You liked it.

There was day old pizza in the fridge; it was stale and mildly warm, because Skulduggery hadn't fixed his fridge ever since it shuddered to a near stop, producing a slight chill on occasion. She supposed he wasn't the one who had to take any notice of it. Everything in the fridge was her's to eat.

It was greasy, and he didn't like her walking around the house with greasy food, for fear that she might smear it onto one of his jackets, or something.

Boo hoo.

He'd gotten her plenty messy the night before.

Liked that even more.

And he— Lord Vile, whatever— hadn't even stuck around to clean up. Not that there was a lot to clean up, at least from him. No cuddles, not even a thank you, not that she had wanted it, but it was the principle of the thing. If he hadn't intended to stick around, why be so rough? She had suffered the most at last night's ministrations. God, she ached.

Can feel him with every move…

And he— Skulduggery, as good as the formerly mentioned one—hadn't bothered to let his own partner know he'd be missing. Seeing as how the day was her day off, she'd just assumed all of his activity would come to a halt as well. Foolish of her, she supposed. He had his own life without her. He was free to do whatever he liked with her and then move on in the morning.

She smeared a hand over the pristine lines of a coat.

Hell, she didn't ask for him to do that to her. She had a right to be angry. She wasn't his girlfriend, or his toy, she was his partner, for God's sake, and he might have known— her fist clenched. —He might've known what Vile was doing. What Darquesse was doing.

And if he did, there it came, that voice, that goddamn voice. Are you sure he would have stopped it? You know he's as obsessed with you as you are with him. You know that. It was her voice, the same cadence and tones with which she spoke. That was the worst part, because when she spoke out loud she still hated that voice, except she knew it was… just herself she hated. It was so frightening wrong and, at times, confusing. Where were the lines between Darquesse and she drawn? If there were any at all? If there wasn't a difference, not at all, not much more than there was between Lord Vile and Skulduggery… what did it mean… for them?

Well, just because she didn't understand the voice in her head, didn't mean she had to agree with it. Skulduggery didn't like her like that. He'd known her since she was twelve. And he was a skeleton, for god's sake.

Though she had felt last night that there was definitely some flesh on his bones when he wanted there to be— the thought made her flush.

Oh ho— now Darquesse was laughing at her. Her flush deepened. She hated being laughed at. At least you're finally getting somewhere. Go ahead. Imagine it. Imagine his hands and his darkness all over your body. Imagine his warm body pressed against your back. Just remember, little girl. Her voice, curiously, fell away. When it whispered again, it was cold like she had never been, never spoken. Skulduggery can give you all you need, but Lord Vile—Lord Vile is—mine.

Valkyrie spun around, feeling the air shift around her and for a moment, she thought she saw a hint of darkness in her vision. Viciously, she thought, If he's yours, why did he come to me? It was me he was touching last night, not you. There was no answer in her head, she stood alone in that room, the morning light falling all around her, touching the mirrors on the walls. It was satisfying, looking in them and not seeing Darquesse looking back at her.

That was the answer.

Because Darquesse was looking back at her, because when she thought Lord Vile belonged to any one of them, he belonged to both of them, and the charm of the morning light was the only thing that stopped her from thinking about black fire in her palms.

No.

It was just her; jeans and sweater still on, and the gloves that Skulduggery had bought her warming her hands. Her cheeks were flushed with shame and heat, and she tore the gloves off like they were a personal offense. She was still Valkyrie Cain.

"I… thought I detected someone here. Couldn't keep away, Valkyrie?" His head tilted jauntily at her, almost posing as he was against the door frame. How long he'd been there, she didn't know.

"Wasn't me who couldn't keep to myself." She met his eyes, not returning the smile implied in the tilt of his head. He turned sober. She turned and sat down on a chair— the best chair, the one that was the most faded, and she refused to let Skulduggery give away. He followed her and sat down in an opposite chair, crossing his legs elegantly.

"I see something has happened. You don't seem like you want to tell me, seeing as how focused you seem to be on your… what are those? Fluff balls?"

