by Kate O'Hearn
‘Why?’ Freya turned to the raven.
‘He may tell others you are here. He could endanger you.’
‘He won’t. I can trust him. His heart is true.’
The raven sighed. ‘You are too trusting. First Loki and now this man. It will lead to no good.’
‘And you worry too much.’
She focused on Curtis again. His eyes were locked on the raven. ‘Can you talk to him?’
Freya nodded. ‘He told me not to trust you. But I can feel what is in your heart. I know you won’t betray us.’
The fear was leaving Curtis’s face. An expression of wonder rose in its place. ‘Are you really an angel?’
‘No,’ Freya answered. ‘I’m a Valkyrie.’
‘A Valkyrie?’
Freya frowned. ‘You don’t know what a Valkyrie is?’
Curtis shook his head.
‘We are the Battle-Maidens of Odin.’
‘Who?’
‘You don’t know Odin?’ Freya demanded in shock.
‘I’m sorry, no.’
‘But everyone knows Odin!’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t.’
Freya was almost too stunned to speak. Finally she looked at Orus. ‘How can this be?’
‘This is a different age,’ the raven said. ‘Perhaps they have forgotten us.’
Still in shock, she focused on Curtis. ‘Our time here grows short; we must go.’ As she turned to leave, Curtis called after her.
‘Valkyrie, wait. Let me take you to Lincolnwood in my van. Chicago is a dangerous place. If people saw you, they might try to hurt you. Besides, if there’s a family in danger, I want to help. My wife is a lawyer and my nephew is a cop. I’m sure they’d want to help too.’
She was stunned by his sudden concern for her safety and offer to help. Freya gazed down on the unconscious man and back to Curtis. She couldn’t understand how there could be such kindness and yet such darkness in people.
‘Thank you, but I prefer to fly. I will be fine.’ She pointed at her winged helmet sitting on the roof. ‘I can’t be seen when I’m wearing that.’
‘Is it magical?’
Freya nodded. ‘You could say that.’
She walked back to him. ‘You are a good and generous man, Curtis Banks. If I need your help, I will return. But if you don’t see me again, please be careful. I must warn you. That man with you is very bad. He holds many dark secrets and has done many terrible things. You would do well to stay away from him.’
Curtis looked at his partner, crumpled on the ground. ‘We’ve only been working together a few weeks, as window cleaners. Can’t say I care much for his company.’
‘He is very dangerous,’ Freya finished. ‘Now, I must ask you not to tell him what we have discussed or where I am going.’
Curtis nodded. ‘I won’t say a thing.’ He reached forward to shake her hand. ‘It has been a great honour to meet you, Valkyrie. I wish we had more time together. There are so many things I want to understand.’
Freya held up her hands and stepped back. ‘My touch is death to you. But I have enjoyed meeting you too.’ She reached for her helmet and drew it on. The world around her lost its colour again.
‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ Curtis said. ‘That helmet is magic. Valkyrie, are you still here?’
‘I am,’ Freya said. ‘But now I must go. Live well, Curtis Banks.’
His laughter followed her as she walked to the edge of the building. She climbed up on the short wall and looked to Orus. ‘You ready to go?’
‘Finally,’ Orus cawed. ‘I was ready the moment we landed here.’
Freya leaped off the top of the building. She free-fell more than halfway to the ground before she opened her wings and glided smoothly through the city streets.
‘Orus, come on!’ she cried, laughing as she expertly dodged around tall trucks and buses. She was playing among the traffic and having the time of her life.
‘Freya, fly higher!’ Orus cried from above.
Surrendering to the panic-stricken raven, Freya flapped her wings and rose higher in the sky. ‘I’m just having a little fun.’
‘Well, don’t. Are you trying to scare me to death?’
‘You worry too much,’ she teased as she settled on her course and followed the winding river north.
It didn’t take them long to reach Lincolnwood. They had left the city behind and now soared above a less congested area. Tall buildings were replaced with houses and short, squat buildings.
