by Susan Harris
“Leave him, Richard.”
“Little upstart needs to learn some goddamn manners.” He looked at Melanie. “You okay for a sec?”
“Sure. But there’s no need to defend my honour. It’s not the 1950’s.”
Ricky snorted, but he was smiling as he walked out. When Melanie looked back at Diane, the other woman had a broad smile on her face. Melanie smiled back.
“It does my heart good to see him with such a strong woman.”
“Oh, um…we…” Melanie stuttered, before clearing her throat and starting again. “We’re not together.”
“You will be. A mother knows when someone is right for her son. He needs someone who will argue with him. Someone who doesn’t let him get away with retreating into himself. I think you wouldn’t let him get away with much.”
Melanie really didn’t know how to answer that, so she said, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you dear.”
They lapsed into silence. Zach fell asleep in her lap, and Melanie continued to slowly trace her thumb along his ears.
“I’ve always wanted to be a grandmother,” Diane said softly as she watched Zach sleep, before lifting her head to meet Melanie’s gaze. “Can you handle the fact that Richard has a child? Can you accept that the boy is not yours, and if you and Richard become an item, can you be there for them both? I need to know.”
Melanie considered her words, but didn’t have to think much on it. “The fact that Ricky has a kid has nothing to do with how I might feel about him. I’ve known him since I was alive, and I’m only here today because of what he did to ensure I would be around. Ricky is smart, funny, and a pain in the ass sometimes, but he is loyal and dedicated. If only he would take his head out of his ass and realize he doesn’t have to carry this weight by himself, then I’d like him a whole lot more.”
Diane laughed and nodded. “You’ll do, my dear. You’ll do.”
A commotion sounded in the kitchen, and they both peered at the door, when a mighty crash sounded. Melanie set Zach on the couch cautiously and raced out of the room, following the sounds of a scuffle.
Ricky had Killian pinned to the fridge, his right hand engulfed in blue flames that he kept slightly away from Killian’s face. Killian tried to lift an arm, obviously wanting to use his own magic to defend himself.
“Boys, you stop this right now!” Diane screamed, but the two idiots ignored her.
Melanie was aware of Zach creeping in and standing beside Diane, now in human form. In order to prevent a family crisis, Melanie strode over and put a hand on Ricky’s arm, ignoring the flames that licked up and down, and leaned into his ear.
“You need to back off, Ricky. Your son is watching you. Killian might be a dick, but he is your brother. Don’t use me as an excuse for your grief and anger. C’mon, be a good boy and let the dickhead go.”
As soon as Melanie stepped back, Ricky dropped Killian, strode over to his mom, and kissed her forehead.
“You’ll stay here tonight, all of you.”
Zach slipped his hand into Diane’s, and the woman nearly melted. She lifted the naked boy into her arms as he yawned, and told them she was going to put him to sleep in Ricky’s old room. Killian followed her out with a grumble, leaving Melanie alone with Ricky.
She saw it in his eyes when he was about to lose it. When the weight of everything crashed over him and he wanted to run. He walked over to her, kissed her forehead like he’d done his mother, and said, “Tell her I’ll be back in the morning.”
And then, before she could reply, Ricky was gone and Melanie had her phone out, urging Derek to pick up.
“Derek,” Melanie said, her words rushed. “I think Ricky’s about to do something very, very stupid. Can you come get me? I’m at his mam’s.”
Freya stood on the shores of Valhalla, barking orders and in a terrible humour. Word arrived that Ever had returned to Cork, but she had yet to come and speak with Freya. Neither had the general. It irked Freya that people were not following orders. The remaining Valkyrie in Valhalla were good little soldiers for the time being, more under her influence than her own daughter and the meddlesome girl who was her daughter’s closest friend.
Freya had known that Erika was trouble the moment her mother had brought her to Valhalla, yet Freya was loath to cast away a perfectly good warrior. It was harder and harder to recruit those to the cause, most feared the wrath of Odin.
