After Satasha transmitted Keno back to his residence, she was so relieved and hoped that The Fallen didn't notice Keno's presence. She fixated her gaze at him standing out of the protection shield waiting for her, she walked out of her house lifting the shield off the territory.
"You woke up faster than I had anticipated!" she addressed The Fallen
"Give me back my soul" He demanded
Satasha stood away from him, she was again captivated by his looks, his siren eyes and calm demeanor allured her to lower her guard down but she knew better. Time didn't take it's affect on him, his youthful charm didn't fade away even after his imprisonment.
"I told you that I intend to borrow it for a while" she reminded
The Fallen calmly "You think your frail attempt to control me worked? You must be delusional thinking that you can defeat me!"
Satasha "Trust me I know that I can't kill you, no one can, you're cursed did you forget that"
The Fallen didn't respond instead he took one step forward, Satasha's instincts told her to run as far as she could, yet her body refused to move, and before she noticed he was already in front of her throwing a punch. Satasha flew away hitting the kitchen oven before his punch even landed, she fell hard on the oven, next thing she knew his hand was covering her face and slamming her head strong on the floor, the house began rumbling.
Satasha grabbed his hand tightly triggering the binding spell that she made, he flinched and pulled himself away.
"Do you think few drops of blood can harm me? Your over-confidence sickens me!"
Satasha wiping the blood from her chin "You cannot kill me either! If I die, you die also"
The Fallen chuckled "Your spell won't last long, I'll break free from it soon enough"
Satasha stood up laughing, she mocked "Go ahead! Break it"
The Fallen used his power to do so but he couldn't, he was confused, no one can do that unless...
Satasha could read his face she interrupted "Unless it was the work of God" she giggled
"You think God takes notice of and ingrate like you? No my dear friend, this is your own doing, you and I are part of a whole, you cannot kill me without harming yourself!"
The Fallen "Ridiculous! You can't fool me with these cheap tricks"
Satasha invited "Go ahead! Give your best shot!"
Before he could strike, Mark show up with ten reapers with him.
"My lord" Mark lowered his head "Your body can't take much longer! You need to assess the damages first and let us do the rest"
Satasha straightened up, she knew they'll show up once her protection shields were gone, matter of fact she hoped they'd find her first so her plan can proceed as planned.
'Better late than never' she thought
"Seize her!" Mark ordered
Satasha smirked "Over my dead body!" she unleashed raw and unfocused power, blowing the house up and pushing them away from her, then transmitted away from them.
She landed hard on her face, internally wounded, and exhausted. She needed a place to rest for a while before proceeding with the plan, yet her body failed her, she fell again after walking for few minutes. She tried to get up but her body felt heavy, she fell on her face again.
"Who is it?" A woman voice asked not far from her, Satasha's sight was blurry, she couldn't see her face.
The woman approached her, she turned her body to examine the injuries, once she saw her face she exclaimed "Satasha?"
Satasha recognized her, it was Gulan "Help me up!" she requested
Gulan worried "You look awful! What happened to you?"
Satasha's head began buzzing, she could barely speak "Help me up then leave... Or they'll kill you too!"
Gulan helped her up, she saw how badly wounded she was that she lost balance "We need to heal you first, and take you somewhere to rest"
Satasha mumbled "No! Just go"
Gulan refused to listen, with her powers she healed Satasha, yet her exhaustion lingered.
Satasha "Thank you! Now please leave me here and never look for me, or else they'll kill you"
Gulan insisted "Let me take you with me"
Satasha shook her head "Go!"
Gulan walked away reluctantly, she wanted to return but heard Satasha shouting "Go!" so she left.
Once Gulan was out of sight, Satasha took a deep breath and used her power to separate The Fallen's power from his soul in her core, this process consumed all of her strength, but she had to hold it together for a while.
She barely stood on her feet after she vomited blood, her sight was blurry and her head ached badly. She transmitted herself to the eastern palace, precisely to Keno's chamber, luckily no one was there at the moment, she stumbled next to his bed after walking few steps forward. Determined to get it done, she leaned closer to him searching for his core, once she found it, she gave him The Fallen's power hiding it there for now. She sealed it deep in him so he won't notice the change, this was the final straw for her, her head fell on his chest huffing. The lower half of her body felt numb, using the remaining time of her consciousness she transmitted away from everyone's reach.
She fell on the black sands unconscious, the sea waves kept hitting her body and carrying her to the sea, after a while she opened her eyes and saw that she was being dragged to the ocean, she walked back to shore and kept walking uphill, once she reached there she saw a barren land of ashes, no trees were in sight, she rolled down the hill after losing balance, once she reached the bottom she dragged her body forward for a while before falling unconscious again. This time she remained unconscious for a long time that the wind buried her under the ashes.
When she regained her consciousness she felt herself being dragged by someone, she took one glance at who it might be; it was Mark, then lost consciousness again.
Satasha partly opened her eyes and sensed water waves clashing on her skin, scanned her surroundings; she was in a cave with illuminating blue spots on its walls and light blue fountain water, then she fell unconscious again.
The fountain water felt warm and refreshing as if it gently cradled her, floating in it stabilized her body and strengthened her senses. After floating for a week in it she finally opened her eyes, she scanned her surroundings again and saw that she was in Helheim.
