Okay, I'm VERY sorry for the delay, it's been AGES since I last posted. I also developed a slight case of Writers Block which made me think about whether or not I should continue this story. But rest assured, I will keep writing for my pleasure, and yours.

I'm also starting the 30 day Skulduggery Pleasant challenge. There will be two questions per update. The questions are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Deadgirl19 for finding them for me!

Also for you Valduggery fans out there, there is a small bit of it in here. ;)

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Gordan's living room swan into focus and Valkyrie sat forward with a gasp. She started to breathe heavily until she eventually calmed down and the breaths became regular ones. She reached for her phone, unaware of Alice's huddled, sleeping form on the sofa. Valkyrie nearly sat on Alice's face before she realised where she was. Chuckling to herself, she picked Alice up bridal style and carried her to one of the many rooms in Gordan's mansion. She tucked her in to one of the four poster beds and left her to her dreams.

Valkyrie tip-toed down the stairs and went straight to her phone. One missed call and a voicemail from Skulduggery. She listened to it whilst it passed on Skulduggery's message that he had finished his exchange of words with China. She pressed his speed-dial and waited for him to answer.

After four rings, Skulduggery picked up and started the conversation with another one of his many smart remarks, "Was the temptation of speaking to me yet again, too great to resist?"

Valkyrie could hear the smile in his voice. She rolled her eyes and replied, "You wish, but I needed to talk to you anyway. Alice has hidden magic inside her; I was taken into her subconscious a few minutes ago."

A pause, "I'll be right over." He hung up.

The Bentley pulled up, the sound of the gravel sliding against each other signalling its arrival. Skulduggery got out and locked the vehicle behind him. He strode up to the front door and knocked loudly three times.

Valkyrie got up from where she was sat, walked to the door and opened it.

One of the good things about being tall was that she needn't crane her neck to look up at Skulduggery any more. She could also appear more intimidating more now than when she was younger. She made a mental note of this and stepped aside whilst motioning for Skulduggery to enter.

When they were both seated on the sofa, Skulduggery spoke, "So, what happened?"

Valkyrie went into detail about her encounter with Alice's subconscious. She told him what the subconscious told her, Alice's abilities, who could be influenced and the reason why she was pulled there in the first place. She left out the bit where she saw herself kill her sister.

"I don't want anything bad to happen to her." She finished.

Anxiety started to creep up on Valkyrie but she quickly pushed it down. She began to twiddle her thumbs to stay focused on not becoming nervous.

Skulduggery reached over and rested his gloved hand on her forearm. Her heartbeat quickened at his touch. She had never felt like this since her early teens but now those feelings were staring to return. She dragged her gaze upwards and looked into his eye sockets. The shadows were playing inside his skull.

Skulduggery spoke," Valkyrie, someone with you as their sister will be completely fine. Alice has proven from a very young age that she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. And when you put the two of you together, you get a strong willed, young woman who also happens to be the partner of the greatest detective in history and a cheeky, determined seven year old who has an occasional tendency to seize possession of said detective's glorious hats."

"Have I met this detective yet?" Valkyrie asked, her twiddling ceased.

Skulduggery tilted his head at her," What sort of question is that?"

She smiled, "A question that you're supposed to answer." She copied his head tilt.

Skulduggery opened his jaw to answer when he lost his balance (which was an impossible feat for someone like him.) and fell off the sofa onto the floor. Valkyrie burst out in quiet fits of laughter, not wanting to wake up Alice. He grabbed her leg and accidently pulled her on top of him. Her laughter was cut short when she flopped clumsily onto his chest.

"Ah," Skulduggery said.

"Oh." Valkyrie said.

Valkyrie awkwardly got to her feet, her hair falling over face as she did so. When she was about to stand up fully, she tripped over Skulduggery's feet and she fell back onto him again. He grunted underneath her weight.

"Um," Valkyrie said apologetically, "Sorry."

She managed to get up successfully a second time before hauling a confused looking skeleton after her. When they were both stood facing each other, Valkyrie spoke, "Skul, you can stop holding my hand now."

He looked down to see that their fingers were indeed intertwined. He let go and took an awkward step back. Quickly trying to change the subject, he asked, "What's with the shortening of my name? I find Skulduggery perfectly fine to say." He has his head tilted yet again, but this time it was in the I-want-to-know-why way.

Valkyrie shrugged and said, "Because Skulduggery seems like a mouthful to say. I wanted to try it shorter."

"It sounded disastrous. For your sake and everyone else's, do not attempt it again."

"But Finbar says it." She pointed out.

"Yes but I don't interact with Finbar as much as I do with you."

"So can I call you Skul-man then?"

"God no. What did I just say?"

"Something." She had a grin on her face.

A short silence followed where both detectives had a staring match. Skulduggery won when Valkyrie turned away to the kitchen.

"I'm gonna get more food. If you want, you can stay. But just be warned, there is the evilest hat snatcher in the world residing in one of the many rooms above us. If you want to keep your hat intact," she pointed to the ground where Skulduggery's hat lay," You'd better keep it down."

Remembering their earlier conversation, Skulduggery asked, "So you do know who I am then?" There was a hint of smugness in his voice.

Valkyrie only stuck her tongue out before leaving the room.

Skulduggery stared after her.


Okay, here goes:

1.) Your Favourite character.

This is a hard one. I would say my top three are Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Anton. I would relate to Anton because he has that non-sociable attitude towards others at times but at other times he can be humorous and friendly. But when I look forward to the next chapters I always look out for either Skulduggery or Valkyrie.

Skulduggery because he is witty, sophisticated, protecting and scary (just like me at times.). I love how he can change from one personality to the next and also how he and Valkyrie remain close friends no matter what.

2.) Your Least Favourite Character:

The Reflection 100%. I understand that she felt lonely, used and isolated but that gives her no reason to go and murder Crystal, attempt to kill Valkyrie and try to take over her life. I just couldn't stand how she and Skulduggery were working side by side in TDOTL. I cringed so much.