The Valkyrie’s Ghost

Author's notes: As you can see this is a Beta draft and the grammar would mortify any self-respecting English teacher. I have had two different people offer to provide an editorial pass (amazing) and so I sent the first to volunteer all 130,000+ words, if they run screaming, I have 2nd option for clarity!

I do appreciate the comments and votes. I am interested to know if I should stop posting the beta versions or let the story continue, warts and all. Take care all! PhD!

Chapter 21

Lysandra Vale

Thursday, December 25th

The Five House

8755 Ridgeline Hollow Road

Grants Pass, OR

Lysandra---------------

Lysandra reluctantly followed Riley's family. She pulled open a thick metal door with a bank-vault like wheel.

"You guys heard Riley, get in and lock up until help arrives." Amanda urged.

Mark walked into the what was a quarter of the basement, a large space with two rooms and a bathroom, found the large tv and turned it on. The minute the video and sound started, he muted the audio as Brett was looking for his mother-in-law and handed the remote to his wife. He turned to his wife and with shake of affirmation, Mark reached down and picked up River and Jack. "Hey, this is grown up tv. I think uncle Riley has some of your movies in the bedroom, let's go." The two toddlers cheered before beginning to argued over which Disney show they should watch.

Paula was in Gary's arms as she repeatedly as she sobbed "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to bring him here. I am so sorry."

Amanda hit the volume up and walked over to her parents and for the first time since the incident, wrapped her arms them. "It is going to be ok, mom. Riley will make everything ok."

Lysandra turned her attention to the monitor. Brett was a specimen of a man. He was 6'1 and his sculpted muscles flexed in his sweater and stretched his jeans. He was nervous with his head swinging back and forth and his hands were shaking.

Lysandra swallowed as Brett tormented Riley due to her stupidity in making him dress in women's clothes. "...Miss Perfect..." rang in her ears.

Amanda's body with rigid with rage when Brett mentioned River. Lyandra had to swallow her meal a second time as his words "...parts of the little tart..." caused her to gag in disgust. Gary turned to comfort Amanda and Helena stepped in to put a comforting arm around Paula. The rest of Riley's loved ones stood or sat around anxiously, watching their loved one step between them and a man with nothing to lose.

Riley remained calm. He used this opportunity to gather video evidence of Brett's abuse of his own mother. Brett's summary of his childhood played across his mother, father, and sisters face, trying to see if they had pushed him to these act, but Riley countered with what was the truth of the parents focused on different aspects of each of their wards. Tears jumped to all of the eyes in the room with the hateful words "the state had to pay...." Each giving person afraid that Riley considered himself unworthy of being loved or cared for.

As Brett attacked Riley with the abuse, Lysandra imagined being confronted by her abuser. She would not just stand there coolly. Silent in front of the abuser.

When Brett started to taunt him about being marked, Lysandra ran for the door she hoped was the bathroom and released all of her stomach into the stool. Lara and Helena followed her into the bathroom. Lara held her hair back and she disgorged her stomach.

Her heartbeat race faster than at any time in her life. Helena squatted and placed a wet hand towel on her face. The three heard screams of rage from Gary as Amanda and Paula sobbed together. Then, Lysandra heard on the tv and outside the room three bullets and shattering windows. Lysandra bolted to see what happened.

Clyde croaked in an emotion filled voice. "Riley is fine, just a window."

Lysandra, Helena, and Lara all took deep breaths, but then Brett's words became recognizable as the people in the room got control of their emotions.

"Slut, pull up your skirt..." Those words just hammered on Lysandra's soul. Tears fell to the floor as they flooded her eyes. Her hands wiped at them so she could see what her bitterness cost Riley.

The safe room staired as Riley slowly pulled up the dress and showcased the pair of boy-shorts he wore. The silk material in a feminine print, lace around the waste and legs. She did this to Riley. She sobbed quietly, praying she could comfort Riley.

But Riley didn't blink. Not a blush. When Brett had him turn to allow Brett's eyes to devour Riley's humiliation, it didn't work.

In a calm voice he used as they cooked. "Are your words supposed to shock me Brett?" Lysandra smiled at his bravery. But the next sentence, "...gift I should have had form my partner has been defiled," dug deep into her psyche and found its twin in being defiled. Lysandra blinked away tears and found every single person caught in Riley's confession and each in their own way displayed the pain they felt for him.

"Oh shit." Clyde said. "Did you see that look on Riley's face? He just heard something from the security company and it wasn't good."

