Triumph 10

 Lenneth kept a firm grip on the vampire’s hand, her skin crawling at the cold feel of his fingers laced around hers. She kept her face blank of emotion, determined to not let it show how much it bothered her to be touched by him. She had initiated the contact, but her mind protested it, finding it blasphemous that the undead should willingly be held by the divine. It mattered little that she did not want his touch, that she was doing this solely to avenge Odin.

Lenneth gave a shake of her head, braid flapping behind her as she ran, hearing the rustle of her skirt. His heavier tread sounded loud behind her, the vampire easily keeping up with her as she dragged him along. She tensed, leg muscles bunching up, and was suddenly flying forward, leaping through the portal. She passed easily enough through the white light, soaring like a bird freely through the air. It was when her outstretched hand passed through the portal that she encountered a problem. Her flight slowed down, and she could feel the drag on her arm, the very air resisting the vampire’s presence.

Pain stabbed through her fingers, as they were cruelly wrenched free of Brahms’ grasp, her hand suddenly empty, sending her hurtling the rest of the way through the white light. Her eyes flew open in shock, she was already twisting her head around to peer behind her, even as she fell to the ground. She landed on her feet, and turned with a cry, seeing Brahms standing bemused on the other side of the portal.

Misunderstanding the situation, she approached it. “What do you think you are doing?!” She demanded, her hand going over the pommel of her sword. She narrowed her eyes at the vampire, wondering what trick he sought to play on her now. Her other hand was coming forward, going to touch the portal, and an electric current went through her skin, causing her to bite back a cry as she leapt away from it. That had hurt!

She drew her sword free of the sheathe at her side, cautiously approaching the white light. Thrusting her sword forward, it came up against a solid wall of air, unable to pass through, harmlessly scraping on the surface. “A forcefield…” breathed out Lenneth, eyes wide. She stared through the portal at the vampire, feeling the betrayal wash over her face. Shame was working it’s way through her, making her feel like a fool for having trusted the Lord of the Vampires. “NO!!” She raged, and began frantically banging her sword against the forcefield over and over again.

“Betrayer!” She screamed. “Eater of souls!” Her sword made no dent in cracking the forcefield, the force of her swings making her arm throb from the strain. She barely registered the look of sorrow that was in Brahm’s eyes, didn’t understand the words he tried to mouth to her. Rage colored her vision, and again she berated herself for falling into his trap.

“What are you doing?!” Lenneth gasped, seeing Brahms kneel. His claws swept through the mud puddle, locating the Water Mirror shard. “Don’t!” She meant it as an order, but it came out more as plea. She watched as his fingers touched the shard, scooping it out of the dirty water. He glanced up, and his eyes locked onto hers, before he gave a rueful shrug of his shoulders. Slowly his hand closed around the shard, and the portal went dead.

“Noooooo!” She wailed, rushing forward, passing through the area where the white light had been. This time she met with no resistance, the air normal once more. Lenneth breathed deeply, trying to calm her rage. With the portal gone, Brahms had left her trapped in this strange new world, with no way to return home. “I am a fool…” She muttered, leaning against the bark of a tree.

How long she stood there, she did not know, slowly gathering her wits about her. She considered her options, limited though they were. She was here, hale and hearty, with her weapons and mind intact. True she was friendless and alone, but she had faced worse situations in the past with no one to guard her back. She had survived then, and she would survive now. She just had to preserver until Freya noticed her absence, and sent someone to investigate.

“Yes…” She murmured out loud, trying to soothe her nerves. “Freya will find a way to get me out. I just have to believe!” Her blue eyes blazed with determination, and she straightened, stepping away from the tree. Sword sheathed at her side, she reached up to her feathered helm, adjusting it into place. She ran her fingers down the front of her armor, checking to make sure it had not loosened. The act of pulling herself together did much to calm her nerves, and it was with confidence that she strode forward, intent on exploring her new surroundings.

