Chapter Nine: All's Well That Ends Well
Valkyrie hugged Luny hard, wishing she would stay. Luna Bird Insane was off to America in search of more adventures and job opportunities. When Alanna had died, a part of her happy nature had left with her best friend. She needed to leave Dublin; at least for the time being. She would come back, of that Valkyrie was sure.
"I'll miss you Luny." She said her voice slightly muffled as she pressed her face into Luny's coat.
"I'll miss you too Cainey." She replied sincerely; as she rubbed the younger mages' back. "Life will be dull without you around."
Valkyrie smiled as she let go of her new friend. "Travel safely, and come back soon. Okay?"
"Don't you worry 'bout me, Val, I'll be back before you have time to miss me." Luny laughed and twiddled her thumbs for a minute before she grew serious. "Please take care of Skully, won't you?"
"Yeah," Valkyrie said looking back at her Uncle Gordon's house, where the Skeleton Detective was now resting.
"He really needs you Valkyrie," Luny said looking deep into the girls dark brown eyes intently. "He loves you, but is too prideful, and scared to tell you."
"How could he love me, after having Celina and Alanna?" Valkyrie asked sadly.
"He loved them dearly, Cainey; in their time. But now it's your time, and it's you that he has in his blinders." Luny explained.
"But how do I say anything to him now? How do I try to tell him how I feel?" Valkyrie asked pleadingly.
"Use your instincts, it will come to you."
Valkyrie shook her head, "If you say so."
"I do," Luny said ruffling the other girl's hair playfully. "See you around Cainey."
"See you."
Luny winked at her and jumped into the neon hot pink convertible that she had rented. She saluted her once and then was gone. Dust from the road flew into the air, as her car sped down the road, leaving Valkyrie coughing.
"She really is crazy." Valkyrie chuckled to herself as she walked back to the house, to check on Skulduggery.
The Skeleton Detective had listened very intently to the conversation that had taken place outside his window moments ago. He cursed his sister for encouraging his partner. Loving him would only cause her grief. She would never be fully satisfied with her lot, if she chose him. He was a skeleton after all.
He had to be the one to make the move. He couldn't leave it on her shoulders. He had to be the strong one: for his sanity, and hers. He would tell her the truth, no matter the consequences. . .
Valkyrie sat on the edge of the couch where Skulduggery laid. He had taken his hat and coat off, and had his arms propped behind his head, the perfect picture of someone who was relaxed. It was quite unnerving to Valkyrie, especially when he had watched his daughter and wife die not three days earlier.
"You okay?" She asked staring at his face.
"Yes, actually; thank you." He replied not looking at her.
"You don't sound okay." Valkyrie acknowledged quietly.
"And why would you say that?" The Skeleton asked turning his head to look at her.
"You are never that polite to me." She answered smiling.
"Maybe not," Skulduggery said sitting up the full way, so that she could sit next to him. "But the last few days have made me see the light."
"Oh dear," Valkyrie thought in horror. "Here it comes."
Skulduggery glanced at her briefly before he continued.
"I heard you talking to Luna." He said.
"You did?"
"Yes."
Valkyrie gulped, "And what did you think? Does she have her evidence straight? Was there something to what she was saying Skulduggery?"
Skulduggery reached up and loosened his tie. "Is it hot in here?"
"No," Valkyrie answered staring at him, anxiously.
Skulduggery got up off of the couch and paced, trying to find the words he wanted. And when Valkyrie continued to stare at him he said, "You aren't going to make this easy, are you?"
Valkyrie stood up and walked in front of him, cutting off his pacing route mid-stride. She gently took his hands in hers, and looked up at him.
"I do have feelings for you Skulduggery. Though I don't know why you would want me after having someone as beautiful as Alanna; but I hope you do." Valkyrie paused taking a deep breath to calm herself before she continued.
"I love you. . . . And I want to be with you."
Skulduggery looked down at her, "I'm a skeleton."
"Yes," Valkyrie admitted. "But you are a man first."
"I can't give you the things that you would want, Valkyrie."
"That doesn't matter." Valkyrie said reaching up to touch his cheek bones. She looked at him with such a fire in her eyes that Skulduggery gasped.
"Do you love me?" She asked.
