[new version]
Hela got out of bed with Ina in her arms and walked quietly to the bathroom to put her in the tub.
It didn't take long for Ina to feel the water touch her feet; she was wearing a dress and could imagine that the outfit must have been completely filthy.
Realizing what was about to happen, it seemed impossible not to feel embarrassed. Her face grew hot at the brief thought of Hela seeing her without clothes.
Ina's face was growing redder and redder, and all Hela could think about was the temperature of the water… maybe it was too hot, right?!
"Is the water too hot?"
"No…"
Ina denied it but subconsciously tried to cover her body by crossing her arms, which made Hela understand the situation.
She smiled, feeling amused.
Was she embarrassed?!
"Shy?"
Hela could see Ina's red face and found this reaction really funny and cute.
Ina simply nodded, confirming Hela's suspicions.
She briefly thought about how to make her more comfortable, and the only idea that came to mind was a rather complicated one.
But it was the best she had.
Ina, who couldn't see the strange movement and only heard the sound of fabric and metal hitting what she believed to be the floor, asked, "What sound is this?"
Hela walked over to Ina and knelt beside the tub.
"You'll find out now… feel it?"
She took one of Ina's hands and placed it on her chest.
Hela didn't understand much about relationships, but they always said that communication was the best way to resolve things. She would trust herself to it, and hopefully, Ina wouldn't hate her.
She had never exposed herself so much to anyone and was very afraid of Ina's reaction when she realized her intention.
Hela simply wanted to show Ina that there was nothing to be ashamed of, and to prove her point, she was willing to share the image of her naked, exposed body.
But she wasn't like other women; her body wasn't smooth.
In addition, it was full of scars and had details she didn't accept very well.
The truth was sometimes too frightening to face, and her body was a frightening truth for her.
Ina could feel the exposed skin, but as Hela guided her fingers, she could feel the texture gradually changing.
Yes, the rumors were true.
"Is that what I'm thinking?"
Hela could feel her heart racing; she felt nervous.
She guided Ina's touch on her chest, letting her discover the truth about her. Maybe she already knew. Many knew—how could they not know about the goddess who had half of her body in decay?!
It wasn't a pretty sight.
"Y-yes… can you feel my heartbeat?"
Ina nodded; she could feel her heartbeat.
It felt like touching something dry, about to crumble to dust.
"Y-yes… so the rumors are true."
Ina didn't feel disgusted, and she wanted to touch more and more, to understand Hela.
Hela's voice was hoarse, a mixture of embarrassment and nervousness.
She felt complicated; she didn't like her own appearance. She was a literal symbol of death, and it felt like a punishment.
"Is there anything more poetic than having part of your heart killed and exposed to the world?!"
Ina no longer needed Hela's guidance and decided to explore Hela's skin herself. She could feel the texture changes and couldn't help her curiosity about what Hela's face would look like.
"Is half of your body like this?"
Hela watched Ina touch her chest and smiled softly. It was good to know there was no fear or revulsion in her gestures.
She sighed in relief.
"It's not half, but it's a good part, and it's not pretty to the eye. My body begins to lose life from the left end of my heart… and it spreads to everything on the left side, worsening all the way to the fingertips…"
Ina had never seen it and couldn't even imagine what she was describing. Her curiosity made her braver.
She explored Hela's body with her hands and soon felt her skin covered by fabric.
Hela was wearing gloves.
But realizing Ina's intentions, she quickly removed her gloves and handed her hand back so she could touch it.
Ina touched her fingers and felt how smooth and firm they were—there was no softness. It was so different.
"Do you feel it?"
Hela felt a little nervous under Ina's touch, especially as she seemed to meticulously study Hela's appearance.
Ina wanted to memorize every detail, every mark, every inch of Hela.
Soon they would be together for life.
"Very little… fingertips are just bones, I feel a slight brush at most. Don't worry, despite appearances I'm not rotting… and I always wear clothes that cover it…"
Hela quickly clarified, fearing Ina might think she was decaying, which wasn't the case.
She was immortal, and her body had already rotted enough; it was a slow process that went on for eternity, with no odor, no pain, and hardly noticeable.
Years would pass with no change in her appearance.
But Ina didn't care; it wasn't like she could see it. She just wanted Hela to be comfortable.
"I don't find it disgusting, and I can't see it either… Can I touch your face?"
Hela smiled, took Ina's hands, and placed them over her face.
Ina could do whatever she wanted; Hela would gladly accept it.
"Soon I will be your wife… do what you want, I won't abandon you."
Ina had her face in Hela's hands, her skin soft and warm to the touch.
She brought her forehead close to Hela's and pressed them together.
"Do we have a promise?"
Hela, unsure how to react, closed her eyes and tried to control her emotions.
"Yes… we have a promise."
Finally, Ina removed her clothes and submerged herself in the hot water.
Comfortable and peaceful.
Hela and Ina got along well; there was no doubt about that.
Ina could sense Hela's self-contained and devoted manner in her gestures, meticulously ensuring everything was as it should be.
Attentive and careful.
Ina had a good impression.
While Ina remained in the bath, Hela was in the kitchen preparing food for her bride.
It didn't take long for her to accept that Hermes had been very efficient in preparing the house so that it was ready for use, with nothing missing, making Hela's task easy.
She skillfully prepared a large pot of soup.
It was true that gods didn't need food, but Ina was no longer immortal. She would starve if she didn't eat properly.
The fortunate thing was that they were in a place dominated by emptiness: no light, no time, no life, no death.
A thousand years would pass quickly, but by the time they left the Shadow Realm, Ina wouldn't have much time left.
Compared to a god's life, mortal life was small and insignificant. What was a mere hundred years compared to millennia?!
Hela, taking advantage of the fact that the food was still cooking, went back to the room to check on Ina.
Ina kept her eyes closed, appearing peaceful, as if in a deep sleep, until she opened them and turned her head toward the door.
"You there?"
"Yes, the food should be ready in less than twenty minutes… I hope you'll break your fast with me later."
Ina smiled a little sheepishly and nodded; she didn't mind breaking her fast. She had good reason to.
"Ok… we are engaged now."
Hela agreed but felt a little guilty.
They had no choice, yet she was still afraid of completely messing up Ina's life and destiny.
She sighed thoughtfully and guiltily.
"Sorry about that."
Contrary to what she imagined, Ina just smiled; Hela looked innocent, even silly.
To Ina, she was beautiful and valuable.
The goddess of the dead was as sweet as a ripe peach.
"Why do you apologize? I'm the one who should apologize… You're marrying me, so we can't have children… It's part of my punishment: never to have a healthy child."
Ina closed her eyes again and rested her head on the edge of the tub.
It seemed simple to her that the gods wanted not only to punish her but to erase her from existence.
Ina hadn't had many wishes in life; the only one was to have a child, and that had been denied without effort, without even a chance to fight for her destiny.
Marrying a woman meant she couldn't have the children she so desperately wanted.
But somehow, her heart felt at ease. At least she would have someone to share her life with.
Even though she had longed for children, she had never imagined getting married.
But now, marriage made sense, perhaps because Hela was someone else.
She and Hela seemed destined.
Hela quietly observed Ina's calm, unassuming demeanor, but it didn't suit her temperament to be so quiet.
Gently, she walked over to the tub and knelt beside her.
Hela was still surprised that Ina turned to face her so intensely even without seeing.
Her gray eyes were beautiful and sparkling, but there was a certain melancholy in such a beautiful gaze not being able to see the world's wonders.