Author's note: Sorry guys life has been so crazy here lately! I will be back to updating regularly soon. I realize I left you on a cliff hanger and wanted to correct it!
Coming into purgatory, my senses were dulled. A light mist laid over everything, and the sky reminded me of Domtivr with how dark it was. Ghoulish figures danced between the mist around us. The mist lay on my skin, and while it wasn't uncomfortable, it wasn't a good feeling either. The figures looked like they were just 'there'. They weren't in pain, but they weren't happy either. Clothing and people from all walks of time were there. Men with hats of different eras and women sporting clothes from all walks of life. From petticoats to jeans and t-shirts. I looked between Leo and Lucifer to find they each held a relaxed expression, but my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest. Looking out further through the darkness, small lights sat atop a hill far in the distance, and the shadow left looked like some sort of castle. "Is that a castle over there?" I asked. "Yes, Bonnie, that is where we're heading. We must see Hel." Lucifer responded. I turned to look at him as we walked towards the lights and squinted my eyes, asking, "I thought Hell is where we just came?". Leo interjected this time, "Yes and no." he said, making a chopping motion with his hand. I let out an audible sigh before Lucifer's voice carried through the air again smoothly, "Hell is my realm, Bonnie... but there are many other realms out there that Gods can move through. It's not only christianity that has beliefs or their God.". I looked at him unimpressed, motioning for him to continue. "So in Christianity, this is known as purgatory. They believe no guardian resides here, that it is only to finish the soul cleansing process to enter heaven– not true, but that's how they interpret it, poor things. In other religions, like Norse, this is Niflheimr, and Hel is its guardian.". I took a moment to process this thinking back to my classes with Lillith. It was all so confusing the entwining that actually went on up here. I think Leo could sense me trying to piece it together, adding in, "Our father is a jealous man, Mia, but he does share some of creation with others who have creations of their own.". A scoff echoed through the air from Lucifer before he followed it quickly, saying, "Our father was lazy Leo. The man used other God's creations as his own." throwing his arms out to each side of him as we continued walking. I pinched my forehead with my pointer and thumb. "So what you're saying is that there were God's before God, and your dad just used other God's realms as his own?" I asked. "Pretty much." Leo said, shrugging his shoulders. I rolled my eyes, hearing that thinking about how that must have really pissed other God's off. Looking around the landscape again, everything about this place seemed to be a middle ground. It wasn't pitch black, but it wasn't sunny either. It's kind of like a twilight or evening effect. It was hilly but it wasn't flat. It didn't smell the best, but it didn't smell bad. I guess purgatory really was a middle ground for everything. I wasn't comfortable, but I wasn't uncomfortable either. Our walk became quiet as we made our way towards the castle. Even the sounds here dulled. Making our way up the hill, Lucifer picked me up and cradled me in his arms. "Be aware, Bonnie. Hel can be wrathful." Lucifer stated just we came upon the door. Leo knocked, and before long, a zombie looking being answered it and motioned with his arm for us to come in. I whispered to Lucifer, "Was that a bell boy outfit?" referring to what the zombie had on, and he nodded, confirming my question. I wish Lamia was still here. She could have helped make all of this make sense. The quietness of our steps going down a long stone hallway was soon interrupted. "LUCI!" a female voice exclaimed. "Hel.." He answered calmly while bowing his head. A tall and slender woman with cascading black hair, beautiful blackened eyes, and markings in her face appeared before us. She was bathed in darkness and furs. She looked to me with a confused look on her face, setting her hand under chin while the other one lazily sat on her hip. "What have we here?" she asked, motioning a hand towards me as Lucifer set me down. "Hel, this is Mia." He stated unamusingly. She began to pace around me, taking me in. As she got closer to me, I noticed it wasn't black she was bathed in but a dark blue with her fingertips staying a flesh color. "Hello, Hel, my name is Mia. It is nice to meet you." I said, bowing