"They were my sister's. I found them in my bag." She lobbed one at him, which harmlessly bounced away. She felt the distant urge to hurl something harder at him, but she couldn't work up the energy to be angry. It was too complicated to give all the blame to him… though she had no intention of taking it all up either. She spoke suddenly. "Do you really not know?"

"I know lots of things. You're going to have to be more specific."

She looked away, glaring and sullen. "Never mind."

A beat or two passed, and Skulduggery leaned forward, stapling his hands in interest. "Something has happened. What could you have possibly gotten into in the short time I was away?"

"I didn't— oh dear god—Where were you?" She burst out. "I don't mean last night, I know where you were last night…"

"That's interesting. Where do you think I was last night?"

She flushed. "Can you just answer it?"

"If you must know, I was out getting paperwork done at the Sanctuary. Last night I was assisting a friend setting up protection on their home." Now it was Valkyrie's turn to lean in. It was entirely possible Skulduggery didn't know. She hadn't known.

Did that mean this could all finally be over with?

It seemed cowardly to pretend it all didn't happen…

But you're going to do it anyway. Darquesse tutted Valkyrie. The truth is you like this little life and the little lies you have tucked away. The two of you are two infatuated with each other to do any good. Well, Vile and I know what's best—

"Valkyrie? You look a bit distracted."

I could give the two of you a push. Make him realize what he wants. What we both want.

"I don't want you to do anything," Valkyrie said aloud. Skulduggery was deathly still.

"…Are you talking to Darquesse?"

Oh yes, yes you do want me to do something. I'm you, aren't I? God you want it so bad… Let me help you.

Valkyrie stared in fascinated horror as her hand rose and brushed against Skulduggery's sharp cheekbones, and underneath her hand, a dazzle of light and energy flowed that created the softness of flesh, if for just a moment.

Valkyrie's hand curled around Skulduggery's neck, and she slammed him onto the floor. He landed hard, and wind pushed in all directions. Valkyrie's hand wasn't her own, and neither were her legs, her smile, or her magic… the wind touched her harmlessly, and Skulduggery did not move as she threw a leg over his hip, straddling him.

"You don't remember." Darquesse threw her head back, exposing her neck, her hair falling behind her. She sighed deeply, melodramatically. "That used to fine, I used to be satisfied, but eventually the joy of fucking with your subconscious was getting… boring. I want all of you. Vile. Skulduggery." She smiled humorlessly. "I know he's in there somewhere, ah, ah, ah." She held a hand to his fleshless mouth. "If you're in there, love, stay down where you are. This is punishment for last night. It's only fair I get a taste like you did." And just like that, flesh cradled Skulduggery, head to two, a stunning display of power and energy— for Darquesse to do it alone would have been exhausting, but Vile reacted under her as well, and they recreated Skulduggery. Those fine cheekbones were sculpted with skin, and eyes finally connected with her from where there used to be only emptiness.

"What did you do to me?" He asked flatly, in that same smooth voice. It was almost like he didn't want his flesh back. She frowned down at him.

"Obviously, Vile and I brought you back. Hush now," she ran a finger down his chest, watching with fascination. His physical form—though he was pretty— didn't excite her so much as the knowledge that this was Skulduggery she was touching. She grinned suddenly. "This is going to fun for both of us. Suppressing is no good, Skulduggery. You've been suppressing, I've been suppressing…" He opened his mouth again, and she shut it with a kiss. His mouth opened to her and she explored more fully. She ran a hand down his chest, no longer bony, and the suit fell away.

She heard Valkyrie protesting faintly, she pushed her hips down and the protests faded away from her and, in part, from Skulduggery.

She bit hard into Skulduggery's warm lips, drawing a gasp and a hint of blood from his mouth. Her fingers entwined with his, and she tightened her hold until both of his hands were locked far above his head.

"Don't think of me as Valkyrie," she whispered in his ear. "There'll be plenty of time for you and her later. Just remember— this is exactly what you had coming. Remember not to cross me," she pressed down her hips hard, and made a small but punishing rhythm. "And this will go very, very well for you."