Lysandra's heart started to race. Then Riley turned and even swayed his hips as he displayed his ass to Brett as he talked about the mark and it following him, then he pulled back his hair."

"Your right." Lysandra heard herself shout. "He is breathing like he does during his morning martial arts forms."

Lysandra's ears where ringing. "...darkest dream..." and then "...God hates you more..."

Riley did something in which his right pump was flying like a major league fastball, hitting Brett in the throat. With is off hand to his throat, Brett fired the gun twice blindly, kicking up gravel, but Riley had somehow used a move from an Olympic gymnast and his leg to moving left and he did a flip in the air, his right foot landing firm on the gravel 10 feet from Brett. Lysandra's mind noticed that even a Russian judge would have scored it a 10 for a stuck landing. The momentum of the move sent the left pump flying towards Brett. Brett shifted his arm in front of his face, again, blindly shooting another 3 shots. The left leg swung and amazingly Riley converted that motion with a herculean push with his right leg and he was four feet into the air. Brett was in full-blown panic and squeezed off three more shots that missed the house and Riley."

Riley did not jump at Brett, but to the side and behind him. With no wasted motion, Riley stood up with two hands full of gravel and with a windmill motion put all the leverage he could as he released two hands of sharp gravel that slammed into Brett."

Brett just started to empty clip towards the source of the pain.

Helena cried out. "He was grazed on the right hip."

Then Riley reached Brett. A vicious blow to the arm had the gun to the ground and Brett's right wrist clearly broke. Riley moved like water and after two additional movements, Brett fell bonelessly to the ground. Brett's head bounced off the gravel walkway.

Helena turned with red rimmed eyes, "Where would that crazy, run out and confront a man with a gun, keep his first aid kit?"

Marcia "It is in the cabinet in the restroom. You get out there and I will get the kit."

Lysandra's phone rang. "Hey." Riley said with a bit of breath. "How is it go'n?"

"Just hanging with the family." Lysandra said in a manic laugh.

"Could I beg a favor?" Riley asked.

"Probably." Lysandra said, taking deep breaths.

"Could you get a sleeping bag and zip ties? The sleeping bag is on the third shelf from the floor on the right side. The zip ties should be on the workbench, right in front of the hammer." Riley asked. His gun in his hand, Riley kicked Brett's gun 10 feet away from the still form.

Lysandra turned and found that Gary was struggling with the door to get it open. Amanda called for Mark, and they went to Gary and led him to Paula. "Mom needs you dad. Riley has everything under control." Gary walked over and picked up his ex-wife and sat in a chair, just cradling her and whispering calming words to her. Daniella stepped up to the door, and it opened in a handful of heartbeats. As she was swinging the heavy door open, Lysandra invested every ounce of her athletic abilities and dodged the family as she hurried to locate the sleeping bag and cable ties. She bound up the stairs, oblivious to the high heels, her mind screaming at her to get to Riley.

As Lysandra appeared, Riley was reassuring his loved ones. His hazel eyes focused on her, his eyes scanning her body to ensure she was safe. He offered her a kind, half smile as he handed the Glock off to Lara who stepped back and held the gun ready, pointed 2 feet in front of her, but ready to target Brett in a heartbeat.

Riley took the hand ties and tied together Brett's ankles and after forcing Helena to look at the broken wrist, tied his left wrist to the back of his pants. He unzipped the sleeping bag, stretched it out and rolled Brett into it. Then he zipped up the bag, trapping him in the bag and keeping him warm just in case of shock.

Only then did Riley relax, thanked Lara for helping and returned the gun to its holster.

"Riley Randolph Rivers," Helena said in a commanding voice she likely used in an ER. "You were hit, let's get you inside so I can treat it!" Turning to Amanda. "Mandi, could you grab my purse and get my fob. I have a bag in the trunk. Marcia, do you have Riley's First Aid Kit?"

Marcia stepped forward with the first responder's briefcase-size first aid kit as Paula and Gary pushed through the door. Paula's eyes settled on Riley as her breathing started to race and the spots of red covered Riley's body. Gary's hand moved to her back, and she looked back to see her ex-husband's caring eyes.

Riley bowed his head in shame, "I am sorry Momma Helena. I must stay out with Brett until the police or sheriff arrive."

