A Death Goddess' First Encounter

“It’s time.”

A suspiciously ordinary brown paper box appeared on the Pierce Mansion's doorstep. Ten-year-old Pandora Pierce, Alston Pierce, Rosamunde Reid, Raymond Blakely, Aldrin Whelan, and Seger Petola were in the front yard playing.

Pandora was counting how long Seger could hold his breath, “Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one—oh hey, what’s that?”

Everyone turned to see where Pandora’s head swivelled around to. Seger, however, still had his eyes shut and was holding his breath. Pandora’s curious nature took over as she jogged to the front door, Aldrin, Raymond, and Alston following.

“Seger, you can breathe now,” Rosamunde said.

Seger opened one eye cautiously before taking a gulp of breath. Rosamunde giggled before she and Seger followed everyone. Once they arrived, Pandora was squatting beside the box and poking it.

“What do you think’s inside?” Pandora asked, tilting her head

“I dunno Panda, but I reckon it isn’t good,” Aldrin replied, frowning.

“Or it could be something really epic,” Raymond countered.

Pandora pressed her lips together, wrestling with her inner self on whether or not to open it. Everyone watched Pandora's battle with interest. Aldrin, sensing Pandora would do something she’d regret, tried to take the box and bring it to Mrs and Mr Pierce, but no avail.

Pandora snatched the box. Her twin Alston and her adoptive-sibling Raymond silently egged her on. Everyone watched with eager faces as she examined it. After finding no address or name, she ripped the paper packaging to find…

“It’s empty,” Pandora said. Her shoulders slumped, and a frown appeared on her lips. She felt around inside to see if she had missed anything but came up empty.

“Maybe it’s for the best,” Aldrin said, patting Pandora on the shoulder.

Pandora sighed, her head drooping low. Everyone but Aldrin mirrored Pandora’s feelings, shoulders slumped, and faces were painted with disappointment. Rosamunde went as far as gently taking the box out of Pandora’s hands and tipping it upside down, shaking it to see if something would come out.

Aldrin tried to lighten things up. “C’mon guys, it’s getting late. Maybe we should freshen up and have dinner? Mr Pierce is making Sunday roast,” Aldrin said in a brighter tone than usual.

Everyone, especially Alston and Seger, perked up at the mouth-watering idea or Mr Pierce’s Sunday roast. They quickly agreed before opening the front doors. All six children rushed inside, going to their rooms to change out of their sweat-soaked clothes. Pandora had accidentally taken the box inside, and once she realized it, she was already in her room. She tossed it aside to the foot of her bed before grabbing new clothes, the smell of mashed potatoes the only thing on her mind.

Everyone ran down the stairs and to the outdoor dining room, all taking spots at the table. Seger nearly knocked over his glass of water over how excited he was for food--not that the Pierces ever starved them. If anything, the Pierces overfed their guests to make sure they were happy. Their large amounts of money had to go somewhere after all. Why not make a bundle of ten-year-olds smile on their summer break before boarding school?

Mr Pierce, Monty, gave everyone a plate. Alston and Seger dug in the moment their plates hit the table. Raymond managed to wait a grand seven seconds before he dug in as well. Everyone else respectfully waited for everyone to get their plate before starting their meals.

Monty and Mia (Mrs Pierce) looked lovingly at each other and the children. They practically adopted every child their twins befriended, which made sense since they were old and couldn’t have any more children despite wanting to.

“So, what did you all do today?” Mia asked after everyone had finished their food.

“We found a box by the door, but there wasn’t anything inside it,” Pandora replied, wrinkling her nose.

Mia and Monty looked at each other, and an understanding passed between their eyes. Mia’s lips curled up slightly before she replied, “Oh, that sounds lovely, dear. Who wants pudding?”

A chorus of “Me!”s went around the table. Mia chuckled as she stood to cut the Linzer Torte.

After dinner was over, Mia suggested they go play before taking a bath and going to bed. Rosamunde was especially in favour of this idea as she sprinted to the gardens. Alston took this as a challenge as he sped off after her. Both kids’ laughter rang like merry bells in the evening.

Dusk came soon after. A hazy, mellow orange light coated their surroundings. Blades of grass seemed to move slower in the wind, and the air grew slightly colder, signalling nightfall.

“Time to come in loves!” Mia shouted out a window at the band of six laying on the grass fields. Their cheeks looked a little darker and pinker from the exhilaration of chasing each other around.

...

Later, Pandora was sleeping soundly in her bed, Aldrin in the room on her right and Alston on the left. Pandora cuddled closer to her plush pillow, the hem of her nightgown riding up as she curled her leg onto her giant stuffed cookie.

At the foot of her bed, the box started to shift. It dissolved into the shadows of her bed like a puddle drawn to the ocean. Then, a cloud of shadows hovered above the rug beside the bed. To an onlooker, it would look like smoke was coming from it. The shadows grew taller before dissipating, leaving a young girl, or, she looked young in place of it.

Hel Lokidottir studied her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was. A difficult task since the only light source was the faint moonlight coming from the balcony windows. She tiptoed over there, peeking out the curtains; it was nighttime. Hel studied outside. It would appear she was in someone’s manor, therefore their house.

