regain all my powers, we’re going to have to walk. Can you make it?” Holli asked.
“I…think…so…,” Abigail stuttered. She would do anything to get this over with and return to Asmodeus as soon as possible.
“If you can manage to call your flames to the surface and hold them there, feel free to do so. It will help warm you up without threatening the landscape around us.” Abiagail nodded then followed Holli as she started down the steep arctic path. They made their way to the bottom quicker than expected, mainly due to how many times they slipped and fell, sliding their way down with every other step. “Stay here while I check the door,” Holli instructed.
Abigail stood, practically frozen in place, as she continued trying to pull her flames to the surface as Holli had suggested. Ironically, she was unable to raise them to a comfortable level. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Why is it the one time I wish I could ‘flame on’ is the one time it doesn’t work?”
Holli smiled and shrugged a shoulder, then moved forward to approach her castle. Abigail noticed a light blue glow coming from Holli’s footsteps the closer she got to the structure. The crystalized patterns she was leaving in her wake were no longer the shape of her boot, but instead, that of a snowflake. Each one was unique from the one before it, and radiated with magic of the realm.
Abigail waited as Holli climbed the crystal steps and reached for the handles of the enormous front doors. The handles were made out of what looked like iron covered by years of ice. They were shaped like a slightly crooked “H”, like the Norse rune, Hagalaz.
Abigail stepped forward, wanting a better look, but as the lifted her foot, she noticed the blue glow from Holli’s imprints had surrounded her feet and was now climbing up her legs. Before she could move, she was flooded with information on the rune; it symbolized Hel and the ice realm of damnation, protection, and rebirth that they now stood in. She shook her foot and curiously watched as the light throb of magic––and the information it contained––died back down onto the ground as she walked forward.
Cracks and snaps pierced the air; ice popped and rained down from the sealed entrance, as the Goddess split the rune apart and entered her castle.
30
Abigail walked up the ice-covered steps and followed Holli inside. The grand entrance could have been a scene from any classic winter fairytale, except for the skulls, wolves, ravens, and dog-head sculptures scattered throughout.
“Where do we go from here?” Abigail asked.
“The throne room.” Holli still sounded like herself, but from the ice creeping up her clothes, it was clear something was changing with her.
As they entered the inner most chamber, Holli took a seat upon the throne and Abigail now knew what it was like to be in the presence of a Goddess. The room was round and crystallized with beautiful intricate details carved into the beams and arches that held up the dazzling ceiling. The entire room shimmered and twinkled as a fractured blue light beneath the ice sparkled onto everything. Holli closed her eyes as a hidden wind whipped through the space, transforming her hair and clothes into the frozen coifed style of her previous self.
“Beautiful.” Abigail sighed.
“Yes. It is,” Holli replied coldly as she opened her eyes.
“Is everything okay?” Abigail asked.
“Yes. I’m just getting bombarded with some very strange images that I can only assume are memories. It’s somewhat confusing.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Abigail asked.
“Yes, please come sit by me, so that I’m reminded you’re here at my request and not just a soul that I need to judge.”
Abigail’s mouth fell open and for the first time in a long time, she was actually unnerved. “Okay?” Abigail moved forward and took a seat on the topmost stair beneath Holli. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Please take my hand.” Holli held out her frost covered fingers for Abigail to grab.
Abigail took a deep breath then reached forward, pausing just centimeters away before intertwining her fingers with the Goddess’s. Upon contact, a shock of power raced up Abigail’s arm and into the core of her being. The hellfire that had been bubbling within her cooled instantly.
“Do you feel better?” Holli asked.
“Yes.” Abigail nodded her head. “I could feel your power penetrate the fire within me.”
“Great. Let’s have you try to pull your flames to the surface again.”
“Wait, I thought you removed them.” Abigail released Holli’s hand and stood up.
“No. I just suppressed the changes they were causing. You should still have the ability to call them forth and should now be able to control them.” Holli motioned for her to proceed.
Abigail walked to the center of the room, hoping to avoid any issues with the frozen structures surrounding them if she were to lose control again. Taking a deep breath, she let the fire inside her build. She smiled wide when the control became instinctual. She easily raised her flames to only a light flare, then sent them to the tips of her fingers, up her arms and torso and onward, until she was fully engulfed.
“How are you feeling?” Holli asked.
“Good. You’re right, I can control them with no problem.” Abigail sucked the flames back into her hands, cupping a ball of fire with confidence.
“Perfect. Now, let’s get back to Purgatory so I can help Raven.” Holli stood up and walked down the steps. Abigail extinguished her flames and turned back toward the front door. “We no longer need to walk. I have attained enough of my power to transport us back, just this once,” Holli announced.
Abigail nodded and stood still while the Goddess approached. After reaching her side, Holli took her hand and whipped the wind around them until they were once again inside an icy-globe. The fractured layers formed, and on the other side stood a distorted version of Death’s throne room. The two pushed through the temporal shift and emerged in Purgatory hand in hand.
“Oh, thank God! You’re back.” Death raced forward and grabbed his wife, pulling her into his arms and shivering as they embraced. “Are you all right? Did everything go okay?”
Holli pulled from his hug and waved her hand at the frozen portal behind them. The water splashed back down into the gazing pool, like it had never been disturbed. “Yes. Everything went fine. Now, can you take me to Raven?” she asked.
“Of course. Abigail, you wait here,” Death instructed.
Abigail sat down on the white leather couch and watched as Death and Holli disappeared in a swirl of shadows.
“Things seem to be working out for everyone.” Loki’s voice drifted from over her shoulder.
Abigail stood and spun around, ready to defend herself and her friends. Hmm. She really did consider them her friends now. Hopefully they feel the same, she thought to herself. “What do you want, Loki?”
“To make sure you’re okay, of course.” Loki walked passed her and sat down on the opposite sofa.
“Yeah, right. Like I believe that.” Abigail reclaimed her seat, but stayed on guard and readied her flame
s.
“It’s true. I want to make sure you’re ready and in full-control when you’re needed to take over in Hell.” Loki crossed his legs casually, like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb.
“What in the world are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you and Asmodeus ruling Hell once Lucifer is out of the picture.” Loki smirked.
“You’re crazy! Why would Lucifer ever be out of the picture?”
“Oh that’s right, you haven’t heard. He’s been recalled to Heaven to face his punishment.”
“What? Why would you let that happen? He was working with YOU! This was all your idea and now you’re going to let him take the fall for it?” There wasn’t any love loss between Abigail and Lucifer, but the idea of things shifting so dramatically because of Loki’s deceit, wasn’t sitting well with the former assassin. Yes. Former, she reminded herself, happy with that change at least.
“Yes, he was working with me, but when he decided to infuse you with additional power, that was his choice alone and definitely not part of the plan.” Loki shrugged.
Abigail sat, stunned, and wondered if for once the God of Mischief could be telling the truth. “Well, I’m sure they will work things out.” There was no way she was going to believe any of this until she talked to Asmodeus.
“We’ll see.” Loki sneered then disappeared, only reinforcing her skepticism.
Abigail stood up and started pacing the marble floor. “Come on, hurry up!” she yelled into the void, wanting this to all be over so she could return to Hell and see exactly what was happening down there.
Michael sat next to Raven, holding her hand, when Garrett and Holli appeared behind them. “Did it work?” he asked, knowing they’d understand his question.
“Yes, it worked. I’ve regained enough of my powers to stop the hellfire within Raven and Abigail. Now move,” Holli snapped.
