Later that week I found myself extremely bored. I had completed all my homework – therefore proving the boredom, and was left staring at my stereo player expectantly. Waiting for it to sing a tune to me that would make me feel instantly better.
I had grown awfully tired these past few days and it was not because of lack of sleep. It was, or so I thought, just the other day I realized Reid had been lying to me.
Not about anything trivial.
But about something very important. I already knew what it was that he possessed. It was part of my gift to know.
My first reaction was to storm up to his room and confront him, both guns blazing. But after careful consideration, I decided that simple hints would be sufficient.
Tired of my boredom, I carefully took out my long sword from my closet, having not touched it for months since I arrived at Spencer. Sylvie, my sister had insisted that I didn't need such medieval weapons in this day and age, saying that I should invest in a gun. But I refused to listen. Instead I practiced the well known dance of the swords, swaying, thrusting, whipping to he music in my head.
A knock on my door shocked me out of my reverie, and as I immediately threw my sword under the bed, Reid waltzed in.
"How did you open that? It was locked," I asked almost surprised.
He stared at me and confusion crossed his face.
"It wasn't locked," He said defensively. "No," I pressed, "It was. I locked it myself just this afternoon. I double checked." He sighed then.
"What's wrong?"
"I…uh… I'm not sure," I faltered.
He laughed then, catching me off guard.
"I don't see how this is funny, Reid," I said seriously.
His laughing stopped and he regarded me with curious eyes.
"What do you know?" He asked suddenly impatient. In two quick strides, he was perched on my bed.
"I only know what I saw was strange… and impossible," I said unsure that I was making any sense.
"Go on"
"Well," I said hesitantly, "I saw you just the other day, you know when you were playing a trick on Bordy, and your eyes flashed like fire. Then I overheard Caleb talking to Sarah about 'powers'. None of it even makes sense to me. Of course you opening the locked door without so much as a key again add to my suspicions" I finished, eyeing him.
"But that's not all."
"The part that disturbs me far more than any of it is the fact that you did not tell me." I glared at him now. I was sure that my face would have some effect on him. Nevertheless, it did not. So I spoke again.
"If you don't tell me the whole truth, right now, I won't forgive you."
The silence that ensued was excruciating, even for me. I was stubborn in my beliefs and was sure I was right, in some part, about what he was hiding from me.
"I don't care for what you tell me just that you tell me. I promise you I won't run screaming." I assured him, this time my voice was soft.
He looked up at me then, and I saw his eyes cloud over, going black in an instant.
I gulped but did not flinch. If this were another situation, I would have laughed.
"Very impressive," I said finally, when his eyes turn back to their normal blue. "However, it does not tell me anything."
He got up, opened the door and turned to look at me. "If you want to understand, then follow me".
Almost an hour later, I was ready to burst with excitement.
Of the many things I knew, it was this:
Reid and his friends had powers.
He could manipulate any situation, object or event to his advantage.
Lastly, he loved me.
I smiled, as I sat in the dark room that was the basement of the old house. It was filled with candles and ancient books.
"You're not even slightly disturbed by any of this?" Reid asked finally, satisfied that I was satisfied. I glanced up into his face.
I smiled.
"Not at all. Infact, it has only made me more interested in you. My life, however stupid this may sound, it so much more amazing." I said honestly.
"You're an odd bird, you know that right." He stated. It was not a question of my sanity. It was an observation. And he was very, very right.
I laughed at this, and cupped his face in my small hands. I kissed him fully on the mouth, my tongue finding it's way into his mouth. The appropriateness of the kiss was up in the air, but it made me feel better knowing that we had no secrets.
Well. Almost none.
I pulled away, content, but Reid would have none of it. He placed a gentle hand under my chin and lifted it upwards, and brought his lips to my own.
The kiss lasted only minutes as we were rudely interrupted.
"Hello," I said, more irritable than I had intended, into my phone.
"Oh thank god! Lil we have problems," My sister's voice spoke from the other line.
I sighed. Never good. "What is it, Sylvie?" I asked, becoming more alarmed by the minute. I didn't really need to ask the problem. I already knew.
They were here. Not after my Valkyrie sister's or me. But after the ones with the powers. I flinched and clicked the phone shut.
"Something wrong?" Reid asked. I sighed.
This would be a long day, when I was finished.
"You need to get the other's here. Immediately. I am calling a meeting with my brethren." I said.
He looked at me curiously.
"I will explain when everyone is present. Do you understand me?" I said. It was not a request. It was an order. My voice was hard and my entire body was tense.
He reached over to touch my face, a look of worry cast in his eyes at the sudden change in my mood. I stepped away form him and cowered behind the large stone statue that served as a chair.
