Valkyrie stumbles into Gordon's house, Skulduggery right behind her. She had convinced her parents to let her move in. After all, she will be turning 18 tomorrow. Which is practically today. They had just followed a bunch of leads that Tanith and Ghastly had given them. They had all leaded to one thing. Tanith and Ghastly having time alone.
They're cute together, but God, they can be annoying, Valkyrie thinks to herself. She motions for Skulduggery to go to the couch, and she collapses in the recliner. Her parents had insisted on a party for her birthday. She wasn't too excited, because they had also insisted she invite Fergus, Beryl, and the still-begging-for-magic twins. Oh well, she thinks, and then she slips into the gentle hands of darkness.
"Stephanie?" A male voice whispers, "Stephanie!" Her eyes fly open, and they focus on the somewhat-weird-looking guy standing over her.
"Dad!" She shouts, and jumps out of her chair. Skulduggery jumps up too, sees what's going on, and put's his façade up. Too late. Both of Valkyrie's parents slowly look from Skulduggery to Valkyrie and back.