A/N: I still don't own Skulduggery, Dusk, Valkyrie, Darquesse or anyone else you might recognize.
Nuit had drug me into the dream world into a dank and bitterly cold dungeon dimly lit by smoking torches. I tried going Darquesse on him but he leered at me in triumph, his now rather ugly face revealed by his pushed back hood. "You're mine!" He growled and at his gesture I flew back and smashed into a wall, banging my head so hard I saw stars and bit my tongue, tasting blood.
Iron shackles sprang from the wall and I was bound there, helpless and glaring at my captor. My mind raced. Was it better to taunt him and bully him into attack? If I died would I go instant Darquesse on him? Or did this call for coming on to him? I was still debating when there was the sound of someone in armor approaching fast. I looked past Nuit in time to see Lord Vile striding towards him in an utter rage if his writhing shadows were any indication and started laughing. Nuit was about to get a beat down.
Although he most often used him shadows, Vile seemed to have taken a personal dislike to Nuit and slammed an armoured fist into his face, breaking bones and sending Nuit staggering backwards, his face covered in blood. Nuit regenerated quickly, but the distraction made him forget about me and my bonds disappeared.
I was going to prowl around Nuit to help in the attack but Vile froze me with a look. I nodded and he turned his attention back to Nuit. Lord Vile gestured and his shadows slammed into Nuit, knocking him backwards again, pinning him to the ground. Then they were picking him up and bashing him repeatedly against the stone floor.
Nuit, I noticed, was no longer recovering. Vile lifted the limp body and seemed enraged his quarry was dying on him. At a gesture Nuit slammed into the wall then spun in a complete circle. Vile's shadows sharpened and he attacked in an utter rage, spearing Nuit with such force that his now dead body was pinned to the wall.
Vile marched forward, his arm lengthening into a wicked blade of shadows and decapitated Nuit. He held the rather ugly head in his hands and squeezed until it burst. Seemingly satisfied he dropped the head to the stone floor and turned to me. He seemed amused now, much calmer, content with himself. He held out an armoured hand in a courtly gesture and I went to him, utterly enchanted. "You rescued me! Thank you!" I said and he tilted his head his gaze clearly amused as he drew me to him.
Lord Vile lowered his armoured head to meet mine and I gladly kissed my rescuer, enjoying the icy cold sensation of his armour against my lips. His arms tightened around me and his shadows swelled around us. When they fell I was back in the waking world and an amused Skulduggery stepped back from me. He tilted his skull in amusement and I blushed. "Learned our lesson about not listening to me, did we? Good. Oh, I was well aware you pocketed the necklace. I decided to let this be one of those little life lessons I'm so fond of letting you learn by yourself." His voice was gently amused and I was relieved he wasn't furious with me.
"Fish is ready." He continued as if all the excitement that had just happened hadn't phased him. But he hadn't been rescued by Lord Vile or felt his searing kiss. He caught my expression and chuckled. "You look rather besotted with Lord Vile, young lady. Don't tell me he kisses that well." He teased and I went to sit happily in his lap.
"You kiss a lot better." I admitted and Skulduggery took my invitation, pressing his teeth against my lips gently, but with a clearly loving intent. I sighed and deepened the kiss wrapping my arms around my hero. I never liked the stories where fair maidens needed rescued by knights in shining armour, but I decided I was just fine with being rescued by a skeletal knight in Necromancer's armour.
After our fish feast Skulduggery with his façade now on again pulled me in close to him and we sat staring into the fire. You're very lucky that wherever my heart goeth so goeth Lord Vile's, Valkyrie. I knew how to enter the dream world because he would and I was him because all of Vile's rage and hate were back in full force."
"I've never seen him punch anyone, I liked that." I said cuddling into Skulduggery and he snorted in amusement.
"He thought you might. But he wanted Nuit to suffer instead of going straight for the kill. Nuit isn't dead, by the way. But he is severely weakened. He'll crawl off somewhere to regenerate. You will of course keep that necklace on if I have to weld it to your neck, agreed?" He asked and I nodded.
"We don't need Dusk, do we?" I asked, finding the idea enchanting.
"Indeed we do not. We'll manage to defeat Nuit between the both of us. And Vile developed a new skill, by the way. That was his real armour. He can apparently call it to him. Interesting, yes?" He asked, preening, his eyes dancing with amusement and I kissed him softly.
"Very interesting. But then he's the most brilliant Necromancer I know so of course he'd figure out a way. Does this mean I get three lovers out of you instead of two?" I asked playfully and Skulduggery laughed.
"You bet it does but only if I get two out of you, my dearest Darquesse." He purred.
"Oh, I think that can be arranged." I said, grinning playfully and I let my darkness come over me before kissing Skulduggery, my shadows dancing around us.
Skulduggery had another surprise in store for me that night, and this one was a good one. He'd somehow also snuck a portable DVD player into his luggage and charged it with the generator. We laid down on the couch, me reclining into Skulduggery and he started up the film. "House on Haunted Hill" starring Vincent Price started up and I sighed happily.
"I thought you said no horror movies?" I murmured quietly.
