Valkyrie groaned, and sat up. "I told you it was a trap," she said.
"No, you said it looked like a trap," Skulduggery corrected. "That's completely different."
He helped her up as a door opened behind them and Sadistica Tortura swept through, an unsettling smile on her lips.
Valkyrie blinked twice, attempting to clear her blurry vision; nearly falling, she gripped Skulduggery.
She heard a tinkle and looked up as a beautiful glass chandelier swayed above them.
Sadistica strode across the room, her black gown trailing behind her. She stopped and stared before speaking.
"Morning sleepy heads," she said, her smile turning into a maniacal grin.
Skulduggery laughed. "Us? Sleepy heads?" he queried. "You seem to have quite the bed head this morning," Skulduggery stated.
Sadistica spun on her heels and gave a disdainful scowl. "Says the skeleton with no hair."
Skulduggery crossed his arms with a snort. "Why have hair when you can have cool hats?" He said, cocking his hat to the side.
Valkyrie rolled her eyes as she looked at Skulduggery; he looked ludicrous, she sneered to herself. Valkyrie snatched the hat from his head.
Skulduggery gave a shriek as his hat was stolen again.
He turned to Valkyrie. "Valkyrie, Val, old buddy, mate, pal, may I please have my hat back?" he asked, holding his gloved hand out.
"Not until you behave," Valkyrie said.
Sadistica was standing impatiently, her grin now a snarl.
"Children," Sadistica spat, looking at them, disgust flaring in her copper eyes.
Valkyrie handed over the hat reluctantly, dipping her head.
"Thank you," Skulduggery said, plopping his hat back on at a rakish angle.
Suddenly Valkyrie lashed out, lunging at Sadistica and knocking her to the ground.
Skulduggery shrugged and joined in the melee.
Sadistica growled, squirming under their grip; her eyes red, aglow with flames.
Valkyrie was knocked backwards, flying towards the door.
As she struggled, she realised she was caught, hanging on a coat stand.
Skulduggery hurled a fire ball at Sadistica, but she just laughed and sent it back, manipulating the air.
He dived to the side and the fireball hurtled towards Valkyrie.
Valkyrie flailed her feet, panicking as the fireball formed into a massive dragon, roaring towards Valkyrie, smoke spurting from its nostrils.
Skulduggery manipulated the air, drawing it away – but not quite fast enough. Valkyrie squealed as the tip of her hair was singed, crumbling to the ground in a heap.
Sadistica appeared beside Valkyrie and pulled a dagger from her boot, placing it at Valkyrie's throat.
Skulduggery froze, his black sockets locked on Sadistica.
Valkyrie felt Sadistica's breath against her neck; she shivered and squirmed.
Skulduggery pulled out his revolver, squinted his eye socket and shot the cord holding the chandelier. The massive light plunged towards Valkyrie and Sadistica. Skulduggery raced towards Valkyrie, knocking over the coat stand and freeing her. The pair dived just out of the chandelier's reach.
The chandelier shattered, shards of glass raining down around her.