– K Á R A –

I left the goddess with burning silver eyes at my home. A separation I fully intended to make brief.

Revna gave me a sidelong look with amusement still in her eyes. I made a point to fully ignore her as we strode down the prism bridge that glinted in every colour of the spectrum and more. I watched the clouds and mountains drift below our feet as we neared the point where immortals stood to descend into the mortal realm.

Not without her. Not before I had my hand in it.

"How long do you think you can keep this up?" She said casually as we paced.

I stared straight ahead as I answered, "I have an infinite amount of time here so there is your answer."

"I did not mean ignoring me." She scoffed. "I meant your love affair." She said wryly.

I clenched a fist and hefted Thanatos on my back. It was good to have the weight of the relic back in its rightful place. My glimmering armour and spear too, took their rightful place.

"She is no affair. I have not the patience to explain what she is to me." I grit out.

"Kára, you are my oldest companion. You answer me like I am lesser than a second glance."

I stopped in stride and watched her emotionless. "I will only say this once. Then I want no more word on it." She watched me cautiously holding breath. Even the midnight strands of her hair seemed to still.

"You know. Not what she is. To me." I finished sharp as a blade. "Let us see to it what Odin needs of us and I shall worry of my own business."

Revna was shocked into silence. I strode past her without flinching. A warrior once more and ready to think only of my task at hand. Her footsteps soon engaged to my side and she wisely remained silent for the rest of our walk to the gate. It did not surprise me at her ignorance. I was usually so predictably cold. An unnerved warrior and heartless lover–if at all. Tayah had shattered that part of me but the likes of the immortal beside me knew nothing of this. Why must I show her differently? It will not get us back to Valhalla any sooner.

It was soon upon us. The bridge between immortality and mortality. A wide circle of the crystal refracting light all around the clouds. Odin materialised before the ring. We paused on its edge and dropped to a knee with heads bowed in respect.

"Rise." The voices of many spoke.

The dark cloak towered over us before shifting to the side and painting the inner circle in light. It morphed and changed into that of an image. To that of bodies. Mortals dying. A river of blood and the cause standing with arms drenched in their crimson.

"She causes the fall and ruin of any who have been touched by Tayah Ashrive all to gain attention of the immortals." Odin informed us factually. "This would not be of concern if it were not upsetting the balance and course of the mortal realm but... it is taking its toll." He spoke more quietly as the image shifted and painted us a picture of the Assassins Guild, then the guild of thieves and finally the royalty of the Uccellon Empire.

The light vanished and Odin turned to us.

"Anselle has been allowed the luxury of time on the mortal realm. This can no longer stand. I need my best to dispatch of her before the fractures of her destruction span too far."

Revna dropped to a knee at once, accepting all of what the god asked and ready to action on it. But I hesitated and Odin knew too well. Before I could speak my mind the voices did.

"She will not join you to the mortal realm for this task, my daughter."

I flexed a hand and watched the darkness before me.

"I acknowledge your word, Odin." I dropped a short bow. "But I cannot understand your reason." I managed to get out. I saw Revna's head snap to me in shock and disbelief that I was questioning the god.

Odin neared me in otherworldly grace before stopping but a foot from me. The power was a tangible thing. Something that made your body heavy and mind fog. I kept my head raised.

"I know how you wish it otherwise, but your immortal is not ready. She has only found the beginnings of her rightful power and will distract you on this task. That much I can assure you." The voices told me calmly. No condescension but merely factual. "Unless it is your goal to send her to the hands of the immortal once again without the tools necessary to use. Anselle has not lay dormant. She has amassed more powerful allies in the time she has been there than predicted. I need my best to take care of what must be done without compromises. May I rely upon you for this, Storm Bringer?"

The use of my immortal name spoke volumes enough.

There was no more to be disputed. It pained me, not because of his orders but because he was right. I had seen Tayah's power. It had so much potential but it was still so new. Uncontrolled. As was her immortality. 

Not even immortals were invincible on the mortal realm... down there a moment was all it took on the wrong side of a blade. That was our task.

"I understand your word. It will be done." I responded, dropping to a knee beside my longest ally and bringing a fist to my chest. She seemed to relax imperceptibly beside me. No doubt a longer conversation would brew later about my change in nature. I was a soldier down to a tee right up until Tayah Ashrive. I regretted not one thing.

The cloaked figure nodded once.

"Prepare yourselves for the descent. I will call on you soon."

Just like that the god vanished. Just like that I was to be cast once again to the mortal realm to finish what I had not on that ship. With Thanatos on my back and thunder running in my blood I would see to it that mistake was righted.

