Once the creation of all beings were completed, beings of light were ranked from the arch-angles to the recoders; varying in size, power, and wing numbers. The grim-reapers are the guardians of peace more than reaping the souls and help them pass to the others side, they were instructed to restore peace and balance with Sameal; The Fallen's name before he disobeyed God.
They were twenty reaper; Mark as their leader, William, Franco, Belle, Charles, Florence, Martin, Vlad, Sahara, Ma'rid, Ao, Shă, Ra, Set, Yuan, Khan, Singh, Sif, Angrboda, and Var.
They followed the instructions given to them by higher ranking angles without objections nor second thoughts, killing who they were told to kill and using ultimate force to crush those who stubbornly opposed the divine will.
After peace was restored Sameal grew closer to Mark, they hanged out quite often and talked about lot of things, one in particular they always argued about; should one follow orders blindly or should they think about it before acting upon it. Mark always chose to follow orders whatever they were, Sameal argued that it's wrong to do that.
"So you think that killing one of your kin is fine because it was ordered by the high ranked angels" Sameal argued
Mark determined "If it came to that then I will do so"
Sameal "You are their leader! Shouldn't you defend your subordinates at least?"
Mark firmly "I know them too well! They'll never disobey the same order if given to them"
Sameal teasing "So if you were told that you cannot leave my side and always be with me helping me rule, you wouldn't object?"
"No!" Mark answered decisively
Sameal chuckled, he always mocked Mark's seriousness and strong morals.
Mark always thought of Sameal as this bright being that drew others to him with his charm and wit, he found pleasure with him when they ventured together, Sameal always made him feel carefree, so did with the other reapers; some were highly influenced by him and wanted to spend more time with him than doing their jobs.
Mark and those who had strong senses of order enjoyed being with Sameal to some extent but never forgetting their origin and their job. The grim-reapers were also tasked to make sure that Sameal never slack in his duties and never go astray.
After years of working with Sameal, Mark changed a bit, he began to have thoughts of his own and desires, but he always pushed it aside, his greatest desire was the thought of being loved by Angrboda.
Sameal encouraged him to confess his feelings to her "Love isn't a sin! You should be celebrating the birth of your affection with her! Trust me she will accept your love"
Mark got the courage to finally confess to her, and as Sameal said, she confessed that she had feelings for him too, the both of them were inseparable for the rest of the time, until that fateful day.
The day that they went to Heaven to celebrate the creation of Humans, Mark wanted to ask permission to wed her after the ceremony, he was too happy to believe this opportunity had fallen into his hands, but when they were ordered to kneel he was crushed to see Angrboda not kneeling alongside Sameal, Ra, Set, Yuan, Khan, Singh, Vlad, Sif, and Franco.
He begged her to change her mind and kneel but she wouldn't, thus they were banished from Heaven to repent, Mark and those who knelt were forbidden to associate with Sameal and help him in any sort, Mark pleaded for Angrboda to be pardoned, yet his pleas never were heard, he kept praying for her and pleading for mercy upon her. The high ranked angle told him that once she repent from her disobedience then his plea would be considered.
Mark was overjoyed with this, he quickly went to inform her with the news, but when he got there he was shocked to see her pregnant.
It totally slipped his mind the time difference between Heaven and Earth, she was already married with two boys and pregnant with the third child, Sameal married her off to the Norse to strengthen his reign, she had married Loki for many years now, her two sons are old enough to fight in wars. Nonetheless, he understood that she did whatever she could to survive in this hell without him, he informed her with what he was told so she could ascend with him.
Angrboda overwhelmed "You are too late Mark! I can't leave my children behind"
Mark pleaded "I was begging them to spare you from the divine punishment, I cannot stand to see you get hurt" he cradled her head "I'll ask for your children's pardon, don't worry, just come back to me please"
Angrboda moved his hand from her face to her belly so he could feel her child "Listen to her heartbeat, isn't that the most beautiful thing you ever heard?"
Mark painfully "Yes it is"
Angrboda tearing "I always wanted to have your children and live happily with you, that's why I didn't kneel that day, I knew they would never let us have the life that I wanted"
Mark snivelled "How can you know that? We didn't even try!"
Angrboda "Have you forgotten about my ability to see into the future? I knew we were going to be separated just like I know that we were never meant to be together, but I couldn't refuse your feelings, I yearned for your touch long before you confess" she placed his hand on her cheek "And I'll continue to yearn for your touch for the rest of eternity!"
