Hello mortals, sorry this one is so short, though it lacks in quantity I firmly believe it makes up for it in quality...maybe. It was actually really fun to write and I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Oh and it is set in New Zealand, as mentioned in the previous chapter. The next chapter will be a lot longer, to make up for my slack effort. Thanks for reading, reviewing and all the support :)
81
The Truth
Skulduggery approached slowly. "Valkyrie," he said.
Darquesse turned to him. "She's gone. She's not even a quiet little voice in the back of my mind any more. I won't tell you how easy it was to take over. You don't want to hear things like that."
"Let me talk to her."
"There is no her any more. There's only me. There are no tricks you can pull to change that. You've used them all up."
Skulduggery tilted his head. "Then what do you want? I've seen the visions. I've seen you kill and destroy. I've seen what you do to Valkyrie's family."
"My family," Darquesse corrected. "And I've seen that too, remember. But I don't want to hurt them. I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to live."
She inhaled deeply, relishing the almost painful sensation that came with breathing such freezing, cold air. She had never felt so alive. Of course that young mage had to ruin her day by trying to approach her. She just wanted to be left alone. He realised that very quickly as she separated his limbs from his torso. Darquesse sighed. Indeed it had been worth it, the view was astounding. It almost drowned out the constant drone at the back of her mind. She had thought, when she took control in the Pyramid, that this time it was for good. She saw now, as she gazed down upon the snow-covered craggy rocks below her that gave way to rolling hills and green plains, that she would never be free of this affliction.
I still can't believe you just did that.
He was annoying. He deserved it.
You just killed a boy for trying to ask you why you might be standing on top of some god-forsaken mountain.
See? Like I told you: annoying.
You're a monster.
Am I?
How can you live with yourself?
You're making it pretty difficult for me right now. Do you ever shut up?
All that blood on your hands, those tortured people…
I would rather die than watch you do this with my face, my voice, my body.
That would be some peace of mind.
Please. Let me out. Please.
No.
Can't you see? The pain you're causing? How wrong it is?
Of course I can.
Then for god's sake tell me why you do it?
Because, even though you'd never admit it, it's fun. You know it. You know that you enjoy this power, it's not just my power, Valkyrie, you have it too. You were just too afraid. Too scared to see how far you would go to accomplish great things. I like to think I did you a favour, showing you just how magnificent we are.
There is no we.
Oh but there is, there has always been a we. I am you. That is the truth, deny it all you like, sweetie.
Ok I will.
You enjoy that, Valkyrie, you enjoy that.
I will get out of here and when I do, I promise you, I will destroy you. Even if it means destroying everything that is me.
Darquesse broke from her stillness that had lasted hours and propelled herself off the summit. She fell headfirst down to the slopes below, manipulating the air and catching herself at the last minute. She landed gracefully atop the snow, pushing at the wind around her to keep her from sinking into the drifts. Darquesse stopped and turned. Had she heard something? No, impossible. There was no one else up here. The boy had been alone. She relaxed and took a moment to smooth her hair before walking past the mangled corpse of that young sorcerer who had irritated her so, smiling to herself as it steamed slightly and slowly stained the snow red.
Yes, the view had indeed been worth it.