Helheim was the residence for the deceased and an extension of her, the place was closed by cave walls, it was misty, dark, and chilly, yet the water was warm. An eerie place to feel comfortable in but it made her feel at home, she saw that the fountain extended down deep and the water had light green suspensions in it, she touched one of it and saw flashes of memories unknown to her, these suspensions were the souls of her people.
"I took the liberty to bring this pouch from your house" Mark calmly spoke, he stood in the darkness
Satasha teasing "How does it feel to have your master back?"
Mark stepped toward the light showing his displeased expression "You should've come to me first before making a dangerous step like this"
Satasha "I'm sorry but I don't trust you, after all you are his loyal soldier"
Mark "You should trust me, I am your only ally"
Satasha scoffed, then asked "Am I being held captive here?"
Mark "Think if me however you like, I've never done you wrong, nor I'll ever do such thing" he gently placed the pouch on the floor and left
Satasha glared for a few minutes to where he was before swimming to the fountain's end, she sat on the cold cave's floor soaked. After days of holding back she finally broke down crying, she embraced the pouch one last time before spreading her mother's ashes in the fountain while dissipating the emerald with her power releasing their souls, the cave was filled with glimmering green spots that gently floats before going in to the water, the more souls entered the greener the water became. After all of the souls entered, the mist started raining on her, Satasha felt and immense sorrow that weighed heavily on her heart, she sobbed for a while before remembering one of her mother's memories were she hummed a song while being pregnant with her. Once Satasha began humming the water glowed green reacting with her, humming the song helped the restless and angry souls calm down, it soothed them till they started resonating, soon one by one they began moving on to the afterlife, her humming helped them rest in peace. This process lasted for days till all souls moved on, the water was back to its light green hue. Exhausted, she swam back to the fountain were she immersed herself in it, her sorrow didn't lighten up, it kept weighing on her consuming her mentally, she stayed in the fountain for another week.
Even with The Fallen's soul she needed more than a month to recover from consuming her strength while her body was on the verge of exploding, yet she needed to check on Zeta and Keno, both of them are on top of The Fallen's kill list.
She transmitted to Zeta's cabinet and knocked on his door; it was late at night and the moon was high in the sky, when she heard his footsteps hurrying to open the door she smirked.
Zeta stared worriedly at her and confused of why she was soaked, he asked sarcastically "Did someone drown you?"
Satasha chuckled "I drowned myself"
Zeta scoffed, he leaned his head on the door "I thought you were dead" he spoke gently
Satasha smiled faintly "I thought you were too" her concern was genuine.
Zeta invited her in and went to fetch her clothing and towel, he offered "Here wear these for now they are mine, and they are clean don't worry"
Satasha smiled, he read her mind, she went to change her clothes, the robe that he gave her was so big that the sleeves covered her hand in full and end of it was dragged while se walked, she wrapped the belt four times before tying "I look ridiculous in this" she said after going out of the room.
Zeta smirked "Yeah you do" he noticed her wet hair dripping on the floor "Hey the floor is made of cypress! Go dry your hair!"
Satasha sat next to the fireplace squeezing her hair in the towel, Zeta brought her warm tea and sat next to her, he took the towel from her drying her hair, he gently squeezed it.
"What happened? Why The Fallen is awake?" he inquired
Satasha explained "Totally not intentional! Here I was trying to stabilize his soul within me by using his blood, next thing I know he stood in front of my house! I fought with him for a bit, he totally crushed me even while he was half of his strength, luckily the grim-reapers arrived, if it weren't for their brief intervention, I wouldn't be talking to you now"
Zeta sensed that wasn't all of the story, he didn't want to point it out instead he asked "And did you stabilize his soul?"
Satasha truthfully "Yes, if he kills me he'd be deeply affected, like losing one arm and leg"
Zeta curiously "How did you do that?"
Satasha didn't answer, she drank his tea silently before requesting "Can I borrow money from you?"
Zeta arched his brows after placing the towel away "Why?"
Satasha smiled shyly, she grabbed his sleeve slightly tugging it "I need to buy a new hide out" she paused for seconds then added "Please..?" she pouted slightly
Zeta side eyed her, he sighed "What happened to the other one?"
Satasha mumbled "I may have destroyed it"
Zeta sighed shaking his head disappointed "Why do I always surround myself with idiots?"
Satasha defensive "Hey I was fighting for my life there! And he already broke few walls with my head, not all of it is my fault"
Zeta "Tch, tch... Excuses, excuses" he shrugged
Satasha pissed "If you don't want to give me just say no, you don't need to act like that!" she crossed her arms and leaned back turning her head away.
Zeta chuckled "Why are you acting like a child?"
Satasha annoyed "Hey! Knock it off!" she glared angrily at him but wavered a bit after she saw him laughing, she remembered how Hiro used to be teased by Shettsu and made her feel nostalgic, she sighed and smirked "Do I amuse you?"
Zeta chuckled "I'd never thought I'd see you act like that before, it felt out of your character, you must be really desperate to ask money from me" he wiped his tear
Satasha frowned "I changed my mind, I'd rather steal from someone than asking you for money again!"
