Author's Note: I wish I owned this… I so wish I did, but I don't. Thanks for everybody who reviewed! Again, sorry that last chapter was so short. This one will be longer, I promise. Enjoy! And I'm also sooo sooo sorry that this is so late. My computer's been dead without a power for over a month (cries in dismay), so chapters will be coming out in a flurry. My thanks to everyone for being very patient.

Chapter 10: Sara Meets the Parents

Sara left when dismissed by Freya, but instead of immediately leaving to follow her runes, she called the memory of her earlier journey to Deliyyja's office. The other Valkyrie wouldn't be coming to stop her for a while, incapacitated as she was. She paused a moment, her back to a door in one of the halls and listened. That infernal man, Century, always seemed to pop up at the least opportune times. When she heard nothing, she smiled and continued.

"I want proof that what she said about Freya is true. And I want to know what she knows about me and Fenris Fenrir. And where are those frost giants that I asked for? She must have a map around here somewhere for their settlement. This is the only place in Midgard that they live besides Mistress Freya's palace estates," she muttered to herself as she walked through the halls. Now… was it right, right, left, and then up a flight before taking another right? Or do I have to go straight a ways before going down a flight and then right? Dammit. Sara's forehead furrowed into a frown as she concentrated on remembering the route Century had taken her earlier that day. After what seemed an interminable amount of time, she finally reached the Storm Springs' outer room.

Ignoring the snow, hail, fog, and other weather anomalies, Sara searched for the walls of the room. She put her hands in front of her and began to walk, not wanting to smack herself in the face. I guess I could use magick… but I don't really want to waste it, she thought. As she walked, the weather changed from snow to rain, and then to sun-filled skies… and Sara gasped.

"Helvetes levende… is this where she views events in Midgard?" Below Sara's feet was a map of Midgard laid out with it's respective weather patterns. Sara touched her mind to the town of Fayon, and suddenly, before her was the city of her birth from a bird's-eye view. Concentrating a little harder, she tried to send the magick to find her father.

Boom.

Sara was flung backwards, and as she fell, the image of Fayon disappeared. She landed in an undignified heap, and struggled to rise. As she did, she heard a laugh. There stood Century with arms folded, laughing at her. When she was finally able to rise; glaring at him through the entire process, Century held out one hand.

"Is this what you were seeking, Vættfang?" She looked at his outstretched hand, and indeed, there was the very object of her search: her father's image. She stared at it, amazed, before directing an annoyed look at Century.

"Who said I was seeking that person?" Century gave her an amused, very un-Century-like look.

"Your spell and thoughts did, Vættfang." Sara's muscles at her jaw twitched. Not good. This Century person was not supposed to know this level of magick. How did I miss this She narrowed her eyes at Century and motioned. The little figure on his hand disappeared and appeared in midair in front of Sara. She examined the figure, which was roughly one foot in height and proportioned likewise, looking for distinguishing features. And there, on his face was the most obvious one of them all… the scar. She remembered the dream again. Had the scar formed from her spell sent back at her father? No, she thought, I remember that it was already there, just not this visible. Her father's image showed the scar as a brilliant red – clearly showing the signs of a magical spell.

"Vættfang… are you done examining the person you weren't seeking yet?" Century's voice was mocking and Sara grew angry.

"What did… you … say to me?" she asked in a low voice. Century wasted no time in answering, still in the same tone of voice.

"I asked if you were done examining the person you weren't seeking. I mean… you seemed a mite interested in that person seeing as how you weren't –" Century cut off as Sara suddenly jammed three fingers into her rune pouch and muttered a curse spell.

"Now, now, Vættfang. I don't think that's such a good idea…" Century said as he held up his hands, but to no avail. Sara finished the curse with the muttered words, "Ødelegg fienden, som forbant for all evighet i de dypeste kretsene av Helvete." Century laughed and watched the curse speed towards him and then ringed himself in a shield of black fire veined with purple.

The curse grew to look like a giant black crow as it flew towards him, and when it impacted, Century felt his shield shudder. This is not right. She should not be able to cause so much of a reaction in my shield. The insolence. Century felt his power explode within him, and he allowed it to come, flowing out of him and expanding until it engulfed what was left of Sara's spell, shattering it. His hand fell to his side as the power took him over, erasing all reasoning except one: Protect Mistress Deliyyja and her interests. And Vættfang no longer was an interest of Deliyyja as of this moment to Century. The shield grew stronger as Century's anger grew and his humor faded.