Mark embraced her "Please don't do this! I cannot live without you! I'll wait for you as long as it takes, just come back to me, I'll never stop loving you nor I'll ever let you go again, just tell me that you love me too, just tell me that you'll come back"
Angrboda held onto him melting in his arms, she closed her eyes remembering all the good memories that they shared and his gentle voice calling her name as they held onto each other, she sobbed knowing how they'll end and her fate "I never loved anyone like I loved you Mark! I wish I could hold you like this forever but neither of us can change fate! No matter how we try, we'll always be separated"
Mark refused "I'll stay here with you no matter what! Even if you don't want me, even if fate stops us, I'll never let go!"
Angrboda caressed his face as she stared into his eyes "Then promise me something"
Mark obliging as he kissed her hand "Anything"
Angrboda "Please protect my baby girl from Sameal! You must help her no matter what!"
Mark hesitated "I will protect both of you!"
Angrboda insisted "Protect her for me, promise me that you will do it"
Mark knew what she was hinting "I promise you that I'll protect her from Sameal, but you need to tell me what worries you?"
Angrboda "Sameal went mad, he doesn't listen to me anymore and werck havoc wherever he go, soon everyone who oppose him will die"
Mark firmly "I will protect you no matter what, let's escape this place and find somewhere safe for both of you"
Angrboda sadly smiled "I can't leave this place! He doomed me to remain here biding me to this place, this whole island is my prison"
Mark furious "That's absurd, how can he do that to you, I'll go and tell him to undo it"
Angrboda "You can't, just tell me you're going to keep your promise"
Mark left without answering. He went to meet his superior to ask for help, his superior told him to not interfere with fate or the consequences would be severe
"There are things that needs to happen in order for life to continue in its natural order, interfere with one and the whole order will collapse" his superior added
Mark didn't like this, so he went to Sameal to settle scores with, but when he got there the massacre had already taken place. He came back to Angrboda being trapped in an energized crystal that barely kept her alive and her daughter taken by Pandora and Ishtar, she was almost lifeless, he took the child away from them and made a portal to the future where he left her with the future emperor.
Heartbroken by his incompetence, the only thing he could do is to keep his promise, he watched over Satasha as she grew up, he was her only friend during her childhood, everyone seemed to be afraid of her.
She was indeed no ordinary child, she came from the past and she was Sameal's vessel, her fate is the worst, if she died with her people it might have been better. Forever being trapped with her enemy is the worst fate one can have, soon enough she'd be haunted for having such immense power.
"Am I a monster?" Satasha asked him when she was four years old
Mark "No you are not"
"Then why they hate me and call me that?" she cried
Mark comforted "They fear what they don't understand or can't control, let them say whatever they want, they can't change the fact that you're the most beautiful and wonderful child in this place"
Satasha lightened up, she embraced him saying "I wish you were my daddy, can't I go with you?"
Mark patting her head "I'll take you with me once you grow older"
Satasha smiled brightly "Really!"
Mark smiled warmly and nodded.
"Then promise me that you'll always be with me and be my only family!" she excitedly nudged him as she spoke
Mark overwhelmed "I promise!" he could barely held back his tears.
The way she spoke and her personality reminded him with Angrboda, as bright as the sun she was.
Until...
...
The day that she was drowned and accepted Pandora's memories, everything changed,
Sameal's consciousness was provoked and he was awakened. Mark couldn't bare to look at her face without seeing his, it disgusted him to his core, ironically Sameal seemed to have lost his memories and he thinks that he is her son.
'How unfortunate this child can be, not only Kronos is after her but Sameal has woken up' he thought 'I need to find a way to seal him back again'.
Mark went to ask his superior but was provided with the same answer "Don't intervene with fate and let everything unfold as it should be"
He reluctantly followed orders leaving her under Kronos's mercy. He had to witness her torture, her misery, and her down fall, all he could think off was the debate he had with Sameal about following orders blindly. He could not bare it any longer, he went to Zeta telling him that he'd help them stay safe if they save her. He agreed, thus they rescued her and helped her restore bit off herself, then came the night that she killed Zeta's parents and Yuri while seriously injuring Mika.
He didn't know if that was the consequences of his intervention or simply fate taking its course, during the time she spent in the temple he couldn't approach her due to barrier that ward the reapers off. When he saw her again the seal was weakened by Ishtar and her health was deteriorating, there was little that he could help with and had to standby and let fate unfold on its own.
