"Hey, you bastard—why'd you take that man's soul? Noah wasn't good, but he wasn't evil either!" Artemis was shouting right in my face.
I pushed her back a little; she'd gotten way too close and sprayed spit across my cheek.
"Good or evil doesn't matter, Artemis. Yes, when Noah gained power, he helped people because he had to. You can't even imagine what people will do when they're forced. Noah killed people. He used human experiments to make sacrifices that were 'necessary' and to raise the world's level."
"Is that wrong? I don't see the problem. I'd do the same for you." She clasped her hands together.
I narrowed my eyes. "No need. I don't want your help. Noah was gray—neither good nor evil, like you said—but in my book, human experiments don't become 'good' just because they push society forward. The biggest leaps always come right after wars. Destruction and progress are linked. But you don't keep the world in constant war."
Artemis pretended to listen, but she looked stunned. "You don't need me? Am I nothing to you?"
Her eyes widened like I'd betrayed her.
"No, Artemis, don't twist my words. You matter to me; the people who matter to me can be counted on one hand, and you're one of them." I turned my head.
She stepped closer and grabbed me.
But then her eyes widened again—because the instant she touched me, I reflexively shoved her hand away. "Art… I'm on edge right now. Better not touch me."
"I understand, Raul. We'll talk when you're okay," she said, but before she could finish
Raul vanished.
Underworld.
Hel had been thinking about Raul ever since he left.
The girl called Alice was allowed to live however she wanted in Valhalla, and anything she asked for was given.
I was sitting on the throne when Raul suddenly appeared in front of me.
The moment he materialized, he raised a hand. "Hey, how's it going, Hel? Fenrir doing okay?"
Just as the throne-room guards reached for their weapons, Hel lifted her hand. "Yes, Raul—thank you for the gift you gave Fenrir."
"Hmm, I'm heading to see her. Thought I'd give you a heads-up." Raul didn't look good.
Hel stood. "I'm bored too. I was actually planning to visit you next month. You and Artemis make a cute pair."
"Thanks for the compliment, but I don't want to talk about that." Raul rolled his eyes.
Hel giggled. "Come on, I'm kidding."
"Since when do underworld gods joke?" Raul and Hel teleported to the cave and started walking inside.
Hel lightly tapped Raul's shoulder, but his palm stopped her mid-motion. "No touching if possible. I'm not feeling well, actually, came to talk to Fenrir."
"Yeah, I can tell you're off. That's why I tried a joke…" Hel bowed her head a little.
Because usually, like Raul said, underworld gods are serious.
They're more like a judge.
That's why her soul is gray.
The color of justice is gray…
Finally, they reached Fenrir.
"Hmm, who's come to bother me now?" Fenrir turned toward the voice.
Fenrir froze.
Fenrir hadn't really expected Raul to show up, even though he'd promised.
Ever since Raul left, Fenrir had been well-fed; the chains' restrictions had loosened just enough that she could move her head and hands a bit.
There had been a sword-like seal in her mouth to keep it open; now it was no longer a problem.
"W-welcome, Raul." Fenrir started stammering, clearly embarrassed.
Raul glanced at Hel, and she left them alone.
She knew what Raul had given Fenrir…
Raul sat in front of the chained wolf-girl. "Good to see you, Fenrir. Like my gifts?"
Fenrir nodded. "Yeah… it'd be better if this sword-seal in my mouth is annoying oo…" But before she finished—
A sword appeared in Raul's hand.
The seal blocking Fenrir's mouth was gone. "I want to break your chains, but I can't right now. Here, one more gift." Raul snapped his fingers.
A blue screen appeared in front of Fenrir.
She lowered her head, looked at it, and realized she could control it with her thoughts. "What is this, Raul?"
"The internet… You won't be bored anymore. You can message whoever you want."
"Hmmm, come closer," Fenrir said, and I did.
Then she grabbed me.
She hugged me. "Thank you. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
Raul mentally filed away the sensation of being hugged by a wolf-woman.
Fenrir was stunning—almost hypnotic—but nobody wants someone who'd eat you when hungry, or snack on gods for fun.
"Shhh… can we stay like this a bit longer?" Fenrir asked.
I felt tears running.
Her head was pressed against my chest. "Yeah, keep going, Fenrir. I needed this too." I wrapped both arms around her.
I couldn't hold back the painful feelings inside anymore; sharing the hurt with someone who felt the same seemed right.
"Raul, are you married?" Fenrir suddenly asked, catching me off guard.
I sighed. "No. The goddess scent on me is Artemis—she's a friend."
"Hmm, her smell is strong. Moon goddess, right? Do you love her?" Fenrir lifted her head; I looked into her huge eyes.
I met her gaze. "I love her as a friend. No romantic love for anyone, and I'm in favor of keeping it that way. But friends? Sure. There's you, Hel, Artemis, and a mortal buddy you don't know."
"You're a coward, too, Raul. You know you're strong enough to crush me, but my nose catches every scent—and you carry pain like mine. Know why I didn't eat you when you put your body on my head? Because you weren't afraid. Just curiosity and kindness—at least toward me." Fenrir gently pushed me back.
I chuckled. "How could I fear a little wolf-girl? Odin was an idiot to trade an eye for wisdom, and he remained an idiot."
"I'm not little, you bastard!" Fenrir pounced, swiping a few paw-strikes that only tickled.
I rubbed her head. "Look at little Fenrir in her rebellious phase. You hurt my feelings." I clutched my heart.
"Hmm, you're a bastard, Raul—but a good one." Fenrir turned her head away.
Then two bottles appeared in Raul's hand—one for Fenrir, one for himself.
"You're old enough to drink, Fenrir. Cheers." He handed her the bottle; they started sipping slowly.
Raul couldn't get drunk, but Fenrir's head was spinning. "Zzzzzzz… Raul, this is so tasty…"
"For the gods' sake, what are you dreaming about, stupid wolf?" But then she grabbed me and hugged me again.
Zzz.
Definitely asleep.
I sighed, let her hold me, and closed my eyes.
This female wolf was clingy.
Hel, watching from afar, was laughing.
She'd never seen Fenrir this happy.
When the two drank together, they even sang.
Raul slowly taught Fenrir a song.
He was trying to teach common sense to a drunk wolf.
It was a hilarious scene—Raul knew it was pointless but kept laughing and explaining anyway.
Sometimes he told his own stories, ones even Hel didn't know.
Hel was grateful to Raul for easing Fenrir's loneliness…