by C. L. Roman
Kai slammed on her brakes as another taxi cut her off and squeezed into the small opening between her car and the next.
“Shit,” she murmured, stopping a white deli bag before it slid off the seat. Cecily, her boss, brought brownies for the crew and saved a couple for Kai. She prided herself on living a healthy, clean lifestyle, but always made room for Cecily’s baked goods, especially the chocolate ones.
Kai shook her head as she watched the sea of pedestrian-foot traffic change the further away she drove from the heart of tourist central. It was easy to tell the differences between the various neighborhoods based on the people walking. In the Upper West Side or Chelsea people walked slow. They took their time and enjoyed the process of going from one place to another. In the Financial District, people walked fast with heads bowed, focusing on their phones. In Brooklyn, everyone walked in their own world, ignoring those around them.
After parking, Kai slid back the glass divider to get a better view of this man. The white NYC letters blazed against the black background of what she could see now was a bulletproof vest. He didn’t wear a wedding ring, but that meant nothing. Tight, black tactical pants tucked into his boots outlined strong legs. He stirred in his sleep.
The rays from the morning sun would reveal the gate. With a quick glance at her phone, Kai estimated they had an hour before dawn started. No sense waking her hero.
She grabbed her BGP Cafe coffee thermos and the brownies, then sat on the hood of the car waiting. The strong, black coffee kept her awake. It had been a long night, her last in a ten-night stretch. Cecily needed to hire more drivers, but competition with Uber and Lyft took most of the better drivers. Kai thought about going independent once. Odin would find her no matter what car she drove or where she was, but she liked her boss. Cecily was not human, but Kai didn’t push the elusive business owner and she didn’t push Kai. In fact, Cecily hired several drivers with unique heritages.
The car bounced her, distracting her thoughts.
Crap.
She hated it when they woke up before the gate appeared. Some tried to run while others argued with her ad nauseam. A few tried to run away but didn’t get far. Without glamour, Kai scared most people. Hard to hide from an eight-foot Valkyrie with a massive wingspan in full battle regalia.
The man stepped out.
She held out her extra brownie, waiting for him to adjust to his new surroundings.
“This isn’t Brooklyn.” He stood next to the car with his hand resting on the unlatched holster.
“Relax, slick.” She made an exaggerated gesture hoping he focused on the brownie instead of causing an issue.
“Who are you? Why have you brought me here?”
Kai turned back to the water. “Look you can fight me if you want. It would be a waste of time, but hey, I’ve got nothing else to do.” She flashed her eyes at him revealing a spark of energy.
“What the hell?” He stepped back.
“Dude, I know you learned not to take candy and such from strangers, but I’m offering a brownie and some lukewarm coffee. Come sit next to me and watch the sunrise. It will be a lot more fun.”
He looked to the water then to her brownie.
Kai nodded to the car. “There’s an extra cup in the passenger seat. I promise. You’re good.”
He hesitated. She dangled the brownie from her hand, tempting him like a trainer with a dog treat. Cecily’s baked deliciousness won without too much more coaxing. He found the cup and leaned against the bumper.
She handed him the brownie and poured coffee in the cup. He sniffed the treat.
“It’s not a special brownie, but I can get you one of those, if you want.”
“Why are we here?” He sipped the coffee.
“This is where you needed to go.”
“No, I told you to take me to Brooklyn. That’s where I live.”
“Yeah, well, about that.” This part was never easy. “You don’t live there anymore.”
He dropped the brownie and coffee, pulled out his gun, and aimed it at Kai. “I think you need to tell me exactly what’s going on right now.”
Kai finished her brownie, held out her hands, palms out, and slid off the car. “Hon, I know this is freaky, but I hate guns, so put that thing away before one of us gets hurt.”
“I don’t think so.” Kai noticed he slipped off the safety.
“I don’t think you understand what’s going on here, so I will give you a break, but here’s the deal. That gun won’t protect you against me.”
“Yeah?” He reached for the radio on his shoulder to call in the situation.
“It doesn’t work—” she searched for a name on his vest, “—sorry, but I don’t know your name.”
“Dispatch this is Mendez-734. I need backup.” He pushed the button again. “Mendez-734 requesting any available backup.” He pressed the receiver again, but still no response.
Kai stepped closer.
“You need to stay there. Turn around and put your hands on the car. Move real slow.”
Kai crossed her arms and leaned back against the car. “I’m tired and I want to get home, so listen the first time I tell you this. You are dead. Guessing by where I picked you up, you were at Times Square dealing with some heavy shit and someone shot you. I’m here to take you to the afterlife.”
“Lady, what are you smoking?”
“Nothing, unfortunately.”
He flicked his gun hand. “I said turn around and put your hands on the car. I won’t tell you again.”
“Yeah, you’re going to make this hard, aren’t you?”
“It would be easy if you would listen and do as I tell you.”
“Honey, you haven’t even bought me a drink. What makes you think you have the right to tell me what to do?”