Off in the distance she heard the howl of wolves, reminding her that she was not alone in this world. “I don’t expect to find many friendly faces here.” commented Lenneth, once again drawing her sword. She liked hearing the sound of her own voice, it comforted her, chased away the disturbance she felt at being alone. She begin walking forward, using her sword to hack away at low hanging branches, her footsteps cautious on the ground.

Her senses were on the alert, all straining to keep aware of any possible ambush. She walked carefully, taking care to avoid stepping on twigs, to not kick aside pebbles, everything done to avoid making any more sound than necessary. She came to a clearing, her eyes doing a sweep of the area, taking in the dark trees that surrounded it, their limbs twisted and gnarled, the holes in their trunks resembling faces.

Lenneth all but tip toed forward, sword held at the ready, blue eyes darting back and forth. She could feel someone watching her, feel their gaze boring into her body. Her skin prickled, and she turned, letting out a wild cry. “Prepare yourself!” It was a vampire before her, clad in purple robes. He let out a hiss of surprise, ducking to avoid her swipe, hood falling free to reveal magenta colored hair.

She grinned, a cruel look in her eyes as she followed the vampire, tracking his progress. He would be good sport, the perfect outlet for her rage. “Your master eludes me, but you won’t avoid my blade!” He was rolling to the side, frantic to avoid her attacks. Her sword hit against the sandy dirt of the clearing, kicking up dust clouds, obscuring her vision. Her senses screamed out a warning.

“Over there!” She turned, thrusting to the left her. She gazed with impassive eyes at the vampire impaled on her blade. “Mi…Mistress…” It gasped out weakly to Lenneth, before crumbling to dust. “Pitiable.” Lenneth shook her head. “He didn’t even put up a fight. Would that all vampires proved such easy prey.”

She journey onwards, and was unsurprised to encounter more vampires. What did surprise her was the ease at which they fell to her blade, none daring to fight her. It left her frustrated, wondering what was wrong with the undead of this world. “Is there no one here that would fight me?” Lenneth demanded disgustedly.

“None Mistress…” She turned, spotting a vampire skulking in the rooftops of the trees.

“Come down from there!” She ordered, seeing the undead fiend hesitate.

“I’d rather not.”

“Come down or I shall come up after you!” threatened Lenneth. The vampire visibly flinched. “I cannot disobey an order from you.” The female leapt down, landing on her knees before the Valkyrie. She lowered herself even further, prostrating herself before the battle maiden, though she was careful to keep her eyes on the girl’s sword.

“What do you mean?” Lenneth asked, curiosity holding back her blade. “Who am I to give commands to a vampire?”

The vampire female gave her an odd look, cautiously rising to lean back on her knees. “You are everything to us…” Lenneth was astounded to hear the worshipful tone in the vampire’s voice. “You shine brighter than the sun itself, none would dare lay a finger on you…” Here the words turned slightly accusatory. “Not even to save themselves from your wrath.”

Lenneth frowned. “You speak in riddles that make no sense. Why should I be important to the likes of you?”

“Because you are important to him.”

“Him?” She arched an eyebrow. “Who? Brahms?”

The vampire looked confused, shaking her head no. “You are beloved of the master, that alone merits obedience to you.”

“I am no one’s beloved.” Lenneth said coldly.

“You’re wrong!” The vampire’s eyes blazed, bright with urgency. “Lady Lenneth stop this madness at once…cease this wanton destruction and return to his side…” The vampire was rising to her feet, her long fingers reaching toward Lenneth, intending on stealing the sword out of her grip. Lenneth twirled it once before bringing it forward, chopping off the vamp’s head. “I know not what game you play with me…” Lenneth commented as the head rolled on the ground. “But I like it not…!”

“No game…” muttered the head in protest, even as her body started to crumble. “Return to the one who loves you…” The head fell silent, the green eyes staring up pleadingly at Lenneth.

“Bah!” scoffed the young Valkyrie, kicking the head away from her. “What does a vampire know of such things?!” She turned, intent on resuming her journey.

