Valkyrie (20 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

T
he next morning Freya and Maya stood outside the school, waiting. Archie was late.

‘Where is he?’ Freya demanded.

‘He’ll be here,’ Maya offered. ‘Just calm down.’

‘If she has done anything to him,’ Freya threatened, ‘I don’t care what Odin does to me, I swear I will take off my glove and reap her!’

Orus leaped off her shoulder and rose in the air.
‘Wait here. I’ll see if I can find him.’

Several minutes later, Archie appeared down the street with Orus sitting on his shoulder. He was walking slowly with his head down. When he arrived at the school steps, they could see that his eyes were red. He looked as if he hadn’t slept.

Freya leaped down the stairs. ‘Are you all right?’

Archie nodded. ‘Just tired. Mom won’t tell me where she’s been or what’s happened to her. This morning she locked herself in her room and wouldn’t talk to me.’

Freya balled her hands into fists. Maya came up beside her and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

‘I’m sure she’ll tell you when she’s ready,’ Maya said. ‘It’s late, you’d better get inside. I’ll meet you both right here after school.’

Freya remained close to Archie all day. Some of the sparkle was slowly returning to his eyes as Tamika and the members of the Geek Squad crowded round him, offering their support.

Orus too was keeping close. The raven spent most of his time on Archie’s shoulder instead of Freya’s.

At lunch, Archie was more himself and talking about the dance later that night. ‘My mom says I can’t go. But I’m going anyway. Right after school, I’ll sneak back home and grab my clothes.’ He looked at Tamika. ‘Can I come over to your house to get dressed?’

‘Of course,’ Tamika said. ‘Greta and Mia are changing there, so you can too.’

Leo Max put his arm around Archie. ‘And we’ll all come home with you just to make sure your mother doesn’t try to stop you.’

‘Then it’s settled,’ Freya said. ‘Tonight we shall all have the time of our lives and dance like there’s no tomorrow!’

As the clocked ticked away the final hours, Freya looked around the school with more than a trace of sadness. This was her last day here. Tomorrow she would return to Asgard. The only time she would be able to return to Earth would be to reap soldiers on the battlefield.

Each moment became a treasured memory. The noise, the crowds of kids jamming the hall, the smell of the school, all of it. This would be all she would have to take with her.

‘Are you OK?’
Orus asked. He was back on her shoulder.

‘I guess so,’ Freya said as they walked to her locker. ‘But I’m going to miss this place so much.’

‘Perhaps Odin will let us return,’
he offered.
‘If we do a good job, he may let us take a break.’

Freya shrugged and sighed sadly. ‘It won’t be the same. Time moves so quickly here. If we go home for a short while, most of these kids will have grown up and forgotten all about us.’

Orus moved closer to her neck and rubbed against her.
‘Yes, they will have grown up but, believe me, they will never forget you.’

As the final bell rang, Freya closed her locker for the last time. She would leave everything behind.

Maya was waiting for her outside the school. Soon everyone was gathered together.

‘Well, this is it!’ Tamika said. ‘Let’s go get Archie’s clothes and head over to my house. This is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait!’

Freya watched her young human friends. Not too long ago, Leo Max had found the courage to ask Tamika to be his date for the dance. She had readily agreed and was now bouncing with excitement.

‘Then what are we waiting for!’ Maya said as she put a comforting arm round Freya. ‘Tonight will be a night we’ll all remember forever.’

Back at Tamika’s house they were getting ready. Alma had made Freya a stunning, midnight-blue, full-length satin dress with a full, long blue cape of the same fabric mounted to the back of it. The dark colour complemented her red hair. Her sister was wearing a delicate pink silk dress that brought out her fair complexion. She also had a full long cape mounted to the shoulders. Both Valkyries had matching satin opera gloves.

Orus and Grul had been scrubbed and had preened their black feathers until they shone like new. Orus strutted around, admiring his reflection in the mirror.

‘By far the most handsome of all,’
he said.

‘Says who?’
Grul complained.

‘Me!’
Orus cawed.

‘You’re both very handsome,’ Freya said as she gave Orus a kiss on the beak. Then she whispered in his ear. ‘But you are the best!’

Alma fussed with the dresses. ‘They fit perfectly. No one would ever know what you two have hidden under those capes.’

Freya turned to the old woman. ‘I don’t know how to thank you, Alma. These dresses are stunning.’

‘Stuff and nonsense!’ the old woman said, though her fading eyes sparkled. ‘You girls just have fun.’

Carol and Curtis watched them each appear, dressed up to the nines. ‘I wish your mothers could see you all,’ Carol said. ‘They would be so proud.’

Freya looked down at her dress and thought about her mother. What would she say if she knew what had been going on? Her mother had had many adventures when she was growing up. Freya was sure she’d understand . . . eventually.