Zeta chuckled "I was going to give you a sum after you stay here for a few days, you seem eager to leave"
Satasha serious "I cannot afford to lose you Zeta!" she addressed him worryingly "Making them follow me for now is our only way to gain some time for us to prepare! He is after you, he wants you dead"
Zeta stared at the fire "Yeah I know, if I am not on his side, then I am better off dieing"
Satasha corrected "He never wanted you to be his soldier, he wanted your body as a vessel!"
Zeta stared at her confused "What?"
Satasha caressed his face "Do you think that you could poison him without him noticing? His body was already eroding due to time! That's his curse; immortality, it consumes his body and soul leaving him stranded for eternity. Why do you think he favored you?"
Zeta scoffed, he couldn't believe how foolish he was, he gritted his teeth angrily.
Satasha calmed him " That's all in the past now, you don't need to concern yourself with it"
Zeta "Then what changed his mind? Why didn't he choose me?" his neck vein pulsated prominently from anger
Satasha held his hand gently patting it, she glared at him sadly "Because of me! Ananke had a vision that some warrior was going to take his place and imprison him"
Zeta snarked "Kronos!"
Indeed it was Kronos who created this mess, and continued creating more in the future.
Satasha hesitated before telling him this, but she decided that he needed to know the truth
"The truth is, Kronos is going to break free from his imprisonment soon and take Zeus's appearance to wreck a havoc everywhere in the future"
Zeta "How do you know that?"
Satasha confessed "I am from the future"
Zeta glared confusedly at her, he was puzzled on why would she state something like that, then it hit him "You can travel through time?" he asked
Satasha nodded
"Why are you telling me this?" he inquired
Satasha truthfully "I want our partnerships to transcend time, I want you to help me in the future"
Zeta "How far?"
Satasha smiled warmly "I don't know! I just want to at least continue our friendship and don't change the outcome" she paused recalling the time she spent in this cabinet with everyone and smiled.
Zeta didn't understand why she was exposing herself like that to him and trusting him.
Satasha's tear fell from her eye, she hid her sorrow behind her warm smile "I was happy with you guys, I felt like I was finally having the family that I had always longed for" she glared at him with tearful eyes "You must know something, something that was entrusted to me, I am going to tell it to you now"
Zeta felt her grip tightened, she was nervous to confess her secret but he didn't say anything, he waited patiently for her to speak. Satasha closed her eyes to stop her tears, she inhaled deeply and felt her breaths suffocated her, when she opened them again to face him she couldn't find the courage to tell him everything, instead she told him "Your mother told me that you are her best achievement, and how proud she is of you" that were all she could say, she pulled her hand feeling guilty wiping her tears.
Zeta concluded immediately what had happened "She died?"
Satasha paused
Zeta scoffed "Did you do it?"
Satasha quietly "Yes"
Zeta chuckled angrily "You shouldn't have told me that!"
Satasha feeling numb "I know"
Zeta's tears filled his eyes "That was very selfish of you! You just wanted to feel better that's why you told me?" he spoke angrily
Satasha calmly "Trust me, I'll never be at ease. I just wanted you to know this before things go south"
Zeta spitefully "What you seek pity now? I don't care if you die or live Satasha! You are just a pawn for me and pawns doesn't get the right to feel guilty about their wrongdoings"
Satasha stared coldly at him "I don't feel guilty about it even if it wasn't me who killed her, I still enjoyed doing it, given the chance, I'd do it again"
Zeta grabbed her by the collar "Get out!" he pushed her hard on the sofa.
Satasha stared indifferently at him, he got up clenching his fist angrily wanting to kill her now. Satasha stood facing him, she stepped closer to him glaring at his face as she stabbed his core.
Zeta's attention was clouded by his anger, it was too sudden to him that he didn't have time to react, he fell back on the sofa staring hatefully at her, he couldn't move his body or use his power.
Satasha scanned the dagger that she forged from the water remaining in her hair, it was contaminated with his blood, she cut the palm of her hand with it and by combining the two she made a bracelet, she grabbed his arm and embed the bracelet under his skin, it was invisible to the eye.
Satasha calmly "Forgive my bluntness just now, it was just to provoke you to let your guards down, I know you'll say that if I asked you, you'd given it to me without the drama but I beg to differ, you'll never agree to what I am about to do so the best thing is to forcefully do it"
Zeta stared confusedly at her, he couldn't say anything but Satasha seemed to answer the questions he had "You'll know soon what I am babbling about and you'll be angry for sure" she paused to read his mind "No I didn't kill your mother it was The Fallen"
"Yes she really said those things before she dies"
"No I am not going to free Kronos, I am going to do something entirely different"
She placed her hands confidently on her waist declaring "I am going to start a war"
"Hey don't cuss you don't know what I am about to do yet!"
"Hey!... I am not incompetent fool! Know your place old man! Anyways, as soon as I leave you'll be able to move again but you won't be able to say anything about what happened here to warn anyone or use your power to stop me"
She patted his head and left
As soon as she transmitted he huffed "This deranged fool will kill us all!"
...
Satasha tracked Keno to a distant city in the east, there the sun had just set filling the sky with it's burning red hue. She walked for a while before stopping in front of a brothel, she sighed not surprised if he was there, she walked into it following the trace of her blood.
