Hel's Huntsman

2 - It's time to wake up

Hel

“Hel.” A whispered word floats through my ears and penetrates my sleepy conscience. “Hel, it’s time to wake up.”

How long have I been asleep?

I felt myself falling into Revival Sleep, but I couldn’t stop it. That hadn’t happened to me in thousands of years. However, it was unavoidable after the mission I had been on.

While searching for the relic Odin sought, I fought more monsters than I ever have or am ever likely to again. I fought for so long without many breaks in between that it almost drained my life force completely.

I went days without rest, not once stopping because finding what was stolen from Odin was all that mattered. I didn’t stop because the end would lead me to Kayson.

The All-Father sent me on that mission without help. I did it all alone for far too long—two long years, I searched and searched. Some would have advised me to give up and return home, but I could not. The mission was too important; I had to finish what I set out to complete.

However, I took two very short breaks in those two years. I took one to spend a few moments with Kayson when he needed me after his cousin Ava went missing. I felt Kayson’s pain at feeling his cousin had ended her own life. There was no body to bury, so a memorial was held instead. Of course, Ava was alive and soon found. But during the time my mate believed she was dead, he was hurting. I couldn’t concentrate on my mission because I could feel his sorrow, and I needed to be with him. I held him while he cried, and we shared our first kiss. That one kiss gave me the strength and determination to get Odin what he wanted so I could finally be with Kayson.

The only other time I took a break was when Kayson was turning into stone. I had to save him, and I would not have given up until I had. I still haven’t killed Rhodos for what she did to my mate, and it was her; she admitted it when I was smashing her face in! I beat her with an inch of her life. I would have ended her right after I had finished having fun toying with the bitc.h, but Odin called on me just as Poseidon approached us. I didn’t have the time to get into a fight with that massive Porpoise, so I left. But I left with a promise to return to finish what I started, and I always keep my promises. One day soon, I will tear her spine from her body!

I finally found what Odin sought but refused to hand it over. It didn’t matter what oath Odin took to get me to go on that mission; he had always been a lying prick. Odin could easily have tricked me into doing what he required. He could have the relic once the oath came to fruition, and not until then.

What did Odin promise?

If I returned what was stolen, Odin would release me from his service so I could finally be with Kayson. Of course, there were stipulations, but I could live with them as long as I had my mate. Odin also swore he would never use Kayson to force me to do his bidding. I am not a stupid woman, and I knew no matter what Odin promised, if I hadn’t put that request in, he would have taken my mate at some point. Men like Odin cannot be trusted. They’re liars and cheats and believe, because they’re King, they can do whatever they want with no consequences. You must play them at their own game to win. Besides, I was not and am not afraid to use my brother against Odin. He would never admit it, but the All-Father is terrified of Fenrir and what he might do.

With the oath seat in stone, I handed over the relic and headed back to my Realm, Niflheim, or Helheim, as some refer to my Realm. I wanted to prepare for my King before I went to him. I had so many plans for us, including locking us away for a week, completely naked, so we could make love every moment we were together.

However, I could no longer fight what I had tried to deny. Every injury I sustained in those battles that had yet to fully heal had finally caught up with me. When that happens, I lose power; it seeps from me like smoke beneath a door. My body and mind shut down to help me heal, sending me into Revival Sleep, and nothing will stop it from taking over.

I remember Hades’ voice, but not his words before sleep took me. The last time I fell into Revival Sleep, I was out of commission for two years, locked in a dream world where everything was dark. This time, there was light in the dark. I relived the moment Selene showed me my future with Kayson over and over. I saw our son, and I watched him become a man. I even saw the past, every battle I have been involved in, and even my mother. I shouldn’t refer to Angrboda as Mother because she was anything but.

“Hel, come on. I’m getting old here.”

“Hmm.” I hum as my conscious mind begins tuning into the world around me. My eyes slowly open and focus on Hades. “I should have realized you were the one trying to wake me. Oh, and you are old.”

Hades laughs loudly.

I should have known Hades was trying to wake me because he was the one who woke me last time. He senses my breathing change, which means it’s time. I just need someone to push me. My brothers can sense me waking also, but none have ever come to help me. Hades is my good friend, and he’s always been there for me.

I groan while pulling myself away from the corner of my throne. I ache, and I’m covered in dust and cobwebs!

Did no one check on me while I slept?

Where the hell were my staff?

“Ugh!” I look at Hades as he chuckles. “What?”

“Sorry about that. It’s been a couple of months since my last visit. I got sidetracked. When I told your minions to stay away from you, they took it literally.”

