Valkyrie was, Skulduggery supposed, slaving away in school, leaving him at loose ends. He had actually convinced her to attend for once with the information that he was visiting China. Valkyrie did not like China.
Sighing genteelly, he stepped into the art gallery, turning at once to the familiar old painting. The outlines were familiar, and it hurt to even look at it, hurt to gaze into the eyes of the Gothic angel-devil.
It broke his heart to set eyes upon his daughter once more, immortalized by her own mother's art.
He nodded to her, and she frowned slightly. She couldn't remember him at all, a property of her prison, yet he seemed so familiar. Regardless, she had a task to perform, and so she let him into the Sanctuary. Grand Mage Aphia had given explicit instructions that he and Valkyrie were to be let in without question.
With self assured strides he made his way back to Aphia's office, forcing himself not to glance back at the painted girl.
As if anticipating him, Aphia's door swung open as he approached it. Aphia herself tilted her head curiously at him- she had been about to step out. "… Hello."
"Aphia." He inclined his head.
"What could be the reason of your visit?" Her eyes flashed brightly, her head turned in a manner of disregard, though the smooth pucker of her lips betrayed a burning desire for information.
"You know very well who the killer is," he spat. "Why don't you just arrest her now?"
"She is estranged from the family," she laughed forcefully, "and I would hardly let her go free if I knew her location."
"I doubt it. You know where she is."
"Why would that be?"
"She is your twin, after all."
With a snarl, Aphia dove towards him, knife clenched in one hand. He laughed and she froze.
"You can't cut bone," he grinned, "Arachna Shini."
