Page 53 of Reaper
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Kyra
“Welcome to Valhalla.”
The women Skuld showed me in my vision all stand in a line before me. I turn in circles, searching for Reaper, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“He’ll be along soon,” Skuld assures me. “The Warriors have to check in with Odin first and debrief him.” She steps forward and loops her arm through mine. “Come, there is much to show and tell you.”
“Where are my kids?” I demand, digging in my feet. “I want to see Heidi and Hunter.”
You will soon.
“Odin?” I spin around again. I heard his voice, but like Reaper, he’s nowhere in sight.
“You’ll get used to that,” Skuld says. “Promise. And Odin’s right. You’ll see Heidi and Hunter soon.”
My brain scrambles to keep up. I know I’m in Valhalla because they welcomed me, and I recognize the place from thevision. What I don’t know is how I got here. That whole part is fuzzy.
One of the women steps beside me, opposite Skuld. “I’m Makayla, Viking’s wife. I can clear up that fuzziness if you’ll allow me.”
“Please.”
Just as Skuld did, Makayla cups my head, and my mind opens up to allow the memory to appear. It takes less than a second, and I rear away from Makayla. She smiles sadly.
“Sonny shot me in the head,” I say.
“You knew he would,” Skuld tells me. “Please, don’t blame Reaper for what happened.”
“What? Of course, I don’t blame him. His hands were tied. No matter what he said to Sonny, I was going to die. I knew that. I just… forgot in the transition.”
“That’s normal. No one entering Valhalla is aware of their death until we show them,” a gorgeous blonde explains. “I’m Emmy, Inferno’s better half.”
“You’re the only thing good about that Warrior,” someone teases. “I’m Eir, Inferno’s Valkyrie.”
“It’s going to take me a while to remember all your names.”
“It won’t take as long as you think,” Skuld says. “Things are different here in Valhalla.”
“Obviously.”
“Now, can we show you around while you wait for Reaper?”
“You promise I’m going to see Heidi and Hunter?”
“I promise.”
“Then, yes, please show me around.”
I’m ushered through Valhalla, introduced to so many Warriors and Valkyries, and fed boar. It’s hours before Skuld separates me from the others and escorts me to see Reaper.
“What is this place?” It looks nothing like the Fighting Arena, Academy Hall, the Mess Hall. It’s grander than all of them.
“This is Odin’s palace,” she says, leading me inside. “Reaper is in his office, waiting for you.”
“Oh.”
“It’s not as scary as it looks.”