The sky suddenly darkened, thunder rumbling so loud it was all Freya could hear. It ripped through the sky as a cloaked figure landed in the sands, his aura almost as strong as his father’s was.
Hair the colour of a fox’s pelt and a face so stern it made Freya’s knees tremble, Thor Odinson rose from his crouched position, his red cloak flapping in the wind. Muscular and broad in build, Thor held thunderstorms in the blue of his eyes. His body was coated in the finest Asgardian metal, impenetrable and durable, the emblem on his chest marking him of the Royal house of Odin.
He gripped his hammer, the mighty Mjölnir, its strength, along with Thor’s, was legendary. Looming over her, the god of thunder stretched to his almost seven-foot height.
“Tell me where my sister is, woman,” he demanded, his voice almost as loud as the thunder that boomed around her.
Freya hissed at the demand, never comfortable with the way the Aesir looked down upon the Vanir. “Your sister–my daughter–is in Ireland in the county of Cork with that nuisance you call a brother. Go and lord over them, Thor, be gone from my island.”
“Father is awake and will soon wreak havoc on the world. We do not have time for niceties, Shieldmaiden.”
Thor lifted Mjölnir in the air, summoning the lightning into his hammer. He flew through the air and was lifted off the sand a second later. The sky cleared and the sun returned, leaving Freya standing in the sand, little Marya coming to stand beside her.
“Was that who I think it was?” she asked, amazement in her voice.
“That was a bad omen, child. A very bad omen.”
Erika
Erika had returned to her home, the little apartment above Ever’s garage, and dressed in combats, a vest and sturdy boots, considering her next action. She wanted to go and see if the girl was all right. Guilt weighed heavily on her. Avoiding Ever was also a high priority while Erika came to terms with the implications, or lack thereof, of the kiss they shared. It was strange that she felt mortified over her actions, and that her heart did not skip, her blood did not heat, when their lips had met.
Quite the opposite of when Loki had kissed her. Gods, while he tended to her–not once, but twice–Erika had felt more in those encounters than with any lover before. And, they hadn’t even done anything interesting yet.
Perhaps, all this time, the love she shared for Ever, the protectiveness she felt toward her best friend, was simply that–the love a person had for family. Erika had never experienced that, and the bond between her and her mother was a distant memory. Freya wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type, either. Had Erika really mistaken the fact that she loved Ever, as a sister and a friend, and warped that into thinking she was in love with Ever? It was easier than considering that Erika had little else in her life.
Loki had never lied about his desire to bed her. He’d even indicated that she was the only woman to sleep in his bed, to visit his loft. He cared for her without expecting anything in return. Was it that simple? The answer to that scared the freakin’ hell out of her.
She knew she was stalling, not wanting to face the consequence of her actions. Flashing to Caitlyn’s home minutes later, Erika traipsed back and forth outside the door, lifting her fist to knock numerous times, but hesitating. What if they hated her? They weren’t exactly fond of her before, but now she’d almost killed a family member. Pulling out a packet of gum, she popped the apple flavour treat into her mouth as she paced.
Blowing a bubble, she cursed herself for her stupidity, because there wasn’t a hot hope in Hel that Caitlyn would welcome Erika inside
their home after what she had done. She understood that her actions had consequences and considered that if Caitlyn had not broken through Erika’s haze of rage, then that girl would be dead. Adding the fact that she had lied to them for months about who and what she really was, almost killing a family member would have been the icing on the cake.
“If you keep pacing, you’ll wear a hole in my driveway.”
Erika spun around and faced the vampire. Absolutely stunning, Caitlyn had a regal air about her, a woman who didn’t understand just how beautiful she was. But those eyes, slate grey, almost black in colour, held a sadness that leaked into her aura. Erika felt it the moment she had met the vampire. Yet, she admired Caitlyn’s ability to carry on, despite the obvious trauma the woman had been through.
Caitlyn was a warrior who any Valkyrie would be honoured to have fight beside them.
Erika kicked at the gravel. “Is the girl okay?”