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It was chilly, the cold wind howling out it’s rage, rustling the flaps of his jacket. Lezard paid the cold no mind, his newly divine blood rendered him impervious to anything but the most extreme of climate changes. Instead he stood there, silent and still, letting the snow fall on him, ignoring as the white flakes slowly built up on his body, coating him from head to toe.

He gazed at the ice crystals that surrounded this dark corner of his world tree, the jagged glaciers and frozen solid trees. It was a desolate wasteland, cold and uncaring, devoid of much in the way of life. It was a fitting place to brood, the supreme ruler of all he surveyed falling into a fit of depression, the after effects of a bout of heavy drinking.

It was just not fair. He thought to himself. He should be happy, delirious in fact, his victory over the Gods bringing him his every desire, his every wish ready to be fulfilled. Untold power lay in his hands, the ability to shape and mold destiny within his fingertips. It should have gotten him whatever he wanted. And yet one thing still eluded him. Lenneth’s heart. The sole reason for everything he did, and still it eluded him. It frustrated the necromancer, made him angry and snappish, forcing him to hide from her, lest he inflict his foul mood onto the Valkyrie.

It didn’t help matters that Lezard was growing increasingly sexually frustrated, the lust filled trysts he initiated with Lenneth never coming to fruition. “Lenneth…” He moaned out her name, every fiber of his being burning for her. Visions of her teased him, her body beckoning him forward, tantalizing his senses with the memory of her. He recalled the silk of her hair, soft moonlight captured in his hands. Her body was even softer yet, supple in all the right places, her lean stomach firm under his touch. Lezard closed his eyes, but couldn’t escape the images, recalling her writhing in his lap at the touch of his fingers.

“So close…” He whispered. “We were so close…” What had changed, rendering her willing one instant, and combatant the next? Was it a game she was playing, some odd form of revenge, to drive him out of his head with desire? “Things would be so much simpler if I only wanted your body.” mused Lezard, knowing he couldn’t be satisfied with that alone. He was slow to realize that one of the obstacles he faced was the fact he only knew how to seduce, to beguile her into his arms with the promise of the body’s pleasure. Lezard did not yet have the knowledge of how to court a woman in matters of the heart, did not know how to woo her without introducing sex into the mix. He wasn’t even sure he had the patience to learn.

He shook his head, the movement causing the snow to fall off of him. His hand moved, rising into the air, gathering up the flakes between them. He concentrated, and began shaping the snow, forming a tiny figurine. Lenneth’s face smiled sweetly up at him, and he just stared for a moment, before tightening his fist. Crushed snow seeped out his fingers, his purple eyes darkening with promise. “I will have you Lenneth…body and heart…now and forever…Afterall…” He let out a joyless laugh. “We have all eternity to spend together.” She’d simply have to come to care for him…otherwise she’d spend a millennia by his side, completely miserable.

Lezard let out a morose sigh, knowing he did not want that. He wanted Lenneth happy and willing, something all his power, all his magic, had yet to make happen. He gave a toss of his head as though to shake himself free of such thoughts. “It’s time…” He muttered, and once again his arm was moving, hand casting intricate runes in the air before him. The wind picked up around him, his brown hair rustling, bangs flying back from his face. Soft pink light glowed before him, a portal slowly opening up.

A glittering, shining scene beckoned him forward. Verdant beauty, a stark contrast to the realm he found himself in, spread out as far as the eye could see. Healthy trees, lovely shrubbery of pastels, pinks, purples, and blues greeted his eyes, and tiny fairies flew about, tending to the colorful bushes. In the distant a palace could be seen, made of glittering coral, twin turrets twisting into a spiral, reaching up into the heavens. This was Lezard’s ultimate destination. He steeled his face into grim determination, and stepped forward, disappearing into the light.

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How long had she been traveling? Only hours it would seem, but to the Valkyrie it felt like a small eternity had gone by. She saw many sights, encountered countless creatures, from the mundane bats, to fantastical, even a Gigant Dragon! All fell to her sword, all fled before her as though mice fearing a hungry cat’s claws. Lenneth just didn’t understand it. The creatures here reeked of evil, were the foulest of the foul, undead things deserving of extinction, and yet none would fight her.