“Because I’m the one with the gun and you are under arrest.” He stepped in closer. “You have the right to remain silent.”
Frustrated, Kai dropped her glamour and revealed her true self. White wings with golden tips spread from her shoulders and she grew to her full height. A feathered helmet appeared over her head as fire danced in her eyes. Her charge shot three bullets at her for self-defense, but each one fell at her feet. She held out her hand as each bullet slowed until they fell at her feet.
“I told you that guns were useless against me.” Her sultry voice was lower and mesmerizing in her true form. She held out her hand to help him stand. “Shall we try this again?”
He accepted her outstretched hand. “What are you?”
“I am a Valkyrie and you are on your way to Valhalla.”
Chapter Two
Kai closed her eyes and allowed the glamour to once again transform her into a more human face. Her wings retracted, and her stature returned to normal. She picked up the cup he dropped and poured more coffee. Then she went to her trunk and retrieved a bottle of Jack Daniels. He re-holstered his gun.
“Here take this. It will help.”
He exhaled, grabbed the bottle, and took a swig. “I don’t know whether to run or get on my knees and beg for mercy.”
“Well, under different circumstances, I’d love to see you on your knees, but that can’t happen today.”
He handed back the bottle, she threw it in the car and joined him in the front of the car. “It’s a lot to absorb. So why don’t we start from the beginning? What’s your name?”
“Seth Mendez.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Seth. I’m called Kai.” She reached out her hand. His firm but gentle grasp surprised her. She smiled and stared at his green eyes. She never saw so much sincerity before.
“They call you Kai? That’s not your real name?”
“My real name is very hard for humans to pronounce. Kai is a name I chose for this lifetime.”
“Lifetime? How old are you?” Seth sat on the hood.
“My family has been around since the Gods ruled this universe and all the realms. I took up my calling over a thousand years ago.”
Seth smile
d then turned away watching a small tugboat. “You don’t look a day over five hundred.” He said something more, but the sound of a tugboat horn pierced the air.
“Hon, I like your style. I bet you have a lot of women in your life. Do you have someone special?”
“I did. We were young and more in love with love.”
“How long ago was that?” Kai’s necklace glowed as she sensed the heat from the rising sun.
“What’s that?” Seth pointed to her chest.
She pulled out a key attached to a leather thong. The silver skeleton key fit in her palm. A scroll-work dragon with a merlot-colored jeweled eye served as the key bow and the slender barrel ended in squared bits.
“This is a key to Valhalla. It’s a family heirloom.”
“Why is it glowing?”
“To let me know I have a job to do?”
“Am I your job?” He put down his cup, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned against the car.
“Yep.”
“So, you’re not a taxi driver?”
“Oh, I drive a taxi. I don’t get paid for being an afterlife-delivery girl and New York is too expensive to be unemployed.”
“I’m confused.”
A gentle breeze blew across the water, punctuating the air with the smell of fish and oil. “I’ve been in your world for more years than I care to count. People come into my life, warriors like you, and it’s my job to follow Odin’s Creed. He grants blessed warriors the opportunity to fight in his army.”
“What if I don’t want to fight for this Odin?”
“No one says no to Odin, and those who do, suffer the consequences. Trust me on this one.”
“Does it matter that I’m Catholic and I only believe in a Christian God?”
Kai snickered. “Not in the least.”
“So, am I dead?”
“Afraid so.”
He stood up and walked closer to the water. The waves sloshed against the pier. Kai waited for her revelation to sink in. Though she wasn’t worried he’d run off, she also knew better than to rush this process. People needed a little time to understand their new predicament.
“You okay?”
He looked between her and the water. “I guess. This isn’t what I thought death would be like and I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
“I don’t think anyone is ready for death.”
“Do you do this a lot?”
“I haven’t kept count, and it’s never on schedule.”
In two long strides, he stood in front of Kai and grabbed her arms digging in his fingers. He stood so close she smelled the whiskey on his breath. “I’m not ready to die. Why me? Huh? Why me, you crazy bitch? You know, I should just take you to a nice place with padded walls. What do you think about that?” He pulled her off the car.
She never blinked or looked away, but rather waited for him to finish his tirade. Are you finished?” She tried to shrug away, but when he wouldn’t relent, she gathered her power and pushed him hard. He fell on his backside and laid there with his hands hiding his face.
“Why are you making this so hard? Odin only calls those who deserve to fight at his side. You have to be very special, and you’ve earned this.”
He sat up and rested his arms on bent knees. Tears welled in his eyes. “Do you enjoy this?”
“It’s my calling. I don’t have a choice.”
“But what if you hadn’t found me? What if I never got into your car?”
“Do you believe in fate?”
He patted his chest. “Catholic, remember?”
“Sorry. I can never keep all your religions straight. It’s too complicated.”
Seth stood and walked to the car. Kai took a defensive stance. “Relax. I won’t grab you again.” He leaned in the passenger seat window and brought out the bottle of Jack, opened it, and downed the rest.