Caitlyn stepped back and beckoned Erika inside. Walking slowly down the hall, she spotted Donnie leaning against the kitchen counter. He nodded in greeting. Erika returned the gesture, her cheeks heating with embarrassment.
Caitlyn opened the door to a bedroom, and Erika stepped in, wincing as she laid eyes on the girl in the bed. Bruises littered her face, and her breathing was laboured with a wheeze that indicated a broken rib or two. Her eyes were closed, and her skin was a sickly shade of white.
“If she had not been blood kissed, then she would not have survived the fight.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
Caitlyn gave Erika a weary smile. “My sire was not one for following rules, even those he had dictated.”
“Ya, I know a prick like that too. Makes all the rules but doesn’t follow them.”
“At least my prick is dead. Hopefully we can kill yours too.”
Erika chuckled softly, and then one look at the girl sobered her. Perching on the edge of the bed, Erika peered up at Caitlyn. “I’m sorry.”
Caitlyn waved a hand in the air. “What is done, is done. She is alive. Perhaps, had we tried harder to find you, this could have been avoided.”
“Or if I hadn’t run off to solve things by myself like I normally do, then this could have been avoided.”
Donnie, who had come into the room, snorted. “Seems you two have more in common than we thought.”
Caitlyn tsked, but a small smile crept onto her face. Erika studied them, their auras intrinsically linked, maybe beyond their recognition. Erika wondered if they knew that when they were in the room together, they angled their bodies toward each other, postures relaxing and expressions changing. Even the darkness in Caitlyn’s aura brightened whenever Donnie was around.
Erika tilted her head and gave them a small smile. “You mind if I try and help her out?”
“How?” asked Caitlyn.
“Us Valkyrie,” Erika started, placing her hand on the girl’s leg. “We aren’t just soul stealers. Some of us have other talents. One of my sisters can speak to animals. Another can detect poisons in someone’s bloodstream. Along with my fighting skills, and flashing ability, which Freya says are traits from the sperm donor I never knew, I have my mother’s power to kick start the body’s natural healing ability. Works better in humans, so it might not help much with a blood kissed, but I can’t do her much more harm, can I?”
She closed her eyes, exhaled a breath, and concentrated. The power that came from her mother’s bloodline flared, searching the battered girl’s body until it located the root of her most intense injuries. Ignoring the guilt growing in her chest, Erika willed her power to repair the damage done to the girl’s ribs. Erika winced as the pain slid from the girl’s body and into her own. The cost for using her powers always came back on her.
As the girl’s breathing started to improve, Erika removed her hand and coughed, covering her mouth and sneaking a peek down to see blood. Clearing her throat, she stood, dizziness causing her to stumble. She only avoided hitting the ground because Donnie grabbed her. Waiting until most of the dizziness passed, she moved out of his hold and peered back at Caitlyn.
“I’ve repaired the broken rib, but it’s still bruised. She’s still going to be in a lot of pain, but after a few pints of blood, and a few days’ rest, she should be fine. She is a fierce warrior, like her aunt, one I would proudly have within my ranks.”
Erika stumbled to the doorway, stopping only when Caitlyn called her name.
“Thank you, Erika.”
Erika braced herself against the wall, her strength beginning to come back as she said, “Why are you thanking me? I caused this. I’m the reason she’s in that bed. If you hadn’t broken through my haze, then I’d have snapped her neck. I wanted to, I wanted to feel powerful and strong and superior.”
Caitlyn watched her for a second before she spoke. “We have all done things that we regret, especially in the heat of the moment. But you have shown remorse for your actions. That is what matters.”
Erika schooled her expression. “I’m not sure how to respond to that.”
Donnie chuckled and clasped her on the shoulder. “It means that you’re family. We make stupid mistakes, but we do it together. There’s no more lone wolfing it, Erika. You are ours, and we are yours. Today, tomorrow, and always.”
“I… I mean…” Erika stuttered, clearing her throat before she started again. “I’m a stranger to you guys. I haven’t exactly given off the warm and fuzzy vibe since I arrived. Why would you do that? Claim me as family?”
