Chapter 15: Flashback (Part Four: Amirani's Release) Three days later, Doll Grethe got back from her conquest of Niflheim. The Fire Maiden and her loyal soldiers were bringing back many prisoners within the kingdom, including Prince Amirani, one of the seven sons of King Bullar and Queen Hel (aka. Queen Halja). The prisoners were all cuffed together with a long chain rope with handcuffs attached to the rope. “Waaaaaaah! I want my mommy! Waaaaaah ah ah!” A young avian demon cried out as he followed his fellow prisoners. “What have I done to deserve this?” A whiskered cat fish demon wailed in distress. “STOP YER BLUBBIN' YOU DAMNED BEASTIES!” A gruff, bearded human einheriar screeched as he started to flog the demons without mercy. The only demon or devil that stayed quiet and calm was Prince Amirani himself. He tried to stay calm and quiet as he was forced to lead the way for his fellow prisoners. He stayed calm, because he didn't want to lose face to his old enemy Doll Grethe. The aggressive, hot head Valkyrie pulled the handcuff rope as she escorted all the prisoners to a torture chamber within the bowels of Walhalla castle. As Doll Grethe, her soldiers and the prisoners finally made it to the torture chambers, they were greeted by King Odinn. “Greetings Doll Grethe. I saw you successfully captured some prisoners...” “Yes indeed my Lord.” Doll Grethe said as she bowed and grinned. “I even captured one of Queen Hel's sons. It was his choice to go in his Queen Mother's place.” “Ah, how noble of him.” Odinn said sarcastically as he glared at Amirani. “He seems to be awfully calm for being here.” “Are you going to talk or not my wretched Prince?” Doll Grethe asked impatiently as she found Amirani's calmness and silence to be annoying and unsettling. “So we met for the first time, King Odinn.” Amirani said calmly, trying to hide his rage and fear from the King of Walhalla. “My mother told me about you, as well as your sworn brother, Loki.” “So she has...hmmmm....” Odinn said in a blank, monotone voice. “Doll Valkyrie, you are free for now. Your soldiers and I shall take this matter in our hands. “Thank you my Lord.” Doll Grethe said sincerely as she left the torture chamber and shuts the door behind her. “Ah yes, they will suffer. They shall suffer indeed.” --- Throughout the halls of Walhalla castle, the woeful screaming and wailing of the demons echoed off the walls and were heard by everyone who resided there. The demons screamed, cried and plead for mercy, but it all was ignored. The beatings and brutality still continued onward all through the morning. --- Meanwhile, within the Valkyries' Hall of Residence within the palace, Mist was wide awake in her room, and felt sick to her stomach. The noises within the torture chambers started to drive her mad. The screams, cries and pleas were like nothing she ever heard before. Sure, Mist has been on many battlefields within the realms of Yggrasil. She has heard the cries and anguish pleas of the dying mortal beings many times before. But no matter how hard she tries, Mist could never harden her heart to pain and suffering. She still felt sympathy and kindness for the souls she recruited into the afterlife. She was like a big sister figure to the souls she takes under her wings. She felt their sorrows, their angers, their joys, as well as their hopes and dreams. She didn't care what race of being the mortal creature was. If he or she would show kindness and respect to Mist, she would show the same kindness and respect in return. With all the screaming and crying of the tortured demons, Mist was disturbed by the noises of anger, hatred, and sorrow, that she couldn't take her mind off of it, no matter how hard she tried. She turned over to her sworn sister Eir, and asks, “Eir...Ummm....” “What's wrong Mist?” Eir asked as she approached Mist and caressed her cheek. “Is something bothering you?” “Yes...something is bothering me.” Mist stuttered nervously. “It's the demons screaming in the torture chambers.” Eir sat down on the bed next to Mist and puts her arm around the blue haired woman's shoulders. “I understand how you feel Mist. The screams and cries are bothering me as well. I never heard anything as horrible as those noises.” “Really Eir?” Mist asked as her stomach was knotting up like a fist. “Yes Mist....” Eir replied as she hugged Mist. “However....” “However...?” “If we tried to stand up to Odinn, Frigga, and Doll about the mistreatment of the demon gods, they will punish us, perhaps, even sentence us to a fate worse than death.” Eir explained. Mist held her head down in shame. “I know...If only there was a way....” In the middle of the discussion, Eir and Mist heard a knock on