Bo

As the taxi rolled up to the Dahl, Bo worried for a moment, thinking that Dyson might be there. But then, Trick might not let him in after what had happened recently. Bo just had to trust in Trick. She paid the taxi driver and walked into the bar where she was pleased to see her grandfather polishing glasses. Also, Dyson was nowhere to be seen. She walked up to the bar.

"Trick."

"Bo! Where have you been? I've been so worried about you!"

Bo gladly accepted his hug. "I've been staying with Tamsin. Sorry to worry you all but I wanted to stay off Dyson's radar for a while."

Trick nodded. "Given the circumstances, I think that is a very sensible idea. Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'll be alright. I'm a little full actually. Tamsin's been helping me with feeding."

Trick frowned. "Don't lead her on, Bo. A broken heart can kill a Valkyrie, and she's a valuable asset to our team."

"Team?"

"You know what I mean, Bo. She's very useful. Not only does she have centuries worth of knowledge but she's skilled in battle and can outwit many foes."

"Trick, I think Tamsin is working against us. Or me at least."

"What do you mean?"

Bo told Trick all she knew and had heard from the conversation she had overheard from Tamsin while she had been on the phone. Trick listened and disappeared into his cellar for a few moments. He came back with a huge dusty book. He blew the dust away from the pages and carefully looked through the index before finding the page he was looking for. He began to read.

"A long time ago, there was a Fae named Odin. He lived during the times of the Vikings. He was very powerful and deceived the simple minds of the Vikings into believing he was a God. He influenced Viking culture and mythology. You've heard the story of Thor, right?"

Bo smiled. "Of course. You used to tell me when I was little. Plus, they just brought out that film with Chris Hemsworth. He is so yummy…"

"Moving on, Bo. In the old legends, Thor is Odin's son. However, Odin never had a son, he made that part up. He told stories of the Fae world to the humans, naming it Asgard which the Vikings took to be Heaven. Eventually, as the Viking era began to die away, Odin moved on. He adapted himself to live throughout the years. Then it came to the war between Dark and Light. Now you see, Odin was part of the Dark Fae. And like I was, he was searching for a way to end the ongoing war in favour of his side. My solution was to become the Blood King and write new laws. His solution, had it worked, would have had terrible consequences."

"What does this have to do with Tamsin?"

"I'm getting to that. Odin began to use his power to find the most accomplished warriors. He wanted an unstoppable army that would tear down the Light Fae and leave the Dark Fae to rule the humans. But he could not do it alone. He needed help and so he decided to create an obedient following that would help him find and recruit these exceptional soldiers. It was not easy for him until one day he came across a woman fighting off a man who had been trying to take advantage of her. In her eyes, he saw the passion and fire that burned in her desire to kill the man. And so, Odin tossed her a dagger and she drove it through the man's heart. And so, the first Valkyrie was created. Her name was Alleyria. Odin used his great power to give Alleyria powers of her own, such as the power of implanting doubt deep into a victim's mind. Sound familiar?"

Bo nodded. "One of Tamsin's favourite methods."

"Odin trained Alleyria well until she was a fighting force herself. But he realised too late that the powers he had gifted her with were draining her life force away. As she began to fade away from him, he quickly began searching until he created a group of 50 Valkyrie. They were all gifted with the same powers Alleyria had, and they were all trained to be ruthless in battle. When one Valkyrie faded and died, he would bring another to be trained in her place. The Valkyries were always women for Odin could not risk a male Valkyrie trying to usurp his power."

"When the Valkyries were ready, they were sent away to find bloodthirsty, angry, strong warriors that Odin could have in his army. They came from all over the world, from different eras of time as Odin waited a long time to be sure that his army could not be defeated. But Odin wanted something else. A power that even he did not possess. He wanted a Succubus."

Bo startled. "Why did he want a Succubus? What could he possibly need with someone like me?"

Trick read on. "He wanted a female Succubus to marry him, so that their children would be of an unthinkable kind of power. His legacy would go on and he hoped that the long line of his descendants would eventually rule the Earth for themselves. But he had to find a Succubus first. And sadly, he did find one but she was close to death when he got to her. He tried his best to heal her but when she was better, she would not stay. Alas, Odin had fallen in love with the woman while caring for her. She decided to stay with him for a little while but soon found she was with child, and she did not know if Odin was the father. Fearing his wrath if he was not the child's father, she fled Odin's land and did not return although she left him her bracelet as a token that perhaps she too had fallen in love with him. Inscribed on the bracelet was her name, for it had been a gift from her mother. Odin never took the bracelet off and vowed to find her again, and their child."

Bo had tears in her eyes. "You made him sound so horrible, but his story is so sad."

"Bo, you must understand that he was Dark Fae…and there was only one female Succubus around at the time. It just turned out by luck that she was Dark Fae too."

Bo's face paled. "No, you can't mean…surely you can't mean…mom?"

Trick read from the book again. "Odin's lost love was named Aoife. Yes, Bo, Odin is your father. We kept it from you because he is so dangerous. It's his gene in you that makes you lose control. If he ever found you, he would encourage you to lose control and kill the ones you love. He would probably target me first; I am, after all, his father in law."

Bo had a determined look on her face now. "I won't let that happen. Now, tell me about Tamsin."

Trick turned back to the book. "It says that Odin was depressed when Aoife left him. It was around that time that his Head Valkyrie died so he set off to find another. While he was searching for a replacement, the Valkyrie accompanying him also died and he was lucky to come upon two women who were perfect for his needs. Their names were Acacia and Tamsin. They were lovers living in a difficult world where their relationship was opposed by all that it was revealed to. Odin bribed them into his service and they became his best Valkyrie. He married them and Acacia became the Head Valkyrie while he sent Tamsin on the ultimate mission. Find Aoife. However, she failed. And so he asked her to find his child instead. She was instructed to bring him or her to him when she had found them."

"That's what she's doing. She's waiting until I'm completely under her control and then she's gonna take me off to see Daddy."

"That's what it sounds like."

"Trick, why didn't Odin's plan with the army work?"

"Because you and Aoife became his new priority. He still has his army which is why it is vital we don't provoke him. His army was frozen in time, so they would not age and so they would be ready for their master's command when he eventually led them into a great battle that luckily never came. After I stopped the basic bloodshed between the Dark and Light Fae, Odin became lost and desperate in his quest to find both you and Aoife. He became known as The Wanderer."

"Well, well. Haven't you become a wise old man?"

Bo and Trick turned to see a shadowed figure of a man in the doorway. He was thin yet muscular and he carried a cane with him but he had no trouble walking. The position he was stood in looked exactly like the Tarot card "The Wanderer". Trick stood in front of Bo.

"You're not welcome here, Odin. Leave." Bo sensed his nervousness and drew her faithful dagger. The man looked towards her.

"Now, now, Isabo. Is that any way to treat your father?"