See Chapter One For Disclaimers.
Valkyrie Rising
Chapter Two
Winter sunlight was filtering whitely through the blinds when Megan woke. She lay quietly for a moment, savoring her pervasive sense of well being. Usually she woke up about as happy as a grizzly bear with a hangover. Apparently, this was going to be a good day; she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so well rested. Arching her back in a bone-popping stretch, she looked over at the clock. It was nearly noon! Dr. Marshall was going to have her ass in a sling this time for sure. The Dr. was a brilliant archaeologist, but she had all the people skills of a goat. Tardiness was absolutely forbidden on her Projects, and she was brutal about enforcing punctuality. Megan had been phenomenally lucky to get the position as her research assistant. It was the only way she could afford to continue her Master's studies. Now it looked like she had totally blown it. Firmly quashing all thought of the trust fund she'd sworn never to touch, she was on her feet and halfway to the shower when she realized that it was Saturday. Dr. Marshall, unlike some of the other doctors on the Project, flatly refused to work weekends. This meant that Megan didn't have to work them either.
She was on her way back to her room when she heard a startled gasp from behind her. Turning, she saw her roommate, Ginger, gaping at her openmouthed. Following Ginger's gaze, she looked down at herself. She was stark naked, which was unusual in and of itself, but the tattoo encircling her right thigh was more unusual yet. Megan had never had a tattoo. She didn't believe in that brand of self-decoration. Nonetheless, there was indisputably a band of tiny black war hammers marching around her shapely leg. She felt a peculiar rush of fear as she realized that the tat didn't even look new, it was fully healed. There wasn't even a hint of damaged skin around it; it was as silken smooth and supple as the rest of her trim body. She was still staring at it when Ginger's new boyfriend stepped out of the bedroom.
It was Brennan Loken.
There was an uncomfortable moment of stunned silence, and then Ginger took control of the situation. "Brennan, you go out to the kitchen and make some coffee. I have to talk to Megan for a minute." The whole time she was talking, she was turning her unresisting roommate around and steering her back toward her own bedroom. She never saw the look of smoldering anger that crossed her boyfriend's face as he noticed Megan's tattoo. She was too concerned about her friend to pay any attention to him.
It just wasn't like Meg to wander around the apartment naked anymore; she was much too repressed and refined these days. And then there was the tattoo. Something decidedly strange was going on. Her thoughts raced as she tried to get a handle on the situation. Nothing got the little strawberry blonde's blood going like a good mystery. That was why she wrote them. Here was something truly extraordinary, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
She closed the bedroom door, then turned to face her roommate with a look of grim determination. While Megan had always been somewhat shy and retiring, Ginger was often very forthright and intimidating. It was a standing joke between them because while Megan was built on heroic proportions, Ginger was tiny and delicate. "Meg, what have you done? What's with the tattoo? It wasn't there yesterday."
Wincing at the short form of her name, Megan sank bonelessly to the bed. "I don't know Ginger…I can't remember a damn thing about last night." There was a note of panic in her voice, as she looked up at Ginger. Along with the threat of imminent tears, her blue eyes held a plea that the novelist could not ignore.
Dropping to her knees beside the bed, she put her arms around Megan, something she hadn't done since they were in their first year of college. It was surprising how right it still felt. Both women were bi, but Megan leaned more frequently toward men. Ginger understood the anguish that had been the driving factor, but sometimes she really wished Megan hadn't chosen to live celibate. The feel of the naked body in her arms was indescribable, like coming home. Shaking off the thought, she told herself it was all water under the bridge anyway. They had both moved on, and there were more important things to worry about at the moment. "What do you remember, honey?" The endearment slipped out unbidden, but Megan didn't appear to notice. She was too terrified. "I thought you worked late last night?"
Megan put her forehead down on Ginger's shoulder. As a consequence, her voice was a little muffled when she finally spoke. "I… I did. It was dark when I left, and the damn car wouldn't start. I stopped in the car to have a smoke before trying to get back to the phone. I lit the smoke, and that's the last thing I remember until this morning." The tears did come then, and she sobbed as if her heart was broken. The whole time she held on to Ginger as if she were her only anchor in a world gone mad.
