A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Darquesse, Skulduggery, Ghastly, Tanith, Anton or Erskine. Set after the books so Val is in her 20s and there be massive spoilers ahead. And it was written long before the last book came out, so you'll notice quite a few, um, changes.
I had lived in my parent's house. I had briefly lived in a mansion and now I lived in a cave. Well, perhaps lived was the wrong word. Though it is a very nice cave. I told myself. There was my magical mirror that let me see what was happening in the woods and allowed me to see anyone just by thinking of them. I had to think to make it work because one thing I'd done was take my own voice away, forever.
Well, not quite forever forever. I could always get it back, just like I could get my skin back. It sat in a chest in the corner, magically preserved. But I didn't want it back, ever. I was dead now and that was the way things had to be, to protect the world. And to protect me from my former friends. I hadn't checked on them, but I'd heard rumours they were looking for me.
And them finding me was the last thing I wanted. I wasn't Darquesse anymore, I'd died, willingly to protect the world from that. Used my own Necromancy to well- Let's just say it involved sinking into the ground then singing myself out of my flesh. But the world was safe. Most people figured I was dead.
I more or less hid in these woods now because not everyone trusted me to be dead. I'd gone soft, and before I died completely but was at a point where I could jump out of my body I'd not only rescued Tanith but brought back Skuludggery's family. I figured those goodwill gestures would show I was a nice person underneath everything but they didn't. People were still hunting me.
Luckily they didn't know I was now The Lady of the Woods. A skeleton dressed all in black outfit a lot like a highwayman would have worn and armed with a cursed crossbow and sword. I kept the woods clean of magical bad guys and gained a reputation of rescuing fair damsels and a few hunky guys in distress. I had no idea how people knew I was female, but they did.
My mirror activated itself and I frowned inwardly. There were intruders in the woods then. I watched mutely as the Dead Men entered the woods, accompanied by Skulduggery's family and Tanith. I was instantly angry. Doesn't he have any better sense than to drag a little girl into danger? I fumed inwardly. Oh, yeah. There was me, once upon a time.
The thought made me smile. I still loved my friends and didn't want to hurt them. I gestured and could hear them talking. Ghastly, looking wary, spoke to Skulduggery. "Skulduggery, if we haven't found her by now, she has to be dead. You know how many people wanted her that way. I say we call off the search."
I nodded vigorously. Excellent idea. I thought. Skulduggery of course, had different ideas.
"She was my partner, I'd know if she died." He said and I snorted, or would have if I could make any sounds. "I just have to know she's all right, Ghastly, that's all. She doesn't have to come back. But the most important thing is for you to all see she can control herself, she is safe."
The heart I didn't have broke for him. I wanted to see more but the mirror shifted and showed me a group of mages lying in wait for them further into the woods. A trap! I had to warn them. I knew this could all be a set up, a trap for me, but I didn't look like me anymore, did I? No, I was the Lady of the Woods, and said Lady was about to leap into action.
I ran outside the cave, gesturing and my magic created a horse of shadows that solidified into a coal black steed. I leapt on, summoning my crossbow and sword. Both cursed weapons along with my shadows made me powerful in battle.
I spurred my horse forward and felt my black protective cloak flow out behind me, the hood staying in place as he leapt forward, sparks flying from the ground where his hooves touched. Faster and faster we flew and I held the reins in one bony hand encased in a black leather gauntlet. I used my free hand to draw my sword then gestured and my shadows rose up around us.
When they fell we were charging right into the thick of battle and I decapitated one bad guy as I rode by. Then I leapt off my steed and charged the nearest attacker, slashing with my sword and cleaving him open from shoulder to belly. I spun and delivered a bone-crushing kick to the ribs of another attacker, then shadow-walked to avoid the charge of a third. Now outside the melee, I let my attackers come to me, punching the first with a fist backed up by my shadows.
But he'd been a distraction and I realized it too late as I felt a sword run me through. I need to work on my protective clothing. I thought as my jaws opened in a silent hiss of agony. The pain was white hot and as I turned to retaliate I saw Tanith sneak up behind my attacker and decapitate him cleanly. She grinned at me and I nodded my thanks.
Soon the battle was won and I was painfully pulling at the sword without much success. Ghastly came up to me. "Hold still." He ordered going behind me. I felt one hand brace on my shoulder blade then the other pulled the sword out. I opened my jaws in a silent scream of agony and barely avoided collapsing.
I staggered forward, and Erskine was suddenly there to catch me. "Come back with us to the Sanctuary." He said, gently. "We can heal you." I shook my head.
No need. I thought, even though he couldn't hear me. I gestured and my Necromancy healed my bones, made my black hooded cloak and black highway man's outfit whole again. Something caught my attention and I whipped my skull around, calling my crossbow to me. I shot straight at Anton who had the good sense to move, and the arrow took out the bad guy behind him. "Thanks." Anton murmured and I nodded.
