Valkyrie gasped as she gazed upon the room. It was perfect. Smiling widely, her eyes lowered to the bed at the far end. A black box sat patiently upon it. Closing the door behind her, she made her way to the little box. She picked it up carefully, measuring its weight. Very light. She quickly pulled off the lid for it to reveal a silver necklace with a red pendent in the center of it. Her mouth fell open in shock. She lifted it slowly, entertaining it between her fingers.

That's when the door opened and Skulduggery Pleasant was standing in the doorway.

"You got this for me?" she breathed.

He nodded slightly. "Do you like it?"

"Love it."

He strolled up to her and taking the necklace, motioned her to turn. Smiling, she pulled back her hair and turned, revealing her back to him. Skulduggery hesitated before bringing his arms around to place the necklace. When it was in place, she turned around to him once more.

"It's beautiful on you," he commented.

"Thank you," was all she could think of.

Skulduggery stood there for a moment or two before pulling a hair, which had fallen in front of her face, behind her ear. He suddenly turned sharply on his heel and walked out of the room.

Valkyrie went to the mirror that hung over her dresser and gazed upon the expensive trinket around her neck. It was truly magnificent. For the first time in her life, she felt something different towards Skulduggery. A sort of longing she couldn't explain. There was something between them when he pulled back her hair so gently.

SkulPoint of View

It was the doors final performance of the night when Skulduggery closed it behind Fletcher. The party had finally died away and he was able to have some peace to himself. He'd doubt Valkyrie would come out of her room. Putting the last of the pizza in the cooler, he cleaned the kitchen and the confetti from the floor. He had just gotten comfortable in his favorite chair when he heard a door open. Following it was Valkyrie. She stood in the same tank top but had changed into shorts, a bit too short.

Valkyrie walked up to him with her arms crossed. "It's a little cold in here."

"Sorry," Skulduggery said quickly getting up to adjust the cooler. Valkyrie watched.

He had just gotten the mechanism to read 60 degrees when she asked, "Skulduggery, do you think I'm beautiful?"

He turned to her, surprised by her question. "Of course but you know I think it's rude to talk about a ladies image."

"I'm nineteen. Tell me. What do you think of me?"

"I think of you as my apprentice who will one day make a fine detective. When I die, obviously. Again..." She gave him a face. "What? I can't help that I'm better then you."

"You re such a goon."

He shrugged, "I try."

Valkyrie smiled before heading back to her bedroom, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

ValPoint of View

Valkyrie woke to a light thumping on her door. "Come on," Skulduggery called from the other side, "I just got a call for a case."

Valkyrie grumbled into her pillow.

"I have breakfast. Pizza and a microwave."

She sat herself upright and rubbed her eyes. As much as she willed herself not to, she got dressed, did her hair, and joined Skulduggery in the kitchen. "What is it?" she yawned.

"A man named Nickolas Romel, a sorcerer, was found dead at two am this morning." He put on his gloves. "His area of expertise, selling illegal stolen items to stupid wealthy mages."

"Wow, I worried that they were just stolen."

"Being the black-market, he was sure to have enemies. Investors no doubt."

"Okay," she heated a piece of pizza, "So we go to the crime scene. You find out who did it, you put him behind bars and you take me to the mall to go shopping."

Skulduggery just looked at her, "That is very demanding of you."

She shrugged, "I don't have a car yet and I need new clothes."

Skulduggery shuffled a bit, "Well we better get going."

Nickolas Romel had it made, Valkyrie decided. His home was covered in items and artifacts of all shapes, sizes, and magic. Valkyrie wandered around a bit as Skulduggery engaged in conversation with a certain downsized Remus Crux. Having gained his job back years ago, Skulduggery had taken advantage of the extra help. He now had his own personal carrier pigeon.

Valkyrie was messing with an old record player when Skulduggery appeared next to her.

"Good news," he announced brightly, "You get to pick something from all the junk to keep for yourself."

"What'd you pick?"

He held up a book labeled Prickmanship through the Ages. "Thought it would be a nice gag gift for China."

When he left her to attend to some business, she searched around for a something worthwhile. After searching through three bookshelves with no luck, she turned to what seemed to be like a treasure chest. She opened it to catch sight of a small, black, marble pyramid. She grabbed it and read the engraving on the back, "The Tame. Everyone within the radius of the Tame will have their darkest desires come true." Valkyrie placed it inside her jacket pocket.

Well hoped in enjoyed this chapter next to come soon.