Some attempted to at first…the ones she caught unaware, sneaking up behind them. They whirled around, intent on cleaving her in two with their claws or their magic, but upon seeing her face, they stilled…shock mirrored on their faces. She could sense their unwillingness to die, and yet they did nothing to defend themselves. It left Lenneth wondering what mad world she had ended up in, where Defiler of Souls would not, could not defend their wretched existence.

The world itself was just as upside down, the forest giving way to a desert wasteland, where elder demons lurked. It stretched on for miles, the twin suns beating down on her, causing her to sweat underneath her armor. She had long to remove it, growing uncomfortable with the perspiration dripping down her arms. Since when did the Gods sweat? And yet here was enough power to affect her in this manner.

She had been heartened when at last the golden sands of the desert gave way to rocky mountain steppes. She was forced to put away her sword, using her hands to scramble up a cliffside, feeling stray blades of grass beneath her fingertips as she pulled herself upwards. She could have summoned her wings, but something warned her against such an act, urging her to conserve her power. So she forced herself to travel in this mundane way, feet scrambling for purchase on the rocks below.

Lenneth reached the top of the mountain with minimal fuss, finding few if any monsters to do battle with. She paused to take in the view, staring as she saw mountain after mountain in the distance, each one taller than the next. She groaned at the thought of having to pass each one, tempted to let her wings come forth. But she paused, intent on exploring the flat top of the mountain instead.

It was a good thing she did, discovering a cave. It’s black entrance yawned open like the maw of a dragon, stalactites hanging down by the entrance, with sharp points off of which moisture dripped. Ever cautious, Lenneth strode forward, drawing her sword, wondering what sort of creature might be resting within the cavern. She found none, and she traversed only a few feet before she felt the shimmering of air around her. She recognized it as a portal, taking her elsewhere, transporting her to a beach setting.

Tranquil waters, a deep purple, lapped at the white sand. Her greves left deep foot prints in the wake of her travels, and she stared at the coast, finding the peaceful setting out of place with the rest of this strange world. The water looked inviting, and she knelt down, a cautious hand placed in it’s wet depth. Her tongue lapped at the water pooled in her palm, and her eyes widened to find it not salty, but as fresh as a forest’s spring water. She drank gratefully from the ocean, quenching a thirst she had not been aware of having till that moment.

Lenneth wanted to linger on the beach, liking the quiet, the complete lack of monsters. And yet she pushed on, not wanting Freya to discover her slacking off. She walked along the coast, careful to avoid the waves, not wanting her armored boots to rust. She walked and she walked, with no sign of life, until an odd sight greeted her eyes. A door, seemingly propped up on air itself, stood on the beach. No walls for it to be attached to, no house, nor beams of wood to keep it upright. It was an oddity, a curious thing that caused her to come forward to explore it.

Lenneth gave a shrug of her shoulders, hand reaching out to the doorknob. She twisted it and it opened, revealing a long corridor, with similar doors lining it’s walls. She shut the door, needing to think. She walked around it, and from the back it would not open. To the front again, opening it, watching it swing inwards. It was as good a path to explore as any, and the Valkyrie stepped in. She didn’t gasp in surprise as the door slammed shut behind her, hearing the lock click close. It would appear I can only go forward, not back. She mused to herself.

Her footsteps were heavy and loud on the marble floor, the Valkyrie traversing the hallway quickly. She all but ignored the doors to the left and right of her, giving them a cursory look at best. Lenneth wanted to know what lay at the end of this hall, felt something or someone would be waiting for her there. Perhaps it would be monsters, a demon or a vampire, or perhaps it would be the creator of this odd world. Whoever it was, she hoped they could give her the answers she sought.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Alfeim, the shining realm of the light elves and the fair folk. It was…an oddly…pink place, with cherry trees in eternal bloom, sending up showers of light pink petals. They coated the ground, mixing with the pale green grass, crunching under foot. They got in everywhere, on his hair, inside his clothes, filling his nose with their too sweet scent. The bushes were a brighter shade of the color, with pale blues and purples to offset it’s splendor.

