Shadow Storms
SUMMARY: This is after the book Death Bringer. Valkyrie and Fletcher are not together, for now. Valkyrie meets a girl about her age that is an amazing elemental. Skullduggery offers her a spot on the Sanctuary and she mostly follows Valkyrie and Skullduggery. However, she does most of her missions with Fletcher because no one wanted to go on missions with him and because the two meet up in Australia. Alice and Fletcher returned to Dublin.
The howling wind made trees rock back and forth. People were rushing home, no one wanted to be caught in a storm like this one. One by one the houses lights turned off. The street soon was consumed by darkness. No one was asleep though, the street was awake. Outside a girl stood while everyone hide. Her light brown locks flew around showing her bright piercing green eyes. She wore a tight red jacket that clung to her body, and black skinny jeans. She wore a blank expression as she strolled down the street. She pushed open the doors to Randy's Hotel and checked in. When she was her room she locked the door and whispered, "You can come out now." Suddenly the air before her shimmered and a boy stood in front of her. The girl wasn't surprised at all. "What toke you so long? I was bored all day! I even had the thought to go outside and look for you just because you toke so long." The boy whined. The girl simply shrugged. "Well, I had things to finish for Skullduggery. I wish you would be more patient Fletcher. What would Valkyrie say in a situation like this?" She giggled. "Alice! Don't bring Valkyrie into this!" Fletcher grumbled. Alice smile faded. She had forgotten that they had broken up. Silence fell over the room and things became awkward. Alice knew about the situation between the two, but she forgot alot. "Fletcher, let's get some rest. Tomorrow we have to leave at 7:00. Okay?" Fletcher nodded and headed to one of the beds fell asleep. Alice turned out the lights and lay in her bed. She knew Valkyrie missed Fletcher, but only wanted to be friends. Alice let out a sigh, a little too loud because Fletcher rolled to face her. "Can`t sleep?" Fletcher mumbled. Alice had to admit; when Fletcher was half-asleep he looked adorable. Alice would never admit it of course. Fletcher wasn't over Valkyrie, but he wasn't thinking of getting back with her. They only exchanged nods and simple greetings whenever they mingled. They avoided each other like the black plague. Alice would try to trap them in a room together, but Valkyrie would bust down the door. Alice's eyes became heavy and soon sleep over toke her.
In the morning the both headed back to the Sanctuary to report their mission. When they reached the Sanctuary Skulduggery and Valkyrie are waiting for them. "Hey guys!" Alice waves. Alice glances over to see how Fletcher's doing. His facial expression was calm and confident. It was a nice change to see him like that. Valkyrie and Alice chatted a bit while Skulduggery examined Alice. "You're perfectly unharmed and bursting with energy, I must say if Valkyrie had gone on this mission she would have come back with at least a broken bone." Skulduggery said, his hat tipped back representing he was surprised. Alice giggled while Valkyrie scowled at him. "Anyways, Alice we have a new mission that requires Fletcher's and yours help." Fletcher, hearing his name called, ears perked up and he moved closer to listen. Alice scotched over so he could come in. Skulduggery explained about the recent murders. A whole family of 5 hanged at their own house. To Alice it seemed slightly strange, a couple years back in her neighbourhood back in Australia, there was a murder similar to this one. A family all hanged by Christmas lights. Back then she was young, but it didn't stop her from investigating the deaths. She had gathered information and suspects for weeks until she had numbered it down to two suspects, Molly Wane and Levi Ever. Molly Wane and Levi Ever were two normal people to those who aren't aware of their dark powers. Alice had been sure it was the work of both of them. After their discussion, Skulduggery told everyone to sleep well because tomorrow at 6 they were going to Australia. Exactly back to Alice's neighbourhood. Alice held Fletcher's hand and in a blink of an eye Fletcher had teleported them both into their usual hotel to rest for the night. Fletcher and Alice went to sleep without a word.
"Are we there yet?" Fletcher whined for the 13th time. Alice irritated smack Fletcher on the head with the book she was reading. "We'll be there, when we're there!" Alice hissed. Fletcher gave her a puppy-face but stopped asking. Fifteen minutes past until Valkyrie grumbled, "Are we there yet?" Skulduggery chuckled and told them it would be another five minutes before they reached the hotel they were heading for. Alice groaned when Fletcher and Valkyrie kept complaining on how bored they were. Alice knew this was going to be a hell of five minutes.
When the group arrived at their hotel, they separated. Alice and Valkyrie got their own room and Fletcher and Skulduggery shared another. They all stopped by at the café downstairs before stumbling to their rooms. When Alice was sure Valkyrie had fallen asleep, she slipped out of the room and accidently crashed onto Fletcher. Fletcher smirked and Alice jumped up embarrassed. She offered her hand and he toke it. "I guess I'm not the only on that couldn't sleep." Fletcher grinned. There was a feeling inside Fletcher whenever he saw Alice. It was the urge to protect Alice at all costs, even if he couldn't do much. She was the elemental here, not him. They were interrupted when a female shriek echoed in the hallway.
The group was outside in their fighting positions glancing around for the source of the scream. Fletcher and Alice had woken everyone and told them about the scream. Fletcher had teleported all of them outside. Valkyrie was the first one to spot a young man in his late teens or early twenties strangling a young woman. Alice grabbed onto Fletcher and Fletcher teleported them both forward a couple meters. "What you're doing is very wrong!" Alice shouted. The man turned and locked eyes with Alice. He tilted his head a bit in confusion. "I know you. You used to know me. We were the best of friends. Have you forgotten me already?" he rambled. "The only thing I forgot was to double check the streets and reports before sleeping. I won't be making that mistake again." Alice snapped. With the snap of her fingers a fireball formed. She aimed it at the male and was about to shoot when he stepped into the moonlight revealing his face. Straw blonde hair that was straight and short. Ocean eyes, clear and almost hypnotizing. Alice felt her fireball disappear and her knees went weak. She fell to her knees, but never took her eyes off of his. "You, I remember you. Levi Ever, my best friend and old combat partner. You started killing people after that weird dream you had. Though you never told me, it hurt the most when you decided to partner up with Molly Wane instead of me." Alice spat. Tears were welled up in her eyes. She refused to give him her tears. Levi's face was guilty, he had partnered up with Molly for a good reason. It wasn't because she was good company, she was mean and obnoxious. He had partnered up with her because she had offered something that had caught his interest. Levi looked down at his sneakers. "I did for a good reason, please don't hate me. You'll be happy one day." Levi whispered. Alice balled up her fists. "Happy? I'll be happy one day? One of my unhappiest days would be when you started killing people, when you started killing my friends. Your friends and even our families! Why did you do that?" Alice cried. Fletcher looked at Alice shocked. He knew Alice's parents were dead, but he never thought that her best friend had murdered them. Valkyrie sent shadows flying towards him but he caught them. "How did you do that? Shadows can't be caught!" Valkyrie pondered. Out of nowhere a dark blur shoot towards Alice and tackled her down. Some auburn curls could be seen here and there, but there was no way to get a better look at this thing. On top of Alice was a female, with auburn curls that reached her shoulders and foggy eyes. "Molly did you finish off the other people?" Levi questioned. Molly nodded. "Good. Alice it was nice meeting you, I hope we can meet again. Molly get us out of here." Levi grinned. Black smoke surrounded Levi and Molly and they both disappeared, leaving the shock group behind.
To Be Continued…
So how was it? PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!
~Cera Mist