"You think to frighten me with this little fireworks display, hmm, Century? Well you can forget it; you're no match for me," Sara taunted him. Century didn't answer, but instead tossed the ball of power at her. Sara stared at Century in shock for a brief moment in amazement before being galvanized into action. Her hand fell to her side also and power gathered in it as well.

"Oh, so you think you're a match for a Valkyrie, do you? Well, let's see what you have Century." Sara's eyes took on a dangerous glint and the power in her hand took on a golden hue. Snaking in and around the fingers on her lowered hand, the power grew larger and larger until it encompassed her entire arm. With a snarl she flung the power at Century, shouting as she did.

"Vættfang Fury!" The golden power snaked away from her and split three ways to surround Century. He took it in and stood there, much to Sara's puzzlement. Glancing to each side one and then forward again, he reached inside himself and drew out the true Century. Power, colored black with scarlet veins and tinged with purple to show his service to Deliyyja flowed into view. Century's eyes became black with purple irises and his hair changed color to black with purple ends in an instant.

Century whispered into the space, "Silent Thunder…" and the black power snaked out in almost a perfect replication of Sara's attack to whirl around Century, before seeking out the three bolts that had been released by Sara. Century's spell reacted to Sara's like the converse force, seeking out her spell much like a heat-seeker rocket would, and colliding with it to form an awesome explosion. Both were rocked back by the blast. Immediately afterwards, Century loosed another on Sara.

"Mindless Chaos!" he shouted as the spell left the swirling mass of black, purple, and scarlet that surrounded him. Sara gaped at him in astonishment, and barely had time to call up a shield for herself. As it was, she was only able to call the most basic shield for protection, so it was grossly inadequate.

"Odin's Shield!" Just after the shield spell had been uttered, Century's own spell struck it, shattering it easily. Sara was thrown backwards, landing in a heap for the second time in a very short while. Incensed, she stood up, the power coursing around her and attacked Century again, heedless of her own peril.

"Crimson Pyre!" Century didn't even move, and the spell was somehow manipulated to attacking it's caster. Sara was consumed within her own spell and after it was done, she glanced up, barely conscious.

"H- how?" Century walked over to her and looked down at her form on the 'floor', face impassive.

"Because my magick causes spells to go awry from the caster. And also because you made the mistake of attacking me in Mistress Deliyyja's most sacred room. Now… you will take off this compulsion, and then you will leave peacefully, yes?" Sara wanted to protest, but knew she had no choice. Century confounded her; first meek and scared, then powerful and unafraid. She held up a hand weakly and motioned; the compulsion rune fell off and burned to ash. Century nodded and then picked her up, anger gone, and with it the black fire.

"W- who are you?"

"I am Sella." And with that answer, Century carried Sara, the Vættfang Child of the Valkyries, out of the Storm Springs and into another room. Laying her on the ground, he motioned and dozens of the little ones came to him. He whispered something to them, and they chirped in agreement before flying to Sara and picking her up amongst themselves. Century left the room, and they followed, still carrying her.

Century led the lizards out of the castle and into the forest of Jotunheim surrounding it. Walking for another ten minutes of so before halting, Century made sure that the castle was out of sight. Finally at their destination, a cave, Century stopped low and entered, humming quite loudly. The little ones carrying Sara took up the tune as they went deeper into the cave. Roughly another five minutes later, Century stopped again and the little ones laid Sara down. She looked slowly around and saw that from another part of the cave was coming a pair of larger lizards. They looked slightly like wyverns, but not quite. Century saw the look and spoke.

"They are cousins of wyverns, and the parents of the little ones. They have insisted on guarding you until you can travel because they have no wish for Deliyyja to be killed and her house destroyed." Sara looked at the larger of the pair near her, searching for any weaknesses.

"Don't try it, Vættfang. They don't take kindly to bad magick. Deliyyja and I have yet to find a spell that will fell the adults. If you try, they may very well bite off your hands and feed them to their children. Goodbye." And with that, Century left Sara with her thoughts and a pair of large, hostile-looking lizards.

Who is Sella? And why does he go by the name of Century now?