See Chapter One For Disclaimers.

NOTE: For those of you who aren't all that knowledgeable about Norse mythology, the Aesir are roughly the Norse equivalent of the Olympians. More accurately they were one of the two main factions of gods, the other were the Vanir. Please note those of you who DO know that the Valkyrie were not actually warriors, that I have and will continue to take some license with the concept. (Given the liberties that have been taken with Greek mythology in XWP, I don't think this should be too much of a problem for most of us. :))

Valkyrie Rising

Chapter Eight

The witch’s challenge hung in the frigid air, echoing eerily in the open parking lot. There was a subtle menace in the way she stalked toward them—a palpable threat. As she drew closer, Baldur had to stop himself from taking a step backward. A sidelong glance told him Ares had suffered a similar impulse.

Baldur knew he would not willingly pick up the gauntlet. Something about the woman set his teeth on edge, a nagging sense of familiarity. It was as if he had seen her before, as if he should know her. The feeling swelled within him, filling his mind with an uneasy wariness.

No. Let the Greek accept the challenge. The poor boy was already bristling under her scathing tone—it would take very little effort for the witch to push him to action. It wasn’t cowardice to let Ares face her first, Baldur assured himself. He was merely being prudent. There was no doubt she was dangerous. How a mere mortal could threaten a god eluded him at present, but he knew beyond question that she could.

There was a quality to the way she moved, a hint of sinister grace, that bothered him. It was the barest whisper of something incalculably old—something not quite human. She just didn’t seem mortal, despite the evidence of his senses. But why? What was it…

All thought tapered off as her mellifluous voice broke the silence. The hairs along the back of his neck rose to attention, and he knew his instincts were right on the mark. There was no mistaking the mocking laughter in her tone, and her attitude ignited his temper despite his misgivings. He almost felt sorry for Ares.

"So, is neither of you man enough to dance with me?"

Dance? She wanted to dance? What did she hope to gain? Baldur’s mind raced furiously as Ares took her proffered hand. As the music welled up from the air around them, he began to see the faintest glimmer of the truth.

Rikki held her breath for a moment, exhaling only when Ares took her hand. So far, so good. Everything hung on whether or not she could keep the two gods completely distracted. If they got wind of the Binding before it was cast, all hell was going to break loose. At least she knew she had them off balance for now. She could practically hear the gears grinding as the two of them tried to figure out what she was up to. It would have to be enough.

Smiling slightly, she freed the music from within her. It was always there in the background—now they could hear it too. She could only hope they found it as beguiling as she did. Clasping Ares’ fingers lightly, Rikki began to dance.

The moment the girl began to move, Ares knew he was in trouble. Her blazing hair undulated around her with a life of its own. It seemed to draw and hold the light, shifting in hypnotic patterns. He found himself unable to take his eyes off of her, bound as surely as if she were a siren. A siren that could ensnare a god. Caution struggled to rise in his mind, a faint stirring of memory that carried with it a warning. Ares tried to hold on to the elusive whisper, only to lose it in the liquid amber of her eyes.

Fran was in a towering fury. These interlopers were destroying her place and threatening the people that she considered hers. To make matters worse, Tee refused to let her fight. She should be defending them, not standing here helplessly. She’d finally quit cursing—out loud anyway. That didn’t mean she’d given up. Far from it.

She was only marking time. After all, Rikki was still coming. With her help, maybe they’d get some real answers. And Tee couldn’t hold her back forever. She’d be back in the thick of things soon enough.

Right now, matters appeared to have reached a standoff. Loki stood by the door haranguing Thor, and Megan had her arm tight around Ginger. That much, at least, was to the good. Those two belonged together. Coll and the rest of the Nightriders had all the exits blocked, for all the effect it was likely to have. She’d be willing to bet that these bastards didn’t need to use anything so mundane as a door.

Thor made a move as if to join Meg and Gin, but stopped short when a gleaming blade appeared in Megan’s hand as if by magic. Hell, it probably was magic. That would certainly fit in with the rest of this fiasco. As the sword raised toward the two gods in obvious threat, Fran cheered mentally. Good for her. It was evident that Megan didn’t want either of them anywhere near her. Hah. That ought to fix their wagon, but good. Whatever they were after, they wouldn’t get it easily.

They were definitely stalemated. Either someone would have to back down, or somebody would have to up the stakes. As she watched them, the way the combatants stood began to bother Fran. It was nothing concrete, just the niggling sense that something was missing… the wolf! What the hell had happened to the wolf?

The smell and the sound of the crowd were nauseating. Fenris wanted out. Wide open spaces and no people—that’s where he belonged, not in this chaotic warren of stinking mortals. His Father was being as useless as ever. He’d have to finish things himself or they’d be stuck in this human pit all night.

Besides, he’d caught the scent of something else just before they came in, something as powerful as his Father. He wanted to be far away before it arrived. While the others were focused on their futile confrontation, he slipped quietly through the crowd.

