Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,59

bullies. All of them are working together. I can feel they aren’t frightened any more.’

‘But they could get hurt!’

‘They’ve already been hurt,’ Freya said. ‘I can’t get involved. They have to do this for themselves.’ Freya pulled the raven from her shoulder and handed him to Tamika. ‘Here, hold Orus for me. If this gets out of hand, I’ll join in. But let them go for a moment.’

Tamika had long ago conquered her fear of Orus. She held on to the large raven as she and Freya approached the fight.

‘Come on,’ Orus cawed, flapping his wings. ‘Get them, Archie! That’s it, Leo Max, hit him!’

More and more kids surrounded the fight and cheered them on as the Geek Squad all joined in to protect their new friends. Freya strained to see JP among his fighting gang, but he didn’t seem to be there.

She stood back, watching her students proudly. They were using all the moves and self-defence techniques she had taught them to protect themselves. Their days of being victims were over.

Suddenly a powerful blow cut across her back. Freya was knocked to the ground. This was followed by a second, more powerful strike across her wings.

Howling in pain, Freya looked up to see JP looming above her with a baseball bat.

‘Not so tough now, are ya, Freya?’ He lifted the bat and brought it down again.

Freya raised her arm and blocked the blow. The bat struck her painfully in the wrist.

‘Gee!’ Archie cried when he saw her on the ground. ‘Leo Max, look! JP’s got Gee!’

Archie fought free of the boy he was wrestling, charged over to JP and tackled him to the ground. Leo Max was right behind him and jumped on top. When Kevin joined it, JP was pulled away from Freya.

Freya used this opportunity to climb to her feet. Her wings felt like they were on fire and screaming to be freed from the coat. The armour she wore protected her from serious injury, but it didn’t stop the intense, bone-searing pain of the bat’s blows to her wings.

Gang members came to JP’s aid and pulled Archie, Leo Max and Kevin off their leader. Within moments, JP was back on his feet again and holding the baseball bat. He moved straight in on Freya.

‘This is it, Freak, you’re gonna die!’ he threatened.

‘And you are too stupid to live!’ Freya responded as she prepared to take him on.

At that moment Mr Powless arrived. The History teacher saw JP with the bat, advancing on Freya. He grabbed JP’s arm to stop him, but JP turned quickly and raised the bat to the teacher.

With little time to think, Freya jumped in front of her History teacher and took the blow. It struck her full in the chest. The twanging sound of the wooden bat meeting her silver armour rang out.

It startled JP for a moment. In that time, Freya caught hold of the bat and wrenched it away from him. ‘I have had enough of you, human!’ she shrieked in rage. Tossing the bat aside, she lunged forward and caught JP by the coat. Hoisting him easily over her head, she let out a loud Valkyrie howl as she threw him across the yard.

‘Wait here!’ Freya ordered Tamika and Orus. ‘It’s time I finished this!’

Freya charged at the bully and, tearing off a glove, exposed her bare hand. But just before she could reap him, Archie darted in front of her.

‘Gee, no!’ he cried. ‘Stop – everyone’s watching you!’ He caught her by her coat and turned her round. Archie held up the glove. ‘They’re all watching. Here, put it back on before they see.’

Everyone in the yard was staring at her.

‘Please,’ Archie begged. ‘Don’t expose yourself, not now! It’s over. Mr Powless saw what happened. JP will be expelled. He won’t be allowed back here. We won!’

Orus returned to her shoulder. ‘It’s over, Freya,’ he cawed. ‘Calm down.’

Freya was shaking with rage. Her wings were agony and her arm was swelling from the blow. She wanted desperately to share that pain with JP.

‘Greta!’ Dr Klobucher ran between the gathered students. When she saw Freya’s bare hand, her eyes became fearful. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Nothing,’ Freya muttered tightly as she pulled the glove back on. ‘JP attacked us.’

‘I just heard. Are you all right?’

Freya nodded. ‘I am. But he got me right where it hurts.’

The Principal leaned closer and whispered, ‘Your wings?’

Freya nodded.

‘I’ve got to stay here with JP. We’ve called the police and they’re on their way. I