their quarter's door. “Mist....? Eir....?” “Come on in Lady Frigga.” As Frigga opened the door, she was ready to make an announcement. “Come down stairs sleepyheads, our breakfast feast is beginning.” Frigga announced as she beckoned the two Valkyries to follow her down the halls to the banquet halls. Mist and Eir had to keep face, no matter what. They had to keep their feelings secret, in fear of a horrific punishment set upon them for questioning authority. So they followed Frigga down to the banquet halls, trying their hardest to block out the pitiful screams and wails in the torture chamber. --- “Owww......Owww...!” The prisoners howled out in agony. “Make it stop....MAKE IT STOP!” “SILENCE FOUL BEASTS!” Odinn scream as he and Doll's soldiers started to torture the prisoners mercilessly. A catfish demon was locked in a pillory, while his web feet were being burned with a hot branding iron wielded by one of Doll's human male soldiers. A mouse demon was thrown in an iron maiden, constantly slamming into the wall and door adorned with razor sharp spikes. An avian young male demon was subjected to reverse hanging, while being canned and flogged by two of Doll's soldiers. Their pitiful screams were unbearable and horrifying to behold, as the torture continued. For those demons who died, they were cruelly revived back from the dead, only to experience more torture and mutilation. Prince Amirani stood there, chained to a wall, unwilling waiting for his tormentors to interrogate him. He stood there silently, shooting hateful glances at his tormentors. His body was scarred, bruised and bloody from the series of beatings he received from Odinn and Doll's soldiers. “You are going to pay for killing my dear Valkyrie in cold blood!” Odinn yelled out as he canned Amirani with his thick, wooden scepter. The beatings made Amirani yelp in pain, but it was only going to get worse. “But Doll Grethe pillaged and plundered my homeland!” Amirani cried out. “My family and I were just trying to protect ourselves, as well as others from these invaders!” “Silence!” Odinn bellowed as he slapped Amirani in the face with his scepter. However, one lesser Einheriar recruited by Doll was horrified and disgusted with how Odinn and Doll was treating their prisoners. That Einheriar was the dragon warrior Enzo Gaviota. The dragonite felt horrible about torturing these demons and devils, knowing that they have family and loved ones of their own. He felt saddened that these demons will never see their family nor friends ever again. He felt disgusted that his mistress would sentence these creatures to fates far worse than death. Enzo wanted to speak up, but he was afraid of enraging his mistress Valkyrie at the same time. The howls and cries of the tortured continued on...with only one showing mercy to these tortured creatures.... --- Back in the banquet halls, Mist Elmbarn was struggling to finish her breakfast. As much as Mist loved full breakfasts full of various meats, eggs, potato dishes, pancakes and waffles, the troubled thoughts kept getting in the way of Mist's appetite. “Mist?” Frigga wondered. “Aren't you going to eat your meal....?” “Ummm...yeah....I guess so...” Mist stuttered, secretly feeling sick to her stomach. Mist tried to eat her food, trying everything she could to ignore the horrible noises, but it was only easier said than done. While Mist was struggling to eat, Doll Grethe was starting to get impatient with the girl, and couldn't hide her frustration anymore. “Mist, I don't get you. I really don't. Why the hell are you so sad and miserable? It's not like you are in the torture chamber.” “Doll, leave Mist alone!” Eir commanded softly. “Since when are you in charge?” Doll spat back in anger, slamming her fists on the table. “You're not the boss of me!” Mist slammed her eating utensils on the tables, and shouted, “STOP FIGHTING! I'm not in the mood!” In the middle of the banquet, Odinn came storming out of the torture chamber and made his way up into the banquet hall. He appeared to look very displeased and upset. “Doll, come! I need your help!” “What is it my lord?” Doll asked as she puts down her meal and faces her lord. “You don't seem very well.” “Of course I'm not well!” Odinn shouted in disgust. “One of your lesser Einheriar is not co-operating with me. Maybe you can put him in his place.” Doll got up and followed her master, grumbling and mumbling all the way to her destination. “Damn it! Why does this always happen to me. It pisses me off.” At the banquet table, Mist felt a little relieved that Doll was not there harassing her in the middle of her meal, but still, she felt uneasy. But she couldn't be excused yet from her meal. Frigga