"Nonsense. Classic horror like this is just fine. Besides, there's a skeleton in it." He said cheerfully as he wrapped his arms more securely around me. It was wonderful watching the film with him. I was half asleep from his warmth and the warmth of the fire he'd started. Long after the film was over we lay there together, Skulduggery stroking my hair rhythmically, lulling me to sleep.
"I thought I'd lost you for a moment." He said quietly and I looked at him. "When Nuit took you like that, for a fleeting second- I thought you'd choose him." He said quietly, his voice on the verge of tears and I gasped.
"Never! You're the man I'm in love with, Skulduggery. You and only you." I said, shifting so I could lean in and kiss him. Skulduggery responded as he always did with enthusiasm, but infinite tenderness. His hands grasped my arms lightly, then they were touching my hair and caressing me all over.
I ran my fingers through his raven locks, enjoying the shivers the gesture drew from him. I stroked his face, caressing his muscular chest, knowing I had to show him it was him I desired. I had my hands inside his suit jacket when he stopped me laughing gently. "I'm convinced. I know you love me, that I'm the man you choose. You just don't know what it is like to have such a beautiful lover. To know that any man and half the women who see her would gladly take your place. It's a little frightening." He confessed.
"You don't think I feel the same way, Skulduggery? You are an amazingly handsome man, one of the most powerful mages on the planet. You don't think that I don't worry about loosing you? I do, you know. And the bad part is I'd let you go because I love you that much. I'd never deny you your happiness." I said, tears brimming in my eyes.
"Hush." Skulduggery said softly as he drew me into a lingering kiss. "You don't know how good it makes me feel to hear you say you love me that much, Valkyrie. I adore you, you are my reason to live, my entire Universe. Why don't we agree to trust one another, all right?" He asked gently and I nodded happily.
Skulduggery rose then in one smooth motion and took me in his arms to carry me to the bedroom, extinguishing the fire as he went and bringing the candle with a casual gesture. I grinned, loving it when he showed off with his magic.
He smiled tenderly at me and laid me gently on the bed, having pulled back the covers with another gesture. I gave him my most beguiling smile and wrapped my arms around his neck and Skulduggery willingly sank into my embrace propping his weight on his elbows. He kissed me chastely, then rolled off me, am amused grin on his face.
"You ought to kiss Lord Vile more often, Valkyrie." He teased. "You're a lot more affectionate that usual tonight." He purred.
"Because my hero saved me. He was willing to fight for me. I really liked the part where he punched Nuit right in the face but it was all good." I said, unable to keep the stupid grin off my face and Skulduggery smiled in reply. At his gesture the candle went out and I cuddled into him enjoying his arms around me. "Sweet dreams, Skulduggery." I murmured and felt him kiss the top of my head before sleep claimed me.
I awoke the next morning still wrapped in his arms and stretched lazily, not wanting to leave his warmth. I wanted to lower the façade and kiss the real Skulduggery in the worst possible way, but I could tell from his sleepy smile he was getting used to it. I also had a hunch it protected him from Nuit somehow, but I wasn't sure quite how or why.
"Morning." I said and he rewarded me with a beautiful smile.
"Good morning, Valkyrie. I trust you are rested? Good. I was thinking of taking you camping, there is a lovely tent down in the basement and we needn't go far. Perhaps to the river spot where we fished yesterday? " He asked and I nodded grinning. Skulduggery looked rather pleased with himself and tousled my hair before kissing me chastely.
"A shower for you, my dear, and I'll see to breakfast. Perhaps not quite the same repast as yesterday, but I think you'll be pleased." He murmured and I nodded my agreement and got up. Knowing he'd be changing as I showered somehow comforted me and strangely I had no desire to spy on him. We'd have enough intimacy when we were both ready and I only wanting such gifts from Skulduggery willingly.
I lingered in the shower wondering if that was OK with him, if I was moving fast enough for Skulduggery. He seemed pleased but I knew he'd been married and I imagined he'd had somebody in his heart if not in his bed in the centuries since then. I wondered if I should ask and decided it was none of my business. Yes, he knew about my very brief history such as it was and that nothing had happened. But just demanding to know his seemed cruel and petty not to mention insanely jealous.
Yes, it hurt to think of him with other lovers, and it was scary too to think they might return some day to claim him, but I'd known long ago what I knew at that very moment. Still, even with having him asked to marry me I'd have given him his beloved wife and child back in an instant if I could have. I felt terrible for Skulduggery and I knew he still missed them and loved them dearly. I sighed, thinking life just wasn't fair.
Skulduggery had a much simpler repast ready. Eggs, bacon, oatmeal and coffee with sliced oranges besides. But it still tasted like a feast to me because I knew the man who had prepared it loved me. Still, I couldn't shake the guilt of being with a man I felt in my heart of hearts belonged with another.
I wondered as we ate and Skulduggery looked over at me worriedly if it was such a good idea for us to be lovers. If when all of it was over the kinder thing to do wouldn't be to find a way to bring his wife and child back to him and I resolved inside to do just that. It would kill me and I already felt like I was dying inside, but Skulduggery Pleasant belonged with his family, not with me.
Oh. My. God. Just when you think Val is going to let herself be happy she is letting Skulduggery go. That woman is driving me crazy and I'm the one writing this!