Not far ahead, the sound of children’s loud, excited shouts rose up to meet her as they poured out of a building surrounded by parkland. Large, yellow buses filled a parking area and as she flew above them, Freya watched children climb on to them.
Her heart pounded with excitement at the sight of kids her own age. These were the first she’d ever seen in her life. Until now, her only experiences with humans were the warriors on the battlefields or those who made it to Valhalla. Occasionally there were some very young fighters. But war had changed them. They were as brutal as the adults.
‘Look at them!’ she called excitedly to Orus. ‘Can’t you feel their joy? Their love of life?’
Orus flew closer. ‘I feel trouble brewing. We are on a mission to save Tyrone’s family, that’s all. You can’t go down there to meet them. One look at you and they will run away screaming. You are a Valkyrie – a reaper of souls. You don’t belong in the World of Man. Especially near their children. You are a child of war. That must be your playground. Not here and not now.’
Freya was about to protest when frightened screams reached her ears. She could feel terror like hot breath on her face. She changed direction in the sky and followed the frightened sounds.
‘Freya – no!’ Orus called, following her.
Her keen eyes caught sight of a boy running as if his life depended on it. He was passing through back yards and climbing over fences, trying to get away from the boys chasing him. She could almost hear his heart pounding ferociously in his chest. But like deadly predators his pursuers seemed to know where he was going. They split into two groups, each taking a different direction.
From her vantage point in the sky, Freya could see the boy was heading into a trap with no escape.
‘Freya, leave them to their business,’ Orus said trying to draw her away. ‘Come, we must find Tyrone’s family.’
‘No, I want to see.’
‘Why? They are just playing. They won’t hurt him.’
Freya flew closer and gazed down on the boy’s pursuers. They weren’t playing. This was very real. When they caught the boy, they intended to hurt him.
From high above, Freya watched the trap snap shut. The boy’s tormentors charged at him from two directions behind a house. He was cornered. His cries rose up to her as a large boy shoved him against a fence and punched him in the stomach. He collapsed to the ground and rolled into a ball, begging to be left alone.
‘Orus, look – it is six against one. It’s not fair.’
‘That’s their way. We must not get involved.’
Freya looked over at the raven. ‘Maya is always saying people aren’t bad. That I should get to know them so I can understand them. Well, I don’t understand how six can go after one or why they want to hurt him. What’s happening down there isn’t right.’
Tilting her wings, Freya started to descend.
‘Freya, we can’t get involved! Please listen to me.’
Deaf to the raven’s pleas, Freya landed in the yard behind the group of boys. With her helmet still in place, she knew they couldn’t see her. She stepped closer, careful not to let even a feather graze against any of their exposed skin.
‘C’mon, Daisy, put up a fight!’ cried the largest of the boys as he kicked his prey.
Their victim lay on the ground in a tight ball. ‘Leave me alone!’
‘Ah – is Daisy crying?’ called the bully. He pulled back his foot and gave the boy another brutal kick in the back. Then he looked at the others. ‘Pick him up. Let’s s
how him what we think of him.’
Several gang members rushed forward and dragged the boy to his feet. They pinned back his arms and laughed as they offered him to their leader. Blood was running from the boy’s nose and a large, angry bruise was already forming on his cheek and eye.
Freya’s temper flared. The sight of blood and the fear from their victim was exciting the attackers further. She could feel their heated anticipation at the beating about to come.
‘No more!’ Freya roared. Charging forward she lifted her booted foot and with great rapidity kicked the bullies away from the boy, careful not to touch anyone with her bare hands.
A calm Valkyrie is strong. An enraged Valkyrie is almost unstoppable.
Screams filled the air as she kicked them across the yard. They huddled together like frightened sheep as they desperately searched for their unseen assailant. Finding nothing, they fled in terror, leaving their leader to face the invisible monster alone.
His eyes were filled with hatred and rage. He was much bigger than the others and stood almost a head taller than Freya. Just like the man on the roof, Freya sensed a childhood filled with violence and anger.
