After Satasha vanished the lot departed one by one without saying anything, they know that they lost their chance, now they leave it to fate.
Keno left after Mika tended him, his injuries was his least concern, knowing she's out there like this scared him. He doesn't know if she are on his side or he just helped The Fallen have full control.
He threw his bloody clothes on the floor as he dived in the herbal fountain back in his residence.
Fuji came in the room holding tonic tea in his hand "So what happened?"
Keno "Satasha is The Fallen's vessel, we thought that she's Ananke's but we were so wrong, things are out of our hands now"
Fuji perplexed "Is she dead?"
Keno closed his eyes once he remembered her shimmering eyes, trying to ease himself he washed his face with the fountain water "I don't know Fuji! We are so screwed! I don't know if I set him free or helped her gain back control, she vanished"
Fuji clenched his jaws frightened by the idea of The Fallen's return "What is Zeta planing to do?"
Keno took the tonic from the tray and drank it "He was planning to seal her at first, but now things are out of our control, you didn't see what she's capable of, I fear no one can stop her now!" he pondered for a minute then said "If we can convince her to join our cause we'll evade ourselves from trouble, that if she was the one in control at the moment"
Fuji asked "Do you think that's what Zeta is going to do?"
Keno "That's the safest option at the moment"
Fuji "What if it wasn't her in control?"
Keno leaned his head on the rock "Then I suggested you enjoy the remaining days you've got with Gulan"
They fell silent for a minute before Fuji left him in the fountain.
Keno stared at the sealing thinking of a plan to keep everyone alive. He rested his eyes trying to take quick nap when he heard footsteps, "Tell his majesty that I'll debrief him tomorrow"
The foot steps stopped next to his head, he felt a warm hand caressing his forehead, he opened his eyes to see who it was. Satasha was squatting behind him, he gasped and immediately grabbed her hand before he striked her she asked "How are your injuries?"
Keno froze for a minute, he didn't know if he should let his guard down or attack. Satasha smiled faintly at him, she moved closer to the fountain and dived in moving closer to him. Keno kept holding her hand tightly not knowing what to do next, his breaths grew heavier, he was too anxious to act, one wrong move and the whole residence with everyone in it turns to ashes.
Satasha placed her other hand on his neck and with her powers she healed his internal injuries along with the stabbing scar on his neck. She scanned his chest and arms for other scars that she inflicted on him, after she saw there were none she smiled out of relief saying "Good, now I can feel at ease" she shifted her gaze back to his face and saw his confused expression, "What?" she asked
Keno who was still holding her arm didn't know if this was her or her possessor. He hesitantly placed his hand on her face trying to see into her soul.
Satasha lent her head on his hand "It's me!"
After Keno felt the warmth of her soul he sighed, he worrying scanned her injuries, when he made sure she was fine he cradled her head then pulled her closer embracing her. One hand rest on her head while the other pulled her closer, he closed his eyes trying to memorize what it feels like when it's her who's in control. Unknowingly he let out another sigh of relief while nuzzling her neck.
Satasha gently placed her hands on his back trying not to touch his injuries, she indeed threw him hard on the stairs, she glanced at his back to check for any scars, tiptoeing to get a better look, she was relieved to see there are no scars. Satasha lent her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes embracing him slightly tighter.
It took Keno several minutes before remembering that he's completely naked, perplexed he immediately pushed her away. Satasha was startled, she confusedly looked at his face, he seemed nervous and his ears were turning red.
"What's wrong?" she asked
Keno nervously answered "I... I need to..." he pointed at the door.
Satasha confusedly looked at the door then back at him, he was nervously rubbing the tip of his nose with his index, she looked up and down at him before it clicked to her. She started giggling.
"Don't laugh!" Keno flustered "Just go!" he chuckled when he saw her genuinely smiling.
Satasha didn't know that he'd feel embarrassed once in his life, she wiped tears from her eyes saying "Don't worry, I was going to leave anyway"
Keno immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, he worriedly asked "Go where?"