slightly. Her eyes became wide as she came face to face with me taking a long breathe of my scent. "We will see about that." she quickly retorted. She turned to Lucifer quickly, "With her presence and the smells of two worlds, I'm guessing the prophecy is about to begin?" she asked him. I looked at Lucifer and he seemed to have a wicked smile as he looked at her. "What prophecy?" Leo quickly interjected, interrupting feelings of jealousy that were overtaking my senses. "Of course, Ragnarok, you dear bird boy." she retorted, almost chuckling. A confused look came across both mine and Leo's faces before she began to mutter. "Uncultured, cooped up, birds. the whole lot of you." she muttered, throwing her arms about. "Baldr!" she yelled, and a few minutes later, a gorgeous man with a fatherly face stepped into the stone hallway. Before he could reach us, Hel commanded him, "Explain to these uncultured birds, Ragnarok. It is drawing near.". He nodded happily and, in a soothing tone, began to explain, "Ragnarok is when our God's battle ultimately ending the earth. Afterward, I get to leave here.". I turned to look at Lucifer, and he reached over and closed my mouth that I hadn't known had fallen open. I looked at him with smoldering anger. "That's not what's happening, though, Lucifer. Care to tell them that we are fighting God's that none of us know of?" I asked angrily. He opened his mouth, and before he could get a word out, Hel's footsteps could be heard walking right towards me. She put a hand soothingly on the side of my face and with a sad look in her eyes whispered solemly, "They all die protecting you, the earth, all of the humans, and most of the Earthly God's. You are the balance." she finished as one lone tear fell down her cheek. I smacked her hand away. "No one is dying for me." I angrily spat into the air. Hel clutched her hand, and her eyes began to glow blue. Her face twisted into something demonic, and I looked at Lucifer to intervene. He was lazily looking at his fingernails, and Leo looked like he was ready to pounce when lucifer put his arm in front of him and whispered to him. Leo relaxed and had a look of apology covering his face. Hel began to yell at me, anger coating every word. "FATE IS FATE. THE WYRD IS SET DEAR MIA, AND I HAVE TO SACRIFICE HALF OF MY PEOPLE TO ENSURE IT HAPPENS YOU HAVE A DUTY JUST AS I HAVE A DUTY. IF 'YOU'" she stopped to point her finger in my face as if scolding a child, "DO NOT COME OUT VICTORIOUS IN THIS, ALL THE GODS DIE FOR NAUGHT. ALL THE HUMANS DIE FOR NAUGHT, ALL MY PEOPLE DIE FOR NAUGHT, AND THE EARTH IS NOT REBORN". My eyes started to burn as tears stung my vision. My side heated up, and my eyes began to glow. Anger bubbled beneath my skin. I didn't want this. No one had told me this when all of a sudden, both of our heads ripped to the side towards Lucifer clapping. "Aye, good show, ladies, but it's time to simmer down now that we've gotten it out of the way.." He said, finishing up his clapping and heading towards an archway where a few chairs, a fireplace, and a chaise were strewn about. I marched up to him and penned him up against the wall, cracks forming along the brick as he made contact. A small smile played at his lips, but anger scorched me as I bore into him, my eyes still glowing furiously as the light from them danced along his features. "I know I almost died, Bonnie, but this can wait until we have a bed....", "Why didn't YOU tell me?"I seethed as I could feel the gazes of all those present on my back. His face became solemn, and I felt Leo's hand on my shoulder. "How can we tell the woman we both love that she'd be the downfall of humanity because of her lineage?" Leo said behind me. Tears began to fall, and Lucifer chimed in laying his hands on my hips, "Revelations, love. It leaves a lot open for misinterpretation." He quipped. I turned to Hel asking, "Do you have a library that I may use? I am sorry for my ignorance. Nothing has been explained to me, and I wasn't big into religion on Earth." She nodded calmly. "Baldr, please take Mia to the library and guide her to all of the religions prophecies, please." she soothed. He nodded respectfully and began to lead me as Leo and Lucofer began to follow me. I spun on my heels, glowering at both of them. "Since neither of you wanted to tell me, I can figure this part out in my own." I angrily whispered, sticking a finger in each of their faces and flashing white light across my eyes. They both lowered their heads and returned to take seats in the foyer that we had been led to as Baldr led me to the library.