Valkyrie 01 - Dead Radiance by T. G. Ayer

Author:T. G. Ayer [Ayer, T. G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1469998165
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Published: 2012-02-23T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

We walked into the dark night. Behind us, the lights went out in Ms. Custer's house. I held back heated tears, unsure if I'd ever see her or Izzy or Simon again. My foster family had been ripped asunder, and I stood helpless in the middle of the turmoil.

Looking back, maybe for the last time, I studied the porch and the swing, trying to etch them into my memory. Trying to ensure I'd never forget where I came from. Where I'd sat hidden behind the rose bush, eating up Aidan with my eyes the day he rode into my life. The stairs I'd raced down that day he'd thought he could just walk straight out of my life without so much as a goodbye. The bush at the corner of the property behind which I'd hidden to watch Aidan and his goons leave, before I'd been whisked away to a place I'd never dreamed existed. To an unbelievable life.

I yanked my eyes away.

Goodbye, Mom.

Sometimes I wanted to just give it up, to just go back home, but Asgard made so much sense and gave me a fantastic reason to exist. For the first time, I had a real purpose in life. Maybe I did have something to thank my father for.

Fen and I passed under the large oak at the foot of the driveway. A movement caught my eye; a curtain swayed in one of the windows across the street. Some things never changed in this neighborhood. Nosy neighbors.

I glanced at Fen, relieved he blended into the shadows. His presence would definitely cause a stir on this quiet street. Hopefully I hadn't been seen either.

I had to trot to keep up with Fenrir as he strode ahead. "What did you mean by my Retrieval?" I asked.

"That is the reason you have come to Craven, Brynhildr. The reason you are here at all."

"You called out everyone else's names and then told them who they would be retrieving. But you didn't give me a name."

He didn't even bother to slow down, just walked on, crossing the street, expecting me to run just to catch his words. "So you thought you did not have a Retrieval to complete?"

"I guess." Now I felt foolish. "So do we have a name?"

"Wait. Some patience will do you good." Fen sounded strange, his voice tight and emotionless.

The darkness lay thick and oily around us. Pointless examining his face for clues as to what was bugging him. Even if I waited for the clouds to move and reveal the moonlight, it would probably be of no use. Fenrir was too good at hiding his emotions.

Despite the darkness, I recognized my surroundings. We passed the park where Aidan had sat on the swing beside me and watched Brody. The wind shoved through the trees and the two lonely swings swayed back and forth. Strange and eerie.

We drew closer to the pathway where Pete and his friends had attacked me. My heart clanged in my chest, imprisoned in a steel cage with the memories of my near disastrous experience.

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