He disappeared to the other side of the gate with alarming speed, gone before she could even reach for him. And when the reality hit her full-on, Stephanie fell to her knees, limbs shaking with an unbearable sense of loss.
And just what am I supposed to do now, Skulduggery? You tell me that.
She felt sick, but her stomach had fallen so far into her feet that she couldn't even vomit. She was filled with nothing but numbness, and in that void she hadn't even the sense to wish for pain.
Valkyrie!
Voices called to her; trying to make sure she wasn't hurt, trying to reclaim her before she, too, slipped away to a place from whence they could not retrieve her. Little did they know it was already too late.
Valkyrie Cain, Strong, Witty Warrior and Elemental, Part-time Detective and All-around Nice Girl was gone.
Valkyrie Cain was dead; gone with Skulduggery. All that was left of her was the weak, vulnerable, twelve-year-old Stephanie Edgley.