I just want to say this is my first fanfic, so be gentle with reviews and comments.

Also I wanted to shout out to Lady Alyss, Artsy Chick, MercyFul Fear, Raven-loves-Sanji, Afoxxinthecloset, Nerdy Skeleton and SawManiac211, you guys were my inspiration for posting.

I woke up for the second time on the couch in the front living room of Skulduggery's house. The room was empty except for me. My mind swirled then I remembered what Skulduggery had done.

Again! I thought, Why'd he knock me out again? The right side of my head throbbed terribly and I cursed his name. I was so angry. I'll get that skeleton I thought I'll tear up his favorite suit or crash the Purple Menace! I can't believe he'd do that to me I can't believe he'd…

I woke up the first time chained to a chair by the sink in a bathroom. My head was in the sink, the left side of my head throbbed horribly. The familiar blue of the bathroom in Tanith's flat blurred in front of my eyes.

From the other side of the door came hushed murmurs and bouts of laughter. I looked down at the chains on my wrists, the familiar withstand sheen gleamed back at me. Either I was kidnapped by an adept or Tanith's ass is grass. I tried burning the chains and pushing at the air at them but I ended up with burns and bruises on my own wrists.

The hushed murmurs on the other side of the door stopped and a red-faced Tanith peeked in . When she saw I was awake she slipped back closing the door quickly. The door swung open again and Skulduggery stepped in carrying a towel and a bottle of shampoo.

I lifted my head out of the sink and whispered " Skullduggery , get these chains off of me"

"I'm sorry Valkyrie, but since that little lake incident, your hair has smelled atrocious and if you're going to sleep on my couch you need to smell decent,… which you don't ."

"But-"

He turned the water and the disgusting lake water ran into my mouth. I spat it out as the dirty taste hit my tongue.

" Skul(spit spit spit ) duggery (spit spit spit) stop (spit spit) this (spit spit spit spit) NOW!"

" I'd breathe through your nose if I were you." He said as he squeezed a glob of fruity - smelling shampoo into my hair.

" Eew, You can't use that shampoo, it's so … fruity!"

Ignoring my complaints , he massaged the shampoo into my hair , his bony fingers working out the kinks.I actually started to enjoy it . The warm water soothed my aching head, my neglected hair filled the room with strawberry scent. He rinsed my hair and turned off the faucet. I could feel the water lift off my hair and into the sink beside my head, the chains immediately fell off.

" Hey, Skulduggery, could I use that shampoo again."

He tilted his head murmuring "women" under his breath.

" Oh, by the way sorry about the book." He said backing out of the door.

"What book?"

"The one I conked you over the head with." He said rounding the , I stormed at him, revenge in my my fit of rage I didn't notice that he ducked as Tanith swung a large tome directly at my head, for the second time.

Sorry about the book- my butt.