Moments later, Archie appeared from the spare room. His hair was neatly styled and he was wearing a dark suit. He was struggling with the tie at his neck. Curtis offered to tie it for him. ‘It takes a bit of practice,’ he said.

Leo Max arrived wearing a tailored suit and a new embroidered yamika. Curtis went crazy taking loads of photographs of them from every possible angle. He was behaving like an excited new father.

Standing back and watching him, Freya felt the depths of his emotions and knew that was exactly what Curtis was: a new father with a ready-made family. His joy was unmistakable.

She looked over and caught her sister smiling at her. ‘You did well,’ Maya softly whispered.

When they arrived at the school they could hear loud, pounding music and see colourful lights flashing from the school’s gymnasium windows.

Half the school seemed to be filing into the gym. Freya’s eyes were bright as she took in the sights of all her classmates dressed up in their best party clothes. The excitement was so high that for a brief moment she was able to forget the coming dawn and Archie’s impending death.

Maya leaned closer. ‘This is almost as good as Valhalla.’

Freya shook her head in wonder. ‘No, it’s much better. Look at them, aren’t they all so beautiful!’

‘Yes, you are,’ Archie said, looking at her. He offered his gloved hand. ‘Shall we go in?’

Wearing her own blue gloves, Freya accepted Archie’s outstretched hand and nodded. ‘Let’s.’

Inside the gym, the music was pounding. Tables of drinks and snacks lined the walls while the roof of the gymnasium had been decorated with paper streamers and balloons. A single mirror ball hung from the centre and was spinning slowly, casting diamond sparkles along the walls and down on the partygoers.

Having lived among humans for several weeks, Freya had come to enjoy a lot of their music. It had seemed strange at first, but now she realized it would be added to the long list of things she would miss.

Leo Max was the first to speak as he held out his hand to Tamika. ‘Wanna dance?’

Tamika grinned and followed him and soon they were swallowed into the thick of the moving crowd.

‘Go on,’ Maya said to Freya. ‘This is your night, why don’t you and Archie dance?’

Freya looked over to him. ‘Want to?’

He nodded.

Together they walked into the crowd and started to dance. She studied her friends. It wasn’t like any of the dancing she’d seen at Valhalla, but soon Freya was moving in time to the beat of the music. Others from the school that she knew danced past her, calling her name and commenting on her lovely dress.

‘It’s great to see you finally out of your coat!’ called Kevin as he danced with Elizabeth. Their eyes were sparkling with the thrill of actually being there.

Soon the whole Geek Squad had found their way to the centre of the floor. Song after song, they continued to laugh and dance together. Even Orus joined in, hopping from shoulder to shoulder as he bobbed up and down to the rhythm of the music.

Eventually Maya made her way on to the dance floor and the two Valkyries danced together, surrounded by their closest friends. Freya felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. For this one night, she was truly one of them. There wasn’t the separation of human and Valkyrie. It was simply friends sharing in the joy of each other.

When the next song ended, the lights in the gym were turned up. There were cries of protest from the dancers as their Principal took to the DJ’s podium.

‘Good evening, everyone,’ Dr Klobucher called as she raised her hands in the air to get their attention. ‘I hope you are all having a wonderful time.’

All the students cheered and shouted. Up on the DJ’s stage, Dr Klobucher’s eyes sought out Freya in the crowd. When they found her, she smiled. ‘I hope you will forgive me, but I would like to ask a favour. I’m sure some of you have heard what a wonderful voice Greta has. But I’ve never heard her sing.’

The crowd cheered and roared as the Principal’s eyes focused only on Freya. ‘Would you please come up here and sing for us?’

Freya shook her head. ‘I can’t,’ she said.

‘Sure you can,’ Archie said as his face glowed with pride. ‘Go on – I’ve never heard you sing either. Please do it for me. Just this once.’

That comment cut right through to her heart. Archie was making a final request. How could she say no? This would be her final gift to him.

Freya looked over to Maya. ‘Will you join me?’

‘But this is your school and your night,’ Maya protested.

Freya held out her hand. ‘Please – just like we do at Valhalla.’

‘Come on,’
Orus cawed.
‘Let them hear you sing together.’

Even Grul joined in and prodded Maya to sing with her sister.

Finally she surrendered and took Freya’s hand. Together they walked up to the stage and joined Dr Klobucher.

‘I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone you were leaving,’ the Principal whispered to Freya. ‘But I couldn’t let you go until I heard the song of the Valkyries. Please . . .’ She stood back and indicated the microphone on the stand.

Clutching Maya’s hand, the two sisters approached the microphone. Without musical accompaniment, they both started to sing at the exact same moment. Freya was melody while Maya automatically took harmony. The song poured over the crowd.