Satasha smiled faintly "I can't stay here Keno" she placed her hand on his face caressing his cheek with her thumb "You know that! I was just worried about you that's the only reason I'm here"
Keno pulling her closer "They'll hunt you down! I can keep you safe here, just say the word and I'll finish them off for you"
Satasha saw how serious he was and was confused, 'He' d go this far just to make me his pawn, why?' she thought 'Shall I say yes? I don't know why but I feel at ease when I'm with him'.
'That's called love sweetheart!' The Fallen's voice echoed in her head 'I bet he had fallen for you also'
Satasha was not convinced, she pushed his hand off her arm and smiled "I appreciate the offer" she announced "Yet I have things to do, I cannot drag the whole dragon tribe with me just to accomplish it"
"I'll help you with whatever you are about to do, just stay here for a while till things settle down a bit" he interrupted
Satasha stared at him, she indeed appreciates his offer, yet she didn't fully trust him. She got curious of why he's insisting for her to stay, and wanted to accept then she immediately remembered that they want to seal her. She patted his shoulder before going out of the fountain.
All He could do now was just watching her walk away before vanishing. He clenched his fist angrily, he missed the opportunity to make her under his control, he thought him acting concerned would soften her a bit like he does to the other girls, yet she was different.
It was two defeats in the same night, he thought his plan was faultless. Keno indeed never saw her as a person, from the moment he saw what she was capable of when they first met he set up a plan to win her over.
She has all the needed qualities, lonely girl who longs to be loved and accepted. He eats the likes of her at breakfast. 'Pathetic and easy to manipulate' that was his thoughts of her, yet she never fell completely under his charm nor control, and now she doesn't want his protection.
He chuckled, he have to make another plan on how to make her his pawn now, she completely rejected him without saying a word, that alone made him furious.
...
[Before Satasha visited Keno, back in the abyss right after she was punched by him]
Satasha was in state of shock, internally in the sea of darkness in her soul she sat there lighting up the space.
The Fallen "What now? Are we going to fight or not?"
Satasha "I'd like to propose a deal with you"
The Fallen chuckled "You want to strike a deal with me? Why shall I accept such offer?"
Satasha "Hear me out first and decide later, we have all the time in the world"
The Fallen "They want to seal you kid! We have no time at all"
Satasha smirked "Do you really think that they can defeat us if we joined our forces?"
The Fallen scuffed "You want to give me your full control?"
Satasha "No! I want to have a partnership with you! You and I have the same goals actually, kill everyone and take back our bodies, is it not?"
The Fallen nodded "But you do realize that if I get my body back you are the first to go"
Satasha "Yes I do realize that, but until then we make a truce. You give me back full control on my body so I can fool them into thinking that I can subdue you. This would make us more feared and gives us time to do what we want to do"
The Fallen "I see your point but why shall I hand you back full control, I don't want to stand by and just watch"
Satasha interrupting "That won't last long trust me I don't want that either, we search for your body first, kill everyone who opposed us later then fight each other to death, having you as an ally is the best choice at the moment"
The Fallen "Seems like a plan, I'll hand you partial control of your body, we continue doing this plan without shutting the other from their thoughts or using tricks to seal the other, if I go down, you go down with me"
Satasha extended her arm and The Fallen shook it.
...
After Satasha threw Keno on the stairs she transmitted back to the cross roads.
The Fallen "Really here?"
Satasha "A girl needs to eat and rest first"
The Fallen "They are going to hunt you down, this isn't the safest place to be"
Satasha "I know, I just need an alibi"
The Fallen "What for?"
Satasha smiled evilly as she went to the nearest town "I am going to wipe out the northern tribe"
The Fallen "I like how you think kid!"
Satasha went to the nearest restaurant where she sat there drinking ale as she waited, and asshe expected Zeta showed up. He sat across her.
"Why are you here?" he asked
Satasha chugging the aile "Why not?"
Zeta worried "You should hide and lay low for a while"
Satasha sarcastically "Is this advice coming from the bottom of your absent heart? Didn't you want to seal me minutes ago?"
