"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 attention on the front door. There's still a chance they can get out of this alive, so she's fully determined on shooting any intruders to break through the barrier. She would do anything to protect her children – even if it meant killing someone, she would do so without hesitation.
She jumps in fright when a heavy blow makes the thin wooden door shake violently. The old dresser in front of the door wobbles and threatens to fall. The heavy blow causes the worn hinges on the door to loosen and the wood arches under the pressure. It becomes clear to Rebecca that one more blow to the door is enough to break through. The wooden dresser only delays what will happen. It won’t be any barrier to stopping the intruders in their violent rampage.
One last heavy blow causes the door to burst open with chunks of wood flying through the air. Two sturdy dwarves with unkept beards and weathered skin barge into the small cottage. Rebecca prays that her hands are steady enough as she points the rifle at them and prepares to send the vile creatures straight back to the burning gates of hell.
She's not going to give up until her son is safe.
"How dare you come here and threaten us?" she screams, her voice cracks from the panic inflicted fear.
The dwarves stop on the spot at the sight of Rebecca, where she stood in a wide-legged stance and pointing the rifle at their heads.
"We don't want you any harm!" Brokk holds his hands up to show he's unarmed.
Rebecca raises her chin and looks at them with narrow eyes. "Your actions show otherwise. What do you want from me? And how dare you scare the life out of my little boy?"
The other dwarf steps forward and Rebecca points the rifle at him.
"We're just here to visit your daughter, Indra," he says, letting his animal-like eyes wander over her form. His gaze stops on the young boy with large ocean-colored eyes.
Rebecca pushes Joar behind her hip. "What do you want with my daughter?" She feels the fear crawling down her back like icy claws, and the sweat that pools on her skin becomes cold and sticky. She takes a few steps forward and presses the tip of the rifles barrel against the dwarf's head. "Answer me! I am her mother, and I have a right to know what you want from her."
Brokk raises his hands in a gesture above his unruly head, in what appears to be an attempt to keep the peace in the small cottage. "We just need to talk to her," he confesses. "Calm down."
The other dwarf clears his throat. "Excuse us, beautiful lady, but we don't want to bother you or scare your son. We just want to find out where your daughter is."
Rebecca turns her attention to the small man, who has an unexpectedly calm, amber-colored gaze. "Indra would never mix with scum like the two of you. So, I ask again, "What do you want with my daughter?" She pushes the rifle’s barrel harder against Brokk's forehead. "I'll shoot him if you don't answer me. You are trespasser in my home, and I have the right on my side. Especially considering I have a child here too."
Sindre looks nervously at Brokk, who seizes the opportunity as Rebecca concentrates on his brother. With a lightning-fast and powerful movement, he grabs hold of the rifle’s barrel and disarms Rebecca, who screams out in shock and backs herself and Joar away for safety.
Brokk turns the rifle at her and smiles a crooked toothless grin. "Now you're the one answering my questions, lady. Where's Indra? Answer or you will have one less child to worry about." Then he takes aim at Joar, who is sobbing quietly behind Rebecca. She turns around and lifts him up into her arms to calm him down.
"I don't know where Indra is. No one knows. We've been looking for months, but we have found no trace whatsoever of her," she stated calmly, looking straight into their eyes in an attempt to show that she's telling the truth and that she’s not hiding her daughter from the unwelcome visitors.
For a moment Indra's face flashes through the back of her mind, standing alone on the cliff ledge, and the sensation of regret and loss cuts through her heart. If she could turn back time, she would have never left her alone on the cliff with her dead father, Julien, but Rebecca thought everything was under control. She thought Indra was safe from Lucifer's assaults.
Has Lucifer capture her anyway? Where else would she be? What's happened to my girl...
Rebecca must remind herself how much stronger Indra is than she was herself at the same age, when, against her will, she was kidnapped from the human world and brought into the realm of gods. How she was forced down to hell by Lucifer sons, in order to fulfill the prophecy. This prophecy said she was to bear a child with Seven, Lucifer's seventh son, but eventually she was seduced by Julien, Lucifers firstborn son.
Their sexual encounter had taken place in an erotic dream, which turned out to have quite real consequences when soon after her stomach began to grow.
Rebecca had been used as a pawn in a merciless play for the ultimate power. She had been all alone and at the mercy of the immortals, but the oracle had unexpectedly come to her rescue and helped her hide in Asgard, among the ruthless Vikings. Even the gods had difficulty gaining access to Asgard, so she could feel safe there. There she could give her unborn child a reasonably normal upbringing.
She and Seven had found each other in the end and fallen deeply in love. Odin the Asa god had given his consent to allow Seven, the seventh son of Lucifer, to remain in Asgard.
