Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,78
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.