Valkyrie by Kate O'Hearn Page A

people must be punished.’
    The old woman shook her head and sighed. ‘It is not as simple as that. We need proof, but we have none. So those people get away with murder.’
    Freya frowned at Alma. ‘Your son told me he knew his family was in trouble but Victoria hadn’t told him what it was. He was desperate to get back to you. Even after I delivered him to Valhalla, it was all he talked about. Is this part of what Victoria was afraid to tell him?’
    Alma nodded. ‘She didn’t want to worry him, but it was getting bad.’
    ‘I promised Tyrone I would help. What can I do for you?’
    ‘I don’t think even an angel can help us,’ Alma said sadly. ‘They want this house and will take it by force if they must.’
    ‘Who wants your house?’ Archie asked.
    ‘John Roberts Developments. They’ve bought up most of the houses on this street and the street behind us so they can build their condominiums for Chicago commuters. But me and several others won’t sell. They are offering less than the value of our houses. We won’t be bullied out of our homes. But they’ve started to burn us out. Just last week our neighbour’s house burned down.
    ‘So we’ve seen,’ Archie said.
    ‘But if they are using violence,’ Freya said, ‘wouldn’t it be better to go?’
    ‘If we let men like that drive us away, we are surrendering to evil. With my last, fading breath, I will fight them. They won’t drive my grandbabies from their rightful home. It is all they will have.’
    ‘Even if it means you may be hurt?’
    Fiery determination rose in Alma’s eyes. ‘Even if it means that. Good must stand up to evil or we are all lost.’ She paused and her eyes faded. ‘It’s my Tamika I worry about. She walks to school. What if they go after her? The police won’t protect her.’
    ‘I could walk with her,’ Archie volunteered. ‘You don’t live too far from me. I could come here right after my paper route.’
    ‘Would you do that?’ Alma asked. ‘I would pay you.’
    Archie shook his head. ‘I don’t want your money. Just to help, if I can.’
    Freya looked at him in disbelief. He was being threatened by bullies and wouldn’t defend himself. And yet he was offering to help a stranger who was in greater danger. Humans confused her.
    ‘And me,’ Freya finally said. ‘I will go to school with you both.’
    ‘What!’ Orus cried. ‘Freya, this is getting out of hand! YOU CANNOT STAY HERE!’
    Freya looked at the raven on the table. ‘I promised Tyrone I would protect his family. That’s what I intend to do.’ She looked up at Archie and Alma. ‘I am going to stay here until this danger has passed. But I will need your help.’
    ‘What can we do?’ Alma asked. ‘Please tell me, Angel, I will do anything.’
    Freya rose and opened her large, black wings. ‘Teach me how to look like a human.’

CHAPTER EIGHT
    I t was late in the night and Freya was wide awake. Archie had gone to bed hours earlier. In Asgard, Freya did sleep. But here, she felt no need. She decided to use the time to explore Brian’s bedroom.
    It was all so strange and yet wonderful. She tried on his leather trousers and a belt to keep them secured. She liked the way they felt and looked. Then she tried his heavy black boots. They were too big, but when Freya stuffed the ends with tissue they fit fine. She tried on some of his shirts, cutting slits in the back so they fell around her large, bulky wings.
    Alma had said she was a dressmaker by trade and had offered to make Freya some special clothes to wear to school; Freya planned to take her up on the offer.
    ‘Are you trying to look like a boy?’ Orus complained. He was seated on the bed, pecking at the shiny buttons on a discarded shirt.
    ‘No, I’m trying to look like a human,’ Freya explained. ‘And you really aren’t helping.’
    ‘Why should I help you?’ the raven said. ‘The moment Odin sees us, he’ll have our wings.’
    ‘He’s not going to see us. We won’t be here