"Well... What do you have to say in your defense?" Lucifer's wrath burns like red-glowing orbs in his eyes. As he folds his burgundy cape around him, the golden embroidery on the fabric glistens in the glow of the fire roaring in the middle of the ill-lit forge. Scattered everywhere are pieces of unfinished metalwork and scrap metal that has been left to rust away. Tools used in the daily work of the dwarf’s lay scattered across the floor in an unorganized chaos.
Belial, Lucifer's brother, puts his pale hand on his brother's shoulder in an attempt to calm his fury against the two dwarves Sindre and Brokk, who are quivering under his intense glare.
"My lord, you're the one with the key," Sindre excuses himself, before running a trembling hand through his dark, bushy beard. "There's only one key to open the iron mask with."
"Yes, only one key exists and you have it," Brokk stutters, correcting the chainmail he wears over his stocky and powerful body. He is accustomed to harsh weather, the heat of the forges constant roaring fire that make them sweat profusely. He is also accustomed to hunger and powerlessness, but before Lucifer himself, he does not have enough strength for any form of resistance, especially when he unexpectedly visits their forge in Svartheim. They know that the punishment for betraying the dark lord is death.
"You didn't answer my question," Lucifer bellows. "Is there any other way to get the iron mask off Indra? Because if she finds another way to get rid of it, chances are very slim that I will manage to eliminate her from our universe."
"No, Your Majesty, only the key can open the iron mask," the brothers answers in unison.
Sindre and Brokk are the most prominent craftsmen ever to be among the dwarves – Sindre is the skillful one while Brokk is smart and determined – but not even their grand reputation can save them from Lucifer's ever-growing wrath.
The wind blows in through the gate that Lucifer left ajar when he arrived. Snow mixed with mud now splatters up against his cape. He runs a hand over the now soiled garment. He absolutely loathes when the expensive gold embroidered fabric on his cape becomes filthy.
"If you fail me, you will feel the sheer pain of every human father, mother, and child who has ever walked on this earth!" he roars, but his words almost get lost in the howling winds of the brewing storm outside.
Sindre fidgets nervously where he’s standing. "We're going to help you find her, I promise. We're not going to rest until you get her back. We will not rest until her heart has stopped beating, forever."
He and Brokk kneel in front of Lucifer, using their bodies to show their total submission.
Lucifer stares down at the two brothers before continuing to speak slowly and clearly so that they do not miss a single word of what he says:
"It is Indra who has cursed this world. Only her death can bring our salvation. Give me her eyes and I will forgive you for everything. Her eyes are all I want."
He turns towards the gate and disappears in a single soft, flowing motion. The only thing left behind is his characteristic sulfur-yellow, toxic fog.
Belial stands motionless, his black coat is in stark contrast to his porcelain white complexion. He quietly observes the two brothers, before giving them a word of warning. "Don't let fear stop you now – because if you fail this mission, there is no salvation. Give him what he wants and do it fast."
Belial follows his brother into the sulfur-yellow mist, leaving behind the faint smell of soot.
"Let's go to Asgard, brother," Brokk mumbles nervously. "We're going to have a little conversation with Indra's mother."
"I think that's wise." Says Sindre, wiping the shiny sweat from his weathered forehead.
"We must hurry before Lucifer tires and asks for our headson a silver platter," Brokk adds. "Let’s borrow Freyr's precious gift, Gyllenborst – the boar with the golden bristles. It can run across the sea and sky faster than the fastest horse."
"But do we dare to borrow Freyr's gift from God himself? Don't we risk being punished?"
Brokk sneers loudly. "What choice do we have? Let's just hope Freyr doesn't mind since our lives depend on it. And by the way, we do not have time to ask for permission."
Soon thereafter the two dwarves steer Gyllenborst at a maddening speed across the sky on their way to Asgard.
