Hela arrived a little earlier than expected, but she still complied with the regulation in the invisible pop-up announcement jointly issued by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Sanctum Sanctorum outside Earth: all extraterrestrial visitors had to wear Earth clothing. In fact, she had done even more than that. Her outfit had clearly been carefully coordinated, rather than magically conjured into something barely presentable at the last minute like Thor and Sif's.
The tall goddess of the Underworld wore a fitted black turtleneck sweater with subtle stripes on top, along with a Louis Vuitton vest in its classic pattern. Below was a tulip-shaped fitted long skirt, matte tights with a faint nap that were Chanel's new release this year, and pointed-toe high heels with a slightly professional flair.
Most eye-catching of all was the magnificent pure-white mink stole draped over her shoulders. It was broad in the middle and narrow at both ends, resembling a bamboo leaf when spread open. The ends were adorned with lavish jeweled tassels. She gathered the trailing portion in her arms, and even her nails had been painted black and gold, extending just beyond her fingertips with a sharp, aggressive edge.
Her black hair was swept up behind her head in a half-curved knot, fastened below with an arched ruby hairclip. Two curled locks hung before her forehead along either side of her cheeks, while her skin possessed a sickly pallor.
"Don't look at me like that. I used to come to Earth often when I was little." Hela's voice was exceedingly hoarse. When she spoke, a breathy sound, as though squeezed out from a throat scorched by fire, emerged first, followed only afterward by the substantial tones that seemed to be forced out with tremendous difficulty. It made people shiver without realizing it.
"Very beautiful, ma'am," Nick