"Not now. Not ever. This was not supposed to happen. Not with us," I babbled on, "We were never meant to be. I was here to…..". I stopped myself. Before I went too far.
And just as quickly as I stepped away from him, I sprinted to the entrance and away. I had to find my sister. I had to call the others to me.
I was furious. The pain could not register through me at this point. I needed my anger, to defeat them.
It hadn't thought it would come to this.
An hour later, everyone was assembled in the now small space that served as a meeting ground for the 'Covenant'.
I would have laughed at the weirdness of it all. As I glanced around I realized that my life from here on in would never be normal.
It perhaps never was.
Around the room, an assortment of tall and short females formed a large pack, all wearing black clothing. Some varied in that there were short dresses, some wearing pants and tops, others wearing skirts.
All were beautiful in their own right.
Kestrel was beautifully pale like me, her brown eyes soft and doe like. Her Blonde hair reached to the back of her thighs in a tight plait. Veloura had dark brown skin, and was tall with black eyes and short-cropped hair, wearing black pants and a bandeau top.
Danica was the most like an Amazonian woman, tall and muscular, yet voluptuous and very beautiful. She has jet black hair and tanned skin, and her eyes were sea green. Lucretia was small and pixie like, pale skin contrasting to her red hair and soft green eyes. She wore the most daring of outfits, a short dress that gaped at the top of her chest.
Saphyra, the most beautiful of them all was like a goddess. She was tall; taller than Danica, standing at 6'4. She towered over the men standing before me, wearing a long black gown, with slits on either side of the leg to allow free movement. Her almond shaped eyes were purple, and her brown hair tumbled around her in curls.
Then there was my sister Sylvia, and of course me. I had changed, reluctantly, into a backless dress that reached to my knees, but were also cut on either side. The top of the dress clung to my neck and the sleeves were in tatters, except for the wristbands and hand gloves.
Together, we were a vision. Each of us were strong, though we did not necessarily look it.
Caleb was the first to speak in awe. "Who… who are you?" He asked particularly to Saphyra, whom he perhaps assumed was the leader. She spoke with a soft melodic voice, easily capturing any attention she didn't have before.
"We are the Valkyrie. We are protectors of man and women alike." She stated.
I glanced over at Caleb, and saw that he was not satisfied.
"Valkyries are from the Norse Folklore. We were once shield maidens who hovered above battlefields, choosing the most strongest of warriors who were slain to take their soles and make them the Army of The Dead. Over the centuries, our purpose was somewhat…unfulfilling. So we became warriors in our own rights. The lords of the Dead Army did not like our disloyalty and banished the remaining Valkyries to walk the earth, as immortals until their rightful death," I explained pausing, "We are the descendants of immortals, sworn to protect Warriors from becoming the Valhalla."
Four pairs of male eyes stared at me. Six pairs of female eyes looked elsewhere. They knew this introduction all too well, those most had never had to speak it. We had never had a situation such as this. It was an alien feeling entirely.
We were used to fighting, practicing combat. But the confrontation, the explaining we had to do, was just beyond our reach. Even Saphyra, the eldest at 29 was a little taken back.
"So you're not immortal then?" Asked Pogue finally.
"Far from it" Replied Danica.
"Then why are you here?" Asked Reid.
"Because you are in danger. We are here to help you." Danica said firmly.
"But you aren't immortal. And forgive me but we can handle anything that's thrown our way…. You on the other hand…" Reid said, testing the theory. Before I could intervene, Danica was at him in an instant.
She grabbed his collar and lifted him high off the ground. Pogue, Tyler and Caleb all gasped at her strength. Reid's eyes widened. I chuckled.
"We may not be immortal, but we have amazing strength." I added helpfully.
With that Danica placed him on the ground, in front of me. He stood stunned there for a moment. Then his eyes glimmered with recognition. "Abbot. That's how you kicked his ass," He concluded.
Pogue then interrupted us by clearing his throat.
"So what kind of danger are we in, exactly?"
"The Army of Dead. They want you're powers for themselves. They have been tainted by this man that goes by the name of Chase. He told them that you're powers would strengthen their army." Explained Sylvia.
"How much time do we have, to I guess, prepare?" asked Caleb.
"A week. When he," Saphyra pointed to Tyler," Ascends, they will come looking. They're powers of immortality are useless on this earth, we have that much to our advantage. But unless we destroy them, they will never stop coming. Your aim? To stay alive".
And with that the remaining Valkyries took they're leave. My sister lingered at the doorway, "Be careful Lil. You're attachments can be destructive".