Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,66

to check on Archie. Leo Max tried to get in, so did other members of the Geek Squad, but the nurses would only let them peer at him from the doorway.

Freya waved to them, even though they couldn’t see her.

As evening turned to night, Freya remained where she was. She reached out with her gloved hand and took hold of Archie’s. Saying nothing, she stood still, just holding his hand.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

As though the Rainbow Bridge understood the urgency of the situation, Bifröst released Maya over the central United States. It was dark out and Maya was grateful for the cover of night.

Flying as fast as her wings could carry her, she flew down into Lincolnwood and landed in the back yard of Archie’s house. She stormed up to the door and shoved it open.

‘Freya!’ she shouted. ‘Freya!’

Silence.

‘Maybe she’s in the city helping people again?’ Grul suggested from her shoulder.

‘I hope not.’ Maya ran into Freya’s bedroom to look for clues.

‘Maya, look,’ Grul cawed. ‘That’s Freya’s coat.’

Her sister’s velvet coat was tossed in a heap on the floor. When Maya picked it up, she saw that it was torn and covered in blood. She sniffed the red patch. ‘Oh, no.’

‘What is it?’ Grul demanded.

‘This is Archie’s blood. I can smell it’s his.’

‘But there’s so much of it,’ the raven cried.

Panic gripped Maya’s heart. Her sister was missing and her coat was covered in Archie’s blood. ‘Stop,’ she told herself. ‘Calm down. There is a reasonable explanation for this.’

Maya took several deep breaths to slow her pounding heart. She closed her eyes and opened all her Valkyrie senses, searching the house and surrounding area for signs of her sister. She felt nothing of Freya or Archie, but she did find something that might help.

‘Sylt!’ she said. ‘Grul, Sylt is still here.’

Maya found her way to the garage and opened the door. The Reaping Mare was inside and whinnied excitedly when she entered.

Without pausing, Maya leaped on to the mare’s back and directed her out of the garage. ‘Find Freya,’ she ordered. ‘Sylt, take me to Freya.’

The Reaping Mare nickered, opened her wings and launched into the sky. Keeping low, she soared over Lincolnwood and headed towards a large building. Maya read the lit sign on the front. ‘Lincolnwood Hospital.’

She looked at her raven. ‘This is where they treat wounded humans.’

‘Archie’s blood,’ Grul offered. ‘He’s been hurt and brought here.’

‘I just hope Freya hasn’t done something foolish.’

‘You mean more foolish than running away from Asgard to come here?’ Grul asked.

Maya had the Reaping Mare land on the roof. ‘Sylt, stay,’ she ordered as she climbed down. ‘We won’t be long.’

‘Is it wise to leave a young Reaping Mare here unattended?’ Grul asked.

‘No it’s not,’ Maya admitted. ‘But we don’t have much choice. It’s still dark out so there’s little chance of her being seen.’

‘You hope.’

Maya looked at her raven. ‘Yes, I hope. Now, let’s get in there and find that sister of mine!’

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Archie wasn’t getting any better. As the long night progressed, the surgeon came in to check up on him, but each time he looked unhopeful.

Hours before dawn, the quiet of the hospital room was broken by a familiar voice.

‘There you are!’

Freya looked up and saw Maya. Her sister approached the Angel of Death and bowed respectfully before storming into the Intensive Care unit. She was wearing her winged helmet and nightclothes.

‘I have been searching all over for you!’ She caught hold of Freya’s hand and started to pull. ‘Come, we must go. Odin is in a fury. He knows you’ve run away. Sylt is on the roof; she will bring us home.’

‘Odin?’ Freya cried. ‘How?’

‘How do you think? Loki told him. You must come back now, before the Valkyries gather for the reaping. Odin doesn’t know I’ve left Asgard. I told him you were out flying. But if he finds out, he’ll send a Dark Searcher after both of us.’

Freya’s eyes went from her sister to Archie and then to the angel at the door. ‘I can’t go.’ She pulled free of her sister’s hand and moved back to Archie’s side.

‘What? Why?’ Maya demanded.

‘Because of him!’ Freya pointed to the angel. ‘He’s here for Archie.’

Maya frowned in confusion. ‘So, let him have him.’

‘No!’ Freya cried. ‘Archie is my friend. If I let the angel take him, I’ll never see him again.’

‘Then reap him and we can go.’

‘I can’t do that either,’ Freya said. ‘He won’t have died in battle. Odin will never allow him to stay in Asgard. He’ll send