Zeta admitting "Yes I wanted to seal you, you are too dangerous for your own good"
Satasha "You only want to do that because you cannot kill me"
Zeta "Everyone can be killed I just don't know how to yet, unfortunately I missed the chance to seal you in the abyss, I was going to work on how to give you back your body after we separate him from you"
Satasha interrupted "You think I'd believe that? If I were you, I'd work on how to kill the both of us, we are an imminent threat that needs to be eliminated"
Zeta "Indeed you are, yet I believe your story shouldn't end like this, you are meant to do great things"
Satasha sarcastically "Like being your pawn? No thank you I am good, I just want to live normally for once without being used by everyone"
Zeta seriously "You think that's possible? You are the most wanted person at the moment, everyone will either try to recruit or kill you. Neither of them is going to give you a peaceful life, and God knows how many are out there preparing to haunt you and do things far worse than sealing you!" he held her hand gently and continued " Satasha you need to lay low for a while till things settle down a bit"
Satasha pulled her hand away disgusted "And where shall I stay with you or Lucifer? Both of you aren't a safe option, one wants my body while the other want my abilities!"
Zeta agitated "Then where are you going to stay? With Keno?"
Satasha shrugged
Zeta pissed "He is the worst out there! He pretends to be nice and righteous, but he's just like everyone else if not worst. He's a madman Satasha, you'll walk right into his web of lies and get trapped unable to get away"
Satasha teasing "I can handle that"
Zeta angrily "Satasha! He'll suck the life out of you if not worse, you'll be wishing for death. I can see through his mask, he'll always be like this and never change. At least I don't lie to you, my cards are all on the table"
Satasha chugged her ale "Is this why you sent him to fight with The Fallen alone? You wanted to get him out of the way?"
Zeta annoyed "He's hard to get rid off, his hatred and desire to seek vengeance is what keeps him alive, he's blinded by the desire to rule the world. You think such person is the best choice for you at the moment? He'll never stop at nothing or for anyone till he achieves his goals"
Satasha pondered for a minute before saying "I'll think about your offer, but for now I need to rest"
Zeta place a sac of gold on the table "Here take this money and buy a house somewhere away from everyone's reach, and stay there for a while. Once you make up your mind, you know where to find me"
Satasha joked "Are you going to track me with these?"
Zeta confidently "I know you'll comeback to me sooner than later"
Satasha leaned closer to him "How so?"
Zeta smirked "You are smarter than you show, you know where your best interest lie"
Satasha smiled brightly "That's why I like you! You are not bad yourself"
Zeta smirked "Where are you heading now?"
Satasha "To Keno"
Zeta's smile dropped "Perhaps I spoke too soon, suite yourself, don't come crying on my shoulder later"
Satasha scuffed "Don't worry, I know what I am doing"
Zeta "Let's hope so" he got up and left.
Satasha waited for a while before departing.
She walked back to the cross roads.
The Fallen "How are you going to get use of this alibi?"
Satasha didn't answer, she closed her eyes immersing herself with the flow of her power. She exhaled deeply then opened her eyes, they started to shimmer with black and white smoke. Everything around her stopped, the wind, the rattling of trees, and sounds of incests. She simply waved her hand and everything started to mave in reverse, even the moon. It kept moving backwards till she clenched her fist, everything went back to normal.
The Fallen amazed "How did you know that you can do that?"
Satasha truthfully "I didn't" she transmitted to the northern palace.
Satasha stood in the main hallway scanning her surroundings.
A man panicked "How did you get in here?"
She look at him and with a simple wave of her hand he dropped dead, she made his heart explode with a simple wave.
She kept walking toward the basement where she saw that lady before clearing her paths from the guards by turning them to ashes with her powers. It was light work for, she did all of this without exerting lot of power, it felt natural to her like breathing or walking. The Fallen was taken back by her abilities, she's doing all of this without using his powers, and yet he knew she's capable of doing much more than this.
Once she reached the crystal where the lady was trapped in, she touched it feeling sad all of sudden "I am back" she announced.
The Fallen "Even if you set her free she won't make it, this crystal is what's keeping her alive"
Satasha ignored him, her eyes started to tear up, hesitating for a while then she mustered her strength to say "I am here to pay respect for you... Mother!"
The crystals cracked, a green light filled the room forcing her to close her eyes. The crystal shattered to pieces then evaporated into thin air. Once Satasha opened her eyes she saw the Lady laying on the ground, Satasha rushed next to her to cradle her.