Hel sighed roughly through her nose. The least they could’ve done was tell her what country she was in, then at least she would know what language to speak.

Hel heard a sharp gasp. She quickly summoned her dagger from a pocket realm and cast a green light orb in her palm in front of her to see better. An eerie green glow filled the room, revealing Pandora’s shocked face.

Upon seeing Hel, Pandora was about to shriek for help, but Hel shushed her.

“Don’t scream,” Hel pleaded, though it came out sounding more like an order. Hel slowly held up her dagger, making Pandora grip her cookie plush closer.

“I’m not going to hurt you, see,” Hel said as she let her dagger dissolve into the pocket realm.

“Who are you?” Pandora questioned, her voice squeaky with fear.

Hel slowly took a step forward, causing Pandora to scoot back until she was squishing herself into the headboard as if she could melt through it and the wall to get away. Hel stopped attempting to make any movements as she explained herself.

“I am Hel Lokidottir, Princess of Asgard, Rightful Queen of Helheim, Goddess of Death, Ruler of the Dead. I come from the golden palace on Asgard. I’d like to know your name and where I am,” Hel explained softly. If she spoke as bold as usual, she could wake up any other Midgardians.

“My parents taught me not to tell my name to strangers," Pandora squeaked before she tried to be a little bit braver. “Why are you here? How did you get here? And what happened to your face?”

Hel winced slightly at Pandora’s last question. She was proud of her appearance but was still a bit self-conscious about her deceased half.

“How about I tell you via story?” Hel asked.

Pandora’s frame softened and she nodded. Hel nearly sighed in relief; she had found something Pandora liked. Hel slowly went and sat on the edge of Pandora’s bed before recounting her tale.

Long ago, the higher gods decided gods shan’t meddle with mortal affairs, they realized they still needed morals to believe in them, or they wouldn't grow to their full potential. Thus they created the brown paper box. Every new deity's soul would be put in the box to be shipped to the mortal realm when the time was right. There were other forms of transportation to do so, but the box was tradition.

Though Hel looked ten, she was far older. But, since it was not her time to go to Midgard, she couldn't grow any further. She didn’t know when her soul would be put in the box, for it was always the most unexpected moment. She wouldn't have to stay on Midgard forever, though. She could come back whenever she wanted via the Rainbow Bridge.

Today, Odin (king of Asgard) told her it was time. After telling her family where she would be, her soul was placed in the box and sent to Midgard. Hel did not come out until nightfall because shadows and darkness comforted her. She hadn't meant to scare anyone, a difficult task when one was a half-deceased goddess of death. She was born that way, and she was honoured by her appearance.

Pandora nodded, understanding everything. Then, a knock came from the door.

“Pandora, sweetheart, is Rosamunde in there with you?” Mia asked, her voice muffled by the wooden door.

“Er, no mum,” Pandora said quickly, looking to Hel for help.

Hel nodded before raising her voice, “I assume you know who I am. The gods do tell select mortals about the box.”

“Ah, you must be Hel. Pandora honey, may I come in?”

Pandora nodded before remembering her mother couldn’t see through walls. “Yes, mum!” Pandora yelled just loud enough to be clearly heard through walls.

Mia quietly entered, shutting the door behind her. She took one look at Hel before smiling warmly. “Would you like a place to stay for the night?” Mia asked, her voice warm and sweet like toasted honeyed milk.

“If that wouldn’t be too much trouble,” Hel replied politely, standing up from the bed. It must've looked strange for a ten-year-old to hold herself with the posture of an old queen.

“She can sleep with me, mum!” Pandora offered quickly, letting go of her stuffed cookie and folding her hands in front of her.

Mia's smile wrinkles in her eyes deepened as she chuckled, “I have a better idea darling, how about you and your friends camp in the common room so Hel can get to know everyone?”

Pandora agreed, practically bouncing as Hel nodded. It would be nice to know the Midgardians she would be staying with for the night.

Alston, Raymond, and Seger were caught duelling with wooden sticks in Alston’ room, causing Mia to scold them lightly before telling them the situation. Aldrin and Rosamunde were both reading near the window of Aldrin’ room, moonlight being their reading light. Mia told them the circumstances, and both children agreed.

“So you’re Hel,” Alston said after everyone was situated. Alston clutched a blanket close to his chest as he took in Hel’s appearance with wide eyes.

Hel had already introduced herself twice, so she was exasperated as she nodded. She shapeshifted her dress into a black nightgown, covered by the blanket both she and Pandora were under.

“I’ve read about you before,” Aldrin said. “What’s it like on Asgard?”

Hel replied with a lengthy answer, describing her home in detail.

Rosamunde especially was amazed by the descriptions of the royal gardens. “That sounds beautiful,” she whispered, her voice breathy. “And so are you! You’re so pretty!” she added.

Hel noticed Alston slyly scoot closer to Rosamunde, causing her to hold back a smile.

“Thank you. You are beautiful as well,” Hel replied, giving back a compliment.

Rosamunde’s smile brightened as she hugged herself, thanking Hel politely.

“See! My curiosity can pay off every once in a while!” Pandora declared, folding her arms.

Everyone burst into giggles, and at that moment, Hel knew she would have a hard time leaving these mortals.