– T A Y A H –

I knew the answer before she even spoke the words. The disappointment on her features said it all. The furs sat on her shoulders a little lower.

"You have nothing to apologise for." I told her before she opened her mouth.

A small smile graced her lips. "I didn't say anything."

"Your face is an open book, my immortal." I told her brushing a finger under her chin briefly before dropping my hand. "I should tell you what to say to the men... put their minds at ease at least." I said turning my back on the immortal.

She stayed still behind me on the cool stone floor.

"I have so much I would have told them in person but... fate has other ideas." I murmured as I ran my hand along her mahogany dining table.

"Anything. I will make sure they get your words." She promised, staying in place as if she were frozen. I turned to her slowly.

"I want you to make sure that heathen pays first of all. That she does not lay a single thought on John or Kaden." I growled. But my Valkyrie was already steps ahead of my own thoughts. Hers already aligned with similar destruction.

"You need not ask. There is no where she will hide from me." She spoke quietly but the power ripped out of her fists none the less. White burning vines of immortal energy. I nodded and met her eyes.

"Then I only wish you to tell them that I am very much alive and immortal." I smirked as I thought of what they would think now. More than anything I did not want them wasting thought worrying. "I need them to know that I did not abandon them. That I did not get–well I did get a choice..." I mumbled and sighed loudly before looking to Kára. Searching her own calm eyes.

"How am I supposed to explain to them that when I was given the choice, I chose to leave it all behind. Maybe it would be easier if you just told them I truly lost my memories." I stated, frowning at the ground.

I saw her impeccable boots finally move to stand before me.

She lifted my chin with an armoured hand. Her stunning irises watching mine with only love and understanding in them. It hit me in a wave before I knew what left my lips.

"I don't want you to go." I blurted.

Her features melted into shock before her brows drew together.

"Tayah... I have been to the mortal realm many–"

"Not with an immortal enemy hunting you down. Not with that gods damned–" I bit down on my tongue and pushed back from the table striding away from her and drawing my hands into my hair.

"Tayah, speak your mind to me." She told me, walking beside me in an instant but not invading my space. How could I speak it when it made no logical sense.

"I am asking a Valkyrie not to do the one job she is on this realm to do. Does it sound like I know my own mind?" I laughed as I let the strands leave my fingers and shook my head. "I'm so confused with myself. Maybe even angry. You saw it in my own power, it burns so hot these days..." I mused.

"You have no reason to hold that anger against yourself. Anselle is the cause of all of this." She stated unable to keep her own rage out of it.

I stopped and turned to her tightening a fist. "Yet I cannot see that through at your side as I could have as a mortal. I am bestowed such great power and I cannot be on that realm to stop whatever madness she causes. To take the damn life out of her." I grit out, feeling the energy sing in my blood.

She watched me with a grim expression. "There is nothing I want more. Than to have you with me every single moment. While this pains me Tayah, it would pain me far greater to have your new found power exposed. She has more cunning and experience than you or I."

"Then why the hell is Odin sending but two Valkyries!" I demanded suddenly. The flame torches brightened sightly but Kára remained focused. Her eyes never left mine.

"There was a reason I earned my name on this realm. Revna too has her own reputation with her elemental."

This did make me pause. "What is her elemental?"

She gave me a dark smile. "The earth."

"The earth of Hades..." I realised. "You're not the only one that will be using that relic." I said, eying the shield on her back.

She nodded slowly. "The relic's power can be split. It won't matter what friends Anselle has down there. I want to make this quick, as does Odin."

That was a comfort in the least. That made this slightly less unbearable. I half smiled and she raised an eyebrow at me.

"I worry so much for one of the most formidable warriors on this realm... I shouldn't be so foolish."

"You are many things, Tayah Ashrive. A fool is not one of them." She murmured as she leaned back against a stone pillar nearby. The move alone made me want to press her against it. "No one is invincible."

"Well. Now I really can't let you go." I told her, crossing my arms.

"Could you stop me?" She grinned.

"Not by physical force..." I ventured, eying her up and down. "I have other methods in mind."

She shook her head slowly. "You really do make me hate my job."

I chuckled lightly and trailed a hand against the table once more. "Do your job so you can come back to me."

She moved off the pillar as fluidly as a god. Then stood before me with a few inches holding us apart. Her words were a whisper, a kiss and nothing more. "There's only so many things that will keep me from you. After this I will keep you for myself." She dropped her mouth a hair away from my own and my breathing stopped all together. "Every. Single. Part of you."

When I closed my eyes I felt energy pulse. When I opened them again she was gone.