Beneath The Darkness

Corrupted Virtue

Jenny

Frankie, Juliette and I accompanied Misery and Olivia on the mission to bring Shadow back to the Council. We arrived late at night but the sun was still up. Olivia drove us out to a small town out on the northern fjords. She stopped in front of a bar.

“I think someone here will be able to help us. Let’s go.” she said getting out of the car.

When we entered, Olivia went up to the bartender and began speaking with him. After a few seconds he motioned to follow him and led us to a backroom office. Olivia spoke to another man for a few moments.

“He said that no one has seen Shadow, but he does know the way to the Aesir’s land. The issue is it’ll take several hours, by foot.” she said to us.

“Then let’s gear up and get going.” Misery replied. So we went back to the car and began unloading the hiking gear.

The way to the Aesir lands were filled with sounds of the forest. Leaves rustling in the wind, streams babbling along their routes, birds singing in the trees. It was quiet and peaceful. After about six hours we stopped next to a stream for some food. While we were eating, a large raven with white markings landed on a rock at the edge of the area and watched before it cawed. When the man noticed the raven he quickly stood up and said something to Olivia before walking back the way we came.

“Um, he said that he can’t go any further. Only the dead and the invited are allowed to enter Asgard. He said it’s just over the hill, Muninn will guide our way.” Then Misery clicked her tongue and the raven flew to her shoulder and she began feeding it bits of dried meat. After our lunch we followed the raven up the hill. After an hour we crested the hill and looked down at a village with almost a hundred houses built out of wood and a large church-like house. The raven flew off towards the village.

“Well, if we can’t find Asgard now, we’re dumber than we look.” said Misery.

We made our way down the hill towards the village. We came up to the back of the large house and then walked around to the front of it.

“I think we should split up and search the other houses before we check this one.” Olivia said.

“Why wouldn’t we start here? I mean we’re already here in front of it.” I asked.

“Yeah, but this is his ancestral home. Where he grew up. That is the Jarl’s house. I really doubt he’s in there. He must have his own house somewhere here. That’s probably where he is, and if not, it might give us a clue as to where he went.” Misery replied. “So meet back here in a couple hours?”

I had gone through a few houses and found nothing of note; mostly old tools, clothing and beddīng. I was searching around the outside of one house, when I came across an old forge with coals still burning in it. I approached the forge to warm myself a bit before I continued searching, when I heard a rustling behind me. I froze and slowly turned around to see the large raven perched on the edge of the roof staring at me.

“You don’t know where Shadow is, do you?” I asked. It cawed at me then hopped towards the other side of the house. I chuckled and turned around, the raven cawed twice at me. I turned back around to see it looking at me expectantly.

“Wait, do you understand me?” The raven tilted its head at me then cawed. So I followed the raven to a small house set just a bit away from the jarl’s house. There were charms hanging from the ceiling made from animal bones. Jars of powders and herbs lined the shelves and the countertops had bowls and cups filled with the remnants of half concocted potions. The raven sat by a door in the back that looked like it might lead to a bedroom. I opened the door to a pitch black room. I took a couple tentative steps inside. The door slammed behind me, locking me in. Purple runes began to glow along the floor and walls. Iron chains flew out of the far wall and wrapped themselves around me and dragged me to the wall. A couple torches awoke with orange flames.

“I finally understand what she was doing.” Shadow walked out of the darkness holding a dagger. “She was hiding herself from my enemy. She knew that if he got ahold of her, he’d be able to tear me apart.”

“Shadow, look if you come back, the Royals will help you. Your enemies are their enemies.” I said, trying to hide my fear.

“The Royals? They couldn’t help themselves if their lives depended on it. No, what I need to get her back is the Witch of Fury. She’ll know what to do. And you’re gonna help bring her back.” He smiled at me and began walking towards me.

“So, what? You’re just going to kill me as a sacrifice to bring this person back.”

“No. She is.” He turned and Juliette walked into the room behind him.

“Jules, come on. Y-you’re my best friend. You’re not going to really kill me. Let’s just- let’s just get out of here and go back home.” I pleaded.

“Jules? Who’s that?” She smiled and I watched as her long blonde turned dark starting at the roots and her blue eyes turned purple and flickered like a fire was ablaze behind them. “My name is Umbra and I just want my treasure back.”