But now the Dead Men were wary of me. They all walked backwards slowly and I sensed a fight coming. I turned my back on them to go, and would have, but I felt a small, warm body press itself into me. I looked down to see Skulduggery's daughter clinging to me. This I don't need. I thought sourly, pushing her away, but she only clung tighter.
"Abby, come here!" Skulduggery ordered, his voice frightened, but she only clung tighter.
Yes, Abby! Go home to Daddy! I thought, trying to push her off, but she clung tighter and started to speak rapidly.
"You're the Lady of the Woods, I knew you were real! Can't you help us? We're looking for my sister Valkyrie. Mom and dad said that once we find her we can take her home with us, but after a vacation at the beach. They promised, please help me. I want my sister back." She started to cry, even though she was being brave for a little kid. How old was she anyway? Seven, maybe eight? She went on and I sighed. She talked more than Skulduggery.
"We came here looking for her, but it was a trap. But you saved us. Won't you come home and be my sister too?"
I wanted to in the worst way, but it was clear she was the only one not terrified of me, though her mom was looking at me thoughtfully. I hefted up her off the ground and took her over to her mother. But she refused to let go of my neck.
I looked down at her helplessly. "Please?" She asked. I knew it wouldn't work, but I made gestures so the adults knew I'd accompany them back to the edge of the woods. I knew Abby thought it meant I was coming because she let me put her down. Though when I'd mounted my steed she gave me a hopeful glance.
My shoulders sagged. The Dead Men, seeming to realize I meant no harm looked amused as she kept staring, playing the cute little kid card to the hilt. I looked at her mom, then Skulduggery. Surely no sensible adult let a child ride with a skeleton who practiced Necromancy? But somehow I found myself bending down in the saddle and scooping her up, then riding slowly as the others walked beside us on the wide path.
"My name's Abby." Abby informed me as she cuddled in tightly. I put a protective arm around her, afraid the hyper bundle of energy might fall as she bounced in the saddle. "What's your horse's name? I'm gonna name him Midnight. Hey, Midnight." She said, petting his silky black mane. The horse seemed to like it, and I was glad I'd created a placid creature.
"We wanted to find my sister, she's a hero. She fought in a war and everything, then there was another war, which we won, but she's gone. These are her friends, they're looking for her too." She twisted around pointing at each Dead Man and I couldn't resist smiling. Abby turned around and seemed to see it, so I tried something.
"Abby, sometimes adults tell a kid one thing-" I began, linking my mind to hers.
She was bright enough not to nod or act like she heard me. "I know, I've been spying on them to make sure. I'm protecting my sister like she went away to protect me."
"Good girl." I told her. "Midnight's a good name for him. I never gave him a name to be honest. He's made out of magic, you know." I handed her the reins and let her guide the horse. He was smart enough not to take off at a gallop though he did whinny happily when she chattered happily to him.
I felt proud in a way, to be her hero, and rode a little taller in the saddle. It was nice in a way, listening to her chatter about the clop of the horse's hooves and the sound of creaking leather when she'd shift in the saddle. Soon enough we'd reached the edge of the woods and I helped her dismount. Abby realized I wasn't going with them and looked broken-hearted, but I shook my head. "Sorry, but this is my home now, Abby. It has to be this way." I thought, then turned my horse away before she started to cry.
I winced, I felt terrible, but it had to be this way. A hand grabbed the reins and I looked down to see Tanith eying me keenly. "So that's it? How about helping us find her sister? She's my sister too, you know." There were angry tears in her eyes. I shook my head and she refused to let go. "I want my sister back!" She said angrily. I thought then looked at her.
"Dead." I whispered in her mind, careful so she wouldn't know it was me.
"No! I'd know!" She said, angry, but I knew she was accepting the news. I nodded and she let go of the reins, numb. They all were. I realized. They were all in shock or starting to grieve. Well, it was better this way.
Before I could ride away another hand grabbed the reins. Ghastly. I tried glaring down at him, and being as frightening as possible. He just narrowed his blue eyes at me angrily. I sighed. "I've only seen one person pause for a beat like that when they aimed at Anton in battle. There's only one person on this planet that has that good of timing with him."
He had me there. I'd hoped Anton would remember the maneuver but not who had used it. Now he was eying me keenly as well. The Dead Men were surrounding me now, boxing me in. I sighed, but only drew my hood forward. I felt a tentative pat on my leg and looked down to see Skulduggery.
"Come home." He said. And at his words I gestured. With that gesture the horse was gone. Abby was racing towards me and I willed my voice back.
"Skin, skin, on again." I sang under my breath as she leapt and landed in my arms. I smiled at her and she cuddled in. Being alive again was going to be interesting.
Hope you liked it.