Helena paused to think as Amanda rushed out to her car. The BMW that was hit earlier flashed its lights as the tailgate beeped as it lifted into the air. "Well, fine. Come up here on the porch and get your sweater and skirt off." She saw Clyde standing by the porch. "Clyde dear, could I get you to raid Riley's closet and get him something roomy and easy to slide on?"

Riley marched up to the porch and moved a chair over next to where Helena was standing as Marcia dropped the first aid kit onto a small side table. Riley pulled his outer sweater off, folded it carefully and placed it in the direct center of the chair. He pulled off his sweater and despite the bloody holes ripped into it, he folded it carefully.

Lysandra was about to say something when Paula walked over and stood on her tip toes, staring into Lysandra's eyes and mouthed OCD. Lysandra swallowed her words and watched as Mandi jogged up the stairs and handed a medical bag to Helena.

"Damn it, I can't see a thing. Mandi," Paula said with a blush, "Could I get you to dig in my purse for my stinking reading glasses?"

"Mandi, in the drawer on the side table is a number of flashlights." Riley offered. "Not that Helena needs light."

"Hell, yes I do." Helena smiled as she explored the first aid kit that Marcia had opened onto a small end table. She pulled out a number of antiseptic wipes, sprays, gauzes, and creams. The ER doctor grumbled to herself, "well he at least has a decent first aid kit."

Amanda just smiled and disappeared into Riley's house.

Riley pulled down his skirt. "Gary, if I can get you to pass on the strip show, could I get you, Daniella, and Clyde to grab a sheet of plywood and bracing to close up the window?"

Riley was standing in a pair of boy panties and a black bra. The panties were ripped where the bullet grazed his hip. The back side of the panties had small holes as if a school of piranhas attacked. She glanced down and his legs and hands, all of which had a collection of oozing cuts and abrasions. However, the ripcord muscles flexed as he carefully placed the folded skirt onto the chair.

Riley reached up to unclasp the bra.

"Riley dear, I think you can leave on the bra." Helena said as she accepted a pair of well used glasses from Amanda. "But, unfortunately, the panties must come off."

Without a second look, Riley slipped his thumbs inside of the waistband and slid down the panties. Lysandra was in total shock. Not a side look or blush, he just dropped the panties. As the undergarment slid down, his penis was pull down and out of the gusset. Lysandra's eyes went wide. His groin was completely hairless and his 6" flaccid cock looked massive on his slight body.

Riley again took the time to systematically fold the panties and carefully positioned them on the chair. Clyde had stepped out on the porch, saw Riley undressing and handed a stack of clothes and a pair of boots to Amanda and quickly followed Gary and Daniella to the woodshed.

Helena immediately dropped to her knees, looked hopefully to Amanda who offered her a headlamp and clicked a large LED flashlight that flared to life, bathing the porch in a bright white light. The highly-skilled doctor bent close and started to examine the bullet wound. She positioned her head lamp and smiled at Amanda who positioned the larger flashlight.

"The good news is that most of these are very light abrasions. A dab of Neosporin and you will be fine. The trouble with the gunshot wound is not the bullet wound, but the fact that the bullet could embed fibers from the panties. If we miss fibers, you could be going into surgery to remove them a week for now." Dr. Helena Rhee narrated.

Helena swabbed the wound and then used the light and tweezers to pluck out strands of the synthetic satin. Five minutes later Riley's body was shivering when his comms came to life.

"Ghost, command. Sherriff is three minutes out." The voice said.

"We are about to have company." Riley informed his foster mother.

"Ok, Riley, you can get dressed. I think I got everything, but the second you see any redness, you get to the ER immediately." The ER doctor advised.

"Yes, momma." Riley said with a smile. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Then Helena burst into tears and Riley pulled her into his mostly naked body.

"You scared the shit out of me Riley." Helena said in between sobs.

"I know." Riley said softly. "I had to keep him a live for Paula and Gary."

The doctor got control of herself. "You better get your solider tucked back in its barracks."

"I was thinking dragon in its burrow!" Amanda said with snicker that hid her own pain.

"I am never living this down." Riley said. He found Lysandra eyes and he smiled, "I do apologize for the skirt and sweater. I am not sure any dry-cleaning coupon is going to help resurrect this outfit. Sorry about that."

Lysandra smiled. "We are going to have to discuss your next outfit. How about blue and red tights?"

Helena looked at Lysandra's blushing cheeks and her eyes avoiding the naked man in front of her and she smiled. "You are new to the party. Riley spent time in a group home and military with communal showers. He is not too shy."