Rebecca knows that the endeavor to protect her daughter Indra is far from over. Indra hasn't reached her full potentials yet – only at the age of twenty-one will she achieve the full strength of her power. When that happens, the gods will do everything in their power to eliminate her daughter. According to the prophecy, Indra has the ability to change the past; by travelling back in time via portals, she can ensure that those who now have power never get it.
Rebecca assumes this is what scares the mighty Lucifer and also infuriates him.
With vacant eyes, she looks at the repulsive dwarves and tries to make sense of this whole situation. Where are the Vikings? Why don't they come to her and Joar's rescue? Why hasn't Heimdall discovered the dwarves' trespassing into Asgard and why hasn't the obligatory alarm been triggered and sounded its sirens over Asgard, alerting them of this current wrongdoing? Indra's stepfather Seven can't help them, as he is searching far and low for his beloved stepdaughter – with the Vikings occupying most part of Asgard they usually don’t let anything go unnoticed.
As if Brokk can read her thoughts, an even wider smile spreads on his dry and cracked lips. "You may be wondering why no one comes to your aid? Why the Vikings have abandoned you?
Have you heard of Loa?"
Rebecca shakes her head timidly and swallows hard.
"No? Then let me enlighten you," he practically purrs, rubbing his hands with an eagerness to put her in her place. "Loa means black magic. Sindre, and I have spread the black dust over Asgard to get these savage Vikings to work for us." His tongue traced over his chipped and yellow teeth.
Sindre claps his hands mockingly at the imagery of the defeated Vikings.
"My brother speaks the truth! Right now, out there, the Vikings are running around in confused circles. Their muscles are going to tense until breaking point and soon they will be lying in a pile of uncontrolled spasms, a treatment worthy of these scums." He laughs loud and the sounds makes the walls vibrate in the small cottage.
Brokk contemplates for a moment, looks at the boy in Rebecca's arms and comes to a grim decision. "Sindre, take the boy. Maybe we can use Indra's little brother to flush her out."
Rebecca sprints towards the door and desperately attempts to escape out of the cottage with Joar tightly in her arms, but despite her efforts to run past Brokk’s seemingly heavy body, he is both fast and agile. He flip’s the gun over and knocks her hard in the back of her head in the middle of her frantic run for freedom.
Joar’s frighten screams echoes through the room. Rebecca does her best to try to reduce the child's impact against the hard floor. An unpleasant thud can be heard as her head lands on a small protruding stone in the stomped dirt floor.
Brokk tears Joar out of the unconscious Rebecca's arms. He forces the terrified boy out to Gyllenborst, who is tied up and waiting outside the small wooden cottage, and pushes him into the carriage that is fasten behind the large boar.
"Now we have something to negotiate with, even if we don't find Indra," he states contently.
"You're smart, Brokk." Sindre wipes the ever present sweat from his forehead and climbs aboard first before his brother into the golden carriage.
With a smack of the reins, they set off over the moon dust scattered night sky, in their search for Indra, the devil's daughter.
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
Indra's state of mind is quite different from before she went to King Laurin's room to seduce him. While she puts on his white linen shirt and brown leather trousers, which are far too big for her, she does not take her eyes of the sleeping man.His muscular body is stretched out on his back, with one arm resting lightly over his eyes. The black silky covers have slipped down to his hips, revealing his flat stomach and well-defined muscles. She desperately wants to reach out and touch his smooth tanned skin, wake him up and look into his bottomless dark eyes. To get to experience the desire he holds for her, one last time.He is dangerous – even when he sleeps, he exudes an almost threatening power and strength – but when he gave himself to her, she felt her own powers return. After all, she has succeeded in her original plan: to seduce King Laurin. The plan did not go quite as she originally intended, she had not at all anticipated that it would also give
"What the hell are those useless dwarves doing here, Belial?" Lucifer bellows.His angry complaints echoes through the great hall, making the large marble pillars that hold the giant halls of the underworld in place tremor as they soar past."There are already enough rumors in all dimensions," Lucifer continues. "I will not tolerate them coming here and causing more slander, that my brother Elohim will use against me."He slams opens the massive double metal doors with a dull thud and spots Brokk, who is serving himself a sizable brandy by the liquor cabinet next to the domed fireplace. His brother Sindre is spread out on a divan, his short legs and dirty boots resting on the exclusive burgundy velvet fabric."Good afternoon." Brokk raises the glass towards Lucifer and exposes a large mustard colored stain under his armpit before sculling the smooth amber contents. "We have some business to sort out," he continues, before releasing a noisy burst of air th