Then she plunged the dagger into my stomach. I gasped at the sudden intense pain, the blade must be made of silver. She pulled the blade out and when some of my blood touched the glowing runes, they began to glow brighter and float off the floors and walls. She stabbed me a second time, higher in the chest. The blade slipped between my ribs and pierced my lung. The runes began floating towards me. When they made contact with my skin they seared themselves into it sending waves of pain through my body. Umbra pulled the dagger out and stabbed me a third time, plunging it through my heart. The pain finally overtook me and the world turned black. I floated along the blackness. Not knowing where I ended and the darkness began. Is this what it was like to die? 

‘You’d have to have been alive first to die.’

“Rose?”

‘No. That mutt is all but gone by now.’

“What do you mean? Where is she? What have you done to her?”

‘Reabsorbing the magic that was on her to seal myself away. Take a look as the only thing that held my power back withers away. Say your last words, she won’t be returning to her precious moon goddess.’

I saw a massive white wolf chained to the ground atop a ritual circle. The chains slowly tightening around her. I ran towards her head and held it in my arms.

“I’m sorry, child. I thought if enough time passed I’d be able to defeat her and give you the life you deserved.” She spoke to me softly.

‘Defeat me? Ha! As if some distant spawn of Fenrir could ever hope to defeat me. As a matter of fact if it wasn’t for me, your soul would’ve been consumed by the endless pain of Runa’s fire when I implanted her soul into that dying little beta girl.’ A woman with long fiery red hair walked towards us. She was slim but strong looking. Runes and magic circles danced across her naked body. ‘Face it wolfie, your only purpose was to hide me long enough for Loki to play his hand.’

“Mother? What are you doing here? What is going on?” I asked, standing up to face my mother.

“I am not your mother. You’re nothing more than a simulacrum. A doll. An empty vessel for me to hide in until my wife comes back to me and Hymir gets his s**t together enough for him to hear what is about to happen. You’re nothing. An existence that never should’ve been. You were never alive and no one will mourn you when you’re gone. Speaking of which, it’s time for me to see my family again. So, poof.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Olivia

“So, what are you going to tell the council?” Shadow asked, before turning around to me.

“When we arrived, the Sin of Lust was already gone, and we were greeted by Munnin of the Aesir clan.” I replied.

“You would lie to them?” he asked.

“What lie? You are Muninn of the Aesir clan, right?” I said. “I saw a man and his family reunite after a long time apart.”

“Thank you, Olivia.” He turned back to Umbra and Fury and pulled them into a hug. I left the small hut and ran into Misery.

“You’re doing the right thing, joining his family.” she said.

“What do you think she’s like?” I asked.

“Who? Sigrun? I honestly couldn’t tell you. She was dead long before I was born. You’d have to ask Runa. Aside from Hymir, she’s the only one that knew her.” She answered.

“Do you think she’ll be mad he’s surrounded himself with other women?”

“Well based on their traditions, Hymir technically owns all of us. We’re trophies of war. I’m sure she won’t be angry.” She said, trying to brush my worries aside. “She’ll probably be happy to see how large her family has become.”

“Thanks, Misery.” I started to head back to report to the council.

“No problem, chica.”

I stood before the Council of Royals after making my report.

“So, he’s still out there?” Lucinda asked.

“That’s the least of our issues, Lucinda.” Minerva, the witch queen said. “We have a horde of undead that we don’t know how to deal with marching to our doorstep. And we’re missing half the Sin’s to even make an effective stand.”

I cleared my throat. “The Witch of Fury and the Dragon of Ruin were also with Muninn. Maybe we can petition them to help us.”

“We’re screwed. Shadow has left, reclaiming his former life with the Witch of Fury and the Dragon of Ruin. Misery, the Angel of Despair has run off to join them. No one can find Malice or Avarice. And Levi refuses to fight.” Lucinda cried out. “This is the exact reason why we should’ve had them captured. So they couldn’t plot against us.”

A series of explosions shook the room. Everyone went over to the only window in the room and looked out. There were holes blown in the exterior walls and the gates had been blown apart. The undead legion marched straight through the gateway, led by an armored figure. They raised their sword and signaled for the undead to attack. As we watched the beginnings of chaos, I spotted a raven covered in runes fly past the window. I smiled as I ran to grab my armor and weapons. He might be late, but he was coming for me, his corrupted virtue.