He walked forward, his face blank of emotion, purple eyes taking in the tiny faeries that flew about. They viewed Lezard with some amount of curiosity, sensing his Godly aura, and reacting accordingly. A few brave souls approached him, floating right up to his face, bowing before his glasses. A tiny pixie female came and sat on his shoulder, winding her arms in the strands of his hair, planting tiny kisses on his ear. He tolerated the touches, not wanting to make a fuss, not yet at least.

They flew about in a rainbow of colors, the pixies and the larger faeries coming to offer him gifts, wanting to worship him with honey nectar and flowers. It almost made Lezard want to smile, the man realziing how nice it was to be worshiped and revered. He almost felt bad about what he had come to do, almost but not enough to turn back.

He continued walking, an odd black stain among the bright pinks, his clothes as dark as his intent. He reached the palace, seeing it sparkle in the sunlight, a radiant beauty of coral architect. Two elves stood guard before it’s immense double doors, sharp axes held in their slim hands. They crossed their weapons, barring his way, and here is where things turned ugly.

“Let me pass.” demanded Lezard, already raising a hand. With just a wave, the two guards went flying, and his fair folk entourage let out high pitched screams of horror. The pixie on his shoulder nearly fell to the ground, in her haste to flee, forgetting how to use her wings. Almost absentmindedly, Lezard caught her in his hand, feeling her tiny rump bounce against his palm. She let out a shaky shriek, and her translucent wings fluttered, the buzzing of insects sounded as she took off for safety. He felt sad to see her go, but he shrugged off the emotion.

He stared up at the doors, and with a wave of his hand, his magic parted them, forcing them open. His stride confident, he went up the stairs, entering the palace. More elves were waiting for him, coming at him with wild screams. Arrows flew, their sharp heads bouncing off his flesh, Lezard feeling no pain at their touch. He moved his hand, and in whatever direction he flung it, that was the way the elves flew from him, puppets with their strings cut, their bodies falling unconscious to the ground. They should be glad he left them with their lives, finding them too inconsequential to kill.

Still more came, bravely wielding their weapons as they sought to impede his progress. He took care of them all, slowly but surely making his way deeper into the palace. Until at last he reached the lowest level, knowing he was deep underground, purples eyes taking in the glittering crystals that made up the ceiling of the chamber. A door made of solid gold beckoned him forward, Lezard stepping towards it with a palm raised.

“Stop!” An elf’s voice called out, desperation held within it. He turned, unsurprised to see a woman before him. All Elves were female, Rufus and Odin being the sole exceptions to the rule, their male forms being owed to their half human ancestry. She was slender and petite, with emerald green hair that reached down to her ankles. A thin silver circlet was on her head, with multicolored beads decorating the shorter strands by her face.

Her garb was not that of the guards, a long dress of cotton, flowing breezy and free around her, with long sleeves that draped over her hands, obscuring even her fingers from him. Lezard arched a brow at her, a mocking look in his eyes. “A priestess would dare to come to face me, alone and without aid?”

She trembled before him, raising up her hands so that the sleeves drew back, revealing a small tree limb in her hand, twisted and gnarled, with tiniest of buds blooming pink on the ends. A focal point for her magic. “Do not do this, I beg of you!”

Lezard laughed. “You know what I am here for?”

“If you are here, in this very room, it can be for nothing else.” Her voice was clear, no sign of the tremors that wracked her body.

“Yes…” He agreed. “The fabled third treasure is said to lie behind these very doors, crafted by Balder himself.”

“The Sylvan Bow…” The priestess whispered, a hint of awed reverence in her tone.

“Yes…” He went to turn his back on her, dismissing her as unimportant. The elf narrowed her eyes, thrusting out her branch. She began chanting, her tongue being that of the elves, a musical sounding language of high pure notes, and odd syllables unpronounceable by the human tongue. Lezard smirked as he felt her power slam into his back. “That tickles.” He said, moments before he was swinging out his arm, causing the air around her to thicken and choke her. The priestess voice fell silent as she struggled to breathe, dropping her branch as she clawed at her throat.