“Hold on there.”
Seth glared. “Seriously? I’m dead, right? What can this do now?”
“This life is over, but a new one is beginning and trust me, you’ll want to meet Odin with a level head and your wits about you.”
“Why?”
“He doesn’t like people to cross him, even the chosen. He plays to win, and you must play by his rules.” Kai nodded her head to the spot next to her on the hood. “Sit. We have a bit before the sun fully rises. Tell me about you.”
Seth shrugged and sat next to her. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, you never answered my question about the girl in your life. So, start there.”
“Erica?” Kai nodded. “We met in detention when we were both in junior high school. Neither of us turned in the homework assignment and Sister Mary Luisa was not happy. After we served our time, I walked her home, since it was dark. She kissed me in front of her house and told me that one day we would be married. I thought she was strange, but nine years later we walked down the aisle.”
“Are you still married?”
“No. It only lasted five years. We were miserable together before, I don’t know why we thought marriage would make it better.”
“Do you have children?”
He sighed. “We did. Ricky was two when he ran out into traffic to catch his ball.”
Kai placed her hand on his. “I’m sorry that happened. It’s never easy when a child dies.”
He glanced at her hand then lifted his eyes to her face. “Is death ever easy?”
“I suppose that is up to how you see it. I have seen many throughout my life who deserved to die. Some deserved to die the most painful death. I have seen just as many who died unnecessarily, and their deaths were wasteful.”
“Where do you think I fall in that range?”
“If Odin is calling for you, you must have been a warrior of great stature.”
“Hmm.”
“Do you doubt Odin?”
“Lady, I doubt all of this. I expect I’ll wake up with a nasty hangover.”
She studied the creases around his eyes and his mouth. The deep smile lines proved he was a happy person who enjoyed life. She needed more happiness in her life. And compassion. Hell, she needed more of everything positive. He also exuded a level of confidence and compassion. It was easy to wonder what would have happened if she met Seth under different circumstances.
“What happens now?”
Seth’s question shook her out of the daydream. “When the sun rises enough to glow on this area, a gate will appear. I unlock the gate and you walk through. Your new life begins.”
“Are they pearly gates?” He chuckled.
Kai tilted her head, not understanding the joke.
“You know the pearly gates, St. Peter, God, and such?” Kai’s face showed no understanding. “Well, I guess it’s a Catholic thing.”
“Do you remember anything before I picked you up?”
“Dispatch called me to Times Square to help with a hostage situation. This guy followed a family into McDonald’s and took over the whole place. He used the children as a shield to come out and talk to us. I guess it was his ex-wife with her new husband. He wanted more time with the kids. I saw an opening and tackled him.” He paused. “I don’t remember anything after that.”
“Someone shot you.”
“How do you know?”
“I heard it on the radio.”
The gray blanket of night faded into a sea of purple and pink clouds. “The sunrise is almost here.”
“And that’s it?”
“Pretty much.”
“What if I run?”
“I have to track you down.”
“Has anyone refused to go?”
“Yes.”
Kai’s face flushed with warmth. She turned to the horizon. “Those people went to a dark, evil place.”
“Hell?”
“I suppose that is what you call it.”
“Whoa.” Seth slid off the hood startled as he watched two stone pillars grow from the morning mist. A carved dragon sat on each one. A wrought-iron gate w
ith a center opening appeared between the pillars. The bay disappeared around them.
“That’s it?” Seth scoffed.
“You sound disappointed.”
“I thought it would be some big freakin’ deal. This looks pretty plain.”
“There are many gates to Valhalla.”
The sound of several racing motorcycles distracted them.
“The morning is getting started. My glamour will not shade us for long.” She went over to the gates and inserted her key in the lock. After two turns the lock clicked, and the gate creaked open.
“What is your last name, again?” she asked him.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
The motorcycles sounded closer.
“Mendez.”
Kai waved her arm ushering him to cross. “Seth Mendez, Odin welcomes you to Valhalla. May you serve long and fight with honor until the time comes for you to rest in peace.”
When Seth didn’t move, Kai added, “This is where you walk through the gate and we go on our merry way.”
Seth hesitated. Kai prepared for him to bolt and was surprised when he headed toward her.
“Am I supposed to thank you?” he asked her.
“That is up to you.”
“Will I see you again?”
“Probably not.”
“In that case.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close. She smelled his essence, a strong male scent of leather and earth. He pressed his mouth against hers and used his tongue to part her lips. Overcome with unexpected passion, Kai held him close and kissed him back, pressing her breasts against him. The key dug into her chest reminding her of her sacred duty.
He pulled away, smiled, and entered the gate. She stood there unsure what to think. That had never happened.
She turned surprised to see a line of six motorcycles headed her way. Seth’s presence still weighed on her. “Go,” she said over her shoulder. She inhaled and felt him no more.
She prepped for battle. “Are you lost?”