Amanda, "yea, remind me to tell you time he dived into the pool and stepped out of it buck naked!"

Riley cleared his throat, "she doesn't need to remind you as you just told her the story Mandi!"

Amanda stepped up to her foster brother and handed him a pair of boxers that he gratefully stepped into and pulled them up to his waist. That was followed by firehose cargo pants, socks, and boots. Riley then pulled on a wool sweater. Finally, he pulled on his shoulder rig and Glocks.

It was sixty-seconds later the sheriff's car squealed onto the pavement as it turned onto the drive and then its police interceptor engine accelerated up the asphalt drive and stopped in a spray of rock and stones. A sheriff's deputy jumped out with a shot gun in her hand.

"Hey Riley." Deputy Elena Ward said calmly. "Heard you had a visitor."

"Hi'ya Laney." Riley said. "If you give me an email address, I will share surveillance video of the whole event. I was nicked by a bullet but was treated by Dr. Helena Rhee. I kicked the gun away, but no one touched the weapon. He shot 11 of his 16." Riley looked around and saw Gary and Amanda surrounding Paula. Riley tilted his head to Paula who looked first to her ex-husband and then her daughter and gave a reluctant nod. "I also have Brett Trenholm confessing he abused both physically and sexually, his mother Ms. Paula Trenholm."

Lysandra looked around and found every eye focused with disdain at the unconscious man in the sleeping bag and connected the revelation to the screams of rage.

"Riley, what did you do this poor shit head." Laney asked.

"Well, I kept him alive. I had him confess, but he was shooting those bullets fairly aggressively, so I got the gun free and used some nerve cluster hits to put him out." Riley said. "I feel bad about the broken wrist, but it was that or put him down, and he might be a jerk, but he is my foster brother."

Riley turned just in time as Paula launched herself into his arms. "Riley, I am so sorry that I brought him here. If he had hurt you, I would..." Then she just released a soul rendering sob.

"That is silly." Riley almost shouted. Everyone stood still, their eyes focused on the pair who were about the same height. Paula's hair was tangled, her eyes red-rimmed where open in shock, and her mouth was wide open. Riley then said lovingly, "That is very silly. You are loved. I am so happy you are safe." Then he pulled her into a hug, and the older woman laid her head on his shoulder and as she silently cried, you could see her body physically relax.

"It is our turn." Riley said. "You took in a 7-year-old who lost his only family to cancer. It was you Paula who comforted a non-verbal boy who had the body of a 5-year-old. It was you who..." Riley's voice filled with emotion, "...who sang Momma's Going to Buy You a Mocking Bird." Lysandra saw tears flowing down Riley's face as he attempted to comfort this woman. "In my darkest moments, still to this day, I close my eyes and I am in that twin bed, snuggled up to you as you ran your hand through my hair and hear you sing. I am home."

"You were so small," Paula whispered, "so scared."

"I was so loved, for three years in a home full of love." Riley breathed back.

"Silly boy, you have been loved by so many." Paula smiled through her tears. "From the moment the meet you to when you rescue them from themselves." Paula stood up with some strength and walked over to stand by Gary and Amanda, who turned and soon were holding each other up.

Three Grants Pass Police department vehicles arrived. As Riley welcomed each member of the department he brought Laney over to Lysandra.

"Laney Ward, let me introduce you to Lysandra Vale." Riley smiled. "Lysandra, this is Laney Ward, by day a sheriff's deputy and by evening a martial arts instructor."

"It is an honor meet you Ms. Vale." Laney smiled. "I am sorry it is under these circumstances."

"The honor is all mine. We really appreciate your help." Lysandra offered.

Laney turned to Riley. "So, you are out for next couple of weeks, I am missing my sparring partner."

Riley smiled back. "Yep, I am living the hard life in a mega-mansion." Riley exhales, "But I just carry on as I can."

Laney placed her hand on Riley shoulder. "We will get this cleaned up. The sheriff watched the video your team shared, open and shut. Grants Pass team will snap a few photos of the bullet entries and we will call it good. Should be 15 minutes at a max."

Five minutes later, two of the Grants Pass officers had Brett sitting on top of the now unzipped sleeping bag. Awake, but mostly groggy. They helped him up and walked him to the ambulance that was slowly pulling up. They had placed him in full restraints that had a belt, ankle shackles, and one wrist connected to the belt. His broken wrist was wrapped against his body.