A drunken man wrapped his arms around her shoulder "Are you new here? Come join me, they praise my hand work... Always! " he chugged his wine.
Satasha didn't pay him any attention, she pushed his hand and walked away, the man pursued her and grabbed her arm forcefully, she gave him one look while her eyes were pitch black and he cowarded away; she was casting an invisible Shield around the brothel fearing that someone would find her here.
Satasha walked up to the second floor where the rooms were, she kept walking past them till she stood in front one of them hearing Keno's voice, she opened the door and saw him sitting in middle of two women talking while eating snacks; there were five women in the room, two sitting next to him, two guarding the door and one behind the frame hiding. Once she entered the ones guarding the door drew their swords pointing them at her "This is a private room, you're not allowed here!" one of them warned
Satasha didn't care about them, her eyes were fixated on him. Once he saw her he froze for a minute then stared angrily at her.
Satasha mocked "I thought you loved brothels that's why you frequent to them, how foolish of me! That's clever, making use of it to gather intelligence"
Keno not amused "How did you find me?"
Satasha walked forward while having two swords pointed at her neck "I have my ways"
Keno pissed "Did you come here to finish what you have left?"
Satasha teased "You are not mad, are you?"
Keno glared through his brows "What do you think?"
Satasha let out one sharp laugh before sitting opposite him "You should be thankful, if I haven't stabbed you, you'd be dead now and I be visiting your grave"
Keno displeased "I am not mad about the stabbing, this I can forgive, but manipulating my memory is unforgivable!"
The gathering were stunned to hear that he was both stabbed and had his memories manipulated, they were curious on who she is and where she had the audacity to harm him.
Satasha could sense their anger and chuckled " You serious? Stabbing is okay but pressing your memory isn't?! Tell me if I haven't done that would you obey my command and leave? Keno even you wouldn't be able to fight that night!"
Keno not caring about the excuse asked "What brings you here now? To check on me?"
Satasha truthfully "Yes!"
Keno arched his brows, he noticed her attire and scoffed "You were with Zeta for a month? Him? You chose to trust him while being injured and followed?"
Satasha glared at him 'How did he knew about my injury?' she asked herself then remembered 'Oh right! Gulan'
"Keno I didn't go to him to seek shelter, I went to warn him just like what I am doing now" she explained
Keno not believing "Yeah right because you care about me"
"I do!" she stared seriously at him
Keno hesitated for a bit, he felt her answer was genuine yet he couldn't shake the feeling of unease, they held their gaze at one another for a while making the atmosphere tense in the room, the women didn't know if he was moved by her confession or scheming to use her.
Satasha broke the tension with a soft smile asking "Tell these lovely ladies to withdraw their swords so we can talk freely"
Keno firmly "That's not going to happen!"
Satasha teased "How bitter!"
Keno poured himself cup of tea shifting his gaze away, he felt like if he continued staring, he'd soften up, he spoke indifferently "State your warning and leave afterwards"
Satasha questioned "Do you trust these ladies to know?"
Keno glared coldly at her "Better than I trust you"
Satasha pouted, his remark felt like a hot needle pricking her skin "How rude!" she reached for his cup of tea and snatched it off his hand saying "The Fallen has risen!"
Keno was shocked, he didn't expect such news, few of the girls gasped, and one of the ones who held the sword started trembling.
Keno froze, he gave himself few minutes absorbing the news before ordering "Leave us alone" to the ladies
Four of them left, the one behind the frame remained hidden, Satasha pointed at the frame "What about her?"
Keno ordered "Guard the door and wait outside for a while"
The woman got up walking toward the door, Satasha noticed her face and was stunned to see one of his concubines in assassin attire 'Ha, he isn't gathering beauties' she thought impressed by him, he's using the womanizer as a facade for his underground operations 'He's on the same level as Zeta and he did all of this in short time!' she thought and nodded approving
"Impressive" she mumbled
Keno proudly "Thank you! Now tell me the whole story without skipping a moment, what happened that night?"
Satasha "You remember the guy that we threw in the cave?"
Keno nodded "Yeah after that you pushed me to the wall and stabbed me"
Satasha "Not quite! After that we were spotted; I was spotted to be precise, I pushed you to the wall to hide from them and hide your presence using my power, after that I transmitted us to my residence, I couldn't leave you alone to face them, we chat for a while I made you a soup, then when I noticed him outside of my house I used your vulnerability at that moment to stab you and oppress your memory so you won't find my place and get yourself killed"
Keno sensing lies "My vulnerability?"
Satasha coldly "You were crying"
Keno snarked, he couldn't believe his ears, him crying in front of her "Couldn't you make more convincing lie?" he laughed
Satasha roll her eyes "believe what you like that's what had happened"
Keno shook his head disappointed in her story, but he indeed remembered that he was sitting on a soft bedding when he was stabbing, he asked "How did he woke up? Did you give him back his soul?"
Satasha objected "I am not that stupid, how do you think I got injured then?"
Keno curious "How did you escape?"
Satasha truthfully "I took advantage of his reunion with the grim-reapers, it was for a minute but enough for me to escape, then I met Gulan who healed me and hid somewhere he can't follow me to"
Kenl interrupted "Where to?"
