Authors: L.S. Darsic
“This day has been fantastic Finn! I can't believe you brought me....in a helicopter.....to a castle! Could you be anymore amazing?”
“Today is not over yet, my pet” Finn laughs, cheeky bastard. During the flight back to the city, Finn points out more interesting landmarks. I absolutely love Scotland. I am going to be destroyed when I have to leave but I'm not going to think about that today, today I am going to, for once, have fun and not mope around. This will be the birthday I remember for the rest of my long existence.
We arrive back at Finn's apartment where he opens the front door for me to walk in, as soon as I step in I am greeted by loud yell of “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!” from a group of people standing in the kitchen. Oh my gosh. I can barely breathe. I am so shocked I stay rooted to the floor until Finn takes my hand and pulls me forward. I am surrounded by Anja, Alec, Jace, Xander, Brennus, Natalia and Tank who are all chattering loudly.
“Happy birthday babe. I'm so sorry, I had no idea it was your birthday until Finn called Alec and asked for us to come to the city to celebrate last night. I'm also sorry about not believing you about Zack. I was being a terrible friend, will you ever forgive me?” Anja rushes out as she envelopes me in a tight hug.
“It's alright Anja, I understand. And I didn't expect you to know when my birthday was, its not like my family celebrates birthdays” I reply to Anja with a grimace. Anja gives me an odd look but before she can say anything, I am sandwiched between Jace and Xander.
“Happy birthday cuzo! Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday?” Jace says “Yeah, we would have bought you somethin” Xander chimes in
"Don't sweat it guys, its not like we ever celebrated birthdays before anyway”
“What are you talking about Alex? Our parents never missed a birthday, your parents stop having parties for you or what?” Xander asks confusedly
“Now that you say that, I don't recall Alex every having a birthday party or ever coming to ours?” Jace says to Xander
“So you guys had birthday parties growing up?” I ask quietly, when I see them both nod their heads with pained looks on their faces, my heart drops to my stomach and tears pool in my eyes.
“I can't believe your parents never had birthday parties for you Alex! What the hell?” Xander says
“Guys, let's talk about this some other time. Alex needs to say hello to the rest of the guests and then get ready to go out” Finn tells the twins and pulls me to the hallway. Wrapping his arms tight around me I try to not cry as the feeling of being alone and unwanted overwhelms me.
“It will be alright Alex, I promise” Finn whispers as he kisses the top of my head.
“Alex, you will not always feel this way” Natalia says as she walks up to us, of course she can feel my emotions, great. Now I can make her feel like shit right along with me. Finn steps to my side as Natalia pulls me into a tight motherly hug.
“You have a family with us, Alex. I know you just met us but we already feel a deep connection with you, it is fated for you to be our family” Natalia says emphatically.
“Mom, Alex needs to take some time to herself to relax and get ready before we have to go out” Finn says pointedly which gets Natalia to unwrap me from her motherly hug
“Happy Birthday, Princess” Natalia whispers
“MOM!” Finn growls at his mom which makes me shoot him a glare. Jesh, he doesn't have to be so mean to his Mom. Natalia just smirks at him and glides into the kitchen as Brennus walks up and gives me a hug as well. This family is so touchy. Completely opposite from my family, well except Jace and Xander anyway.
“Everything Natalia said was true, Happy Birthday Alex” Brennus says happily and then waltzes away towards his mate. Ummm alright? I'm confused but I can't find the space in my brain to think much about it. With Finn doing all these sweet things for me, my friends and Finn's parents showing up and then the proverbial slap in the face from my family, I feel like I am teetering on the ledge of a mental breakdown.
“Why don't you go take a hot shower and relax. We will all be going to dinner so you can see everyone then” Finn says as he walks me to the master bedroom
“Thank you Finn” I say quietly as I walk into the bathroom and try to make sense of my life.
I spend probably close to an hour in the shower just sitting on the bench and thinking. Trying to figure out why my family has treated me the way they have when I finally came to the conclusion that they have their reasons but there is nothing I can do about it now. They chose how they want to treat me and no amount of moping, crying and stomping my foot will change that. I can only control myself and my actions. I finally see the light and make the decision to stop trying, stop hoping and just live my life the way I want. Maybe Finn and his family will let me stay a bit longer so I can learn to defend myself and learn more about our world. Then when I go back I will continue working for the family but I will no longer bother trying to see them or keep in contact with them. They don't deserve me. From now on I will only surround myself with those who care for me rather than those who treat me as an employee.
I drag myself out of the bathroom with pink and pruned skin to find something to wear tonight but I find two wrapped boxes on the bed. One is wrapped similar to the box Finn gave me earlier, the other is wrapped in metallic silver paper with a deep purple bow on it. Immediately my heart beat quickens, I think I decided that I love getting gifts.