After the battle she was completely lost, her body was rejecting Sameal's presence and fighting for its solidarity. He helped stabilizing her for now but he knew that the worse might happen, and it did, when she woke up it was Sameal talking not her, he only had to act like he was happy to see his friend once more just to stay close and find the best opportunity to seal him away again without William and the other's notice, no matter what order they had, he'll protect Satasha.
He left her side to seek for a method that could help her regain back control, it took him some time to find one and returned to her at once, then again he was late.
Satasha had freed her mother, destroyed the northern temple, released her peoples' soul from imprisonment, woken Sameal up by giving back his soul, and discovering her true potential.
They met again in her house were she was fighting Sameal, his appearance was unplanned along with the others, they assumed that he was given the same order, so he acted along with them.
Mark was relieved that she had managed to escape and noticed that the others seemed to go easy with her and not persue her, he wasn't sure if he should go back and ask for orders or to follow his heart and protect her. He chose the latter and sought her out, only to find her motionless in her home land, he dragged her to Helheim so she could heal and strengthen herself; Helheim was created by her mother to help her out in the future.
Angrboda placed all of her powers in the fountain as a precaution, she saw into the future and knew that her daughter would suffer without proper healing.
Mark guarded the place while she was unconscious and held onto Angrboda's ashes reminiscing about the past. His love for her weight down on his broken heart as he kept blaming himself for always being late.
When Satasha brushed him off he didn't object, he knows that her anger is justified, he promised her once to protect her and be her only family, and now things ended like this. He left determined to find a way to kill Sameal once and for all.
...
[Somewhere in the north]
Mark stood where he confessed his feelings for Angrboda for the first time, his tears were falling uncontrollably.
Satasha suddenly appeared behind him "I know this place" she spoke softly
Mark figured that Angrboda gave her memories to Satasha to help her with the upcoming war, he turned around facing her "You came" he stared at her trying to see Angrboda in her, yet he couldn't.
Satasha "Unfortunately I can never be her even if you stared forever"
Mark grieved "I know" he shifted his gaze to the moon
Satasha stood beside him "I need your help to defeat The Fallen"
Mark closed his eyes trying to pull himself together "I figured, what do you want me to do?"
Satasha "Not much, I just want you to be close to him to tip me off from time to time"
Mark serious "A spy?"
Satasha explained "Not necessarily, I want to know his next step and where his precious followers are"
Mark "And what are you planning to do once you know where they reside?"
Satasha truthfully "Kill them"
Mark sighed "I like how you are thinking but that won't help you defeating him"
Satasha smirked "I know! I am trying to shift his attention from my original goal"
Mark objected "You'll place yourself in danger for nothing, you'll only worn out your body for few wins, you need all of your strength to defeat him and live"
Satasha smiled faintly "I remember how you used to lecture me when I was young, but I know what I am doing now, I set a long term plan that will help us win"
Mark doubtful "What is your plan then?"
Satasha grinned "It's a secret! Anyway, I really need to know what his next move will be in order for me to react"
Mark reminded "All you need to do now is to fully recover then you start doing your secret plan"
Satasha "I can't do that, I'll be restless"
Mark took one glance at her core and asked "What did you do? Something feels different"
Satasha grinned "I altered his soul so it can adjust with mine"
Mark squinted his eyes "That makes sense, you want to collect pieces of his soul before he does so you could have enough strength to defeat him"
Satasha "Correct! Not only his soul but his power that he bestowed to them, that is the first step for now"
Mark "What then? Fight him till death?"
Satasha scoffed "I am not a fool! I have something else to do"
Mark guessing "Gathering allies?"
Satasha smirked "Nah! Too much work, better yet destroying his allies by turning them into each other"
Mark curious "How are you going to do that?"
Satasha confidently "Leave that to me, I just need two things form you"
Mark "Name them"
Satasha truthfully "The first one is very important so keep it in your mind" he glared attentively "Stay alive and well"
Mark was taken back by this he chuckled "And the other?"
Satasha seriously "Always be there when I summon you"
Mark smiled softly and nodded "Anything else?"
Satasha truthfully "I hope that we stay how we are even after the things that I am about to do"
Mark reassured "Don't worry, as long as I don't receive an order from above to kill you, then nothing will change"
Satasha smiled faintly before vanishing.
Mark lied for the first time in his life, he knew that even if he received such order he'd never kill her, he grew attached to her thinking of her as his own. He wished that she was truly his daughter, her blood is also her mother's, she's the last piece of her in this world and he'll do the unthinkable to protect her.