Satasha "It wouldn't be a hideout if I tell you where it is, wouldn't it?"
Keno "Fair enough, and you stayed there healing for a month?"
Satasha nodded, he asked "Then why you came back to warn us? It's very generous of you"
Satasha truthfully "I interrupted my healing process just to make sure he didn't notice your existence in the house back then, and to tell you that he wants you dead once he's fully recovered as well"
Keno pondered for a while then asked "What's your next step?"
Satasha moved closer to him, she sat too close to him that their knees touched, she leaned forward whispering "I am going to do something stupid" then smiled brightly
Keno frowned, he sighed "Not again" pressing his temples
Satasha had intentionally sat too close to him so she could sense if he noticed what she placed in him or not, luckily he didn't for now, she genuinely smiled feeling relieved that he was safe for now, he just needed to stay away from The Fallen's attention till her plan is complete.
Keno noticed her genuine smile and it provoked something he felt familiar in him, he glared at her while she turned her head thinking, he had a sudden urge to hold her, he brushed it off asking "What's your plan specifically? Tell me so I can help"
Satasha immediately rejected "No!"
He was stunned by how fast she rejected his offer "You really didn't take a second to think it off, did you? That's rude"
Satasha explained "You certainly cannot be involved in this matter, the best thing is to stay away from The Fallen's attention, if we can take him out, we need everyone in this"
Keno "Then who's going to help you? Zeta?"
Satasha scoffed "No he thinks it's stupid"
Keno felt betrayed "You told him but not me? Why you think very little of me?"
Satasha stunned 'Is he jealous?' she thought, she held his hand defending "It's not that Keno! This war is upon us all and he's the only one who knew him better than anyone. Besides, I didn't tell him my whole plan, he shut me off from the beginning"
Keno wasn't convinced, he pulled his hand away "Don't look for me if it went south, let him help you"
Satasha pissed "Fine, I won't need anyone's help with this" she got up and walked toward the door, before she exited she turned and stared at him, his gaze was fixated at her, he seemed worried.
Satasha spoke gently "Try to lay low for a while and not venture away from your residence till I come back, please stay safe"
Keno's gaze softened, he smirked "You too, try to stay safe"
Satasha smiled warmly, she walked back to him and sat near him, took the knife from the table and pressed it's edges with her finger, then took one hair from her hair and tainted it with her blood.
"What are you doing?" he asked
"Hand" she demanded
He hesitated to give it to her but she took it forcefully, she wrapped the hair on his index loosely circling it, then with her power she forged it to a black ring.
Keno watched her attentively "Are you proposing" he snarked
Satasha scoffed, she gently moved her hand from his index to his elbow, shoulder, then his chest and rested it where his heart was. His heart skipped a beat, her touch felt warm and soothing, he held it asking again "What are you doing?"
Satasha "This ring will help to conceal your presence from the enemy, promote your healing abilities, and form a protective shields when needed" she lied, she connected it with The Fallen's power making it pliable for his use without suspecting anything. She continued "I placed some of my power in it so you might feel weird for a while, it'll remain attached to you as long as I live"
Her last statement made his heart ache a bit, he held the hand that rested on his chest tightly, he wanted to speak but was interrupted by his concubine's knock on the door "My lord is everything alright there?"
He cleared his throat answering "Yes" he reluctantly let her hand go asking "Why are you doing all of this?"
Satasha truthfully answered "I don't want to lose you"
'Because you are an excellent vessel' she continued her reason internally.
Keno felt something was off but didn't reject her confession, even if she was hiding something he didn't mind 'As long as you are with me' that thought crossed his mind, it surprised him, why he was acting so out of character today, he didn't even know what's his next thoughts would be around her. He just silently watched her walk away from him unable to ease his feelings.
Once she was out of sight he pressed his forehead huffing "I must be out of my mind" he mumbled, he pondered at the ring caressing it with his thumb.
His concubine walked in after Satasha left and sat opposite him "Do you like her my lord?" she inquired
If she hasn't spoken, he wouldn't have noticed that she was in the room, he was so immersed in his thoughts that he lost his senses. He lowered the hand that had the ring slowly as he adjusted himself, he didn't want anyone to see it, it was his private secret with her, he kept caressing it for the whole night, even when he laid on the bed, he stared at it with a smile, that night he slept soundly without having nightmares.
...
[After Satasha left the brothel]
Outside the town skirts, Satasha used her ability to manipulate space and time to go back to the future. She stood at the exact spot but scenery changed, once a green lively place was now a barren desert, she scanned her surroundings and was amazed how a place can change within the span of a thousand years, she had an idea of what to do now, using her abilities she transmitted to Olympus.
If Zeta was with her he'd tell her that this is the stupidest plan he had ever heard of, she smiled thinking about his reaction as she walked towards Kronos, he sat drinking tea in the garden alone, as the most problematic person in history he was astonishingly calm.
"You are late!" he addressed her without looking back to check who it was.
Satasha didn't reply, she knew that he recognized her presence the moment she transmitted, it felt like she had done this many times with him before, she sat down oppositing him pouring tea for herself.