Not a sound was made from the gathered students as the two Valkyries raised their voices high and clear and sang as they did at Valhalla. The mournful melody drew tears from the students and teachers as they were enchanted by their voices. Finally, when the last notes were sung, a long silence filled the gym. Archie and the Geek Squad were the first to break it by clapping their hands wildly and screaming. Soon the entire gym burst into roaring applause.

Maya squeezed Freya’s hand and leaned closer. ‘And you were afraid they’d forget you? Now they will remember this moment for the rest of their lives!’

Freya’s heart was beating fast as she felt the love surrounding her from everyone.

Everyone, but one.

JP stood at the entrance to the large gym. At first no one noticed, as all eyes remained locked on Freya and Maya. But when JP and his gang shoved their way into the room, word spread of his arrival and the crowds parted fearfully to let him through.

The moment the Principal caught sight of JP, she shouted to another teacher, ‘Call the police!’

JP stalked closer to the stage and shouted, ‘Valkyries!’

He was wearing Freya’s silver breastplate over his shirt. In his hand he was clutching her sword. He pulled it from its sheath and the lights in the room glinted off the polished steel. He pointed the tip of the blade at Freya. ‘She’s a black-winged freak! A Valkyrie, an Angel of Death sent here to kill all of you!’

Freya and Maya both looked at JP. Suddenly they realized what he and another member of his gang held in their hands. It was their winged helmets.

‘No!’ Freya howled as JP lifted the one he was holding and pulled it on his head.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

T
here was no reaction from the humans in the room – their ears could not pick up the high-pitched squealing from the two distressed winged helmets. But the Valkyries could.

Freya put her hands to her ears and tried to block out the terrible sounds. Her sister was bent over and crying in agony. Both ravens cawed and shrieked in pain.

‘We’ve got to go!’ Maya screamed, reaching for Freya. ‘Odin will hear that! He’ll come for us!’

‘Odin?’ Dr Klobucher demanded. ‘What will he hear?’

Freya pointed a shaking finger at JP and shouted over the sounds. ‘It is forbidden for living humans to wear our helmets! Odin will hear their cries of distress and come for them.’

Both Freya and Maya were being deafened by the sounds from the helmets, but for everyone else in the hall, there was only silence. So they heard Freya’s shouted response to the Principal.

‘See what I mean!’ JP cried. ‘They’re both monsters!’

Confused expressions turned to fear as the students moved away from the DJ’s podium.

‘He’s lying!’

Freya heard Archie’s voice rising above the sound of the helmets. She looked into the crowd and saw him, with the Geek Squad, charging forward. ‘They’re just causing trouble.’

JP turned the sword on him.

‘What are you going to do?’ Archie demanded, facing the bully. ‘Kill all of us? Go on, try it, in front of all these witnesses! Use the sword. But I swear you won’t get out of here alive.’

‘Archie, stop!’ Freya shouted desperately. Was this it? Was this how Archie was to die? Murdered by JP, using her sword?

Archie looked up to her. ‘No, Gee, for too long we’ve all been terrified of JP and his gang. But not any more. I won’t be bullied by him or anyone else!’ Archie advanced on the bully. ‘Take off the helmets. Right now!’

‘No, Archie!’ Freya howled.

‘Who’s gonna make me?’ JP spat as he advanced on Archie. ‘
You?
’

Archie nodded.

‘And me!’ Leo Max added. ‘C’mon, everyone, let’s get him!’

JP took a frightened step backwards. ‘Stay back!’ He raised the sword in the air and swished it back and forth. ‘I swear I’ll kill anyone who comes near me! Just stay back.’

Suddenly all the windows in the gym shattered. Ferocious howling screams came from the entrance doors. Everyone turned and started screaming in terror at the sight.

Two creatures stood at the doors. They were dressed in long, flowing, hooded cloaks that covered their heads and obscured their faces. Black armour could be seen beneath their dark cloaks. Huge black wings extended from their backs. In each gloved hand they carried a sword with a black blade. If it were possible, they were blacker than the darkest night and seemed to absorb light.

Both creatures threw back their heads and howled again.

‘Dark Searchers!’ Maya screamed. ‘Odin sent the Searchers after us!’

Freya had never seen one before, let alone two. They were so much worse than she’d ever imagined.

Freya shouted to the room. ‘Everyone get out of here! They are after us, but will kill anyone who gets in their way!’

The two Dark Searchers stormed into the gym. Their heads were panning back and forth over the crowds, searching, searching, and searching until they found JP and his friend, wearing the Valkyrie helmets. They raised their swords and charged forward.

‘Take off your helmets!’ Freya cried frantically. ‘They are calling them!’

