A/N:

Once again, sorry for my bad English. Oh, and for any mistakes, too.

Well, here's the next chapter. It's a bit longer than the previous ones. Anyway, hope you like it!

I do not own any of those characters and anything you recognize from the books.

Chapter three

Valkyrie's POV

Valkyrie sat at the kitchen table, holding a cup of tea in her hands and trying to find a solution for her problem. How should she manage both of her lives, the magical and non-magical one? She couldn't just turn her back to one of them. One the one hand she didn't want to leave her family because she didn't want to hurt them. She was always happy to spend time with her family, although this time had been very rare in the last few years. On the other hand she couldn't leave her magical life behind. The adventures of a detective's life were all she ever wanted. She had great friends like Ghastly, Ravel and Vex and of course Skulduggery, her mentor and partner and the man she had unfortunately fallen in love with.

Skulduggery sat on the opposite of the table, waving a gloved hand in front of her face.

"Valkyrie!" he exclaimed, cutting off her train of thoughts. "Are you even listening?" He sounded annoyed.

"Sorry. What did you say?"

"You know I don't like to repeat things." Great. Now he was really annoyed.

"Please?" She looked at him pleadingly.


He sighed. He couldn't blame her. Probably he would be distracted, too.

"I was suggesting that you could move to Gordon's mansion. It becomes yours when you turn 18 and your birthday is – " he tilted his head pondering. "In four days." he finished the sentence. Sometimes he was surprised by his own brilliant ideas.

She obviously wasn't convinced yet so he elaborated. "You can still visit your parents and you don't have to tell them everything, although that would make things easier."

She glared at him.

"Hey, I only said it would make things easier if you tell them."

"I won't. But I think moving to Uncle Gordon's might be a good idea." She smiled slightly. Her smile grew wider as if she had just found the solution for a very difficult case.

Skulduggery tilted his head questioningly.

"I just realized that there are only three days school left. Since the last exams are already done I think I can manage going to school these last few days. " She was interrupted by her phone buzzing.

"Hey Ghastly, what's up? ... Yes, sure. … Okay, see you tomorrow."

"That was Ghastly", she informed Skulduggery. Oh, really? He thought sarcastically. I already figured this out from the part of the conversation I witnessed. But he kept his mouth shut. Instead, he nodded, wanting her to go on.

"He just finished my new clothes. I shall pick them up tomorrow. I guess I'm going there after school, I just have to think of some excuse for my parents for why I'm late." She went silent. Skulduggery knew she didn't like to lie to her parents.

"I could pick you up after school and stop at Ghastly's. We can pick your clothes and you would be back home just in time", he offered.

"Really? Thank you, Skulduggery!" she exclaimed happily, rose from the chair and hugged him tightly.

Skulduggery was stunned for a moment, then he wrapped his skeletal arms around her and hugged her back.


At the same time underneath the kitchen window.

The reflection had eavesdropped on their conversation. Now, as they were both that oblivious, it was going to be quite easy to get the life it deserved. That girl inside the house wasn't Stephanie Edgley anymore. It was Valkyrie Cain.

After those years living her life for her, the reflection had grown. It had become Stephanie Edgley. In her opinion, she had the right to be Stephanie because she had spent more time with Valkyrie's family than Valkyrie herself. Stephanie loved her family, she didn't want them to die. And therefore she had to kill Valkyrie before she could become Darquesse again.

Her first plan had failed, because Valkyrie and Skulduggery knew her secret now. But they didn't know that she wasn't trapped in the mirror anymore so she had a second chance. She just needed some help.

And suddenly there appeared and excited sparkle in her eyes. She smiled. Yes, that person would probably help her.

She dialed a number when she saw a car heading toward the house. Her parents.

With the phone still in her hand she sneaked quickly around the house to hide between the trees in their garden.


Car lights lightened the kitchen for a moment and Valkyrie jumped back.

"My parents", she whispered. She looked at Skulduggery, struggling. She didn't want to kick him out but she didn't want her parents to see him either.