"How long was it after I jumped?" she asked
"Almost half a year" he answered pushing plate of sweets near her
'I thought that I went back to that night' she thought 'Damn I miss calculated' she ate a piece of the sweets, as she munched she glared at him trying to analyze his thoughts
"Show me your true face" she demanded
Kronos "Not possible" rejected immediately
Satasha teased "Why, you are ugly or something?"
Kronos didn't answer, he took another sip, he asked "Why are you here?"
Satasha eating another piece "I'm trying to decide if I should kill you now or make use of you"
Kronos was unamused, he sighed looking away "Till you decided what to do, leave me drinking my tea in piece"
Satasha nodded, she took the whole plate eating it as she glared at the stars, she didn't know why she was feeling some sense of familiarity whilst she sat next to the person who tormented her the most, he also responsible for her tribe's massacre, and indirectly responsible for making her The Fallen's vessel, yet she wasn't feeling any sense of hostility toward him at the moment.
After he finished his tea he lent back closing his eyes, for him she wasn't a threat, he just waited patiently for her to ask about the past.
Satasha placed the empty plate on the table and drank her tea cold, without glancing at him she asked "Where did you imprison my brothers?"
Kronos opened his eyes slowly, he expected her to ask about the massacre first, yet again she always was unpredictable, "In the far north, behind the blizzard there's a pyramid, he is under it. The other one died long ago, after my imprisonment he broke loose and destroyed the eastern palace" he answered
Satasha exhaled deeply, she coldly stared at him asking "Was it worth it?"
Kronos "If given a chance, I'd do it again" he replied without hesitation nor remorse.
Satasha expected this, he's beyond reasoning, they held their gaze for a while, during which Satasha sensed his gaze softened a bit, she was puzzled.
It was him who shifted his gaze first looking somewhat perplexed "You should concern yourself with those fools that live in this time line, they are going to start an unnecessary war with me"
"As they should" she interrupted
He looked somewhat offended by her "Rude! You know that they'll lose"
Satasha indifferent "Good, let them lose"
Kronos scoffed "I thought you loved them"
Satasha "They serve no purpose for me now! I have bigger problems to attend"
Kronos seeing through her bluff "Yeah right! The moment you sense that they're in danger you'll come flying to their rescue"
Satasha truthfully "Perhaps"
Silence fell for few minutes, Kronos closed his eyes again waiting, he was unusually patient today, she noticed the sudden change in his personality and was confused, she stared at the stars drifting in her thoughts, after few minutes she stood up and walked away without saying anything.
Kronos opened his eyes slowly, he stared blankly at the sky, he muttered "You never change"
...
Satasha transmitted to meet Zeta, she stood in front of his cabinet hesitating, the scar on her chest suddenly ached, holding it tightly she walked slowly toward the door knocking it.
The house was empty, it has been empty for a while that dust gathered on its furniture, she scanned the place and read few of the reports scattered on his desk.
"Why are you here?" Zeta huffed
Satasha was alarmed, she flinched knocking the pile of reports next to her, she bent down to gather it.
Zeta walked angrily snatching her wrist, he pulled her up asking angrily again "Why are you here? Do you think that we'll just go back to normal after what you did? Or you just want a favor like you always do!"
Satasha didn't answer, she was taken back by the hatred in his eyes, she straightened up asking calmly "I got curious of how you were and needed to deliver this to you" using her power she presented him the red bean necklace that Tina entrusted to her.
Zeta grabbed it immediately from her hand asking "Why you have this?"
Satasha "She gave it to me before she dies, and told me to remind you that she'll always be proud of you"
Zeta's eyes reddened he closed them trying to restrain himself "Get out!" he ordered
Satasha calmly "If you need my help in the future you can summon me"
Zeta gritted his teeth, his breathing was rapid and his eyes darkened, he grabbed her jaw tightly warning "The only reason that you are alive is because you saved Mika, don't fool yourself thinking that I cannot survive without your help, I'd rather die before asking for your help"
Satasha gently held his hand staring warmly at him, she didn't believe that he'd hate her just because of what she did, she scoffed "Your angry at the wrong person Zeta, you know that I didn't have control over my body, it's not me who killed Tina and the others"
Zeta smirked "The same old excuse, don't think it can fool me like it fooled others, I know you better than anyone else, you let it happen"
Satasha showing her true colors "And I'll let it happen again if given the chance" she smiled with her eyes wide open and devoided of emotion "You think I care if I killed them or not, they mean nothing to me, the only thing I care about is that I need to win this forsaken war against The Fallen and clean the shit that your parents did! Do you think that I like that? Wake up Zeta we are at war with fate and we sure are losing"
Zeta pushed her back hard while clenching his jaws, his expression was animalistic wanting to shred her to pieces right here and now, but he knew that she was right, his grip tightened around her jaw as he stepped closer "Fuck you!" he calmly cussed
Satasha smiled evilly, she glared at him through her lashes as she adjusted his robe "You know that you still need me to achieve your goals, that's why I am here, I want to give you a gift"
Zeta warned "Stab my core and see what I'll do to you"
Satasha chuckled "No silly I don't need to do that!" using her power she pushed him hard on the wall
He didn't fall, his back slammed on the wall taking the whole impact, he immediately pulled his sword to attack but he wasn't fast enough, she was already standing in front of him, her eyes glowing white she pushed her hand hard into his abdomen clinching it.
