<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family:Quintessential"><span style="font-size: 26px">Chapter 1<br/>
- x -<br/>
Path to Valhalla<br/>
</span></span>​</div>"How did we find her?"<br/>"We didn't."<br/>"...how do you mean?"<br/>"She came looking for us."<br/>"She knows about us?"<br/>"No. She has half-truths, at best."<br/>"Is that why I'm here? My presence<i>is </i>rather irregular."<br/>"No. You're here because I want her to see you. I want her to see a vision of what could be."<br/>"Oh..."<br/>"I hope I haven't inconvenienced you."<br/>"No! No, of course not. I'm simply adjusting is all. We don't usually do this sort of thing."<br/>"Are you sure I haven't put you out?"<br/>"I am. I was finished with my mission anyway, and my Aesir doesn't mind the detour."<br/>"Then I am glad, and grateful."<br/>"Welcome! Will this be your first Tjänarinna since--"<br/>"Yes. It's almost time for the meeting. Do you have any further questions?"<br/>"No, Aesir. Fetch and retrieve seems easy enough."<br/>"Alright. Thanks again, Eve. May the world give way to your wings."<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">- x -<br/>​</div><i>I could get used to these cool spring nights.<br/>
</i><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F38%2F91%2F36%2F389136095228af28e0809ae77ff251c0.jpg&amp;hash=0095e696bd965d2e2400cc41d9775a9f" href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/38/91/36/389136095228af28e0809ae77ff251c0.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Evelyn </a>sat in the back of the taxi in a state of absent poise. The tang of salt from the bay hung heavy on the night air as the wind wafted gently through the open window. A constant murmur of life undercut the silence of the night; the various noises a crowded city always made, regardless of the hour. The wail of distant sirens served as counterpoint to a dog's bark or a raised voice. Eve found it both soothing and irritating in equal measure. This was not the most picturesque part of San Francisco, after all. The motel outside her window was dingy, in dire need of a paint job. It wasn't the worst place she'd ever seen.<br/><br/>"Or lived, for that matter," she murmured.<i>This is a place for lost people. Cast adrift, and rudderless. <br/>
</i><br/>She felt a pang of sympathy for them; these aimless souls. Existential crisis was not her demon to slay. It hadn't been for a long time. Eve knew her place in the world. She had a purpose; something greater than herself which also made her a greater self than an East Harlem gutter rat had any right to.<br/><br/>"What was that, miss?"<br/><br/>Eve turned to peer at the cab driver in his rearview mirror. "Nothing, old-timer. Just ruminating on the past. Been in places like these before."<br/><br/>The cabbie made a low, contemplative sound in his throat. Evelyn saw his weathered face crease into a smile as he turned to regard her. "Careful on your journey then. Too easy to get lost back there, you know. Might not find your way forward again."<br/><br/>Evelyn chuckled. "Ravens. You guys just hop around the rookery, swapping words of wisdom for situations like these?"<br/><br/>"Only when we're not lamenting at how much harder you make our lives with all your shenanigans." The Raven's voice was warm and friendly, despite the snark. They didn't know each other. They didn't have to. They were comrades. Family.<br/><br/>Peering back out at the desolate shadows of a poor California neighborhood, Evelyn felt her mirth vanish into the night. Her warrior's mind noted each and every passerby with automatic efficiency. They walked with hurried steps, shoulders hunched against their own personal nightmares. Some wore jackets too heavy for the mild weather, but padded enough to hide all manner of misdeed. The world was getting worse. These last few years were more chaotic than Eve had ever seen. People ripping into one another over the smallest of slights. Spewing bile and vitriol at every given opportunity. Politics, religion, sex, society...it didn't matter. She watched neighbor tear at the spirit of neighbor for what amounted to nothing. It unsettled her. "I hope there are more of us to add to your lamentations, Raven."<br/><br/>"Me too," he said wearily. "There aren't enough of us, as is. Any of us." The silence hung between them for a moment. It was comfortable at least, if a bit grim. He didn't wait long to break it. "You have a feel for this one? They don't usually send your lot to handle these things."