As if he had read her thoughts, he nodded, whispered "See you tomorrow" and headed towards the stairs to leave through her window to prevent meeting her parents.

When she heard her bedroom door close, she went to open the front door.

"Hi Steph", her mother greeted. "Would you be so nice and take your sister while I'm helping you dad with the groceries?"

"Of course", she said, smiling down at Alison when she took her back into the house where she waited for her parents. It wouldn't get any easier if she postponed this conversation. She could as well tell them today.

Later that day when they all sat in the kitchen having dinner, Valkyrie thought of a way to tell her parents the news as gentle as possible.

"Steph?", her mother asked.

"Yes?", Valkyrie asked questioningly. Her mother didn't know what was on her mind, did she?

"We wondered what you would like to do on your birthday since there are only four days left to prepare something."

"Oh, that. Yes. I wanted to tell you anyway." She paused, unsure how to go on. She took a deep breath. "I'd like to move to Uncle Gordon's mansion when I'm 18." There. It was out.

Silence. Her parents were both speechless and even Alison didn't made the slightest sound.

Her father recovered first. "Well, it's not like we hadn't seen this coming. You are a very independent and grown up young woman, but are you sure? I imagined you would be some years older before you'd move away."

"It's just- Well, I feel like this is something I need to do. And I won't be that far away anyway. I could still come and visit you and-"

Her mother interrupted her. "I understand, Steph. You want to stand on your own feet and I'm sure you'll manage this great. But would you promise me something?"

"Sure", Valkyrie responded, relieved that her parents stayed this calm. "What is it?"

Her mother smiled. "Don't hesitate to ask whenever you need help, for example preparing the house before you move there."

"That would be great!" Valkyrie smiled back.

"We could go there tomorrow when you are back from school, just to see what we'll have to do."

Valkyrie nodded. "Great!", she said happily. She really couldn't complain about her parents. They were simply awesome.


Since Skulduggery had left Haggard behind two hours had passed. As he sat down in his favorite armchair his thoughts drifted off to Valkyrie. He wondered if she was alright after what had happened today. Was she upset that she had to move away from her family? Certainly. But there was no other option as long as she didn't want to tell her parents the truth. He knew that it must have been a hard decision for her.

When he was about to slip into meditation, his phone rang. Valkyrie. What could have happened? He wondered.

"Hey Valkyrie, what's up?"

"I have to go to school tomorrow, Skulduggery. To school. That's up", she moaned. If he had a face, he would be grinning now. He was happy that she was back to her old self again.

"It wouldn't be that bad if you had listened to whenever I told you to go to school", he returned.

"I did listen. I just didn't go to school", she pointed out. He could hear from her voice that she was grinning now, too.

"Ah there it is again. Your problem towards persons of authority."

"Are we still talking about you?" she teased.

"Very funny", he said sarcastically.

"Sorry", she laughed. "I actually just wanted to tell you that I'm at Gordon's tomorrow with my mum. She wants to help me get the mansion ready."

"Sounds great. So your parents are okay with that?"

"Surprisingly, yes", she said with a yawn.

"I think you need some sleep before you go to school. Good night, Valkyrie."

"Goodnight."

He hung off. He felt much better knowing that Valkyrie was okay and happier than this afternoon. It made him happy, too. He wondered why.

Because you like her, said a voice in the back of his head.


Stephanie stood at the pier, waiting impatiently and checking her watch again. He was too late, she thought and pulled out her phone to call him.

"Where are you?" she asked angry. "You should have been here half an hour ago."

"I'm sorry I can't come myself. But I've send some else to pick you up. When I mentioned what you've asked me to do, this person volunteered to help you, doesn't even want to get paid."

Her mood brightened immediately. That sounded promising.


I actually don't know who this mysterious person is yet. I'm not sure if I'm going to introduce someone new or use someone from the books, though I think I'm going to keep the new character on my mind for another story. Since I don't have a really good idea it will probably the person from the books that fits the best. Any idea who this will be? ;)

Anyway, please Review if you liked it :)