Skulduggery Pleasant Torture

Author's Note: I am sad to see Skulduggery Pleasant end . It inspired be so much and I have never found a book that would be so hard to put down. I guess what I am most sad about is that I won't hear the characters ever again. This book has been a total inspiration to me, and it's got me determined to follow down the path I so desperately want, so thank you Derek for your stories, I can't wait to see what next year brings for us.

Summary: Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant venture onto another case, but this time it may be more than what they can handle. Rated T for torture and violence. Maybe some Valduggery

Warnings/Disclaimers: There will be some violence, and I don't own Skulduggery Pleasant. Set after The Dying of the Light. Some light spoilers, maybe. I don't know but I'll warn you anyway just in case

Chapter 1- Get Up, Val, there's a case!

Her phone buzzed on her bedside table. Valkyrie ignored it. It buzzed again, and again, and again. Right, if that phone does not stop buzzing I am seriously going to take a hammer to it, the young woman thought to herself. The sun was barely rising over the silver horizon that shone through her window. She groaned. All she wanted to do was sleep, have one good night's rest but that wouldn't be allowed. Nope, not when she worked for the sanctuary.

Valkyrie lived on her own in her Uncle Gordon's Estate. After the feud between Darquesse and Roarhaven she had taken a few years out. She didn't want to go home, not after she killed her sister. She loathed herself. She hated herself. Fair enough she managed to bring her back to life but still she kept some distance. Valkyrie didn't want to endanger her family anymore.

But she would protect them, so she stayed close.

Now, one year ahead of coming home properly, it was now winter and there was at least nine inches of snow lying on the ground. She had planned on going over to her parent's house in the next few days and have Alice playing in the snow while it lasted. Alice had never seen snow before, so Valkyrie knew she would be excited about the whole thing.

Her phone buzzed again and there was a light tap at the window. Sighing softly, she gets out of bed and pulls on her warm dressing gown before heading to the window.

"You do know you can use the door?" She said through the glass.

"Come on, open up its cold." Skulduggery pouted.

"I thought skeletons didn't feel cold." Valkyries eyes lit up in playful amusement, her head tilting to one side.

"Valkyrie. As your partner in crime I want you to let me in right now."

"Sadly, I don't like to bring crime into the house. It makes it messy." She teases and heads away from the window.

"Stop messing around this instant and let me in."

"No, go and use the door."
"It's locked."
"Oh."

"Yes, now let me in."

"No."

"Don't make me smash the window. I won't pay for it." Giving in, Valkyrie grinned and opened the window for him. "Well hello there, it's nice to see you again." His voice hinted a grin and she rolled her eyes.

"So remind me why you've woken me at stupid o' clock in the morning?" Valkyrie questioned as she grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom. She closed the door and took a shower while she listed to Skulduggery.

"We have a new case."

"Oh? Would you like to elaborate?"

"Well personally I'd like to keep you in the dark to see how that would work out for you."

"But we're professionals here, Skulduggery."

"Well, I consider myself as a professional but you? No you're just my side kick." The shower turned off and a few silent minutes later, Valkyrie opened the door, one eyebrow raised.

"Side kick?!"

"Well, yes." God, how she hated him.

"Maybe I don't want to do this case, maybe have plans." She countered, moving into her room to brush her hair.

"What, more important than spending time with me?"

"Of course. I do have a life. Wow, sorry, my bad." She grinned at him. Skulduggery stood unnaturally still, looking at her.

"Anyway, this case." He started.

"Oh great, you may elaborate."

If Skulduggery had eyes, he would be rolling them.

"So anyway, someone has broken into the Sanctuary." He starts. "No one was killed apart from a few beheaded cleavers. The Med-wing was totally trashed and every little bit of research, every little bit of medicine, everything was gone."
"How strange." Comments Valkyrie.

"Yes, that was what I was thinking. But that wasn't all. The God-killers are gone too." Skulduggery said very slowly. Valkyrie looked up, serious now.

"All of them? What about that gauntlet?"

"That's gone too."

"Is there any clues as to who this would be?"
"No. But we can limit it all down. There are only a select few that know where the God-Killers are kept now. There is both of us, China, Fletcher and Tanith." Skulduggery said.

"Great limits. So it now means we trust no one."

"Yes, I don't trust you."

Valkyrie spins around. "You don't trust me?" She looked very shocked. "Really, come on Skulduggery, now that is low even for you."

Skulduggery chuckled. "Yes, I know it is, and now I know it wasn't you."

"How?!"

"Your eyes flash when you lie."

"Oh great, you've got me all worked out, haven't you?" She sighs, rolling her eyes.

"Yep. Now. Hurry up, we have somewhere we need to be."

"Where?" Valkyrie asks, sitting on her bed to pull her boots on.
"Well where do you think? The scene of the crime of course."