Caitlyn sat down on the edge of the bed. “When I arrived in Cork, I was dealing with some things that happened to me. Even after joining P.I.T, I was not warm and fuzzy. Derek was the first person to crack through my walls, and then Ricky. Then I came across this oaf dying in the streets, and I finally began to let people in again. We are not meant to walk this world alone, Erika, despite what we might have conceived in our own minds.”
Donnie winked at her. “I take offense to being called an oaf.”
“Stubborn headed mule.”
Donnie grinned at Caitlyn, and Erika’s chest ached. That was what she wanted. A bond with another person who knew her, and she knew them. Erika knew everything about Ever, yet, Erika was quite certain that Ever knew little about the secrets Erika held inside herself like armour.
“Erika,” Caitlyn said softly, dragging Erika’s gaze to eyes of gunmetal grey. “What happened to Kenzie was not of your doing. Yes, you hurt her, but she has been hurt far worse than this before. I guarantee that once the pain and embarrassment of losing runs its course, Kenzie will be knocking on your door, looking to train, so that she might best a Valkyrie warrior next time round. She would not hold this against you, and neither do any of us.”
Tears pricked her eyes as Erika flashed away from the emotional scene threatening to unravel her. She had never had a family, besides Ever that is, so having people who were willing to stand by her, even after all she had done, pulled the rug out from under her.
Reforming on an isolated cove within the shores of Valhalla, Erika sat down on the sand, and rested her chin in her hands. Emotions in turmoil, she didn’t know what to make of Caitlyn. Her own sisters, those blood sworn to follow her and protect Ever, had spent most of their long existence excluding her and making her feel isolated. All she had ever tried to do was to show them that she was worthy of their respect.
They respected her as a leader, perhaps out of fear, yet she doubted that they followed her out of love. Erika had proven time and time again just how capable a warrior she was. Still, her sisters never included her in gatherings.
She thought on the relationship that Donnie and Caitlyn had, the way they gravitated toward each other despite some obvious issues between them. Oh, how Erika longed for someone to care for her, to wish only the best for her.
Hasn’t Loki taken care of you twice now? Has he not been open and honest with you?
The thoughts formulated in her mind, and Erika flashed herself to Loki’s loft without another thought. Appeari
ng in his sitting room, her heart raced at the sight of the trickster god. Relaxed into the couch, he had one lean leg braced on the edge of the coffee table, strands of raven black hair freed from his loose ponytail. His shoulders held no tension, but a frown marred his beautiful face.
She wanted to crawl into his lap and kiss that scowl away.
“Go away. I’m training my mind for battle.”
Erika snorted, her eyes wandering from the controller in his hand, to the screen of the widescreen TV. “You’re playing video games.”
He didn’t so much as glance in her direction as he replied, his tone clipped and void of emotion. “Exactly. Training. Now go away. You’re distracting me.”
She strode in front of the screen with a grin on her face. “And what if I want to distract you?”
“Little girl, I do not like the games you are playing.”
She peeled off her vest and tossed it aside. “I’m not playing games, Loki. And you well know I’m not a little girl.”
His eyes flickered in her direction and held her gaze. She knew he was testing her, pushing to see if she would run. She had run away from things her entire life. She was done running.
Tracing a hand up her bare stomach, her thumb grazed her nipple through her bra. Loki’s mouth gaped a little, tightening his grip on the controller and causing a crack. As Erika moved, she kicked off her boots and came to stand in front of him.
“Erika…” he began, but she shook her head.
“I want you. I want you more than I have ever wanted anything in my life. I think, from our very first meeting, I wanted you. Maybe as a girl wants a cute boy, not as a woman wants a man. Now, I’m a woman who knows what she wants, and I want you.”
He set aside the broken controller as she climbed into his lap, bracing her legs on either side, her hands resting on his shoulders. His hands tightly gripped her hips.
She leaned in, pressing her lips to his jaw, smiling when he shuddered. She feathered kisses along his jawline, nipping slightly on his ear, relishing in the groan that escaped his mouth.