Ginger stroked her hair, whispering to her all the while. It took some time, but finally Megan stopped crying and just lay there shuddering. Once the shuddering stopped, Ginger tipped her face upwards and blithely kissed the tip of her nose. "It'll be alright. You'll see. We just have to figure it out. Let's get you dressed, and then we'll work out a plan over coffee. I can't be expected to think without coffee." Her tone was soft and reassuring and Megan responded accordingly. Ginger lay back on the bed and watched her lazily while she dressed. It didn't take long. She'd always been quick that way. Clad in snug jeans and a sleeveless black t-shirt, Megan wiped away the last of her tears.
"I believe somebody promised me a coffee?"
Taking her cue from Megan, Ginger's tone was light and airy. "Yup. Yup, I did. Brennan should have it ready by now. Shall we?"
When they got out to the living room Brennan was nowhere in to be found. His shoes were gone, and he hadn't even bothered to make the coffee before he split. Ginger was decidedly pissed. "The prick. He didn't even leave a note. I'll…" The look on Megan's face stopped her. "Never mind. Coffee first, then the ranting. Let's go over to the Black Java instead."
Stopping only to grab their jackets and some cash, the two headed out in search of caffeine.
The Black Java was very quiet. It was too early for most of the regular crowd. The majority of them didn't venture out in the daylight, that was much too mundane. Franny, the owner, was wiping down tables when they arrived. By the time they were settled in the back booth, she was there with two steaming mugs of thick black coffee.
Setting them down, she made the usual pleasantries, then turned to look at Megan. "You look more like yourself this morning. You were downright spooky last night." She paused to make out a bill, then continued "Where'd you find the blond anyway?"
Two voices answered as one. "What blond?"
Franny's sallow face was a study in perplexity. "Whadya mean, what blond? The big biker type Megan brought in last night, that blond. He was a real looker, Hon."
Megan looked at the table, then up into Franny's baffled brown eyes. "I can't remember a damn thing about last night Fran. Were we here long?"
"Long enough for me to hire his band for next Friday's Rave." Franny said ruefully. "He said he plays lead guitar. You said his name was Thor, then he told me that the band's name is Thunder. When I laughed, you said it was an old joke. I got the impression that you'd known him for years."
Megan was muttering to herself, "Thor. Thunder. Warhammers." Pausing to take a gulp of her coffee. It was a bad idea, the coffee was still steaming hot. Once the scalding sensation died down, she looked over at Ginger. "Okay, whiz kid. You're the sleuth. Start sleuthing."
"Meg I'm sorry, but I haven't got a freakin' clue. I believe Thor was the God of Thunder, but that's more your province than mine." Suddenly she laughed. "Of course, if KISS is to be believed, he's also the God of Rock'n'Roll."
Megan just looked at her in disgust. "Gee thanks, Einstein. That's a lot of help."
"Sorry. You know my sense of humor." Ginger paused a moment while Franny left to deal with a customer that had just walked in. "Okay, seriously now. What do we know? You left the college late last night. You don't remember how. You were here at one point in the evening in the company of an unknown blond. You woke up this morning with a tat you didn't have yesterday, but the tat isn't new. That about it?"
"Pretty much, other than the blond is apparently a musician of some sort."
"Well, we've got about a week to figure it out for ourselves. If not, we can come to the Rave and demand answers from your Thunder God."
"Where do you suggest we start?" Ginger never had a chance to reply before something else occurred to Megan. "How long have you been seeing Brennan Loken?
"Not all that long really." She passed it off with a wave of her hand. "Look, Meg. I know you don't like him, but he really can be sweet."
Megan thought about his groping and flirting at the College the day before. She had her doubts that Brennan was all that sweet, unless it suited his purpose somehow. Knowing that Ginger was expecting some kind of an answer, she merely nodded. "Maybe you know him better than I do."
Satisfied for the moment, Ginger looked thoughtful. She appeared to have completely forgotten how angry she'd been when Brennan had walked out on them earlier. She opened her mouth to speak, but right about then, Franny walked up with a refill. Whatever she'd been about to say was lost.
"What time did I get here last night Fran?" Megan's voice was quiet, but her friends could hear the strain in it.
"Just before midnight. You came in his truck, a big black 4x4. Real mean looking piece of machinery."
"Doesn't ring any bells. Why'd you think we were old friends?"
"Well," Franny paused, apparently stuck for words. "Well... He couldn't keep his hands off you and you were doing anything but complaining."
"I see." That was all Megan said, but it spoke volumes. Franny had known both Megan and Ginger way back when they were still lovers, long before the vow of celibacy. If she didn't think Megan had objected to the man's advances, it was a pretty sure bet that she hadn't. Knowing Megan as well as she did, she must have been more than a little surprised. She was suddenly aware that both Ginger and Franny were watching her. "What?"