A few weeks later. Indra and Laurin are sitting on a bench outside the castle, admiring the alluring rose garden. It's early morning and the first rays of the sun trickles down over the dew-soaked leaves on the clusters of flowers making them shimmer like blushing diamonds. Here and there, Emerald Green dragonflies dart through the air on hasty wings. One of the dragonflies’ lands on the bench next to Indra, seemingly basking in the morning light alongside her. The sea below the mountain reflects the suns bright rays temporarily blinding them where they sit. The peace she feels in this present moment is stronger than the longing for the revenge she plans for Lucifer. The sight is simply breathtaking and Indra catches herself feeling amazed at the raw beauty that the world and this landscape have to offer.Laurin hands her a cup of warm herbal tea that smells almost as wonderful as the nature surrounding them. There is no immediate danger and therefore she allows herself
"Open the damn door or we'll smash it in!" screams an angry voice.Rebecca holds the rifle in her hands and holds her breath from fear. The damp air inside the small thatched cottage feels suffocating and she attempts to grip the rifle tighter in her calm hands."What are we going to do, Mom?" asks the little boy hiding behind her skirt with eyes wild of terror. His low whisper almost drowns in the noise from the continuous banging on the door.Rebecca can't answer his question but tries her best to reassure him. "Don't worry, Joar, everything's going to be okay. I promise." She smiles at her seven-year-old son and strokes his golden unruly hair.Both of them stare at the front door, buried behind the kitchen table and the wooden dresser which she used to barricade the door with. No more threats are heard from the men outside, but it sounds like their voices are getting closer.Rebecca holds the rifle securely in her hands and focus all of her atte
A firm knock on the door can be heard behind Laurin, where he stands with a handwritten letter in his hand. Outside, the libraries large oriel window glimpses the view of a calm, quiet, and sunless landscape. He doesn't want to be disturbed, not now."One minute!" He growls at the closed door and curses quietly to himself.Having Indra as a guest progressively feels like a full-time job. Indra clearly wants to make life as difficult as possible for him, with her constant questioning of why she is not allowed to return to Asgard to check on her family. Why is he putting himself through this? What does he get out of protecting Indra in this way?The night before, they got into a drawn-out discussion which ended with Indra storming out and slamming the door so hard that the hinges came loose leaving the door on a slant behind her. Sometimes he’s almost intimidated by her powers – but only almost."Come in then!" Laurin calls out before sighing an
Indra spends all morning in her room. The letter, and Laurin's refusal to oblige with her wishes, have made her anxieties reach new levels. Soon she won't be able to take this anymore. The uncertainty is unbearable and she bites her nails nervously. It is also exhausting to just sit alone in the bedroom and wait for God knows what...She needs fresh air to clear her head. She doesn't know exactly why she decided to threaten Laurin with a pistol, but somehow, she convinced herself at the time that it was a good idea. Her brain created a rational reason to perform a foolish act.She had followed an impulse to search the halls of the castle, room by room, to find a weapon that could harm Laurin, even if it would only last a few hours. She remembers stopping outside the door before entering, but otherwise the memories are blurred and vague, like a bizarre nightmare.Indra decides to find the kitchen to fill her ceramic cup with something both strong and refreshing t
Indra's stomach twists itself small when she hears King Laurin talking to an unknown woman in his room. The female gives away a certain powerfulness, Indra can sense it even through the thick wall that separates them."Dear King Laurin, you have not reported on your successes with Indra."Indra suspects Lucifer is behind the visit. Lucifer would only send the best body hunters after her. Indra knows how frustrated he must be when he sends his elite and they repeatedly fail to catch her.All she can do is remind him of how powerful she is, and she will do so as soon as she gets her powers back, they seem to have disappeared without a trace overnight. She has no idea why her powers have abandoned her. Perhaps it is a result of Lucifer's prolonged torture, which had been going on for months. Perhaps all the stress she has been put through has messed with her head, but for whatever the reason, she must find her powers again and then show both Lucifer and King Laurin
King Laurin brings the whisky glass to his mouth, takes a sip of the balanced brown liquid and stares into the somber darkness enveloping his bedroom. He’s leans back heavily onto the beds large wooden headboard completely focused on clearing his crowded mind; the strong whiskey is a deliberate attempt to try to dull the tensions that flow through his bloodstream. He sighs heavily and takes a few deep even breaths.Control... Where has his self-control gone? He always keeps his emotions in check, that's what makes him a fair king.Yet Laurin knows that there is no denying that it is his impulses and desire that drives him when he is with Indra, not the mission he has been forced to. But if he doesn't focus on the mission, both he and Indra will face a premature death. He spellbound her powers at her weakest; Indra had been so emaciated and weak and had carried all the signs of neglect after Lucifer's brutal treatment. It had made him see red, but now it was only
King Laurin is extremely aroused to the point he thinks he might burst the seams on the tightening silk fabric across his groin. He suspected that she would try to use her body to seduce him and then escape, but it has turned into a chance for himself to get one last hold on Indra, through both body and soul. And he's going to give her a well-deserved lesson.Never before has he felt this way about a woman. The strong desire for her brings the sorcerer in him to life. His fingertips twitch with magic that rushes through his body like a raging river. The magic increases by their closeness and her alluring scent that fills his nostrils. The roses stems hold her arms firmly over her head and her large soft breasts are displayed in a most daring way right in front of him.She's the most powerful creature in the universe. The world belonged to her, until he spellbound her powers. He will teach her the lesson that he and no one else owns her mind – and soon even her be
The stems of the roses brush against Indra's ivory skin and the thorns graze her erected nipples. She shivers with pleasure mixed with pain."Laurin," she whispers, turning towards the window. The roses twist themselves tighter across her exposed body – it's as if they are controlled by Laurin’s emotions. The stronger his desires grow, the more the roses want to hold her in place, for him.Laurin is still wearing his silky pyjama pants while Indra is naked, vulnerable and trapped. Laurin releases the roses hold on her slightly and takes a step back. Indra can see how he studies every curve of her pale firm breasts and swollen pink nipples. The roses seem to follow his eyes, massaging her breasts under his hungry gaze. The stems caress her blushing skin, acting much the same as gentle hands tracing their way all over her soft body The scene unfolding in front of him sends the blood rushing to his growing member. He pulls down his pyjama pants and his swollen