First, I tear open the box that was wrapped like the one from this morning and find a gorgeous teal dress with matching shoes. My word, Finn has great taste, either that or someone who works for him does. I quickly put on the dress and shoes to find they fit perfect. The dress comes just above my knee and is the kind of dress that you can make to be casual and fun or formal and elegant, the shoes are a silver beaded flat sandal. So casual and fun look it will be tonight. I open the second box to find matching clutch and two wrapped jewelry boxes. I open the first smaller box and find a chunky long silver necklace with matching bangle bracelets. I feel like Finn called Presley and had her pick out everything. It fits my style and personality so well. I open the last box to find a stunning silver ring with a celtic looking symbol on it and small diamonds placed all around it. My hands shake as I try the ring on but its not fitting any finger correctly except my ring finger. Surely Finn didn't mean to get me THAT kind of ring. I put it on my right ring finger and it fits perfectly. As I hold my hand out to study the perfection of the ring, I notice a piece of paper on the bed that must have fallen from the gifts. I pick up the note and read it which has me suddenly sobbing
Dearest Alexandra,
This ring is the symbol of love and family, we had this made specially for you.
Always,
Brennus & Natalia
As I sob, strong arms surround me and turn me. Finn's smell and warmth feel so natural and comforting to me now that his presence immediately calms me as he rubs small circles on my back.
“You and your parents are a dream come true. Thank you again for the gifts” I say as I reach up to kiss Finn deeply. I keep asking myself if this day could get any better and every time I have to tell myself, yes, because Finn keeps finding ways to do things for me that I never would have expected.
“You look absolutely stunning Alex” Finn says as he slowly looks at me from head to toes
“Either you have great taste and know what I like or you have a great personal shopper!”
“I admit, I had some help but I decided on the color and final selection. There is another surprise for you waiting in the kitchen” Finn winks as he strolls to the bathroom so he can get ready.
While Finn is getting ready I walk to the kitchen to see what else he got for me, but pull up short when I see the back of a familiar blonde. No, it can't be.
“Presley?” I ask haltingly and the breath leaves me suddenly as I am wrapped up tightly into my friends arms.
“OMG!! ALEX! I can't believe it's your birthday and I didn't even know! I am so glad Finn had Anja call me and fly me here to celebrate!” Presley squeals as she pulls me into another tight embrace
“I-I can't believe you are here Pres” I say worriedly. How can she be around all of us and not pick up that something isn't all human with us?
“Holy shit Alex. Did you see Finn's friend Tank? My god, what a fine specimen of a man, I just want to lick those bulging biceps, damn girl. And don't even get me started on your man, they really know how to make them in Scotland, shit!” Presley gushes while she talks a mile a minute.
“What about Jake? Just last week you were all about him, now you are all about Tank? Don't tell me you dumped Jake already?” I ask in hopes she is more serious with Jake so she stays far from Tank.
“Relax chickie, Jake and I never were serious, just having some fun. Now Tank over there, he seems serious, very serious” Presley says as she leers at Tank who in turn winks at her. Oh shit. This could get very bad.
“Pres, Tank is not your type. He is dangerous. You really should stay far away from him”
“Pfft. Like a Lampir is dangerous? I'm far more dangerous than he is” Presley brushes off my concern to continue to make bedroom eyes at Tank. What? Did she just say what I think she said?
“Presley, look at me” I say sternly “what do you mean Lampir?”
“Chill baby girl. Lampirs are not dangerous to my kind. In fact he might be just what I am looking for” She says as she wiggles her eyebrows at me. What. The. Hell.
“W-What do you mean? Your Kind?” I ask Presley as she stops eye flirting with Tank and turns to look at me in confusion.
“Alex, I think you better come sit down” Finn says from behind me as I gasp for breath, I think I am going to have a panic attack. How is this possible? How is my friend.....something? How did I not know?
“What on earth is going on with you Alex?” Presley asks as they lead me over to sit on the couch.
“Presley, I don't think Alex knows what you are” Finn explains as I attempt to get my breathing under control.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? How could she not know what I am?!?!” Presley yells as she paces in front of me
“W-what are you?” I stammer
“Babe, how do you not know?” Presley squats in front of me and searches my face. She must have only found confusion there because she sighs and paces some more.
“Presley is a Valkyrie” Finn says “Do you know what a Valkyrie is?”
“Finn, of course she knows what a fucking Valkyrie is. She just didn't know I was one.....I guess” Presley says as she stops pacing and stands in front of me again. Searching my brain I think I have an idea of what a Valkyrie is but how did I never suspect Presley as anything other than human? I look at her and really look at her, she has smooth skin, crystal clear blue eyes, long blonde hair that is to her butt and a body that is lithe and almost cat like. My eyes widen as what they are telling me finally sets in. Holy shit.