He stared at her impassively, watching her struggle for her life. Her face reddened as she gasped, mouth opening and closing, desperately trying to get in lungfulls of air. Something like pity struck him, or perhaps it was the memory of him promising Lenneth he would behave…whatever the case, he released her with a snap of his fingers. She slumped down to the ground, practically gagging as oxygen flooded her lungs.

Lezard turned, and with a push of his hand, the golden doors swung open. It was a small room he noted, the doors having given the illusion that they guarded something immense. And it was true he realized, as he approached the stone altar, feeling the power radiating off the item it held. The object might be small, but the power held within it was far greater than it’s thin frame. His glasses glinted, obscuring his eyes as he stopped before the stone, gazing down at the bow.

It was a delicate thing, carved out of minerals, with jewels decorating the arch, sapphires and emeralds. A tiny fairy was carved into the base of it, the silver string attached to her wings and to the bottom of her tiny feet. Purple mixed with ivory white to color the fairy, and two diamonds were in place of her eyes. Lezard carefully picked up the bow, finding it to feel flimsy in his hands. There was no arrows to be found, and Lezard recalled the myths of this bow, how it was said just pulling back the strings would cause arrows of pure light to be formed. An archer need never run out of ammunition with a bow like this one.

With a smile, Lezard clutched the Sylvan Bow to his chest, and turned. The elf was crawling forward, her hand raised up in supplication. “Please don’t…” He ignored her, passing by her, careful to avoid stepping on the spill of her hair. “But why…” The priestess cried out, yearning for an answer of any kind.

Because I can. Lezard thought smugly, and with a shimmer he was gone, teleporting from the room.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

The bottom of her dress dragged on the floor as she paced, the hem of it getting dirty. Lenneth did not care, indeed she did not even notice, lost in thought as she wandered about the bedroom. She spared a thought to wonder where Lezard was, fearing what he was doing at this very moment. It would be better if he was here with her. At least then he wasn’t hurting anyone else, even as he toyed cruelly with her body and emotions.

Lenneth let out a sigh, hands going to her bare arms, rubbing the skin up and down. Maybe it would be better to give in. Perhaps then he would lose this infatuation with her, the Valkryie being sure she couldn’t possibly live up to any fantasy he might have had about her. But no…that would be betraying everyone, everything they had fought for lost. As lost as the future she had come from was. She wondered if it really was too late, had Lezard damaged the timeline so irrevocably that nothing could be done to fix it?

She felt helpless and alone, separated from everyone, everything but Lezard and his mad world of undead fiends. She had no one to talk to, no one to turn to, everything was limited to Lezard alone. He was in effect her world, her very lifeline, her anchor, the only thing to keep her sane in this forced isolation. She knew what he was doing, trying to make her dependent on him, hoping feelings would form along the way. Lenneth hesitated to think it was working, but she knew that she missed him, even as she feared his return, feared what they would do, how close they might come to making love the next time he touched her.

Lenneth closed her eyes, fighting back the memories, trying to stifle the longing shudder than ran through her body. She was ashamed to think she enjoyed his touches, shocked to find at times she yearned for them, needing that human contact, desperately needing his touch to remind her she was not as alone as she felt. She was afraid it was becoming all too easy to give in to his bodily desires, and only the thought of Lucian kept her from going that final step.

Lucian. There was another problem. Her memory of her lover was slowly but surely slipping free of her mind, Lenneth desperate to hold onto the fragments, recall bits and pieces about the boy she loved. His name, his likes, his ambitions and goals…small things that she could hold onto, and conjure up in her mind as she thought about him. The bigger pieces were already lost…how they had met, how they had come together as lovers, times spent together…all gone in an instant, and try as she might she could not recall any of the details of their life together.

