The Amulet of Dreymus Foul

Chapter 2.

Valkyrie didn't say a word as they walked back to the car. She knew Skulduggery could be somewhat unhinged. She knew he could be unstable. What had he said to her? That his nature was a "dark and twisted thing". But tonight had been different. Tonight, for the first time since she had known him, he'd frightened her.

They reached the Bentley, and Valkyrie turned to look at the decrepit house.

"The Cleavers will be here shortly. They'll look after the... clean up."

Valkyrie glanced at Skulduggery, unable to look him the eye. She had seen him kill people before, but never so coldly. And had she been imagining things when he let go of her waist? Did he push her away; did he not want to protect her?

She nodded, opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.

"Where are we going? We have the amulet, now what? And when are you going to tell me what its purpose is? I thought you said, 'No more secrets.'"

Valkyrie realised she was whining, and quickly looked out the window to hide her pout. Skulduggery's bad mood was infectious. And Valkyrie really did not appreciate being made "look-out."

"We're going to the Sanctuary. I need to see Erksine regarding the validity of the locket and you need to see Nye. Did you think I wouldn't notice the splinter in your arm? How many times have I warned you not to roll your sleeves up?"

Valkyrie continued to stare out the window, scowling.

"I can see your face in the reflection of the window, Valkyrie. Stop pouting."

She didn't answer. Two could play at this game.

Skulduggery sighed.

"Are you ignoring me again? You know this doesn't work. I actually love it when you don't talk. You can be very annoying."

Valkyrie was not going to be goaded into a response. She pursed her lips and pretended to be very interested in the raindrops that were now rolling down the window.

Suddenly she felt the car slow to a halt, and looked round. Skulduggery was looking at her, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.

"A penny for your thoughts? Although I'm sure I won't be made rich."

Valkyrie's resolve snapped. Weeks of mood swings and teasing had worn her down.

"Are you sure you want to know? I'd hate to 'test your patience'? God knows it wouldn't look good if you shot your partner and supposed best friend."

On the word supposed Valkyrie made quotation marks with her fingers. She heard Skulduggery draw a breath but she cut him off, on a roll now.

"You have spent the last three weeks in a horrific mood. You're keeping things from me, you're excluding me from investigations, you made me a look-out, for God's sake. That's a job for Fletcher or, or... someone else completely useless in stressful situations. Not me."

Skulduggery put up his hands, gesturing surrender, but Valkyrie ploughed on, her anger fuelling her bravery.

"But I could look past all of that if it weren't for the fact that tonight you frightened me. You're my best friend, and I'm meant to be yours. But tonight I felt like if I said or did something wrong, you might shoot me too."

Valkyrie's voice cracked on the last few words and she got out the car. Her anger was dissipating and her eyes were becoming dangerously itchy and wet. Skulduggery had never made her feel like this before. What had happened?

She viciously kicked a stone, and jumped when she heard his voice.

"Surely the stone didn't deserve that."

"Be thankful it's not your head." She snapped, grateful the threat of tears had past.

"May I ask where you're going? We're still a fair way out of Roarhaven, and it's raining."

"I'm walking home. I've had enough."

"Get back in the car, Valkyrie."

"No." Valkyrie grimaced and kept walking. She sounded like a petulant toddler.

"Get in the car so I can explain."

Valkyrie stopped walking and turned to face Skulduggery.

"Do it out here."

"No."

Now he sounded like a petulant toddler.

"Why?"

"Because my hat's getting wet." And with that he turned on his heel and got back in the Bentley.

Valkyrie growled and resisted the urge to keep walking. She sat back in the car, and slammed the door with more force than necessary. Skulduggery flinched.

"I probably deserved that." He said quietly.

Valkyrie looked at him, staying resolutely silent.

"Do you honestly think that I would harm you? That you're not my best friend?" He asked softly. "After everything we've been through, after everything you've been through?"

Valkyrie said nothing. Her eyes were becoming treacherously itchy again.

Skulduggery sighed and leant over, placing a gloved hand on her knee.

"I'm sorry." He said. "There is a reason I've been so bad tempered, and it's to do with the locket. But I can't tell you, not yet. You're just going to have to trust me."

Valkyrie stared at him.

"So I am your best friend?"

He chuckled.

"Of course."

"And you'll tell me what's going on eventually?"

"Naturally. I'm going to need someone to marvel at my genius."

He started the car again and Valkyrie couldn't help but smile.

"Am I forgiven?"

"Yes. For everything except making me your look-out."

"Please don't hurt my hat."

"We'll see. My arm hurts."

She heard Skulduggery sigh and mutter something about sleeves. The Bentley began its journey to the Sanctuary.

Dialogue is hard. I always thought Skulduggery would be the most difficult to write, but I'm really struggling with Valkyrie.