by Kate O'Hearn
The angels encircling the Dark Searcher nodded their heads and separated. Opening their wings, they took to the sky and disappeared.
‘You are also excused,’ Odin called to the Searcher.
The dark creature growled at Freya and Archie and raised a threatening hand. Then he opened his massive wings and took off.
‘It is time we left this place to the humans and returned to Asgard,’ Odin continued. He walked back to Sylt and caught her by the reins. He handed them over to Freya. ‘From the look of your wings, you are going to be grounded for some time. I will allow you to keep your reaping mare.’
Freya’s heart was pounding so ferociously she was sure Odin could hear it. ‘Thank you,’ she said respectfully.
Odin came forward and touched Freya on the head. ‘I remove your powers, Valkyrie. Your touch is no longer lethal and your senses are dulled. You are no better than a human.’ Odin turned abruptly and approached another Reaping Mare. Climbing up, he ordered the mare into the sky. ‘To Bifröst!’
Freya’s mother gave her a disapproving look as she helped Maya up on her Reaping Mare. ‘Do not test his generosity,’ she warned as she opened her wings and launched into the sky. ‘Follow us! We have much to discuss.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ Freya said softly. She looked at the angel. ‘Thank you, Azrael. Thank you so much.’
He smiled warmly and kissed Freya lightly on the cheek. ‘There is no need to thank me. Remember, my invitation is always open to you. Just call my name and I will come to you.’ His smile broadened as he looked from her to Archie. ‘Have fun in Asgard, you two.’
Freya grinned as Azrael opened his wings and vanished.
Moments later they were alone. Shattered glass and rubble surrounded them. Fires blazed while dust was still settling from the collapsed building. The sounds of Thor fighting the Midgard Serpent could be heard in the distance while police and fire sirens blared.
Tamika and Leo Max ran up to Freya. ‘Are you going to be all right?’
Freya nodded. ‘Odin has removed my powers. I’m just like you now.’
‘Except for the wings,’ Leo Max commented, grinning at her.
‘Is Archie still here?’ Tamika asked.
Freya offered her arm, but when the others touched it, they couldn’t see him. ‘I guess without my powers, you can’t see him any more. But I promise you, he’s right here with me and always will be.’
‘Freya, we had better go,’ Orus warned. ‘It won’t take much to get Odin angry again.’
Freya nodded. She inhaled deeply and looked at her two friends. ‘We must go.’ Once again, pain clutched her heart at the painful goodbye. ‘Will you be all right getting home?’
Tamika nodded. ‘I’ve called Curtis. He’ll be here soon.’
‘Just stay hidden until he comes,’ Freya warned.
Tamika nodded again. ‘We will.’
Freya inhaled deeply. ‘I am going to miss you both so much.’
Forgetting the danger, Tamika threw her arms around her and hugged Freya tightly. She kissed her on the cheek.
Terrified at first, Freya now realized she could touch her friends. She pulled Tamika closer. ‘You take good care of your little sister and give Alma a big kiss from me. Please let her know I will treasure every moment we had together. And say my farewells to Curtis and Carol.’
Tamika sniffed. ‘I will.’
Leo Max’s face went bright red as he faced her. ‘Bye, Greta. I’m sure going to miss you.’
Freya pulled him close and held him tight. ‘I’ll miss you too. Take good care of the Geek Squad – I’m counting on you.’
Leo Max nodded. ‘I will.’
Freya smiled and gave him a big kiss, right on the lips.
‘Wow!’ he sighed as he staggered back. He grinned at Tamika. ‘My first kiss and it was a Valkyrie. How cool is that!’
‘Freya, we must go,’ Orus prodded.
Freya nodded and reached for Sylt. Archie was the first to climb up. It took Freya longer, as every part of her ached. Finally she took her place right behind him. ‘Archie and I will remember you both always.’
Tamika and Leo Max waved and chased after Sylt as the Reaping Mare opened her wings and started to run.
Archie and Freya waved back as they climbed higher in the sky. Rising above Chicago, they could see that Thor had managed to trap the Midgard Serpent on the edge of Lake Michigan and was driving the monstrous beast back underground.
More police and military vehicles surrounded him.
‘Will Thor be OK?’ Archie asked.
Freya slipped her arms around his waist and rested her weary head against his back. ‘He’ll be fine. With Thor’s temper, it’s the humans we should worry about.’
Archie burst into laughter as he whooped happily. Before too long, his eyes went wide at the sight of the shimmering Rainbow Bridge.
‘Is that Bifröst?’
Freya peered over his shoulder and nodded. ‘Welcome to Asgard, Archie,’ she said gratefully. ‘Welcome home.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This has been the hardest book of my career to write. Normally I love to visit the places I write about. For the Pegasus series, I enjoyed going back to New York, then to Las Vegas and, finally, I was thrilled to visit Greece.
Then I started Valkyrie and planned to go back to Chicago for research – I lived there as a kid, but I couldn’t remember it enough to write about.
But just before I was meant to fly out there, my father became seriously ill. In fact, he needed three critical operations. During that time I couldn’t write, let alone go on a research trip.
Were it not for the skills and care of my father’s amazing surgeon, Professor Peter Taylor, and the staff at St Thomas’ Hospital in London who pulled him through, this book would not have been finished.
‘Prof’, I am eternally grateful to you! (And I hope you enjoy your appearance in this book.)
I would also like to give a very special thanks to Dr Linda Klobucher – who at the time of writing Valkyrie was a principal in a Chicago area school before being promoted. Linda became my long-distance tour guide and a good friend. While I stayed in the United Kingdom while my father recovered, she was always available to talk to guide me through the school system and answer any questions I had about what a Principal would and wouldn’t allow – especially if a Valkyrie showed up on her doorstep!
You were invaluable, Linda. Thank You! And look, you’re back in a school!
Finally, I would like to give extra special thanks to my dad, for surviving the operations that would have killed a lesser man. He is still my biggest supporter and best friend.
I love you Dad . . .
Dedication
I would like to send a special message to anyone out there who is being bullied – either in school or online.
Please tell someone – your parents, your guardians or teachers – tell ANYONE! You don’t have to suffer alone . . . we do care.
And I promise you, it does get better. I was bullied at school and now I write books that travel all around the world!
This book is for YOU!
Copyright © 2013 Kate O’Hearn
First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Hodder Children’s Books
The right of Kate O’Hearn to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form, or by any means with prior permission in writing from the publishers or in the case of reprographic production in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency and may not be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead,
is purely coincidental.
A Catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
E-pub conversion by Avon DataSet Ltd, Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
ISBN 978 1 444 90756 8
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