<br/><br/>Evelyn's brow furrowed slightly. "Mmm. No. Special case, this one. Don't know if she has what it takes to walk the path or not. Guess we'll see." Her soft voice regained a shade of its former sass, though leavened with respect. "Far be it from little ole' me to guess at the whims of the Aesir."<br/><br/>"No shit!" The driver let loose a gravelly laugh. "Nor me. Above my paygrade, and beneath my sense of wonder." Eve could feel him pause. "Don't look now, little sister, but it looks like it's showtime."<br/><br/>Sure enough, out from within that rundown building emerged the girl they were waiting on. Evelyn tracked her approach from within the taxi and resisted further pangs of nostalgia.<br/><br/>"Okay," the Raven said, turning back to face the windshield. "Lights...camera..."<br/><br/><i>You do this all the time</i>, Eve thought.<i>Be pleasant, be professional. You're just an intermediary. No one special.<br/>
</i><br/>When Aria Holden opened the door, Eve gave the girl her best professionally interested smile. It was tailor made to the light gray pantsuit she wore. "Good evening, Miss Holden. My name is Evelyn. I'm here to escort you to your meeting." From the floorboard, Eve took a small black case, and threw the latches to open it.<i>Well...you certainly don't look like much, little duck. Then again...neither did I, in the beginning.<br/>
</i><br/>"Hey, we ready to go or what?" Gone was the warm tone of camaraderie from the Raven's voice. In its place, the brusque notes of a simple cabbie eager to be about his business. He was pretending to be a neutral third party to give Aria a sense of normalcy. Smart.<br/><br/>Eve put the slightest edge of insouciance into her voice. "Of course! Off we go, please and thank you." She turned to regard Aria, giving her a conspiratorial eye roll. The cab lurched into motion, and the driver rolled up the windows and raised the privacy partition.<br/><br/>"Now then. I'm required to review the conditions of your meeting. I trust you read the email? Good. First, your phone please. It will be returned to you at the end of your meeting." Evelyn took the phone, and locked it in the case. It would block any signal from reaching the device.<i>Give the kid a point for bravery.<br/>
</i><br/>Keeping a carefully arranged expression of pleasant professionalism, Eve crossed her legs and folded her hands atop them. "Thank you. Now, to review: we will be taken to the appointed location. Once there, you must remove all clothing before proceeding to meet with the client. This is to prevent the possibility of any recording devices and ensure the safety of both you and the client. I will keep your things for you for the duration of your meeting. When the meeting is over, you will be returned to your motel, or anywhere you like. Any questions?"<br/><br/>For the remainder of the drive, Eve made light small talk. Aria didn't seem too eager to engage, so Eve didn't push.<i>I wish I could tell you not to be afraid, little duck. Tell you not to worry. But you have to find your own path.<br/>
</i><br/>The driver skillfully navigated the constant flow of San Franciscan traffic, and eventually pulled the cab up to a large warehouse. "End of the line, ladies. Welcome to the Archimedes Banya Baths. That'll be thirty-five dollars." Eve played her part and paid the fare, exiting the taxi with Aria.<br/><br/>"If you'll follow me, Miss Holden. All has been prepared." Eve started walking to the building, but paused to look when she heard the driver side window of the taxi roll down. The cabbie leaned his head out the window and graced Aria with an uncharacteristically gentle smile, kindly green eyes sparkling from his aged face.<br/><br/>"Best of luck on your business, young lady. Whatever you're about, I'm rootin' for ya. May the world give way to your wings." And with that, he rolled up the window, and trundled off into the night.<br/><br/>Evelyn peered after the receding tail lights for a moment, before lifting one shoulder in a half shrug. "Cab drivers, man. Unparalleled men of mystery. Shall we?"<br/><br/>She led the way into the building, heels clicking decisively on the tile. A few of the interior lights were turned on; providing enough illumination to comfortably navigate the lobby. The bones of the building were beautiful. Exposed brick and hanging ductwork at every turn. Beyond the charming facade it was a no-nonsense sort of place, lacking frivolity or pretension. "The main pool has been pre-heated for your comfort, of course."<br/><br/>In spite of the humble part she played, Evelyn cut quite the figure. Lithe, lean, and beautiful, she moved with grace and precision. She felt the steam kiss her skin when they entered the<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fbramleybaths.