He would take out the Valkyrie’s Heart. Then it would be over. Without her Heart, the woman would no longer be a threat. They could take the Staff and move on.

It was simple enough to circle around behind them. Mortals always underestimated him, foolishly discounting him as no more than a beast. He had used their stubborn blindness to his advantage many times. This time would be no different.

Once he had a clear line of sight, he would tear out the woman’s throat. These insignificant thralls could not hope to stop him. They were too caught up in their own petty little drama. Complacently, he crouched to spring.

Coll surveyed the room with a practiced eye. Running security was nothing new, despite the unusual circumstances. So far everything appeared to be more or less under control, the combatants still deadlocked and unmoving. All the boys were in place, and he knew they’d do the best they could to keep things from getting any worse. Of course, this had to be the strangest gig they’d ever had. With luck, nothing else would happen.

As if he’d conjured it, a furtive movement to his left caught his attention. He pivoted on his heel to take a closer look. He was just in time to see the wolf gathering itself to spring. Damnation! The thing was obviously intent on Ginger, and there was no way he could reach it, or her, in time. He watched, powerless, as the massive beast launched itself on a collision course with the little blonde.

Megan hardly even batted an eye when the sword appeared in her hand. Her only thought was to protect Gin, and the brightly radiant blade gave her the means. On her oath, they would not touch Gin. They were through destroying Franny’s place too, although they might not know it yet. The raven’s cries swelled inside her, drowning out any fears that may have lingered. Her vision had proven at least that Gin was the Valkyrie’s Heart—the one on whom everything depended. Her own true Heart, soul mate through eternity. So be it.

As she finally embraced the notion with both mind and heart, Megan felt a great burden lift from her soul. All the guilt fled, leaving behind only a lingering sadness for what might have been. If…no, make that when… they got through this, she could only hope Gin would forgive her the wasted years.

Okay. Enough was enough. There had to be a way… Flicking her eyes around the room, she realized uneasily that the other members of Thor’s band were nowhere to be seen. They’d gotten clear somehow—more damned gods? Like as not, they’d gone for reinforcements. Ducky. Just what they needed. Holding onto Gin a little tighter, she wracked her brain for a solution.

She didn’t have time to come up with one.

Someone in the crowed screamed, and all heads turned toward the sound. The mass of fur and fangs hurtling toward them barely registered on her consciousness before an incredibly fast blur knocked it from the air. Two figures grappled on the ground—the wolf and a single man.

It was Arlen! What the hell was up with that? She’d known him for years; he had always been very laid back and unhurried. Since when could he move like that? Nothing human possessed that kind of speed. The sword blazed in her hand, responding to her uneasiness.

He watched Ares dance with the witch, his alarm mounting steadily. The little godling was obviously spellbound, a feat no mortal should be able to achieve. Something was horribly wrong. Baldur knew he needed to warn Thor, yet he was unable to wrest his attention from the spectacle in front of him. It was almost as if she had bound him too. Something inside him quivered at the thought. What in Odin’s name was she?

As the music swelled, then slowly faded he became aware of another woman watching them. She hadn't been there earlier, he was sure. Where had she come from? Shaking off the music’s spell, he took a good look at her. In her own way, she was as striking as the girl. Tall and incredibly slender, with hair as dark as the night sky framing a finely drawn face—a face that betrayed her race as surely as if it had been shouted to the stars.

As he met her golden eyes, he knew why the witch had troubled him. She was half-blood, mortal. This one was not. It seemed the Hidden Folk were no longer sequestered in stone, but walked openly once more. For the first time in a long while, he knew the cold sting of fear.

With a lover’s certainty, Rikki felt Elaine’s arrival before she saw her. At last. Now the battle would truly begin. As her partner’s power grew and filled their makeshift circle, she spoke the final word of power that would close the Binding her other friends had set in motion.

A wicked smile curled her lips as she saw the dawning realization in Baldur’s eyes. He, at least, knew what was happening. Ares merely looked confused. Pathetic. Fighting the urge to taunt him, she turned toward the door. "I think it’s time we went inside." was all she said.

The air inside the Black Java fairly crackled as an odd greenish haze filled the room. Thor and Loki wheeled as one to face the door, sporting identical expressions of disbelief. The wolf abruptly broke away from Arlen, and began to howl.

The crowd finally began to realize that this was more than just a spectacular show. The first stirrings of panic grew rapidly, spreading like wildfire through the room. People scrambled toward the doors, only to find their passage blocked by the Nightriders. It would take very little now to cause a riot.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Arlen began to laugh. In her own inimitable fashion, his sister had just made her presence known. Rikki always had known how to make an unforgettable entrance.

Gin clung to Megan’s side like a burr. Not that she had a choice. If Meg squeezed her any harder, she was going to break something. Oddly enough, the crushing pressure was vaguely reassuring in its own way. The sight of the wolf coming at her all fur and fangs had shaken her badly, and the way Megan was holding on said it had rattled her too. She was beginning to feel like she was trapped in a nightmare.