JP and his friend shrieked in terror as the two monstrous creatures ran at them.

‘The helmets!’ Maya shouted. ‘Take them off!’

JP’s friend was the first to understand. He pulled off his helmet and cast it aside. One of the Dark Searchers followed it as it rolled away. But for JP, it was too late. The Searcher caught hold of him before he could remove it.

The Dark Searcher held JP by the neck and hoisted him easily off the ground. The bully screamed and tried to break free, but the Searcher’s grip was too tight.

Freya pulled the blue cape free of her dress and exposed her wings. Opening them wide, she leaped from the podium and flew full speed at the Dark Searcher holding JP.

She struck him and they tumbled to the ground. Freya was the first on her feet. She turned to the students in the gym and opened her wings fully, letting out a loud Valkyrie howl. ‘Go!’ she roared to the crowds. ‘Get out of here! Go now!’

Up on the podium, Maya shouted, ‘You heard her, go!’ She freed her own wings and unleashed a flying tackle on the second Dark Searcher.

Everyone in the gym followed their instructions and ran for the door, clambering over each other in their desperation to get out.

Freya was struggling to get JP free of the Dark Searcher but his grip wouldn’t loosen. The Searcher was so much stronger than she’d imagined. Much stronger than her.

It was as though the Dark Searcher suddenly realized who she was, and that he had found his true target. He released JP and reached for Freya. But she was faster. She moved just before his brutal grip caught hold of her arm.

Freya dashed for the weapon in JP’s hand. The bully was unconscious and she couldn’t tell if he was alive or dead. But before she could reach her sword, the Dark Searcher rose and blocked her. The monstrous creature raised his two black swords and advanced on her.

She only had seconds. Freya glanced over her shoulder and saw that the other creature was focusing on Maya. Both Dark Searchers now recognised their true targets. The remaining students in the gym were safe.

Freya opened her wings and cried, ‘Fly, sister, fly!’

With no time to say goodbye to Archie, Freya lifted off the ground and flew straight at the gymnasium’s shattered windows. She pulled her wings in tight and slipped through an opening too small for the Dark Searchers to follow.

Moments later, Maya was behind her in the sky. Orus and Grul quickly caught up with them as they headed away from Lincolnwood.

‘Faster, Freya, they’re right behind us!’
Orus cried as they rose higher into the sky.

Freya stole a glance back and saw the two Dark Searchers gaining on them. Even though she was the fastest flyer in Asgard, Freya’s wings were only half the size of theirs. There was no way they could ever hope to out-fly them and get to Bifröst.

Their only hope was to lose them. Freya called over to her sister. ‘They’re too close. Follow me. We’ll try to lose them in Chicago!’

‘Freya, no!’ Maya cried. ‘The soldiers are waiting for us in Chicago!’

‘That’s what I’m hoping for!’

Freya took the lead. With her sister close at her side, she reached over and caught Orus in her hands and pulled him to her. ‘Hold on, this is going to be rough.’

She took them lower in the sky and flew only a few metres above the ground. Darting in and out of traffic, car horns blared as drivers caught sight of the two Valkyries and the two monsters chasing behind.

No matter what they tried, Freya and Maya could not lose the Dark Searchers. They were able to get further ahead by manoeuvering around tight corners and hiding behind buildings. Then they heard the Searchers’ massive wings clip the corners and blast huge chunks out of the buildings, gaining on them once more.

As everyone in Asgard knew, once a Dark Searcher was after you, there was no escape. They would find you. The only thing to do was to give up and hope that, if they’d been ordered to kill, death came swiftly.

Freya was not ready to die but was quickly running out of ideas. No amount of dipping or dodging could get the Dark Searchers off their tails. Suddenly she heard a sound that on previous nights would be a warning to flee. But tonight, she welcomed it.

High above them in the sky, four black helicopters had arrived. The beams of their intense searchlights panned the ground.

‘Here!’ Freya called as climbed to meet them. She looked over to Maya. ‘Follow me!’

Freya flew into the beam of a searchlight. At once the other helicopters focused their searchlights on her and Maya. Freya squinted and tried to see the pilots. But all she saw was white light.

‘Stop!’ announced one of the helicopters. ‘Stop or we’ll open fire!’

Freya pointed back behind her. ‘Shoot them!’

The Dark Searchers had also been caught and blinded by the beams of light. The monstrous creatures were howling in pain and dropped their swords as they shielded their unseen eyes from the light. Their wings faltered and they began to fall from the sky.

But the blinding light was burning the Valkyries’ eyes too.

Freya tilted her wings to try to fly out of the beams but there were too many of them. Trapped and unable to see, both Freya and Maya flew headlong into the side of a building.

Stunned from the impact, they both started to fall.