Damn you Lezard! She thought without any real anger, making a fist. She punched it into the wall, feeling frustrated as her strength did not even dent the plaster. She feared what would happen should she completely forget about Lucian. Would she fall in love with the necromancer then? What would hold her back from giving her heart to him? She held back angry tears, annoyed at her inability to do anything.

A sound drew her attention, Lenneth turning in the direction of metal footsteps on the floor. It couldn’t be Lezard returning, he favored soft leather over metal, keeping his footsteps muffled in comparison to the loud clanging of greves One of his minions to check up on me no doubt. She thought bitterly. The footsteps grew closer still, Lenneth moving to meet them halfway. “Who’s there?” She called out, smoothing a hand down the front of her skirt.

Silence was her answer, the person hesitating at the threshold of the room. Lenneth bit back a sigh of annoyance and said, “It’s all right…He’s gone now…”

The sound again, the footsteps slow and unsure. Lenneth watched impassively as an armored figure entered the bedroom, watched as a sword was drawn. “Who are you?” asked the armed visitor, voice sounding oddly familiar.

Lenneth blinked, surprised at the question. She thought everyone in Lezard’s world knew who she was. “No one of any real consequence.” She answered bitterly. “Just a captive…nothing more…” She let out a humorless laugh at that.

“Someone in need of a rescue?” The figure asked with some interest, the voice female and still sounding so familiar. If only she could place it!

“Yes…you could say that…” Lenneth squinted, making out the glint of blue metal on the slender frame, saw the feathered helm on the girl’s head. It reminded her of her sisters’ armor, but she pushed that aside as a foolish thought. “Come out into the light where I can see you.”

The female moved, confidently coming forward, sword held low to her side. Lenneth’s eyes widened in shock as she took in the features of the girl’s face, the cobalt blue eyes that shined with a fierce determination, the pouty pink lips pursed together, the platinum hair weaved into a familiar braided style. It was in fact, a mirror image of her own features, the only difference being their manner of dress. “What manner of trickery is this?” breathed out Lenneth, also coming forward.

She watched as her twin’s eyes widened, sweeping her from head to toe in a glance. “Demoness!” She hissed, twirling her sword. “How dare you assume my form!”

“I am no demon.” Lenneth said affronted. Her eyes bored into the Valkyrie’s body, seeing past her physical appearance to view her aura. She saw the purple pulsating light, the divine essence of the Gods surrounding this twin of hers. “You’re me…” She whispered softly.

“What are you talking about?” The younger Lenneth demanded, a glare on her pretty face.

“Of course…I should have realized…” muttered Lenneth. “There had to be another me wandering about, Freya would have surely summoned her in the wake of Hrist’s betrayal.” That drew the young Valkyrie forward, her sword tip pointed at Lenneth. “You speak of my sister! What is this…betrayal you mention?!”

Lenneth looked at her. “You don’t know?” She shook her head, and Lenneth laughed. “Of course you wouldn’t…Freya would be careful to keep quiet about such matters.”

“You still haven’t answered my question…” She narrowed her eyes at Lenneth.

“Hrist…your…sister joined forces with Silmeria and the mortals against Freya’s wishes.” explained Lenneth.

“Nonsense!” She shook her head, braid bouncing. “Hrist is far too loyal to ever go against her superior’s orders!”

“Even when Odin’s life is at stake?” asked Lenneth, and saw her younger self come closer yet, sword looking deadly in the soft light of the room. “What do you know about Odin?” She hissed. “Tell me now, while you still can!”

“Don’t threaten me.” ordered Lenneth, her face calm. She had no doubt she could take her younger self in a fight, having eons to perfect her sword arm.

“Tell me!”

“Odin is no more.” She explained with a sigh, brushing back her bangs. “The deranged wizard Lezard has assimilated him body and soul.”

“Then I am too late…” whispered the younger Lenneth, sword drooping down. “Brahms spoke true…” She lifted her head, and her eyes shown with wet tears. “I can only avenge Odin now!”

“You can try…” Lenneth said, interested to know if her younger self could succeed where she herself had failed.

“Just who are you?” asked the Valkyrie.