“I-I think I know-” I begin to say before Presley blows up
“YOU THINK YOU KNOW?!?!? WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN? DID YOUR SHIT FOR FAMILY NEVER TRAIN YOU?!?!” Presley yells as she paces more
“Presley, calm down” Finn warns
“No. You can fuck off Finn. I've known Alex for almost two years now and she never had a clue what I was! How wrong is that? Not just wrong but dangerous! She is so young and just came into her abilities, she could have been killed if she met the wrong people! I will NOT calm down” Presley says as she points in Finn's face, she turns to me “Babe, I had no idea you didn't know about me. I just figured you were a private person, most nephilim are so I didn't think anything of it. I'm so sorry!” Presley says as she dramatically throws her arms around me as I hear Finn mumble under his breath “fucking Valkyries”
“What is going on in here? Why are you yelling Presley?” Anja asks as she walks into the living room followed by Jace, Xander and Tank
“Oh well, nothing big. We just found out Alex had no idea that I am a Valkyrie” Presley says snottily with a roll of her eyes as if its the most logical thing for me to know what she was.
“You're a....you're a...what?” Anja says with wide eyes. Oh, interesting, she doesn't know either. Good, now I don't feel so dumb.
“Ah, what exactly is a Valkyrie?” Jace asks as Xander nods is head in agreement with the question.
“You've got to be kidding me” Finn swears under his breath
“What? Is this common knowledge or something?” I ask
“Not common knowledge to just anyone, but to our kind, yes” Finn says as he looks over to me
“How the fuck do you not know what I am? Did your parents teach you anything?” Presley demands with her hands on her hips. She is super scary when she is pissed and right about now she looks like she is gonna blow.
“Presley, we have already determined that Alex wasn't given any education, nor combat skills but we didn't know Anja, Jace and Xander were in the same situation” Finn tells Presley in a calm tone
“No shit she had no battle skills. Why do you think I -” Presley begins but then trails off with a snap of her mouth
“Finish what you were saying Pres” I encourage
“No, we need to get going to dinner soon and I have to get ready” she says as she stomps over to the guest bedroom
“What is a Valkyrie?” Xander wonders out loud
“A Valkyrie is an immortal, they are Odin's Maidens, which means they are the warriors of Odin, God of War. Each Maiden is chosen by Odin while they die in battle. Once they are chosen they are brought to Valhalla to be trained, once they are trained, they are returned to earth to be warriors. Presley is a Valkyrie and can be lethal if provoked” Finn explains
“Aye, they love and fight fiercely. I best go attempt to make my sweet Valkyrie in a better mood” Tank says with a wink as he saunters to the room Presley went into.
“Okay, okay, questions....first, how the hell did you manage to become friends with a Valkyrie, Alex? Second, are there more? I wouldn't be opposed to be on the receiving end of the “loving fiercely” part of their nature” Jace says as he wiggles his eyebrows
“GET THE FUCK OUT LAMPIR!” I hear Presley shout and a loud smash coming from the bedroom down the hall. Shortly after we all turn to watch Tank walk down the hall chuckling to himself and brushing glass out of his hair
“Whoa” Jace breathes out
“Finn, I-” I start to say but then there is a knock at the door and in walks Isabelle and Ian along with Percy and Phoenix who come running over to Egypt as she is chilling on the floor by me.
“Hello everyone” Ian says as he walks over to Finn and I.
“Hey, thanks for coming. And thanks for bringing Percy and Phoenix” Finn says as he stands up to give Ian and Isabelle hugs. I stand behind him timidly because I have only seen them once and they have yet to even really talk to me.
“Happy Birthday Alexandra, we are so happy we were able to make it in time” Isabelle says happily as she casually walks over to me and gives me a quick hug. Well, I guess I was wrong about her just like I was wrong about the rest of the family.
“T-thanks Isabelle. Please call me Alex. And thank you for coming” I say as my cheeks turn pink
“Please then call me Elle, Alex” she says with a cute smile which I return to her
“Yes, Happy Birthday Al” Ian says with a smirk
“Al?” I question Ian as he gives me a hug which causes Finn to glare “well since you have everyone shortening your name already, I figure I should go extreme and call you Al”
“Yeah well, Al reminds me of Al Bundy and that is not the kind of sexy I am going for” I say as I wrinkle my nose. I hear Anja and the twins laugh at my reference but the Scotland people all look confused so I just wave my hand in the air and tell them to forget it. Sometimes its hard to remember they might not know the same things we do. I mean come on, who hasn't seen Married with Children? I can even sing the song for them if they asked. God I am a loser.
“Are we ready to rock?” Presely calls out as she saunters into the room wearing a tight leather halter top and plaid skirt and high heeled boots laced up to her knees. I have to admit she looks bad ass but she also looks like barbie trying to be a goth/rocker chick. It would be funny if I didn't just find out that she could probably murder someone with the heel of her boot.