Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,16

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