He stared at the moon mumbling "You've changed quite a bit Satasha or should I say Hel..."
Indeed she had outgrew the child's innocence and became more cautious and manipulative, everything happened to her up to this point shaped the person she was today, and he knew little about the person she embodies and what was her thoughts. An idea occurred to him that she might end up like Sameal, if that happens what would he do, would he kill her or try to make her change.
'If fate kept pushing her to her limits she' ll break one day and lose her sanity' he thought
Before he could continue his debate on whether he kills her if she went berserk or not, he was summoned back to meet his superior.
Mark immediately transmitted to where they always meet.
In the lowest level of Heaven there was a garden with many different planets and trees, his superior was tending one of the plants when Mark arrived.
The superior "I see you were busy with your little side quests these days! How things had turned out for that child?"
Mark lowering his gaze as he answered "It turned out bad for her!"
The superior wiped his hand with cloth and looked down at him once he straightened his back, he was in fact a very tall one almost reaching fifteen feet.
He sat down on the bench asking "Did she remember her past yet?"
Mark puzzled "She found out that Angrboda and Loki are her parents and she is the sole survivor of the massacre"
The superior "Tsk... Things are moving slow this time! I figure the rest of the reapers are with Sameal right"
Mark "Perhaps! I left them shortly after Sameal clashed with the kid"
The superior nodded "Listen Mark you have a different task from the rest of them! They were sent to observe and stabilize Sameal if he ever lost his control, while your task is to neutralize that child if she ever loses control"
Mark was shaken by his orders "Neutralize?!" he repeated
His superior "Kill her if you must! She's bound to destroy the world if she wants and we certainly can't allow her to do so"
Mark stared angrily at him, for the first time since his creation, this was the first time he argued "Kill?!... Didn't that child suffer enough? Her fate is by far the worst fate I've ever witnessed since the creation of time and you're asking me to kill her? The only thing that I have left from Angrboda is her! I can't let her die"
The superior stood up spreading his wings to show dominance "Are you rejecting the will of Heaven?"
Mark kept his gaze steady not showing any hint of fear "I am simply asking for further explanation on the situation! I refuse to carry further instructions without knowing the situation fully"
The superior scoffed "You imbecile! There is no need for further clarifications! This child is bound to lose control in the end and cause a catastrophical event"
Mark argued "If her fate continues to push her to her limits she'll eventually break! Everyone has a breaking point"
His superior disappointed "You are blinded by love! This child is far worse than Sameal! You think Heaven's will fall upon the unfortunate? Her sins are beyond count and the greatest of them all is intervening and changing fate!"
Mark stunned "Wh... How?"
The superior scolding "Just because she's her daughter doesn't mean that she's Her! You're still grieving Angrboda's death and it's clouding your judgment! You and Angrboda were never meant to fall in love with each other in the first place! It's all her fault! That cursed child!"
Mark couldn't grasp the information he had just received, he was perplexed and his eyes shook" That can't be!" he muttered" There must be a mistake of some sort"he concluded
The superior bent down to comfort him, he patted his shoulder saying gently "Heaven's will is just! It doesn't discriminate and never wrong! You need to be a spectator and see the truth for yourself, you'll understand soon enough and realize that you are obligated to eliminate her" he stood up and walked away "You'll understand soon enough!"
Mark was left in the garden grieving the ill fate that he was going to witness, his knees failed him and dropped on them sobbing, he finally broke down and allowed himself to experience his emotions fully. He pounded on his chest as he wailed, he refused to believe that his affection for Angrboda wasn't real, his pain feels real so his tears.
After he calmed down a bit, he laid down on the bench and closed his eyes trying to end his life here and now so he can be with her once again.
He began destroying his soul bit by bit, it took several days to destroy quarter of it.
"What are you doing?" he heard Satasha's voice shouting, he thought that he was imagining her scolding him in his final moments.
"Mark! Wake up!" her voice was closer, then he suddenly opened his eyes.
He was aghast to see Satasha standing next to him nudging him to wake "Satasha!" he exclaimed "How did you get here?"
Satasha clarifying "I came here as soon as I felt your life force weakening! What are you doing? Why are you leaving me behind? Why you always break your promises! Haven't I had enough!" she kept nudging him as she sobbed
Mark felt guilty for breaking his promise yet again, he embraced her trying to soothe her, then he remembered what was said about her while ago.
'Did she truly manipulate fate for her liking?' he thought as he shushed her 'Was my love for Angrboda a consequence of her actions?'