would scold her if she did excuse herself in the middle of a meal. So Mist just tried to hide her queasiness and struggled to finish her full breakfast. --- After the breakfast feast ended, the only ones left at the table was Eir and Mist. Everyone else went back and are accomplishing their godly duties. But both Mist and Eir felt queasy with what was going on at this moment. So they were going over plans to spy on the torture chamber, without getting caught by the other angel gods. “Mist...” Eir started to say. “Yes Eir?” “Let's morph into our samjok-o bird forms and see what Doll is doing to those prisoners.” Eir explained. “Yes, I was thinking the same thing.” Mist responds, nodding her head. “It's like the demons' anguish and suffering is hurting me more than it is them.” “Same here Mist. Same here.” Mist and Eir both transformed into their respective raven and snowy owl forms, and flew out of the banquet hall at full speed, making sure no one will catch them spying on Doll Grethe nor Lord Odinn. --- Odinn and Doll made their way back to the torture chamber, only to see Enzo show mercy on Amirani, much to the Valkyrie's dismay and disappointment. The devil prince felt a little relieved, but still, his anger, hatred and fear was flowing through his veins. Doll shot an angry look at Enzo, and said, “What the hell is wrong with you Enzo? Why aren't you doing as your told?” “But my lady...” Enzo protested. “Why are you all being cruel to these prisoners?” “Because...” Doll Grethe started to explain as she pulled out a pair of pliers. “...This is war! We can't show mercy on my tormentors. What they did to me, was many trine worse than what we are doing to them.” “But my lady...!” “STOP PROTESTING ENZO!” Odinn shouted impatiently. Doll Grethe grabs the pliers, comes over to Enzo and hands them over to him. “See these pliers Enzo, you know what I want you to do with them?” “What might that be?” Enzo grumbled in disgust. “I want you to pull out the devil prince's back molars with them.” Doll explained. Amirani's eyes widened in horror as he thought to himself, “Oh gods, not dental torture! I've handled being burned with red hot pokers fresh from the fire. I had a mini choke pear placed in the opening of my penis. Hell, I've even been injected with pain enhancing venom. But I just can't stand dental torture, and now, it's going to happen to me!” To Amirani's and Doll's surprise, Enzo just stood there, looking rather nervous while he prepared to yank out Amirani's back teeth. Doll just rolled her eyes and shouted, “What the hell are you waiting for? Pull out his back teeth!” There, Enzo swallowed his pride, and started to rub the pliers up to Amirani's sharp back molars. There, the dragon lets out a monstrous shriek, and pulls out Amirani's back molar on his lower jaw, making the devil prince screech in agony. “Do it again!” Doll commanded. “Remember, it was Doll Valkyrie who gave you a second chance at life..” Odinn explained. “If you blow it, you will be very sorry.” Then, Enzo puts the pliers up to the top of Amirani's jaw, pulling out an upper tooth from the back of the devil's mouth. The cries of pain stabbed Enzo in the heart, making the dragonite feel bad for what he was doing. But at the same time, he couldn't afford to lose face to Odinn nor Doll, in fear of death, or perhaps, a fate worse than death. --- Outside the torture chamber's only window, Mist and Eir were horrified with what they were witnessing. They even felt sorry for these poor demons being tortured, as well as Enzo being forced to obey Doll Grethe's commands against his will and beliefs. Mist started to think differently about her legal guardians now, ever sincetje day Doll Grethe was recruited as a greater Valkyrie. Now, Mist started to see her guardians in a much more unsavory light. “Oh man, that is horrible.” Mist whispered to Eir, trying to be as quiet as she could. “I agree...” Eir whispered back. “I feel helpless...” Mist said back. “I want to help them, but.....” “Oh my!” Eir whispered in alarm as she grabbed onto Mist's arm and the two glided off the window and on to the ground. As Mist and Eir were on the ground, Doll and Odinn look over at the window sill and felt uneasy. Then Doll just shrugged everything off and said “Heh! My imagination is running away with me again.” However, even though Odinn and Doll didn't catch a glimpse of Mist and Eir witnessing the torture, Amirani and some of the prisoners saw them. The demons and their prince just look rather bemused by why a blue raven and a snowy owl with lavender and gold tipped feathers were watching them, complete with sad expressions on their avian faces. --- Now, Mist and Eir were flying away as far