The Names We Shed

Chapter 3- I should, but I won't

Chapter Playlist- Demons- Imagine Dragons & Vitamin String Quartet, Roar- Katy Perry & Frank Taylor 

**The two artists for the song indicate two versions of the song, Frank Taylor and VSQ are the instrumental versions

"Hello Valerie."

She nods in my direction.

Prince Belgrave appraises us with a raised brow. "I wasn't aware the two of you knew each other."

Valerie looks bored and flicks some invisible dust off of her gown, if you can call it that. "I wouldn't say that we know each other."

Her voice grates on my nerves, trying to shove me back to one of the worst days of my life.

"Good, maybe that'll make this easier."

"I doubt it." I mutter.

Prince Belgrave continues on, like he didn't hear me.

"You're here to kill a general of mine."

Valerie hands a me a slip of paper. I raise an eyebrow.

"Is that all?"

It's quite a large sum for one man..

"Well... The man is.. Expecting you. So it might be more difficult. I also have another request, when you leave the city tomorrow, take Valerie and Makasha with you."

"No." I state.

"Look, I don't care if you kill the man. That isn't why I wanted you here. Duka will be back tonight, and I need them out of the city."

I let out a long sigh and pull out a knife to start working the blood out from under my fingernails, a tactic I've learned, which is very intimidating.

"Why can't they be around Duka?" I ask, trying to sound as bored as possible.

"Why can't you be around Duka?" The prince counters.

Touche.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Take them and you'll find out. Besides, I've never known you to miss an opportunity to piss Duka off."

He has a point.

"You don't seem to like him."

"Will you take them with you?"

"I will."

"What will you do with them?"

"Stick them in my estate."

He nods. "Leave tonight after the party."

Valerie looks up, meeting my eyes for the first time today. "Are you fighting tonight?"

"I am."

A faint smile flickers across my face as I think about the only thing that will be enjoyable about this visit.

I turn around and stride out of the room, Valerie close on my heels. "Thank you." She calls after me. "You didn't have to do that."

I turn around so fast, I have to catch her to keep her from falling. I glance down at the piece of fabric that she's calling a dress.

"Wear something different tonight, we'll be flying." I carefully let go of her and take a step back.

"I-.. Okay.. Um.. Yeah.. I'll do that.." She manages to say before I launch myself into the sky.

I grin. I love having that effect on people. I fly until I reach the balcony that marks a penthouse as mine.

I take time changing into my armor. I could just summon it on with half of a thought but when I can, putting it on piece by piece reassures me that it's there. It's solid. It will protect me.

I strap my twin swords to my sides and my smaller ax, meant for show or light fights, not my war ax to my back. I carefully distribute knives throughout.

Under my armor, a tight black dress with a slit up the side to showcase my knife on my thigh, is for the rest of the party.

I step back onto the balcony, with the sun down, the entire city seems to come alive in ways it can't with the heavy heat of the sun pressing down on it.

I fly up, searching for the palace gardens. Floating lanterns tell me that I'm the right place and music drifts up to me.

Then I plummet, dropping right onto the edge of the party, when I fall I release all of the control that I have over my power.

When I hit the ground, the entire city shakes its response to the closest thing to a god that its felt.

Only the music continues, the talking and the dancing stops.

The ones who have never seen me before gasp. I let them stare. This will be the first and last time many of them will ever see a Valkyrie.

My wings are not feathered like the ones they are used to but instead more bat-like, they're also nearly double the size of what are considered average wings.

My armor is supposed to be a reflection of my soul. Mine is black, with interlocking scales and a fitted black mask.

I have a sword on each side and a battle ax on my back. I am the picture of what they believe that the Valkyrie should look like.

No one remembers the Valkyrie like I remember them.

Gladiators enter from the palace, the guests parting to let them through. They train them to be the best here, so it's not surprising when they don't see me and run in fear, instead they charge at me.

I stand there letting them get close before raising my sword to meet the first's shield. I hit it with such force that his shield goes flying, I meet his axe with my sword driving his axe through the second gladiator's head. He hesitates, seeing the other man dead, and I strike, slashing his throat in one motion.

The other two stay low and away from me, I am standing in the blood of their fellow gladiators. One throws a spear, and to avoid stepping into the other's sword I let it hit me, my armor taking most of the blow. It repairs itself in seconds, fueled by the adrenaline coursing through my blood. They charge me, unable to do much more without the spear and I dodge the sword one carries. Reaching behind me I grab my battle axe and in one smooth motion, kill both of them.

Cheering erupts from the crowds, and my power slips away, seeing no opponent. Prince Belgrave approaches me, and all of the people move back toward the dancing and food, and away from us.

"Duka's here."

I look up toward the stairs and that's when I see him. I lose the ability to breathe for a few moments as I watch him.

His black blazer is loose, showing his bronzed and tattooed chest, men follow him, their weapons creating a path.

He walks straight up to me. "Play nice." Prince Belgrave whispers as Duka gets closer.

"That was quite a show."

"Thank you."

My armor vanishes and I notice the way Duka looks me up and down in the tight black dress, his eyes stopping on the knife strapped to my thigh.

He looks away for a moment. "I hope you don't mind if I follow it up with one of my own."

I step out of his way. "Be my guest."

Duka leaps into the sky, changing into his impressive dragon form in a heartbeat. Watching him fly and stretch his wings makes my own ache.

It wasn't too long ago that I wouldn't have hesitated to oblige them. But I wait on the ground.

Duka sweeps by, locking eyes with me.

Dance with me? He asks.

My armor reappears and I launch into the sky to join him, an answer to his question.