A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery or Dusk. This is set after the novels, so it contains spoilers and Val is in her late twenties at least.
I was lifting weights in my home gym one night when I sensed a change in the currents in the air. Someone had entered, and I didn't like unwelcome visitors. I sat up and put the weights down, cursing myself for not putting better wards in place, and not liking what I saw. Dusk, dressed in black as usual, still handsome, still bearing the scar I gave him, lounged against the wall with his arms folded, watching me. "Hello, Valkyrie." He murmured so softly that I hardly heard him.
"You're injured." I said, standing up warily. This could be a trick for all I knew, but when Dusk unfolded his arms one hand came away bloody. He grinned, exposing his fangs in a grimace of pain then fell to his knees. I wanted to kill him then and there, it would be so easy and he'd sworn revenge on me, but then why come to me when he was vulnerable?
"You can heal me. Your powers, you have it in you." He managed weakly. "It's what I meant to tell you, you have so much more magic inside of you than even you realize, Valkyrie Cain." He slumped forward, unconscious and I was tempted to let him die. I inched forward, expecting him to flip over and attack, but he didn't.
I turned him over, finding the wound. How was I even supposed to heal him when I didn't know how? I sighed and lifting his shirt I gingerly touched the wound, then yanked my hand back in horror as it closed in on itself, healing. I stared at his now whole skin, wide-eyed. What had I done? I'd just healed the one vampire who wanted me dead.
I scuttled back, frantically trying to think of what to do. But Dusk didn't move, he stayed where he was, his breathing faint but regular. I had him where I wanted him then. Helpless. I knew I should call Skulduggery. I knew I should. But this was personal. Dusk had come to me of all people and I wanted to know why. He'd trusted me not to kill him, when as far as I knew vampires trusted no one.
He moved slightly and I flinched. Dusk's eyes opened and he gazed at me weakly. "Do it, slay the vampire. Be a hero." His eyes closed and I knew then how helpless he really was. He'd resigned himself to me killing him after all, but why? I knew better but I walked back and knowing he was far too heavy to carry I manipulated the light in the room to carry him to my uncle's old bedroom.
Then I sat in the darkness to keep watch. I didn't know why, exactly, but I didn't want him to die. He owed me answers at least. And maybe whoever had done this was a worse threat to the world than even Dusk was, so I sat beside his bed for hours in the darkness, keeping vigil. Waiting.
As I sat there I felt his hand find mine in the darkness and I looked over. A faint bit of moonlight was creeping into the bedroom and I could barely make out his features. Dusk was watching at me, and he made an effort to speak. "Valkyrie." He whispered then his eyes slid closed again. I wanted to pull my hand back from his. I wanted to call Skulduggery to come take his revenge on Dusk for ever threatening me. But I didn't.
I held his hand in the darkness, surprised to find it warm and pulsing with faint but very human life and I wondered exactly what had happened to him.
I know, super short, but I had a reader request, so...