"Tunrida. Shitty to see you. Wanna tell me what you want? Be quick, though. I might just get bored and exchange your soul for a human one." Nyx sneered, casting her eyes at the surrounding demons before locking eyes with the Demon Queen's rotting soul. 

Unlike the usual multi-toned beacons from above human heads, Tunrida's pulsed and undulated in almost liquid form. Each swirling motion reminded Nyx of churning ocean water on a starless night.

The responding cackle echoed through the tundra and curled around Nyx's body. She repressed the urge to shiver as Tunrida strode forward on the icy plane. Each step caused cracking splinters of frozen grass to shatter around her bare feet.

"It's simple, really," she purred. "You destroy Aidoneus' legion, and Hell becomes mine."

A loud yawn ripped from Nyx's mouth, and a scoff followed. If not for the seriousness of her situation, she would have giggled at the perfect timing of her rude response. But instead, Tunrida's expression of pure malice rewarded her as she spoke.

"Yeah, sorry. We kinda already figured that one."

A stinging slap tore across her cheek, and Micah's scowling face came into view. His eyes darkened as she smiled and spat a stream of blood at his feet. The pain didn't phase her. In fact, she hardly noticed it. She needed to find out what was in Maeze's pills. They'd be useful at the hospital.

"That's enough," Tunrida spat. Her feet stopped a few inches from Nyx, and she stared the woman down. Her rotten smile and knowing brow raise made hairs stand on Nyx's nape. 

"Then," she whispered, "after thousands of Demons become human from your little gift, angels will fall to the earth in droves." Her hands raised to her sides, palm up, and she teetered them up and down. "Balance remember?"

The Demons surrounding them hooted and keened from their position as Tunrida continued. "Then what will happen to earth? All those unexpected souls. Consequences. Consequences," she mocked. "How many premature human deaths will need to happen before we strike a balance again? Hmm?"

Her brow rose as she appeared to question the small crowd.

Nyx swallowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Keep up, Ime whore. Or shall I say Ajovo? Well, almost Ajovo. Still need to trigger that, don't we?"

A shudder crept up Nyx's spine, but she suppressed it before snorting. "I could just kill you right now. If that's what you want." Three large clangs boomed in her ears as cold, burning metal clasped around her neck and wrists at her sides. She hissed and pulled away from the smiling demons now holding the end of her chains like she were a dog on a leash. 

"What the hell is this?" Nyx spun to face the smiling Queen again and found a fist launching at her nose. A sharp crack sent white light behind her eyelids, and she dropped to her knees. The demons pulled her wrist bonds so high her arms felt as though they would pop from their sockets, and she jumped back to her feet, feeling the cartilage in her nose mending despite the torrent pouring down her face.

"Don't ever threaten me again, bitch. I'm sure the Angel has told you we do not need you alive for this. I simply need your spirit, and I can finish the task myself."

"Then why don't you?" Nyx spat, jutting her jaw forward, trying to pull against the chains. She went as far as to soul exchange when she found a solid barrier between her and the souls swirling around her. What is this?

"I prefer not to get my hands dirty if I can manage it," she said, spinning on her heels and striding towards and hundred-foot wall that seemed to spring from the ice land. Micah followed behind the Queen and gestured for Nyx to follow. When she refused to move, the demons holding her chains dragged her forward until she was choking from the force. 

Despite an absence of pain, the lack of air had stars shining behind her lids and darkness began its consumption. Suddenly the tension released, and she lay at the foot of a thorny throne. Tunrida's blackened feet kicked lightly back and forth from her position on its seat. Frostbite?

"See this sword?" Tunrida asked, holding up a bloodred sword half the length of Nyx's body. Intricate markings adorned its pommel, grip and guard and foreign, ancient words appeared engraved along its blade.

"My ancestor Hel created this sword. It is designed to trap a creature's spirit within it, and their power becomes its own." Her fingers stroked its length as she pulled it across her lap. "With your ability, a single cut from this weapon would turn even the strongest demons human."

"What are you waiting for then? I don't know about you," Nyx rasped, trying to loosen the tension on her throat, "but I'm getting really tired of your monologue right now."

The surrounding creatures hissed, but Tunrida barely regarded her. "Take her to the pit. Then, when it is time, you will exchange Aidoneus' demons or my sword will."

Nyx attempted an eye roll as Micah grasped her chains and dragged her across slimy, frozen bricks. Soon his foot jammed into her side and pushed her into a deep chasm. Her rapid descent halted from a grip on her wrists, and her arms dislocated from the force. A gasp escaped her lips as she dropped the last metre and lay flat on the cold earth. Her teeth chattered, and two small pops echoed in the space as her shoulders relocated themselves.

"I hate you," she whispered to the Angel above, still peering down at her star-fishing form. "I will kill you."

He smiled and disappeared from view, leaving her in the frigid silence.

*

After hours of drifting from sleep to waking, a slight nudge against her shoulder made her jump. "What-"

"Shut up. It's me!" A familiar voice hissed. Nyx blinked in the near pitch black and made out his dark eyes. "Emry?"

"Who else?"

Whatever pills Maeze had given to her were almost worn off, and her bones began to ache from the burrowing coldness. A heavy fabric dropped on her feet, and she scooped it up, attempting to find its use.

"It's a cloak. Put it on and climb the ladder." In the hazy darkness, Nyx spotted the rotten rungs of a wooden ladder. Once her cloak was on correctly, Emry pushed a cold metal object into her palm and grumbled, "Follow the compass west. Do not stop. I will meet you at the edge of Niflheim, and we will portal to earth."

Nyx squeezed the compass and pulled against her heavy chains. "What about these?" she rasped.

Emry sighed and rifled through his pockets, pulling two small metal picks. "Must I do everything for you? I expected more from you, Nurse."

"Shut up," Nyx scoffed as each bond dropped to the floor with a metallic clink.

"You only have a few hours before they realise you're gone."

"Why can't we go together to the portal?" Nyx asked as she placed her foot against the first rung.

"I have a few things to take care of."

Nyx ascended slowly and smiled to herself. "You're as cryptic as ever, Nurse Emry." When she reached the top, she crawled onto the hard earth and pulled her compass free, waiting for Emry to ascend. After a few minutes of hearing nothing, she peaked down and blinked confusedly. The pit appeared empty, and the Demon scout was gone.

She sighed and found west on her compass before standing and starting her long trek into the frozen wastelands of Niflheim. "No time to feel sorry for yourself, Nyx. Let's go home."

She walked until her feet grew numb in her boots, and all shivering ceased. A quick glance at the compass would prove she was on the right path every few minutes, but no end appeared to be in sight. Then, just when a glimmer of light danced along the horizon, a hot, wet puff of air scraped against her back. Nyx froze and closed her eyes when a low chuff sound pushed a vile scent cloud around her head. 

"Oh Hells..."

She turned in a tight, wobbling circle and swallowed at the mammoth creature. Its blue-grey eyes blinked as its giant head tilted to the side. They stood three feet apart, and Nyx knew running would not be an option.

She raised her shaking hand painfully slow to the creature's wide, snub nose hoping her Fae heritage would prove helpful again. But its low growl negated her hopes immediately.

"Nice kitty..."