“Typical,” I mumble. It’s not unusual for me to wake from Revival Sleep propped up on my throne. Wherever I land, I stay because moving me is impossible. It’s as though I become part of the furniture. But my staff normally makes sure I’m clean, at least!

I stand and stretch out my aching body. My bones crack, and I sigh in relief. I then wave my hand over myself, instantly cleaning my body and changing my clothes. I would love nothing more than a hot bath, but there is no time. I must get to Kayson. I have waited long enough to be with him, and I am waiting no longer.

“How long have I been out this time?”

“Six years.” Hades answers.

“Six years!?!” I screech so loudly the room shakes.

What the fuc.k?

I have never been in Revival Sleep for so long!

“I know,” Hades holds his hands up. “But you clearly needed it, Hel.”

“I don’t care! What must Kayson be thinking? What if he thinks I abandoned him, and he moved on?”

Look, I know what I just said was ridiculous, but I just woke up after six years. My senses aren’t all here yet. I know how much Kayson loves me, and there is no way he would have settled for anyone else. But I wouldn’t blame him if he sought comfort in the arms of another woman for a while. It would go against the mate bond, but we hadn’t claimed one another physically, nor do we bear each other’s mark. I have been gone for years, so Kayson is technically a free agent and can do whatever he pleases.

“Hel.” Hades sighs in annoyance. “Kayson hasn’t moved on, and I doubt he ever would. The man is obsessed with you.”

I smile, though being obsessed with me isn’t fun. Kayson is a man now, no longer a boy. I wonder what he looks like now and how handsome he must be. I have been asleep for six years, but I have missed him so much. I have waited all my life for this moment – the moment I could finally be with my mate and not worry about being torn away from him.

“Is he okay?”

Hades nods. “He wasn’t for a while. Kayson wanted to come here to be with you, but I didn’t think that was a good idea. Wasting his life away, waiting for you to wake up, wouldn’t have been best for him. Fenrir agreed with me, so we kept Kayson away.”

I nod in agreement because I wouldn’t have wanted that for my mate. He needed to be with his family.

“You might not recognize him when you see him.” Hades chuckles, and I roll my eyes.

“I would know Kayson anywhere, Hades. I need to go to him now. I’ve waited long enough.”

“There are things you should know before you go running off. Listen to what I have to say, and then we’ll go to Kayson.”

I don’t want to listen to Hades; I want to go to my mate! However, I do listen to Hades and what he has to say. Anything concerning Kayson, I will listen to.

Hades explains how Ivy and Azrael went on a mission to stop a vision Ivy saw from coming true. Kayson dabbling in dark magic because of me. They saw our deaths at the hands of hooded men, and my heart sinks. I know not all prophecies and visions come true. They are sometimes given so the recipient can alter their life course and take a different path. Zeus stopping Dolos from snatching Hecate’s book changed one path. But that doesn’t mean the latter couldn’t become a reality.

Not everything in life can be foreseen because our paths are ever-changing. The Gods like to mess with people’s minds, and Fate forever changes his mind. There are ways to alter what we see, but sometimes, we have no choice but to live and watch those visions play out in reality.

I pray our deaths don’t come to fruition. I don’t care about myself; I have lived a long life already. But Kayson hasn’t lived nearly long enough.

“Is that all?”

“Other than Kayson's house looking like a shrine to you, yes, that’s all.”

I roll my eyes when Hades chuckles. “Not funny. Let’s go.”

Hades and I walk through my palace. I could flash out of here in an instant, but I must show my staff that I am awake and back. I’m pleasantly surprised to see the work that has been done around the place while I’ve been out of action. Niflheim is a naturally dark place, but my home is now filled with natural light coming from above. The palace no longer looks like a graveyard; everything from the skulls and bones to the eerie vibes has been cleared away.

I wanted the palace to reflect Kayson’s birthplace, which is why there are trees and plants all over. My throne room needs work. I cannot bring Kayson back to that place filled with skulls, cobwebs, and lost souls.

I rush back into my throne room, Hades following me and asking me what I’m doing. He stands behind me as I use my magic to clear the room. I close my eyes, imagine what Kayson would like, and smile when I open my eyes to see a bright, light, and airy room filled with plants. My throne hasn’t changed, but I don’t want it to. I need something that’s me, though Kayson’s throne represents him perfectly. The back is a crisscross of iron-shaped arrows and iron-shaped tree leaves wrapped around the arms, with wolves’ heads at the end of the armrests and thorns around the legs. Perfect!

“Wow.” Hades shakes his head. “That is some throne.”

“Fit for my King.” I walk past Hades and out of the throne room. It is time to see my love.