Before he could react she immediately transferred part The Fallen's soul to him, he felt an immense pain that paralyzed him, he could only gasp.
His knees failed him and fell on the floor feeling like thousand daggers stabbed him with each breath he took.
Satasha sat next to him finishing her work, she blended his core with The Fallen's soul then hid it's trace with his soul.
Zeta coughed blood "What did you do?"
Satasha wiped the blood from his face gently "My part of the deal, you're free to do whatever you like now without restriction, you can always ask me to undo it if you like but for now you have to be a good boy and wait"
Zeta spitefully "You'll pay for this"
Satasha kissed his brows gently caressing his cheek "I am going to die either way, you have to wait in the line if you want to kill me, it's a very long one" she smiled faintly
She stood up and walked away. Outside the cabinet she saw Mika who was aghast seeing her there, his eyes searched for his brother.
Satasha pointed with her thumb "He's at his office in pain"
Mika dashed worriedly to help him.
Satasha scoffed then transmitted back to Olympus.
Kronos was surprised to see her again, he was leaning on his desk scanning a map "Back so soon! I thought you hate this place"
Satasha walked toward him "I hate it here"
Kronos "Then why are you here?"
Satasha sat on the desk facing him "I want to ask you for a favor"
"A favor?" he straighten his back and crossed his arms "What gives you the right to ask anything from me?"
Satasha "Consider it a repayments for what you've done to me and my people"
"Your people!" he mocked "You don't care about them, you only want to win the game between you and The Fallen"
Satasha admitted "Yes exactly that's why I want you to do what you are good at"
"which is?" he interrupted
"Wreak a havoc!" she replied
Kronos laughed "that's it?"
Satasha serious "Yes, let's play the long game of the good versus the bad"
Kronos "Why?"
Satasha truthfully "I want everyone to die!"
Kronos "You just don't want to get your hands dirty that's it, right?"
Satasha "That and another reason"
Kronos smirked "Who do you want dead first?"
Satasha bent forward whispering "Surprise me!" she smiled
Kronos bent closer too "I agree under one condition"
Satasha "Name it"
Kronos grabbed her chin pulling her closer to him "Be my woman"
Satasha felt disgusted but swallowed her pride saying "And?"
Kronos whispered in her ear "Bear me an heir!"
Satasha felt nauseous, she pushed him away saying "Keep dreaming"
Kronos smirked "You'll come around"
Satasha sarcastically "Indeed! When the sun rises from the west perhaps" she walked away and transmitted back to Zeta's cabinet precisely where he was resting to check on his condition, when she saw that he was improving she used her power to go back in time.
She stood in the same room, morning light filled the room, she walked out of the room and sat down on the table next to Mika who was baffled.
Zeta in disbelief "You have some audacity to come back after what you did last night"
Satasha reached for the bread "What I am hungry"
Zeta sighed "What did you do?"
Satasha munching the bread "Nothing, I changed my mind"
Zeta firmly "Next time try consulting me first before doing something like that"
Sitka confused "Can one of you elaborate on what had happened?"
Neither answered, he glared at Mika who shrugged.
Satasha drank Mika's tea, he was baffled but didn't speak up, before any of them spoke she declared "Kronos hasn't broken free yet, I went to see which side he's on"
Sitka interrupted angrily "Are you out of your damned mind? Kronos?!"
Satasha annoyed "If The Fallen broke loose it's only matter of time before he does it too, it's important for us since he hates The Fallen"
Mika discussing "Fighting ultimate evil with lesser one isn't a very good plan, it'll back fire on us later"
Zeta adding "Indeed! Kronos is highly unreliable ally, he can betray us even before taking The Fallen out, we need to find another way to seal him again"
Satasha staring at him thinking of who'd help her achieve her goal, then she remembered Mark's words back in the cave. She sipped the tea thinking "I saw into the future, and Kronos was free again, all seals are useless we need to take them down one way or another"
Sitka reasoning "I like your enthusiasm but that's The Fallen we are talking about, we cannot kill him, he's immortal and cursed to live till the end of time"
Zeta agreeing "Indeed, we lost our best shot when we tried to kill him while possessing Ananke's body, this plan failed it just delayed the inevitable"
Mika "Can't we strike now while he's weak"
Satasha "Even in his weak state I was no match to him, also we have to go through the grim-reapers first, even if it took everyone we wouldn't surpass them"
Zeta "Yeah we are at disadvantage here"
Satasha remembered something important that she saw in her mother's memories, she felt stupid for neglecting such important things, yet again she was grieving back then. While everyone was discussing the situation she was drifting away in her thoughts, ideas kept coming to her fast, she had to rule out the best of them, and she did soon enough. Covering her smile as she bit the bread, her eyes lit up victorious, she glanced at Zeta and saw his gaze fixated at her, she didn't bother to hide her true colors to him. He noticed the subtle expression on her face, she was mischievously looking at him, the corner of her mouth slightly raised, none noticed the change in her demeanor expect him as if she did it intentionally.