"Um, you seem very calm considering." Ginger sounded a little concerned again.
"What'd you expect me to do, pitch a fit? Wouldn't do a lot of good." She drained her coffee cup and looked pointedly at its empty bottom. Franny laughed and went to grab a fresh pot. As soon as she was out of earshot Megan turned to Ginger. "What's happening to me, Gin? What have I gotten myself into? We're not going to figure this out before the weekend are we?"
"Not likely. I hate to admit it, but I still don't even know where to start." Ginger shrugged helplessly, feeling rage begin to simmer in the background. She had never been able to stand idle when Megan was hurt. It made her want to kill something.
"Well, I guess we could go get my car. Might be something there, since that's the last place I remember being. Does Loken have wheels?"
"Brennan?" Ginger said his name like she was talking about a particularly disgusting bug. "I think so. Lets go home, maybe he came back. If not, we can call him." The steel in her voice told Megan more eloquently than any words could have done just how angry her friend was. She hadn't forgotten a damn thing.
They made the short run back to the apartment in record time. Neither of them was prepared for the sight that awaited them. Their door had been wrenched halfway off the hinges, and their belongings were spilling out into the hall. The apartment had been completely laid to waste. The contents of every drawer in the place were strewn haphazardly throughout the tiny suite, and some of the furniture looked like it had been clawed by some gigantic beast. The police were sure it had been slashed with a knife, but Megan had her doubts. An odd scent lingered in the air, something musky and wild. It smelled vaguely animal, completely dark and dangerous. Ginger knocked on the door across the hall and asked Mrs. MacGregor, their elderly neighbor, to call the police. Mrs. Mac was a terrible gossip, but oddly enough, this time the old busybody hadn't heard anything.
The wait outside for the police seemed endless. They didn't dare go back inside though, for fear of disturbing the evidence. They needn't have worried; whoever had trashed the place hadn't left the slightest clue behind. It was a total wash.
The cops were just finishing up when Brennan came flying through the open door. The look on his face was priceless. "Ginger, baby, are you okay?" What happened?" He never spared Megan a second glance, just rushed over and took Ginger in his arms. Megan felt an instant flash of jealousy. She quickly smashed it down and put it on ignore. It had been years since she and Ginger had split. She was entitled to all the warmth and security that Megan couldn't give her; she deserved a lover that wouldn't destroy her.
After Ginger explained the situation, mercifully leaving out Megan's memory lapse, Brennan looked dumbfounded. "Shit. Was anything taken?"
Ginger was totally wrapped up in the comfort of his arms, so Megan was forced to answer. She tried for an air of studied nonchalance. "Didn't seem to be. Either they couldn't find what they were after, or they were just into destruction. The cops figure they were actually looking for something though."
"Bummer. Did you two manage to get breakfast while you were out?" When they both shook their heads, he managed to look a little dismayed. "There was already a crowd out front watching the cops when I came in. Think we could go out the other way?" When both women looked a little hesitant, he hastily added, "I'm buying."
"You driving too?" Megan asked casually.
"Could do, why?"
"I need to pick up my car. Its still out at the College."
Brennan looked at her like she'd lost her mind. His disbelief was evident. "No, its not. It's sitting out on the front street."
Megan felt an inexplicable chill. She shrugged it off as one more brick in a very bizarre wall. She couldn't remember it, but why not? Brennan knew her car, and it wasn't any weirder than anything else that had happened. She wouldn't have parked it out front though; someone else must have brought the car home. Someone who didn't know which parking stall was hers. Despite her intention to remain calm, she was getting a little rattled again. She struggled not to let it show. In her experience, Brennan was the type to exploit any weakness he saw. "Okay, I'll take your word for it. Musta been right out of it last night. What about that breakfast?" It was an heroic attempt to redirect his attention. It almost worked.
An expression flickered through his eyes that might have been admiration. It was there too briefly for Megan to be certain. Ginger was oblivious to it. His voice was quiet and completely innocuous, but for some reason it sent shivers down her spine. "Let's go then." was all he said.
When they slipped past the crowd outside, Megan caught a glimpse of golden hair well above the edge of the crowd. It was there for only an instant and then it was gone. The image stayed with her all through breakfast.
(c) M.C. Sak 1999