Alright, I think I may actually be sticking with this one. Whoopee for you!

Anyway, I wanted to say thank you for the lovely reviews to the opening chapter. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a reaction quite as warm. To any reviewers I couldn't reply to...

Blaze Repose: Oh my God, thank you! I don't think I've ever had a review quite that complementary before! Of course I don't want you to die, which is why I'm updating this now. Once again, thank you! I hope you like the next chapter :)

Skulduggery Pleasant drove alone. It was a chilly morning in Haggard, and although the cold didn't bother him, the ice over the roads meant he had to concentrate harder than he would normally. Not that he would ever crash, oh no, he was far too amazing for that. But he was still aware of the few other drivers he passed sliding slightly as they travelled the treacherous roads.

The time was six thirty-three, and the date was November 23rd. Skulduggery was a mere five minutes from Valkyrie's house. She was expecting him, as she was every morning.

His phone began to blare out a tune, and he cursed, arching his back so he could dip his hand in his pocket and retrieve said phone. He plucked it out quickly and held it to his skull. Before he could greet the caller, Ghastly's voice spoke out.

'I've got her.'

Skulduggery nearly swerved the car in his shock. After a moment, he realised Ghastly was waiting for a response.

'Where?'

'The corner of Greybank and Rosemount. I'm heading for the shop now. I'll meet you there.'

The line went dead and Skulduggery threw his phone onto the passenger seat. He would need it again in a second or two. Grasping the steering wheel with both hands, he jarred it sideways and the entire Bentley swung round to face the other way. Feeling slightly proud of the achievement of completing that manoeuvre without crashing (not that he would ever crash), Skulduggery raced back towards the city. After a moment, he reached for his phone again and clicked Valkyrie's number on his speed dial.

'Skulduggery?' she answered.

'Indeed. I'm afraid I can't be there to pick you up.'

'What?' Skulduggery could hear the indignation in her voice. 'Why not?'

'Because Ghastly found Tanith. Call Fletcher, get him to take you to Ghastly's shop. He should be there soon, if not already. Get him to wait for me there, even if he wants to go straight to Ravel.'

There was silence at Valkyrie's end, and then she spoke quietly. 'Is she okay?'

'If you mean is she still possessed by the Remnant, then Ghastly didn't say. Although you know that it is bonded to her.'

'I'll see you there, Skul.'

Skulduggery hung up, throwing the phone once again to the seat by his side. He returned both hands to the steering wheel and pressed slightly harder on the accelerator.

Even though he knew it could not ever happen, there was still a part of him that hoped, even prayed that the old Tanith could still be returned. For Ghastly's sake, at least, for Skulduggery knew that although tough on the outside, Ghastly's soul was delicate, and the loss of Tanith could hit him harder than anyone else.

As soon as Skulduggery hung up, Valkyrie was dialling Fletcher's number. The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity before her boyfriend's voice growled angrily down the phone.

'This had better be good, Val. It's not even ten yet.'

'Ghastly has Tanith.'

She heard Fletcher rise from his bed and click the phone to loudspeaker. His voice came through again, but from further away.

'Where do you want me?' he asked softly. She heard him fiddling with the buckle of his jeans, fastening it.

'Pick me up, and then we're both going to Ghastly's. Skulduggery says we need to stop him going straight to Ravel.'

There was a short rustling as Fletcher pulled his t-shirt over his head, and then he spoke again. 'I'll be there in ten seconds.'

Valkyrie hung up and flung her phone onto her bed. She padded over to the windowsill and sat on it. Her reflection had already left with her parents on an early drive to the airport; they were on a long weekend to the villa in France, and Valkyrie had originally felt a slight pang of jealousy. Now, however, she was glad she could be here.

Maybe Tanith wasn't ever going to be herself again, but Valkyrie knew that if anyone would find an answer, it would be Ghastly Bespoke. He had only recently revealed the way he felt about her, but she had her suspicions long before that. And for her to be taken away from him that soon after he...

She just couldn't imagine how she would feel if she were Ghastly and Fletcher were Tanith.

True to his word, Fletcher appeared in the centre of her room, his back to her. Valkyrie noticed he hadn't even bothered to style his hair to perfection; it was still its gravity-defying self, but there were strands out of place, like he had slept on the spikes and not touched them since.

Valkyrie was astounded how much that meant to her.

He turned, and the look of confusion on his face lifted. 'Ah, there you are. Ready to go?'

She didn't answer, instead staring down at the floor. After a moment, she saw his trainers appear in her eyeline. He sat beside her, and his strong arms enveloped her in a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder.

'Fletch?'

'I'm here.'

'What if we don't get her back?'

Fletcher pulled her tighter to him and she clung to his shirt. After a moment, he lifted her chin and kissed her lightly, before standing up. He took her hand and held it to his heart, and they teleported.

Just a few little reactions to the news.

Review? You know you want to.

-Kate-