from the torture chamber as fast as they could, making sure no one would catch them. Mist started to pant and gasp for air, as she gasped, “Oh my, that was close, too close I say!” “Yeah, I'm glad they didn't catch us.” Eir said back nervously, as the samjok-o maidens were now far from the torture chamber and back at the residence halls. When Eir and Mist revert back to their humanoid angel forms, they were greeted by no one other than Prince Balder. “How are you fine ladies doing today?” “Ummm....fine....just fine...eh heh heh!” Mist stuttered in surprise. “We were...ummm...errrr...” Eir added, as she was just as nervous as Mist. “...We were, just training for Ragnarok.” Balder rolled his eyes and sighed. “Come on ladies, be honest. What were you up to?” Mist and Eir groaned and hung their heads down in shame. Mist was the first to speak. “We were spying on Doll Grethe in the torture chamber.” “We're sorry!” Eir pleads as she and Mist were on their knees. “Are we going to get punished now?” The Valkyries whimpered in unison. Balder approached the girls and patted them on their heads. “Don't worry girls. You're not going to get punished.” Eir and Mist's eyes widened in surprise and bemusement. “What? Why not?” “To tell you the truth ladies...” Balder started to explain to them. “I'm opposed to my parents torturing those poor prisoners...as well as them recruiting Doll Grethe as a greater Valkyrie.” “Wait? What?” Eir and Mist asked in confusion as they gotten up again. “Things were going well, until my parents recruited Doll Grethe.” Balder replied calmly. “All Doll knows is how to be a bandit and a thief, always running things with her fists and blades. She doesn't seem like good Valkyrie material.” “You oppose Doll too?” Mist asked. “Yes.” Balder replied calmly. “I hated how she was pestering you and Eir at breakfast time. However...” “However?” Mist and Eir wondered. “If I speak up against my parents, I'll end up facing their wraith.” Balder said as he held his head in shame. “I love my parents and all, but sometimes...I feel like I'm walking on broken pottery shards with them.” “Ah, we understand.” Eir said back. “Hey, meet me at nighttime.” Balder commanded “Everyone will be asleep by then. Maybe then, we can set the creatures free.” “Sounds good to us.” Eir responded. “I can't bear their pain anymore.” Mist added. “Very good.” Balder said back. “Now, I got to get going. See you guys at nighttime.” “See ya later!” Eir and Mist exclaimed as Balder went back to his quarters. Now Mist and Eir went back to their room. Eir and Mist were getting in their night gowns and letting their hair hang out. Eir lifts her hands and casts a spell on Mist and herself. It was a sleeping spell, to help them get rest during the daytime. As the spell started to take effect, Eir climbed into her bed, while Mist climbed into her bed and gotten under the covers, ready to drift off to sleep. “Good day Mist.” Eir yawned as she felt her weariness overwhelm her. “Good day Eir.” Mist yawned back, as the two started to slowly shut their eyes, and fall fast asleep. --- It was now nighttime. Mist and Eir kept their promises to Balder, as they get up out of bed, slip into their night time slippers, and make their way out of their living quarters. While they made their way out, they were greeted by Prince Balder himself. “Ah, I see you guys keep your promises. Come, morph into your Samjok-o forms, so I carry you to the prisoners without people noticing.” “Very well.” Eir and Mist saluted as they morphed into their avian forms once more. “Be very quiet.” Balder said softly as they were making their way out of the living quarters. “Most deities are asleep. If we wake them up, we will be in deep trouble.” “Yes sir!” Mist and Eir whispered in unison as Balder carried them down the halls, making sure they don't make a peep to wake the others. --- Back in the torture chamber, Prince Amirani and his subjects were passed out from the pain and suffering they felt all day long. It was kind of a relief that their tormentors have left the chamber to catch up on their beauty rest. However, Amirani was nervous about tomorrow's torture sessions he's going to face. Amirani's left eye started to open up for a bit, as he heard footsteps approach the torture chamber once again. He dreaded those noises, his stomach started to knot up like a fist once again. “No...not again! Not at this time...” As the door crept open, Balder approached the room, while Eir and Mist flew down to the ground and reverted back to their humanoid forms. All three people had keys in their hands, including the keys to free the prisoners from their bonds. While Eir and Balder were freeing the other