The lady opened her eyes and the first thing she saw after thousands of years is Satasha's tears, she wiped the tears of her face gently caressing it "My baby" she spoke softly.
Satasha confused "Am I?"
The lady smiled faintly "You are my baby girl"
Satasha's vision grew blurry from her tears she sobbed "Who am I? And who are you?"
The lady "I am Angrboda your mother and Loki's wife! You are the true ruler of the Helheim don't ever forget that!"
"Helheim?" Satasha repeated
Angrboda "I'll use whatever left of my strength to pass on my memories to you, promise me one thing"
Satasha sobbing "Anything!"
Angrboda "Guide back our people's soul back to the underworld so we can rest in peace"
Satasha nodded "I will"
Angrboda "Live on child..." she cried "My sweet angel... Hel" she drew her last breath and died with a smile on her face.
Satasha began sobbing frantically, she embraced her mother for the first and last time, it wasn't a long one because her body turned to ashes. Satasha had to gather her ashes and placed them in a cloth that she tore from her dress. After she finished she tied the pouch and embrace it, she sobbed silently for a while then wiped her tears as she stood up.
Walking heavily back to the main hall she saw the old lady and dozens of men in front of her. She gazed indifferently at them.
"Arise" with one command from her all the statues in the temple began moving. They walked toward her on by one.
The gathering were taken back by that, the temple began rumbling, many had deserted their spots trying to save themselves, but the moment they got out of the front door, the giants that held the roof began stomping them like ants. The old lady stared in disbelief, she didn't expect The Fallen's vessel to be from the Giants "This can't be" she muttered looking at the bodies smashed in the front door. When she turned around she saw Satasha standing in front of her, her eyes filled with hatred and darkness, the old woman fell on her knees frightened.
"Mercy" she begged
Satasha looked down on her, and with a gentle poke on her forehead the old lady screamed out of agony before bursting into pieces. Those who were with her didn't know where to run, they stood there waiting for their end.
Satasha stared indifferently ahead "Slaughter them all, leave no one in this tribe alive" she steadily commanded. The statues began killing everyone, they crushed, dismembered, and beheaded everyone, from those in the temple till the storm gates. Everyone was screaming, crying, begging for mercy, then dying one by one. No one was spared, not even the children.
With each step Satasha took away death followed. The whole tribe was left in ruins, and the giants that she set free bowed in front of her once they completed their task.
Satasha holding the pouch "You are all free now" with a simple wave they were reduced to ashes.
From the ashes a small spots of green emerged, they were swept toward the palm of her hand that she extended, the spots gathered there forming a round emerald. Once the emerald was completed she hid it in the pouch.
She took one glance at the burning houses and dead bodies before closing her eyes. She took a deep breath then with her power she encircled the whole northern tribe territory in a black dome, once she opened it the whole place was reduced to nothing. She leveled the whole place to the ground.
Satasha managed to do all of that in half an hour while the past her was sparring with Keno in the abyss. After she was done with that she transmitted back to the cross roads, she walked aimlessly for hours before stumbling on a distant village where she bought a farm from an old couple, took a shower then went back in time after pulling herself together.
The Fallen had to watch her do all of this without producing any thoughts or show any emotion. He was amazed at her composure, yet he knew she was crushing internally, while her thoughts were accessible he could feel her heart aching.
Satasha put on a fake smile and went to meet Keno.
...
[After her encounter with Keno]
Satasha returned to her new house where she fortified it with protection spells before falling asleep. She remained there sleeping for the next three days.
During which she explored the memories that her mother bestowed to her. The Fallen remained offly quiet. He waited for her next move so he could react accordingly.
After those three days she set off looking for The Fallen's body.
He was rather amazed by her determination and strong will, rather than searching for her Helheim she went to search for his body, he didn't object but he knew that she wanted to kill him even more after finding out what he had done, even if she didn't think of it her actions made it obvious.
For three months Satasha scoured the earth looking for where it was hidden, she had lost hope in finding it by herself. She needs to ask someone, all she could think about was "Zeta!" she sighed