Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,84

behind. We tried to slow him down but he got away from us.’

Leo Max and Tamika ran forward to help Freya, but Freya warned them back. ‘No, you’re not wearing gloves. You’ll die if you touch me!’

As they ran further down the street, police vehicles came to a screeching halt before them. ‘Stop!’ an officer shouted as he opened his door and drew his weapon.

From all around, more police and military trucks arrived, pulling right up on to the pavement. They were surrounded.

‘Run!’ Freya warned them. ‘The Dark Searcher will kill you all. Your weapons are useless against him!’

‘Look!’ Tamika howled.

Behind them, the Dark Searcher was moving again. He focused his attention on Freya and charged forward.

‘Keep moving,’ Archie called as he released Freya and lifted her sword. ‘I’ll slow him down.’

‘Archie, no!’ Freya screamed. ‘Stop!’

Orus cawed. ‘Come back!’

Their cries could not stop him. Archie held up her weapon and charged forward.

The Dark Searcher only held one sword as his right hand was all but useless due to Archie’s cut. But the creature raised his weapon and took him on.

The fight was brief.

Beneath the bright helicopter lights and surrounded by police and military, Freya saw Archie try to block a cut from the skilled Dark Searcher. But at the last moment, the creature changed tack. He brought his weapon up and stabbed it deep into Archie’s stomach.

‘No!’ Freya howled.

‘Archie!’ Orus cawed.

Archie stood motionless as the Dark Searcher’s sword struck through to his back. When the wretched creature pulled the weapon out, Archie collapsed to the ground.

‘Archie!’ Tamika screamed.

The police and soldiers opened fire on the Dark Searcher but their bullets could not stop him. Instead, Orus, Tamika and Leo Max ran at the creature as he kicked Archie away and focused on Freya. Orus dived at his head, while the others ran to his rear. Both Leo Max and Tamika jumped on to his massive black wings.

‘Get away!’ Freya howled at them. ‘He’ll kill you. Get down and run!’

‘Save Archie!’ Orus cawed.

Holding on for their lives, Tamika and Leo Max were madly spun around as the Dark Searcher fought to bat Orus away while trying to shake them off. Black feathers filled the air as Tamika did all she could to pluck them out of the monstrous creature’s wings.

While the Dark Searcher was occupied, Freya limped as fast as she could over to Archie. He was still alive but bleeding heavily from the wound in his stomach.

From somewhere behind them, a distant clock chimed the hour. It was midnight. The start of a new day – the day after the dance. Freya collapsed beside Archie and pulled him into her arms, knowing what was about to happen. There was nothing she could do to save him. She had made the bargain. Soon the angel would come to collect.

‘I’m so sorry, Archie.’ Freya stroked his young face with her gloved hand. Tears filled her eyes. ‘I can’t save you.’

‘It is over, child.’

Freya looked up into the face of Archie’s Angel of Death as she cradled her best friend.

‘Gee?’ Archie whispered.

‘I’m here.’

‘I wanted to stay with you,’ he said softly. ‘I wanted you to show me Asgard.’

‘You’re going somewhere much better,’ she struggled to say. ‘I wish I could go with you . . .’ Finally the loud sobs she fought to contain escaped her.

‘Please don’t cry, Gee, not for me. I’m not worth it.’

‘Yes, you are,’ Freya whispered.

Archie shuddered as pain tore through him. He shivered as he clutched her arms. ‘I’m so cold. Please make me warm.’

Freya looked up pleadingly into the angel’s eyes. ‘Please,’ she wept, ‘I’m begging you, end his pain. Take him now.’

The Angel of Death shook his head and smiled gently. ‘He has fought valiantly to save you, Valkyrie. Archie is a brave warrior who has earned his rightful place at Valhalla. Take him, he is yours.’

Freya inhaled sharply, disbelieving.

‘But you’d better hurry. Archie’s time grows short, if you want to give him your name.’

Freya was shaking as she looked down into Archie’s fading eyes. ‘Archie, listen to me. You can stay with me. Just say my name. I’m Freya. I give you my true name. Please, accept it. Say it now.’

‘Gee?’ Archie whispered.

‘Not Gee,’ she pleaded. ‘I am Freya. Fre-ya, please say it!’

With his final, gasping breath, Archie uttered, ‘Freya . . .’ and closed his eyes.

Freya leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. The moment her lips touched his, Archie died. She pulled him closer and rocked her friend in her arms.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Archie was hers.