"Valkyrie. . ." He began to say, but she cut him off.
"Do you love me Skulduggery Pleasant?"
Skulduggery sighed in defeat, "Yes, I love you, Stephanie."
Valkyrie shuddered as he called her by her given name. She felt tears beginning to form in her eyes, as what he had just sunk in.
"You do?"
"I always have."
"Then you being a Skeleton doesn't matter." She said with a smile as she hugged him.
Skulduggery hugged her back, and smiled as well. "I love you Valkyrie."
"I love you more Skulduggery."
Luny gave a loud whoop and slammed her breaks. When Valkyrie had hugged her, she had planted a small bug. She hadn't wanted to miss one word of the conversation she knew would follow her departure. And she hadn't been disappointed.
She laughed hysterically for a moment before she turned to the bobble head on her dashboard, and grinned wildly at it.
"I knew Cainey had it in her!"
She would have stayed parked and laughing if the man behind her hadn't honked at that very moment. Luny realized that she was in the middle of the road on a green light parked. Waving wildly at everyone around her put the car into drive, and barreled away at ninety miles an hour.
Luny blew a kiss out her window, hoping that it would find her brother and Valkyrie. She would be back in a couple of months. She could wait to annoy Skully to death, by teasing him about his new girlfriend. She smiled at the idea, and giggled.
"I'll be back, don't you worry Cainey. I'll be back."
It was midnight and Valkyrie was still experimenting on him. Skulduggery sighed heavily. She had been at this for hours, and still wouldn't give up. He would much rather be solving the present case at hand, or snuggling with his new found love, but instead he was reduced to 'sitting' being quiet.
"Valkyrie, are you almost done?" He asked tapping his fingers against the couch arm.
The young girl glared at him, "This is hard! I'm doing the best I can!"
"I don't even know what you are trying to do Valkyrie." Skulduggery said shaking his head. "Why don't you at least tell me, so I can help you?"
"That would spoil the surprise." She said matter-of-factly.
"How did you figure out this surprise?" He asked, more out of the need to do something, than actually wanting to know.
"Last night while you were asleep, I did it." She muttered under her breath. "I know I can do it again."
"Do what-" Skulduggery asked, but was silenced by a loud shush.
"Be quiet, so I can concentrate!"
Skulduggery stopped talking and focused on the fire place, as it crackled and glowed. He watched as if in a trance, until finally Valkyrie yelped.
"Have you finished?" Skulduggery asked annoyed.
Valkyrie didn't answer; instead she jumped on top of him, and grabbed his face.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Getting my first real kiss," She said before she brought her lips to his. Wait a minute, Skulduggery thought. Lips?
He pulled back and brought one of his gloved hands to his face. He could believe what he was feeling. Skin?
He looked at Valkyrie in shock. "Do I have skin?"
She smiled at him and nodded.
"This is what you did last night?"
"Yep, and now I can actually kiss you." She said bringing him back into another kiss.
Skulduggery grabbed her and holding her body to his; kissing her back and groaning. How he had longed to kiss her back.
Valkyrie grabbed a handful of his long silky black hair, feeling it. It was better than she had imagined. It was softer than anything she had ever felt.
After a long while of kissing, Skulduggery pulled away and looked at her with his stunning light blue eyes.
"Valkyrie, you will be turning eighteen in a month." He stated seriously.
"Yes," Valkyrie agreed, somewhat breathlessly.
"You will be a legal adult."
Valkyrie nodded, wondering where this was going.
He brought out a beautiful silver ring, with blue gemstones embedded into it. "Will you marry me Valkyrie Cain?"
"Yes!" Valkyrie screamed joyfully. "Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
Skulduggery grinned and kissed her gently. "Then my life is complete." He said as he carried her up the long flight of stairs, to their bedroom.
Downstairs the fire in the fire place died and wafted up the chimney. And as the last of the flame left the house and floating out into the dark night sky, the clouds lifted and two new stars appeared.
Celina took a hold of her mothers' hand, and together the two stars blessed them, left the couple to live out their days in peace and love. Never looking back.
I'm afraid that this is the end of Lost Flame. I am thinking about writing a sequel that takes place after Skulduggery and Valkyrie have been married for a while; but I don't know. What do you guys think?