prisoners, Mist approached Amirani and started to fit one of the keys in the shackles attached to the wrists. She turns the key on each shackle and freed the devil prince from the chains. Noticing that Prince Amirani was too weak to stand up, Mist caught him before he could slump down on the ground. Mist sits Amirani on the ground as the devil prince started to regain full consciousness. He looked up at Mist and was surprised at her act of kindness, as well as her appearance. “Aqua...Aqua Elmbarn? Is that you? I thought you weren’t allowed back into Godheim.” “You know my mother?” Mist asked the devil prince. “I'm her daughter, Mist Elmbarn.” “Ah, yes!” Amirani exclaimed quietly. “My royal family and I know your mother. We are on good terms with her since her fall from grace. She tells us about you when she visits us, and how she dreams about re-uniting with you.” When the demons regained full consciousness, Eir casts a couple powerful spells of healing and regeneration on the wounded demons. While the wave of healing spreads throughout the room, the demons were feeling so much better now. Broken bones were being mended. Burns, scars, bruises and wounds have cease to exist on the creatures' bodies. On top of that, their energy and health have been fully restored. Amirani looks over at Eir and Balder and started to feel rather confused about the whole situation. “Why are you guys helping my people out? Aren't you suppose to be our enemies?” “Secretly, we oppose Doll Grethe.” Balder whispered to Amirani. “Just because we are all angel gods, does not mean we all get along with each other.” “Ah, I see.” Amirani said with a smile forming on his beak. “Come on, let's get out of her and take you guys home!” Mist exclaimed as she, Eir and Balder beckon the demons to follow them to a portal leading back to Helheim, Niflheim kingdom to be exact. --- After passing through many halls and secret passages, everyone has now entered the room of portals. Balder activates the portal leading to Niflheim. The portal glowed a bright pinkish orange color and swirled like sloshed like a liquid tye-dye color bath. “Here we are.” Amirani said to his fellow demons. “Now, we shall make our way back home!” “Yes...yes!” The demons cheered quietly, as they jumped into the portal, happy to return to their homeland once more. But just as Amirani was about to make his way to the portal, Mist transformed into her raven form and landed on Amirani's shoulder, smiling at him. Amirani was now confused. “Hey, why the grin? Don't you need to do your Valkyrie duties here in Walhalla?” “No, I'm not anymore.” Mist said, smiling. “I'm coming with you.” Amirani's eyes widened in delight. “Really? Seriously? But....what about your friends here? What if Odinn finds out?” “Don't worry you two.” Eir said to the couple. “We'll forge a letter and share some false visions with our master.” “We'll make sure Odinn and Doll won't find out.” Balder added. “Take care!” A smile formed on Amirani's face as he lets Mist sit on his shoulder. He unsheathes his crimson wings, and said, “Farewell. Thank you all for saving my people.” “Bye bye. Good luck!” Mist added as the couple entered the portal and made their way back to Helheim. As everyone left the room, Balder closes the portal, and both he and Eir started to forge some false visions and false notes to throw off Odinn, Frigga and Doll Grethe, so they wouldn't be suspicious of Mist's sudden disappearance, as well as sudden change of heart. “I hope Mist is going to be okay.” Balder said to Eir. “I heard that Helheim is a dangerous place for beings of light.” “Don't worry...” Eir responds. “I'm sure Amirani and his family are going to protect her.” “True enough.” Balder said calmly. “Come on, let's go before Odinn and Frigga find out about all this.” “Okay!” --- Right there, Noelle wakes up. It now became clear to her. Now she knew that she and Mist are the same person. Noelle is the human host for Mist's soul. In times of need or if her loved ones are in danger, Noelle Wong will become Mist Elmbarn, and protect those in need. Noelle's past life memories have now returned to her, and now, she has to power to control her powers. She now has better grip over her transformations. Not only that, she realized that Ran is Prince Amirani in human form. No wonder he seems to care so much about her, and said she looked familiar to him on her first day back to school. It all made sense to her now. All Noelle can do was try to go back to sleep. However, she is deep in thought about all what was going on to go back to sleep. So she stared into the darkness, pondering about the future of her human life, with her past life memories being completely unsealed.