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F01%2FPool-Large1.jpg&amp;hash=29bd2af517c6aad955619e5fdd73b7e6" href="https://bramleybaths.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Pool-Large1.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">main chamber</a>. As expected, only some of the lights were on, including one over a single changing room. Engaging all her senses by rote, Evelyn confirmed that they were alone, and gestured to the locker.<br/><br/>"Undress in there, please." Her voice echoed, quiet though it was, and lost itself in the low bubbling crackle of the heated pool.<i>Two points of bravery awarded, little duck, </i>she thought, as Aria emerged from the changing room. Eve detected a small shiver as she took the girl's clothes, even though the room was warm and humid.<br/><br/><i>No worries, kid. Courage isn't the absence of fear, but what we do in spite of it. You're doing good.<br/>
</i><br/>Aloud, she said: "Slip in here, and swim to the far end." She pointed a finger in indication. "Water goes up to your shoulders there. Wait there, and the client will be out shortly." With a brief, parting smile, Eve turned and left the chamber, leaving Aria Holden to her fate.<br/><br/><i>Be brave, little duck. If we're all lucky, we'll see each other again someday.<br/>
</i><br/><div style="text-align: center">- x -<br/>​</div>As the echo of Evelyn's heels faded from the chamber, silence returned to provide a captive audience to the gentle sounds of the pool. Bubbles popped and water lapped quietly against the tiled sides of the pool. For a few moments, this was all the sound in the world. Then a new sound broke the spell. The deeper, measured cadence of leather soles on tile grew steadily louder. Clearly the stride of a man who held no fear of time.<br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Du0nXMFDCnqg&amp;hash=72e54ed7ebf350490489f187637c86c9" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0nXMFDCnqg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">From the shadows, a man emerged.</a>Tall and lean, his black suit and silver shirt could have belonged to anyone. A professor, a businessman, a lawyer...<br/><br/>It was his eyes that set him apart. They weren't a particularly electrifying shade of blue, but what they lacked in interesting shade, they more than made up for in character. His eyes were sharp, clear, cold and precise. Small crows feet crinkled at the corners, providing contrast to his gaze and corroboration to the gray that salted his temples. He approached the edge of the pool in that same measured cadence, back straight, hands in pockets.<br/><br/>"Good evening, Aria. It's a pleasure to meet you." His voice was low and slightly raspy. The voice of a man who did not often raise it...and did not often need to. "My name is<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.medias-presse.info%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FJim-Caviezel-2.jpg&amp;hash=37f34e6f92e2632edb4ecade0d879ba9" href="http://media.medias-presse.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Jim-Caviezel-2.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Alexander</a>, and you are here to ask me about the Valhalla Corporation. About the Valkyrie. About what happened to your parents. I can, and will, answer some of these questions. But that is not why<i>I</i>am here."<br/><br/>Alexander lowered himself to a squat, hands loosely clasped together on his knees. His face a study in stillness, those ever calculating blue eyes gazed at Aria for a long, quiet moment. They were glacial, and yet...kind. Inscrutable...yet inviting.<br/><br/>"I am here to offer you a path. A chance to become something more than what you are, and find a way to channel all of that pain you feel. The nascent rage and depression, and listless ambivalence that plagues you, and separates you from everyone else. Along the way, you will have the best chance possible to discover the circumstances of your parents' demise. You'll even be capable of exacting vengeance upon their killers, should you find them."<br/><br/>He paused abruptly, and for a brief moment, a wave of exhaustion slowly crept over his placid face. Alexander closed his eyes and exhaled. When he opened his eyes again, the weariness was gone. Almost.<br/><br/>"Vengeance is just another prayer at the same desperate altar, Aria. If you are strong enough to walk this path, then by the time you are strong enough to achieve it, revenge won't even matter. But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? The real question is, do you even have what it takes to face me? To say what you need to say?"