He was backed up to the fence, his wild eyes searching the area. He snatched his victim up before him to use as a shield against her. ‘Whatever you are, show yourself!’ he demanded. ‘Do it or I swear I’ll break his neck!’
Freya’s senses told her the threat was real. The bully was just a boy himself, but was prepared to do serious harm.
‘If you do that,’ she warned in her most threatening voice, ‘you will know terrors you never imagined possible. Release him now, or I will show you what I truly am.’
The bully’s voice faltered. ‘You’re, you’re just a dumb girl. I – I’m not scared of you. Even if I can’t see you.’ Still his wild eyes searched madly for her.
‘You should be,’ Freya warned darkly, stepping closer. ‘This is your last chance. Release the boy.’
The bully continued to scan the area. Freya stood at his left, and called, ‘Let him go.’ Then she darted to his right and did the same.
‘Last warning,’ she said from the other side of the bully again.
Just as he swung round to face her, Freya struck. With one swift kick she sent him flying several metres across the yard. His victim collapsed to the ground in a weak, bleeding heap at her feet.
Freya charged over to the bully. Placing a booted foot on his arm, she applied enough pressure to let him know she meant business. ‘If I ever hear of you hurting someone again, not even the Midgard Serpent could protect you from me!’
She applied more pressure.
‘Freya, stop,’ Orus warned in her ear. ‘You’ll break his arm. Leave him.’
Freya hesitated but then lifted her foot. ‘Get away from here!’
The bully climbed to his feet and turned quickly to attack. His fist impacted on Freya’s breastplate and she heard the bones in his wrist snap. He howled in pain and pulled his hand to his chest.
‘This ain’t over,’ the bully roared furiously as he turned to leave. ‘Whatever you are, I swear you’re gonna pay for this!’
‘Just go!’ Freya cried as she gave him a final kick in the backside.
Furious at his defeat, he kept looking back, trying to catch a glimpse of her. Even after he had disappeared from view, Freya could still feel him lingering in the area. After a time, she felt him move away.
Alone in the yard, Freya returned to the boy. He was on the ground, weeping softly.
‘Can we please leave now?’ Orus asked. ‘You saved the boy. Let’s go.’
‘Just a minute,’ Freya said.
She knelt beside him, just out of his reach. ‘Are you all right?’
The boy’s head lifted and darted around, searching for her. Fear was showing in his eyes as he scooted back to try to escape. ‘Where are you? Why can’t I see you?’
Freya rose and looked around. She closed her eyes and listened to her senses. No one was in the house behind them and the bullies had all gone. They were completely alone.
Kneeling again, she removed her helmet and became visible. ‘Do not fear me. I won’t hurt you.’
The boy’s eyes grew wide and his mouth opened and closed as though he was speaking, but no sounds came out. Finally he managed, ‘You – you – you’ve got wings!’
‘I know.’
He rose to a sitting position, his eyes darting all around.
‘They’re gone,’ Freya said.
‘Are – are you my guardian angel?’
Freya sighed and shook her head. ‘Why does everyone assume I’m an angel just because I have wings?’
‘What else can you be?’ the boy said breathlessly. ‘You protected me from them.’
‘Well, I’m not,’ Freya said.
The boy reached forward tentatively. ‘Can I touch your feathers?’
Freya pulled her wings back. ‘No! No one can!’
Her sudden movement made him back against the fence to get away.
Freya sighed tiredly. ‘There’s no need to be frightened of me. But you must understand. If I touch someone, or if they touch me, they will die.’
The boy frowned, not understanding. ‘But you touched the bullies when you pulled them away from me.’
‘Not with my bare hands. I used my foot, and that’s covered by my boot. If I’d touched their bare skin with my hands or feathers, they would have died.’
‘So you’re an angel of death?’
Freya sat back on her heels. ‘No, I’m not that either. I’m a Valkyrie.’
The confused expression on his face let her know he didn’t understand. Did no one here know what she was?
‘Is your name Daisy?’
‘No, it’s Archie,’ the boy answered. He pulled a tissue from his coat pocket and started to wipe the blood away from his nose and face.