“Can’t you tell?” asked Lenneth. She sighed at the blank look her counterpart flashed her. “I am you…” She watched the frown form on the Valkyrie’s face. “Use your divine sight…see the truth behind my words…”

Still frowning, the Valkyrie stared at her, eyes clouding over as her gaze bore into Lenneth, searching out her divine aura. She let out a gasp, sword lowering in shock. “How can this be?” She demanded. “How can two of us exist?!”

“It’s a long story.” sighed Lenneth.

“I am prepared to listen.” The younger Lenneth was sheathing her sword, eyes intent on her twin’s face.

“I don’t know how much time we have…”

“Time is something we have plenty of.” interrupted the young Valkyrie. “I find myself trapped in this world, with no way to escape. I have nothing but time to listen to your tale. Please…” She implored, blue eyes softening. “I want to know why you are here…”

“All right…” agreed Lenneth. “I am you, but from the future. A future that is far different than anything you can imagine at this time.” She flashed a pain filled smile, knowing the concepts of transcending her body to become Creator would be lost on her twin. “The man who killed Odin is also from this future. He is…a heretic, a twisted blasphemer against the Gods. He traveled back in time, using the knowledge gained in the philosopher’s stone to learn of the events at Dipan. He…” She closed her eyes briefly. “He claimed Silmeria’s soul, used her to capture Odin.”

“I felt the shockwaves of what he was doing all the way in the future. Things began falling apart, people ceasing to exist. Miracles becoming undone. I traveled back in time, intent on stopping him…” She lowered her eyes in shame. “Obviously I failed.”

The younger Lenneth was quiet, thinking over her words. She didn’t want to injure her counterpart’s feelings, but she was confident she herself would not have failed in her mission to stop Odin’s kidnapper. “If you failed, what are you doing still alive? Why are you not dead, or assimilated much in the manner Odin was?” She was surprised to see a blush appear on her twin’s face, the woman nervously playing with the fingers of her hands.

“It’s not just power Odin’s murderer sought.” She was slow to admit this next bit. “He…he is in love…a twisted obsession of infatuation with me…with us…It has caused him to commit countless crimes, twist the very laws of nature to his own bidding.”

“Love?” Lenneth arched an eyebrow. She laughed at this. “For such a paltry, fleeting emotion, he commits such crimes?! He is insane!”

“Yes.” agreed Lenneth. She remembered how she was in the past, before Lucian had come into her life, changing her views on love. She hadn’t believed in the emotion, had been sure she could exist without it. How wrong she had been, and she shuddered to think she might lose it from her life.

“I will kill him.” promised the young Lenneth. “He will revile the day he ever thought to love a Goddess!”

Lenneth opened her mouth to answer, but the sound of bells rang out. Her eyes widened in alarm, and she stepped forward to grab at her twin’s arm. “You must leave!” She said this urgently. “He’s coming!”

Lenneth didn’t have to ask who, smiling grimly. “Good…I would speak with Odin’s murderer before destroying him.”

“You don’t understand!” She hissed, wanting to shake the young Valkyrie. “He’s stronger than you…”

“We will see.” responded Lenneth, pulling her arm out of her twin’s grasp. “I have fought in circumstances where the odds did not favor me…” She smirked. “Surely you remember those battles, and how we came out on top despite the dire situation.”

“This is different!” Lenneth insisted. “He has powerful magic, and wields Gungnir.” The young Valkyrie refused to be swayed, standing still even as her older counterpart tried to pull her from the room. “Flee while you can!”

“No!”

“Little fool!” muttered Lenneth helplessly. “There’s no sense in both of us being caught.” But her twin set her jaw, stubborn determination in her eyes, as she pulled free her sword from it’s leather scabbard. “Leave…” She tried once last time, watching as Lezard shimmered into view, a miniature bow clutched against his chest. His purple eyes lit up with pleasure at the sight of two Lenneth’s, lips spreading out into a wide smile as he spoke. “Now Lenneth…there’s no cause to chase off our young guest…” The grin turned into a lustful leer. “After all there is plenty of me to go around!”