The tension in the air was so thick you could almost reach out and touch it. On top of everything else, Arlen appeared to have lost his mind. First, he attacked the wolf, fighting with it on its own terms. Gin could almost feel the fury rolling off of them. If anything, his behavior had frightened her more than the actual attack.

It was too far removed from his usual easygoing air. Now that the fight was over, he sat on the floor roaring with laughter. There was a strange prickling sensation on Ginger’s skin, and the peculiar green lighting added to the general air of unreality. Worse yet, whatever caused the weird haze appeared to have frightened both Thor and Loki.

As the door of the Black Java began to open, the crowd drew a collective breath. The sword in Megan’s hand began to sizzle and spark with blinding intensity. Gin didn’t even want to think about that. Two men stumbled through the door as though they had been shoved. One of them was the other god that had talked to Megan earlier. What would be shoving a god around? No doubt, they’d find out all too soon. There was a moment’s pause, then two women stepped into the room.

Coll’s eyes narrowed as the women came through the door.

One of them was Rikki, Arlen’s sister. That meant witchcraft was involved. Just what they needed now.

The other one—well, if he didn’t know better he’d swear she was an elf. It was obvious that Thor and Loki knew her too. Both of them were decidedly nonplussed by her appearance.

…Interesting.

The dark haired woman glanced casually around the room before fixing Thor with a scornful glare. "So, the Valkyrie rises again. Have you learned nothing, Odin’s Son? Your interference nearly cost us everything the last time, yet here you are again." Shaking her head in disgust, she turned to Loki. "And you! Who set you free? Your fool wife?" Without giving either of them a chance to answer, she faced Megan. "You want answers. Will you trust mine?"

Both Loki and Thor were spluttering with outrage, but the woman paid them no heed as she awaited Megan’s answer. Coll silently applauded her performance. It was a masterpiece of arrogance.

He watched with interest the expressions that crossed Meg’s face at her words. It was almost like watching her shift into a different personality for a fraction of a second. He knew her decision before she spoke.

"I will." The words were harshly spoken, but there was no hesitation in them.

"Let it be done then." The elf, for Coll could not think of her as anything else, raised her hands skyward as if beckoning to something. "All Father, hear me. Call your wayward children home."

"I’ll do better than that, I’ll come and get them!" A deep voice rolled out of the empty air.

There was a clap of thunder and a searing flash of light. Megan’s eyes began to water profusely, and she wondered what she’d agreed to. For a moment, the sound of ravens quieted in her mind. Only for a moment. Then the noise returned, this time calling out in joyous recognition.

As her eyes readjusted to the light, Megan saw a tall, grizzled man in well-worn leathers standing in the middle of the room. He had a patch over one eye, and an oversized raven perched on each shoulder. Odin. As if they didn’t have a surfeit of gods underfoot already.

The younger gods watched him with something very like fear in there eyes, but his attention was focused solely on the one who had called him. Only his ravens paid any attention to the rest of the room. When he spoke, his voice was tight with suppressed rage. "You presume much, woman."

"I would dare far more to stop this meddling, One Eye. You and yours have no place here."

"Asgard goes where it wishes, Alfar."

She laughed, softly. It was a cold sound, full of scorn. "Asgard is an empty shadow of a time long past. The Aesir have no stake in this."

"You seek to set Alfheim in the highest place, bringing Ragnarok down on us all." It was a harsh statement, fraught with paranoia.

"The Skyhome is long gone, as well you know. The mortals accept the guidance of their own hearts now. We have merely learned to dwell among them. And as for Ragnarok, it comes at its own pace. We will guard the Valkyrie and her Heart this time. You must leave, and take this rabble with you." She waved her hand vaguely at Thor and the others.

Odin look at the woman for a long time. Finally, he gave a grudging nod. "Do you want me to take the Greek too?" Was his only question. Something in her eyes must have answered him, because without another sound he and the others were gone.

Megan had found their conversation more than a little alarming. They were talking about the end of the world here—the end of everything. It was way too much to swallow all at once. They acted like she could stop it somehow. Suddenly, she wanted to be anywhere else but where she stood. If this didn’t end soon, she’d be bouncing off the walls in a rubber room, not saving the world.

Tee and the other Nightriders began clearing the crowd in an orderly fashion, while Rikki and her friend talked to Fran. All of them appeared to be very nonchalant about the whole thing. It was all very business as usual. Something inside of Megan snapped. The sword in her hand faded back into nothingness leaving her holding only to Ginger.

Gin. The one sane thing in this whole mess. Meg looked down to see the little writer watching her with worried green eyes. That she could fix. Grabbing her hand, she fairly dragged the other woman toward the storeroom. Bolting the door behind them, she turned and hauled Ginger into her arms. She could see the questions in her eyes, but she didn’t care. Explanations could come later.

All thought ceased the moment their lips met. There was an urgency in the kiss that demanded a response, and it got one. The two melted together, their passion drowning out the rest of the world.

(c) M.C. Sak 2001

Back *** To be Continued