Up close, Freya could see he was her age, maybe a bit older. He had pale-blue eyes and fine blond hair. His clothing looked worn, but clean and well kept. She could feel he was a gentle, sensitive soul. Not one meant for war or battlefields.
‘Why were those boys beating you?’
Archie dropped his head. ‘They always have, ever since I was young. They call me Daisy, steal my money and beat me up.’
‘Why?’
‘Because they can,’ Archie said flatly. ‘There’s a group of us that they pick on. They call us the Geek Squad. We don’t fit into any of the groups at school. But because we’re a little bit different and get higher marks than them, they always beat us up.’
Freya shook her head. ‘I don’t understand. Why don’t you fight back? Defend yourself?’
‘I can’t,’ Archie said. ‘I don’t know how to fight.’
‘You could learn. I am sure no one taught them how.’
‘But there’s too many of them.’
Freya frowned. ‘But you just said there are others they pick on. You could unite to protect yourselves.’
‘I don’t really know the others in the Geek Squad. We’re not friends.’
‘This makes no sense,’ Freya said. ‘In war, if your army is smaller than your opponents, you increase its size or its skills base. It’s a simple principle that has worked for thousands of years.’
‘This isn’t a war,’ Archie said.
‘It sure looked like one to me.’
Archie sighed. ‘You’d understand better if you went to my school. Bullies are always picking on weaker students. It’s just the way it is.’
‘Then it is stupid,’ Freya argued. ‘The strong should protect the weak, not abuse them.’
Archie leaned against the fence and took a deep, unsteady breath. His right eye was swollen almost shut. ‘Thanks for saving my life.’
‘You are welcome.’
There was something about this boy that intrigued her. He was the first boy her age she’d ever spoken to, and he was so different from what she expected. There was so much more she wanted to learn from him.
&n
bsp; At her shoulder, Orus nipped Freya’s ear. ‘The boy is fine. Can we go now?’
‘Orus, calm down.’ She pulled the raven from her shoulder and placed him on the ground. ‘This is Orus. He’s my companion. But he’s in a bit of a bad mood.’
‘I think he’s amazing,’ Archie said, leaning forward. ‘Hi, Orus.’
‘That’s the first intelligent thing this human has said,’ Orus remarked as he puffed up his feathers proudly.
Freya smiled. ‘Orus says hello.’
‘I did not!’ the raven complained.
‘You can talk to him?’
Freya nodded. ‘He came from Asgard with me . . .’ She stopped mid-sentence, reached for her helmet and pulled it on. ‘Silence! Someone is coming.’
‘Wait, please don’t go.’ Archie started to panic, looking around desperately. ‘They could be coming back to get me.’
‘I’m still right here,’ Freya said. ‘You just can’t see me. I won’t let them hurt you again.’
The sounds of voices were growing closer. ‘It is two of the boys who attacked you,’ Freya warned. ‘They have brought others. Can you walk?’
Archie climbed painfully to his feet. It was then that Freya saw he was several centimetres taller than her, but with a slight build. He staggered and fell forward. She instinctively reached out to steady him. Her hands went around his arms but his heavy winter coat protected him from her lethal touch.
‘Do you have gloves?’ Freya asked. When he nodded, she continued. ‘Give them to me. I can’t risk touching your skin.’
Freya pulled on Archie’s gloves, and then put out her arm to steady him. Holding him close at her side, she whispered, ‘My helmet will keep us both hidden. Just don’t move and keep quiet.’
Freya supported Archie as they stood still, watching the bullies arrive in the yard. They listened as the two attackers described in detail what had happened.
‘I swear, it happened right here,’ one of them claimed. ‘Look, you can still see the blood from Daisy’s nose.’
‘Where is he?’ a new boy demanded. ‘Or did the invisible creature take him away?’ He started to laugh and make scary cartoon sounds.
‘I don’t know,’ said the other attacker. ‘Maybe it did.’
‘Well, I don’t believe you,’ chimed a new boy. He was standing with his hands on his hips, looking doubtful.