Zeta knew that his hunch about her was right, after all she's the lord of mischief daughter, Loki's wit and power made him a great threat for both the Norse and everyone else, he caused many problems that barely were evaded. Angrboda on the other hand was wise and collected, her patience and careful calculations were Loki's greatest aid, they both were unstoppable yet Loki's arrogance was his greatest flaw. Satasha on the other hand hid herself very well from the beginning, she seemed naive and shaken at first that made everyone think that she was easy to manipulate, even if she was new to this she showed promising traits.
'Maybe she deliberately woke The Fallen, if so, then I can't trust her fully yet' Zeta thought 'Exposing her cards to me is a great tactic to make me trust her, but for what end'
Her actions were unpredictable to him, he felt like he was trying to tame a typhoon with a fan. 'It's best to make her think that she has my full support, her and Kronos are far too similar, I' m not sure if I can win against them both if we're able to defeat The Fallen' he thought
Satasha seemed like she understood his thoughts without reading it, she smirked as she turned her head away, her expression changed immediately to worry as she spoke "You guys need to be careful, once everyone realizes that he's back we won't be able to distinguish friends from foes, we can only trust each other" she glanced at Zeta "Especially you, he wants you dead more than anyone else"
Zeta thought about applauding for her amazing acting skills, she convinced Sitka and Mika with it, he was at awe.
Satasha smiled faintly at him reassuring "I must take my leave now, I need to find a way to grow stronger"
Zeta offered "Let me accompany you, you're still not fully recovered yet"
Satasha's plan worked "You need stay here, it's safer for you"
Zeta knew she wanted him to tag along "Nowhere is safe from him"
Satasha "But..."
Zeta interrupted "I insist"
Mika felt the sudden tension between them, like they were playing tug war subtly, he immediately stated "I want to tag along if that's okay"
Satasha true aim was fulfilled, she glanced victoriously at Zeta who understood her intentions immediately, he objected "No! You stay here in case if anything happens"
Mika falling in the trap "Brother I want to protect you if anything happens, I still don't trust her" he glanced at her "No offense"
Satasha truthfully "None taken"
Sitka "You're so overprotective of him, he needs to grow and learn"
Zeta couldn't refuse without exposing that he had figured her out, he signed defeated. Mika was happy to tag along with them.
Satasha stood up next to them saying "Here we go!" she placed her hands on their shoulders and transmitted them to the black shore.
Zeta confused "Why here?"
Mika asked after scanning the place "Where are we?"
Satasha just walked forward without answering; They followed.
Zeta got close to her muttering "If you did anything to Mika, I'll have your head hanging above my fire place as a furniture" he threatened.
Satasha didn't bother with his threat nor acting around him, she was straightforward with him "I need both of your powers with what I am about to do" she spoke up
Mika curious "What is it that you can't do alone?"
Satasha "I need to stabilize his soul very well" she stopped and placed her hand on a transparent veil, it reacted with her touch revealing a cave entrance, they walked in the dark for few minutes before reaching the fountain.
Mika asked as he scanned the place astonishingly "Where are we?"
Zeta perplexed "Helhiem"
Mika was aghast, he thought that this place was destroyed, he stood still observing the water.
Satasha glanced at him, she knew that the water is going to react with him if he touches it. His mother Yuri is the child of cross breed, a grim-reaper with a Norse, which means that if he ever died this place is his resting place.
Satasha stood facing two powerful candidates, Zeta the original vessel and Mika the accidental child, both strong and able to withhold his soul, but that wasn't her plan.
Them being in her domain meant one thing 'You are now under my control' she thought
Zeta not fully convinced with her excuse "Tell the truth! Why are we here?"
Satasha truthfully "You two are an excellent candidate to be the next vessel for his soul, I need you guys to bond with me so if I die one of you will inherit the burden"
Zeta objected "You can't force this on us! I never wanted to be a replacement"
Satasha seriously "What choice do we actually have? I am not strong enough to withhold it for a long time! Do you want him to have his full strength"
Zeta "Of course no! At least give us time to think about the pros and cons"
Satasha reassured "I know that's why I brought you here, I gave you access to this place so once you decided we can do the bonding process here"
Zeta cooled "Then what are you going to do until then"
Satasha "Visit an old friend"
Mika hesitant "Can I stay here t study the place?" he asked politely
Satasha nodded "This is your ancestor's place, you don't need my permission to do anything here"
Mika shyly smiled.
Zeta "What are you stalling for? There's surely a reason of why you want us to be here"
Satasha "Honestly this is the only place The Fallen can't get in, I truthfully want to split his soul to four parts, this may weaken him"
Mika "But it's only a small part of his soul in your body, how can it weaken him?"
Satasha "It's not small part, it's half of his soul! How do you think I got away unscathed? He can't harm me"
Zeta exclaim "How's that possible? How did you manage to do that?"
Satasha smiled brightly "I prefer to keep it a secret for now, at least until I manage to make my plan work somehow"
Zeta impatient "Enough with the thrill and tell me what you're up to!"
Satasha sighed "I want to kill his supporters for now, the four princes of Hell are on top of the list but before that I need to find Mark"
Zeta interrupted "Mark?! You must be joking! He'd never betray him, never!"
Satasha smirked "I beg to differ" she patted his shoulder as she walked away.