He teared down as he remembered Angrboda's last words to him
"We were never meant to be" he remembered that phrase "I couldn't help but to yearn for your touch before you even confessed"
'Had she forseen that we were nothing but a mistake caused by Satasha' s attempt to change fate?' he thought 'Were you hoping that I'd never confess?'
'Even so I can't stop myself from loving you! Even if it was a mistake, I'd never regret it, not for a second! Not ever!' he concluded as he wiped tears from Satasha's eyes
"I am sorry for worrying you! It's just my sorrow grew heavily on my soul that I lost all meaning of life" he explained
Satasha's guilt deepened, she lowered her face trying to avoid his eyes "I am sorry, it's because of me that she died! If she hadn't save me that day, you'd have her instead of me"
Mark caressed her hair "We can't change the past Satasha! We can only try to change the future by staying true to ourselves and to each other" he stared at her through his lashes trying to catch a glimpse of her reaction, then again he couldn't read through it.
Satasha's eyes met his as he tried to read into her mind, she played these games before with Sameal and became a master in hiding her feelings, yet she was hurt to see the person who she considered as her friend and family having doubts about her intentions.
"Why are you trying to read my mind Mark?" she asked
Mark showing no remorse "How did you get here Satasha? I never showed you this place, how did you find where I was?"
Satasha scoffed as she pushed his hand aside, she got up and dusted her dress, her whole demeanor changed as she looked down on him stating "I thought you were on my side! How foolish I was to seek warmth from you! If this small action is enough reason for you to doubt me then I don't want such bond between us! This fragile bond was solely based on your desire to seek replacement for my mother, isn't it?"
Mark was baffled by this, he angrily rose facing her "Mind your tongue or I'll cut it out of you! You foolish child, daring to look down on me! Where would you be if it wasn't for my help?!"
Satasha interrupted angrily "So I should be grateful for helping me occasionally? You left me to die in Olympus! You left me in Sameal's grip and I am supposed to be grateful just because you showed up twice? Yes I was a fool into believing that you cared for me! I am biggest fool here" her hand trembled from anger as she shouted the last words.
Mark disappointed "Drop the act Satasha, you won't fool me with this"
Satasha baffled "Act?!" she exclaimed "Yeah act!" she nodded spitefully "Goodbye Mark! Never show me your face again" she stormed out of the garden fiercely not looking back once.
Mark stood there indifferent as she walked away 'It's all for the best' he thought as he wore his hood and vanished.
"Dramatic" the superior stated as he stood from afar watching the whole thing unfold, he scoffed "Her acting skills are convincing! If I hadn't known about her fate, I might have believed her lies!" he walked away muttering "How scary!"
...
Mark transmitted to where Sameal was, he walked into the garden that held his physical form before and saw him sipping wine as he pondered through the greenhouse.
"Shouldn't you be recovering?" Mark asked as he walked closer
Sameal not looking at him "Where were you?"
Mark truthfully "Heaven, taking my orders"
Sameal mocked "You still their lapdog?"
Mark "I am no one's lapdog!"
Sameal chuckled "Yeah right! Tell them I said hi the next time you go there"
Mark took the wine from him "You should recover first then drink later"
Sameal didn't react, he bent down to get the bottle "Ask nicely, I might reconsider"
Mark tired of his nonsense, he threw the glass away "If you are this pitiful, then you should've bowed that day instead! Stop dwelling in the past, this... All of it is your doing! So be brave and repent"
Sameal chocked on his wine as he drank, he coughed few times before laughing "Repent!" he repeated "I have nothing to repent for! I did what I did knowing the consequences fully! I don't want Heaven no more! I want this whole world to burn and everyone bowing at my feet begging for mercy!" he ranted angrily "Never say that to me again! I'll never repent!" he chugged the wine.
Mark "Hopeless" he stated as he shook his head disappointed "Your end would be the worst" he walked away "Enjoy your eternity alone my old friend"
Sameal threw the bottle toward him as he walked away "Yeah run away that's what you're good at! Talking about bravery when you left me and the woman you love suffering alone" he shouted at him before he disappeared.
Sameal stared at the place where he vanished regretting his words, he huffed trying to stop himself from crying "Come back" he whispered "I need you" he finally confessed.
Sameal closed his eyes as he laid his head back, he then remembered "Satasha" he muttered "I'll make sure you die a horrible death!" he opened his eyes staring at the sky dwelling in his thoughts.