Seraphic pulled herself out of the car. After two flips, the car landed on it's wheels and stayed still. She looked back. Erskine was undoing his belt. He had a long cut across his forehead and the way his arm was positioned showed it was broken. Seraphic rushed over to him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, as she pulled him out.

"Yeah, just about. You... God, you look awful..."

"Thanks! You really know how to make me feel better!" They brushed themselves off. The farmer from the tractor ran to them.

"I'm so sorry! I'll take you and your car back! Ihaven't got much money, but I'll try to pay you as much-"

"No need, I don't want any of your money. It wasn't your fault. We were going way too fast on a country lane, but if you don't mind, we could use a lift back. Oh, and what time is it?" The farmer looked at his watch.

"About 11:50." Seraphic cursed, making Erskine laugh and shake his head.

"I've got to go, but he will still have that lift. He's very important, so make sure you see he goes in, okay?" Seraphic turned to go.

"Seraphic," Erskine caught her wrist. "You need medical attention, now."

"No. I need to be somewhere. I'll be okay, don't worry about me." She reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm fine. I'll call in on you later." She ignored his complaints and ran in the direction of town.


She reached the cafe a little past twelve, but when she peered into the little window, she saw China. It was empty apart from her. Seraphic pulled all her courage together, and entered the cafe. China's face dropped when she saw her.

"You opened the letter, didn't you?" China stood up. Seraphic walked over to her and pushed her back down.

"What was it about? Because I know them more than you can ever know, and I know they aren't evil, twisted people." She loomed over China. To say China was the more powerful of the two, she looked worried. She was also older, and seeing China scared of her made her laugh.

"You, are the twisted one. That letter wouldn't have made him forgive you. He would have come here, and killed you. You wouldn't have stood a chance. Now, are we going to start what I came here to do?" China frowned.

"What's that then?" Seraphic grabbed her top.

"This." She threw China across the room. China touched her shoulders, then flung her arms wide. Seraphic rolled out of the way, and came back with twin fireballs. Once China was distracted, she dived on her and punched her face. Her nose pumped out blood. She was going to win. That's when the door opened and in walked Skulduggery and Valkyrie. They saw them fighting and pulled them apart.

"Wait until I get my hands on you again, China. I'll kill you!" Seraphic broke Valkyrie's hold and kneed China in the stomach. Skulduggery picked her up and took her out the door. Valkyrie followed.

"Mind telling us what that was about?" Skulduggery put his hands on his hips.

"Three days ago, I was given a letter by China, for you. But I nearly opened it. So this person told me not to. I went to the park to think about it, but I was threatened by Solomon Wreath. Then, I opened the letter, had a dream that was actually a memory, and was attacked." She gestured to her face and stomach. "Then, me and Erskine went for a ride in my car, and a tractor pulled out, and we rolled into a field. Then, I ran to meet China,like it said in the letter, and I beat her up. And now, here we are." The pair of detectives looked confused. Skulduggery held out his hand.

"Let me see this letter." Seraphic pulled a very blood soaked letter out of her pocket, with the photos. After a few minutes, he gave them to Valkyrie. Her face went from confused, to pure hate.

"I don't blame you for wanting to kill her. If you hadn't gone, I would have. How dare she!"

"Never mind her," Skulduggery grumbled. "What about you, Seraphic? You look like you've just jumped off a cliff. In all the time I've known you, you've never been this... messy."

"I'm fine. But could you drop me off at the Sanctuary. Erskine's worried I might need checking up on." Valkyrie smiled.

"He really cares for you, you know. He may even love you."

"What? Me? No way. Of all the people he could date, I'm by far not the best."

"Oh, come off it! You know he likes you! He's mad about you! All that time you hadn't talked him, he was distraught, lost without you. He really cares about you, Seraphic." Seraphictilted her head at Valkyrie.

"... Okay, some of that may have been exaggerated, but you can see he cares about you. What did he do when you came to meet China like that?"

"He tried to stop me. But-"

"And what did you do?"

"Well, I told him not to worry, then..."

"Then, what?"

"... I gave him a kiss on the cheek." Valkyrie grinned. "What? I didn't want him to worry!"

"So you like him and he likes you. That's all tied up in a neat bow."

"Anyway," Skulduggery interrupted, "Are we still taking you to the Sanctuary?"

"Yes please," Seraphic answered, ingoring Valkyrie's kissing noises.


Time to be honest... I have a story crush on Erskine Ravel! Why not? He's kind of cute. But anyway, on with the show. Hope you don't think I'm too creepy now for liking him. But he is cute, though. Damn Derek landy for making him cute! Oh, and never shout at your laptop. It always comes back to bite your backside when you sleep. Ta ta my little monkeys! Xxx